Nick Fletcher, a 58-year-old from Malton, North Yorkshire, had to endure a daily 100-mile journey for a month in order to receive life-saving treatment. Each morning, he traveled 50 miles to a hospital in Leeds for radiotherapy. This exhausting two-and-a-half-hour roundtrip became necessary as no hospital in York had the machines required for his radiotherapy treatment.
Mr. Fletcher, a media assistant, was diagnosed with prostate cancer at the Magnolia Centre in York Hospital. Fortunately, the cancer was caught at an early stage and contained within the prostate. He underwent hormone treatment and started radiotherapy in September 2022 at St James’s University Hospital in Leeds. For a month, he endured five back-to-back sessions each week, excluding weekends.
Despite the challenges of traveling, Mr. Fletcher expressed his gratitude towards the hospital staff for their support. He acknowledged that the lack of machines in York and Scarborough necessitated his journey to Leeds. He also mentioned that other patients, including one from Newcastle, faced similar difficulties.
Thankfully, Mr. Fletcher could rely on his supportive family for transportation to and from the hospital. He acknowledged that the journey would have been even more challenging if he had to use public transport. He had the option to undergo radiotherapy or have a prostate removal operation, but his consultants deemed the combination of hormone treatment and radiotherapy to be the most effective approach.
After completing the treatment, Mr. Fletcher commended the hospital staff and expressed his relief at the seemingly successful outcome. He decided to undergo prostate cancer checks due to a family history of the disease, which had been successfully treated in his brothers. Diagnostic tests in January 2022 revealed elevated PSA levels in his blood, indicating a risk of prostate cancer. However, following radiotherapy and hormone treatment, his PSA level dramatically decreased.
Reflecting on his experience, Mr. Fletcher highlighted the distance as the only downside of his treatment. He suggested the need for more treatment centers to alleviate the burden of long-distance travel. The physical and emotional toll of the journey, particularly during late autumn, made it a challenging endeavor for him.
The procedure itself was relatively short, but the travel time was the main issue. The roundtrip took approximately two and a half hours, with an additional hour before each treatment for preparation. Nevertheless, Mr. Fletcher remains optimistic about his recovery and grateful for the supportive network of family and healthcare professionals.
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