My Dad's Prostate Cancer Story: What We Wish We'd Known About Treatment and Warning Signs

Dad's been stubborn about going to doctors his whole life. Mom used to joke that he'd need to be unconscious before he'd willingly set foot in a medical office. So when he finally called Dr. Henderson about some "plumbing issues" last spring, we knew something was really bothering him.

The conversation went pretty much how you'd expect. Dad downplayed everything - just getting up a few times at night, nothing too serious. Dr. Henderson ordered some blood work anyway, probably more to humor him than anything else. None of us expected the phone call three days later.

"Your PSA is elevated," Dr. Henderson told Dad. "We need to talk about next steps."

That was the beginning of a journey none of us saw coming. Six months later, Dad had been through radiation treatment, learned more about his prostate than he ever wanted to know, and came out the other side cancer-free. But getting there involved a lot of decisions, confusion, and family conversations that I wouldn't wish on anyone.

The thing is, looking back now, we missed a bunch of warning signs. And when it came time to choose treatment, we were completely unprepared for how complicated the options would be. Dad ended up choosing photon therapy - regular radiation treatment - but only after weeks of research and second-guessing ourselves.

Here's what I wish someone had told us about prostate cancer symptoms and treatment options. Maybe it'll help other families avoid some of the confusion we went through.

The Clues We Didn't Connect

Dad's prostate cancer didn't just appear overnight. The signs were there for months, maybe even years. We just didn't recognize them for what they were.

It started with his sleep getting worse. Dad had always been a good sleeper, but sometime around his 67th birthday, he started waking up more during the night. "Must be getting old," he'd say when Mom mentioned it. What we didn't realize was that he was getting up to use the bathroom more often.

At first it was twice a night instead of once. Not a big deal. Then it became three times, sometimes four. Dad never complained about it - he's not the complaining type - but Mom noticed he looked tired during the day.

The bathroom trips during the day got more frequent too. We'd be watching a movie and Dad would get up twice during a two-hour film. At restaurants, he'd scope out where the men's room was as soon as we sat down. Golf became an exercise in planning around bathroom stops.

"Your stream getting weaker?" I asked him once during a fishing trip, trying to be tactful.

"Yeah, takes forever to get started sometimes," he admitted. "And I feel like I'm not emptying all the way."

I figured it was just normal aging stuff. Dad was 67, after all. Every older guy deals with prostate issues, right?

Then there was the car thing. Dad's always been particular about his truck, but he started getting antsy during long drives. We'd be heading to visit my sister and he'd want to stop every hour. "Stretch my legs," he'd say, but he always hit the bathroom too.

The golf tournament was probably when things got serious, though we didn't realize it at the time. Dad played in a charity scramble last summer and had to withdraw after nine holes. Not because he was playing badly - Dad's still pretty decent for his age - but because he was uncomfortable and kept needing to find a bathroom.

"Probably something I ate," he told his playing partners. But when he got home, he mentioned to Mom that he'd felt like he needed to pee the whole time, even right after going.

If we'd connected these dots earlier, maybe we could have caught the cancer sooner. But hindsight's always perfect, and Dad's symptoms developed so gradually that we all just adapted to them.

The wake-up call came on a Saturday morning in March. Dad was getting ready for his usual weekend workshop time when he noticed blood in his urine. That scared him enough to call Dr. Henderson immediately, even though it was the weekend.

"That's not normal aging," Dr. Henderson told him. "Come in Monday morning."

Learning About Prostate Cancer the Hard Way

Dr. Henderson's office visit turned into a crash course in prostate anatomy and cancer basics. Dad's PSA was 9.1 - well above normal for his age group. Combined with his symptoms and the blood in his urine, it painted a concerning picture.

"We need to do some more tests," Dr. Henderson explained. "A biopsy will tell us if there are cancer cells in your prostate."

Dad looked like he'd been punched in the gut. The word "cancer" just hangs in the air when a doctor says it, even when they're talking about possibilities rather than certainties.

The biopsy was scheduled for the following week. Twelve tissue samples taken through ultrasound guidance - not pleasant, but manageable. Then came the worst part: waiting for results.

Those five days felt like five months. Dad tried to act normal, but he was distracted and quiet. Mom was a wreck, though she tried to hide it. I found myself googling prostate cancer statistics at 2 AM, which was probably the worst thing I could have done for my own peace of mind.

The call came on a Friday afternoon. Dr. Henderson asked Dad to come in to discuss the results, which we all knew wasn't a good sign. Doctors don't ask you to come in to tell you everything's fine.

