"My experience of initial consultation and tests re possible prostate cancer"

1. I was referred by my GP and received a phone call the following day arranging an appointment for the next week with Mr. Bdesha at Amersham. I received the confirming letter three days before. Excellent turn-round – well done.

2. The consultation with Mr Bdesha was excellent. He was clear and concise without being brusque. I left knowing exactly what the next steps were. I must also say that he was early/ on-time – not something I associate with hospital appointments. Again, well done.

3. The next steps - MRI, biopsy and review consultation - were arranged very quickly and the appropriate letters were received only a few days later. Again well done, I am impressed.

4. I had my MRI at 15: 00 at Wycombe Hospital which frankly I was not looking forward to having. Whilst I have little doubt the biopsy will cause greater discomfort and generally be more unpleasant, I looked on that as being less of an issue for me than being put in a narrow tunnel – however open-ended it was. I want to say the experience was uneventful – for all the right reasons – and so much better than I anticipated.

a. The reception nurse (Tricia?) was very welcoming, reassuring and helpful. Excellent.

b. The radiographer and his colleague were also excellent. Looked after me well, told me everything I needed to know and explained each step during the process.

The only downside to the experience to date is that the various letters I have received have contained both contradictory instructions re: preparation and have been confusing in other respects too. However a quick call to the department concerned resolved these issue rapidly