REFLECTIONS OF A CANCER WARRIOR
CANCER – the word no one wants to hear – as a patient, as a friend, as a family member. Yet one in two Canadians will contract cancer in their lifetime. No other disease is as prevalent. Despite being so common, there are still many misconceptions. There is also NO CURE for cancer (any cancer). It may be controlled or contained via treatments, it may be in remission due to treatments, but there is no cure. Once you are diagnosed with cancer, it lives with you forever. No two types of cancers are the same and everyone’s cancer is different. All treatments, results, and side effects will be different for every cancer warrior. You are a cancer warrior – some are in the trenches of the front line, some are in peaceful détente.
I first heard the words – You have cancer – on August 24, 2021. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. I had begun testing for it months earlier and suspected there was a high likelihood of cancer in the spring of 2021 due to an elevated PSA test, so I had begun preparing myself to hear those words. Since that time, it has been a journey of learning, discovery, and healing. Lots of highs and some lows. Like anything in life, until you actually experience a challenge or setback, you cannot fully understand the struggles and consequences. Until you walk in someone else’s shoes…
Cancer is a community. It impacts everyone around you. All your relationships (family, friends, associates, etc.) are affected. Cancer is not a solitary diagnosis but a community diagnosis. In addition to the physical battles and scars of cancer, the biggest battle is the mental and psychological toll – fear of the unknown, fear of death, fear of treatment, financial fear, physiological side effects of treatment, fear of isolation. As a result of cancer, I have also met an amazingly supportive community of fellow cancer warriors – men with cancer. We walk this journey together, supporting and helping each other, knowing we have walked or are walking in each other’s shoes.
This is my battle story. Remember, everyone’s is different. I call it a battle because it is relentless. There are no quick fixes. It is with you for life. It is a life sentence. There is no escape. Yes, there are better days. Thankfully, in my case, mostly better days. But we live from one test to the next. We read and hear countless stories of a broken medical system (and it is. In Canada, it is on life support), but I have been fortunate and blessed with great care. I can’t thank all the medical professionals I have dealt with – my GP, urologist, oncologist, nurses, and administrators – enough for their care and professionalism. They work under very difficult circumstances, but do so with grace.
If there is one message I want to emphasize, it is this – YOU HAVE TO BE YOUR OWN GREATEST ADVOCATE. Take responsibility for your health. Take precautions. Make sure you get checked and tested regularly. Do not put off or ignore symptoms. I was fortunate that my prostate cancer was caught early, so I had more options with a greater likelihood of success. Almost all cancer warriors I meet who have advanced cancer say the same thing – “I had the symptoms but I ignored them or didn’t get checked.” Trust me, a poke here or there is much better than a lifetime of chemo, radiation, or surgery…
After many appointments, tests, and consultations, I opted to have low-dose brachytherapy (my other option was surgery to remove the prostate). In this process, they injected/implanted (under sedation) 104 radiation seeds into my prostate… Wow – 104. What a medical miracle. It was day surgery. I walked in early in the morning and walked out (maybe glowing a bit) mid-afternoon. This procedure destroys the prostate cancer from the inside out and has a 97% long-term success rate. Within a month, my PSA had reduced from 10 to 2.7 (4.5 was considered acceptable for my age), and after 3 months was down to 0.04. It worked. I had minimal side effects. Life was/is pretty good. Going forward, I would have quarterly PSA tests for monitoring. I was discharged from BC Cancer in January 2023 (for good behavior… lol).
While I had confidence in the procedure, I found that on my test days, my anxiety levels were higher, and I tended to be more irritable – until I got the results later in the day. In the interim, I have met many men who also had brachytherapy years before I did, and had great long-term results, confirming the success rates I had been told. I was thankful I had taken precautions and been checked and diagnosed early.
