My Story

Laurence Calder Sept 2022

Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

In the summer of 2007 age 56 after struggling to go to the loo for several months I had a blood test in July 2007 which showed a PSA of 13. Over the next 15 months, l had several biopsies which showed nothing yet my PSA still stayed around 13. Eventually, in November 2008 age 57 the 4th biopsy found signs of cancer still contained within my prostate. I had my prostate removed in 2009 aged 58 in Spain where I was living at the time and my PSA dropped to less than 0.1.

Prostate Cancer Treatement

The Urologist and Oncologist said it was my best survival route. I had mop-up/salvage radiotherapy in 2010 (40 sessions) after my PSA rose to 0.23. My PSA then stayed below 0.1 until late 2016 then started to rise over the next 18 months to 1.1. After several CT, MRI and Bone scans cancer cells were found in the lymph nodes in my left groin area. I was told my relapse was inevitable and in the summer of 2018 l started 6 rounds of Chemo and was put on long-term hormone prostap3 injections every 12 weeks.

PSA reccurence

My PSA stayed less than 0.1 from November 2018 until the PSA test in May 2021 when for the first time it rose to 0.2. I was told this is stable and will be monitored at my next 12-week test. Since then my PSA has risen steadily to 0.8 in May 2022. A CT scan has shown my cancer is still stable but with rising PSA my current meds are losing their effects so I’ve been given bicalutamide tablets to take daily. As of July 2022, my oncologist is happy for now and I will be reviewed again in 6 months.

Current Feelings

Before my surgery, I was Gleason 3+3. After the biopsy was 4+5 with 70% of the prostate affected and approaching the outer margins so surgery was a no-brainer after the event. We're all different and have a hard choice to make but at least if the prostate is removed it takes care of a large part of the problem and can then be managed as in my case for many years. It’s not been without problems. Since day one I have suffered from incontinence and erectile dysfunction which have never recovered. In hindsight, I’m glad l had the operation. Once you've been diagnosed with PC it's out there and no amount of watchful waiting or discussion is going to stop it from spreading in the long term. The decision is when and what further options to take to extend life expectancy. In my case from the first PSA test now 15 yrs.