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BRONZE

Peter Dunning lives in Spain. He was 67 when he was diagnosed on August 19, 2008. His initial PSA was 9.77 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 3+4=7 and although he has not been told his staging it seems that he would have been staged T1c. He was persuaded to have Laser treatment, more normally used for BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia). Here is his story.

"A Word of Warning for men diagnosed with Prostate Cancer"

When I arrived in Spain 10 years ago I was not covered by the National Health, so like many Ex pats I took out private medical insurance which I still have and use - here is my warning get as much information as you can before you decide on anything.

Last year I had my usual blood test and my G P said that my PSA count had risen to 9.77, and advised consulting a Urologist to get more information. I am 67, both my parents died from cancer in their early 60s! When I made the appointment I was not prepared for what he was about to tell me... Looking at the page concerning the PSA count, he said "You have a Prostate Cancer!!! I am going to prescribe a tablet that you take for one month [which was saw palmetto], then you will have another blood test and come back to see me with the results". One month later the count was 7.77.

"You need an operation to remove the Prostate and the cancer", he said and explained the usual operation which is invasive and means about 14+ days in hospital followed by a range of side effects that may or may not affect me afterwards.

He then went on to say that he could perform the operation using modern Laser technology that is less invasive and with a stay of only 4/5 days in hospital! but that would cost me an extra 1000 Euros. I weighed up the two and decided that the latter was the best option!... or so I thought.

The operation was planned for the following Wednesday, I was admitted and later taken down to the operating theatre. I was given an Epidural and all went well I was linked up to the usual drips and so commenced the healing process, the catheter was removed on the 4th day and when I satisfied them I could pass water OK and was allowed home. A further appointment was made for one month later for another blood test to check the PSA which I assumed now would be ZERO! To my horror it was roughly the same as before - 7.86, my biggest mistake was to have paid him first.

When I questioned this I was told I would now need further treatment and he would give me a letter to see an Oncologist... When I raised the point that he had said he would remove the tumour he got quite defensive giving me no real answer to my questions other than I still had Prostate Cancer! He told me to make another appointment so he could give me my report which contained the operation results plus the Biopsy report, also a letter of introduction to see the Oncologist.

I won't go into the why's and wherefores but it took three visits as each time he had forgotten or had some other excuse, I was very angry on my third wasted visit as he took a personal call on his mobile! Seeing I was annoyed he ended the call and said he would FAX it that evening to the surgery! I called and nothing had been sent. I complained to the receptionist that now he had his money that was that, she apologised and said she would call and get the FAX sent! I made an appointment to see my G P for the next day.

When I explained the whole situation he was concerned but being professional did not pass judgement but said that I must now see the Oncologist. An appointment was made and once again the results of the Biopsy was explained, when I said that I had paid extra on the understanding that it was to remove the Prostate she then told me that they only remove part of it and as my PSA was still high the Cancer was still present.

She was very polite and helpful and a couple tests were carried out, she then recommended a M R I scan of the pelvic area that way she could pinpoint any cells present, probably going onto the next procedure which was hormone and radiotherapy. The following week I arrived at the Radiology reception desk only to be told that it would be next week. I said after fasting for almost 20 hours that was not going to happen! I asked her to check with the Oncologist!!! After a somewhat irate phone call she found my appointment booking.

To say any confidence I had in the beginning at my first visit to the up market private hospital were now very, very low concerning the liaison between departments.

The scan went without problems and I was told to make another appointment for one week later and the report would be sent to the Oncologist, so I did not have queue up on the day. My appointment was for 10.30am. I arrived as usual 15 minutes before - the receptionist told me to take a seat and I sat and waited, and waited, and waited. The nurse told me the Dr was with the Radiologist.

At 11.16 I confronted the receptionist assuring her I was not aiming my complaint at her but I was still waiting and no one has explained WHY! The doctor appeared from another door and she came over and apologised for the delay and she understood my anger. This of course did not look good with other patients waiting, so I was taken into her office where she apologised yet again and said she had been to see the Radiologist to get the disc and the report - the disc was to show me on the computer screen the findings. But she said "I'm sorry but he has not finished the report."!!! I pointed out that it was a week ago the exam was done and it would have only needed a telephone call to change the appointment day if there was a problem.

So instead of a certified report from which to read and an on screen detailed chart to explain my results it was left to pen and paper to draw and explain that the tumour was on the left side of the prostate. I then explained after my first episode I had now lost any confidence in any information being given and demanded my Report and CD so I could get a second opinion.
I was taken to the Radiology reception and told to wait my turn and ask for the report and CD after showing my card and NIE... I'm very sorry but they are not ready, can you come tomorrow...

