5 Years Cancer Free In August 2013 I went for my yearly blood test, mainly to check my cholesterol to see if I had to cut down on my cheese and wine intake (sic). A few days later my GP wanted to see me to discuss the results. It was a complete shock when he said my PSA count (Prostate Specific Antigen) showed a concerning rise from the previous years’ test. He referred me to a Urologist and after an examination and biopsy, it was confirmed that I had Prostate Cancer.
Unknown to me at the time, around 18,700 Australian men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year. More than 3,000 die of the disease making it the second largest cause of male cancer deaths after lung cancer. Statistics show that almost one man in eleven will develop prostate cancer during his lifetime. Men should have regular checks just as women do for breast cancer. Caught in its early stages whilst still confined to the prostate gland, prostate cancer can be cured. If you have symptoms (refer below)
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it doesn’t necessarily mean you have Prostate Cancer. It could be a number of other things that can be treated. I had no symptoms at all which made it even more of a shock when told, so I was very fortunate that mine was detected at a very early stage.
With consultation with the urologist, my PSA was monitored every 6 months. Because of early diagnosis, the best approach for a growing number of men is to monitor the cancer for signs that it is getting worse. Called ‘active surveillance’ or ‘watchful waiting’, this strategy allows men with early-stage or very slow growing prostate cancer to avoid treatment and its side effects -- or actively monitor the disease and to take action if the cancer grows or spreads. Over a period of 18 months, my PSA reading steadily increased so I felt then it was time to have the cancer treated, in my case, having the prostate removed (there are other methods but this was my choice). That was in August 2015.
