I'm new to forum ... Hi!

I didn't find this forum until my treatment was started... I'm late 50's fit, eat healthy, never smoked, don't drink much and live a healthy lifestyle....I apologise in advance but I'm a detail person so didn't want to miss anything out.

Thanks again to Sir Chris Hoy, I was at the local GP January 7th this year and asked to have a blood test to check my health and PSA. I seldom need to visit our local practice, I didn't have any health issues and was not taking any medications. So I thought all would be well...

5th February I had my blood test and received a call a few days later to say my levels were higher than normal.

I was told my PSA was 7.7 but I do have an active job and the day before I was carrying some heavy machinery and climbing a ladder so a second test was booked 26th January and I was told to take it easy. No heavy work, cycling etc. The second PSA test came back at 8.0 so our GP who is excellent made contact with the Western General in Edinburgh to seek specialist help.

I got a letter with an MRI appointment 17th April and awaited the results, early May I was told I had a small shadow on the left side of my prostate. It's small on the left side and contained and I'd need to have a biopsy to check it out fully. Things moved along quite quickly and on the 20th May I had my biopsy. 2nd July we met with a specialist who was very professional and got the bad news that the shadow was cancerous. 

My life changed as I never expected to hear those words, i lived a clean life and it was a massive shock. Fortunately my partner was with me which helped tremendously. After the bad news everything else was positive as the diagnosis- T2 N0 MX Gleason 3 + 4 = 7 (4/6 cores left side, right side benign) PSA 8.0 60cc prostate CPG2. Only 5% of 4 result were 4 so 95% were 3. So a small tumour it not growing fast and its a common treatable cancer.

The consultant said I'm young, fit and active and the cancer was small (around 15mm) but importantly had not spread outside of the prostate so there were lots of possible treatments. I think we counted 8 from Active Surveylance to a complete removal. Plus a trial call PART. So 9 options. Most of the treatments would need me to take anti androgen drugs for 3 months beforehand as my prostate was enlarged being 60cc rather than 50cc.And we have to decide which is the best option for us. Quite overwhelming to say the least.

We did get some useful booklets from Prostate Scotland to read but left this for a day or two until the diagnosis sunk in. 

My wife! (After being together for 30 years the news pushed us to get married) and I met with a surgeon and a radiotherapy doctor 18th August another trial was added called Precision. We put my name forward to be considered as there was several criteria to be met. 

On the Precision trial there are no drugs to take beforehand and the standard 5 visits are reduced to 3 using focused radiotherapy combined with a Ray Pilot Hypocath system.

I met the criteria and sighed up as our research found the survival figures for radiotherapy are the same as surgery. 

25th August I had my Ray Pilot scan catheter fitted and an MRI and CT scans done. I had 3 tattoos to mark an exact location for each subsequent visit. I have never been able to see any of them but the staff could!

15/16/17 September were my treatment days each session was around 30 mins total but only around 5 mins with the RT on as it takes a bit if time to set up and align.

So I'm writing this whilst resting up and recovering as my treatments finished!

All of the staff I've/we met have been amazing showing understanding,  dedication and a massive knowledge ive nhad all my questions answered and great advice before and during the treatments. The doctors and RT team made everything as good as it can be, I never felt like a number and hope its all been worthwhile.

Will keep you updated after my next PSA test I think in 3 months.

I did speak with a couple of people who had prostate cancer and found it very helpful, one of them was on the same trial but a few months before me.

I hope if you are in the same position you will chat, ask questions and seek the support here on the forum.

I know I will,

best Keith