James’ Story

James Gibson

Born in Creswell, Dumfries in 1961 and brought up in Durisdeer, Thornhill, I’m the eldest of three siblings to Father Ian and late Mother Nan. We lived at Carronbridge Station so we were the real “Railway Children”. Durisdeer Primary had one classroom with seven classes and a coal fire, a godsend when your wellies filled with snow. Secondary education was at Wallace Hall Academy, Thornhill.

I wanted to join the army but never got in as then I was skinny and too light for the Royal Core of Transport, so I started an apprenticeship as a painter and decorator with Buccleuch Estates, getting my City & Guilds at Dumfries Tech.

I went self-employed after 6 years with the Estate but with the building side not doing so well, I moved into security with Group 4 which was interesting until Powfoot Explosives Factory closed, I moved on to Scott &Co, Sheriff Officers which I enjoyed until they closed their Dumfries Office. So I joined Dumfries and Galloway Council as a Community Safety Officer, where I’m still employed.

As I like to be busy, I fulfilled my love of the military by joining the local TA 1/52 Lowland Volunteers, passing out at Glencourse Training Camp in May 1982, serving for four years and then joined Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary as a Special Constable in ‘85, until I retired in 1922, after 37 years’ service.

In December 2022 I went for my annual diabetic check and the nurse offered me a PSA check. I said “what’s that” and “I don’t have symptoms”. The reply was “you don’t need any”. The result was a reading of 6, so she referred me to urology for further testing. The results from my scan in December 2022 showed ‘anomalies’ so I was sent for biopsies. Now I was getting worried and as the results came back as 6 on the Gleason Scale, (that measures the stage of the cancer), I was spoken to by Nurse Julie Batey, in Oncology at DGRI.

Initially I was put on active surveillance, the 3 monthly tests showing my PSA going up to 7, so I was referred to the Cancer Centre in Edinburgh to see Professor Alan McNeil, Consultant Urological Surgeon. Thankfully, an MRI scan in Carlisle to check my bones, came back clear.
My Wife and Daughter were my rocks since I found out. Listening to West Sound, I heard about Prostate Buddies D & G, so I sent a message and very quickly, Roly, who I knew from rallying, got in touch and gave me sound advice.

After deciding to opt for radium treatment, influenced by my Father who had Prostate treatment years ago and is now 92, I was sent to Edinburgh in October 2023 to have gold implants put in three areas of my Prostate, as ‘markers’ as they are known. This was quick and pain free.

I started four weeks of radium treatment in November ’23. Sometimes St Johns Scotland transported me there and I now volunteer for them. The staff at the Cancer Centre were so caring and reassuring.

Three months post treatment my PSA test came back 0.1%, AKA ‘undetectable’. It’s risen a bit since then, which with radium treatment can happen, then go back down again.

I have now had counsellor training and joined Roly and the rest of the Buddies, attending the meetings when I can, to offer the support others need and give any advice I can, encouraging men to come to the monthly meetings, for a cuppa, some advice and support and some friendly banter with others who have had, or about to have, treatment.
Don’t Leave It Too Late!