Success stories

Paddy Kelly
Graham Robson
Max Stinchcombe

Paddy Kelly, 52, Nottingham

Paddy Kelly is an airline pilot with a leading airline. He had never even heard of the prostate until a routine medical check and blood test by my GP in December 2005 revealed a high PSA (prostate specific antigen). Paddy's PSA was 27ng/ml. The normal range is between 0-4ng/ml. A high PSA score such as this is often indicative of prostate cancer.

Paddy was referred to an urologist in Ireland who took eight biopsies. "Not a pleasant procedure", Paddy remembers. The results, however, came back clear and Paddy was put on a "wait and see" policy even though he had other symptoms. Not reassured by this diagnosis Paddy requested a second opinion in the UK and, in February 2006, 14 more biopsies were taken this time under general anesthetic. Once again they came back clear. But his PSA score was still too high. Paddy also had a bone scan, which came back negative. His doctor gave him a course of antibiotics in case it was just a urinary infection.

"I was becoming increasingly concerned", said Paddy. "My mother had died of cancer and my sister had breast cancer, so I decided to go on line and do my own research."

Luckily, Paddy came across the St Luke's Cancer Centre in Guildford run by Professor Stephen Langley, an urologist specializing in prostate cancer. "I read that Stephen performed a different type of biopsy which was more accurate and so I made an appointment to see him. This time the results of the biopsy were all too clear - I had bilateral prostate cancer with a Gleason of 6/7 and needed to make a decision about treatment without much delay. This was now June 2006, six months since my initial PSA check."

Paddy was given hormone treatment and external beam radiation before receiving LDR brachytherapy in December 2006, a treatment which places radio active seeds in the prostate to destroy the tumour. "The short time side effects from the hormone treatment and EBR were not great but apart from feeling a little uncomfortable from the brachytherapy I had no other long term side effects from this treatment. It was so convenient - I was back at work almost immediately."

Paddy was advised not to have surgery to remove the prostate as incontinence is a common side effect. "That is something I simply cannot afford to suffer from as a pilot. My career is very important to me".

Paddy now has a PSA score of 0.08 and is optimistic that he is clear of cancer!!

Graham Robson, 53, Aberdeen

As CEO of V.People, a successful man management company in Aberdeen, and with four demanding children, Graham really did not have the time to be ill, so when he got the results from a routine medical check-up that he had a PSA score of 6.5 he was shocked.

"I had booked in for a BUPA medical check last May just to make sure everything was in working order before I embarked on a 120 mile charity bike ride " said Graham. "I had trained hard for the ride and was feeling fit and healthy so when the doctor said I had prostate cancer, I was totally taken aback."

"My initial reaction was to have surgery and just cut it out, but when I was told that it could take three months to fully recover and that there was a strong possibility that I would get erectile and urinary problems after surgery, I realised that my life may never be the same again".

Deciding that surgery was not an option, Graham was given the alternative choice of external beam radiation which has a high success rate but still has the same side effects as surgery. A friend, however, mentioned that he had read about the St Luke's Cancer Centre in Guildford which was pioneering research into prostate cancer.

"I looked them up on the web and read about LDR brachytherapy, a non-invasive treatment which injects radioactive seeds into the tumour", said Graham. "I had not heard of this treatment before but it sounded a good option to me".

Graham went to see Professor Stephen Langley at the Centre. "I was worried how successful the treatment would be and what would happen if it did not work and the Centre was, of course, a long way from home." However, Professor Stephen Langley reassured Graham that LDR brachytherapy had a high success rate with fewer side effects than surgery and that he could be back home and at work again very soon.

"I went in for the brachytherapy procedure in the morning and was out of bed in the afternoon and home the next day. It was that quick and painless", said Graham.

Max Stinchcombe, 54, Southampton

Max is a happily married man with two children who has a rewarding career as a bank manager in Southampton and likes to spend his weekends on the golf course. In fact, it was on the golf course four years ago that he first learnt he had prostate cancer.

"I had just had a routine company medical which showed a slightly elevated PSA (prostate specific antigen) score which I was told could be indicative of the early stages of prostate cancer. My wife was very concerned and insisted that I go to the GP to get it checked out. My GP immediately referred me to a urologist who took a rather painful biopsy."

The results of the biopsy were due back on the day of an important golf match, so Max left his wife to take the call convinced nothing was wrong. "I will always remember my wife calling me on the first.hole with the momentous words - Max, you have cancer", said Max. "I immediately went into the stereotypic man's response by denying anything was wrong and carried on playing golf as usual. I even stayed for the prize giving ceremony in the evening."

When Max got home he found his wife in tears and he realized the potential severity of his condition. "I decided to take control of this disease and went on-line to research possible treatment options", said Max. "I also contacted the Prostate Cancer Charity which had fantastic patient information and were extremely helpful. The treatment I decided I wanted was brachytherapy, a convenient `one-stop shop` which uses radioactive seeds to destroy the cancer cells. Results showed that the side effects from brachytherapy were less severe in terms of incontinence and impotance than traditional surgery and that was very important to me as I was only 50 at the time."

Max had his brachytherapy at the St Luke's Cancer Centre in Guildford performed by Professor Stephen Langley. "I was slightly sore and uncomfortable afterwards, but had no side effects and was back at work in two days. So far there is no sign of the cancer returning"

Max actually had to go to the USA four months after his treatment. "It was rather amusing", he said, "as the radioactive seeds were still active and I had to have a letter from Professor Stephen Langley at St Luke's Cancer Centre to get me through airport security - there was no way I wanted another body search!!"