"I'm afraid the biopsy confirmed prostate cancer," Dr. Henderson said when we were all seated in his office. "But I want to stress that this is very treatable, especially when caught at this stage."

Dad just nodded. He'd probably been preparing himself for this news all week.

Dr. Henderson explained the details - Gleason score, staging, what the numbers meant. Most of it went over our heads that first day, but the key point was that the cancer appeared to be confined to Dad's prostate. That was good news, relatively speaking.

"What happens now?" Mom asked.

"We refer you to specialists who can explain your treatment options," Dr. Henderson said. "Surgery, radiation therapy, other approaches. All of them have good success rates for cases like this."

That should have been reassuring, but somehow having options made everything feel more complicated. How do you choose between treatments when you don't really understand what any of them involve?

The Specialist Shuffle

Dr. Henderson set us up with two consultations - a urologist for surgical options and a radiation oncologist to discuss radiation treatments. Both appointments were scheduled for the following week, which gave us time to do some research and prepare questions.

The internet is a dangerous place when you're trying to learn about cancer treatments. Every website seems to contradict the last one. Patient forums are full of horror stories mixed with miracle cures. Medical studies are written in language that might as well be foreign.

Dad printed out articles and made lists of questions. Mom organized everything in a binder. I tried to help by reading studies and comparing treatment outcomes, but honestly, most of it was beyond my understanding.

Our first appointment was with Dr. Stevens, the urologist. His office was exactly what you'd expect - medical diplomas on the walls, anatomical models on the desk, the faint smell of disinfectant.

"The gold standard treatment for your stage of prostate cancer is radical prostatectomy," Dr. Stevens explained. "We remove the entire prostate gland, usually using robotic-assisted techniques."

He showed us videos of the robotic surgery process, which looked like something from a science fiction movie. Tiny instruments controlled by a surgeon sitting at a console, making precise cuts through small incisions.

"The advantages are excellent cure rates and immediate removal of the cancer," Dr. Stevens continued. "The disadvantages are that it's major surgery with recovery time and potential side effects."

Dad asked about the side effects. Dr. Stevens was honest - incontinence and erectile dysfunction were possible, though less likely with modern techniques than in the past.

"How long would recovery take?" Dad wanted to know.

"Most men are back to normal activities within 6-8 weeks. The catheter comes out after about a week. Full recovery of continence and sexual function can take several months."

Dad looked uncomfortable with the whole discussion. He'd never had major surgery, and the idea of being unconscious while robots operated on him was clearly unsettling.

Three days later, we met with Dr. Martinez, the radiation oncologist. Her approach was completely different - less dramatic, more gradual.

"Radiation therapy can achieve the same cure rates as surgery without the immediate recovery period," Dr. Martinez explained. "We use high-energy X-rays - photons - to kill cancer cells while preserving the healthy tissue around your prostate."

She showed us Dad's treatment plan on a computer screen - colorful images showing exactly how radiation would be delivered to his prostate while minimizing exposure to his bladder, rectum, and other nearby structures.

"The treatment involves daily sessions, Monday through Friday, for about 8 weeks," Dr. Martinez continued. "Each session takes 15-20 minutes. Most men continue working and maintain normal activities throughout treatment."

The side effects sounded more manageable to Dad - possible urinary symptoms during treatment, fatigue, some risk of long-term bowel or sexual problems. But nothing requiring surgery or extended recovery.

"Which treatment is better?" Dad asked the question we were all thinking.

"They're both excellent options with very similar cure rates," Dr. Martinez said. "The choice usually comes down to personal factors - your age, lifestyle, tolerance for surgery, and what side effects concern you most."

The Decision Dilemma

After meeting with both specialists, we were more confused than when we started. Both treatments seemed to work equally well. Both had potential side effects. How do you choose between equally good options when each has different trade-offs?

Dad spent the next two weeks obsessing over the decision. He read everything he could find about prostate cancer treatments. He called his brother who'd had a prostatectomy five years earlier. He talked to his golf buddy whose neighbor had radiation.

"Everyone has an opinion," Dad complained one evening. "My barber thinks surgery is the only way to go. The guy at the hardware store swears by radiation. How am I supposed to know what's right?"

The turning point came during a second consultation with Dr. Martinez. Dad had prepared a detailed list of questions about photon therapy, and her answers helped clarify his thinking.

"What's photon therapy exactly?" Dad asked. "I keep reading about different types of radiation."

