Tuesday 17th November 2020

I had my annual telephone consultation with Claire my Brachytherapy nurse from St Lukes in Guildford on Monday morning. Claire had already received a progress card filled out by me a few weeks ago and also my latest PSA result.

My Brachytherapy was carried out at St Lukes in September 2015 when my PSA was 4.1 having risen from my usual level of 3 a few months before. I had originally seen three different consultants discussing Radiotherapy and Surgery before I saw Prof. lang at st Lukes and discussing Brachytherapy. 

I decided on Brachytherapy as my diagnosis indicated I was likely to be a perfect candidate and the side effects were much less severe.

The procedure was carried out on a Thursday afternoon and following an overnight stay in hospital I went home the following morning. I felt so well I was able to return to work (moderate manual handling) the following Tuesday.

Since that time I've had regular PSA tests and regular telephone consultations with the Brachytherapy nurses Claire and Donna at St Lukes. My PSA has steadily fallen and is now less than 0.2.

Given my general good health and my lower PSA level Claire said that I no longer need to have annual consultations and in future she would write once a year just to keep in touch. I shall continue half yearly PSA tests for my own piece of mind. With my age and PSA less than 0.2 I'm now in a category with a less than a 2% chance of my cancer returning.

The service I have received from ST Lukes, my GP and the NHS in general has been first class, I couldn't have wished for anything better.

I would urge any man with a prositive Prostate Cancer diagnosis to check out Brachytherapy because if you are a suitable candidate (not everyone is mind you) it is a fantastic treatment.

There is a lot of information available from the Prostate Cancer UK website 

https://prostatecanceruk.org

Macmillan gave me a very informative booklet.

https://www.macmillan.org.uk

I'm a member of a Facebook Prostate Cancer Group which has been very informative.

I like using Twitter and I've found, and been in contact with, Dr Brian Moran at the Chicago Prostate Cancer Centre who has been very helpful supplying information. I'd urge you to take a look. (I'm not suggesting having treatment in Chicago but its great to get free information). 

www.chicagoprostatecancer.com

Brian's Twitter is @ChicagoProstate

Thats all for now. Anyone wishing to get in touch can email me ianccavi@gmail.com