YANA - YOU ARE NOT ALONE NOW

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT SITE

BRONZE

Tom Lisett and Caron live in Somerset, England. He was 53 when he was diagnosed in February, 2008. His initial PSA was 21.8 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 7 and although he does not give his stage it seems likely he was staged T1c. His choice of treatment was surgery . Here is his story.


I was diagnosed with prostate cancer two days before my 53rd birthday. On the very same day my father-in-law was kidnapped by pirates off the Somalia coast. No....I am not joking! He was eventually released 47 days later!

I did not react to the news of my cancer very well at all. To start with, I was fine but as time went by and I was waiting for MRI / bone scans and then the results....I became very agitated and was not nice to live with. I have a young family, two beautiful girls (10 + 13 at the time) and I feared leaving them.

My operation went well on the 28th April and I was discharged 2 days later. Incontinence has not been a problem and I was "dry" 6weeks after the op. Unfortunately, I am impotent and still am some 10 months after the op.

I have just seen my consultant today and been told that my PSA has doubled again for the 3rd consecutive month and that he is going to refer me to the radiologist to start RT.

 

UPDATED

April 2009

 

 

23rd April. I have just returned from my appointment with the radiologist. She has recommended a six and a half week course of EBRT and she has referred me to the BRI in Bristol, over an hour away. I asked if treatment could be delayed as my local hospital (less than 1 mile away) is due to open a dedicated RT building on 1 May. She will not let me wait and I have to start my treatment ASAP.

I will let you know how I get on.

 

UPDATED

June 2009

 

 

Hi Folks

Just a quick update on my treatment; I am now on my third week of RT at the BRI in Bristol. I am having to get up two or three times in the night to relieve myself and also have some minor bowel iritations. However, apart from feeling a bit tired, ( I think this is due to the 100 mile round trip each day ), I feel really good.

I do not know what I was expecting from my treatment, but I feel very positive that this is going to be the final thing that we have to go through and life will soon get back to normal after the treatment is finished.

I will let you all know how things progress from here....take good care of each other.

Tom.

 

UPDATED

July 2009

 

 

I finished my EBRT treatment two weeks ago and I am feeling on top of the world (nearly!)

Looking back over the last few months, I have been pleasantly surprised at how mild this form of treatment has been. Yes, I have been very tired on occasions but a 100 mile a day round trip, continuing to work and the treatment itself must contribute to tiredness!!

I had a few problems both during the treatment and for the past two weeks with having to get up 3 or 4 times a night with both bladder and bowel problems. Fortunately these problems are getting much better.

I now feel almost in a sort of limbo situation. I am now back to the waiting game and should get a letter in another few weeks to go back and see my consultant radiologist. Hopefully she will be able to give me the all-clear and I can start to rebuild my life.

I feel good. I feel confident. I just hope I am not disappointed again.

Take good care of each other.

Tom.

 

UPDATED

November 2009

 

 

I thought that I should share my recent experiences with you all. I was originally diagnosed in Feb 2008 which was then followed by surgery. Following 3 post op rises in PSA, I underwent 37 sessions of RT at Bristol. Throughout my RT, I carried on working and was "man enough" to handle and deal with things.

What a fool I was. I have only just returned to work after an enforced absence of seven weeks due to severe depression. The first two weeks were spent sleeping for at least 14 hours a day....I was exhausted and emotionally drained. I have had some tremendous support from my GP and more importantly my wonderful wife without whom I would never have been able to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

My advice is simple; whatever stage of the treatment journey you are on, be very aware of your emotional well being. It is a very long journey and we all need to take time and ensure we get enough rest. Depression is a nightmare; recognise the signs and seek help as soon as possible. [Dr Charles "Snuffy" Myers has said that depression is one of the most under-diagnosed aspects of PCa that he comes across in his practice. Tom is right on the money here.]

It is now over five months since I finished my RT and as yet I have not had any follow up consultations; perhaps that also played a part in my recent problems.

 

UPDATED

January 2010

 

 

I had the best ever Christmas present by being told that my PSA was now undetectable. To quote my consultant "the RT has done it's job". We had a really happy time over Christmas and now feel that I can concentrate on the rest of my life.

My next appointment is not until June 2010

Tom.

Tom's e-mail address is tscmlisett@btinyernet.com