Interview 21

Age at interview: 71

Brief Outline:

Told his GP he was passing urine frequently during the night. After a digital rectal examination the GP suggested a PSA test, which was raised. The consulted did a biopsy, which showed prostate cancer. This was treated with hormone injections and radiotherapy.

Background:

Occupation: Retired newsagent. Marital status: married. Ethnic background: White British.

The biopsy was all over in a few minutes and didn't hurt.

Can you say a little bit more about the biopsy for men who might be wondering what's going to happen?

Well, I went into this little room and you have to pull, put your trousers down and lay on the couch and then there's like a little prong that they put up your rectum and it takes little pieces of I suppose the prostate for analysis and they put a lot of cream up there and it's, it's just a little, it doesn't hurt at all it's just uncomfortable. And, it took about, he said, 'You'll hear 3 little clicks and then it'll be all over, 2 so it went up there as I said just like now and it went click, click, click and out it came and he said 'That's it Mr, [own name] you can, and it's all finished.' And then you go and clean yourself up and it was all over in a matter of minutes. And it didn't hurt at all really, just uncomfortable, no pain.

Since having radiotherapy he has had a PSA test every six months. After each test he discusses his progress with his consultant.

Then I went back to the doctors to tell him how things had gone on and he had, the information had come through from the hospital and he, on his website and he knew that the PSA was 0.1 and then he advised me that they'd be getting in touch again and that I'd have to go, oh no before that he said I'd need one more hormone injection to finish the course of hormone injections off which I had at my health centre. So I finished that off and then he said you'll be hearing from the hospital and you'll be having to go for another PSA test. So I waited and within about a week's time I had an appointment for 6 months hence and so I made a note of that and about 5 months; before the, a month before I made an appointment for a PSA test and then went for the appointment after the 6 months. And they, there's a little room where the doctor there is waiting for you and he kind of dictates it into a, I don't know microphone thing and the PSA, he gave me the results of the PSA, he was very pleased and now I go every 6 months for a check-up and if I can't get on the 6 months you've just got to ring them up and they'll change the appointment for you and you can go at a later date. But I've managed to be there every 6 months.

And when you go back every 6 months it's just the PSA test and then a little chat with the specialist a couple of weeks later?

Yeah, yeah, yeah I go into the hospital and he's got the results and well even waiting to go and see him I'm only about 5, I'm in there 5 minutes and then I'm straight in and then he's got all my guff in front of him and we just talk about it and he tells what the PSA at the time is and have I got any problems and anything I want to know, we talk about that and then that's fine. And that happens every 6 months. And I seem to see the same doctor each time which is very nice.