UPDATE - Issue 29 - Spring 2007
René Andersen's story
How does one start such a story? Maybe with the happy ending.
21 December 2005, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer with a PSA reading of 210.
My PSA is now down to 0.07 and the cancer in my bones has disappeared. During the year, while I was fighting the cancer, I managed to keep on working the whole time.
Being diagnosed with cancer seemed initially like a death sentence, but as long as you believe that you can fight it, you can achieve the almost impossible. I am now convinced myself, that I will die with it and not of it.
How did it all start?
My doctor booked me an appointment with a well known consultant because, during a normal health check, my PSA came out abnormally high (161) for a person of my age 46.
Following a biopsy, MRI and bone scan, I was told the daunting news - all the tests were positive. My PSA had gone up even further to 202 and the cancer had already spread to several bones. I was immediately put on the hormone treatment Casodex. It was unreal what had just happened - within 36 hours I was investigated, diagnosed and starting my hormone treatment - I felt I was in good hands. However, it was not the greatest start to our Christmas holiday. But we got through it with fantastic support from our closest friends.
The start of a long climb
My PSA had dropped to 43 after less than two weeks on Casodex. Hereafter, I was also prescribed Zoladex the combination of drugs being considered the most effective there is.
Besides that I had three other vital weapons in my arsenal - a healthy diet, exercise and maintaining a positive mindset.
The plan was to ensure that all my troops (the good radicals in my body) were provided for in the best possible manner, so that they were in the best possible shape to fight and kill the bad radicals, which temporarily had occupied my body.
The healthy diet
My new healthy diet excluded all dairy products, animal fat, sugar, processed food or alcohol. It was supervised by dietician, Cristina Howard, and meant that I ate more fish, fruit, vegetables, sweet potatoes, brown rice, pasta - basically anything which is as close to its original identity as possible, as opposed to processed food. Pomegranate juice and blue & black berry smoothies became my daily drinks, as well as white and green tea.
Exercise
Sport is an important part of my life. I have always believed physical fitness leads to mental fitness.
After my diagnosis, I first started running then weight training and finally got back to tennis.
Before my diagnosis, I had to stop playing tennis, because my right shoulder hurt so much that I could hardly lift the racket. At the time I regarded it as strained muscle but shortly afterwards the bone scan showed that it was the cancer that had caused it. So it was a thrill to be able to pick up a racket and hit some tennis balls again.
I ran my first half marathon in Copenhagen in April. Though my muscles have weakened a bit due to the hormone treatment, it has only highlighted the importance of maintaining a good level of fitness. Without the exercise I am convinced that my mental attitude would have deteriorated too.
Maintaining a positive mindset
I told my boss that I had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. First, he politely asked me how I was feeling. Then he wanted to know if I had asked the doctor how long I had to live! I was lost for words. A couple of weeks after my diagnosis, I saw another specialist, for a second opinion. He focused on the statistics, which suggested I had just five to eight years. He recommended that I started to enjoy the rest of my life as much as possible . . . . . but shouldn't we all do that every day, anyhow?
I quote these two instances because they taught me to value people who support me and give me hope. It has been equally important to distance myself from people who were not supportive or encouraging about what I was going through. It has all been about selecting the good from the bad and maintaining a positive outlook. Although it sounds easy, this has not always been the case.
Mentally it has been a bit of a roller-coaster. The uncertainties about the outcome tortured my mind in the beginning. But the positive results I had from my monthly blood test boosted my confidence and convinced me that I was on the right track, and this helped me to focus even harder on my diet and exercise regime. Being able to run for an hour, do weight training or play tennis for an hour or two - makes me realise that I am very much alive. It gives me a positive injection of yes-I-can-beat-this vitamins.
What next?
When I reflect on the last year it is clear that the cancer has been at the forefront of my mind for most of that period.
My goals for the next year include ensuring that my PSA level stays low through healthy eating, exercising and staying positive. Also to live without needing the hormone treatment anymore. Above all, to ensure that we as a family continue to enjoy our lives without thinking about the cancer anymore.