Cancer Weekly. No.14. 18th July 2016
It is now over 18 months since my last message and things have changed slowly. I still visit the Macmillan centre every 3 months for PSA reports on the blood tests. Two months ago the level was measured at 0.06 its highest level since the prostatectomy. Dr Davda sent me for a PSMA (Prostate-specific Membrane Antigen) scan which is a new one for me and is designed to detect small amounts of prostate cancer in the body. It is a type of PET-CT scan and requires an injection of a radioactive mayterial an hour or so before the scan. Just prior to this I had had an ultrasound scan on a small lump on my rib cage and radiographer told me it looked like the growth had grown its own blood supply and my doctors would be concerned. For this reason, when I went into the centre for the PSMA results I was wondering about whether I’d have to cancel a 6 week holiday with my son due to begin the following day.
Fortunately the results were much better than I had feared. The same technician who had put the willies up me wrote a report saying there was nothing of concern about the growth. The PSMA test showed no sign of cancer and my PSA reading had gone down to 0.04. It couldn’t really have been better so the holiday was a real celebration. However at last week’s meeting the PSA had once again risen to 0.06 and it was decided that I should have another ultrasound scan on the chest lump and continue to be watched. This PSA reading which is the same as what it was 6 months ago continuing the general trend of a slight rise over the past 2 years. This could be accounted for by a natural fluctuation and I hope it continues to hover around this level. The situation is still that we will wait to see if it reaches 0.1 before considering radiotherapy.
An unexpected problem was the appearance of an abdominal hernia. I’ve no idea if this would have happened anyway or whether it was a result of the surgical interventions in the trousers department but it had to be sorted out. Having suffered from horrible dizzyness after all previous operation anaesthetics I asked for an epidural instead. About 3 days after the operation I had the most painful and persisitent headache that lasted for a few days and developed into a permanent neck ache. I still have this problem after 8 months and I have recently had to visit the hospital’s Pain Control Clinic. There I was told that the pain is not likely to be related to the epidural and I’d need an MRI scan. So once again I’m back in the seemingly never ending process of consultations, scans and treatment and waiting. Since the Da Vinci machine did its work I have had three other operations and all the ensuing treatments that follow. 
It is clear to me that all surgery has unwanted side effects but hopefully the benefits outweigh these. I’m looking forward to a period where nothing else needs attention.
One the bright side, the Coloplast Titan penis insert is functioning well and gives little discomfort. I don’t have any physical side effects from the prostatectomy and apart from the neck ache the hernia operation hasn’t caused further discomfort. However, given that I was feeling fine as I set off on holiday I suppose something had to happen. 
After 10 days during a motorbike trip around Flores, Indonesia, I managed to drop the bike on my ankle and ripped a tendon away from the heel bone. 2 months later it’s still not better so as well as my regular visits to UCH I now also attend Homerton hospital for regular physiotherapy. I could get used to this.
I’ll let you know if and when my book is published. Based around these emails and complemented by factual information, it will be called Cancer Times.
Hoping you are happy and healthy.
Luv Magnus x