Lost Hope

Prostate cancer in the family

I was first diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2018. The urologist decided to monitor it with annual PSA tests. He also had me sign papers for a surgical procedure to help with urination. This never happened. He did put me on a steroid that was supposed to help with urination. I later found out that this steroid was not to be used with cancer: just benign tumors as if used on cancer it could cause the cancer to spread to other parts of the body where it was difficult or impossible to treat. In early 2022 my brother was diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer that had moved outside his prostate to surrounding tissues. As we are brothers his doctor suggested that I tell my urologist that I have further testing. Dec. 15, 2022 I had a biopsy that the doctor said was negative.

Confirming prostate cancer

March 10 I was advised by my urologist that I do have cancer. It was missed by the urologist but picked up by the hospital. The cancer is actually in the prostate duct. That is harder to treat. The urologist said he would order an MRI and decide on a treatment. In April there was no word on the MRI. The urologist said he had ordered this test at the hospital.. I was getting some prescriptions refilled and he inquired about my cancer. I advise him that I was still waiting for my MRI. He checked the Provincial Medical Records on the computer and found no MRI had been booked. My family doctor immediately contacted the urologist and his office contacted me with an appointment for 2nd week of June. At that time I asked for an appointment for 2 weeks. They said The next available appointment would be in November. NOTE we are now 6 months since the biopsy.

Trying to move faster in the diagnosis process

I asked to be referred to a cancer doctor in Moncton. The urologist got upset that I would make this request, but he did it and he had ordered an MRI March. I explained that the appointment was not on the hospital booking list. The new urologist referred me to a radiologist who referred me to another radiation specialist who did HD Brachey treatment. I was given the booklets explaining the HD Brachey and signed the documents for the treatment. The cancer doctor will not do surgery as as he thinks that a senior over 75 is a greater risk. However they do hip and knee replacements on seniors well into their eighties. The Brachey specialist is seeing me on Sept. 5, tomorrow but when they called with the appointment I was informed he would not be doing Brachey as it was too late for treatment.
Nine months have passed with NO treatments. I am feeling let down. What really upsets me is there was a reasonable chance for a cure but the treatment never happened.