OPINION:
The diagnosis was not a surprise — well, yes, it was. Like me, many other men with a health issue had tried to deny it and delay treatment, even though everyone knows that early detection is critical to a cure.
My prostate-specific antigen had been slowly creeping up for the past two years. When it reached 9.0 along with a Gleason score of 9, my doctor said it was time to do something about it. This meant a prostate biopsy.
It came back positive for a cancerous tumor pressing against my rectal wall.
Two options were explained to me: a complete removal of the gland or radiation and hormone treatment.
I chose the latter. After 38 radiation treatments, five days a week, my PSA has dropped to zero, and I can say confidently that the little tumor has disappeared. I will remain on a hormone drug for two years.
I share this deeply personal information, hoping it will inspire men older than 50 (or younger, if you are in a higher-risk group) to get regular checkups that include a review of PSA levels in a blood test.
The American Cancer Society estimates 333,830 new cases of prostate cancer and 36,320 deaths in the United States in 2026. About 1 in 8 men will get a prostate cancer diagnosis in their lifetime.
Black men face a significantly higher risk of getting and dying from prostate cancer than White men and other racial groups, according to the American Cancer Society. The cancer has a 99% survival rate if it has not spread outside the prostate, which mine had not.
Prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death among American men, trailing only lung cancer. It is important to repeat: Early detection is key, as it is for women and their breast cancer survival rates.
In my experience, men are generally reluctant to see doctors, especially when it comes to their prostates and other private parts. However, denial is not a cure, and refusing examination is certain to allow the cancer to spread, potentially beyond treatment.
Yes, there can be side effects, and they may include urinary problems, constipation and loss of libido. For some men, even a temporary loss of libido may sound worse than cancer, but how does death sound?
I was fortunate to have some of the best doctors one could get at the Miami Cancer Institute in Florida. They were confident, reassuring, professional and compassionate. They also communicated in a language I could understand.
So, come on, men (and you women who love them). Guys, do it for them and others who love you, and do it for yourselves. Any embarrassment is minimal and quickly evaporates as you realize that your doctors and nurses (or at least mine) care about curing you.
Once again, however, the diagnosis must be early. That cannot be repeated too often.
It appears I will be around for a few more years to annoy my liberal friends. I am grateful to God, a supportive wife and a tremendous medical team. All were instruments in His healing.
• Readers may email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@tribpub.com. Look for Cal Thomas’ latest book, “A Watchman in the Night: What I’ve Seen Over 50 Years Reporting on America” (Humanix Books).
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