A teacher by profession and a lifelong martial artist at heart, Don had been practicing martial arts since he was 15. More than 60 years later, his passion hadn’t faded, he still trained regularly, pushing his body with the same discipline and focus that had guided him for decades. However, in the year leading up to his cancer diagnosis, Don began to notice something unsettling, his stamina was slipping, and his strength wasn’t what it used to be.
"It surprised me to find that my energy was down," Don recalls. At first, he brushed off the fatigue, thinking it was just part of getting older. But when persistent stomach pain set in, he decided to visit a local clinic. The results were unexpected and serious. “They saw dots on my prostate and said it was likely cancer,” he says, remembering the moment that changed everything.
Following the initial scare, Don was referred to a urologist for further testing. The diagnosis was soon confirmed - Prostate Cancer. From that moment on, he found himself on a turbulent and uncertain path, navigating a series of treatments and decisions, all aimed at keeping the cancer under control. Don began his treatment with 22 rounds of radiation therapy, which at first seemed to have done the trick. For a while, things looked hopeful. But over time, his prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels began to rise again, a troubling sign that the cancer was still active. He was placed on a new course of medication, which initially brought his PSA levels under control. Unfortunately, the effect didn’t last. As the drugs lost their effectiveness, Don had to take another step, Chemotherapy. It was a grueling process, hard on his body, but it brought one welcome outcome, it helped bring his PSA levels back down. Unfortunately, Don’s PSA levels began rising again, prompting doctors to try two new drugs, one of which made him very ill. Despite the side effects, it worked, and his cancer became undetectable, until recently, when his PSA levels began doubling once more. Around this time, Don’s doctors recommended 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, giving his doctors another lens through which to assess his cancer. It was through this deeper analysis that they identified a promising immunotherapy clinical trial. For Don, participating in research goes beyond his own treatment, he strongly believes in helping advance cancer care for others facing the same fight.
"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 the challenges of the past few years, Don remains optimistic. He knows that by sharing his story, contributing to research, and supporting others, he’s playing a vital role in the fight against cancer.
"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."
Don hopes that by sharing his story, he can encourage others to take part in research. He also sees the GU Biobank website as a trusted resource, one that can offer reliable information and hope to those seeking guidance on their cancer journey.
“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.”