The one thing I wish I’d known at the start of my prostate cancer journey

In 2021, Chris Thompson went for a routine health check.

“I’m in the Navy, so this is standard procedure for all members,” explains Chris, who’s a drummer in the Navy’s rock band, based in Sydney. “I was 55 at the time, and once you’re over 50 they automatically do a PSA test. I wouldn’t have thought about it otherwise.”

Primarily used to screen for prostate cancer, PSA tests measure the level of prostate-specific antigen in the blood.

“The result came in slightly elevated, and that’s when this crazy journey started,” says Chris, now 58.

“My GP said it wasn’t dangerously high for my age, but she wanted me to do another test. I wasn’t worried as I felt fine and had no symptoms at all. It was purely the test result that indicated something was wrong.”

Six weeks later, another test showed another rise.

“That’s when I was referred to a specialist. And from there, it just got a little bit more serious with every visit,” Chris recalls.

He was eventually sent for an MRI scan, which detected shadows on his prostate. This prompted a biopsy… and a diagnosis of low-grade prostate cancer.

“It came as quite a shock,” says Chris. “Then the big question was, how do we treat it?”

Two options were given: radiation treatment, or removing the prostate altogether.

“I asked my specialist, ‘If this was your brother or your son, what would you recommend?’” says Chris. “His answer was, ‘No prostate, no cancer,’ which sounded pretty reasonable.”

And so, in August 2021, Chris had a radical prostatectomy.

“My surgeon is a leading robotic prostate expert in Australia, so it wasn’t as invasive as it used to be,” says Chris. After just a couple of nights in hospital, he was walking on day two, and back driving, swimming and playing drums within six weeks.

A follow-up PSA test brought good news: “They wanted a reading of zero, and that’s exactly what it was,” says Chris.

From then on, he underwent another test every three or four months. After more than a year, things were looking very positive, and he needed just one more zero reading before he could transition to annual checkups.

But this time, the level was slightly elevated.

Chris was told this wasn’t uncommon, but the level kept going up and ultimately, in early 2024, he underwent a PET test.

“They put radioactive dye through your body, and it lights you up like a Christmas tree,” he explains. “They found a spot on my rib, one on my shoulder, and a couple on my lymph nodes. That was really scary. The fear was that the cancer had spread to my bones.”

While the other spots seemed to be okay, cancer was detected in the lymph nodes.

“So, a good 15 months or so after my radical prostatectomy, I was advised that I needed radiation therapy,” Chris recalls. “Again, it’s not an uncommon result, but it was certainly a bit out of left field for me. I never thought I’d be going through this while I was still in my 50s.”

His radiation therapy consisted of 25 treatments over five weeks. “It did knock me around a bit, but I didn’t have any pain or anything. I just felt tired,” he says.

The hormone treatment that followed, however, has been a totally different story.

“It suppresses testosterone, and the side effects are brutal,” says Chris. “I’m struggling a bit with it, to be honest. Hot flushes, mood swings – I now have so much empathy for women going through menopause.”

Medication helped manage his moods, but other challenges remain for Chris who, at the time of writing, was still undergoing treatment.

“Your sex drive is also shot. You feel like a big Ken doll, to be honest.”

It’s been so tough, that Chris has made a big decision: to end the hormone therapy after six months.

“My radiologist recommended 12 to 18 months, but after three months, I told her I couldn’t do it,” he says. “The minimum recommended time is six months, so I’ve agreed to that, but then I’ll take my chances. Life’s too short, and being sexually active is a big part of being alive and being with someone. If that’s not enough, we’ll take the next step when the time comes. I’m comfortable with my decision.”

The entire journey has been just as much mental as physical, and Chris has found himself second-guessing some of his decisions regarding treatment.

“It’s been a lot of mind games because I never felt sick to start with, but everything they’ve done to me has made me feel worse,” he reflects.

If there’s one thing he wishes he’d known from the start, it’s that it’s okay to take some time to research things and get a second opinion.

“It doesn’t mean you’re doubting the experts – it just means that when you do make a decision, you have peace of mind,” he says. “Looking back, I wish I’d done more homework and felt as if I’d fully explored every option. But ultimately, the biopsy confirmed that my doctor’s advice to have surgery was the right call. Who knows where I’d be now without it?”

As well as good advice, he’s also had incredible support the whole way.

“I’m super lucky because I’ve got great family, and work has been very understanding,” he says. “It’s a pretty daunting diagnosis at first, but you’re definitely not alone, and there are excellent resources available, like prostate cancer groups on Facebook, podcasts and counselling. I found a mix of online support and face-to-face conversations incredibly helpful.”

Chris has strong words of advice for any men who haven’t been screened recently: “Do it! It’s so easy to get a PSA test done. You don’t have to wait until you’re 60, and don’t assume you need symptoms to act: even if you feel fine, do it.”

Today, Chris is optimistic.

“I’m feeling good and I’m in a good head space – I can see the light at the end of the tunnel,” he says. “Hopefully everything’s worked the way it’s meant to work, and when I have my next PSA test the levels are low or zero, and I can move to regular monitoring. For now, I’m just taking everything one day at a time.”

IMPORTANT LEGAL INFO This article is of a general nature and FYI only, because it doesn’t take into account your personal health requirements or existing medical conditions. That means it’s not personalised health advice and shouldn’t be relied upon as if it is. Before making a health-related decision, you should work out if the info is appropriate for your situation and get professional medical advice.