Re-bore planned

Last Monday I 'phoned the consultant's secretary to see if the results of the biopsy were available. The message on the answer phone listed the hours that she worked - just three days in the week. On Tuesday I got through and learnt that the biopsies were clear and the multidisciplinary team would be discussing them on the following Thursday. I asked about the catheter. She said she could book me into the consultant's clinic but he might prefer that I go to the day ward again. She'd check with him and send me a letter with appointment details.

On Thursday afternoon I had a call from the secretary asking if I could attend the consultant's clinic the following day. I said I could and I was booked in for 09:30. Friday morning I drove to the hospital to attend the clinic. I saw the consultant before 10:00. He told me that he reckoned that the best thing for me would be a TURP (Transurethral resection of the prostate) - a sort of re-bore of the passage the urethra takes through the prostate. I was half expecting this and had contemplated that it might become necessary even before the problems caused, or rather worsened, by the biopsy procedure because my flow was becoming rather thin. As I was happy to proceed he checked when the operation could be done (29th October), arranged for a sister to go through the consent procedure with me and then sent me to the pre-evaluation suite.

I left the consultation with a leaflet about the TURP and my copy of the consent form and a package containing my notes. I handed the package to the receptionist at the pre-evaluation suite and was told they were booked up for the rest of the morning but I could be seen in the afternoon or early next week. I settled for Monday afternoon. I'll be in the hospital for two or three days for the TURP. I'll have a catheter again after the operation until my urine runs clear then I'll be allowed to go home without it. There is more information about TURP here http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/turp.html

A week or two back I had a letter from the consultants at the Christie Hospital who are monitoring me following my treatment for testicular cancer. The letter was to invite me to take part in a clinical study of potential genetic influences in testicular cancer. I've agreed to this as it only involves providing some blood and answering some questions. I've filled in the initial form and sent it to the research coordinator and now await the request for my blood sample. I suspect it will be taken at my next appointment at the Christie in early December.

Over the couple of weeks before the TURP I intend to be a bit more active despite the catheter. That probably means a couple of short to medium walks per day and maybe some resistance exercises at the gym. I may even try a cycle ride.