One of my valued relationships after 74 years of life wouldn't have merited mention 40 years ago.
I'm talking about Harrison urologist Dr. Scott Ferguson, whose chosen field of medicine I suspect prompts many aging men today to share similar feelings about their own physician who specializes in the treatment of all things bladder, kidney and reproductive ability.
Distressing ailments happen to most males of our species somewhere after age 50, which is why a skilled urologist can quickly become an invaluable ally.
Since diagnosing my stage one (Gleason 6) prostate cancer through a biopsy two years ago, Dr. Scott and I have become rather friendly. (How can one not become darn near intimate with their urologist?) My regard is based in his ability to speak compassionately and know exactly what he's doing in matters as delicate as a man's ailing prostate.
After receiving that unexpected diagnosis, I headed directly to the state-of-the-art Proton Therapy Center in Dallas for a treatment evaluation. I passed the approval process there, then realized, despite the reported effectiveness of such relatively advanced treatment, we'd have to make arrangements to stay in the hectic and expensive DFW metroplex for about six weeks for treatments.
Back home in tranquil, convenient Harrison, Dr. Scott and I decided, since stage one prostate cancer often can take a decade or more to manifest into a potentially deadly state, my best option was to pursue what's known as watchful waiting before underdoing treatments with various side effects.
The reasoning behind waiting and watching a diagnosis of this kind is that at this age the odds are good that other ailments such as heart attacks, car wrecks, or something else is likely to lift you from this troubled world before your infected prostate has the chance.
The process is to regularly screen a man's Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) level through a blood test. Most men's PSA levels run less than 4 ng/ml. Cancer can cause that number to rise, thus sounding an alarm and the need for a biopsy to rule it out.
This is what happened to me when my PSA level rose from normal to about 5.
I feel certain many other males with such a diagnosis have gotten a similar prognosis. In my case, the final decision was to wait and continue screening my PSA in the ensuing months to see if it climbs in a meaningful way.
The wait set well with me, especially since I have no urgent symptoms as of today. Since altering my diet and giving up weekly testosterone injections (like spewing gas on a fire), my PSA level dropped dramatically and has remained at 2.5 over the past year.
Unfortunately, those testosterone shots sure helped provide energy and a spring in my man's step as my natural testosterone diminished with age.
My latest session with Dr. Scott came last week after going untested for five months. And as men in this position (and all cancer patients know), it's always a tad stressful waiting to learn if things may have changed for the worse, which could be revealed by a meaningful increase in my PSA.
During my visit, he made it clear that, as a Type II diabetic, my diet should avoid dairy products, sugar, excessive carbohydrates (potatoes, rice and pasta are especially bad) while taking pains to include raw nuts, dark fruits like blueberries, strawberries and raspberries, veggies and fish along with occasional limited portions of beef and chicken.
But what about those snack crackers I like, Doc? He squeezed his eyes shut, shook his head behind the mask and emphasized just how bad those are for prostate cancer patients.
Looking back on the past two-plus years since my diagnosis, I recall how stunned I was to receive the initial finding, especially when Dr. Scott said before the biopsy that he didn't believe I had contracted the stuff. Surprise.
My attitude began to change until I accepted that my affliction is the most prevalent form of cancer in aging males, especially after 60 years. Yet studies reveal almost 30 percent of today's men over 50 have histological effects of prostate cancer and (pay attention, get checked, fellas) the number of instances in younger men overall is on the rise. Bottom line, should we live long enough, it's a solid bet we will contract one form and stage of this cancer.
A particularly sobering aspect is that even when more virulent forms are detected, it's not the cancer within the prostate gland that can take a life, but rather the potentially fatal damage should it break free into lymph glands or beyond.
My wish for all males who survive into silver hair and wrinkles is that they can find a urologist who they can trust to shoot straight when it comes to diagnosing possible cancer early and explaining potential treatments.
Now go out into the world and treat everyone you meet exactly like you want them to treat you.
Mike Masterson is a longtime Arkansas journalist, was editor of three Arkansas dailies and headed the master's journalism program at Ohio State University. Email him at mmasterson@arkansasonline.com.