What to Expect: Prostate Cancer

Cancer is not going to limit you as a person. I had a very challenging case right from the get-go. My PSA was well over 100. And I didn't have any idea it could go higher than 10. I actually went to two specialists. And they both gave me the same information. Three good years, two declining, so that was five years. It was 15 years ago.

For a prostate cancer patient, it's the best survival of any of the major cancers. And a lot of that is because there's been such great advance in technology and medical practice. There are excellent treatments out there, surgery, radiation,

hormonal therapy, which is also known as androgen deprivation therapy, which I had, various forms of chemotherapy, emerging immune therapy. We've been blessed in prostate cancer to have a handful of new drugs developed. The side effects really should be considered. Probe and ask your doctor.

I think it's very important for patients to get into a good support group. There are also good online groups that involve interchange among patients. The worst thing is not finding out what you need to do to be screened and how to be safely screened, so you don't get over-treated. And then, take care

of this disease and go about living your life. Prostate cancer is definitely not a death sentence. It's an inconvenience for sure. But it can be one that comes with a silver lining as it deepens our appreciation of life. This is the card I gave to my wife on our fiftieth anniversary, a month ago.

It's something that I never thought we'd see, of course. And she didn't either. And so, we're just so grateful. Cancer is not going to limit hope. It's not going to take away your capacity for friendship, your capacity for love. Basically, you're still the person you were before.

It's just now you've got to deal with a case of cancer.