Video
Narrator V/O:
Three years ago, Barry Quienan was 50 years old, and never dreamed he could be struck with prostate problems.
Barry:
The word cancer seemed to stand about 7 feet tall and they seemed to scream out at me, you know. It’s a horrible word which just means to me: dying, death, er, being sick, chemotherapy, you know. God forbid if I go bald with it.
Narrator V/O: The news was even worse for Barry as he’s always looked after himself and is very young to have the disease.
Barry:
It was associated with old men, either in their 80s or 90s. I’d never in my wildest dreams ever considered it would happen to me.
Narrator V/O:
For the last 3 years, Barry’s prostate cancer has been monitored with regular blood tests. He’s had some very worrying changes to his condition recently, so has come to the clinic to see Dr Jessen.
Dr Christian:
Take a seat
Barry:
Thank you.
Dr Christian:
Right. So, three years ago you got this thunderbolt. What’s changed?
Barry:
Erm, I’ve now started having blood in the, em, the sperm.
Dr Christian:
You’ve never has this before?
Barry:
No:
Dr Christian:
So, you’ve been fine for years and years.
Barry:
I’ve now got this, erm, quite a lot of pain, headaches, em, I’m soon to be experiencing pain in the testicles, particularly behind the testicles.
Dr Christian:
It sounds to me like you’ve got a bit of, sort of, encroachment on the surrounding nerves and that’s why you’ve got pain. It would be better to do something a little more, er, permanent, like surgery, which would be to remove the whole prostate itself.
Barry:
Mm.
Dr Christian:
How important is this to you, can I ask?
Barry:
I’m in a long term relationship, you know, we’re both sexual people, erm-
Dr Christian:
I asked that because preserving sexual function is an issue where we need to think about which treatments are gonna be good for you.
Narrator V/O:
Barry really only has one option: to have his prostate removed surgically. This should get rid of the cancer but carries with it the risks of incontinence and impotence.
Having had his cancer monitored for almost three years, Barry has had to make a life-changing decision to have his cancer’s prostate removed and is off for the first meeting with his surgeon.
Barry:
It’s now quite clear that I am, you know, becoming very ill. Erm, surgery, or, erm, urgent treatment is required.
Narrator V/O:
Although the operation will rid Barry of his prostate and therefore his cancer, there are some major risks.
Consultant urologist:
That does bring us onto whether we should save the nerves that control the erections or not.
Barry:
Right, well I wish you would.
Consultant urologist:
On the, I think it’s on your right hand side-
Barry:
Yep
Consultant urologist:
There would appear to be the highest risk of some of the cancer having grown out of that and, um, on that side I’d be a bit reluctant to try and save the nerves.
Barry:
Er, I’ve been told, quite forcefully, by Mr Docherty, which is what he has to do, that I will have problems sexually, erm, will have problems with erections. Erm, was a bit of a shock, but I’ve got a choice, you can live or die, and I wanna live.
Narrator V/O:
So, with Barry facing major surgery to remove his cancer’s prostate and the risks that go with it, there’s only one place he needs to be: at his beloved Aston Viller with his closest mates.
Barry:
It’s a way to deal with it. There’s not point in er, sobbing and crying and, you know, reaching for the samaritans telephone every five minutes. It’s not what I do. Yeah, it’s something we discuss, but in a joking way.
Barry’s friend:
Like, don’t get a season ticket next year, ‘cause you might not use it.
Narrator V/O:
53 year old, Barry Quienan, is about to lose something much more than just his hair. He’s facing the operation to have his cancerous prostate removed and the risks that go with it.
Barry:
It’s the beginning of of of, getting the cancer out. I think on the ratio of being alive and having a good life and sex life, is no contest really.
Surgeon:
The main risk for him, I suppose, is that I won’t be able to save those nerves well enough for them to function properly so that he will end up impotent.
Narrator V/O:
His two hour operation will be done by keyhole surgery to try and minimise the damage to the nerves that control Barry’s erectile function.
Surgeon:
Very very pleased with that, em, for a number of reasons. One is that, er, er the prostate came away with no difficulties and also the nerve came off very easily.
Narrator V/O:
The operation has been a success but only time will tell if all the cancer has been removed and if Barry can have a healthy sex life again.
Barry Quienan is recovering after having his cancerous prostate removed and has come to talk to Dr Jessen about how he’s feeling.
Dr Christian:
How long’s it been since you had the operation?
Barry:
er, three weeks tomorrow.
Dr Christian:
How’re you feeling?
Barry:
I feel really well.
Dr Christian:
You do.
Barry:
You know, I feel, em, you know the future’s em, the future’s gonna be OK healthwise.
Dr Christian:
Have you had any erections since you had the operation?
Barry:
Sadly, no.
Dr Christian:
Not, OK.
Barry:
Mm, well I’m missing having that erection, you know.
Dr Christian:
I think not having one now is normal, after this sort of an operation, OK, so I’m not surprised. That can take a little while to to to get, so don’t panic about that. Don’t think you’re never ever gonna get an erection again. Do you regret having the operation?
Barry:
Not at all, erm. Personally, I feel I’ve beaten cancer. Erm. Yeah, I do, yeah.
Dr Christian:
So you’re happy you’ve made the right decision and you’re not looking back now thinking-
Barry:
No
Dr Christian:
No. That’s good. That’s good to hear.