"Photons are high-energy X-rays, basically the same type of radiation used for medical imaging but much more powerful," Dr. Martinez explained. "We shape these beams very precisely and deliver them from multiple angles to concentrate the dose on your prostate."

She walked us through the technology - something called IMRT (intensity-modulated radiation therapy) that could vary the beam strength at thousands of different points, creating a very precise dose distribution.

"Think of it like painting with radiation," Dr. Martinez said. "We can put high doses exactly where the cancer is and very low doses everywhere else."

Dad asked about long-term effects. "What happens 10 or 20 years from now?"

"The cure rates for photon therapy are excellent long-term," Dr. Martinez said. "Most men who reach undetectable PSA levels after treatment remain cancer-free for decades. There's a small risk of developing secondary cancers from radiation exposure, but we're talking about less than 1% increased risk over your lifetime."

The practical considerations finally tipped Dad toward radiation. He could get treatment at the cancer center 15 minutes from home. He wouldn't need to take months off work or deal with surgical recovery. The daily schedule was manageable.

"I think radiation makes the most sense for me," Dad told Mom after that second consultation. "It works just as well as surgery, I don't have to go under anesthesia, and I can maintain my normal routine."

Mom was relieved to have a decision made. "Whatever you choose, we'll make it work," she said.

Starting Photon Therapy

Dad's radiation treatment began on a Monday in late April. I went with him to the first appointment, partly for moral support and partly because I was curious about what modern cancer treatment actually looked like.

The radiation oncology department was newer than the rest of the hospital, with a high-tech feel and soothing decor clearly designed to reduce patient anxiety. The waiting room had comfortable chairs, large windows, and background music that was probably supposed to be calming.

The linear accelerator - the machine that produces the radiation - was housed in a concrete vault with walls several feet thick. The treatment room looked like mission control at NASA, with computer monitors displaying colorful dose distributions and positioning data.

Dad changed into a hospital gown and was positioned on the treatment table using the custom-made foam cradle they'd created during his planning session. The technicians used his tattoo marks to line everything up exactly with his treatment plan.

"This is the longest part," explained Sarah, the lead radiation therapist. "We need to get your position perfect before we start the machine. The actual radiation only takes a few minutes."

The setup process took about 15 minutes. The technicians checked measurements, adjusted the table position in tiny increments, and took X-ray images to confirm everything was aligned correctly. Then they left the room and started the linear accelerator.

Dad couldn't feel anything during the radiation delivery. The machine head rotated around him, stopping at different angles to deliver beams from multiple directions. There were some mechanical sounds - humming, clicking, occasional beeps - but nothing frightening.

"That's it for today," Sarah announced when the machine stopped. "Same time tomorrow."

"That's all?" Dad asked. "I don't feel any different."

"That's normal," Sarah smiled. "Most people don't feel anything during treatment. The effects are cumulative over the course of several weeks."

The first week was surprisingly easy. Dad felt fine, went to work every day, and started thinking the whole experience might be simpler than he'd expected.

That optimism lasted until week three.

The Treatment Reality

By the third week of photon therapy, Dad was starting to understand why they call it "cumulative effects." The fatigue hit first - not overwhelming exhaustion, but a persistent tiredness that made him want to nap every afternoon.

"I feel like I need 12 hours of sleep to feel normal," he complained to Mom.

The urinary symptoms started around the same time. Dad needed to urinate more frequently, especially at night. The urgency was worse - when he felt the need to go, he really needed to go immediately.

"It's like being pregnant," Mom joked, trying to lighten the mood. Dad didn't find it amusing.

Dr. Martinez assured us these symptoms were completely normal. "The radiation causes inflammation in the prostate and surrounding tissues," she explained during Dad's weekly check-in. "This peaks around week 6 or 7, then gradually improves after treatment ends."

She prescribed medication to help with the urinary urgency and burning sensations. It helped, but didn't eliminate the problems completely.

Week six was definitely the worst. Dad was getting up four times a night, felt tired all the time, and was generally grumpy about everything. The daily drive to the cancer center, which had seemed manageable initially, was starting to wear on him.

"I just want this to be over," he told me during one of our phone calls.

"Only two more weeks," I reminded him. "You're almost there."

"Two weeks feels like two months right now," Dad replied.

The bowel symptoms everyone worried about were actually pretty minimal. Dad had some loose stools for a few days around week five, but nothing that significantly impacted his life. This was apparently one of the advantages of modern photon therapy techniques compared to older radiation methods.

