Patrick Garrett, a member of Rugby Cafe Writers, was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. He has decided to write a regular blog about his experiences to help spread the word about this type of cancer. Many thanks to Patrick for sharing this.
PART 17: Light at the end of the tunnel
May 8th 2025. Had my assessment today. PSA is zero, my high grade cancer is asleep with 80% chance of a complete cure. Prognosis will be clearer after two years and the end of hormone treatment. Next assessment will be on the phone at six month intervals after a blood test. PSA Blood tests every six months for the rest of my life. Do not drink caffeine as it irritates my bladder causing frequent trips to the loo at night. On the plus side I can have an alcoholic drink but in moderation.
Yippee I can see the light at the end of the tunnel
I didn’t ask but as I’m 80 next year I assume if the cancer comes back it will be palliative care till the big comedian calls me then they pull the curtains and it’s exit life stage right. (Hopefully)
PART 16: Update on my treatment.
11th March 2025. Radiotherapy over just side effects to get over now.
The ordeal was made a whole lot easier having my brother and brother in law take me not only for the company but just being dropped off while they found a place to park which was free of charge as I had concessions at the Arden Centre.
7th April 2025. Now into my fourth week after the end of Radiotherapy and hardly any unexpected or unpleasant side effects other than the usual tiredness, poor memory and hot flushes but they are mostly from the hormone treatment speaking of which I’ve just had my second today at the doctors.
Next Appointment with Oncology 8th May 2025 in clinic 6 at UHCW.
PART 15: My treatment begins
11th February, start of Radiotherapy 2.45pm till 11th March. I went in early and was seen almost straightaway to tell me all about the procedure. After that was taken to the scanner and lined up on the bed. The team then left the room asking me to just wave if I wanted them to stop or if I needed anything. I was under the impression that it would take ten to fifteen minutes but to my delight the machine went quiet and withdrawn over my head and the team reappeared, told me to get dressed and go home. All done, it only took minutes and everyone was really lovely. My only problem was finding a place to park and really stressful. Fortunately my older brother is now going to take me from now on and just drop me off then find a place to park. As I’m on cancer treatment he is allowed free parking. Roll on the next 19 days.
PART 14: Treatment is soon to begin
23 January 2025 after the 16th was postponed. I only guessed what the appointment was for. Set off early to be sure of finding a parking spot before the appointment. As usual the disabled section was crammed so tried a new tactic which turned out to be successful and made a note for future use.
After only a half hour wait I got in to see the Doctor. Filled in the IPSS (international prostate symptom score) form, down from 21 to 8 he said I was good to go for Radiotherapy if I wanted. I asked if there was an alternative to which the answer was not if I wanted to be cured with the proviso it might possibly cause cancer in 30 years time (30 years would make me 109) so I assured him I would be more than happy with that provided I wasn’t in any pain.
Next the Arden Centre will contact me in about two weeks for a CT scan to identify the cancerous parts then about two weeks later the treatment will begin and last for a month during weekdays.
PART 13: I am very pleased
3rd January 2025. Had a blood test including a PSA for another medical issue. PSA came back from 8.6 before the diagnosis to 0.4 with the hormone injections so well pleased. Next hospital appointment 16th this month to see what’s next. So for those that that’s all gobbledegook I’m very pleased with that result. Just waiting now to see if the medics are
PART 12: Heard on the news
Sometimes despite my own stage 4 worries this still strikes home.
Just heard on the news that a super fit gold medal winner Chris Hoy has incurable stage 4 prostate cancer that has spread into his body. He’s very bravely told the world of his shock at finding out and to raise awareness of this silent killer. My cancer road is just starting so I’m not daring to think of the day when I’m told ‘You’re clear’ because there can still be unpredictable twists and turns on this journey. Then and only then will I relax and think I’m the lucky one.
PART 11: A friendly welcome
The long awaited visit October 24th (well it seemed a long time) when I was expecting to get on with the final stage of the treatment. After being told on the appointment letter not to arrive more than half an hour before, it’s lucky we did as finding a place to park was once again a nightmare.
We were greeted by the most welcoming receptionist I’ve ever met in the Arden centre greeting us like long lost friends. She radiated friendly vibes and helped relieve some of the inevitable stress of the car park challenge.
