Prostate Cancer | Be Positive

Len was born in Sceveningen, Netherlands, in 1946 and moved to Australia in November 1952 and then to Karragarra Island in 2011, where he has resided since.

A family man, he has three daughters, 10 grand-children and one great-grandchild. Separated from his ex-wife, he met his current partner at a yacht club busy bee. For most of Len’s life he has been healthy, with the exception of needing a stent fitted in 2003.

It was 2013 when Len was first diagnosed with prostate cancer. A physical prostate exam found an irregularity and a biopsy showed cancer cells in nine out of twelve samples.

Three of the sites were a six on the Gleeson Scale (the grading system used to define the aggressiveness of prostate cancer and which ranges up to ten), with one site showing signs of moving away from the prostate.

Len had a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) inserted, which is a surgery used to treat urinary problems due to an enlarged prostate. A combined visual and surgical instrument (resectoscope), is inserted through the tip of the penis and into the tube that carries urine from your bladder (urethra). As the TURP was installed, radiation therapy was the only option available. Over a nine-week period Len had 38 radiation sessions at the Mater oncology department at Mater Hill in Queensland, Australia.

Although the procedure was well explained, Len was still a little nervous. He found the staff at the clinic to be great and he was never rushed. The atmosphere was very friendly and they became quite acquainted, as the same staff were on most times.

External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) or internal radiation therapy is brachytherapy, a treatment targeted to kill cancer cells or injure them so they are unable to multiply. EBRT is given to the patient in the form of x-ray beams. To assist in guiding the beams of radiation to the prostate, sometimes small pieces of gold, also known as marker seeds, are placed in the prostate to allow for more direct radiation – this is called image guided radiation therapy. Brachytherapy allows the radiation to be directed to the prostate, limiting the effects on nearby tissue, such as the rectum or bladder.

The type of radiation Len had was external and he did not have any androgen deprivation, which is an antihormone treatment, used in treating prostate cancer. Len had the three tiny gold beads inserted into his prostate so the x-ray machine could more easily find the position for radiation. As another precaution, the first appointment Len had was setting up a screen to protect other organs as much as possible. The staff put three tiny permanent tattoo dots on his stomach to position him for the radiation machine. The same position was used for each treatment.

When going through the radiation treatment, Len lost weight, which he has managed to keep off, for the most part.

Len found it tiring travelling each day for treatment. As he lives on an island, a ferry is the only mode of transport to the mainland. Other than lethargy though, Len had no other ill symptoms and he maintained a positive mindset throughout the treatment. In addition, Len made sure to keep the communication lines open with his family and his partner, finding their support invaluable.

Len will always have prostate cancer although it is now in remission. He will not be able to say he is cured of cancer until 10 years after the treatment and so far test results are coming back good.

The check-ups began monthly for one year after treatment, followed by every three months for the next 12 months. Following the three-month check-ups, Len has an annual check-up which can be done over the phone. Before each check-up over the phone, prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood tests need to be completed and results sent to the oncologist.

Since being diagnosed with prostate cancer Len is taking more time to travel and enjoy the things he wanted to do, but he does them sooner, rather than waiting.

Advice Len gives to others with prostate cancer, since his diagnosis, is to remain positive and to give themselves permission to feel sad. It is during this time that family and friends can boost their resolve and help beat the cancer into remission.

In saying that, Len believes it is imperative to be aware that the statement of ‘beating cancer’ is not valid, as one is never certain it won’t return. There are no guarantees it won’t.

It has been Len’s view and experience that actively fighting his cancer, helped put it into remission, and he has no current reason to believe it will return.