My Story: Prostate Cancer Is Not The End

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and we could not think of a better way to celebrate it than having someone tell their story on their experience with this disease.

Meet Peter and his story

Hello Peter, thank you for your time to sharing your journey with us. How did your story with prostate cancer begin?

My personal story about prostate cancer began in March 2009. At that time, at a regular annual check-up at one of the clinics in my hometown. I had an elevated level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) used as a tumor marker for the first time in a laboratory blood test. For my age then, I was born in 1973, the measured PSA level of 6.35 ng/ml was significantly above the recommended 3.5 and indicated the need for some further treatment.

Although an elevated PSA does not necessarily mean a diagnosis of prostate cancer. It can also be an inflammatory process; the medical procedure envisages a digital rectal examination. This is not one of the most beautiful and pleasant life experiences. During this examination, the specialist urologist could not feel the tumor with his finger. He did not even refer me to a prostate biopsy as the most reliable way to diagnose a possible disease. He recommended the first in a series of combination therapies due to the suspicion of inflammatory processes. The PSA value dropped to 4.1 ng /ml, the level around which it hovered until September 2010.

Reactions to diagnosis

What was your reaction when you first found out that you have prostate cancer?

It all happened when one doctor decided to do a biopsy that confirmed the diagnosis of prostate cancer. As my father died in early 1995 from a very ugly and extremely aggressive form of stomach cancer. When the doctor said, "I am sorry, the findings show that you have prostate cancer." This first reminded me of my father's fate, which further exacerbated the severe shock. However, I realized that I was not going to die right away. I decided it would be good to make some rational plan out of that situation that is not, at least not right away, so hopeless.

Putting together a treatment plan

What was the initial treatment?

Well, the doctor who diagnosed the cancer had no doubts about my treatment and recommended surgery. This was a radical prostatectomy performed using DaVinci technology, a robotic surgical system. He felt that due to my relatively young age for such a diagnosis and solid financial status I should have a speedy recovery and ensure the highest possible quality of life.

Life after prostate cancer surgery

How was the quality of life after the operation?

It significantly impaired my quality of life. The problems of incontinence and erectile dysfunction were too much of a sacrifice for me at times. I wish I had never done the surgery. My doctors kept telling me I would be able to maintain a reasonable level of life satisfaction; whatever that means to them.

More than just the physical toll...

What was your biggest struggle during this period?

I'm an entrepreneur. I own a marketing agency for years. Before I first went to have surgery, my illness became the subject of rumors among the employees of the company I headed at the time. In the first half of 2010, the global financial crisis hit with all its might. In such a situation, a terminally ill CEO of a company exposed to a slump in discretionary spending is not a very reliable and desirable partner for the bigger clients.

There was a big emotional and economic crisis waiting to just burst right in front of me. I cannot imagine what my wife went through with me. But there is nothing I admire most than her amazing patience and support.

We are in this battle together

You seem too went through a lot in your life. How are you feeling today?

Today, I have met a few acquaintances who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer in recent months and years. Some are younger and some are older. They have been treated with different procedures because of their age or the degree of progression of the disease.

This interview is only my small contribution to understanding and ultimately accepting the diagnosis of prostate cancer. I want someone one day to say that I didn't give up because of you. Get checked early!