BEYONE THE MAT: A MARTIAL ARTIST'S BATTLE AGAINST CANCER
A teacher by day, Don has dedicated his spare time to practicing martials arts since he was 15. Over 60 years later, his passion never wavered and he continued to push himself in his workouts without issue. But the year before his cancer diagnosis, Don began to notice concerning changes to his stamina and strength.
"It surprised me to find that my energy was down," Don recalls. He initially ignored the warning signs, but eventually experienced persistent stomach pain that led him to a local clinic. "They saw dots on my prostate and said it was likely cancer."
Don was referred to a urologist and then underwent tests that confirmed his prostate cancer diagnosis. Since then, he has been on a turbulent journey trying to find the best treatment to keep his cancer at bay.
Don initially underwent 22 radiation sessions, which seemed to have cure his cancer, However, his prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels became elevated and he was put on a new course of drugs that initially helped but ultimately stopped working. Eventually, he underwent chemotherapy treatment. This was difficult on his body but did help lower his PSA levels.
Unfortunately, this didn’t last as Don’s levels began to rise again so doctors tried two new drugs – one which made him very ill. Despite this, the drug worked and his cancer was undetectable once again until just recently, when his PSA levels started to double.
It was around this time that Don’s doctors recommended that he participate in the genitourinary (GU) biobank.
“I jumped at the chance to take part in this,” says Don. “The more studies that are done, the better chance there is of finding a cure for cancer. By participating in this study, I hope I can contribute by giving others hope.”
Don contributed a blood sample to the GU biobank, which provided an additional opportunity for his doctors to closely examine his blood and suggest a new immunotherapy clinical trial that could work for him.
Participating in research is about more than just his Don’s own health. He believes deeply in the importance of contributing to studies that help advance cancer research.
"The more studies we do, the better off we are at finding a cure," he says. "People hear the word 'cancer' and often think there’s no hope. But that’s not true. My cancer was diagnosed in 2011 and I’m still here. In fact, I’m doing quite well."
Despite a difficult few years, Don remains optimistic. He knows that sharing his experience, contributing to research, and supporting others is crucial.
"It’s important to talk about cancer and not hold it in," he advises. "I have many students who are always there for me – they cut my grass, bake cookies for me, and just check in. It’s so important to have people around you, especially when things get tough."
He hopes that sharing his story will encourage others to take part in research, and that the GU biobank website will provide a legitimate source of information for those seeking help.
“Sharing any type of scientifically proven research through a public website is useful as it provides people with legitimate information about which treatments could work for them,” added Don. “People get worried when cancer is mentioned because they may not see any hope. However, with the right treatment, you can do well.”