After reading about Andy Ripley getting prostate cancer seven years ago, I decided to take a PSA test regularly from the age of 50, as all you rugby veterans should also be doing. Unfortunately, I was wrongly advised by a doctor in Malta that my second test result of 5 did not warrant a biopsy, but should just be monitored.
In September 2009, I went to my family GP in England because I was getting a constant stitch – like pain under my lower right rib. He took some blood tests, including a PSA test which revealed a level of 7.3, and sent me to see a consultant. Even though the ignominious DRE (digital rectal examination) revealed nothing untoward, he recommended a biopsy. However, stupidly I managed to put it off, telling myself that I couldn’t possibly have cancer, and reading constant, and misleading, internet posts that the biopsy could give false positives, and could even spread the cancer to other parts of the body. I also read other sites that said that marathon – running, which I do a lot of, could increase PSA levels. However, eventually I was swayed by reading a second article by Andy Ripley in which he gave the advice that we should find out all we can about our particular situation. So I finally emailed a urologist friend of mine for a recommendation as to what I should do. He said that, although he was 95% certain it was probably just prostasis (enlarged prostate), he would have the biopsy to put my mind at rest.
In March I had it done, and after a nerve – racking 10 day wait for the results, I got the bad news. The big C! All 12 needle samples had come back positive, and my Gleason score was 3:4. The next step was to get scanned to see if the cancer had spread to any other parts of my body. I had a bone scan and a CT scan. I was particularly nervous about the results of the bone scan, as prostate cancer tends to spread to the bones and spine first, and as I’ve mentioned earlier, I’d been getting pain in my right ribs for months.
After a sleepless couple of weeks wait, I got the first bit of good news. Both scans were clear! The consultant recommended a radical prostatectomy and this was duly performed on May 1st 2010. To avoid a long wait, and because I wanted a less invasive operation with a quicker recovery time, I chose to have robotic, nerve – sparing surgery rather than the open version, and arranged to have this done privately. After choosing this option, I would thoroughly recommend it. Although it will leave you 13 grand worse off, unless you’re lucky enough to get it on the National Health, in my opinion it was worth every penny!
I was out of hospital in 48 hours, had the catheter out after 10 days and was back at work in 2 weeks! If anyone is in the same boat and can’t decide which type of operation to have, I will gladly pass on detailed comments and advice. Surgically, it was a complete success, and my first post – op PSA test after 3 months was 0.00, so I’m hoping that, unlike Andy Ripley, I don’t get a re-occurrence. Fingers crossed!
Some final words of advice to all rugby veterans:
• Starting checking your PSA levels every year from the age of 50.
• If it rises above 3, see a consultant
• If the consultant recommends a biopsy, don’t wait. Get it done immediately!
• If he advises ‘watchful waiting’, seek a second opinion.
• Don’t believe everything you read on the internet. Some of the stuff is out of date, and/or based on unreliable sample sizes.
• If your PSA level increases, buy the book called Prostate Cancer by Dr Jane Plant. It will give you all the basic facts you need to know.
• If you get diagnosed with cancer, it’s not the end of the world, although at first you will probably feel scared shitless – I did!
• Get used to the idea of assuming the foetal position while a doctor sticks a gloved finger up your back passage. You will get a lot of these. Not pleasant, but a necessary part of the process.
• A clear DRE and ultrasound examination doesn’t mean you don’t have cancer. I did.
• Be prepared to make difficult decisions about the type of treatment you receive. The doctors will give you options, but ultimately you have to choose.
• Change your diet. In my next post I’ll be giving you the low – down on what to eat and drink if you’re diagnosed.
• Don’t prevaricate. Eventually you will have to do something, so better to do it sooner rather than later
• One of the rewards of becoming an old fart is that you occasionally get time to reflect and think.
• I’ve finally settled on my little maxim for life. You can earn a living from what you get but you only get a life fom what you give.
• Prats – talking, writing and pontificating about things of which they know nothing – are the curse of modern sport. And I definitely include prominent former sportsmen. In fact they are the worst of all.
Thanks for these. Andy, and above all, thanks for publishing your story to the unenlightened like me. Without it, I wouldn’t have made the decisions I did. Hopefully, by doing so I have prolonged my veteran rugby – playing days by several years.