Hidden Cancer Case Studies
Over the past year, twelve couples have been interviewed about the reality of living with prostate cancer and how this affects their lives. They talk about the hidden aspects of this disease and the way that it affects their everyday lives and their relationships. You can share their experiences by visiting www.prostatecouples.com
Andy Christie
When Andy Christie found out that he had prostate cancer, following a routine medical check, it took him a few hours to find the words to tell his wife. Thoughts of his daughter's upcoming wedding flooded his mind and he tried to gain the courage to break the news. He needn't have worried. From the minute he told his wife, Joanne, she was there by his side.
Management consultant, Andy, 63, explains: "I was diagnosed with prostate cancer when I was 59 and I, like many people, had no idea where or what the prostate was. I felt perfectly healthy and if I hadn't gone for a routine check up, I might not be here today. When I was diagnosed, the uncertainty of the word 'cancer' was what worried me most, but the more I learned and understood about prostate cancer, the safer I felt."
Dance teacher, Joanne, said: "It took Andy a good few hours after his appointment to tell me that he had prostate cancer. He just couldn't find the right words. Now, after going through what we have together and coming out stronger than ever, after 21 years of marriage, Andy and I have never been closer."
Following a radical prostatectomy, Andy was successfully treated for prostate cancer in 2005. Despite some long term side effects, including minor incontinence and erectile dysfunction, which can happen to some men after different types of surgery. Fortunately, Andy is now back to his former self.
Caroline Rogers
It was only after Graham Rogers suffered a series of unrelated health problems, including a blood clot in his leg, that his prostate cancer was finally diagnosed in 2004. Graham was given a series of treatments for the disease, including hormone therapy, but sadly died in October 2007.
He and his devoted wife, Caroline, 53, were shocked to discover not only to learn that he had the disease but that the symptoms and the availability of the PSA blood test were not more widely known - hidden off the radar, in fact.
Graham put up a brave fight against prostate cancer but sadly died in October 2007. Since then, Caroline has taken on a battle of her own to ensure that more people are aware of prostate cancer and that the disease is out in the open.
Journalist, Caroline said: "Graham didn't ask for a PSA test because, like most people, he simply didn't know about it. Graham's could have been a very different story if we'd been on the lookout for symptoms, known about the option of PSA testing and found out about the cancer earlier. We had a wonderful, loving marriage and I'm thankful for that. But now I feel that if only we'd known about prostate cancer, and about our right to ask for a PSA test, we could have caught it earlier and might have had longer together."
Doug Gray
Doug Gray knows all about the impact of the hidden cancer. Having been diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer last year, Doug began a course of hormone therapy treatment. Like many men, Doug was not warned about the potentially devastating side effects of the treatment, which can include erectile dysfunction, fatigue and loss of libido - effectively left in the dark.
Doug said: "I was given no information at all about the possible side effects of hormone therapy treatment or indeed how to cope with them. I find living with hot flushes particularly embarrassing, especially when meeting new people who aren't aware of my condition. My wife and I are now resigned to the fact that our sex life is effectively over. I'm disturbed by the fact that I may be losing my masculinity.
"I found it difficult to read up about the disease due to the wealth of conflicting information available, whereas my wife is up until the early hours doing research on the internet to identify ways to reduce my side effects. It's not enough to simply be given a sheet of information at diagnosis. Men need to have the opportunity to sit down with a specialist and discuss how the treatment could affect them."
The Charity is dedicated to bringing prostate cancer and the issues which surround it out in to the open, campaigning for all men to receive adequate information about their treatment options, side effects and what access to support is available. It's Hampered by Hormones? campaign, launched last year, aims to highlight the impact of hormone therapy on the lives of men and their partners. Click here to watch a short video in which Doug discusses his experiences alongside those of rugby legend, Andy Ripley
