Rick's Story: My Prostate Cancer Journey
Meet Rick
Prostate Cancer Patient
"I felt like part of a team."
It all began with a routine prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test ordered by my primary care physician. My PSA was high, and I was asked to make an appointment with a urologist as soon as possible.
A consultation and biopsy of my prostate followed. I was surprised when the urologist told me that I had prostate cancer, but they had a few ways to treat it, and it had not spread to other organs. I felt the blood draining out of my head at the news, and at that low point, we talked about the treatment options.
I chose to have the cancer treated with radiation. For me, the process was easy, and I experienced no side effects. The results were great, but I was advised to continue follow-up appointments, which I didn’t do. Looking back, I realize that skipping those follow-up appointments was a mistake.
A couple of years later, I moved to North Tampa, and I did not try to find a local urologist even though my previous doctor gave me a list of good urologists in my area. Fast forward four years, and my new primary care doctor did another PSA test, and the results were very high. I chose to go to Moffitt after seeing their advertisements on TV and knowing a friend who had a positive experience being treated there.
At Moffitt, I underwent a CT/PET scan and prostate biopsy, which confirmed that my prostate cancer had spread to the lymph nodes in my abdomen. This time, the experience was different. I felt like part of a team. I learned that my opinions and concerns were being listened to and considered in my treatment.
I was very lucky; my cancer had not spread to the bones and was treatable with hormone injections. I was told that this cancer will never go away, but it has been controlled and has had very little impact on my quality of life.
If you have a high PSA level and require further testing, you can be screened for prostate cancer at Moffitt. Call 1-888-663-3488 or fill out a form to request an appointment with our Genitourinary Oncology Program.
This story was originally published in the PARTNERS newsletter. Visit Moffitt.org/PARTNERS for more stories and to learn more.