Scan Season

Life – Terror. Ecstasy. Fight. Denial. Flight. Failure. PAIN. Forgiveness. Reconciliation. Hope. Love. Peace – Death

Living / Dying with/of Cancer

Scan

Blood Test

Consultation

Twenty-third of December Two-thousand and fifteen, what will be, nine years ago this Christmas, I was informed by my GP that I ‘probably’ had prostate cancer. My world changed. Much has happened since; biopsies, surgery, radiation therapies all of which have had an impact on my mental and physical health, my career, my life, all of which, in turn has effected my friends & family.

Although the intervals between have varied [from 3-6 months], there has been a constant throughout; scan(s), blood [PSA] tests, consultation(s). I regularly have CT/MRI and/or PSMA PET Scans, sometimes a combination of either or all. Closely followed by, a prostate specific antigen, (PSA), blood test. Results from both are then sent to my oncologist [usually within a single week interval]. My oncologist will then arrange a 5-10 minute telephone consultation/appointment with me, approximately a week after receiving my latest scans/blood results.

Scan season, scan time – A one month process from start to finish.

Things can, and do, change and things can, and will, go wrong. Appointments get altered, cancelled. Staff changes – secretaries/administrators to consultants, even consultants, change often without any notification to patients. For example, I had a [scheduled] CT scan two weeks ago but I had not received a coordinated bloods appointment corresponding with it. Clearly there was an issue.

I tried to contact my oncologist. I have previously contacted him via his NHS secretary. I tried several times [via email] with no reply. I researched and found a phone number and called. His secretary had changed, he has a new secretary. I had a conversation with her (Sam). She arranged a bloods appointment and confirmed a follow-up consultation to inform me of my latest results. A four week process [scans/tests to results] becomes a six week process, stressful.

No ‘Biggy’?

For the past 5 -6 months I have been receiving biological immunosuppressed treatment (injections) for another chronic health condition. My immune system is compromised, the ‘brakes’ have been taken off my cancer [spread]. I kind of want to know but also don’t want to know what the actual impact of this is? My scans and PSA results confirm this. It is stressful.

My regular scans/bloods are currently at 6-7 month intervals, ruffly twice per year. What are they looking at? With a CT or MRI Scan, new tumours can be imaged (seen), a PET scan can reveal even a very small amount of cancer, a tiny tumour. These can then be treated, deleted. No cure, but palliative, life extending treatment.

PSA test results is an indicator as to how quickly the cancer is spreading. If the PSA doubling time is less than six months, cancer is considered aggressive. So you categorize patients as low-risk if their PSA doubling time is greater than a year and high-risk if it is less than six months.

Between scans/consultations there is no contact between oncologist & patient. It is difficult if not impossible to contact/interact with a consultant outside of these parameters. In reality, patients get two chances, [20 minutes per year], to discuss their cancer with a [their] consultant.

It is easy to fall into the trap of dying and not living? It is vital that I enjoy [live] thru what time I have left and not spend precious time just dying?

The emotional stress about scans and scan results even has its own term – ‘scanxiety’. ‘Scanxiety’ is defined as a ‘cancer patient’s fear and worry associated with imaging, both before and after a test (before the results are revealed). People ask me, ‘does it get any easier’? Waiting to find out how much more your cancer has progressed?

Initially yes, as in at the beginning it is difficult coming to terms with everything? After the shock comes some resolution, determination to ‘live’ and after that comes life, making the most of your life, what life you have left? Easier said than done but can be accomplished only if you put to one side, ignore the reality that you have limited time but be realistic about it, that the clock is ticking. Now as I am entering the next [final] phase it has become difficult again? I find myself having to come to terms with my own mortality (again) but this time with the reality that this is much closer now but also the fear of what is to come. Cancer, a cancer death is not a nice ending.

Living / Dying with Cancer

Get a PSA test guys, do it today, lie if you have to, but don’t take ‘no’ for an answer?

See your GP (good luck with that)!

Say that you have been getting up to pee more often during the night and you want a precautionary PSA blood test.

Thanks for Reading

#Peace