Beyond radical radiotherapy
Three months ago
today, I began radical radiotherapy for adenocarcinoma of the prostate. It is just
six months after I received a confirmed diagnosis, and it needed immediate
active treatment after consultation with a multidisciplinary team on options
for surgery or radiotherapy.
I worked through the duration
of radiotherapy and for a month after the completion of the treatment. However,
increasingly, I suffered more impactful side effects that started with chronic
fatigue, and issues with my urinary system that limited most outdoor activity as I
needed to be close to available conveniences, and one unexpected effect was the
way those elements appeared to affect my voice.
My voice became weak
and strained, usually determined by my energy levels that was quite sub-optimal
most of the time. While against what my body was telling me, I tried to
continue as normal, I really had to take a break and have added domestic
support that being at home did not offer.
Time off to
recuperate
The decision to travel
to South Africa while somewhat frail was not taken lightly, but I knew the
essential support for my recuperation was best under the watchful care of my
partner. I availed myself of all the customer assistance provided by the
airline for my journey, no sense of determination could have propelled me
through the experience.
I can attest there has
been considerable progress, the occasions of fatigue are less frequent, the
urinary issues while still needing medication have eased, the sound of my voice
is much better with a few relapses, and the painful discomfort that needed opioid
medication has completed gone and I have now totally weaned myself off codeine
with minimal adverse effects.
The weather in Cape
Town might have contributed to my recuperation. I can begin to consider a return to normalcy, which might take a process of reengagement. Much as I try not to have that preoccupy me and concentrate on recovery, there is a world to return to in the New Year.
Looking ahead
I am grateful for the
support and care I have received through the period from anticipation when I
first had exploratory tests in February, through further investigations,
diagnosis, and treatment. My long-suffering partner, close friends, extraordinary neighbours, siblings, and colleagues compassionately
accommodated my vulnerability with understanding.
Each time I present an
update, I appreciate how it was fortuitous that we caught a high prostate-specific antigen (PSA) reading when we did because at the advent of my
treatment, the PSA reading had fallen within the normal range, but for the fact
that an MRI scan leading to a biopsy had detected Stage 2, yet malignant prostate
cancer.
The need for men especially Black men over 45 to pay attention to their prostate health. Do the
checks and have the tests, catch things early and have the best options for
recovery.
Blog - Men's
things - Prostate Cancer blogs
Blog - Photons on
the Prostate - XIII
Other references
Prostate
Cancer UK: Black men and prostate cancer
MedScape:
International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) Calculator
Urology
Care Foundation: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
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