Hear from someone with advanced prostate cancer who had a PSMA-PET scan

I’ve always been someone who takes charge and asks questions. That’s just who I am, and it didn’t change when I was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

I grew up in a small town where I met my wife, whom I’ve been married to for 50 years. It’s where my dad grew up, too. My parents were the type of people to go along with whatever the doctor said. Asking questions about your health was not normal then.

These views were tested when I found out I had advanced prostate cancer. I had a choice: take a passive role or speak up. My daughter and son both encouraged me to have a voice and find a doctor who would listen to me, someone I could trust and who would talk to me about my concerns. When I found my medical oncologist, I sat down, leaned in close and said, “Promise me that you will always be candid and fill me in as much as possible.” When he agreed, I knew I could trust him.

I was driven from the start and wanted to feel in control. I decided to learn as much as I could to keep the conversation with my oncologist going, so I could stay as healthy as possible. I did a lot of research and read things by doctors who did research in prostate cancer from diagnosis to treatment.

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I learned PSMA could help to look at my prostate cancer differently—beyond PSA, which the doctor was measuring in my blood. PSMA wouldn’t just tell me numbers but could give my oncologist and me details that would help us see the cancer more clearly inside my body. I brought up PSMA to my oncologist who agreed that because I was continuing to progress, I should get a PSMA-PET scan. It was a chance to show more of the whole story of what was going on with my prostate cancer.

The morning of my first PSMA-PET scan I was excited. Finally, I would have a fuller picture of what we were up against. The hospital staff prepared me, and I lay down for the scan. It was a time when I was alone with my own thoughts, a time when I decided not to think about everything that could happen, but what I would be able to do next.

Now that I’ve had several PSMA-PET scans, I know what to expect. I know each result could show something unexpected, but I also know it will give me options. When I lay down in the scanner, I imagine myself playing through the holes of my favorite golf course.

When I get my results, I read them on the health portal and take note of what I want to ask my oncologist at our next appointment. It helps my medical oncologist and me make a plan together.

Looking back on my journey, I made a choice to do the research and ask my oncologist for the answers I needed to know. This led me to my first PSMA-PET scan and understanding my prostate cancer better.

Find a doctor who will listen to you. Someone you can trust. It’s your health and you deserve to understand everything that’s going on. The journey with prostate cancer is yours alone. Everyone is different but having a plan for where you're going is important. Ask questions. Don’t settle for "good enough," because it’s not good enough.