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Cancer Care · patient stories

Hidden prostate cancer is uncovered from patient’s lung disease

A man in a watch cap swims in cold water for the health benefits.

“Here’s the way I look at it,” says Ed, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer at age 66. “If you have a one-in-forty-four chance of winning the lottery, you’d buy a ticket. If you have a one-in-forty-four chance of dying from prostate cancer during your lifetime, you’d get tested.” He’s right. Prostate cancer is no longer considered a normal part of the aging process. It is the second leading cause of death in men, affecting one in eight, with no early-stage symptoms. For most, prostate cancer is uncovered during a routine checkup. But for Ed, who had recently retired from a 30-year career in news and corporate communications, it subtly revealed itself in a blood test while he was undergoing treatment for lung disease.

Collaboration leads to diagnosis

It started with repeated bouts of pneumonia. Ed’s primary care doctor at Atlantic Health System, Francesco Labbadia, MD, recommended he get an evaluation by lung specialist Christopher Decotiis, MD. Those test results showed a growing mass on Ed’s left lung, which led him to thoracic surgeon Federico Steiner, MD, who biopsied and stabilized the mass. Thankfully, it was not lung cancer. But Ed’s blood test showed elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels that needed to be evaluated. A second test confirmed that Ed’s numbers remained high. So, urologist Joseph Caputo, MD, performed a biopsy, extracting 12 samples from Ed’s prostate gland, six of which turned out to be malignant. Ed had prostate cancer. “Doctor Caputo shared the devastating news with me in December of 2023,” says Ed. “It was really scary to hear that word ‘cancer.’ It struck momentary fear in me because I knew it was serious. And then I said, ’Okay, what are we going to do about it?’”

Choosing CyberKnife radiation

Ed had three treatment options: surgery, radiation, or a wait-and-watch approach. He decided on CyberKnife radiation with Joseph Weiner, MD, a radiation oncologist at Overlook Medical Center. His nurse navigator, Nicole Bubniak, RN, guided him through the complex maze of insurance, scheduling, and treatments, and answered all Ed’s questions while he was under Dr. Weiner’s care. “Ed and I spoke at length about CyberKnife treatment,” says Dr. Weiner. “His cancer was localized in the prostate, which made him a good candidate. CyberKnife is advanced radiation therapy that precisely targets cancer cells while protecting healthy surrounding tissue. It is pain-free with no lingering side effects and a cure rate of nearly 100% if the cancer hasn’t spread beyond the prostate.”

A message for men

“For me, CyberKnife treatment was successful and it appears I am cancer free,” says Ed. “I am so thankful my doctors were paying attention and caught my cancer early. That’s the message I have for men—get your recommended screenings to catch prostate cancer early.” Ed’s message is extremely important. Guidelines suggest a PSA baseline screening for men at age 55, but if prostate cancer runs in the family, a screening may be recommended as early as age 40. “I have to make this a teachable moment,” says Ed. “I was in the hands of so many specialists. The doctors, Nicole, nurses, techs, health care workers, they all helped me get over this hurdle. They celebrated every milestone with me along the way and got me through this crisis.”

The value of primary care

“But Dr. Labbadia, my primary care doctor,” says Ed, “is with me for the long haul. He was involved in this entire process. We talked about my PSA numbers, biopsy results, and treatment options.” That seems to be what Ed wants to stress the most—the importance of a trusting and long-standing doctor-patient relationship. For 30 years, Ed has been under Dr. Labbadia’s care. From the time he was a young man starting his career, through raising his two sons, to today when he and his wife, Deb, can devote time to their first grandchild. “My granddaughter, Quinn, has brought a level of love and excitement into our lives that we were so ready for after dealing with my prostate cancer. I am blessed to be here, and although the specialists were great, I thank our family physician, Dr. Labbadia. Primary care doctors are real partners for us men. It's important for us to say to our doctor, ‘Here's what I'm dealing with’—and to do it in person.”

Published: September 12, 2024

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