“When you get cancer, you have to trust your life to somebody. The reason I chose Fox Chase was that trust factor.”‐Paul Caltagirone
In the early 2000s I was a real estate agent living and working in Ocean County, New Jersey. Every year, I got my prostate specific antigen (PSA) checked with my primary care physician. In 2010, my PSA suddenly doubled from 1 to 2.2. I was alarmed, because that was a significant jump. My doctor sent me for a couple of scans, which showed spots that looked like they could be prostate cancer.
I initially went to see a local urologist, where I had a biopsy done. The urologist said I would get the results in no more than 10 days, but on the 10th day I still hadn’t heard anything. I went to the doctor’s office, which was crowded with patients at all stages of their cancer care, and asked about my results. That evening, I finally heard from the doctor, who confirmed by phone that I had prostate cancer.
A Moment of Panic
At a follow-up appointment, he handed me a booklet to explain my diagnosis, then told me to go home and decide what treatment I wanted. After reading the booklet and noting all the possible side effects, I was panic stricken!
I went back to my primary care physician and discussed my experience with the urologist. He told me to go to Fox Chase Cancer Center.
At Fox Chase I was seen by Dr. Eric Horwitz, head of the Department of Radiation Oncology. I was surprised when I got there, because unlike the office of my urologist, at Fox Chase it was just me and one other patient in the waiting room. I got to see Dr. Horwitz right away and he started the appointment by saying, “You take your time, and if you have any questions I will answer all of them.” This was such a different experience.
Limiting Radiation Exposure
Together, we decided to go with brachytherapy, which uses radioactive seeds directly implanted in the cancer site. The advantage of this is that it confines the radiation to the tumor and reduces radiation exposure in the surrounding healthy tissues.
I’m glad Dr. Horwitz suggested this, because it was very successful. Even though the drive to Fox Chase was about 75 miles from my house, it was worth it.
I was doing great until about 2019, when my PSA levels increased again. My primary care physician sent me to another local urologist, who performed a biopsy and recommended that I have my prostate removed. I knew I wanted a second opinion. After visiting two or three other doctors, none of whom had good recommendations for care, I knew I had to go back to Fox Chase.
Freezing Cancer
This time I was treated by Dr. David Chen, a urologic oncologist. We decided to try a procedure called cryoablation, where instead of removing the prostate he would freeze the half where the cancer had flared up. This was a tougher procedure than the brachytherapy, but it has been successful so far.
I just turned 77, and even though my PSA seems to be going up a little bit each year, Dr. Chen said that at my age, unless the PSA goes up to around a 10, he doesn’t see a problem with my prostate.
My second experience at Fox Chase was at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and everyone from the nurses standing in the cold outside the buildings, to the receptionists, to the doctors, everyone on the staff there was wonderful.
When you get cancer, you have to trust your life to somebody. The reason I chose Fox Chase was that trust factor.
Learn more about treatment for prostate cancer at Fox Chase Cancer Center.