Hospice News

Patient & Carer Stories

Martyn, who's known as Jazz, is 62 and lives in South Bristol. He's been living with prostate cancer for the last two years, having been diagnosed during the pandemic. Jazz has been getting support from our Community Nurse Specialist team, who visit him at home. We spoke to him and his wife Sandra about their experience of the Hospice.

Jazz says, "Pre-cancer I was sporty and a member of a gym. I worked for Rolls Royce for 44 years so when I retired, we bought a flat for an investment. It was while I was working on the flat that I started to get back pain. I couldn't continue to work on it the way that I was. When I went to see my Doctor, they thought it was a water infection initially. But after I had a blood test and examination, they knew straight away that it was prostate cancer."

Jazz then started treatment to lower his PSA level, a measure of the amount of prostate antigen in the blood.

"I started hormone therapy to begin with which kept my PSA level down. Then when I went for another check-up, the cancer had jumped from the lower to my upper back. The first round of chemotherapy failed, then the second lot seemed to work but they had to stop it because my legs got so bad. They did everything they could to save them, but they couldn't."

Jazz lost the use of his legs after the cancer spread further, causing irreversible damage to his spine. His wife Sandra helps with his day-to-day care.

"We want to get the word out about prostate cancer because a lot of men don't know how important it is to get checked."

Sandra says, "He's only 62 so it was a shock when he was diagnosed. He's a big Bristol City fan and lots of the players have sent messages to him. People just need to know more about this type of cancer, so this doesn't happen to them."

Sandra and Jazz on their wedding day

Before Jazz was diagnosed with cancer, the couple looked forward to retirement.

"The sad thing for me is that you work all your life and when you retire, you expect to relax and enjoy everything you've earned. It's not been like that for me, and I've had some bad luck." says Jazz.

"I think there's a stigma that comes from the word 'Hospice'. I was worried when I was told I'd get help from St Peter's as I thought it meant I was at the end, but it's not like that. It's about helping you to live better while you're here. We get help from my Nurses, including Cate, who's been brilliant. She's taken the pressure off and goes above and beyond to make sure we have all the support we need. Cate's helped with pain relief, giving me the medication I need, and she's knowledgeable, she can tell us which medications go with each other. It's been really reassuring.

"It's allowed me to offload, it's a listening ear. Everyone I know has sung the Hospice's praises."

Sandra says, "The Hospice is always just a phone call away. It feels like you've got another family, and they care about you. We feel lucky to have found people that we can rely on. St Peter's know their job so well. If they don't know the answer to something, they will find out for you and get back to you.

"It's hard to accept that you need people to come into our home and help. But St Peter's are so professional and supportive. It's what you call a friendship."

Read more patient stories