Monthly Archives: September 2019

33 Days To Go

My radiotherapy started today. It’s the first of 33 treatments that I will be receiving during the rest of September and through until 30 October. The object of the radiotherapy is to kill any remaining cancer cells in an area known as the “prostate bed” – that’s the area where my prostate used to be, before it was removed in 2017. Treatments are given daily – weekdays only – in… Read Article →

The Wrong Side of 40

The phone range just after 5.30 on the Tuesday afternoon. It was my GP and it wasn’t good news. The results of my PSA had come back to the surgery that afternoon. My score was well over 40. For most people it’s less than four, often much lower. Looking back, I don’t remember being overly worried about the test. In any case, the nurse had said the results wouldn’t be… Read Article →

There Will Be Blood

There’s nothing special about a PSA test – it’s just a normal blood test with a strange name. When I went for mine in the local GP’s surgery on 5 September 2016 I was in and out of the nurse’s room in a couple of minutes. I’ve never had a problem with syringes. The nurse and I made small talk as she checked for a vein in my arm and,… Read Article →

The Start Of It All

It was three years ago today that my journey started. Like many others, I suspect, it all came from a casual discussion with my GP. I had been taking tablets for high blood pressure for just over a year and this was the first annual review of my medication. I asked my GP if wanting to pee frequently at night was a possible side effect of the tablets. At the… Read Article →