Interview 16- Prostate cancer

Age at interview: 75

Brief Outline:

With a PSA of 380, cancer was assumed though not confirmed on biopsy. Orchidectomy 1999, and hormone treatment.

Background:

For more clips from this interview click here.

After being advised of three possible opinions to treat prostate cancer, this man asked the surgeon outright what they would do in the same situation.

 The surgeon sat me down and he gave me all the various opportunities, one was the radiology and he said that was no good because they didn't know where it was and we then, I agreed with him. I said 'Well what would you have done?'

 

Well what were the other options?

 

Well there were only

 

You mentioned the orchidectomy.

 

Yes there were only three really, one was radiology and the other was, two operations one that I had was the bilateral orchidectomy, whatever it's called, I can't remember what the third operation was but it was a bigger actually.

 

Right.

 

And he explained to me everything and I decided, I said 'Well what would you have?' and he said 'Well do this,' and I agreed. And I went in for an operation on 29th November.

 

So you had the surgery, even though you weren't really sure that you had cancer?

 

Yes, yes I took that advice.

 

Mm because your surgeon said he thought you probably did?

 

Yes he thought I probably did have it and I couldn't argue.