Filling the forms before brachytherapy

One thing you get very used to when you begin discussing anything to do with prostate cancer is the level of intimacy that you have to reveal. Nurses and doctors will listen, expressionless, as you discuss the workings of your erections, flow of urine, how well and often you defecate, the importance and extent of your sex life and any manner of other things.

I guess though, when you've had someone shove their finger up your bum or been probed about with MRI or with an ultrasound scanner, there's not much left to reveal about your physical self, other than what you actually do with your body when you're not sprawled on the examination table.

What's next? Trans-rectal, ultrasound-guided biopsy

Fate sometimes, conspires, doesn't it? I was away on business for the next few days so didn't receive the urgent first-class posted letter that had dropped through my door, only a couple of days after the MRI scan. Not having received it, I was a bit gob-smacked to get a phone call from a lady wanting to confirm my appointment for a biopsy.

"Er, what biopsy?"
"You've not had the letter?"
"Nope, I'm in Birmingham at a conference."
"Your MRI results are showing a shadow on the prostate and Mr Smith (name changed) has decided you need to have a biopsy."
"I see."