The appointment was only slightly late. The young doctor called me/us, my wife and I to assess if I was ready for the treatment but after many questions it turned out other medical issues still needed to be resolved by the hormone treatment to avoid unpleasant side effects or even invasive procedures.
Despite being disappointed not being able to get on with it I was assured the treatment I am on will contain the cancer in place with a vanishingly small chance of it spreading before the radiology can kill it off (hopefully for good)
So another appointment to monitor progress in three months time and even then as the treatment I’m on is very effective at containment and fighting the cancer there really is no rush. The injections every six months it seems can remain effective for as long as four years.
We then were ushered out by MY Arden centre cancer nurse to another room to get her contact details and finally ask any questions we might have (I say we as my wife of 54 years is an integral part of this process).
Back to the car only to find everything grid locked with the brilliantly (NOT) thought out car parks with at least eight of which all feed onto one exit with multiple junctions and frustrated drivers not giving way to each other. After an hour we finally got to the main traffic lights controlled main road finally getting home at 7.15pm When I eventually get to the radiology I will have to endure this everyday of a working week (depending on the time) for a month that will be more of a challenge than the treatment.
So no more updates for three months (hopefully).
PART 10: Nothing is simple
7th October, 9am arrived for treatment only to find the injection was not at the doctors but at the chemist. Off I went to pick it up only to find the delivery had only arrived at the chemist when I did and had not yet been sorted. Return empty handed at the doctors to make a new appointment for later in the day. After some encouragement I managed to get one. A couple of hours later returned to the chemist then back to the doctors to have it administered. Why oh why is nothing simple this end.
Back home and a letter arrived from UHCW Arden centre for a consultation with their specialist on 24th October 14.40pm. Hopefully things will become smoother from now on organisation wise.
PART 9: Breakdown in communication
On the day of my urology appointment my consultant messaged my GP to administer an injection on 4th October. I think great, one trip to Coventry avoided.
1st October as I’ve had no indication of a time from my doctors surgery as to a time on the 4th for the injection thought I’d pop in and find out. Reception said the information from the consultant had not arrived.
I pop home and take them a copy of the consultant’s letter
Can’t get through to the surgery on 2nd as I was third on the list for over quarter of an hour so pop up to the doctors again. The Receptionist knew nothing about it or the copy of the consultant’s letter I had previously taken up.
On return home I messaged the hospital urology nurse who assured me they had sent the injection message and date to the GP. She then phoned the doctor’s who asked her to send another letter (all Hospital letters are sent electronically) she refused saying they already had it. Then magically the message was found but the injection was not ordered so I will have to wait till it’s delivered.
Bearing in mind this is a time sensitive injection.
The GP surgery ought to phone today 2nd to let me know what’s happening.
I seriously hope I never get really sick.
Update: 2.20 pm surgery phoned. Injection booked 9am 7th October. Just hope it is not that time critical as it ought to have been on the 4th.
PART 8: My treatment begins
21st September arrive at Coventry UHCW at 8am. The Consultant says he and his team are reasonably sure the cracked rib is just that but not 100% sure. The next question is how to proceed. I tell him I’ve not yet had any options. He explains it’s remove the prostrate with a machine or alternately hormone tablets for 28 days then go to my doctors for injections and finally Radiotherapy for as long as required. Then he checks my somewhat mature years and explains up to 75 is recommended to have surgery and as I’m 78 that is not advised because of possible complications including incontinence amongst other things. Thereafter he strongly recommended the longer course of treatment as that would also mop up any possible cancer in the broken rib but not necessarily completely cure the cancer. He was, however, very confident it would. Naturally I took on board that course of action and took the first hormone tablet today. Now that I have finally embarking on this adventure after so many false starts and well beyond the 62 days government promises for treatment I feel strangely relieved now that I know the direction I have to travel in.
PART 7: More waiting
17th September. Four weeks after the CT scan, I received a letter from UHCW for an appointment on 23 October in another five weeks. Eight months after the first positive PSA test and three months since the actual diagnosis. Seems like there is no rush to get on with my treatment, I’m not sure if that’s a good thing and there is no urgency as it’s not inside the 62 days of an urgent referral, perhaps something else less positive or the NHS just can’t cope as even the appointment letter is apologetic for a possible delay on the 23rd October. Oh well, more waiting.
