At the age of 63 in November 2011 I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer. It’s a frightening time as my immediate thought was I’m going to die. Yet here I am approaching 15-years later, still being treated and living a good life.

Upon diagnosis in 2011 I was put on Hormone Therapy (initially tablets then 3-monthly injections). Hormone Therapy stops the body producing testosterone which generally feeds prostate cancer. Lowering testosterone levels stave the cancer. Following various scans the Consultant Oncologist and Lead Cancer Clinician at Southend Hospital Dr Ahmed arranged for me to undergo HDR Brachytherapy at Mount Vernon Hospital at Northwood Middlesex.

Presumably it was thought that if the cancer remained within the prostate this might be the only treatment necessary for me. I also remained on hormone therapy until 2015. Unfortunately, in late 2017 it became apparent that my PSA level was rising meaning the cancer was still present and I was put straight back on hormone therapy. In 2018 I was advised that it was now not possible to cure/eradicate the cancer but it could be managed by ongoing hormone therapy combined with some chemotherapy could prolong my life expectancy. And so it has proved that some 9-years on I am, thankfully, still enjoying life.

Dr Ahmed and his team are an incredible bunch of people and I know they have helped a number of men in this choir to live a full life following their diagnosis.

Over 64,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year and any donation that you make to this charity will make a difference to helping find successful treatment for this disease that affects 1 in 8 men in the UK, thank you.