A Thankful Thought

Low T can be a blessing

I just read a wonderful post about how writing changes not only one’s mind, but one’s mindset; it encouraged me to put into words some things that have floated around in the ether between my ears.

Appropriately enough, they are thoughts of gratitude. And in particular, gratitude for the way my cancer journey has progressed.

I have gotten consistently good reports from the various PET scans, CT scans and ultrasounds over the last 6 months. While it is possible the cancer can return, it is clear that the surgery last April was successful and they were able to remove all the cancerous tissue in my body.

I had an aggressive form of prostate cancer, and was in stage 2. Stage 1 means that the cancer has not spread outside the prostate gland at all. Stage 2 means it has just started to spread in the areas just around the prostate gland. Stage 3 indicates the cancer has spread more pervasively to adjacent areas. And stage 4 means it has spread to distant organs (the lungs, bones or brain are the most common).

It was actually just a year ago that the doctors had their first suspicion of malignancy. In July of last year I had started taking testosterone gel, because my levels were low. As part of that procedure the doctors also began testing my PSA (prostate specific antigens) levels. A high PSA is a sign of prostate cancer, and prolonged testosterone supplements can make any prostate cancer grow faster.

My first PSA test came back a little high, but not worrisome. But the second came back higher, even though it was only a month later. That is when I was referred to a urologist to get an ultrasound of the prostate. The ultrasound was ambiguous, so I had a biopsy to test the actual tissue. And, as you know, it indicated widespread cancer in my prostate gland.

The surgery removed the entire prostate gland; the surgeon also used a new technique to see if any surrounding tissue was also cancerous. And indeed there were some immediately outside the prostate. So he was able to remove those without problem.

And here is where my thankfulness comes in. Because the cancer was found to be highly aggressive, it likely would have spread rather quickly to surrounding areas and then to other organs. In that case it would have been much more difficult, or impossible, to remove. Chemotherapy would be certain, and the outcome very uncertain.

In other words, if low T levels had not prompted me to try supplements, I would have likely been faced with an entirely different, and entirely worse, cancer journey. For who knows how far the cancer would have spread before it was caught?

So I have a special, extra reason to be thankful today.

And I would be remiss not to also mention thanks to the many people who have supported me; most supremely the wife that God has blessed me with. I am thankful every time I think of her. She is so much more than I deserve.

Happy thanksgiving, my friends.