Our Prostate Cancer Journeys
The diagnosis of prostate cancer comes as a severe shock, not only to the man himself but also to his immediate family and particularly his wife or partner.
Treatment decisions will have to be made and, initially lacking knowledge of the problem, he can feel very lonely and even despondent.
A Prostate Cancer Support Group can be of great assistance at this time, providing both consumer-level advice on various treatment options and encouragement to see that there is life after prostate cancer.
To this end, some of our members have agreed to share their stories.
We hope they are of assistance.
DISCLAIMER: Please be aware that guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of Prostate Cancer are constantly progressing. Some of the information below may be dated, and not reflective of current standards of treatment. Furthermore, every man has different circumstances and different experiences with their chosen treatment. These stories are for general information only.
Testimonials
G – Briar Hill
My Story:
I was advised of a rapid increase in my PSA levels (a score of 6) in November of 2006. In January 2007, I had a biopsy resulting in a Gleason score in the high 7’s. The following April, I had a Radical Prostatectomy to remove the prostate gland. I then had periodic PSA checks for the next five years at 3-month, 6-month, and eventually 12-month intervals. The PSA reading on all these tests was 0.
How attending a support group helped me:
I attended the support group after my surgery, during the period of post-operative PSA tests. I attended because I wanted to pass on my experience to future patients. I now believe that a support group would have been more beneficial if I had attended at my original time of diagnosis.
How I would advise a recently diagnosed man:
First, consider all available options. If you are in doubt, seek a second opinion from another specialist. I also recommend attending a support group immediately on diagnosis, or before impending treatment. Do not rush into surgery before exploring all available options. As with all surgery, there are possible side effects, such as bladder control, stream flow, incontinence, and erectile dysfunction. Most importantly, take as much time as you need to make a treatment decision.
D – Greensborough
My Story:
I was diagnosed in 2002 after a routine PSA test (9) and a biopsy. The Gleason score was 6 and, in view of my (young) age, treatment was recommended, but not urgently. I tried a dietary approach with supplements with limited success. I heard of sono/photo- dynamic therapy, which had somewhat greater success, but it didn’t last.My PSA continued to rise slowly. On the basis that the origin of cancer is believed by some practitioners to have a psychological basis, it was recommended that I try “a short, sharp course of counselling/psychotherapy.” After quite some time, a major emotional block was revealed and dealt with (2012), and from then on, my PSA has declined slowly.
How attending a support group helped me:
I find that Support Groups provide hope for long-term survival – “there is life after cancer”. Reduction of stress is very helpful in dealing successfully with cancer. One can become aware of a wide range of therapies. For instance, I learned of sono/photo- dynamic therapy at the Heidelberg Support Group. That treatment led to the counselling/psychotherapy.
How I would advise a recently diagnosed man:
The diagnosis will have been a shock to both you and your family. You will have been given advice by your medical practitioner(s) on what to do next. Fairly typically, you will have time to do some research, mostly on the internet to gain a further understanding of your situation. At this stage, a support group can be a useful source of information from survivors of prostate cancer, what they did and why. If you want to discuss things further with your medical practitioners, do so; don’t hesitate. Keep the group informed of your situation; you might help others or they might be able to help you more.
P – Diamond Creek
My Story:
At the age of 58 in 2016 my PSA reached 4.0 and I was referred by my GP to a Urologist. After an MRI and Biopsy I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer (Gleeson score 3+4=7). I agreed to proceed with Brachytherapy and had 66 small radioactive seeds implanted in my Prostate. The procedure was an overnight stay in hospital and I only had a couple of days off work. After 4 years I have had no side effects and my PSA is now down to .35 which my Radiologist advises is under the number he expects after 5 years. So I have been told I have a 99.7% chance of the Cancer never coming back.
How attending a support group helped me:
I have no doubt that I would not have known about treatment options other than having the Prostate removed, if I hadn’t attended an Information and Support Group prior to making a decision. I was well informed by attending an Information and Support Group and understood exactly what to expect. It was great to be around other men that had been through treatments to discuss and ask questions. It made me feel more positive about my future.
How I would advise a recently diagnosed man:
Don’t rush into making a decision until you have been to an Information and Support Group and discussed your options with men who have lived experience of the various treatments. Take your partner with you as they often pick up things you might miss. Talk to your own GP about the feedback they have had from other patients. Talk to your family about it as it helps you share the weight of a Cancer diagnosis. It disappoints me that men either are not told about Information and Support Groups or are too proud to attend. Only attending once, may be all you need to put your mind at ease about your future. In all my time involved with the Group I have never had a man say “well that was a waste of time attending”.
R – Essendon
My Story :
I was diagnosed with prostate cancer (PC) in 2005 at the age of 51. I was still working and was in good physical condition. My Urologist first told me I had to get it out. This was going to be my first major operation, and I wanted to be sure of what I was in for. I delayed the operation and went in search of more information. This led me to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, and the Diamond Valley Prostate Cancer Support Group (now Eltham Prostate Cancer Information & Support group). After a few months I decided to go on Active Surveillance. Seven years later, in 2012, and after my fifth biopsy I was told that I had a new growth and it was more aggressive. I then decided to have a radical prostatectomy.
How attending a support group helped me:
By joining the Eltham Prostate Cancer Information & Support group, I was with men that had been through the prostate cancer journey that I was about to undertake. Their stories, and their outcomes, were very reassuring to me. They gave me information to read, and recommended websites. The group gave me the confidence that I had the information to enable me to make an informed decision on my treatment.
I also learnt about the importance of diet and exercise. My PSA score was 4.2 when I was diagnosed with PC. I immediately cut out fatty foods and improved my general diet. I also joined a gym and did a lot of resistance training. In six months, after my next biopsy, my PSA score had dropped to 2.6. It did gradually increase and was at 4.2 when I had the operation.
How I would advise a recently diagnosed man:
Stop. Take a deep breath, and learn all you can about your situation. If your Gleason score after biopsy is low, then you have time for research. Also, get a second opinion. Talk to a Urologist, Radiologist, and an Oncologist. Check out all approved treatments.