Dr Christian:
I think Barry’s pretty extraordinary. He’s got a lot of masculine pride in there that I know has taken a real rattling and and a knock down or two. I’m sure that will come back. The erection thing, I know is gonna really bug him, but even that too I hope will improve over time.
Narrator V/O:
5 weeks after seeing us, Barry saw his surgeon again and heard that his cancer may have spread to the opening of his bladder. He’ll be closely monitored for a year and then will have further treatment, if required. So, Barry’s fight against cancer is still not over.
Consultation: Prostate Cancer
Dr Jessen treats a patient whose Prostate Cancer has worsened in recent months and must now consider the removal of the problem gland.
Yes
NoComments and Questions
You can share your experiences and thoughts with other Embarrassing Bodies site-users below. Comments & Questions are reviewed by moderators, but if you see anything on the site that worries you, please report it and one of our moderators will look at it as soon as possible.
Please note: Unfortunately Channel 4 cannot respond to individual inquiries. If you have any concerns, you can check out NHS Choices, but ultimately it is always best to check with a health professional.
I hada vasectomy 30 years ago. My seminal fluid has changed recently .There is far less on ejaculation and it now very runny. Is this linked to prostrate cancer?. If not what can be done.
I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2000 ( my count was 10) to this day I fell that the count was not serious enough to take any immediate action but I was convinced by the Urologist to have the prostate "seeded" assured that this was the best method and the method with the least reactions - BULL- I have not had a hard erection since and my sex life was toatally ruined, thanks to advice given to me at the time and Now questioned.
i had hormone treatment and 40 doses of radiotherapy in 2005 after being diagnosed with prostate cancer at age 57. the cancer had not spread. my PSA has been below 1 ever since. Incontinence and erection not a problem now only dry ejaculation as my prostate has been descibed as the size of a shrivelled pea ! Only symptom was a slight reduction in flow - don't put off going for that PSA test !
Couldn't agree more get a PSA test done. If you are over 40 or have some of the symptoms get yourself checked out. A PSA test is the simplest way to initiate this. The internet is fully of hype about PSA tests being of no value but that's total nonsense in my view. A PSA test can be the first indicator that there is something amiss and do something about it. Go to your GP, or your chemists or Boots they have tests you can buy or if you are shy (and you shouldn't be) on the internet e.g. http://www.checkmybody.co.uk/PSA-Prostate-health-test.html. Whichever way you choose for me it's a no brainer for men like us of "a certain age".
Where do they do the insiciene for the Prostate cancer. len
What are the symptoms of prostrarte cancer?
Just would like to say that I had Postrate Cancer in 2002 (62 yrs old) and was due to have the Radical Surgery to remove it, but the hospital cancelled my operation to a later date. Rather than wait I arranged through the web to go private, and had Chryo Surgery,which is non evasive surgery. This is a freezing technique, and apart from wearing a catheter for two weeks, was a good way to sort it out, with no incontenent problems. Very happy.
My partner had his prostate removed Aug 2010, he had a very aggressive cancer which his dad died from and he has made a fabulous recovery. We are both pleased that the cancer was contained and had not spread to any other parts of his body. Like Barry my partner is extremely optimistic and positive about the future. We only have one last challenge and that is his erections, its work in progress, we are very positive about finding a forward.
My husband died at 60 of secondaries caused by prostate cancer. He was diagnosed at 55 by a very sharp GP as he had no symptoms other than unexplained lower back and hip pain. He had three years of reasonable quality of life with regular hormone injections before the cancer took control of his liver and eventually caused a huge tumour in his pelvis. An earlier diagnosis could have saved him - so send your men friends for PSA tests.
i had my prostate removed 2 1/2 yrs ago. i believed i would overcome the incontinence issue and obviously hoped the erection problems would subside. I am afraid to say in both cases this has not happened. I find it very frustrating to be constantly wet.I was told at hospital recently that nobody is ever pad free.is this true? as for erection problems there isnt the sexual drive,no nighttime erections and a problem keeping an erection.how sad. At least im alive.i had an aggressive cancer and may have died within 6mths
My husband had his prostate removed over 5 years ago. Pelvic floor exercise was recommended to control the bladder, which has been totally successful. Ask your wife or partner to help you to do this. Forget everything else....radical prostatectomy is Radical (capital R) ...you will be really lucky to regain any sex life. My husband's alive. That's it!
Hi Just reading this 10 weeks on from a radical prostetecomy and I must say I am now virtualy pad free. The only reason I say virtualy is a couple of times a week I use grade 1 pad as a confidence thing. The erection problem is not even slighly rectiying its self. Dispite trying Cialis. However I am under a great team at St James. I was 49 when diagnosed and had Robotic Surgery. T3 Tumor Gleason 7 with 13.9 PSA.
i had my prostate removed 2 1/2 yrs ago. i believed i would overcome the incontinence issue and obviously hoped the erection problems would subside. I am afraid to say in both cases this has not happened. I find it very frustrating to be constantly wet.I was told at hospital recently that nobody is ever pad free.is this true? as for erection problems there isnt the sexual drive,no nighttime erections and a problem keeping an erection.how sad. At least im alive.i had an aggressive cancer and may have died within 6mths
my dad has to have his prostate removed next month and this has been very helpful indeed. thank you
