The following is an except of my new book
So, Mother Nature lobbed a Man-Grenade at you and you’re understandably confused, scared and anxious about the news that you have prostate cancer. You are not alone.
I was there myself four years ago and I guarantee you I know exactly how you feel. This is an awful thing that has attacked us and unfortunately we all have to go through it, however there are ways to help you have better days.
I was at the point where I was sick & tired of feeling sick and tired all the time so I decided I was going to try and make the best out of my bad situation. That is what this book is all about, turning your bad days into better days.
I truly hope this information helps you.
Kenneth Lane Smith
Welcome!
This book details the battles I have waged with prostate cancer and how I eventually learned to cope with it.
The story of my struggles will probably be quite familiar to any man who has had the misfortune of dealing with their own case of prostate cancer. I hope the information in the book is different and helpful to you as I explain the methods and techniques that helped me with the pain, worry and anxiety of this disease.
I have divided this text into three parts:
PART I: Details how I was diagnosed and the myriad of tests and treatments that have kept me alive so far.
PART II: Explains the 15 ways in which have helped me manage to cope with it all, keeping my head mentally above water so-to-speak.
PART III: Is a collection of my short stories where I exercise some literary license to add a little much needed humor on the lighter side of being a prostate cancer patient if that's possible.
PART I
Introduction
My goal for this book is to be a source of inspiration for you if you’re struggling with the concerns, fears, confusion, pain and stress about your diagnosis.
Everything I share with you is my story and 100% true to the best of my recollection with the exception of a few comical experiences I have added to try and lighten the mood. I call these my “Finding the Funny” anecdotes that have kept my head mentally above water when I most needed it. I admit that I do take some comedic liberties and exaggerations in my little humorous stories from time to time, but everything else in this book is very true.
Once you understand what my medical journey has been like, you’re either going to agree with my approach to coping, or petition to have me committed to the nut house. I’ll leave that up to you.
Why Share My Story?
Why is sharing details of my medical journey important to me? It is no secret that truthful information available on the internet can be suspect at best. I try to maintain a healthy dose of skepticism towards anything I am trying to educate myself on, and I suspect that you are the same.
If I am looking for help on any subject, the source of the information is important to me. Has the author walked the walk, so to speak, and can I trust what they are saying?
Unfortunately, I have noticed that in the area of prostate cancer discussions on the internet, there is so much wild speculation and unfounded claims about crazy remedies and advice.
As I will address shortly, I will not offer any medical advice here. That is not my area of expertise.
However, I hope that by sharing my story, you will agree that everything I write is credible and relatable to your own situation. In other words, to use an overworked adage, I have walked a mile in your shoes.
The Worst Phone Call of My Life
I was expecting a call from my doctor. After answering the phone it wasn’t long before I heard those dreaded words for the very first time, “Ken, I’m sorry to tell you this but you have prostate cancer!”
BANG!
It felt like that man-grenade just exploded in my brain, forever changing my life, leaving me shocked and confused. I’m not ashamed to tell you that I began to cry.
What was my future going to be? Did I even have a future? Was I going to die? A thousand thoughts swirled around my brain! I was numb!
My uncle had died of prostate cancer a number of years before and I immediately thought of my wife, children and three grandchildren. I had no idea what I was in for, I just reacted to the word “cancer!”
Previous to this call, I had gone through the initial diagnostic tests as instructed to by my urologist, but I kept thinking that these were just precautionary for a man of the age 66 years old. The doctor on the phone explained that my PSA and biopsy numbers were not great! My PSA was 22.8 and my prostate biopsy score was 9. I would soon learn what those numbers meant!
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