PART 6: An anxious wait
12th September. It seems like a very long time since the 26th of September CT scan although it’s only 21 days. Today still no letter from the consultant so my stress level got the better of me so I did what I was told (if I have any concerns get in touch). Within the hour an email came back advising the CT scan will be discussed tomorrow 13th at a MDT. Multi-disciplinary team meeting (flipping heck Friday 13th). The nurse will update me Monday 16th.
PART 5: A week away
After a week’s holiday in Norfolk, back home yesterday. The weather was interesting with high winds in the fifty mile per hour range for two days. The caravan and awning took a beating but stood up well which is more than I can say about the tent we found in the hedge behind our van. I can just imagine the occupants returning home from a night out to find their temporary home had gone walkies. On the plus side this helped take my mind off my situation and my arthritic foot and back were always present to remind me I was still alive.
26th August. I got up early, had a fabulous shower after a week of cat lick’s washing. Stood on the bathroom scales to find I’m down from just over fifteen stone to twelve point eight, something I’ve not been since I was in my forties. It was somewhat of a novelty that I have hips again to keep my pants up. Nothing to do with the cancer other than simply not having an appetite any more.
12.40pm and my appointment at St Cross for the CT scan. As usual, there were no problems finding a place to park at our local hospital. Enter the CT unit five minutes early to be met by the radiologist. Straight in, lay on the table and all done in about five minutes and back to my car almost before I was due in.
Fantastic.
Now I wait for the consultant’s letter with fingers crossed all they saw was the chiropractors broken rib.
PART 4: So far, so good, I hope.
13th August. One more day to go before the results. 
14th August and a nervous night’s sleep. I got to the hospital early and faced the usual struggle to find a parking spot. After booking in, I wait two hours before the consultation only to be told they still want a chest CT scan on a questionable rib from St Cross on 26th August. The doctor apologised for a wasted journey.
The good news is apart from the rib that requires the CT scan no cancer was found in my skeleton. I am greatly relieved at this news as I’m fairly sure the rib in question was broken by a chiropractor a couple of years ago and that’s what the bone scanner has picked up though why it’s reported as possible cancer I’m not sure.
Oh well, another wait for the CT scan in our local hospital and then another wait for a consultation to find out what the next course of action is. So far so good I hope.
PART 3: Your support is most appreciated
Saturday 10th August four days to go. My nerves are getting the better of me, partly my own fault as I decided to extend my cancer journey to my personal Facebook page to keep my family and friends updated on this unwelcome pilgrimage. Only problem with that is it’s making the reality more real if that makes any sense.
I’ve had an outpouring of support from everyone which is lovely and most appreciated. My beloved wife is keeping me grounded as usual as have my family.
PART 2: Keeping myself busy
I am hoping this blog will encourage us chaps to insist on a PSA blood test regardless of what their doctor might think or suggest. The finger up the bum is not a very accurate test, even the PSA test can be ambiguous but it’s a serious pointer not to be ignored.
If I had the test when I first wanted one the results might (just might) have been very different.
Us men are not very good at things like this and the times I watched Stephen Fry begging us to have the simple blood test thinking what are the odds it could be me. Well it was me and the odds was against me.
Wednesday 7th August the countdown begins. Only a week to go before the bone scan results. Butterflies, moths and the odd pterodactyl have taken up residence in my stomach. Mostly settled quietly on their perches but ready to fly and flutter at every thought of 14th or indeed the mention of prostate cancer on TV or social media. It’s as if the media know I am now a target for their advertising on the subject.
I am doing everything possible to keep my mind busy, cleaning my car, my son’s car, cutting the lawn and even my neighbour’s hedges. Holidays are looming so I’m also preparing for that.
PART 1: A very nervous six weeks
For some years I had been mentioning to my GP service that I would like a PSA test mainly because my father died suffering from prostate cancer and not because I had any symptoms.
On a couple of occasions the doctor performed the prostate finger test but didn’t recommend a PSA test as everything seemed fine.
