It will cover my experiences of being diagnosed with incurable prostate cancer at aged 53, which was officially diagnosed, with the prognosis, on Tuesday 10th of January 2023. So, why ‘200 weeks’? My personal prognosis was between 4-5 years, depending on my reaction to the treatment plan, so erring on the side of caution, 200 weeks covers the 4-year time period.

The purpose of me sharing my very personal experiences, is to raise awareness for others, regarding how common this type of cancer is and also how treatable.

For me, by the time it was discovered, I am beyond the point of my cancer being able to be cured, so my situation is more of an ‘aim to extend the remaining time approach’. I am hoping that this blog / awareness campaign may help others get checked before any potential situation gets beyond the point of being able to be cured.

I will aim to be as open and honest as I can, alongside plotting the impact on me personally. Those specific aspects will be aimed at helping others who are in the same situation, deal with the devastating impact of a prognosis like this, alongside hopefully feeling less ‘alone’. I plan to cover not just the physical impact, but also the psychological impact too, as this prognosis has a deep impact on ‘life’ and the plans I had for it.

I will take this opportunity for thanking you for taking the time to read this and I hope you will continue to do so, as I forge ahead with the awareness campaign.

WEEKS 200 - 196:

Although the prognosis was delivered on the 10th of January 2023, the first potential awareness goes back to the late-summer of 2022. I had some unusual pain between my belly button and groin area. That re-occurred in late-September, which is when I decided to ask for the first GPs appointment. That appointment quickly led to blood tests, which flagged up the initial high PSA level.

What is PSA? That is Prostate-Specific Antigen, which has normal / acceptable levels. A simple blood test can quickly flag up a higher level, which would determine the need for further tests, all aimed at identifying, or ruling out, cancer. A man my age should have a PSA level of 4, mine came back at 70.

I am pleased to say that various referrals and tests took place within a short space of time, all leading up to the end of 2022. They including a bone scan, MRI scan and CT scan, all designed to give the medical professionals a comprehensive insight into my medical situation. I will take this opportunity to point out that these were all done through the NHS and despite the high awareness of their current issues, they conducted the tests rapidly; the outcome of those tests is what I referred to above, during the 10th of January 2023 face to face referral.

Due to the fact that we suspected the worst, my wife and I discussed many things during the month of December, the true definition of ‘life, death and the universe’. Those difficult discussions partly prepared us for what January delivered. However, I can say, without any shred of doubt, that when someone tells you the words that your remaining time is limited, no amount  of possible ‘preparation’ is suffice!

To round off this introductory post, the first 4-weeks have been spent further digesting the news, alongside working through day to day life. Informing my children (thankfully grown up) and close family and friends, have all been covered off. Having to say the words, ‘terminal cancer’ repeatedly has, in itself, been helpful in focusing my mind on the reality of the situation I find myself in.

The plan is to post once a week, giving an overview of what key things have taken place, alongside delving into some of the aspects that I have worked through since late-2022.

I hope you will continue to join me for those insights and that you find them helpful.

Tune in over the next two weeks, when I will add weekly updates that have been previously written, just not published yet. Once they are up to date, I will move to weekly updates.

Peter