Since I turned 52, I have been undergoing a full medical examination every year. In January 2013, my doctor noted that my PSA level had started to rise (it was at 4.18) and that we needed to monitor this increase. By September 2014, it had risen to 4.75. By July 2015, it was at 6.01, and it was crucial to follow up more closely. By October 2015, it had reached 8.51.

My doctor then suggested that I see a urologist. The examination took place on November 18, 2015, and the urologist scheduled a biopsy for January 7, 2016, at Hôtel-Dieu de Québec. During this period, my life was quite disrupted. We search for information everywhere, which is a serious mistake. There are so many horror stories online that we arrived at the hospital for our biopsy completely terrified, only to realize that there is often more fear than harm.

Verdict

My urologist asked me to come to his office on February 8, 2016. Feeling confident, I went alone. The diagnosis was as follows: 11 out of 12 samples were negative, but the 12th confirmed prostate cancer (T1C, Gleason 4-3, PSA 8.54). The doctor simply says it’s cancer. We no longer listen; we only hear the word “cancer” echoing like a drum in our heads. I returned home by way of the office and do not remember that episode. I woke up in my partner’s arms, crying, completely disheartened and defeated.

From that moment, my life changed. We no longer sleep, and we struggle mentally. How do you tell your two sons that their father has prostate cancer? It’s not easy, filled with sadness and tears. Telling the rest of the family and friends was not easy either. We are lost in a world we do not know and look for information. The internet is not the best source of information: there is nothing comforting or encouraging among all the falsehoods described about prostate cancer. There are many errors, contradictions, exaggerations, etc. Additionally, the volume of information is overwhelming. A small booklet on prostate cancer given to me by my urologist (The Prostate Cancer Book by urologists Fred Saad and Michael McCormack) was a great help; it became my guide for several weeks.

We are lost, we don’t want to believe in cancer, we especially don’t want to be misled, and we seek the truth. After this stressful episode, I remembered a PROCURE poster I had seen at the urologist’s office. Searching the PROCURE website, I found high-quality information. The numerous testimonials (video or written) are reassuring.

We go through several stages: confusion, anger, the “why me” phase, and finally acceptance. We must de-dramatize the situation daily, accept it one day at a time. We fight and stay positive about the illness. I decided to react by changing my eating habits, according to the suggestions in the book by Drs. Richard Béliveau and Denis Gingras (Foods That Fight Cancer: Prevention of Cancer Through Nutrition). Physical exercise, a term that did not exist in my vocabulary before, has made me someone who walks at least 150 minutes per week (+16 km).

Support from a partner is crucial. Alone, I am not sure I would have made it through this ordeal. At first, we are embarrassed to talk about the illness as if it were shameful, but on the contrary, we need to talk about it to avoid keeping dark thoughts inside. My partner suggested I write down everything on my mind in a notebook and have a bonfire with it when I am in remission. It’s like talking to a psychologist. This approach was a great help.

My Choices

I had to make a decision about the treatment I wanted. After discussing with my urologist, the options were as follows: surgery (prostate removal), high-dose radiation, or brachytherapy (insertion of permanent radioactive seeds).

Surgery is the most aggressive treatment for this cancer, with side effects including erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence. I could live with aggressive treatment and erectile dysfunction, but not with incontinence.

Therefore, the remaining options were radiation therapy (high dose or brachytherapy), which results in similar but less intense side effects on erections compared to surgery. Additionally, brachytherapy rarely causes long-term urinary incontinence. High-dose radiation involves weekly hospital visits for 5 or 6 weeks. Brachytherapy involves only one hospital visit and seemed less aggressive. My choice? Brachytherapy.

In March 2016, I met with a radiation oncologist at Hôtel-Dieu de Québec, who scheduled a prostate ultrasound for March 18, 2016. We needed to determine the size of my prostate to calculate the number of radioactive seeds needed. The following day, the hospital confirmed that my treatment would take place on June 2, 2016. The stress level dropped a notch.

The Treatment

I was operated on as scheduled (permanent prostate implant – brachytherapy) at Hôtel-Dieu de Québec. The immediate effects of the procedure were minimal: dizziness for the first 2 minutes when I stood up, burning during the first two urinations, and swelling of the pelvic floor for 3 days. The next day, I felt like I was on a cloud; I was well both mentally and physically.

The side effects I experienced in the weeks following the procedure included fatigue, the need for a long nap every afternoon, and serious urinary problems (due to my own fault). I had intentionally stopped taking anti-inflammatories, which turned out to be a serious mistake with painful and anxious consequences.

After

I returned to see my radiation oncologist on July 25, 2016, for my first post-operative appointment. I learned that I had no urinary infection, and my urinary problems and pain were due to having stopped my anti-inflammatory medication. Two days after resuming my medications, everything returned to normal. It is essential to take the prescribed medication for this type of treatment.

For the next year, my PSA level will be measured every 3 months. This follow-up is necessary to determine if there is remission or if further treatments will be needed.

Conclusion

One must savor all the small victories and forget the minor defeats. Happiness with my loved ones is another remedy for healing, and I cannot do without it.