Miracles and the Power of Prayer

I wanted to share my story cause I still can't believe I received this diagnosis from my Urologist and the Pathologist at Commonwealth Health this week.

I was first diagnosed with prostate cancer in October of 2015. Two of the 12 cores sampled came back positive. There were two tumors on the left and lower right side of my prostate. The diagnosis was malignant neo-plasm of Prostate. I was told it was a low grade type of cancer, and I was classified as Stage One with a gleason score of 6. My immediate reaction was to get it out-have the surgery.

Active surveillance begins

My Urologist sat me down and said we don't do things like that
anymore. There has been numerous changes in how we treat patients with your diagnosis. I'm going to monitor you 2 or 3 times a year - this is called active surveillance.

So I accepted that and went thru the tests and DRE's until 4 years later (December of 2017) when my Urologist said he should do another biopsy. This time he took 14 core samples, and I had to wait 17 days to get the results---the local pathologist had to get a second opinion form an out of town pathologist. My diagnosis was called ASPN (Atypical Small Acinar Proliferation) which meant that there were cells in the prostate that looked like cancer but were not cancerous. But they had the potential to develop into cancer cells.

My bladder stopped emptying

I was still on active surveillance, and continued to be monitored. My Urologist was concerned about how large my prostate was and was contributing to the fact that my bladder was not empting the way it should. So I had a number of bladder tests and a cystoscopy that had confirmed that I had a problem with the bladder. But my Urologist said I was a candidate for a procedure called the uro-lift, and after researching the procedure, I agreed to have it rather than having a TURP. Had the procedure in December of 2017 (a few days after Christmas), took me 3 days to overcome the side affects, and after that I was urinating like the proverbial race horse. Additional bladder tests confirmed that my bladder was fully tempting.

Another biopsy with different news

It wasn't until this past July that I was told it would be a good idea to get another biopsy. I agreed only if I could get an MRI-and I did. Because of the uro-lift procedure (I had seven implants put into my prostate), they were not able to make an accurate diagnosis. So another biospy-this time 17 core samples taken with the procedure called an MRI direct guided biopsy.

I saw my Urologist last week for the results. He walked into the waiting room with a big smile and said "No cancer." The pathologist did not find any traces of cancer in your prostate. (microscopically small traces were called insignificant). Your cancer-free. I'm in remission.

Absorbing the new news

I wasn't expecting this, as I was resigned to having some form of radiation or actually considering surgery. It took me a few seconds to absorb all of this. As I walked out of the medical building with a copy of the pathologist's report and some other papers, I just kept thinking why did this happen? I remembered all of the people who said they would pray for me; I remembered my lady friend (girlfriend) who said she prays daily to St. Jude for me--The thing is I never believed in prayers, or miracles. I always believed G-d does not do personal requests or favors for people, even if it is one of G-d's chosen people...Whatever is going to happen or take place, it usually will...

Moving forward in my life

I was thinking maybe it was the diet I was on or the supplements I've been taking for many years. I work out at the local JCC 3 or 4 times a week-I take long walks-was it the exercise that contributed to my diagnosis?

I am not the most religious or the most observant. But I am a believer! This whole ordeal has changed my perspective on life and a lot of other things I used to take for granted. I have been granted a reprive-and I will live the rest of my life by helping other people and doing good deeds.