I’m writing this in January 2024.

Roughly a year ago, I went to visit my GP to get a prostate check. I was 49 years old, a husband and father of three daughters, I was active, pretty fit and I did not feel unwell in the slightest.  Just a few weeks later, after blood tests, MRI’s and a biopsy, I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer.

What has prompted me to write about it now, nearly a year on from the diagnosis? Quite simply it has been the general reaction to this news from my male friends. Almost without exception, whenever someone has found out, they have immediately asked me what was the trigger for me to go the GP in the first instance? People wanted to understand the symptoms, the history, the treatment and it got them thinking of their own circumstances. If, by sharing my experience of this difficult last year or so, I can get people thinking about this and getting a PSA test, I think it’s worth it.

My symptoms were not massive. My father had been through radiotherapy successfully as a 74-year-old and he had encouraged my brother (3 years older) and I to get checked as we were around the age of 50. The symptoms generally presented at night. I’d go to the toilet and would then need to go again very soon thereafter. Not a huge inconvenience but enough to set me thinking, “why is this the case?” My GP had little hesitation on seeing me and checking me out. My brother had a slightly more difficult time of it, as my father had some years previously. It does seem that the advice we get to get checked out is not always matched in the local practice. If this is the case, a little stubbornness is called for. If my father had not been so insistent, the outcome may have been different. My brother is fine, by the way 😊.

After the physical check by the GP (which is not anywhere near as bad as I had imagined) she booked me in for bloods. A PSA check. This is Prostate specific antigen. My first score came back as 8. It should read around 2. They don’t rely on one score though as it could be elevated by a recent coffee or even riding a bike. A second score of 8 a fortnight later meant I was being booked in for an MRI and a visit to Heath Hospital on a Saturday morning.

The MRI results produced what the medics referred to wonderfully as “areas of interest”. A number of markers around the prostate that suggested they needed to check me in more detail. They could not diagnose anything at this stage and to do so, the next step and to book me in for a Biopsy.

This was the first time I shared the situation with anyone other than my wife. The weekend before the biopsy I was in Portugal with some of my best friends on a golf trip. I confided in my roommate that I wouldn’t be joining in the evening fun and told him why. The biopsy was scheduled for the Monday morning. His first reaction, “What made you go to the GP?”. I told him. Having friends is brilliant.

The biopsy was probably the most uncomfortable part of the whole process, but the care and attention I was afforded by the staff at University Hospital Wales (Heath) was exceptional. I am in awe of their patience, care and manner. Some days later came the scheduled phone call from the Urology department. Unfortunately for me, the diagnosis was conclusive. There was no doubt I had cancer. Every test sample from the biopsy showed cancer, but the good news was it was contained within the prostate. Amongst the general bad news, this was good news. Given I had not felt unwell at all, I dread to think what could have happened if I had not made that decision to go to the GP in January.

Katie & I now faced some decisions around how we would treat it. 1. Monitor 2. Radiotherapy 3. Radical Prostatectomy (remove the prostate). All had their drawbacks/pitfalls/challenges. We discounted 1. immediately and then soon agreed 3. was the best course of action. I was booked in for early June. Telling our children was challenging and Katie was significantly better than I was in that moment. Whilst I struggled to find the right words, she was direct, clear, empathetic and positive. I’m sure the girls appreciated it. I certainly did.

I only spent one night in hospital, which may surprise you. An early morning operation. I was woken from my anaesthetic at about 1pm after around 4 hours in surgery. The doctors told me it all gone well and they’d removed the prostate, removed the lymph nodes in my groin and repaired the nerves around the bladder. I had a catheter in and 6 small “wounds” where the operated robot had done its work. I have no memory of those 4 hours other than the lead anaesthetic doctor telling me “You’re in good hands” and then waking me up what felt like a minute later. They want you up and about and moving asap, and I was happy to do exactly what I was told. So, the next day I was home to recuperate.

In advance of the operation, my plan for April and May was to be as fit as I could, so the recovery period post-op would be as short as it could be. To do this, I focussed on myself rather than work. I would not have been able to do that if I did not have a critical illness policy in place. I’ve had a CIC policy (and life cover) since my early twenties and I added to it in my forties as our circumstances had changed over those years. The adjustments did not come cheap as a forty something, but looking back now it was “cheap as chips”. My Gleason score (the way they assess the severity of the cancer) exceeded the policy plan for full payout. The insurer, Zurich, were genuinely superb with me. From the moment I submitted my claim to the day they informed me the monies would be paid to Katie, their communication was first class. The insurance was a huge relief. It really allowed me to focus on my health and not having to earn. Self-employment is brilliant, but situations like this can leave you on the breadline in an instant. In my day-to-day work life, I am always suggesting to people they should have more insurance, for peace of mind. That belief has only been strengthened now. I felt strong and positive. I had absolutely no idea there was something inside me that could kill me. We are not invincible and the worst can happen, so please do protect yourself and your family.

Since the operation, with a few ups and downs, I am back to being healthy & active. I had a slight issue in the autumn with something called a lymphocele, which I will leave you to look up rather than explain here, but I now have a very positive medical prognosis regarding cancer, which I no longer have. I am back to work full-time and fully motivated and combining this with a steady improvement in my fitness, core strength and flexibility. Having an operation certainly takes it out of you, but the challenges I have faced and some I will face for the rest of my life are infinitely better than the morbid alternative.

To close, I sincerely hope somebody has found my story of cancer in 2023 interesting enough to consider their own circumstances. To repeat – I did not feel ill at all and I had cancer. It’s quite a frightening thought really. So, PLEASE protect yourself and your family with insurance and, if you suspect anything, or you are approaching 50, go and get yourself checked out at the GP. If anyone would like to talk about this, my contact details are readily available on the website. I’d be happy to chat.

#hereforyou