Wife's Journey with Prostate Cancer

My journey with Prostate Cancer began in Jan. 2008 when my husband Dave's PSA was found to be elevated during a routine blood test for his Life Insurance policy. His DRE test revealed no abnormalities. It has been an emotional roller coaster ever since. I had no idea what a prostate was until my husband was diagnosed. That moment will forever be etched in our memory and has transformed our lives.

I now feel I am educated enough to write a book on the subject. That's what happens when we are forced to deal with the unknown. We research until our brain cells are exhausted and scream for a break. We cry and console. We walk around in shock and disbelief. We wonder how one tiny moment can change our lives so drastically. The one thing we never, ever do is give in....we fight back!!!

I have learned many basics that I feel I need to share. PC is genetic even though my husbands first urologist who performed his biopsy said it wasn't, yes we dropped that doctor like a hot potato. Dave's father lost his 15 year battle to PC many years ago, his older brother and younger brother are both battling the monster. A father and three sons tells me and anyone else with common sense that PC is genetic.

I've learned that all is takes is a simple blood test to check the PSA can save a man's life. Yes it's that simple. Every man should know his PSA baseline by age 40 not age 50. If that baseline number rises your doctor will know what to do next. A rise in PSA doesn't always mean cancer, there are other reasons but a baseline is mandatory. A PSA baseline isn't 4.0 anymore, I've spoken with PC patients who had cancer with a lesser PSA. PC isn't just for old men anymore. I've spoken with men in their thirties and fourties with PC.

PC can be caught early and is easily curable with either surgery, radiation or hormone therapy just to name a few. The sooner it's caught the better. It has no early signs or symptoms, this is why the PSA test is SO imperative.

Dave and I together as a team have been through countless PSA tests during our journey of the past 3 years. We have been through numerous doctor visits, tests, xrays, radiation treatments and now hormone therapy injections which is still up in the air if they are working as i'm writing this. My husband is truly my hero. He has never complained or asked "why me"? He handled every step of the way with his chin up saying "bring it on"! He's a fighter and I hope he wins :)

So in a nutshell my purpose here is to save a few lives by simply asking you to be your own advocate, have your doctor perform a DRE, get your PSA blood test and know your baseline number....don't allow Prostate Cancer to win!!!

Feel free to contact me with questions or to vent :)