Just finished my Cyber Knife Treatments

Rising PSA led to a cancer diagnosis

Last Fall, I had a full physical to celebrate my 65th Birthday and enrollment in Medicare. Or as my Doctor called it, my Welcome to Medicare Experience. While I checked out healthy, my PSA numbers were high. They had been elevated in previous physicals, but this time, it was time to take that next step and see a Urologist. I chose one after researching them here in my Washington, DC, community on Google, and luckily I chose one that is considered the top in prostate treatments.

Prostate cancer as a gay man

A few months in, after an MRI and some in-person and virtual visits, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer and sent in for a biopsy, which then showed three small spots. What I found interesting, especially as a gay man, is that most health providers do not really understand the LGBTQ+ community and have ideas and stereotypes of gay men. No, we are not always actively having anal sex. Which seemed to be one of the preconceived ideas that came up time and time again.

Cyberknife as prostate cancer treatment

My prostate cancer was not at a level like a good friend's, where the prostate had to be removed. Nor did I need hormone therapy. It seems I got off pretty easily with five cyberknife treatments. MRI's Catscans, Blood Tests, and meetings with a series of Doctors, the radiation treatments started last week and finished yesterday.

I was concerned that I experienced very little pain and discomfort, though the doctor said it was because I followed all the instructions. No Wine and No Coffee, I have to say, were the hardest part of the experience. Though I did sleep a lot more soundly, the only issues were minor intestinal discomfort and burning during urination at the end. Now to wait for the co-pay bills to come in.

I feel I have closed a chapter now and am ready to move on to the next, which will include regular checkups and a new understanding of my prostate health.