Allan
Simsee
and
Astrid live in Motueka New Zealand. He was 52 when he was diagnosed on
27th July 2006. His initial PSA was 1.9 ng/ml and his Gleason Score was 3+3=6.
He was staged T2a. He has not yet decided on his treatment but is leaning leaning
towards brakchtherapy. Here is his story:
Hi Guys,
I
have just been diagnosed with prostate cancer in July 06. Luckily it appears to
be very early and confined to one node of the prostate.
Discovered
owing to a nodule on the prostate during my regular yearly checkup that ironically
turns out is probably not cancerous but they found cancer adjacent to it. Owing
to my age (52), my low PSA and Gleason and the side effects of surgery I am leaning
heavily towards brachytherapy which is something that both my GP and Urologist
have agreed is a good course of treatment for my situation.
I shall have a meeting with the clinic in Auckland in approx two weeks to have
the CAT scan etc and then looks like the implants will be done by around end September.
I
am looking at Brachy rather than surgery owing to the less brutal side effects.
I would appreciate anyone else that has been in a similiar situation giving me
a yell so I can get all the information available.
Finally thank God for the Internet I don't really think I could have made this
decision with out it. I also found a book that has been a great help to my family
and I called Prostate Cancer for Dummies by Lange, written so dummies like me
can understand it and by a surgeon that has had the damn thing himself
Regards
Allan
Well
the decision has been made and I am off to Auckland on 5th Sept for the CT Scan
etc and booked for brachtherapy at Prostate Implants Ltd on 29th Sept. All my
reading and conversations make me confident that Brachytherapy is the right choice
for me. Fingers crossed that nothing in the CT Scan or other tests puts any spanners
in the works.
Will
update again after scan
Regards
Allan.
Hi
again all,
I went to Auckland last week 5th/6th Sept and meet Dr John Matthews a great guy
who runs Prostate Implants Ltd and started the procedure here in New Zealand after
training in the US Has done over 400 procedures now in the 7 years he has been
going The door should have a BIG sign up saying "Abandon dignity all ye who enter
here" But the pre-tests are not to uncomfortable and are done with full explanations
as to what is happening and what you are likely to feel Dr Matthews has a great
calm manner and really put me at ease, a genuinely nice guy.
Thank
goodness all the tests confirmed I am a good candidate for Brachytherapy and we
are all go for the procedure on the 29th September back in Auckland. So far I
have found the process really simple and seamless and consequently have my head
in a really good place about it all. One thing I have started is that Brachytherapy
is not publicly funded in New Zealand and the only way to get it is via insurance
or paying NZ$30,000 odd. I'm OK as I have insurance but I really feel for those
poor buggers that don't and cannot afford the $, as it must add real stress to
what is already a really stressful situation.
I
have written to our Minister of Health asking why its not available via the public
system and await his reply. If any of you out there have similar situations in
your country or indeed have Brachytherapy publicly funded then I would love to
know as once I am thru this next bit I am going to get stuck into this situation
here in New Zealand.
This
website has been of immense benefit to me and mine and I also really appreciate
all those that have made contact with words of encouragement.
Stay
well all and kind regards Allan.
I
went to Auckland on Friday (3 days ago on September 29) and had my seed implants
-102 of them so I am told - at 3pm The surgery itself was frankly a breeze with
the most uncomfortable bit being pain in the urethra following the cather during
surgery. Soon dealt with by morphine by the great team at the hospital.
So
far to today on a pain scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being very little to 10 being oh
my god the scale is around 1 maybe 2. Not bad enough to take the pain tablets
I have been given. My wife tells me I am very bruised around the perineum which
means taking a bit of time sitting down etc but nothing to worry about.
Came
out of hospital at 10am on the Saturday and went for a walk with my wife about
2pm that day down to the restaurants for a coffee. No problem with the toilet
either 1,s or 2,s so far. Since then have been on quite a few walks but am taking
it easy until a few more days have gone past.
I
could not have been happier with the standard of the surgery by Dr Matthews or
the Hospital service, the Nurses were all great and very helpful. So far then
so good and fingers crossed that now that bits over I shall continue to get better
day by day and have dealt to the cancer
Kind
regards to all Allan
Hi
all,
Just had my three month check up PSA is down to 1.2 ng/ml from 1.9 ng/ml, all
my functions are fine and I have come off all medications.
Each person has to make the right decision for themselves, from my perspective
the decision to go with brachytherapy owing to the perception of minimal side
effects has proved correct in reality.
I
wish you all well, good health and tons of grandkids
Regards
Allan.
Hi
all,
Just
had my 6 monthly check up and the PSA has fallen further to 1.0 ng/ml. We are
really happy that the procedure is working and so his our urologist. Side effects
nil and no medication now of any type
Best
wishes to you all
Regards
Allan.
Hi
there
My
apologies for not updating prior but luckily I have not had anything to report.
I have no symptoms or any side effects from my brachytherapy surgery. I was due
for my ongoing yearly check-up in May but my wife and I travelled south for the
winter to spend time with our grandchildren and consequently I have put the check-up
off till we are back home probably around October or so.
That
I have postponed the check-up shows my confidence that I have the cancer beaten,
my previous checks and health say to me that all is well and I am positive the
next check will only confirm that I shall be sure to update with the results when
I have them later this year
Meanwhile
be well and regards
Allan
.
Allan's
e-mail address is: simsee554@orcon.net.nz
