Certain physical changes occur for all of us as we grow older, and they become more pronounced, it seems, after we hit the 50 mark. One of these is an increased risk of certain diseases.
As we age, many of us experience poorer eyesight; graying and/or thinning hair; pain or stiffness in the joints, neck and back — often a result of arthritis; wrinkled skin and age spots; a loss of hearing, and the list goes on and on.
Some people are able to slow the aging process, or decrease their risk of certain age-related issues, by being mindful of the importance of a healthy diet and exercise, and/or by using vitamins, supplements, creams, serums, injections, and that list goes on and on, too.
However, there is no fountain of youth. Our bodies deteriorate. It is God’s way of saying that we are not going to live forever here on Earth.
I don’t mean to sound like a pessimist, but the stark reality of this life is that, except in case of rapture, none of us is going to make it out of here alive.
For a man, one of the risks that comes with aging relates to the prostate gland, a walnut-sized organ at the base of the urinary bladder that can become enlarged over time and cause physical symptoms that require treatment by a specialist called a urologist.
A local doctor first referred me to a Grenada urologist when I was in my late 30s or early 40s as due diligence over a concern that, thankfully, turned out to be nothing.
The doctor did so partly because of my family history of prostate problems, most notably the fact that my father was diagnosed with prostate cancer in his late 50s or early 60s. A Greenwood urologist treated him by implanting radioactive seeds into the prostate and utilizing other therapies, including injections to build his immune system. He beat the cancer and lived another 15 or so years.
According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in American men, behind only lung cancer, and the second-most commonly diagnosed cancer among U.S. men., behind skin cancer.
ACS estimates that 299,010 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 2024 and that 35,250 men will die from the disease — including 2,680 new cases and 410 deaths in the state of Mississippi alone.
There can be a strong genetic link to prostate cancer for some people. Having a father or brother who battled prostate cancer more than doubles — some studies say quadruples — a man’s risk of developing the disease himself, so doctors tend to pay close attention to these people.
One test performed on men to gauge their prostate health is a simple blood test to check their level of PSA, prostate-specific antigen.
PSA is an enzyme secreted by the prostate gland, and if elevated levels of the enzyme are found in one’s blood, it can mean the presence of prostate cancer, which might indicate a need for further testing. I won’t bore you with specifics, as those facts are readily available online.
ACS recommends that a man of average risk of prostate cancer have his PSA level checked beginning at age 50. For someone with a history of prostate cancer in a first-degree relative — a father or brother — the recommendation is for testing to begin at age 40 or 45, which is about the time I began screening during checkups at Charleston Clinic.
Variables can impact when screenings should begin as well as their frequency, so men should rely on the advice of a medical professional.
For reasons unknown, African American and other Black men are much more likely to develop prostate cancer than other ethnic groups.
The website of ZERO Prostate Cancer, a Virginia-based nonprofit dedicated to prostate cancer education, testing, patient support, research and advocacy, says one in six Black men will get prostate cancer in his lifetime, compared to one in eight men overall. In addition, it notes that Black men are 1.7 times more likely to be diagnosed with — and 2.1 times more likely to die from — prostate cancer than white men. So, obviously, screening for Black males is of even greater importance.
About five years ago, I began seeing an Oxford urologist because of certain issues, including pain and soreness, that made me think something was not quite right.
From the get-go, blood was found in my urine. It was not visible to the naked eye, but it was there. The doctor said the level was not alarming.
Ultrasound and other tests were performed, but nothing raised a red flag and my PSA was at an acceptable level. The urologist recommended annual checkups.
One of those regularly scheduled visits occurred on Nov. 11, 2021, when a blood test showed my PSA at 2.11 nanograms per milliliter. A result greater than 2.5 is considered abnormal.
In late 2022, I got too busy, or so I thought, and postponed my scheduled Nov. 10 office visit. I would call and reschedule, I told the receptionist at the urology clinic.
Time rocked on, as it does.
Finally, I did call and get an appointment for June 1, 2023. My PSA level at that time tested at 6.07. A PSA retest was scheduled three weeks later in case the initial figure was a fluke. The follow-up was a little lower, at 5.83, but still too high.
Further testing was ordered.
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan was conducted in July, with the results indicating “clinically significant cancer highly likely.” As unnerving as that diagnosis was, the doctor said sometimes such test results can be wrong. This one was not.
An August biopsy confirmed an aggressive, high-risk form of prostate cancer.
An early September bone scan and a late September positron emission tomography (PET) scan indicated no spread beyond the prostate gland, so that was good news.
Wife Krista and I attended consultations with both a radiation oncologist and a surgeon to hear the pros and cons of both modes of attack. In those weeks, I spent countless hours watching YouTube videos from reputable cancer research organizations, medical specialists and patients on the topic of prostate cancer, particularly treatments. On a personal level, I found videos posted by the Prostate Cancer Research Institute to be very helpful and educational.
Ultimately, I decided on surgery to remove the prostate, hoping that would eradicate the cancer from my body.
Long story short, surgery went well, but tests of the surgically removed prostate showed it was a much worse actor than originally thought. A PET scan in late January revealed that the cancer had, indeed, spread to the bones in a half-dozen or so locations, making my cancer Stage 4.
Since then, I have started hormonal therapy injections, aimed at lowering the testosterone in the body that fuels the cancer. Blood tests indicate those are working.
I am on several oral medications, including cancer-fighting agents, steroids and medicine to strengthen my bones. On Monday, Feb. 12, I had my first chemo treatment — one of six planned for me as of now.
This will be a fight unlike any that my family and I have experienced, but with a united resolve, the support and prayers of others, and our own longstanding faith in God’s love and power to heal, we will face it together.
We don’t know God’s will, but we know God is with us.
If caught early, prostate cancer is one of the most beatable forms of cancer. It usually grows slowly, is very treatable and has high cure rates.
So, men, get your PSA tested routinely. And please don’t skip any scheduled screening appointments.
