Glen

It was a challenge to verbalize what I went through to become a healthy cancer survivor, but here goes:

Diagnosis
I always thought of myself as a healthy person. I thought I ate right, exercised, tried to get enough sleep, took vitamins, got medical exams on time, etc. I felt like cancer was for those who didn’t do the things I did to avoid serious illness. When I got an elevated PSA during a routine physical exam, I thought there had been a mistake. (PSA, or prostate-specific antigen is a protein produced by cells-both normal and malignant-of the prostate gland. The blood level of PSA is often elevated in men with prostate cancer.) I simply didn’t take it seriously. I was in denial. After repeated elevated PSAs and a positive biopsy, I received the undeniable news that I had prostate cancer and that active surveillance was not an option.

Options
The discussion about the options for treatment and the likely pros and cons for each treatment option was devastating. I felt like no matter what course of action I chose I would likely end up being a reasonably compromised guy at best! I listened to my doctors, but I also asked them if I could interview patients who had gone through each possible procedure (robotic surgery, traditional surgery, external beam radiation and brachytherapy – the implantation of radioactive seeds into the prostate). I researched the implications of each treatment option on the internet and made my own decision. It seemed with any of these treatments, no one escaped without compromise in function…and a difficult rehabilitation.

Treatment
Even though my doctor recommended the radical surgery option, I selected brachytherapy. I went against conventional wisdom because what I found out was doctors tend to recommend the radical surgery because of the 15-year documented success rates. Since brachytherapy had evolved so much in the past few years, no such research data existed for that. The risk in deciding on brachytherapy was to believe that seed implantation had evolved so much in recent years that there simply wasn’t 15 years of experience to compare with the radical approach yet.

Yes, I lost some sleep on that decision, but the favorable outcome/side effect profile over the radical approach won me over. I was banking on not being damaged goods after treatment. I also knew I would do everything under my control post procedure to ensure that there would be no recurrence and that there would be minimal effects in the aftermath.

Recovery
The procedure itself was much easier than I expected. When considering where they were going in my body and what they were going to do when they got there I thought I’d feel awful afterwards. All things considered; I was pleasantly surprised. I was out and about within days. The thing I didn’t realize was, the radioactive seeds build radiation over time, and they begin to burn more. Pain medication was necessary for quite some time. And yes, there are definite side effects to the radiation that rise and then begin to subside, but not completely, over a period of time.

The Longer View Since being treated, I have returned to a reasonably normal existence. I do take two pharmaceutical drugs to maintain normal function and I get routine PSAs and checkups to ensure that the cancer is not recurring. Thank God, my PSAs have been in the undetectable range. I have maintained a healthy diet, exercise routine, stress reduction process, and a vitamin/mineral regimen that I believe will continue to help me maintain a strong immune system to help me fight off any future cancer attacks.

My Attitude and Final Thoughts
Cancer is not a death sentence for many. There is hope…there is always faith and hope! Being optimistic and proactive is important. Keep up with medical visits and related diagnostic tests.

My abbreviated list of actions are:
• Eat more vegetables and fruits,
• Keep physically active,
• Get enough sleep,
• Drink enough water, and
• Do what you can to reduce stress.
• Pick your doctors wisely and ask to speak with patients who have gone through the treatment options they are recommending.
• Do your own research to make wise decisions about your care and treatment outcomes.

At the end of the day, it’s your body and your decision. Remember: “You are so much more than the bad things that happen to you” and “you can’t wait until life isn’t hard anymore before you decide to be happy”-Jane “Nightbirde” Marczewski (cancer patient and contestant on America’s Got Talent Season 15)