Jane’s Story
Born in 1954 in Bedford England, I lived in various locations throughout England, always on the move owing to my fathers profession as a Jeweller, Watchmaker and Clockmaker for James Walker.
My mother was a Milliner. They were both veterans and served in the RAF during World War Two. My brother, seven years my senior, was also a Jeweller and is now retired and living in Winchester Hampshire.
I was educated at Reigate Priory school, Surrey, leaving there to pursue a career in Hairdressing in the West End of London which was an amazing experience, qualifying five years later at the London College of Fashion.
After marrying in 1977 and having two daughters I decided to have a change in career and work in Special Education, and became a Mature Student, qualifying as a professional education worker and have a wealth of knowledge and experience, working across all age groups in the assistance and education of pupils and young adults with learning, teaching, medical and physical disadvantages.
I’ve also worked in residential care homes and Day Centres as an Auxiliary nurse.
I joined Sherwood Park Special School in 1989 and in 2008 whist working there, I joined Unison and became a representative/ steward for the school. I consider myself to be non-judgmental and motivated to improve the quality of life of all of those in my care.
A disciplined team player, proficient in time management, planning and organisational skills, I relocated to Kirkcaldy in Fife in 2010 but unfortunately, whilst working with a pupil I contracted a serious virus, leaving me physically and mentally quite disabled and exhausted meaning I had to take early retirement at sixty.
I met my current partner, Leslie, in 2013 on a dating website. He was an AA roadside patrolman for 37 years and retired in 2014. He has three children and seven grandchildren. We were together for just six months when my youngest daughter took her own life, which was devastating and life would never be the same again. Leslie has been my Rock and Stay.
I now have one daughter Marissa, and three grandchildren Olivia 17, James 16 and Henry10 and they live in Kingston Surrey.
We moved to Dumfries in 2014 and both enjoy History, Gardening and all kinds of Music, Walking and Travelling in the UK and beyond.
This is Leslie’s Prostrate Cancer story to date.
His first symptoms appeared in January 2022 when he was constantly needing to pee during the day, but not at night. The GP prescribed water tablets which weren’t successful so he revisited the GP and was given a PSA blood test, giving a reading of 5.9 followed by another PSA test which came back at 6.3.
The GP wanted to prescribe another course of water tablets, but Leslie asked to be referred to the Urology department at Dumfries hospital. He waited for an appointment for three months and saw Mr. Chaudhry a Urology consultant, who requested an MRI scan.
From the results of the MRI scan the consultant requested a Trans perennial Biopsy which took place in Haddington West Lothian in September 2023 as this procedure is not available in DGRI because there are no trained staff or equipment to facilitate this. The results of the Biopsy confirmed Prostate Cancer.
Leslie eventually got an appointment with Mr. Daniel Good at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh in November 2023 where he was given various options for his treatment and it took him a month to select a Prostatectomy, carried out at at St John’s Hospital in Livingston on June 3rd 2024, and recovery is ongoing.
This has been a very difficult and challenging time in our lives and relationship, but with the support, care and kind friendship that has been shown to us by the Prostate Buddies and Partners meetings, it has made our Prostrate cancer journey more bearable and the future is looking much brighter. So Onwards and Upwards, Positive thoughts bring Positive Outcomes. We must believe to achieve.