I experienced tiredness, frequent urination (especially at night) and trouble emptying the bladder completely, but I thought these symptoms weren’t serious. It was a few months before I sought medical attention from a doctor.

Finding out I had cancer left me fearful. It was the not knowing the unknown.

My doctor recommended radiation therapy, which I went ahead with after I had consultations with both specialists on surgery and radiation treatment. I had 20 days of treatment, Mondays to Fridays only. The treatment was about 10 minutes each session. I also had hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Thankfully, treatment costs were covered under the NHS.

I had a few side effects as a result of the treatment. The most significant was a loss of appetite, which I believe was caused by the radiation therapy. I had diarrhea and was unable to empty my bladder completely too.

This caused severe pain. I was unable to sleep, had only short periods of sleep at night and struggled with restlessness. The triage from the northwest cancer centre helped me to manage my side effects.

After treatment, depression set in. There were difficulties in my social and day-to-day life and severe blows to my self-esteem. I didn’t want to go out. I was sleeping a lot and had a loss of interest in things. Unfortunately, I’m still living with some of these issues. The challenge is never over. I live with it from day to day.

I still continued to work after being diagnosed with cancer as I needed the income. I live day by day. I never make plans as life changes.

I used a catheter during my cancer journey and that was particularly useful. But I never expected needing a catheter; I wish I’d known that before starting treatment.

My biggest fear was what radiotherapy was like for a patient, the life after radiotherapy treatment and what life held for the future. I overcame it by taking life one day at a time.

I feel somewhat neutral now, as I manage to cope day and night knowing why I have the urgency to use the bathroom.

Keep thinking positive. People in the health profession are there to help. Keep your family and friends close. Just talk and spend time with them.