Then my brother in law was diagnosed having taken a random test organised by a charity even though he felt fine with absolutely no symptoms. He is now well, having been treated by removing it, then King Charles was diagnosed with prostate cancer which encouraged me to insist on the blood test. Well if it’s good enough for the King who am I to question it.
It wasn’t until March 2024 I had the simple blood test. On 26th March, the PSA test highlighted a PSA of 8 not very high as standard for my age is 6. A following test a month later read 8.1 so the doctor handed me over to hospital specialists and tests to determine the cause. I have to say from then on things started to happen very quickly by NHS standards. First an MRI in St Cross, my local hospital, then shortly after a somewhat unpleasant biopsy taken in UHCW city hospital 12 miles away with very large needles. I was told it wouldn’t hurt. They lied.
The results would take a very nervous six weeks. We received a letter to get the results on 24th July at UHCW and see the Oncology nurse. I thought that it can’t be so bad if I’m getting the conclusion from a nurse. Before my allotted time I was called in and introduced to a doctor called Donald McDonald. You’re not imagining this. Doctor Donald McDonald, though I suspect his title would actually be Mr as he is a top man in micro surgery.
There was also a nurse in attendance that turned out to be a McMillan nurse. Dr/Mr Donald started the conversation almost casually asking how I was but gradually got round to the results of the biopsy. He explained the scale used to identify the severity of the condition. One being hardly needing treatment up to five that was the most serious where a cure was unlikely and the treatment was prolonging the patient’s life. You Mr Garrett have been assessed as level four. My heart skipped a beat at hearing his words.
The MRI has confirmed it has not spread to the lymph glands which is very good news but he still needed to take a bone scan to ensure it had not spread to my bones which would not be good news. Donald then spent a few more minutes talking me down from the shock of this unwelcome new reality.
After this frightful news I was handed over to the McMillan nurse who provided me with an envelope full of papers telling me what support was available.
During the following days eating and sleeping became an impossibility. The nights were the worst when it was hopeless trying to turn off my brain regardless of how hard I tried to think of something more comforting.
Very soon after that consultation on Second of August off to UHCW at one pm for the bone scan. I had been very nervous and on edge waiting for this procedure, not so much because of the thing itself but the possible results even though I won’t know the conclusion for nearly two weeks after.
After the inevitable search for a parking spot, book in at the X-ray department in the nuclear medicine section to fill in some forms to attest I’m not pregnant or breastfeeding, soon I get called by a nurse to be absolutely sure I’m not with child and answer a few more questions to make sure I am in fact me.
The bone scan is in two parts, first a small injection to insert very weak radioactive fluid into my vein in my arm. I’m delighted to say it was completely painless using the smallest needle I have ever seen. It was a bit disappointing I never got any Marvel Comic type superpowers from this unstable nuclear jab but this is the real world. After that my wife and I are free to go for three and a half hours provided I don’t go near children or pregnant ladies or indeed anyone who identifies as such. Four pm back to hospital and another search for the elusive parking spot and the allotted time for the scan.
My wife is not allowed beyond the nuclear medicine barrier so we part company. I’m soon summoned for my scan that I’ve been apprehensive about as I hate MRI scanners and the claustrophobic tunnel but this is an entirely different set up.
The big machine seemed to be in three parts, one big tunnel that fortunately only my feet would enter. The other parts were part of the camera, one emitter above and the receiver below that would go under the bed type thing.
I had to keep completely still for about twenty minutes while the machine did its thing, the mildly unpleasant bit only lasted about four minutes with the camera/emitter/scanner was a few mm from my face then slowly descending down my entire body. The operator rescanned my face/head which I thought a bit odd and enquired about an operation I had over a year ago to block a fistula from my mouth to my eye sinus, that or he was looking for my brain. That was it, I was free to go.
The letter for my next appointment with oncology arrived the very next day. My next appointment is on 14th August.
Not eating or sleeping is now even worse as everything becomes real with dreams I have involving the results of the bone scan. If it has spread to my bones that will be very bad news.
As the days passed I was having good days and bad days worrying – some nights hardly sleeping at all while others reasonably well given the circumstances.
More to follow.
Find out more information
For advice about prostate cancer, visit https://prostatecanceruk.org/
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