|
When age matters: living with prostate cancer
By Janice Youngwith
Pat Collins is no stranger to prostate cancer. Cancer claimed the lives of his father and two of his brothers. One brother lost his battle with prostate cancer 18 years ago.
 |
| Pat Collins, pictured with his son and grandson, says he has learned to live with prostate cancer. |
According to the American Cancer Society, Collins' family history placed him in a high risk category for prostate cancer. Experts estimate half of all elderly American men may have prostate cancer.
"Doctors began watching my PSA levels and eight years ago, in 2001, I heard the same diagnosis-I had prostate cancer," says the 82-year-old Wasco resident. "Even though things changed dramatically since my brother's diagnosis, my family doctor told me I was too old to treat. Instead, he recommended I receive a hormone injection every three months to slow the cancer's growth."
After overcoming his initial shock and beginning treatment, Collins says he discovered he could learn to live with prostate cancer and began thinking of it as a chronic health condition.
Designed to reduce the level of male hormones which stimulate the growth of prostate cancer cells, hormonal therapy often results in tumors shrinking or growing more slowly. While not a cure for prostate cancer, for many men it is the treatment option of choice affording longer lives.
"Side effects initially included sweating and hot flashes, but later diminished," reports Collins, who has been married 52 years to wife, Julia, and has seven children and nine grandchildren. "As time passed, injections tapered from every three months to every four or six months and eventually once a year, before concluding two years ago."
Since completing treatment, doctors continue to monitor Collins' condition via annual blood tests.
"I'm doing great," says the former Geneva High School graduate (class of 1945) and longtime Fox Valley area corn and soybean farmer who still drives a tractor and assists his youngest son farming some 350 acres. "I do my own yard work, enjoy family visits and lend a hand farming when able."
After retiring from farming, Collins spent time doing mechanical work, was employed by the Kane County Highway department and served as shopkeeper at Collins General Store in Wasco before selling the business eight years ago.
Due to cardiac complications and extreme heat, Collins says this is the first year he's missed celebrating cancer survivorship at the Kane County Relay For Life, an event he has supported for five years.
|
