Exercise classes help prostate cancer survivors stay healthy
Virgil and Delores Brown participated in the “Health is Wealth” fitness program at the Milwaukee Oasis for black men who have survived prostate cancer.
My father died of the “good kind” of cancer.
He was 62 when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He battled it for eight years and died at age 70. It was a brutal battle towards the end and my family still bears the scars.
Does he belong to the minority both in terms of mortality rate and the age at which he was diagnosed?
Definitely.
But he is far from alone.
According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among American men. Only lung cancer is the leading cause of death.
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About 1 in 8 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer, and 1 in 44 die from it. The Cancer Society estimates that 35,250 people will die from it in 2024, with 299,010 new cases diagnosed that year.
That’s why I get chills every time I hear prostate cancer referred to as “the good kind.” Most recently, it was in the news when travel writer Rick Steves announced his diagnosis and said his doctor told him, “If you’re going to get cancer, it’s the good kind.”
I wish Steves all the luck in the world, a smooth treatment, minimal side effects and a full and speedy recovery.
A cancer diagnosis is one of the most devastating moments in a person’s life. I understand the need for optimism, hearing success stories and positive statistics.
The five-year survival rate for prostate cancer depends on factors such as cancer stage, spread, and more, but overall it is over 90%. My father was involved in this and we are very grateful for the years we had with him after his diagnosis. Treatment methods have evolved and there are many good options. Screening and treatment guidelines are constantly being updated as we learn more.
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But I worry that every time I hear about “the good kind,” the dangers are downplayed. That people ignore risk factors. That they don’t take preventive measures. That they don’t get tested. That they are confused about their treatment decisions.
And it hurts every time I hear, “the good kind, the one to get.” I imagine the millions of families around the world who have lost loved ones to prostate cancer feel the same way.
That’s why I urge anyone who loves someone at risk for prostate cancer to stay vigilant. Learn about the risk factors. Stay current with routine medical care. Follow any recommendations from your doctor about screenings or follow-up exams. Don’t ignore abnormalities. Work with your doctor to find the best course of treatment. Get informed. Get a second or third opinion.
Cancer is a beast and I am grateful to every researcher, doctor and clinician who is fighting it, advocating for better screening and treatment, and searching for a cure.
However, there is no “good kind” of cancer.
