Paddy, 52, Nottingham

Paddy is an airline pilot with a leading airline. He had never even heard of the prostate until a routine medical check and blood test by his GP in December 2005 revealed high PSA (prostate specific antigen) levels. Paddy’s PSA was 27 ng/mL. The normal range is between 0–4 ng/mL. A high PSA level such as this is often caused by prostate cancer.

Paddy was referred to a urologist in Ireland who took eight biopsies (samples of tissue from the prostate). “Not a pleasant procedure”, Paddy remembers. The results, however, came back clear and Paddy was put on a “wait and see” policy even though he had other urinary symptoms. Not reassured by this diagnosis Paddy requested a second opinion in the UK and, in February 2006, 14 more biopsies were taken, this time under general anaesthetic. Once again, they came back clear, but his PSA score was still too high. Paddy also had a bone scan, which came back negative. His doctor gave him a course of antibiotics in case it was just a urinary infection.

Luckily, Paddy came across the Prostate Brachytherapy Centre in Guildford run by Professor Stephen Langley, a urologist specialising in prostate cancer. “I read that Stephen performed a different type of biopsy which was more accurate and so I made an appointment to see him.

This time the results of the biopsy were all too clear – I had bilateral prostate cancer with a Gleason of 6/7 and needed to make a decision about treatment without much delay. This was now June 2006, 6 months since my initial PSA check.”

Paddy was given hormone treatment and external beam radiation before receiving LDR brachytherapy in December 2006, a treatment which places radioactive seeds in the prostate to destroy the tumour. “The short-term side effects from the hormone treatment and EBRT were not great but apart from feeling a little uncomfortable from the brachytherapy I had no other long term side effects from this treatment. It was so convenient – I was back at work almost immediately.”

Paddy was advised not to have surgery to remove the prostate as incontinence is a common side effect; “That is something I simply cannot afford to suffer from as a pilot. My career is very important to me.”

Paddy now has a PSA level of 0.08 and is optimistic that he is clear of prostate cancer.

Please Note: The picture is a model and is not the patient represented in the story