My Journey Through Prostate Cancer — What Survivorship Really Means

I spent most of my working life as a General Practitioner, caring for patients and helping them navigate illness with clarity and compassion. What I never expected was that my most important lesson in medicine would come from becoming a patient myself.

In my early 60s, during what felt like a healthy and active stage of life, a routine PSA test showed an abnormal result. Further investigations confirmed a diagnosis of prostate cancer. Even as a doctor, hearing those words was sobering. Knowledge does not remove fear — it simply gives it context.

I underwent prostate cancer surgery with cautious optimism. The operation was successful, and my recovery went well. Like many men, I was told that the most important marker of success would be my PSA level. After surgery, my PSA dropped — but it never became undetectable. Instead, it remained low but measurable.

To many, that sounded reassuring. To me, it raised questions.

As a clinician, I understood that PSA values after prostatectomy are not black and white. A low PSA does not always mean the cancer is gone. Trends over time matter, context matters, and assumptions can be dangerous. Yet I saw how easily men are told, “Your PSA is low, you’re fine,” without explanation of what “low” actually means — or what it might still represent.

Over time, it became clear that my persistently low PSA was a signal of residual disease. What concerned me most wasn’t just my own situation, but how common this experience is — and how little it is discussed. Survivorship is often treated as a finish line, when in reality it is a long and complex phase of care.

That realisation changed how I viewed cancer survivorship entirely.

Too many men leave treatment believing the journey is over, only to be left navigating uncertainty alone. They are given numbers without understanding, reassurance without nuance, and follow-up without meaningful dialogue. This gap in care can delay critical decisions and erode trust.

I began speaking out — first quietly, then more publicly — about the need for better education around PSA after surgery. Low PSA is not always “good PSA.” Patients deserve honest conversations, clear thresholds, and an understanding of trends, not just isolated results.

Survivorship, in my view, is not about waiting for something to go wrong. It is about active monitoring, informed choices, and living well in the years after cancer. Longevity matters — but so does quality of life. Physical health, mental wellbeing, purpose, and community support all shape what it means to truly live beyond cancer.

Now retired from clinical practice, I continue this work through leadership, advocacy, and innovation in healthcare. My experience has given me a unique perspective — one shaped by both medicine and vulnerability.

If there is one message I share with every man facing prostate cancer, it is this:

Do not be afraid to ask questions. Numbers matter, but understanding matters more.

Cancer may change your life, but it does not have to define it. With clarity, honesty, and the right support, survivorship can be a time not just of survival — but of renewed purpose and longevity.