Robert's Story

When Robert was diagnosed with prostate cancer during his mid-50s, his life became filled with “what ifs.”

What if he could no longer provide for his family? What if his diagnosis proved to be too strenuous on his new relationship? What if his treatment caused intimacy issues? What if he couldn’t return to his favorite hobby, running?

Sensing all of Robert’s doubts and worries, his future wife, Kimberly, sat him down and reassured him, “I’m never going to leave you. I’m always going to love you. We’re going to go through this together.”

Hearing those words, says Robert, gave him the courage to overcome his fears.

The emotional toll of prostate cancer is often difficult for many men, and Robert was no exception. He was too embarrassed to talk about side effects with his friends and even with Kimberly, since their relationship was still fairly new.

“Dr. Pow-Sang sort of read my mind to what I was thinking,” says Robert. “The doctors anticipated what was going to happen to your body and they prepare you for it. The conversation flowed so naturally and comfortably that all the fears and anxiety I had talking about it with a stranger went away.”

Today, both Robert and Kimberly say overcoming prostate cancer together helped strengthen their relationship.

“It helped bond us,” says Kimberly. “It made us open up more,” Robert says.

Robert feels fortunate he experienced very few of the side effects that had caused him so much anxiety at the beginning, a credit he gives the treatment plan developed by Dr. Julio Pow-Sang.

In fact, one month after his treatment Robert ran in the Gasparilla Distance Classic 5K.

“My time wasn’t as good but the accomplishment was running,” says Robert. “That was a really thrilling moment.”