Coronavirus delays

Andy62 Apologies, I missed your reply.  That sounds like a fantastic opportunity and a great service too. I hope it continues for you post CV. 

Hi Richy Rich, sorry you are caught up in all this too.

We’re in South Wales.  The impression our Surgeon gave was that high risk PrC surgeries would were still going ahead the week after lock down & were not being stopped for hopefully more than a wk. Not sure how that panned out. There is another person on here from same area, who had pre op around lockdown time but still hasn’t been called in. My OH was called for pre op 2 weeks ago but no date given which would usually be the case at that point.  When he spoke to Surgeon for surveillance results, he gave the impression surgery was still happening but a a reduced rate. 

It is very much variable depending on the area you are in. I have heard of some surgeries taking place in our local private hospital but these would not be with the DaVinci as far as we are aware. So not a preferable option for us due to his age.  England are setting up ‘Covid free’ hospitals but quite how this will fair, time will tell. Given that approx. 60% of infection spread is thought to be by asymptomatic or presymptomatic people. 

Carl,  I have tried to email you back but your inbox is full!  You need to delete some & make some space! 😁

Hi, first time poster here.

I saw the urology Dept @ Good Hope Hospital on 26th March. Usual ultrasound/DRE/MRI scans. On 20th April I received a letter telling me that my scan showed " 1.8cm lesion, peripheral zone, PIRAD 5 suggesting high grade tumour". This was followed by the following gem

"Unfortunately we are unable to perform a TRUS biopsy due to COVID-19. I will see you again in four months time with a repeat PSA"

Given my family history with PCa ( brother undergoing RARP aged 49, Dad with the disease, uncIe already having experienced PCa) was understandably pretty worried about this. I tried calling a local private clinic to enquire about a private biopsy but none of them were answering the telephone. So, I sat and waited. About 6 weeks ago my local NHS Trust decided to start elective non-urgent surgery, but not diagnostics. Which really p*ssed me off. I sent letters  to national/local media about this but heard nothing. As part of the media "campaign" I wrote to the local BBC health correspondent, who contacted me with a view to doing a piece on the local news bulletin about this.  Mr BBC, after the interview, suggested that I ask my GP to refer me to the Rapid Diagnostic and Assessment Centre at the Royal Marsden.

The treatment I have had at the Marsden has been exemplary. Referred on Monday, contacted about my initial appointment on the Wednesday, undertook another round of ultrasound/DRE/MRI scans one week later. Two weeks later had a transperineal biopsy. Biopsy showed the disease in much of the prostate, Gleason 4/3, PSA 7

And 10 days later underwent a PSHA/PET scan.  Scan came back negative and confirmed that the cancer had not escaped the capsule- big sigh of relief!!!

Currently awaiting a date for RARP. Should be in the next 3-4 weeks.