Sexual function was harder to assess during treatment. Dr. Martinez had warned that radiation effects often develop gradually over months rather than immediately. "Don't judge anything based on how you feel during treatment," she'd advised.

The Home Stretch

Dad's final week of photon therapy coincided with unseasonably hot weather in May. The combination of radiation fatigue and 90-degree temperatures made him particularly miserable.

"I feel like I'm melting," he complained after his Tuesday treatment session.

But there was also a sense of anticipation building. After seven weeks of daily treatments, the end was finally in sight. Dad started talking about things he wanted to do after treatment - fishing trips that had been postponed, home projects he'd put on hold.

His last treatment was on a Friday afternoon. I met him at the cancer center to mark the occasion, though there wasn't really any ceremony. Just the usual setup, radiation delivery, and then it was over.

"That's it," Sarah announced. "You're done with treatment."

Dad sat up on the treatment table and looked around the room where he'd spent parts of 35 days over the past seven weeks. "I'm glad that's finished," he said quietly.

The radiation therapy team gave him a certificate of completion - a nice touch that acknowledged what he'd been through. Several of the staff members who'd worked with him stopped by to congratulate him and wish him well.

The drive home was quiet. Dad seemed almost deflated after the buildup to finishing treatment.

"I thought I'd feel more relieved," he said as we pulled into his driveway.

"Give it some time," I suggested. "You've been focused on getting through treatment for two months. It'll take a while to process that it's actually over."

The Recovery Phase

The immediate aftermath of photon therapy was actually harder than treatment itself. Dad's side effects peaked about two weeks after his final session, then began the slow process of improvement that would take several months.

The fatigue was the most frustrating symptom for someone as active as Dad. He'd always been the type to work in his garden for hours or play 18 holes of golf without getting tired. Now he needed naps and felt worn out after minimal activity.

"I feel like I've aged 10 years in two months," he complained.

The urinary symptoms took longer to improve. Dad was still getting up multiple times at night and dealing with urgency during the day. Dr. Martinez assured us this was normal and would gradually get better.

"Most men see significant improvement within 3-4 months after treatment," she explained. "Your prostate and surrounding tissues need time to heal from the radiation inflammation."

What Dad found most challenging was the uncertainty. Unlike surgery, where you know immediately whether everything went well, radiation therapy is more of a waiting game. The real test would come with PSA monitoring over the following months and years.

"How will I know if it worked?" Dad asked during his first post-treatment follow-up.

"We'll check your PSA every three months initially," Dr. Martinez said. "We expect to see a gradual decline over the first year or two. Most men reach their lowest PSA level around 18-24 months after treatment."

The psychological aspect of this monitoring period was something we hadn't fully anticipated. Every three months, there would be blood work, waiting for results, and interpreting what the numbers meant for Dad's long-term prognosis.

The PSA Monitoring Marathon

Dad's first post-treatment PSA test was scheduled for three months after completing radiation. The anxiety leading up to that appointment was almost worse than the original diagnosis.

"What if it didn't work?" Dad asked Mom the night before his blood draw. "What if the PSA hasn't gone down?"

Dr. Martinez had tried to set realistic expectations. "Don't expect dramatic changes immediately," she'd explained. "PSA levels typically decline gradually after photon therapy. We're looking for a downward trend, not necessarily a single big drop."

The three-month result was encouraging - Dad's PSA had dropped from 9.1 before treatment to 4.2. Not undetectable, but clearly moving in the right direction.

"That's exactly what we want to see," Dr. Martinez told Dad during his follow-up appointment. "Your PSA will probably continue declining over the next year."

But the waiting between tests was brutal. Every three months, Dad would get anxious about the upcoming blood work. He'd spend the week before each test worrying about what the results might show.

His six-month PSA was 2.8, nine months was 1.9, and the one-year result was 1.3 - all showing the steady decline that indicates successful treatment. But Dad never completely stopped worrying about these tests.

"I know the numbers are good," he told me before his most recent appointment. "But I still hold my breath until I see the results."

This "PSA anxiety" is incredibly common among men who've been treated for prostate cancer. The quarterly blood tests become major events that can trigger anxiety for days or weeks beforehand.

Two Years Out: The New Normal

As I write this, Dad is approaching the two-year mark since completing photon therapy. His most recent PSA was 0.9 - low enough that Dr. Martinez is talking about spreading the monitoring intervals out to every six months instead of quarterly.

