Hi, I’m Jim. I'm a Prostate Cancer Survivor and this is my story.
I was at a health check-up when I was suddenly told to go for further health assessment.
During my visit to the doctor, he confirmed my worst nightmare, stage 2 prostate cancer.
When I received my diagnosis, I was overwhelmed with worry.
As of late 2023, it has been more than a year since my diagnosis. I have completed treatment and I am no longer taking medication.
I am now living free of cancer.
My Symptoms
A regular health check-up led to the discovery of an unusually high Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) in my body. However, I did not experience any accompanying symptoms, such as pain or discomfort.
Since I had no other symptoms and only a record of high PSA, I sought a second opinion from a more experienced doctor to confirm my diagnosis.
To my dismay, it was true. I had stage 2 prostate cancer.
When I received my diagnosis, I was fearful. I was overwhelmed with worry.
I never thought I would be diagnosed with cancer, hence why I felt disappointed and confused at the sudden change in my life.
I made changes to my lifestyle as I prepared for treatment. I exercised more often than I used to.
I have completed treatment for cancer and I do not require medication anymore.
I was advised to go for,
Initial Treatment Plan
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
I sought a second opinion from another doctor since I wanted to know more treatment options.
Eventually I opted only for surgery, which proved to be sufficient for my recovery journey
After deciding on my treatment plan, I felt more motivated about the treatment journey.
Having several treatment options provided me with relief and hope about my future.
The side effect that affected me the most was the loss of appetite. I improved my daily nutrition to manage this side effect.
A better diet and a more frequent exercise routine helped in improving my strength.
Throughout my journey, my biggest fear was relapse.
I tried to overcome the fear by thinking positively. I consoled myself by thinking of the different available treatment options even if the cancer worsened.
I didn’t want to give up and I tried to be optimistic of the promising outcome if I listened to my doctor’s recommendations.
Now, having gone through cancer and starting life post-cancer, I feel optimistic and confident.
I feel thankful to be alive. I am glad that my insurance covered all of my major treatments, especially for multiple surgeries. Even though I worry about relapse, I feel hopeful about my future.
To those on their cancer journey, I'd say: There is a solution to every problem.
This patient's story is published and shared with their full consent. Any personal data that can be used to identify the patient has been omitted.
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