My Prostate Cancer Story

Darcy John

Darcy John

Early Symptoms Prostate Cancer has been a constant worry and concern in my family for four generations.

My name is Darcy John and I belong to a high-risk prostate cancer family. My Grandfather died from this silent disease. He has been followed by several of my uncles and cousins. My late father got the disease; As did my late elder brother. Neither of these two actually died directly from prostate cancer, however the disease did impact on their lives.

My younger brother and my sons generation are watching for early symptoms prostate cancer!

The Early Symptoms

On reflection, my first signs of prostate cancer as a problem were present several years before diagnosis.

Apart from belonging to a high-risk family and being aware of the family prostate cancer history, I had knowledge that I did have an ‘enlarged prostate.’ I found this out 11 years earlier as a result of a severe kidney problem. As a result of that information I was required to have bi-yearly PSA blood tests.

To get back to the early symptoms prostate cancer, the first thing is to understand that my enlarged prostate did not mean I ‘would’ get cancer. However with my family history it’s accepted that it’s not a matter of ‘if’–but ‘when.’

So to be clear–the symptoms of prostate cancer and an enlarged prostate as much the same. Generally they both causes difficulties with: 1. Urination 2. Sex Performance.

Urinating Difficulties

When passing urine I noticed a weaker stream. Then as time went on–’starting the flow’ and later ‘dribbling’ and later still difficulty in ’stopping the flow.’ Fairly normal for all men with an enlarged prostate or prostate cancer. The reason is because the urethra is squeezed by the enlargement or cancer–and gets increasingly worse as the problem develops.

That is how it happened for me over about five years up to time of diagnosis and treatment.

Sex Performance Difficulties

After talking to and reading about early symptoms prostate cancer from several other men, I’m convinced not every one is affected exactly in the same manner. The following is how I was affected!

About 5-6 years prior to diagnosis I was aware of reduced sensitivity in the penis. As time went on all sensitivity was lost. Next I noticed difficulty at maintaining a hard erection. As time went on the erections reduced to about 70% and lasted for about half the normal time span.

At the same time it was apparent that their was less ejaculation in volume. Eventually that reduced to almost nil. Finally the last one of these obvious early symptoms prostate cancer difficulties was pain at ejaculation.

This is how my enlarged prostate and cancer affected my sex performance fom about six years out up to diagnosis and treatment.

The Cancer Diagnosos

From the time of my kidney operations (11 years prior) I was having yearly PSA blood tests. Those PSA measures varied from 3.5 to 8.9–in reality it went up and down. One test may of been 4.8 and the next one 4.0

Typical early symptoms prostate cancer PSA results steadily rise. That’s what I was told by doctors, however that scenario did not eventuate for me. My PSA’s went up and down, but when it hit 7.9–my GP sent me to a specialist.

The specialist did the usual digital rectal examination and stated, based on his experience–that I had prostate cancer. However confirmation is essential and the specialist sent me off a six-prong biospy. The biospy revealed that the cancer was already outside the prostate.

When I went for the biospy I was fairly sure the cancer would be confirmed, but the way in which I was given the final verdict–was extremely insensitive! I was in a waiting room with several other patients and a young doctor approached and stood in front of me and said, “Oh-you’ve got prostate cancer.” Thanks for telling me I responded, the the dill went on, “oh-you didn’t know.”

I sincerely hope, that that hospital has improved in that area since those days. That young doctor wanted me to listen to him explain the options for treatment–in the waiting room! I told him I’ll discuss that in private with my specialist–as I walked out! Strange at that particular time–I was not interested in Options! I just got confirmation of having the ‘big C.’

The Treatment

By this time I was convinced that the early symptoms prostate cancer had let me down. My GP had been slow to act and the cancer was already outside the prostate. Prostate removal was not an option! At that time the best, meaning the method with the best chance of success, was radiotherapy or radiation.

I had to visit the oncology department of the hospital a few days before starting treatment. The treatment was for six weeks, everyday monday to friday. Each treatment was about 45 minutes.

The pre-treatment visit was to explain the importance of a good nutritional diet and suggestions on what you should and should not eat while having radiotherapy treatment. Also they measured me on the radiotherapy table and marked that measure by placing a small ‘tattoo dot’ on my stomach.

I need to explain this further. Most men had the treatment lying on their stomach, therefore they were tattoed on their back. I have had a lifelong back condition, and had the treatment lying on my back. Lying on my stomach was not an option. The radiotherapist explained that the radiation came from all four directions–therefore no worries. What that radiotherapist didn’t tell me(or didn’t know)was that by lying on your stomach–a man is able to draw his testicles and penis forward–out of the way of the radiation rays!

My equipment copped the full blast–no worries! About one week into treatment I noticed all the other men sitting on soft or air cushions in the oncology waiting room. I didn’t have their problem–they all had red-raw backsides. A tender part of the body! My pubic hair protected me from a similar concern, however I finished up bald in that area!

The radiation beam is targeted on a circle about 4 inches(100mm) across. An interesting thing happened with this treatment. At that time I had a ‘cyst’ on my left testicle–during the radiation treatment that was zapped away–no worries!

During The Teatment

I did adopt a healthy diet, and I believe that helped me throughout the six weeks of radiotherapy. I noticed that men who were smokers and/or overweight–were doing it hard! Having a good diet wasn’t that hard for me as at that time I was a vegetable farmer. So I had a variety of quality vegetables to consume. Also I reduced red meat to once per week and increased fish to four times per week.

It was not until the last week that the radiation was making me sick. That continued on for two weeks after the treatment ended. Nausea and diarrhea and feeling very ill–reduced my diet at that time to just soups, custards and ice cream.

After The Treatment

The radiation rays kill all body cells in their way–bad cells and good cells. I believe in my case, having a real good diet allowed for excellent and speedy good cell renewal!

A few weeks after treatment I was ‘peeing like a horse’–well–strongly anyway! However not the same success in the bedroom. Sex was painful, sensitivity was very high and ejaculation– non existent!

As I indicated in early symptoms prostate cancer, sensitivity was lost–however after treatment it had fully returned with extreme vengeance, resulting in painful sex. That did not last long as a problem–a few months. Without the prostate, the production of semen doesn’t happen–therefore ejaculation fluid is minimal.

 

Everyone is told that they face a 30% chance of becoming impotent with radiotherapy on the prostate gland. After about 12 months this was happening for me and by 18 months was obvious. The two nerves that control erections were apparently zapped by the radiation rays.

Nerves grow and re-grow very slowly. It took a further eight years and a lot of quality nutritional supplements to re-grow those nerves and re-gain that function!

Summary

After treatment my PSA was very low at .04 and for eleven years it has been below 3.0–I’ve generally had PSA blood tests twice per year and an annual visit to the Oncology Section of the hospital in that time. Eleven years out and all is well! Quite a trip–who knows the future! It only takes one cancer cell to take off again.

By maintaining good nutrition and using quality supplements–I’m giving my body the best equipment to only grow good cells!

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