The side effects from radiation have largely resolved. Dad still gets up once or twice at night to urinate, but that's probably normal for a 69-year-old man. The urgency and burning sensations are gone. Energy levels are back to where they were before treatment.

Sexual function took the longest to stabilize, but Dad reports that things are "pretty much back to normal" with occasional help from medication. Not a topic he discusses in detail, but I gather the radiation effects were manageable.

Would he choose photon therapy again? "Absolutely," Dad says without hesitation. "It did what Dr. Martinez said it would do. The cancer is controlled, the side effects were temporary, and I didn't have to go through major surgery."

But he's also realistic about what the experience taught him. "The hardest part wasn't the treatment," Dad reflects. "It was making the decision about what treatment to choose and then living with uncertainty about whether it worked."

He wishes he'd paid more attention to early symptoms instead of dismissing them as normal aging. "If I'd gotten tested sooner, we might have caught it at an even earlier stage."

Dad also underestimated the emotional impact of being a cancer survivor. "I thought treatment would be two months of radiation and then back to normal life. I didn't realize you're essentially a cancer patient for the rest of your life, with regular monitoring and always some worry in the back of your mind."

The Warning Signs We Should All Know

Dad's experience motivated our whole family to learn more about prostate cancer symptoms. What we discovered is that most men, like Dad, dismiss early warning signs as normal aging when they might actually indicate problems worth investigating.

The key is recognizing changes in your normal patterns rather than waiting for dramatic symptoms. Dad's cancer didn't announce itself - it whispered through gradual changes that he adapted to over months.

Urinary changes are the most common early signs. Getting up more frequently at night, especially if it represents a change from your usual pattern. Difficulty starting urination or a weaker stream. Feeling like your bladder doesn't empty completely. Urgency - sudden, strong needs to find a bathroom.

The important word is "change." Every man's normal is different, but persistent changes in urinary habits deserve medical attention, particularly for men over 50.

Blood in urine or semen is more alarming and usually motivates men to see doctors quickly. While these symptoms have many possible causes besides cancer, they definitely require evaluation.

Discomfort in the pelvis, lower back, or hips that doesn't seem related to physical activity or posture might indicate advanced disease. This is usually described as deep, persistent aching rather than sharp pain.

Sexual function changes can also be early indicators, though they're often attributed to aging or other factors. New problems with erections, especially when combined with urinary symptoms, might suggest prostate issues.

The challenge is that all of these symptoms can result from benign conditions. Enlarged prostate, infections, kidney stones, and other problems can cause identical symptoms. But that's exactly why self-diagnosis doesn't work and medical evaluation is important.

Understanding Treatment Choices

Based on our experience, I've learned that choosing prostate cancer treatment involves much more than comparing medical effectiveness. Practical factors often matter as much as cure rates.

Photon therapy - conventional external beam radiation - remains the most widely available radiation treatment. It's offered at most cancer centers, well-covered by insurance, and has decades of outcome data supporting its effectiveness.

Modern photon therapy techniques like IMRT have significantly improved precision compared to older radiation methods. The ability to shape dose distributions means less radiation exposure to healthy tissues surrounding the prostate.

Surgery offers the psychological advantage of physically removing the cancer and provides immediate feedback about treatment success through post-operative PSA testing. However, it requires anesthesia, hospitalization, and recovery time that can extend for months.

Other radiation approaches include proton therapy, which theoretically offers more precise dose delivery than photons, and brachytherapy (seed implants), which can be completed in a single procedure. However, these options may have limited availability or insurance coverage issues.

Active surveillance allows men with low-risk cancers to defer treatment while monitoring for progression. This approach has gained acceptance as we've learned that many prostate cancers grow slowly enough that they may never require treatment.

The choice between these options should be based on individual medical factors, personal preferences, practical considerations, and thorough discussions with qualified specialists. There's rarely one obviously superior treatment.

Making the Decision

What our family learned is that choosing prostate cancer treatment isn't purely medical - it involves personal values, practical circumstances, and family considerations.

Start by getting educated, but don't try to become a medical expert overnight. Focus on understanding your specific diagnosis and the major treatment categories rather than getting lost in technical details you're not qualified to interpret.

Get opinions from specialists representing different approaches. Urologic surgeons, radiation oncologists, and medical oncologists each bring different expertise and perspectives that can inform your decision.

Consider practical factors alongside medical ones. Treatment location, insurance coverage, work requirements, family support, and personal lifestyle all matter when you're living through weeks or months of treatment.

