Phelim Warren

“I was referred to St Luke’s for 39 sessions of aggressive radiotherapy for Gleason Score 9, aggressive and inoperable prostate cancer. My initial diagnosis was on 21st September 2023, with a further PET scan revealing that the cancer had spread to my pelvic and inaccessible lymph nodes, making it inoperable. As well as radiotherapy, I was put on a 2–3 year course of hormone treatment in the form of a quarterly Prostap injection from 14th October and daily tablets called Abiraterone a couple of weeks later. I knew I had a difficult and critical journey ahead of me.

My 39 sessions of radiotherapy began on 5th December 2023. I was immediately struck by the positivity, decency, warmth and genuineness of the radiation therapists who treated me. I was slightly concerned about what was in store for me, but that disappeared immediately as I was helped through the painless (other than holding onto a full bladder!) process. Everything was explained to me, and I was shown how best to receive my treatment.

All the staff remembered my name in no time, as well as my personal story and family life too – testament to their genuine interest in their patients and the fact that they listened and remembered things about me. I felt so at ease with each passing day at St Luke’s, and I laughed often, both with staff and fellow recipients of radiation.

I was, however, struck by seeing and meeting other patients whose situations were worse than mine, and also by how many people were younger than me (I was 57 when I began my treatment). This gave me a real sense of perspective about both my life and my cancer journey, and that perspective stays with me always and will for the rest of my life.

I never felt my sessions were a chore or that I dreaded attending St Luke’s. I forged bonds with other patients who attended at the same time as me on so many occasions. We had each other’s backs and encouraged one another to find and keep a positive mindset. The staff also helped me immensely in maintaining that positive mindset.

Before I knew it, on 31st January 2024, I had my 39th and final radiotherapy session. I felt a real sense of achievement in getting there and an overwhelming sense of gratitude to every single member of the radiation therapist team, who made me feel so important and displayed incredible dedication, professionalism, care and interest. I honestly felt slightly regretful that I wouldn’t be coming back!

It’s 2nd August 2026 as I write this, almost three years after my experiences at St Luke’s. I’m so happy and grateful to report that the combination of two years of hormone treatment and the 39 sessions at St Luke’s worked for me.

My PSA at diagnosis was 10. By April 2024, it had plummeted to <0.03 and, by August 2024, was “undetectable”. This was a remarkable result for me, given my diagnosis that had hit me like the wrecking ball that cancer is. My PSA remains “undetectable” as I write, and I was discharged by my hormone oncologist in October 2025. My appointments are now down to every six months at the St James’s Hospital Oncology Centre for St Luke’s.

I remain so well, physically and mentally, and retain an eternal sense of gratitude to every staff member who had an input into my care and got me to where I am today.

So, thank you from the bottom of my heart to St Luke’s for giving me so much in so many ways. My cancer journey taught me about life in so many new ways and changed my attitude. Stuff that used to seem important is now completely the opposite. I’m not grateful I got cancer, but I’m grateful for what it has taught me, and I’m eternally grateful to the staff at St Luke’s and my fellow patients for helping me through it all and for the positive and memorable experiences I had there.

God bless each and every one of you. Stay well, everyone. Stay positive, grateful and optimistic. I know I am!”

Phelim Warren
Tallaght, Dublin