08/06/2024
Every year, tens of thousands of men are diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. This devastating disease is often misconstrued. So often, when someone mentions prostate cancer, they assume they are talking about the 95% of cases which are slow growing. Though these cases are problematic and can develop into advanced prostate cancer, they are often not lethal and can be managed through active surveillance and occasionally through surgery.
Advanced prostate cancer is a different animal and is often inoperable, at least initially. Many men work through a variety of oral and intravenous drugs to try to minimize the effects of the cancer in hopes that they can radiate or use chemotherapy to kill it off and go into remission. This is a challenging road but it is traveled by many men and is often very successful at increasing survivability and minimizing cancer's devastating effects.
The last stage, which is really the focus of this particular page, is stage 4 prostate cancer. This is one half of 1% of the prostate cancer population and is typically characterized by Gleason scores of eight and higher and is often accompanied by mets (metastasis), or the spread of the cancer to other areas such as lymph nodes, bones, spine, and other organs. Stage 4 prostate cancer is lethal. Men diagnosed with stage 4, especially with mets, will very likely die as a result of the prostate cancer or other conditions brought about by the cancer itself or treatment of the cancer. There is no easy road.
To go one step further, it is our hope that stage 4 prostate cancer patients that have been lifelong athletes will join us as "warriors" to come together and deal with this disease and its effects so that we may maintain the highest quality of life possible. This will include medications, diets, exercise, support from loved ones, support from groups such as this, homeopathic, holistic, and functional medicine that will all work towards one goal which is to be a stage 4 prostate cancer warrior.
A warrior knows that there is a battle ahead.
A warrior knows that they must train and prepare their mind, their body, their soul, and their spirit for this battle.
A warrior follows the path of righteousness where they channel their energy into the greater good instead of selfishly running or hiding from the challenge.
A warrior knows that they need other warriors around them to both protect each other and to gather skills and resources to be able to combat their foe at the highest levels.
A warrior knows that there is a general that is there to lead them and guide them, such as a prostate cancer patient's doctor, but in the end they must make their own decisions of their own accord to protect themselves and to fight for the greater good.
A warrior respects their adversary and does not underestimate them.
A warrior has compassion for their compatriots, their adversaries, those being protected, and those being trained to be warriors. Compassion is a foundational attitude.