PSA tests (like mammograms) are not perfect or exact science, but they are an accepted early diagnosis tool for prostate cancer. They are also relatively painless and unobtrusive – just a simple blood test. Fluctuations in results are possible due to a variety of factors and should never be taken in isolation. My situation began to change in August 2023. That was the first increase in my PSA readings. Minor, but an increase nonetheless. From that point forward, my PSA showed a disturbing trend. It was consistently increasing with each quarterly test (not fluctuating). It was still low, but clearly trending negatively. Occasionally it would double – definitely a bad sign. My family doctor and I would review and discuss the results, but no action was really taken. This is where taking responsibility for your health matters.
Finally, in the fall of 2024, I began pushing my family doctor more for testing and options. My PSA had been rising consistently for 18 months. While still considered low, it was a negative trend, especially for someone previously treated. I was able to get re-admitted to BC Cancer to speak with an oncologist to understand what might be causing the increases and discuss next steps. I didn’t want to wait and later find out the cancer had spread and my future options were limited or more invasive. Knowing I’d be considered “low priority” given my relatively low PSA numbers, I also knew it would take time to get an oncologist appointment. I allowed some time to pass due to holidays and other priorities but began proactively following up in early 2025.
I got a meeting with my oncologist in February 2025 in Victoria, BC, a 2-hour drive. My wife Karen came with me. Cancer is a family disease. It's always best to have someone with you, because the cancer warrior can’t be fully objective. My oncologist (very well known and highly respected) was confident that despite the PSA trend, the cancer had not spread, the treatment had worked, and no further action was needed, just ongoing quarterly testing. I requested a PSMA PET scan, a high-resolution CT scan that detects prostate cancer markers in the body. He declined, saying it wasn’t necessary unless my PSA reached at least 2 (at the time, it was 1.3). I left hopeful that my PSA would stabilize soon.
In April, I chose to do another PSA test, one month early. The result? Not favorable. My PSA had doubled from 1.3 to 2.5. A significant increase. It was time for action. In Canada’s public healthcare system, access is guaranteed, but timeliness is not. Many people die waiting. I refused to be one of them. I found a private clinic in Vancouver that could perform a PSMA PET scan, at a cost. It’s not cheap, but how do you put a price on your health? I confirmed that my oncologist would review the scan results, then booked it. Instead of waiting months, I had the scan done in less than a week.
The following day, I got a call from my family doctor.
Good news and bad news…
Good news: My proactive and diligent approach to my health paid off.
Bad news: The cancer had metastasized to one of my ribs. (Bone metastasis is common with prostate cancer.) I have an 8mm lesion.
While I wasn’t thrilled with the news, I now had answers. I knew what was causing the PSA rise. I could plan. The unknown no longer haunted me. The next hurdle would be navigating the delays of the system. It’s exhausting. Our political and health care “leaders” don’t realize how damaging these delays are, not just physically, but emotionally, mentally, and financially.
My follow-up oncologist appointment was moved up from July to the end of May. I’m still hoping for a cancellation to get in sooner. Based on my scan, I suspect radiation is next. How many treatments, and how soon it’s all unknown. Unfortunately, BC has also cancelled the program that sent patients to Bellingham, WA for faster radiation treatments. That option is gone, which will likely increase wait times. And longer waits mean growth in the lesion and the risk of further metastasis. It’s hard not to ask: Why am I being penalized for being proactive and catching this early?
My community has been incredible. I am blessed with a loving and supportive wife and family who keep me grounded. They’ve been with me every step of the way. My men’s cancer group checks in often. They know when I’m off. Even a simple note, text, or call makes a big difference especially when it comes from someone who truly understands. My church community has been amazing, too. The prayers surrounding me are powerful. I know I’m in good hands. I know I’m not alone.
I may not be out of the woods, but I’m not alone. I have an army behind me, family, medical professionals, researchers, fellow warriors, and my community. There will be more good days than bad. There will be bumps and detours. But every day is a good day to live. I’m learning to ask for help more often and to share more. I’m learning to live with purpose. I’m grateful to all who walk with me.
