Patient Testimonial - "My Journey: A Story of Highs, Lows, and Victory"

“August 2022. Time for my yearly wellness checkup, just like I’ve done for years. Same as always. Check my blood pressure, breathing, answer a bunch of questions about how I feel, and if I have any questions or concerns? Nope, I feel pretty good. The Dr. says we need to do bloodwork for the maintenance medications, and probably should check my PSA level again. I say, “Sure, just as well, I’m healthy as a horse.”

A few days later I get the test results. Liver, kidneys, and cholesterol all normal. Dr. says my PSA level is elevated; she would like me to see a Urologist. Sure, I’ll go see him, but I feel fine.

A couple weeks later, I have an appointment with the Urologist. He informs me that there can be other factors that can cause an elevated PSA level, but he would like to do a more in-depth blood test to check a few more markers. Okay, sure, I feel fine.

A couple weeks later, we met again. He tells me my numbers justify a biopsy, but it is up to me to decide if I want to do it. Okay, sure I feel fine. He explains the procedure. They insert an instrument into the rectum and take a few samples from the prostate. Doesn’t sound like much fun, but what the heck, I feel fine.

A few weeks later. Today’s the day for the procedure. I started the day off with an enema. Never had one before, but it wasn’t the end of the world. I get to the clinic, get all checked in and nervously await the test. The Dr. explains the procedure again before we get started. I get on the table, and he is telling me every move he is going to do before he does it. A good thing, he seems so calm. It wasn’t a pleasant experience, but it wasn’t painful. A couple days of blood in the urine, but no other issues. He

says it will take a week to ten days for the results. Okay, sure I feel fine.

Late November 2022. Late one afternoon, I got a phone call from the Urologist’s office. It was the Dr. himself. The results were back. Not good. Cancer. My heart sank! It can’t be. I feel fine! He assures me it’s not a death sentence. It is very treatable and possibly curable. Enjoy your Thanksgiving and we need to meet to discuss the treatment options. Now comes the hard part. I must tell my wife and family. I am the strong one, the rock. I take care of my family. I must stay positive to keep them from worrying. I will tell my wife first. She instantly turns white. I must keep a positive attitude. I tell her all the things the Dr. told me emphasizing treatable and curable. I felt hollow inside, but I had to be strong. After all, I feel fine. A few days of an emotional roller coaster,  appearing strong on the outside, and privately shedding tears, but I had myself convinced that I, no, we would beat this thing.

December 2022. We met with the Urologist to explore the options. One option, I could do nothing and do the wait and see thing, monitoring the PSA levels and discussing again if it remains elevated. Another option is seed radiation. Another option is external radiation. The last option is surgery to remove the prostate. He did a very good job of explaining the pros and cons of each option. What really impressed me was he told us he did not want us to decide today. He sent a book home with us, and told us to read the book, write down any questions we may have, and call him in a week or two.

He told us he would not make a recommendation; we should decide which option we feel is best. Again, he used the words treatable and curable. I will keep a positive attitude. I feel fine.

As I was reading the book, I knew I didn’t want to play the wait and see game, and the seed radiation didn’t seem like it was a very good option. I was positive I could win this battle. The book was very helpful and somewhat scary. The book went into great detail on each option, listing the pros and cons and the possible side effects of each treatment option. After a few sleepless nights, and lots of prayers, I decided I will have the surgery. I was positive that if I got that poison out of my body, it would be done and over with. My wife was very supportive, she said she would stand by me every step of the way. It felt like the weight of the world was lifted off my shoulders. I feel fine, and I will beat this thing! I called the Dr’s office and let them know I wanted the surgery. They took care of everything with the insurance company and will let me know when they can do it. It will be a few weeks, but that’s okay with me, I feel fine.

Now it is time to start lining up my short-term disability insurance and FMLA. All this was new to me, but one of the girls in my company’s HR office helped me through the process. I can’t thank her enough. One less thing to worry about so I can focus on my battle, I am going to win!

