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.
my dad has to have his prostate removed next month and this has been very helpful indeed. thank you
Reply to this comment Report this as offensive
Well done Barry, we hope you are continuing to Beat It, You did the only thing you could, have it removed, I hope I will have the same decision to make soon, as I have been monitored for over 6 years, which is no joke. So once again, Best Wishes.
Reply to this comment Report this as offensive
I wish you the very best of good health, Barry. Thank you for sharing your experience.
Reply to this comment Report this as offensive
Omg this is aweful, it's really lucky that it got removed before it could cause any more damage! god bless you.
Reply to this comment Report this as offensive