My name is Ray and I’m from the UK. After experiencing a few worrying symptoms, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2018. I’ve since undergone HIFU.
The first symptom I noticed was an urgency to pee. This was accompanied by some other signs, namely a weak/interrupted flow of urine and frequent urination, especially at night. After a few weeks, I got medical attention and that’s when I learned I had prostate cancer.
When I first heard the news, I remember feeling fearful of the unknown.
While I was initially recommended a radical prostatectomy (removal of part of the prostate), I was given the choice of and eventually opted for HIFU. Deciding on this treatment plan made me optimistic and I feel well with minimum side effects. My medical costs are covered by the NHS.
Treatment took one day in hospital, 10 days wearing a catheter then 3-monthly check-up for a year.
The only side effect I had was mild incontinence. It did not affect me much; I was just tired for about 6 weeks. It was a minor inconvenience to wear a pad, but that’s a small price to pay.
With regards to my lifestyle, it didn’t really change, just gave me a more positive outlook.
My plan for the next few years is to enjoy every day. There are no guarantees in life, just opportunities. Take them. I wish I’d known that having cancer teaches you the fragility of life. To me, it made me appreciate life and savour every second.
TENA for men – that’s what I found most useful.
I’m retired now, but I continued working even after learning about my cancer diagnosis. Life goes on. Show it to those who might have challenges to come.
Because of the challenges in my life, my self-esteem has grown. At this point, you choose – you can be negative or positive. Live life one glorious day at a time.
My biggest fear was the effect it would have on my family. I didn’t need to overcome this thought; my friends and family are amazing.
Now I feel optimistic. You cannot worry about the future. Just live your best life today.
It's a journey. It has a start, a middle and an end. The start and end are two totally different things; it's the middle that makes you a better you. It's a journey; the longer you do it the better you get at it.
This patient's story is published and shared with their full consent. Any personal data that can be used to identify the patient has been omitted.
Click here for more information.