When my husband Ron was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer, he asked the doctor how much time he had left…
 
The answer was shocking: 1 to 3 years.
 
We were struck with this terrible news only 8 months after we tragically lost our 12-year-old son. Now, we were facing more heartbreak. At the time, we were told that surgery and chemotherapy weren’t options for treatment Ron’s prostate cancer had progressed too far.
 
But Ron underwent hormone therapy, and he responded well. And we are now into the 7th year of our fight against prostate cancer. Currently, his PSA levels have come down, and he is feeling better.
 
We stay positive. We smile every day, travel as often as possible, and enjoy our time together with our two daughters. In the 7 years that we’ve been fighting this disease, every year there has been something new to give us hope. Research supported by Prostate Cancer Canada helps make that possible. And the support services and programs they provide keep us up to date on all the latest news and information.
 
We never give up.
 
Ron was diagnosed at the age of 50. He went to see his doctor as a matter of course before we were to leave on a trip. The doctor saw that he didn’t have any recent bloodwork, and he booked a physical for the following week. During that physical, the doctor noticed that his prostate was a little firm – so he requested a PSA test as well.
 
That PSA test revealed something startling: a normal reading would be around 3.5 or less, and Ron’s was at an extremely high 558. The doctor said he’d never seen a PSA level that high before. A biopsy confirmed that Ron had prostate cancer.
 
Ron felt fine – he had no reason to suspect he had prostate cancer. That’s why PSA tests are so critical, and why men need to be aware of their risk for this disease.

After the diagnosis, we looked to Prostate Cancer Canada for more information about this disease. One of the programs I find very helpful is the Expert Angle series of webinars. I can sign in from my home computer, listen to prostate cancer experts discuss different topics, take notes, and even ask them questions. Your support will help Prostate Cancer Canada provide this service to more families who can really benefit from this knowledgeable advice.
 
Our friends and family have also come together to support Ron and raise funds for Prostate Cancer Canada through the annual Do it for Dads Walk Run. Each year since he was diagnosed, our group has grown a little larger – including our two daughters, and many other friends and family members.
 
Advances in prostate cancer treatments are giving us hope, and we’re so grateful for this extra time that we can spend together as a family.  We are hoping that we can encourage more people to support research, and that this will make a difference in our fight for Ron to have more time with me and our daughters.
 
We were given 1 to 3 years, but after 7 years we’re still fighting prostate cancer.
 
I am so happy that Ron is still here, and that we’re living a good life. We’ll continue facing prostate cancer together.