Jim Preen

I’m Jim Preen, a Londoner, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in the Fall of 2017 at the age of sixty-three. I call my cancer The Unwelcome Guest. In my writing I try to tackle this intruder with a combination of honesty and humour, but inevitably darker topics are addressed; some of which might conceivably put you off your coffee.

When told I had cancer, I figured all I could do was write about it. What else was a writer to do? This provides me with a psychological release and hopefully sharing my story is of benefit to others.

Prior to diagnosis there had been blood in my urine. I went to see my doctor who referred me to the Urology department at Guy’s Hospital, London Bridge. A physical exam suggested something was up (not just the doctor’s finger) and a biopsy confirmed everyone’s suspicions. I took the hormone and radiotherapy route rather than having my prostate removed.

My initial PSA blood test was 5.03. My Gleason score was: 4+3 = 7. The maximum cancer length was 10mm. My prostate cancer stage was: T3a N?1 M0. My latest PSA score (May 2019) stands at 0.1.

My articles are just my story and my treatment will differ widely from others with prostate cancer. I have no medical training so any thoughts or advice should be taken with a large dose of salt.

I’m a former journalist, (ABC News and elsewhere) now head of media at a crisis management company, who had to perform some radical crisis management on himself when The Unwelcome Guest wandered unannounced into to my life.

Click here to read all of Jim's articles on ProstateCancer.net.