Prostate Cancer

Dan, the third TMAAT musketeer, cannot join us for our trip to Morocco in 2022 and so Marc and I decided it would be fitting to give Dan the job of choosing a charity for our fundraising efforts in 2022. Dan’s father, Kevin, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2016 and so, of course that is the charity Dan wanted and so that is the one are supporting….please do give generously.

If you are have any lingering doubts about how important the work that Prostate Cancer UK do is, Kevin has kindly and bravely agreed to share his story here.

“Right up front I would like to share a warning to all you men out there over 40 years old, please, please please ask your GP for a PSA blood test! It is still the best indicator for the doctors that something might be wrong even if, like me, you have no symptoms to suggest that there is any kind of issue with your prostate. The cold harsh truth is that if I hadn’t had asked for the test then there is a very good chance that I would not be here now telling you about it. I would not have found out about my prostate cancer until it was too late and the cancer could well have spread around the rest of my body.

2016 was my 50th year and plans were being made for family events, house improvements, hobbies, holidays, etc, I was feeling fit and well and life was pretty sweet. On the approach to my 50th birthday I had notification from the DVLA that I needed to have a medical to renew my HGV licence so I dutifully contacted my GP surgery and asked if I could book a HGV medical assessment with a doctor. I could have gone to HGV Doctor Online which would have been half the cost but I decided to try my GP first. As it turns out that was the best decision I could ever have made!

“Mr Hastie the doctor wants you to come and take a well mans check first before agreeing to do your HGV medical check” was the response I had back from the doctors receptionist, so I booked myself in at the earliest opportunity. Whilst having my blood taken, being weighed and blood pressure taken I asked if when testing my blood could they do a PSA test. I knew that father, his brother and my mother’s brother had all been diagnosed with prostate cancer in their 70’s and had been treated with radiotherapy and hormone treatments to get rid of it. This was an astute and fortunate move on my account as without this test my own prostate cancer would almost certainly have not been detected otherwise. I had no symptoms at all to suggest that anything was untoward. Two days after my visit to the doctors the doctor rang me with the results and told me that although I appeared to be a fit man with no signs of health issues my PSA count was high for a man approaching his 50th birthday and she advised that I go in for another blood test that week. I duly booked the second test and had blood taken again and the very next day the doctor rang me again. The warning bells were now ringing loudly….my PSA level had raised further and I needed to quickly see a consultant to find out what was going on. 

Within two weeks of my first conversation with my GP I had had an appointment with the consultant, an MRI scan and biopsies had been taken from my prostate and was confirmed. I had the early stages of cancer within my prostate. 

Although obviously concerned by a diagnoses which had literally come out of nowhere, I was reassured by the consultant that what had been discovered was in the early stages and was of no immediate health risk. The fact is I am a very lucky guy because it had been discovered early which meant I had “choices”.

When first being told that you have prostate cancer the doctor is obliged to give you the worst case scenario to help you choose what options you want to pursue, option one for me was active monitoring which consists of regular PSA tests, biopsies if the PSA level keeps rising and MRI scans as you go along. Option two was to have the prostate removed either by hand or robotically which could then result in me being incontinent and erectile dysfunctional for the rest of my life (worst case scenario) neither of which filled me with joy at the age of 50! I was told that radio therapy, which other members of my family had gone through, was not an option. Due to my young age there was a likelihood that the cancer would come back again in 15-20 years time and I would be left with no options due to the damage the radiotherapy does. 

I opted to go on “Active Monitoring” and six months after my diagnosis I had another PSA blood test and at a meeting with the consultant he told me that my PSA had gone up. A further six months and my PSA count had raised even higher and then again another 6 months down the line and another reading even higher than before. This time the consultant sent me for more prostate biopsies which resulted in the news that I had hoped would never come. The consultant was concerned with my rising PSA levels and that the results of the biopsies had indicated that the cancer was spreading and advised that my best course of action was to go a see a surgeon at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton to discuss the option of having my prostate removed robotically.  

Up to this point in this journey I had been mentally strong but I have to say that aged 52 and the thoughts of the “worst case scenario” going around in my head, I was floored. I was simply not prepared for this. Fortunately I have a fantastic wife and supportive family & friends that rallied me and reminded me that I have a meaningful life to lead and dreams to fulfil, and if it meant wearing big pants for the rest of my life then so be it. 

At the first meeting with Peter Cook the surgeon (really nice guy and straight talking), he wanted to check the results and sent me for another MRI scan to be analysed by his team. When I went back to see him for the results he had a really nice surprise for me. Having looked at the MRI results Peter recommended that I could continue on active monitoring as in his opinion at my age and based the results in front of him, I still had this option available to me without any concerns. 

Two more years passed with me having 6 monthly checks until of course Covid hit and things started to be delayed. In January 2021 another raised PSA test (my PSA result was now double the count from when I started) and further biopsies taken, this time there was no doubt that it was time to have my prostate removed, I’d had 5 years of being on active monitoring and a normal life, admittedly with added worries attached, but the consultant said active monitoring was now no longer an option so off to Wolverhampton to meet with Peter Cook and his team again. 

November 11th 2021 I walked in to New Cross Hospital, still with no symptoms that would give me any sign of a hint that I was walking around with prostate cancer, I had the operation that removed my prostate. Having the operation done robotically meant that I was only in hospital for one night before being sent home to recuperate. I cannot thank the NHS staff enough for all they have done for me, and the urology team that conducted my operation, I have 6 small scars to show where they had been, suffered no infections or complications and being a very lucky man I don’t have any of the “worst case scenario” issues that I had been dreading and would have made life a little more uncomfortable. 

December 22nd 2021, Peter Cook my surgeon rang to ask how I was after the operation and informed me that following the autopsy of my prostate he was happy to inform me that I would be entering 2022 free of prostate cancer, the best Christmas present anyone could ask for. 

I do consider myself to be extremely lucky. It was completely by chance that I even found out I had prostate cancer and I cannot emphasise this enough…..if you are man over the age of 40 please ask your GP for a PSA test. It could genuinely save your life.

Thanks for reading my story.”

Kevin