Most recently Ralston needed to undergo surgery to remove his kidney, where the cancer had spread.
In recognition of Urology Awareness Month, we are sharing Ralston’s story to shed light on bladder cancer (urothelial cancer), a condition that affects 10,000 individuals in the UK each year.
Ralston's Story
“About eighteen months ago, I started noticing I was having problem urinating, so I went to see my doctor. I thought it was likely a kidney stone, because having spoken to people who had that, they said the symptoms sounded very similar,” he said.
Ralston was initially referred for an x-ray and an ultrasound, followed by a cystoscopy, which revealed troubling signs: blood in his urine, and then the presence of cancerous tumours in his bladder. This diagnosis was the beginning of a rigorous treatment journey.
Reflecting on his own personal experience, Ralston’s advice to anyone experiencing similar symptoms or dealing with urological conditions is clear.
“I would urge them to seek medical advice as soon as they experience any of the symptoms that I experienced. Because, I didn't go straight away, and I wish I had.”
After undergoing various treatments and procedures at several public hospital, including tumour removal and stent placement to access tumours near his kidney, Ralston chose to seek more specialised care through his private medical insurance. This decision led him to The London Clinic, where he began treatment under the expertise of Professor John Kelly, a renowned urologist.
Under Professor Kelly’s care, Ralston underwent surgery to remove the remaining tumours from his bladder and he started immunotherapy treatment.
“After the initial surgery at The London Clinic, I had another cystoscopy and they found while the tumours hadn’t come back where they had been removed, I had five new ones in another area of my bladder,” says Ralston.
For Ralston, this meant additional rounds of immunotherapy and surgery to remove the tumours.
Since Ralston’s cancer kept reoccurring, Professor Kelly suggested that he’d be a good candidate for the SunRISE clinical trials at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London, for bladder cancer sufferers. Out of 250 available spots, Ralston was the first to be accepted on the trial.
“I went to St Bart’s for a preliminary cystoscopy scan and they said ‘Good news, the bladder is clear, we'll be able to start the trial’. Then the next day, they phoned me up and said, ‘We've seen something on the scan, you’ll need to talk to your doctor.’ From there it was established that my kidney had to come out.”
Bladder cancer occurs when abnormal tissue, known as a tumour, develops in the lining of the bladder. In some cases, the tumour spreads into the bladder muscle.
Mr. Giles Hellawell, a consultant urological surgeon at The London Clinic, performed a Da Vinci robot assisted laparoscopic removal of the kidney and the ureter.
Mr Hellawell said, “This enabled a minimally invasive procedure with complete closure of the bladder so that Ralston was able to go home within three days, without any need for a catheter, and with a rapid recovery from his surgery.”
Following the operation Ralston resumed immunotherapy, which he will now have in quarterly treatments.
Ralston’s experience at The London Clinic has been marked by the overall quality of care, and the uplifting atmosphere that helped alleviate his anxieties.
"The most positive aspect of my experience at The London Clinic was definitely the aftercare," Ralston shares. "The nurses, the team administering my immunotherapy, and even those who delivered the food were all superb. From the moment you enter the building, you feel a sense of positivity and care that makes a significant difference in your overall experience."
Despite the challenges he has faced, Ralston remains optimistic that his ongoing treatment and regular scans are part of his journey towards recovery.
