Dr Alison Birtle 2021-04-27 Person 5 5 0

I consider I’ve been very fortunate to have had Dr Birtle as my oncologist since prostate cancer was diagnosed just over a year ago. My four consultations to date with her have been via video link, an arrangement which has worked very well. This could all have been very stressful but her kind and thoughtful approach put me at ease immediately. Unfortunately the originally recommended treatment of external beam radiography has not proved possible, this partly due to the unusual positioning of my colon which could render radiotherapy harmful, but also chronic constipation which has meant the bowel could not be cleared. Dr Birtle has shown great interest and concern about my case, and has gone to quite some lengths in consulting colleagues in the profession about possible alternative treatments, but none of these has been thought appropriate to my condition. So my principal treatment to date has been quarterly hormone injections, with these likely to continue for the foreseeable future. My latest PSA reading was down to a level pleasing both to her and to me. Aside from this, Dr Birtle continues to show interest in, and seek possible remedies for, my bad bowel habits which have to some extent affected my quality of life at times, and I shall owe it to her if these problems are ever cleared up. So, in conclusion I feel privileged to have had Dr Birtle’s great care not only in her specialist subject, but also for my more general wellbeing.