Well, it’s that long-awaited post about Steve’s prostate…
Meet my new ray-gun friend.
That device over there is a linear accelerator, actually, made by Varian. It’s used to provide radiation treatment for various types of cancer.
Like prostate cancer. Which I have.
Let me back up just a bit, because despite the headline of this post, NO-ONE has been waiting with bated breath to hear about my male plumbing.
Nonetheless a huge majority of men in their 50’s-60’s-70’s are going to have to deal with prostates that are getting too big for their britches.
That’s a bad pun, by the way; but when your prostate malfunctions, your britches do bear the brunt.
Being an overachiever, I managed to get the Daily Double:
BPH, the technical acronym for an enlarged prostate (which causes urinary flow problems).
The C word - previously mild-mannered prostate cells deciding to go cancerous, which, as men get older, is almost inevitable (but does not always need treatment - tends to be a slow-grower).
I had my BPH treated several years ago with a cutting-edge technology called HoLEP, which is a very cool process of debulking the prostate using laser technology. I was treated at Vanderbilt by Dr. Nicole Miller, who is a pioneer in the field. Compared to the older and cruder methods, HoLEP is amazing - if you are diagnosed with BPH and need treatment, I absolutely recommend that you look into it.
As for the cancer - well, I knew 4-5 years ago, after a prostate biopsy, that this day was coming. Back then, some rogue cells indicated we needed to do active surveillance over time (this used to be called watchful waiting). After an MRI and another biopsy this year, my Vandy care team (including Drs. Chang, Scarpato, and Cmelak) recommended starting treatment.
A PET Scan indicates that there is no spread of rogue cells, so the growth is, thankfully, localized in the prostate capsule.
I will tell you that, for me, MRIs, CT scans, PET scans, and even treatment by the expensive ray gun have all been easy-peasy; and, as a big fan of Life Sciences med tech, I’ve actually enjoyed the process (I know - weird). I was involved for 10 years in radiation medicine, and for almost 30 in pharma/biotech/medical devices, including cancer treatments - so this stuff doesn’t faze me.
But the biopsy? Ugh. Not a highlight of anyone’s day.
So, during January, I’ll have 20 quick networking meetings with my Varian Linac, and hopefully, that will be the end of prostate posting.
(Coincidentally, I am almost exactly 2 years behind my friend and editor Josh Bernoff, who details his similar journey in this post).
OK, so why write this and share it with a broad audience?
Simple - statistically, about half of my readers are men. You can’t plant your head in the sand about this. Have your PSA levels tracked, get those uncomfortable DREs, and if you’re starting to have symptoms that point to a malfunctioning prostate, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. Talk to your primary physician and see a urologist.
One of my favorite musical artists, Dan Fogelberg, died young (age 56) in 2007 of advanced prostate cancer. He had this to say to the rest of us. Don’t make us grieve your premature demise.
Let’s take advantage of the amazing technology and care that surrounds us and stick around a lot longer. I don’t know about you, but I’ve got plenty yet to accomplish.
Hopefully now with a prostate that will not require much more attention.
By the way, I’m feeling great. Non-symptomatic. Upbeat. All is well - and, as Josh Bernoff put it, “Urine good hands!”
Final note: the medical team at Vanderbilt has been absolutely amazing. All of them. Very thankful.