I'm Philip, 58 with an African heritage, I asked for a PSA in February when I noticed a blood test result that suggested anaemia, the anaemia was dealt with, but on the second blood test, 7 weeks later, the PSA reading was slightly out of range. My GP conducted a digital rectal examination and found my prostate was enlarged and that began a journey of a multiparametric MRI in April, a transperineal prostate biopsy in May and the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma that I received through the careless handling of medical letters before I had spoken to the concerned consultant.
I was recommended for active treatment and it was through reading other medical letters that I found they termed it malignant too, though still contained in the prostate gland. I opted for radical radiotherapy, 20 sessions which concluded 4 weeks ago, I did not have to undergo any hormone therapy as my testosterone levels were considered quite low.
I tolerated the chemotherapy well, but the aftermath has been lots of fatigue, my voice very faint that my work colleagues have offered to get me all the apparel for a drag act, and then the waterworks for which I take medication to ease the flow.
I guess I do not use support services as well as I should. I have also decided to take some time off to fully recuperate as I worked through treatment and after.
Thank you for accepting my request to join the chat forum.