January 29th, 2023. Today’s the day of surgery. I am putting up a strong front, but I’m scared to death inside. I know it will be fine, I’m going to win this fight! The surgery took 3-4 hours, but I came through it just fine. I had a catheter that would stay in for 7 days, but I can handle that. I really didn’t have much pain from the surgery, it was robotic assisted, only 5 small incisions. The Dr. said the surgery went well. They think they got all cancer. They had to remove the seminal vesicles and it didn’t appear to

be in the lymph nodes. I spent the night in the hospital and was ready to go home in the morning. Of course, they wouldn’t let me go until the Dr. saw me. Mid-afternoon, they kick me out!! I’m winning the fight!!

When I was home, my family took great care of me, helping me get up and walk, get me in the shower and help with the catheter bag, and anything I needed. After about 3 or 4 days, I was beginning to feel rough, it was getting hard to breathe, and hard to stand up. Of course, I didn’t let my family know I wasn’t feeling so good, I didn’t want them to worry.

Day seven. I have a appointment with my family Dr. and then an appointment with the Urologist to get the catheter out if all looks good. I had to use a walker because I felt weak. I sat in the waiting room for a bit and when they called me back, I stood up and couldn’t go any farther. It hurt to breathe, and I could not take a very deep breath. My blood pressure was high, oxygen was low, and my white blood count was so high, they couldn’t read it in the office. They ordered chest x-rays. I was on my way down to the specialty clinic in the hospital to see the Urologist, so they would take all x-rays at the same time. I don’t remember ever feeling that awful. The good news, I did get to say goodbye to the catheter. The bad news, I have pneumonia. Some strong antibiotics and pain meds, and I’m on the mend!!

3 weeks later, I got to go back to work. I was still re-training my bladder, so I was able to relocate my desk to an area closer to the bathrooms. Six weeks after the surgery I have a follow up with the Urologist. I feel pretty good, not 100% yet but getting better every day. My PSA level should be nondetectable. It was .11. Not what they wanted to see. What a disappointment! The Dr. reviewed my Decipher score (a scale of the aggressiveness of the cancer). It was very high. Now I must start hormone therapy to kill testosterone and starve the cancer. A setback yes, but I’m sure I’ll beat this. 2 shots in the belly (Yes, they hurt), and we’ll do bloodwork again to see how it’s going. 3 months later the PSA number is zero but getting another shot (in the butt this time). The Urologist started talking about the possibility of needing radiation after I finish the series of shots. Not at all what I wanted to hear, so I asked to see an oncologist.

A couple weeks later I have an appointment with one of the doctors at June E. Nylen Cancer Center. He asked a lot of questions and reviewed everything the Urologist had sent him. He ordered a couple different scans. One was a bone scan, and the other was more of a general CT scan. They were scheduled a week or so later. I was hoping and praying they would not show anything. After all, I feel fine.

A few days later I got an email from UnityPoint stating my test results are in. I reluctantly open the app hoping for the best. They are good news; both came back negative. I am relieved and think the fight is over!

A couple weeks later I met with the oncologist again. He went over the test results. Although the scans didn’t show anything, he is recommending radiation. I couldn’t understand why. He referred to my cancer as a “naughty one”, and due to the PSA numbers, Gleason score, and the Decipher score (a 9 out of 10) it would be best to have the radiation to kill any remaining cancer cells because even though the scans don’t show anything, the cancer could come back with a vengeance. What a gut punch!! He

explained all the possible side effects and honestly, some were kind of scary. We would need to schedule 38 treatments. It would be 5 days a week.

The nurse comes back in to start the scheduling. The doctor was going to be on vacation, and my wife and I were going on a vacation during the time the treatments would have been taking place. The doctor said we should enjoy our vacation, and we could start the treatment when we get back. We must schedule a CT simulation before the treatment starts. That was really a simple procedure, they make a mold that fits your legs, and give you three dot tattoos so they get you lined up in the same place every treatment. The nurse was great, explained every step, and mentioned the free transportation service. Free? That’s one less thing to worry about. I will take advantage of that. My treatment schedule really worked well with my work schedule; I just took two hours off every afternoon.

