Diagnosed with a silent disease: Thankfully my prostate cancer was detected before it was too late

Cancer wasn’t something Anil ever thought about. He was busy commuting to work at Canary Wharf, spending time with his wife and teenage family, cheering on Wolverhampton FC, and enjoying his passion for travel.

“I get a free annual Bupa health check through work, which I always take advantage of, and yearly GP check-ups.”

Following his recent Bupa check, Anil was told his PSA level had risen from 2.97 in 2023 to 3.26 and was advised to see a specialist to rule out prostate cancer.

“Prostate cancer was never on my mind. I was 53, with no symptoms and assumed this was just a precautionary step.

The consultant I chose performed a digital rectal exam and reassured me my prostate felt soft, which was a good sign but given my age, he recommended an MRI scan just to be sure. The MRI results showed a small area of concern but even then, the consultant felt sure it was just inflammation and suggested painkillers and going back a month later. When a second scan showed no improvement, he recommended a biopsy. When the results came, he told me he had good news and bad news.  The bad news was I had grade 2 prostate cancer, but the good news was we’d caught it early”.

“Hearing the words ‘You have prostate cancer’ was a huge shock. Up to that moment, every conversation reassured me it was nothing serious. I had no symptoms, no pain, no warning signs - so from my perspective, I had been going through these appointments just for peace of mind.  Now, I was faced with the reality of cancer and had to decide on the next steps. Thankfully, because my cancer was detected early, I still had treatment options, although at the time, the information felt overwhelming.

My choices were:

1. Monitor things and do nothing. That didn’t sit well with me, as it felt I was  being told I’d got cancer but to do nothing until it possibly got worse

2. Undergo an invasive procedure called HIFU where sound waves are used to destroy the cancer cells

3. Have surgery to completely remove the prostate

 I wasn’t keen on an invasive approach, so I asked if there were any other options. That’s when I was referred to Dr. Philip Camilleri at GenesisCare in Oxford to discuss MRI-guided radiotherapy on the MRIdian MR Linac.

“When I saw Dr Camilleri, I was immediately put at ease. He explained exactly what the treatment involved and how it would be completed in just 5 sessions over alternate days. I read testimonials on the GenesisCare website from men who’d had this treatment which really helped convince me this was the right direction for me.  It’s all very well hearing it from a clinician but reading a lived experience made a big difference to me.”

Dr Camilleri explains: “Anil was a suitable candidate for MR-guided stereotactic radiotherapy because he had low volume intermediate-risk prostate cancer which was confined to the prostate. This allowed us to utilise the accuracy of MR guidance to significantly reduce side effects compared to conventional treatment. This approach also meant Anil didn’t require hormone therapy, which often comes with negative impacts on well-being, such as fatigue, mood changes, and loss of libido. Stereotactic radiotherapy offered a non-invasive and highly effective alternative that aligned with Anil's wishes and goals, providing a more targeted, less disruptive treatment option.”

Anil continues; “Initially I was worried about side effects, especially since Dr Camilleri explained I’d be receiving the same radiation dose as a conventional 20 - 37 session plan. But I needn’t have – the treatment for me was completely pain-free and it was great to have my cancer treated in less than 2 weeks. The only side effect I had was a little tiredness.