John – Interview 37
John was diagnosed with prostate cancer 8 years ago. He receives regular hormone implants, which has lead to some side effects including an impact on his sex life. He has accepted that prostate cancer is unlikely to end his life, and doesn’t think about it much nowadays.
John had an instance of blood passing and decided to ask for a PSA test. The blood had nothing to do with the cancer, but led to his diagnosis of prostate cancer. He was aware that it was a common cancer, and that most people don’t die from prostate cancer but from something else in the end. He didn’t feel that surprised or shocked when he was diagnosed. During the war, John worked in bomb disposal, and accepted the possibility of instant death. He thinks this and his Christian faith helped him take his diagnosis in his stride and recognise that death is a part of life.
John feels that he got very helpful information that helped him understand how hormone therapy works to keep the cancer under control. His treatment involves a hormone implant every three months. There are some side effects of the treatment, including weight gain around the stomach, hot flushes and weakened bones. Having the hormone treatment also means that his sex life has been affected. However, he and his wife felt that they haven’t had much support in that area. He knows other people who have had depression and major fatigue from the hormone treatment. John now gets an annual checkup for his PSA to see what his level is.
John also has a heart problem, which he thinks is more serious than having had cancer. He tries to offer help to other people, and to encourage them that there is life after the diagnosis. He doesn’t think about cancer every day, usually just when he is due for his hormone implant. His advice to other people with cancer is to take a positive view of life, take the treatment, and forget about it.