My Prostate Cancer Story (so far)

Gentlemen -- don't skip your annual physical!

In addition to all the things I write about on here — newsletters on politics and higher education, the Fearless Christian University book project, involvement in my granddaughter’s school — my time over the last eight months has been invested in dealing with a prostate cancer diagnosis. Today was my last radiation treatment so it seemed like a good time to write about the process.

I went for my annual physical back on November 15th. The doctor called me the next day to tell me that it was time to put me on blood pressure medicine and on statins for cholesterol (no big surprise). Then he said, with a somewhat alarmed tone, “Your PSA numbers are really high!” I asked what PSA stood for (prostate specific antibodies). A score higher than 4 is considered abnormal. My score was 18. He scheduled me for a meeting with a specialist.

The urologist I saw was housed at The Urology Clinic of Colorado (located across from Broncos’ stadium). After one of those wonderful physical checks and another blood test (which showed an even higher PSA), he scheduled me for a biopsy.

I had the biopsy the end of December, getting word right after the 1st that there were, in fact, three areas of the prostate that were cancerous. The doctor explored a range of options available with two true possibilities: surgery to remove the prostate or a series of radiation treatments. Since the former was highly invasive and involved the word “catheter” during recovery, I opted for the radiation.

I then met with the radiation oncologist to discuss the process. I received several rounds of hormone treatment to stop testosterone (inhibiting cell growth). I’ll keep getting those shots for another year. There have been some minor side effects of the hormone treatment but it hasn’t been bad.

The next step was a PET scan in February to make sure that the cancer had remained localized and not spread to other areas. Thankfully, that was the case.

I had another procedure to implant gold markers in the prostate with help focus the radiation. I thought of this as the opposite of the biopsy since they were putting things instead of taking them out. They also gave me a tattoo to help them with targeting the actual radiation treatments.

I started radiation treatments on May the 23rd. Almost every weekday, I drove the 25 minutes downtown, got my treatment, and then drove home. I received a total of 45 treatments. Due to a couple of holidays, my just completed accreditation visit, and a few technical difficulties with the machine, today wound up being day number 45.

Every day followed the same pattern. I’d arrive a little early, take off my shoes and empty my pockets, and then would be called into the room. I would lay on my back and Cheryll, Jill, and Phyllis would position me so that the tattoo aligned properly, Then the machine you see in the picture would rotate around me for a total of four passes (it doesn’t actually complete the circle but probably covers 270 degrees). The whole process with the machine took about 7 minutes start to finish. Then I’d put my shoes on, grab my stuff, and head home.

Every Tuesday I would meet with a radiation oncologist — not mine since she’s not in on Tuesdays — but he was very good. Each week he would answer any questions I had and would provide encouragement that I was going through the process really well.

I was warned about side effects of the radiation. While I never really noticed any fatigue (at least not out of the norm for a 68 year old guy), I did have to deal with frequent and often urgent need for the bathroom. The doctor explained that this was because the nerves in the bladder get sort of sunburned and become overly sensitive.

As concerned as my doctor was when I got that call in November, absolutely everybody at the clinic exuded confidence. They literally do this every day — the technicians told me they do 30 treatments a day. Everyone led me to understand that the treatment was doable and not to worry. That was really important to me.

I mentioned that I got there a little early each day. That meant that I interacted with the people who had the slots before and after mine. That was another source of support as we would compare notes. This guy on my first week was on his last day. I celebrated with two others peers who finished before I did. And somewhere along the way, I became the old hand who explained side effects to the newcomers and told them it would be all right.

So, I’m done with required trips downtown. I’ll go back in October for a checkup and another shot and will see my radiation oncologist in November. I’m told the side effects will start to wane (which is great since both of our bathrooms are upstairs!). I’ll get another shot in the spring.

Two more things.

First, gentlemen, make sure you’re up to date on your physicals and blood tests. It’s important.

Second, The Urology Clinic of Colorado has a fundraiser coming up on September 9th called The Blue Shoe Run. It’s a 5K run/jog/walk (I’ll be doing the latter). You can go to that website, click on “donate to participant”, and look for my name. I greatly appreciate anything you can do to support the effort.

While ideally it would be better not have gone through this, I can attest that it has been a manageable process. For those friends facing prostate cancer now or in the future, know that I am pulling for you and that you, too, will get through this.