When your doctor gives you the diagnosis, a cold sweat runs down your spine and fear overwhelm you, but this is a natural reaction to hearing that you have prostate cancer.
September is international prostate cancer awareness month, and as a survivor of this disease it is my duty to share my story with others because when diagnosed early, prostate cancer is easy to beat.
On Friday 8 March 2024 I received my diagnosis. I had somewhat anticipated it but still dreaded to hear: “Your histology result is back, and it confirms cancer.”
What started as a test for sleep apnoea a month or two earlier, ended up as a prostate-cancer diagnosis for me.
At 49 (then) I was almost “too young” because prostate cancer is supposed to affect older men, but that’s a myth. Yes, it occurs much more frequently in men over 50, but being younger than 50 doesn’t make you immune.
The fastest and easiest way to get tested for prostate cancer is when your doctor sends you to take a blood test called a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test. This test measures the levels of PSA in your blood. Its results can indicate various conditions, such as an enlarged prostate or prostate cancer.
My PSA test score was elevated, and I was referred to a urologist who conducted further tests, including a DRE – also known as “that finger test”. This indicated something was amiss with my prostate, and he suggested I undergo a prostate biopsy. It confirmed that I had prostate cancer.
Many men are afraid of “that finger test,” but it’s three seconds of discomfort that could potentially save your life.
My best option for treatment was a radical prostatectomy which is the total removal of the prostate through the Da Vinci surgical system – a robotic system that helps surgeons perform minimally invasive surgery with greater precision and dexterity.
My surgery was performed on Friday 12 July 2024 and in less than 3½ hours I was out of theatre. By Sunday 14 July before lunch, I was home with six small incisions on my stomach and a catheter strapped to my leg, but just a week later the urologist removed the catheter. Within two weeks I could start working from home.
This procedure does however have two big side effects: urinary incontinence and erectile disfunction, but both return to normal after some time. The incontinence can take up to twelve months to subside, but I would rather have incontinence that goes away at some stage than have cancer that doesn’t.
Other treatments are also available, but these depend on the severity of the cancer and the age of the patient. Your medical team will advise you about the best course of action for you.
During the research I did after my diagnosis, it became clear that more young people have been diagnosed with cancer in recent years, but this may simply be because technology has improved and many more cancers are diagnosed much earlier.
According to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Agency for Research on Cancer, one in every five people worldwide will develop cancer in their lifetime. “Cancer prevention has become one of the most significant public-health challenges of the 21st century. It plays a critical role in the fight against cancer. Based on current scientific evidence, at least 40% of all cancer cases can be prevented with effective primary prevention measures, and further deaths can be reduced through early detection of tumours”.
Research has also shown that there is a direct correlation between prostate cancer and breast cancer. This means that if a father gets prostate cancer, the chances that his daughter will get breast cancer, is much higher and if a mother gets breast cancer, the chances that her son will get prostate cancer is also much higher.
ALSO READ: Eerste robotiese nierskenkersoperasie in SA suksesvol voltooi
Cancer is not necessarily a death sentence, but it should also not be dismissed as “something that won’t happen to me”. Understanding the disease, its progression and treatment options available has been crucial in mitigating the fear of the unknown. The fight against cancer is half-won when you know exactly what you are fighting against. Often, people diagnosed with cancer do not know what to expect, and it can be soul destroying. The fear of the unknown is hell, but by changing the unknown into the known, the fear becomes much less of a factor.
After my 12-month check-up in July, the cancer was declared to be in remission.
I am sharing this very personal story because perhaps it could help encourage other men to go for regular PSA tests, which is the easiest way to check their prostate’s health.
I urge every man over 45 to go for the test, even if you think you are fine – it might just save your life.
For more information on prostate cancer visit www.prostatecanceruk.org; www.mskcc.org/; https://www.mayoclinic.org/, cansa.org.za and cancerfoundation.org.za/prostate-cancer/
- Ben Burger is a the manager of the editorial hub at Novus Media’s Bellville office.
You must be logged in to post a comment.