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Health update

Published on 36 Comments on Health update

Today is a huge relief: My doctor called to tell me that my PET scan results were, in his words, "clean." Here's the report:

The first sentence means the scan found strong evidence of prostate cancer in my prostate. The second sentence means it didn't find it anywhere else. It hasn't metastasized. There's no cancer in my bones or my lymph nodes.

This is the best possible news. Well, second best: the best news would have been not to have prostate cancer in the first place. But as long as it's localized just to the prostate, it's extremely treatable and unlikely to have any permanent effects.

On Wednesday I have a consult with the oncologists to discuss treatment options. I'm a wee bit tired of cancer, so my preference at the moment is "all of the above." Surgically remove it, hit it with some radiation, and then pump some hormones into my body just to make sure it's gone. Maybe toss in some chemo for good measure. Most likely, though, it will only be one of the three.

36 thoughts on “Health update”

  2. Phaedrus

    Hey Kevin,
    I've been reading your writing since you were at the Atlantic and I truly love your data driven approach and a view on things that doesn't always align with mine but one that is thought out and stretches my own thinking.
    I can't tell you how happy I am about this good news. Hope you're with us a good, long time!!

    Cheers

  3. bbleh

    That really IS good news! Good for you! And yes, if there is any way to nuke it, even if the treatment is somewhat radical, I'd go for it. Prostate is often "indolent," but if/when it metastasizes it often goes to the pelvic girdle and thence to other bones, and then it's very ungood.

  8. dspcole

    Glad to hear about the PET scan!! So are Charlie and Hilbert. See what I did there?
    And Marian of course

  9. ConradsGhost

    My friend beat prostate cancer. It's funny, 'cause after the life he's led you might think otherwise but he's still kicking. Buena suerte.

  11. Art Eclectic

    Wonderful! Personally, I'd avoid radiation if at all possible. Having had pelvic radiation, the effects are profound and long lasting. You men have fewer sensitive tissues to fry, but it still won't be fun and the tissues around your anus will always be extremely fragile. I've heard radiation to the head and neck is even worse.

    Better than being dead, though. So there is that.

    1. iamr4man

      I had HDR brachytherapy without the ill effects you mentioned. But Kevin’s seems to be more advanced than mine was and if I was in his shoes I’d probably opt for surgical removal.

    2. weolmstead

      I had surgical removal on stage 4 at 54, and radiation 2 years later, and there are downsides, but my new wife (26 years later) is very happy to have me here and performing.

    3. Art Eclectic

      Also adding in for others - if you are doing pelvic radiation do yourself a HUGE favor and install a bidet. There are cheap ones on Amazon for $30 that just attach onto the top of the toilet in 15 minutes, and there are more substantive ones that heat water and have more functions (around $330, these also need power).

      There will be days when even the touch of paper is painful, a bidet is a lifesaver.

  13. kathleent

    Doing the happy dance with a big ole grin for you and your family. That is great news! And you have a wise perspective. Love your plan to face it down, handle it and move forward. Onwards!!!!!!

  14. Adam Strange

    Here's hoping that you come away from this happy and with a clean bill of health.

    FWIW, my father had prostate cancer in his sixties, beat it, and lived to be 93. It was Covid that finally got him.
    He chose to take the chemotherapy route, but chemo is a rough road and by the third round, he said that if he had to do it a fourth time, he wouldn't. This from a guy who volunteered for two wars.

    Fortunately, the third treatment was successful.

    I think you are a person who has good luck, and I wish you the best of it.

  16. Altoid

    No personal or familial experience to pass along, just good wishes, and to share your relief. Thanks for being so open on this. I look forward to seeing you chug along through a few more media revolutions and permutations.

  18. lynndee

    Super news, Kevin. I'd been wondering since your last worrisome report and I'm very glad to read your update.

  20. Special Newb

    Hmm? Doesn't the data argue to do nothing?

    You will live as long but without the illness induced by the therapies.

  23. eannie

    This is such good news….again…thank you for sharing…I’ve been reading your column for so many years….you’ve become my trusted and important “cyber friend”
    Happy for you….and Marian and the kitty cats.

  25. dilbert dogbert

    A good friend of some 40 years had the radioactive beads treatment 20+ years ago and is still kicking.
    The opposite of that is my brother who had his surgically removed but still died from it 10 years later.

  26. go-grizzlies

    Fantastic news: "extremely treatable"! Thanks for sharing this very encouraging health update. A whole lot of people, and cats, are rooting for you--man of charts, clear thinking, photographic eye, and so on.

  28. roboto

    April 19, 2024:

    roboto: "If only recently diagnosed with prostate cancer, having bone cancer is possible, but I wouldn't assume it."

    June 4, 2024

    As I said, the timing didn't look right, so I hope the doctor told Drum that bone cancer was very unlikely.

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