Don't rush the decision unless there are urgent medical reasons. Most prostate cancers grow slowly, and taking time to research options and get consultations won't compromise outcomes.

Involve family members in the process, but remember it's ultimately your decision. Dad appreciated our support and input, but we made it clear we'd support whatever choice he made.

Be honest about your own psychology and risk tolerance. Some men need the most advanced treatment available even if benefits are marginal. Others prefer simpler, established approaches. Neither is wrong.

The Support Network

One of Dad's most important lessons was how crucial support becomes during cancer treatment. Not just emotional support, though that matters enormously, but practical help with appointments, insurance issues, research, and daily life management.

Family involvement made Dad's experience much more manageable. Mom handled appointment scheduling and insurance coordination. I helped with research and second opinions. My sister provided emotional support through regular phone calls.

The medical team's support was equally important. Dr. Martinez and her staff were available for questions, provided clear information about expectations, and addressed concerns promptly throughout treatment.

Dad found a local prostate cancer support group helpful for practical advice and reassurance that his experience was normal. Not everyone benefits from group settings, but they can provide valuable peer support.

Online communities can offer information and connection with other patients, but require careful navigation. Some forums contain more anxiety-provoking stories than helpful information.

Professional counseling might benefit men struggling with the emotional aspects of diagnosis and treatment. Many cancer centers have social workers or counselors specializing in cancer-related stress.

The Financial Impact

Prostate cancer treatment costs are substantial even with good insurance. Understanding financial implications upfront helps avoid surprises and stress during treatment.

Dad's photon therapy was well-covered by his insurance, but out-of-pocket costs for copayments, deductibles, medications, and incidental expenses still totaled several thousand dollars. Time off work and transportation costs added to the financial impact.

Insurance coverage varies between different treatments. Surgery and conventional radiation are generally well-covered. Newer treatments like proton therapy may face coverage challenges requiring prior authorization and appeals.

Work with financial counselors at treatment centers to understand costs and explore assistance programs if needed. Many facilities have resources to help patients navigate insurance issues and find financial support.

Consider long-term financial implications too. Follow-up care, monitoring tests, and side effect management continue for years after treatment. These ongoing costs should factor into treatment decisions.

Looking Ahead

Prostate cancer treatment continues evolving with new technologies and approaches being developed. This means options will likely keep improving for men facing diagnosis today.

Photon therapy techniques are becoming more precise with advances in imaging, treatment planning, and delivery systems. Shorter treatment courses using higher daily doses are being studied as ways to maintain effectiveness while reducing treatment burden.

Genetic testing may play larger roles in treatment selection, potentially helping doctors identify which men are most likely to benefit from specific treatments based on their individual cancer characteristics.

Combination approaches using multiple treatments together are being explored for higher-risk cancers. This might involve radiation combined with hormone therapy, immunotherapy, or other systemic treatments.

The goal of these developments is maintaining or improving cure rates while reducing side effects and treatment burden. For men diagnosed today, continuing progress provides reason for optimism about outcomes and quality of life.

What Dad Would Tell Other Men

Two years after his diagnosis, Dad has some clear advice for men facing similar decisions:

"Don't ignore symptoms and hope they go away. I wasted months dismissing changes that should have sent me to the doctor sooner."

"Do your homework on treatment options, but don't drive yourself crazy trying to find the perfect choice. All the standard treatments work well - pick one that fits your situation and stick with it."

"Get good doctors and listen to them. I spent too much time reading internet forums and not enough time talking to my medical team."

"Include your family but make your own decision. Everyone will have opinions about what you should do. It's nice to have support, but ultimately it's your body and your choice."

"Be prepared for the long haul. Treatment is just the beginning of becoming a cancer survivor. The monitoring and uncertainty continue for years."

Most importantly, Dad wants other men to know that prostate cancer is highly treatable and most guys do very well with modern treatment. "It's scary when you first get diagnosed, but the outcomes are generally excellent. Focus on getting good care and don't spend too much energy worrying about things you can't control."

Dad's back to his normal activities now - golf, fishing, working around the house. The prostate cancer experience was challenging, but it's behind him now. His PSA remains low, his energy is good, and he's optimistic about the future.

That's the reality of prostate cancer treatment today - it's serious, it requires important decisions, but it's also highly curable with good quality of life maintained throughout and after treatment. Dad's story shows that with good medical care, family support, and informed decision-making, most men can beat prostate cancer and get back to living their lives fully.