Peter's Story

Ethnicity

White British

Age

60-69

Work

Retired

Sexual Orientation

Straight

Geography

South East

Relationship status

Married/In a Civil Partnership

Listen

Radical Prostatectomy (Surgery)

Tips and advice for any bladder or bowel side effects of treatment

Very important to be patient and work consistently on the pelvic floor exercises. For me the incontinence improved over a 3-6 month period, after which I was 99% 'dry' with only light leakage.

Tips and advice for any physical side effects of treatment

I went back to work commuting in the City after five weeks, which was the minimum recommended. This was too soon! The combination of fatigue and incontinence made working very difficult, and as these were invisible after effects I don't think they were fully recognised by work colleagues.

Tips and advice for any mental and emotional side effects of treatment

I became much more anxious as a person after treatment, especially as by PSA levels did not reduce to the levels expected and hence residual disease was suspected. I felt quite vulnerable for a long time after treatment.

How this treatment impacted my life the most

I think my self esteem went through the floor after surgery. I had been cycling around 200 miles per week as a club cyclist, and was generally very fit and active with no symptoms. The surgery stopped me in my tracks for quite a while after.

If I had to do it all over again, would I choose the same treatment?

Yes

Why did I give this answer?

Removal of the primary source has proved successful in the long run.

Radiotherapy

Tips and advice for any bladder or bowel side effects of treatment

Be aware that radiotherapy can cause quite a lot of loose bowel movements, which I think is especially true if you have salvage treatment after removal of your prostate and hence the bowel sits very close to the area where the prostate was located. I needed to be close to a toilet at all times and passed quite a lot of blood. This subsides, but for me took a couple of years to totally stop. Patience is the key!

How this treatment impacted my life the most

The radiotherapy treatment was quite tough as I had 32 sessions. I had retired a couple of months in advance and this was a great decision as I was able to focus fully on the treatment. Working during the treatment would have been very difficult due to the severity of my bowel movements.

If I had to do it all over again, would I choose the same treatment?

Yes

Why did I give this answer?

The salvage radiotherapy destroyed the cancer cells within the local lymph nodes, and I am now cancer free after five years.

Hormone Therapy (injections and relugolix tablets)

Tips and advice for any sexual side effects of treatment

Don't believe that the hormone therapy had any effect on my physically, though it had an instant effect on my libido. I had the treatment in parallel with salvage radiotherapy, so in many ways it's difficult to separate the effects, especially as my previous surgery in 2016 had caused after effects as well. It was all getting very complicated at this stage!

Tips and advice for any physical side effects of treatment

I had a lot of hot sweats and flushing during the first 18 months or so of a two year treatment to early 2020. This seemed to be accompanied by a level of 'brain fog' and anxiety. My impression is that these effects cannot be avoided as the change to hormone levels is quite profound. I think it's best to recognise and accept these rather than try to fight them. Talking helps as well, although this can be an uncomfortable subject to share.

How this treatment impacted my life the most

I was still working for the first few months of this treatment before retiring early in order to focus on the salvage radiotherapy. This was very difficult as I felt quite tired all the time due to my interrupted sleep patterns. I found it very difficult to concentrate on anything.

If I had to do it all over again, would I choose the same treatment?

Yes

Why did I give this answer?

I think it gave the radiotherapy a better chance of success, and after completing the two year treatment I returned to my old self quite quickly.

Peter's Story

Radical Prostatectomy (Surgery)

Tips and advice for any bladder or bowel side effects of treatment

Tips and advice for any physical side effects of treatment

Tips and advice for any mental and emotional side effects of treatment

How this treatment impacted my life the most

If I had to do it all over again, would I choose the same treatment?

Why did I give this answer?

Radiotherapy

Tips and advice for any bladder or bowel side effects of treatment

How this treatment impacted my life the most

If I had to do it all over again, would I choose the same treatment?

Why did I give this answer?

Hormone Therapy (injections and relugolix tablets)

Tips and advice for any sexual side effects of treatment

Tips and advice for any physical side effects of treatment

How this treatment impacted my life the most

If I had to do it all over again, would I choose the same treatment?

Why did I give this answer?

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