Patrick Howard said the surgery has only strengthened his relationship with his wife
Updated 07:31, November 4, 2024
Patrick said he wouldn’t have been able to get through his diagnosis without Laura
A Liverpool father who had a significant part of his penis removed as part of his cancer treatment says the experience has ‘only strengthened’ his bond with his wife. Patrick Howard, 65, is now enjoying retirement with his wife Laura, 59, but in October 2018 he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and had surgery to remove his prostate.
After experiencing itching and redness on his penis in April 2020, which was first dismissed as possible thrush, a specialist later identified it as an “aggressive” penile cancer linked to the human papillomavirus (HPV), giving Patrick a terminal diagnosis .
After his heartbreaking news, Patrick asked his partner: ‘They’re definitely not going to cut it off, are they? – surgically removed from his penis. Despite the removal, lumps reappeared, forcing Patrick to undergo radiotherapy and double forms of chemotherapy, which he described as “terrible”. Fortunately, there has been no recent progress in the disease.
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Patrick emphasized the importance of broader knowledge about penile cancer and HPV. A fierce advocate for health equity and prevention, he supports Global Action on Men’s Health and Noman is an Island: Race to End HPV in their fight for equitable HPV vaccination programs worldwide.
Patrick emphasized: “My penile cancer is caused by HPV, and most people will get HPV at some point in their lives. If you have HPV, it is very unlikely that you will develop cancer, but more people need to know about the possibility. The HPV vaccination campaign for boys and girls needs to be much more widely distributed.”
Professor Peter Johnson, NHS England’s national clinical director for cancer, said: “We are very sorry to hear about Patrick’s prognosis, but we are very grateful to him for speaking openly about his experience with penile cancer and his call for awareness of this form of cancer. disease.”
“In England, the HPV vaccine is offered to all children between the ages of 11 and 13, to children up to the age of 25 who have missed their vaccination, or to men who have sex with men. Anyone with worrying complaints should contact their GP, because early detection of cancer gives the best chance of successful treatment.”
Patrick and Laura’s wedding invitation, which he had planned on an egg carton
Penile cancer is quite rare and mainly affects men over 50. According to the NHS, around half of cases are linked to certain types of HPV. Patrick said he was initially diagnosed with prostate cancer ‘accidentally’ in October 2018 after standard medical checks and blood tests, a revelation that came as ‘a shock’.
He opted for a radical prostatectomy to fight the cancer, determined to move forward with the disease. Then, two years later, in April 2020, Patrick started experiencing itching, redness and pain in his penis. During a telephone consultation, a nurse suggested it might be thrush, a common fungal infection in both sexes.
Patrick, who was prescribed several topical creams that failed to alleviate his symptoms, told of his visit to the GP in September 2020: “It was a beautiful day and I walked in, lucky enough to actually see a GP in person (during the COVID-19 pandemic). And my GP said, ‘I hate to say it, but I think you have penile cancer’.”
He was stunned by the diagnosis as he had never heard of penile cancer.
At what turned out to be a fateful birthday appointment at Clatterbridge Hospital on October 9, 2020 – his 61st birthday – a specialist told him he had “an extremely rare and aggressive form of penile cancer” and that without treatment he would have a “bleak form of penile cancer” got. prognosis of only six to eight months. “We were shocked, deeply shocked, and he said I had to have surgery.”
He recalled the conversation with Laura, his current wife, about the possible operation: “I said to Laura, ‘I don’t know what operation they’re going to do, but they’re certainly not going to cut it off, are they?’ ‘ And she said, ‘Well, I hate to say this, but I think this is exactly what they’re going to do’.”
Patrick rings the bell to signal the end of his treatment
Faced with the daunting prospect of a penectomy, Patrick was referred to The Christie, Europe’s largest cancer centre, for further tests and scans. There he suffered another blow: the diagnosis of kidney cancer after a tumor was found on his kidney.
Patrick underwent a series of treatments, including the removal of two-thirds – about four inches – of his penis, surgery to remove some lymph nodes from his groin and pelvic area, and subsequent radiotherapy. Patrick talked about the challenges he faced after his penectomy, especially regarding normal urination and engaging in sexual activities.
Eager to break the silence on such “important” topics, he revealed: “It’s not intrusive, but there are a lot of other things you can do, and there’s still a lot of fun and thrills.” Additionally, he spoke about the positive aspects of his relationship, noting, “It has only strengthened our strong relationship.”
Patrick and Laura have experienced many ‘adventures’
Patrick and his wife Laura got married on November 5, 2021. They described the day as “fantastic” and then enjoyed trips away and quality time with loved ones. Despite persistent health problems and the appearance of new lumps, Patrick courageously endured chemotherapy and its nauseating side effects, ranging from hair loss to “brain irritation” and short-term memory problems.
After completing an experimental chemotherapy course in October 2023, Patrick continues to manage his condition with frequent scans. He shared his doctors’ cautious view, saying, “Doctors said there was probably less than a 10% chance that this new chemotherapy would work,” but also offered a glimmer of hope: “I think I was the second patient to receive this treatment.” got. for penile cancer.”
Its resilience is evident from recent scans showing promising results: existing lumps have shrunk or remained constant, halting the progression of the disease. Patrick and Laura, a couple with six children together, recently embarked on an Italian road trip, which for Patrick came at a time when he is feeling “great” despite uncertainties about his health.
Patrick said his diagnosis has only ‘strengthened’ his relationship with Laura
Although unsure about the need for further treatment, Patrick is on a mission to raise awareness about penile cancer and HPV, encouraging all men to be proactive about their health. He said candidly: “I didn’t even know penis cancer existed.”
He believes in the importance of open communication and emphasizes: “All men should get checked from the start and keep their partner informed – I wouldn’t have gotten through this without Laura.”
Patrick said: “Men are bad at talking about things, but be sure to talk to those close to you and don’t be ashamed.” Echoing his gratitude for the support he received, Laura said: “It’s been so hard… but because it’s a terminal diagnosis, and the fact that it was in 2020 and he’s still here and doing really well, we almost feel like it was all good. It’s worth it because we got extra time together and had some great adventures.”
Dr. Sharif Ismail, a consultant epidemiologist at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), emphasized the value of vaccinations: “The HPV vaccine for boys was introduced into schools in 2019 and all students are now offered this vaccine in Year 8 or 9.”
Outlining the wide protective effects of the vaccine, he explained: “It not only protects young women against cervical cancer, but also protects men and women against genital warts and some other cancers of the genitals and anus, as well as some oral and throat cancers. .”
Patrick and Laura got married on November 5, 2021
“The HPV programme, which is now just a single jab for most people under 25, is one of the most successful in the world and has dramatically reduced the rates of cervical cancer and harmful infections in women and men – eliminating many forms cancer has been prevented and lives have been saved. commented a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care. “Our thoughts are with Patrick and we commend him for his efforts to raise awareness of his condition.”
They continued to discuss the impact of his story: “Patrick’s story reminds us that we must do more to improve the detection, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.” Explaining the government’s plans in detail, the spokesperson said: ‘As part of our 10-year plan to radically reform our broken NHS, we will tackle cancer on all fronts, from prevention to diagnosis, treatment and research.
Those interested in learning more about the campaigns Patrick supports can find more details at nomancampaign.org and endhpvglobal.org.