Graeme's story

“About a month before my 70th birthday, I started to experience severe stomach pain. I decided to try and get an appointment with my local GP and ended up being assessed the same day. Based on my symptoms, they recommended I had a faecal immunochemical test, a FIT test, which checks for microscopic levels of blood in your stools. They also suggested I had a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test.” 

A PSA test is a blood test that looks for prostate specific antigen levels. PSA is a protein that can be produced by both normal cells in the prostate, and prostate cancer cells. A small amount of PSA in the blood is normal and it increases slightly with age. An elevated PSA level can be an caused by prostate problems, it can also be an indication of prostate cancer.

Apart from the stomach pain Graeme had no other symptoms. He’d had PSA tests in the past and they had always come back within normal range, so he assumed this test would be normal too. However, when Graeme went back to his GP to get the results, he was told his PSA level was elevated.

“My GP informed me that my PSA level was slightly elevated, at 4.3. I feel it’s important to highlight that I was just a few weeks away from my 70th birthday. Had I waited, or if the test had been a month or so later, the result may have been within the ‘normal range’ for my age, so it could have potentially been missed.

At this point I knew I needed to see a Urologist. I had continued to keep my private medical insurance policy after retirement, and this meant I was able to get an appointment very quickly. I chose to see Mr Cooke, a Urological Surgeon who had previously treated my father-in-law, so I was very confident in his ability.”

An unexpected diagnosis

“At my first consultation, Mr Cooke explained that while the PSA result may be nothing serious, it was best to do some tests to understand more. I had a physical examination and my prostate felt slightly enlarged, so Mr Cooke referred me for an MRI scan.”

An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan provides a detailed picture of the prostate and surrounding tissue, it can highlight any unusual areas that may need further investigation.

“I had done a lot of reading, so I knew an MRI scan would provide a clearer picture of what was going on in my prostate. I was really pleased that Mr Cooke recommended this, along with another PSA test to confirm the previous result, to see if there was any change.”

“After these tests, Mr Cooke recommended having a biopsy. Once this was done, and the results came back, they showed that I had a slow to mid growth prostate cancer. Mr Cooke explained that he would discuss my case with his colleagues at a multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting, so that they could recommend the best treatment option.”

“It was quite a shock, and something that I needed to rationalise in my head, but Mr Cooke was very reassuring and explained everything to me thoroughly. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy were discussed as potential treatment options, but he explained that due to my age, profile and the fact that I was reasonably fit, the team felt surgery would be the best option for me.”

Robotic-assisted technology

The recommendation was for Graeme to have a radical prostatectomy, an operation to remove the prostate and some of the surrounding tissue. 

“Mr Cooke was great and went through what the procedure entailed. I was made aware that this could be done using a da Vinci Xi robot at The Harborne Hospital. This is the only private hospital in the region with this type of robot, and I was going to be one of the first patients at the new hospital to benefit from this technology.”

“The benefits of having robotic assisted surgery were explained as being more precise, less invasive and having a faster recovery time. The expertise and experience of Mr Cooke gave me absolute re-assurance that this was the best option for me.”

The day of the procedure

“I live about an hour away from The Harborne Hospital, so set off nice and early on the day of my operation. When I arrived at the hospital I was shown to my room, it was lovely, really bright and airy. I had a few tests and Mr Cooke came and saw me, I also got to meet the anaesthetist who would be looking after me. I felt calm and relaxed about the actual procedure as I had been given a lot of re-assurance and information from the team beforehand.”

“My main concern was actually post-operatively, I knew I would have a urine bag, known as a catheter, which is something I have never experienced before. My memory of coming round from the surgery is quite foggy, but one thing I do remember is feeling no pain, and not needing any painkillers, which was amazing.”

Graeme’s operation was a success, and although his planned stay in hospital was 2 nights, the benefit of robotic surgery meant he could be discharged home the next day. 

“It was great to be able to get home the day after my surgery. The care I received at the hospital made it a positive experience, the nursing team were all very attentive and the room was really comfortable. I felt incredibly well looked after.”

Once home, Graeme felt some slight pain around his stitches, but just two weeks after the operation his catheter was removed, and tests on tissue taken during the operation have come back clear. Graeme is now waiting for the results of a final PSA test, which he had after surgery. 

Feeling positive for the future

“In the weeks following my operation, I feel very positive. I am in the garden, going to the shops and carrying things around as normal, and I feel good. I’m still a little way off from getting back out on the golf course, but hopefully that won’t be too far away. I’ve even been able to help my wife out, which is so important to me as she is a full-time carer for her mum, who has dementia.”

“I’m continuing to do the pelvic floor exercises that Mr Cooke gave me, and I am walking the dog several times a day, which I was able to do quite quickly after the operation, much to my surprise. Since having my operation, I had a few questions regarding the catheter, and whenever I phoned the nursing team they were supportive, helpful and reassuring. I have my follow up appointment booked in with Mr Cooke and I hope that will be the green light to getting back out on the golf course.”

Graeme’s advice to others

“My advice to someone thinking about having robotic surgery would be to do it. You don’t need to worry; the robot is a precision machine, and the skill of the surgeon is what makes it so effective. It’s a fantastic piece of technology which is much less invasive with quicker recovery time.”

“Trust the technology, these things are tested thoroughly and the top surgeons in the country use them. I had full trust in Mr Cooke before the operation and now I’m looking forward to being fully recovered.”