I have been writing and rewriting my thoughts on ‘memory’ after coming across a song called “I Remember You” by Frank Ifield, recorded in the early 1960s. I hit the wall (of writing) … until today .
I recently posted on Facebook a note that I have been cancer FREE for five years. The responses to that post have had my mind spinning like a dreidel all day.
My thoughts have raced through the memories of the loss of two of my brothers to cancer, Robert Lynn Coons in 1994 at age 47 and Michael Edward Coons in 2012 at age 56, as well as uncles, aunts, cousins, and other friends. In the case of my brothers, their cancers were widespread when they were diagnosed. We don’t know if it included prostate cancer. It even hurts to see that in print. Virtually everyone I know, and certainly most of the people who ‘liked’ or commented on that post, have relatives, close and distant, and friends, whom they have also lost to cancer. Seeing that I have survived * it, I had to hurt those whose family and friends did not. I never take that survival for granted. Never. * Whatever caused cancer to invade my body could cause it again, but not in the same way. Now I am more aware, but as George Carlin would say, “Just because the monkey is gone doesn’t mean the circus is out of town.”
I ask you; I beg you to be more aware than me. The diagnosis of existing prostate cancer came to me through one of those serendipitous events that arose out of what I thought was a different physical problem. I had yearly physicals and realized after the fact that my PSA had been going up for the past three years. I had seen it but did not process the information.
On the morning of January 2, 2010, Louisa, Seven, and I were walking through Washington Park. It was very cold and there was snow on the ground, like today; nothing unusual about that. Louisa stopped to talk about dogs with a man who was also walking his dog. At some point I realized that I was unstable. I felt that if I tried to move, I would fall. When they finished visiting, Louisa started walking and stopped, wondering what was wrong. I said I didn’t think I could move without falling. He walked me to a bench and sat with me. She said she had no signs typically associated with a stroke. After a few minutes, maybe five, I got up and walked with her for a bit. I felt good, but was shocked enough to schedule an appointment with a doctor. The visit and the subsequent trip began on January 5, 2010.
Dr. Katherin Compton examined me, took a blood sample, and suggested that I see a neurologist, which I did. He also said that I should visit a urologist, as my PSA was high, at 9 at the time. For the next four weeks I had brain scans, MRI, MRI, eeg, ekg and can’t remember what else without looking at the records. The neurologist confirmed that he had not had a TIA, but he most likely experienced low blood sugar at the event in the park.
I visited the urologist, Dr. Reuven Rosen, who suggested a biopsy based on the pattern of the increased PSA. The biopsy showed prostate cancer; captured at an early stage. After considering several treatment options, including natural and chemotherapy, and due to my family’s history of cancer, I decided to undergo robotic surgery to remove it. I have and thank God for his guidance, placing me in the care and skills of Dr. Jeremy Weiss, his staff, nurses, doctors and technicians. I say that I am cancer free because, since the surgery on January 4, 2011, my PSA is still “undetectable”, which actually means “not enough to measure”.
My friend, the late Charles Burrell *, introduced me to the Hamilton Rademacher Men’s Cancer Community (HRMCC), two weeks after my surgery. I continue to participate in the support group and I encourage you to contact me personally, via Facebook Private Messenger or by phone, if you know of any men that you think could benefit from our discussions. Generally, men do not want to participate or talk about prostate cancer or talk about any disease. The HRMCC provides an atmosphere where men really do that. Actually. * Not to be confused with the well-known Denver musician of the same name.
Prostate cancer continues to be investigated and is supported by groups at the local level, such as the Prostate Conditions Education Council (PCEC) and through events such as Mac’s Run for PCEC and Denver Blue Shoe 5k, organized by the Clinic of Colorado Urology (TUCC). I have run in each of those races, using a BIB that has a number and the word SURVIVOR. I am a five year prostate cancer survivor. I am careful what I eat and drink and keep an eye out for any changes that may indicate a change in that state.
There are not many “facts” about prostate cancer. Due to the prostate, it is a male disease, sometimes detected starting in the 40s and more often in the 50s or older. For reasons unknown to date, it is found most often in African American men. I asked a guest speaker at an HRMCC meeting, a retired urologist why. He said, ‘we just don’t know.’ It is an important part of the investigation, but so far, without conclusive results.
I appreciate your response to my post on Facebook.com and for reading this Ezine article. I’d appreciate it even more if you would meet with the men in your life about it. If you are reading this and you are a man over 40, speak to a urologist about your prostate condition.
