A Personal Note
Prostate cancer has been in the news recently so I thought it would be helpful to recount my experience with this men’s only disease. I’m sure you’ve heard by now about our Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin. Reportedly he was treated for his cancer by the robot assisted surgical procedure. Shortly after surgery Austin developed urinary tract infection. He is now being treated for that infection.
In the spring of 2017, I went for prostate cancer treatment at the Procure Proton Treatment Center in Somerset, NJ. I posted my results on Facebook. With slight wording changes, here is that post. After reading this if you would like more info about my experience with Proton cancer treatment email me at badiak@substack.com
Picture here is of a treatment room where a proton beam was used to reduce my prostate to a tiny shriveled up chunk of its former self. If you become involved with your prostate, here’s my advice.
Learn all you can about prostate cancer and treatment options. Talk to doctors and do research online. Use a desktop, not your smartphone, if possible. You get a lot more info that way.
If your urologist wants a biopsy, ask for an MRI first. Insist on it unless he gives you a good reason why you need the biopsy instead (“because that’s how they do it” is not a good reason). In my case, the biopsy came out negative but then an MRI showed a possible Stage III cancer. A directed biopsy came out with a Gleason score of 7(4+3).
If you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, get multiple opinions on what you should do about it. Two Urologists and an Oncologist studied my scans. One doctor told me my cancer is not serious, the other 2 said I should do something about it immediately.
If you are given hormone therapy, ask about the lower dose version. I did and I think that resulted in fewer hot flushes and that they ended sooner than would a higher dose.
I visited and interviewed 3 treatment options. I ruled out robotic surgery for a couple of reasons and settled on one of 2 types of radiation treatments. Note that there are other options to treat prostate cancer. What you choose will depend on your level of cancer, your doctor’s advice, and your own comfort. I chose Proton radiation treatment as I determined it would have the fewest side effects. I was right, I have no side effects.
Logistically that worked out great. My faithful companion and loving wife drove me to the site. While I was getting a Proton tan Mary would go out jogging and get a UVA tan.
Do research on nutrition and supplements. Consider a calorie-restricted diet. If you don’t already have a wife, consider getting one. Mary cooked and baked fantastically delicious and nutritious cancer un-friendly foods. I could write a cookbook about it, but I do better writing political/philosophical stories, see my great Amazon book “Urbie” by Ray Yenahegi.
At my latest follow up at Procure my Oncologist told me that my post-treatment psa/testosterone results indicated that I'm cancer free.
Another example why having loving families, or faithful friends for that matter, to help you in a crisis. In the spring of 2023, I fell down concrete steps and broke my femur.
A famous anthropologist, Margaret Mead, was once asked by a student (so the story goes) what she thought was the earliest sign of a civilized society. Mead told the student that the first sign of civilization was a healed femur. She explained that in the wild a wounded animal would die or be eaten. A human surviving a broken femur would mean someone helped to take care of that person.
My wife and daughter rearranged the house to be wheelchair accessible. Mary bought me the appropriate items to help me while I was recovering. They installed grab bars where needed. Our Daughter, who does cloud networking became a mechanical engineer and installed two ramps to get into the house. My son-in-law and his friend rebuilt our shower to make it easier for me to wash up.
My next post will be back about our diseased political system and our broken constitution.