Finding Out: The First Phone Call
My Prostate Cancer Diagnosis – Episode One
đź“ž The Call … You Don’t Want to Get
It was a Friday afternoon in late May, two years ago. My phone rang.
I was in my home office, focused on work. I glanced at the screen, half-expecting another scam call. But something made me pick up.
“We need to schedule you with a urologist.”
I froze.
“What?”
“We called you back in April. Your PSA is elevated, and your doctor wants you to see a specialist.”
I was confused. I never got that call.
“We left a message at the end of April, your PSA is elevated, and your doctor wants you to see a specialist.” the nurse added.
As it happened, that would have been just before my birthday. A part of me thought, Well, at least I didn’t get that call then—it would have ruined my birthday.
But now, my PSA had jumped to 7.2, a significant increase from 4.9.
đź©ş Do I Have Prostate Cancer?
“Can I speak to the doctor?”
“You just need to see a urologist immediately. Call this number and make an appointment,” the nurse repeated.
I didn’t want to wait. But getting into a good urologist takes time—the soonest available appointment was two months away.
That felt like an eternity.
I booked the earliest appointment I could get. But I wasn’t going to sit around—I started looking for someone who could see me sooner.
🔎 A Specialist Finds Something My Doctor Missed
I managed to get an appointment that Monday afternoon with a local urologist.
Without a referral, he seemed surprised to see me.
“Your PSA is elevated, but we don’t usually see patients unless it’s over 10,” he said.
Then, he performed a much more rigorous digital rectal exam than my GP had.
When he finished, he said something that stopped me cold.
“I found a nodule on the upper left side.”
❗Wait, My Doctor Didn’t Find This?
“Why didn’t my GP catch this?” I asked, confused.
He explained that most general practitioners only check the front of the prostate. His exam had been more thorough, more aggressive—and it revealed something my regular doctor had missed.
Guys: If your PSA is elevated or there’s any concern about your prostate, don’t just rely on a quick DRE from your GP. See a board-certified urologist who knows what to look for.
Now, I wanted real answers.
“What’s the chance this is cancer?” I asked.
He hesitated. “If I had to put a number on it? 50%.”
I let that sink in.
“If it is cancer, what happens next?”
“It’s not that straightforward,” he said. “We’ll need to do a biopsy. If it’s cancer, they’ll grade it with a Gleason score.”
“Wait… there are different kinds of prostate cancer?”
He explained:
Gleason 6 (Low-Risk Prostate Cancer) – Often not considered true cancer. It grows so slowly that many men never need treatment—just regular active surveillance and PSA monitoring.
✔ Gleason 7 (Intermediate-Risk Prostate Cancer) – Not all cases are the same:
- Gleason 3+4 = 7 → Mostly slow-growing, closer to Gleason 6 but with some riskier cells.
- Gleason 4+3 = 7 → More aggressive, more likely to need treatment like radiation or surgery.
✔ Gleason 8 and Above (High-Risk Prostate Cancer) – More aggressive and more likely to spread.
- Gleason 8 may still be localized, while Gleason 9-10 is far more serious.
- But it’s much less common than lower-risk prostate cancers.
Well, that’s something I didn’t know. I thought prostate cancer was just that—all the same.
“If it’s cancer, is it curable? How will it be treated?” I asked.
“Prostate cancer is rarely fatal. You’ll likely undergo radiation therapy, or in some cases, prostate removal surgery (prostatectomy),“ he said.
“Wait… doesn’t removing the prostate mean I can’t have erections?”
“There’s a possibility, but there are options—pumps, ED pills, and other treatments,” he replied.
I sat there, thinking, That’s easy for you to say. There’s no way I’m having my prostate removed.
🧠Convincing Myself It Was Nothing
For months, I’d told myself I definitely didn’t have cancer. I put it out of my mind.
I even told my acupuncturist—with full confidence:
“It’s definitely not cancer.”
I wasn’t experiencing symptoms. My urinary issues had even eased up.
Two months later, I had my appointment with the urologist my GP had referred me to—one of the top urologists in Denver.
When I arrived at his busy urology practice, I noticed something.
This wasn’t like a regular doctor’s office.
The people here were sick. Mostly older men. Some frail. Some looked worried. A few obviously had catheters.
This is a serious place—one you’d rather not be.
🩻 “It’s Probably Nothing” Moment
The urologist had a calm confidence about him. He made me feel reassured.
Another exam. Another confirmation of the nodule.
“If it weren’t for your PSA being elevated,” he said, “we probably wouldn’t even be doing a biopsy.”
That was oddly reassuring.
“If it’s cancer, what happens?” I asked.
“Five rounds of radiation, and you’ll be done.”
It sounded so simple. So manageable.
Then he said, “But it’s probably not cancer anyway.”
As I waked out I remember looking around the waiting room.
There was a younger guy sitting there. He had a serious look on his face.
“That guy looks really concerned,” I thought. “I’m glad I don’t have much to worry about.”
I left feeling really optimistic.
🔥 TO BE CONTINUED…
Next Episode: The Biopsy & Results
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