Tom’s Prostate Cancer Survivor Story
Tom’s journey with prostate cancer highlights the importance of prioritizing your mental health, and the importance of voicing your thoughts when you’re living with cancer.
INFORMATION ON PROSTATE CANCER CAN BE DAUNTING
Tom, 81, admits that the amount of information available on prostate cancer and its treatment can be daunting to review. But he sees it as a positive and says that we’re lucky to live in a time with so much data available to us.
He guesses that he has spent “over a thousand hours” studying the subject since he was diagnosed in 2018. He still finds there is always more to learn. He reasons that
this wealth of information highlights the need to find a well-informed doctor. He was grateful for his physician’s help in pointing out which options are safest and most advanced, as that helped him to take an active role in decision making on testing and treatment, which he encourages others to do as well.
Tom asked for opinions from three different doctors regarding treatment when his high PSA score of 13 ng/ml jumped to an even higher score of approximately 17 ng/ml in a short period of time.
Scans and a biopsy confirmed the aggressiveness of his cancer. All agreed that he undergo radiation treatment as a first step.
PUSHING PROSTATE CANCER BACK
Now on oral chemotherapy, which leaves him feeling fatigued, his spirits remain high as he reflects on his care team and their expertise treating advanced prostate cancer. Going into these appointments, Tom’s mission is clear: “My goal is to cure my cancer, or at least push it back a few years.” He reflects that radiation has come a long way in terms of its potential precision. He points out that it’s a good idea to consider undesirable and long-lasting side effects from treatments, such as radical prostatectomy, before making a treatment decision.
Tom admits that there have been highs and lows during his journey. Particularly when he considers his limited control over what the future holds. Among other things, he worries about the emotional impact of his condition on his wife, Cindy, but has found that writing about his feelings has been a therapeutic release for him. He says that one of the biggest positives to have come out of all of this is his increased empathy for himself and others.
ASK ABOUT TESTING AND TREATMENT OPTIONS
One tool that was a game-changer in Tom’s treatment was a PSMA PET scan, which Tom experienced twice. His second PSMA PET scan showed that his cancer had doubled in size. He feels fortunate for this discovery, as it gave his oncologist the necessary information to change his treatment accordingly.
Tom is grateful for those around him, especially Cindy and his care team, and treasures the bonds he has created on his journey. Something he did when backpacking, as well. He compares his care team to the people he met visiting Newfoundland over the course of many years, whom he describes as friendly, family-oriented, and happy, and has always aspired to attain a similar attitude. He appreciates that his care team inspires him in a similar way.
He feels that prostate cancer can be especially challenging to talk about because of the stigma surrounding it. “People talk about breast cancer all the time, but a lot of people don’t really share about prostate cancer.” Tom has found that his gratitude and give-back mentality are helpful to him as well. He reflects, “If I use my knowledge to help other people, that’s really good for me.”
Though Tom’s energy level limits his participation in his old hobbies, he has found new ways to fill his time. He maintains his spirited outlook on life. Tom served in the Air Force before working as a programmer for 50 years, enjoying hiking, backpacking and kayaking in his free time. He has less energy for those things now but has found that in addition to spending more time with his wife, Cindy, he loves reading and writing.