Hi,

I’m a 74 year old chap that got diagnosed with prostate-cancer 16 months ago.

It caused urine retention and was I immediately had a catheter inserted.

After a few weeks the catheter was removed and I self catheterised whilst waiting for the radiotherapy to begin.

I went straight on to hormone treatment and had 37 sessions of radiotherapy.

I found the radiotherapy really gruelling towards the end but stuck with it.

I felt really drained after the treatment ended and a few weeks later had a blood test and was immediately hospitalised due to being anemic.

It was discovered that the radiotherapy had badly scarred the uretha and the retention this caused had caused kidney damage.

They tried to fit a stent but scarring to uretha prevented this.

So I now have a long term catheter and nephrostomy and two pee bags!

All this has left me feeling I’m not firing on all cylinders and find it an effort to do anything mildly energetic

The good news is that my PSA is undetectable.

To top it off I now have developed back ache.

I know this sounds like a self pitying tale of woe but I still get enjoyment from life and hope things improve in time.