10:40am Saturday 13th March 2010
March 2010 is designated as Prostate Cancer Awareness month.
I was first diagnosed more than 11 years ago following an examination for an entirely different problem.
My doctor at the time advised me to have a PSA test (I was 54).
I did not know what PSA stood for (I’ve since found out it means Prostate Specific Antigen) and I didn’t even know where or what my prostate was or did. My PSA came back at 28.6 – which again didn’t mean a thing until I was told that anything above four should possibly be investigated further!
A biopsy followed and confirmation of prostate cancer. Then I had hormone therapy treatment and a course of radiotherapy over 35 days carried out at Poole Hospital in 1999.
I would hasten to add that a high PSA does not always indicate the presence of cancer and is more likely to be benign prostrate condition. My PSA dropped right back and I, naively perhaps, considered myself ‘cured’.
Two years ago my PSA started to rise again and at present stands at 92.3 and I’m back on hormone therapy.
I would like to suggest that there must be many men in the local area who are similarly suffering from prostate cancer and might find themselves isolated and unaware of whom to talk to other than their medical consultants.
There used to be regular meetings held in Dorchester where men and their kinfolk (wives, girlfriends, friends and family) could get together and informally talk over their problems etc.
This was discontinued some years ago and the nearest venue is now at Bournemouth. I would happily recommence and organise these ‘get togethers’ for the local area (Weymouth, Portland, Dorchester, Bridport etc) for anyone affected by this issue.
Perhaps these could be held quarterly at a local venue, where we can air our views, share problems and hopes.
I already have a willing urology cancer specialist who would be happy to attend on an informal basis.
In order to gauge if it is worthwhile to resurrect these meetings would any interested parties contact me at the address below, via email, k-newman@hotmail.co.uk or call me on 01305 834064 (evenings, please).
BARRY NEWMAN, 21 Buddleia Close, Preston Down, Weymouth, DT3 6SG
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