CASE STUDY: Retired obstetrician/gynaecologist Dr Seamas Moneley (63) from Castlebar, Co Mayo, was diagnosed with prostate cancer following a PSA test in June 1999.
"One of the nurses saw me running to the toilet very often and I was up at night regularly. It was disturbing my sleep and I was in pain passing urine although this might have been due to an underlying infection," he explains.
Biopsies taken at the University Hospital, Galway confirmed the diagnosis of prostate cancer and the urologist there began managing his treatment.
"I was put on hormone treatment by injection every three months and daily tablets. I suffered from hot flushes and lowered sex drive during this treatment and although I wanted surgery, I was advised to have radical radiotherapy instead because the cancer was confined to the prostate gland itself," he adds.
Following seven weeks of radiotherapy treatment in October 1999 at St Luke's Hospital, Dublin, Dr Moneley seemed completely clear of his cancer for 18 months.
"I continued to feel perfect for years although my PSA started to rise again. However, during this time, I developed a pain in my neck and an X-ray revealed that I had damaged my neck due to the spread of the tumour. I had spinal fusion surgery in October 2002 which fixed that."
Meanwhile, his PSA continued to rise and more scans revealed that the tumour was starting to compress his spine.
Further radiotherapy seemed to have no effect and in June 2003, Dr Moneley was referred to a medical oncologist at the Mater Private Hospital for a different course of treatment.
"My hormone treatment was altered and I was put on chemotherapy for six months. Immediately, the aches and pains I had been feeling were gone. I suffered from some respiratory problems during the chemotherapy but none of the vomiting or diarrhoea usually associated with it.
"Now, I've finished my treatment and I feel absolutely wonderful. My PSA levels are still high but a blood test for bone disease has come back within the normal range."