In June this year, I had my third biopsy. The PSA I had in preparation for that procedure was elevated—8.45. Of the 12 samples taken in the biopsy, two came back positive for cancer—both on the left side. One malignancy occupied only 2% of its sample and had a Gleason score of 6; the other sample showed 50% cancerous with a Gleason of 7. The facts that more samples were positive than in the first biopsy, that the positive samples were larger, that they had a higher Gleason score, and that they showed up on the opposite side of the gland from the first positive sample—all of these factors made it clear that it was time to take care of the problem.
Dr. Vallabhan, of course, recommended surgery and said that it could be scheduled within the next couple weeks. I asked for, and received, the names of several patients he had already treated—all by robotic surgery. It turned out that one of them was in the clinic at the present time for a check up. The nurse asked if he'd be willing to visit with me, and he said, "Sure." He was 5 years or so older than me and had a number of other health issues in addition to prostate cancer. He had his surgery a couple months before our visit, and said he was quite satisfied with the results. He had some incontinence which he and the doctor were working to correct. He was no longer able to function sexually.
I went home and immediately contacted Loma Linda to get the ball rolling for proton radiation treatment. In July Amy and I vacationed in California so that I could attend my 59th high school reunion. While in the area, we attended a Wednesday evening education/support group meeting at Loma Linda. The speaker that evening happened to be Dr. Carrot, of whom I've already written, and we had the opportunity to visit with other patients at our table. We were impressed with the positive, almost evangelistic atmosphere and the holistic approach to healing that we sensed.
Within the next month, I was given an appointment to consult with a Loma Linda radiological oncologist at the end of October; assuming no problems surfaced, my treatment would begin by mid November and would conclude near the end of January. Meanwhile Loma Linda's insurance department contacted my insurance (Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Texas) to clear the way for coverage.
I scheduled a visit with my Primary Care Physician, Dr. Walter Hyde of Grace Clinic, to get a referral to the Loma Linda doctor. When Dr. Hyde heard about my chosen therapy, he told me he had another patient who had just finished proton treatment at M. D. Anderson in Houston. He said it was a good experience and appeared to be a good therapy. "Good choice," he said.
It turned out that BC/BS TX would approve payment for the therapy, but only on an out-of-network basis, no doubt because similar treatment was available in Houston. I was still convinced that, even though it would cost me more out of pocket, I'd prefer to go to Loma Linda where they had longer experience with the methodology and had the holistic approach to health that I've mentioned repeatedly in this blog.
Then it became apparent that, because my insurance works on an calendar-year basis, if my treatment lapsed over into 2010, I would have to pay double the deductible and overage expenses. In early September, I called Mila, the Loma Linda staff person who manages scheduling, told her about the problem, and asked if we could delay the entire process until after the first of January in order to get it all in a single calendar year. She put me on hold for a while, then came back and said that, if I was ready, we could schedule my consultation for the end of September, begin treatment in early October, and wrap it all up before Christmas. I visited with Fred, chair of my department, to make certain we could make arrangements for alternate teaching methods for my courses, and then I called Mila back to confirm scheduling.
The next couple weeks were really hectic as I went about putting things in order to be away for two and a half months. Working on the basis that I'd rather have the facts out there than have people making up their own stories, I was very open with everyone about my diagnosis and treatment plans. I saw no reason to hide the facts, and lots of reasons to share them. And as I indicated in the very first of these posts, I got huge support from Fred, my colleagues, my friends, and my students.
So that's my story. Tomorrow I have my 15th treatment and will be 1/3 of the way through the program. Thinking over the story of the past 3 years, two statements stand out: "The good news is, you've been diagnosed with prostate cancer," and "Good choice!"
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