The story so far: I started with a PSA of 14, Pca Gleason 4+5, and I
was in in my late 70's. In April 2006 I underwent a new process HIFU
(High frequency Ultrasound Sonablate 500 type, under real-time
computer control)) at University College Hospital London. The team
there under the consultant Mark Emberton had previously been
pioneering trials, but with patients under G3+4. I was the first G9 to
be 'done'.  

Result, my prostate was ablated, all cancer cells knocked out. I have
developed no metastasis.

However Pca G3+4 then found in left Seminal Vesicle. The same side as
my one and only kidney (congenital),  I was told my conditions were
complicated. A conference was held with the hospital's chief
radiologist, drug consultant and Mark at UCH to decide what might be
the best way to continue treatment. I was then asked if I would be OK
with a second HIFU. I have been trying to avoid drugs like the plague
(have not taken the Casodex recommended a couple of times over past
years). And I had similar feelings about radiology. All that, I may
add, after reading the very many posts in this tremendous support
group about the after effects and QQL of some of this stuff. One I'd
weighed up the quality of the hospital, and the pioneering HIFU team,
for me there was never any other choice, for better or worse.

 Now, dear readers,  read on….

Last Tuesday August 21 I had my second HIFU under general anaesthetic.
- this time on the aforesaid offending left Seminal Vesicle. They
hadn't done this op before. I was worried about possible side effects.
I requested Mark Emberton's finger to be on the trigger and I was
laughingly told, 'don't worry, no one else will touch you!' Good! In
fact he came into the anaesthetists' room just before performing,
positively glowing with confidence and went striding off, rubbing his
hands and saying something I can't quite remember but which was
equivalent to 'I just can't wait to get tackling this!'

Result to date -10 days later. I felt ill and rather weak for about
five days after the op. But like the first time, I experienced almost
no pain at all after the process. For a few days I had some small pain
lasting for short periods in my left testicle but these appear to have
gone now. I never needed to take any pain killers. I was cathetered
for a week- it was taken out two days ago. There was never any blood
in my urine. I am peeing fine.

The morning after the op I was told they thought it had gone well; and
they seem confident the darker side effects I feared will not appear.
I don't of course expect certainty this early after the process. (It
took a couple of months for the stricturing, and need to self catheter
for several months [which now seems to have passed] to show after my
first HIFU.) As regards that, when I had the catheter out a couple of
days ago I saw one of the HIFU team of consultants. I mentioned the
occasional ball pain. He said it wasn't surprising as the tube from
the left SV ran into the left testicle -and it was now blocked off. I
thought about this abandoned, lone, forlorn tube - would it want
revenge? What I actually asked the consultant, was: Would the ball
pain get worse, stay the same, or disappear? 'We don't know, ' he
said. 'We've never done this operation before.'  So the team, like me
-and the ng -may have to wait a little time for a more definitive
answer. At the moment everything feels fine and pain free!

Was the sem vesicle and the nasty bits in it obliterated -like the
prostate? I will have an MRI scan end of September -and will report. I
believe the team are confident they have succeeded, and without the
worst side effects. I wait to see if a period of self -cathetering
might return or not.

So please expect my next useful post in about a month - also re new
PSA readings.

For the moment I am feeling I may have been extremely fortunate and
indeed lucky to have got referred into the programme because my
original consultant Marc Laniado had been training in HIFU programme
and knew all about it. And UCHL was where it was at.

I read all about the side effects of so many posters here, and
honestly feel almost a sense of guilt if I am to escape so relatively
lightly.  Of course, I know that microstuff may be lurking around
upstairs waiting to have the last laugh and bring in the drugs/
radiation options. But if it lurks too long maybe there'll then be the
more targeted stuff which look as though it's only a matter of time to
get on stream and help everybody here. Which is my profound wish.