"Prostate cancer"

My brother died of prostate & bone cancer in 2018. After his diagnosis he urged me to get checked as these things run in families. I have been treated for an enlarged prostate for 11 years, latterly from consultant surgeon Miss Brown at Glasgow Royal Infirmary. She kept a close eye on me but my PSA readings increased over the years, she organised MRIs, scans and biopsies..

In February this year my readings went up and I received a further MRI & a biopsy which confirmed I had prostate cancer. Thankfully a bone scan said it hadn't spread outwith my prostate gland.

All this took place in a matter of weeks, great service.

Very quickly I then saw doctors who offered radiotherapy treatment or surgery, the advantages and disadvantages of both were explained to me, I was told I was a good candidate for surgery.

My surgeon Mr Bhatt offered me an operation in 5 weeks time, but due to a cancellation my operation was brought forward and was done at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, some 11 weeks after my diagnosis. My operation went without complications. I await my follow up consultation with my surgeon.

Before  and after my operation I have seen and spoken to many doctors, nurses, and health care specialists from different hospitals and clinics, offering good practical advice, complementary accessories, and further services that the NHS provide. Everyone I met were extremely polite, helpful and couldn't do enough for me.

I write this short note to say thank you very much, to everyone who helped me through my journey.

Incredibly everything went like clockwork.

At a time when the NHS is regularly criticised, mainly at senior management level, for me the NHS is an outstanding organisation and I can only give them my wholehearted thanks.

To all the staff, nurses, doctors, surgeons that crossed my path, thank you.