I know it’s not a very original title, but I’m on a mission. If you would bear with me through this little story, there’s a strong message at the end.
I was due my usual practice nurse annual look at blood pressure etc, and my wife, Janet, nagged me into asking for a PSA test (prostate specific antigen). The nurse reluctantly agreed to do it for me and the surgery called me the next day to tell me that the score was very high (80.4 where normal is 4) and that they’d referred me to Harrogate Hospital Urology Department.
Within a couple of days, they fixed me up with a bone scan on October 11 and we were back in Harrogate for the results on the 21st.
Advanced prostate cancer was confirmed, which meant that it had spread beyond the prostate. It was a bit weird seeing your own skeleton on screen!
Because of the high score, Janet and I were prepared for the worst and focused on what comes next and I’m pleased to say that they started me on hormone therapy that very day.
The treatment consists of a fortnight on pills followed by an injection, which I had immediately and is to be repeated every three months for the rest of my life. I liked that last bit because it sounded longer term and made me comfortable to start reading a long book.
In fact, a week or so later I was told that, while they are unable to cure me of the underlying disease process, they should be able to manage my prostate cancer and give me ‘years of health and happiness ahead’.
The consultant explained that the male hormone, testosterone, actually encourages cancer growth, and the purpose of the treatment was to reduce, then stop the body producing the male hormone.
At that point I was tempted to say that I could get hold of a couple of bottles of Improvac, but decided I might get into bother with Janet.
Maybe you can guess what’s coming next! I’m likely to have hot flushes (Janet smiled), the size of my boobs may increase, and my willie was likely to get smaller. I can hardly find it now on a cold day at a football match! On the plus side, I might be able to multi-task!
Whatever you’ve heard about the NHS, their cancer stuff works like clockwork. They supplied explanatory pamphlets and introduced me to Macmillan nurses if I felt the need for support. I’ve read the pamphlet from top to toe, and nowhere does it say that I have to stop drinking beer and wine. Get in!
They’re organising a meeting between the consultant, another specialist and the radiographer to discuss what else they might support me with. It’s clear that they can’t cure the cancer, but they can control it without ruining quality of life.
Get a test!
So, I’ve told you all this because farming folk are notorious for being too busy to look after themselves, as well as the “I don’t want to know!” syndrome.
So, Lads, I need you to Man Up and go and Get a Test.
Several of my mates in the industry have already taken up the challenge and come out fine. Now, a message for the Ladies. You need to start nagging your husband, partner, dad, uncles and brothers to GET a TEST.
The test itself is not as definitive as most doctors would like and can miss the presence of cancer so you need a bit of grit to insist on having the test.
The trick is to catch it early. The survival rate then is almost 100%. The longer it’s there, the more it sneaks about in the body causing longer term bother, so if you are around the age of 50, get tested regularly.
This is especially the case if there is a history of prostate trouble in the family. In my case, there were no symptoms, it was just Janet looking after me after stuff she’d seen on television.
So, just for me, Get Tested!
- Stewart is chair of the Red Tractor Pigs Board and the Pig Sector Group, which has helped develop the Pig Health and Welfare Pathway. He also chairs the National Pig Awards judging panel and is a former of NPA and BPEX.
