"Prostate cancer"

In my annual blood test results my GP noted an elevated PSA level and he referred me to the Ulster Hospital. It took 3 months to get an appointment with the Consultant who instructed a biopsy to be carried out. 

In the following months several PSA tests were carried out as well as the biopsy but it was 1 year from the GP referral that the consultant confirmed that there was Stage 1 Prostate cancer. They declined treatment (other than for better urine flow) and said they would do 'active surveillance'. My GP also referred to this  approach as 'watchful waiting'. 

I refer to this approach and both these statements as doing nothing until matters get worse. So much for early treatment of cancer !

At various reviews thereafter the Consultant (and a colleague whom I dismissed) were left in no doubt that I was not happy with my lack of treatment. A TRUS biopsy confirmed that the cancer was now at Stage 2.  I was referred to another Consultant at the Hospital for one session and they understood my irritation. Following discussions about alternative treatments they referred me to the cancer centre at the Belfast City Hospital.  

The consultant and the staff at the cancer unit were excellent and after further investigations that ruled out Brachytherapy due to an enlarged prostate, I underwent a course of hormone therapy plus radio therapy. 

The follow-up monitoring has been satisfactory as it only involves checking the PSA level every 6 months together with a telephone consultation with a specialist nurse.

From the initial GP referral to having hospital treatment took 3 years 4 months during which time the cancer moved from Stage 1 to Stage 2.

(Note this is all pre Covid 19)