Monday August 24, 2023, My first treatment. Nothing to it. I lay down on the table, and the therapists position me so the tattoos line up where they should. It is a large machine that has “arms” that go around you. Just a matter of minutes and we’re done. I have to meet with the Dr. every Monday. He just asked a few questions and explained how the series of treatments will go. I’m still nervous about the whole thing, but I’m positive I will win the battle. As the days go by, I am more at peace with the whole thought of radiation. A couple weeks into the schedule, and they throw in a consultation with a

dietitian. She just asks a few questions and lets me know I can see her anytime I need to. I am still feeling fine, still have a good appetite and maintaining my weight. All is good!

As I mentioned before, I took advantage of the transportation service. Most of the time I had the same driver, and I had so much in common with him, it soon became a friendship. I actually started looking forward to heading to the cancer center every day. So far I’ve been able to keep a positive attitude as well as my sense of humor. When friends would jokingly ask “Are you glowing in the dark yet?” I would answer. “Not yet, but if I do, I won’t need to carry a flashlight.”

Thirteen treatments left!!! They are going to do another CT simulation and these last treatments will be a little different, but basically the same thing. I get on the table at the CT scan machine ready to go. The radiologist comes back into the room and says I’m too full of gas to do the simulation. I was unable to pass enough gas to go on with this scan and would not be able to have my treatment today. I met with the Dr. and he assured me there wasn’t anything wrong, sometimes people just have gas (if you

ask my wife, she’ll tell you I fit that bill). They will just add another treatment to the end of the schedule. Kind of a letdown, but I’m thankful that the medical team is making the decisions that are best for me.

Down to about eight to go, and they have to reschedule another treatment. This time my bowels were full. They can’t safely do the treatment. Another letdown, they’ll add another one to the end. I joked with the radiation therapists that they just want to keep seeing me and want me to keep coming in. Again, I know they are doing what is best for me.

October 16th, 2023. Last treatment. It goes off without a hitch. Of all the possible side effects, the only one I had was minor fatigue the last couple weeks. All the worry and nervousness were for nothing! I met with the Dr., and he said I didn’t have to come back! He would send my records to my Urologist, and he would schedule a follow up.

My nurse and a couple of the radiation therapists accompanied my wife and me down the hallway to witness a most joyous occasion. I rang the bell!!!! As I did so, the entire waiting room cheered and applauded! What a flood of emotions! I was humbled by their warm reception. I was grateful that I was able to complete the treatment and ring the bell. I was very thankful for the entire staff at the cancer center. The doctors, nurses, therapists, receptionists, and drivers all were the most caring and compassionate people! I felt like they truly cared about me, and I was not just the next guy to go

through. I was thankful for my family and all the help and support they provided along the way. Thankful for my coworkers and management team. They helped make this journey a little less stressful. As strange as it seems, I also felt a little sad. I felt like I was losing some friends.

December 7th, 2023. I had my follow-up appointment with the Urologist. My numbers are where they expected them to be!! He said we need to continue the hormone therapy for another six months (yay, another shot in the butt) and monitor the PSA level for a while, but everything is looking good! Although it may be too early to tell, I believe I won the battle.

So, my words of advice are, stay strong and have faith. Faith in the Lord. Faith in the medical team. Faith in yourself. And above all, try to keep a positive attitude. It’s OK to be scared or nervous. It’s OK to cry a bit if you need to. Get your yearly checkups. I’m living proof of the advantages of doing so.”

Sincerely, Dan Pruitt

Dan Pruitt ringing the bell in the June E. Nylen Cancer Center lobby with his wife on his last day of radiation treatment for prostate cancer.