This was my first experience from the very newest purpose built Hospital on the Costa del Sol, as I pointed out to the Doctor it's not about health now it's all about "MONEY"... Now living on my pension and the Pound /Euro farce, my last Direct Debit showed that the premium had risen by almost 33% as we age the premiums increase.

I have yet to decide what to do after I see my G P ...

I visited my G P and explained the situation I had experienced, he made a comment that other patients had similar problems with the Hospital, but made no further remarks. I asked for a receta to have another blood test just to see what may or may not have changed, the test was very positive in most areas as I have hypertension and diabetes 2, but the one that I was more interested in was the PSA count which was now down to 5.37.

I made another appointment with the oncologist to see the report and be shewn the results on the P C but that did not happen, I was told again I needed to start the hormone therapy followed by radiotherapy! I then showed her my new PSA count, she made no comment about it but said, "I have explained to you the alternatives. You are the patient; some patients decide to have treatment others prefer to wait - it's up to you, think about it over the weekend and then decide."

I arrived home and went onto the Internet to check for more information, I wish I had found the YANA site before I had been rushed into things! I found it by accident I read the on line book and found it very reassuring and the information was much easier to understand so I'm now thinking along the more positive lines and will now look at other alternatives and decide against further treatment and do a regular PSA check...


P C D (retired)

 

UPDATED

July 2010

 

 

Hola! Well, Spain has done us proud again ( I say that because it's now my adopted home ) not that my family approve of back in the U K. It was Nadal for the Tennis, and last Sunday the World Cup - for me the best team won.

So it's update time, a few months after joining YANA I started to look at alternatives and started my own regime of taking anti-oxidants that have a significant effect on retarding the growth of prostate cancer cells. I still have the small tumor on the left side, but I tend to forget about it.

OK, so my regime it's not a 100% proven medical but my GP goes along with it keeping a keen eye on any changes that up till now have not happened. I think any alternative is worth a try, for some it might seem like a snake oil cure, but I decided to try it and up until now my 3 monthly blood test that includes my PSA has hovered around the 5.34 to 6.72. The supplements I take along with a few others for my hypertension and diabetes are all natural extracts no petrochemical garbage! The main ones are all strong anti-oxidants namely Selenium, Grapeseed, Pomegranate and Goji Berry. Taken at different times during the day, they are easy to take with no side effects so for me I have managed to keep it stable without the nasty side effects of hormone and radio therapy.

I have my diabetes under control, along with my B P which has an occasional blip! But the old saying it never rains but it pours reared it's ugly head during last year's check up they found I have an AAA (Abdominal Aortic Aneurism) which will probably take me long before the cancer.

At the moment I'm on watchful waiting having a CAT scan every 6 months. Other than that I live each day to the full, I'm off on Sunday visiting friends in Portugal ( but I won't mention the game ) LOL...

Take care Best Regards

Peter in Spain.

 

UPDATED

May 2011

 

 

Hi there.

Well after managing myself for over two years my last check up caused some concern. [Although Peter does not say why, his PSA was 12.4, so presumably that was the 'trigger'.]

In a matter of days I had been to see three specialists and had two scans! The one they rushed through was the Gamma ray scan. They were sure that the cancer had migrated to my bones, but it had not it only showed my osteoarthritis was worse.

I had agreed at my first interview that if there was any changes I would start the treatment. When I saw the Oncologist, Urologist and Radiotherapist they all said it was now time to start and had already penciled a start date! - which surprised me. The oncologist said to wait in the waiting room and he would see me in a few minutes, he called me in and went through all the options. [Peter evidently chose hyo-fractionated EBRT (External Beam Radiation Treatment) similar to CyberKnife®] He said they had been testing double dosage with good results so instead of 40 sessions over 2 months they were doing 20 over 1 month. As it involved a lot of early morning traveling I said yes.

This is now my sixth session, so far I have felt no ill effects, but I do seem to drop off during the evening for a little while.

Peter.

 

UPDATED

July 2011

 

 

Well here I am posting what I think is my last update!...

I completed my radiotherapy treatment end of May, which went very well just the usual side effects for a couple of weeks. After seeing the radiologist in Malaga he advised me to leave having my blood test for about a month just to allow thing to get back to normal.

After seeing my GP today I can say it is down to an all time low 3.37, and to expect further reductions as time goes on. My last visit is to see the Urologist next month to confirm all is well.

My best regards to all... Peter

 

UPDATED

November 2011

 

I had my blood test end of October 2011 and my PSA is going down, 1.37! I see my Oncologist and Urologist this month to see what they say.

The only down side was my Uric Acid count was to high so I'm now on another pill (shakey shakey). My GP said it could be due to the Radiotherapy, or just another knot on the cord of getting old.

Take care, be safe

Peter.


Peter's e-mail address is: pedro67@lavabit.com