Gerald Laprade

<< All Prostate Cancer Survivors

My urologist called me at 10 p.m. on a November evening in 1997 to inform me that the biopsy of my prostate showed one area of cancer. He told me what my options were. I could have it removed, have radiation therapy or do nothing. He recommended that I have my prostate removed within two weeks. A second opinion confirmed the recommendation.

I came across a description of the "permanent seed treatment" in my research. At the same time, my wife saw an ad on TV describing the prostate cancer treatment given at Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) at Southwestern Regional Medical Center (Southwestern). She called the 800-number and spoke with Sharon, who gave her some basic information and also "overnighted" some information to us. After reading the material, I called CTCA to set up an appointment for a consultation. Several days later my wife and I were at Southwestern, talking with Dr. Flynn, who explained what the treatment consisted of. I had no doubt that the HDR brachytherapy treatment was the course I was going to take.

At the time of diagnosis, my PSA was 8, my Gleason was 6, and my age was 60. I had the brachytherapy treatment in March and April of 1998. I had no negative reactions from the treatment. I went right to work when I got home. I missed no days of work following the treatment.

We have never met a group of people nicer or more caring and professional than those at CTCA. We thank God every day for helping us find them. I hate to think what my condition would be if we hadn’t found them.

My health and lifestyle are normal now. I look forward to my checkups at Southwestern. The visits will give me the opportunity to see all the friends I made there, as well as to speak to others who are being treated or are contemplating treatment.

January 2003

It’s been many years since I had the HDR brachy treatment. At my last checkup, my PSA was 0.11!!! I thank God daily for helping me to make contact with CTCA in November 1997, and for the treatment I received there, and for the GREAT people that staff the hospital.

The treatment was painless for me and I did not experience any negative side effects during or following it. When I returned home, I went back to work immediately; I do outside work. I also do some running and simply refrained from that for a couple of weeks following the treatment. I have since then ran many marathons.

During my checkups at CTCA, I have spoken with a lot of patients who had been treated or were being treated. Time after time, I have been told how happy they were to have found CTCA because of the treatment and personal care they had received.

I constantly tell people about CTCA and the treatment that is provided for all types of cancer. If I were to have any type of cancer, CTCA is where I'd want to be treated. To me, it’s home away from home.

April 28, 2008

It’s been 10 years since I had the HDR brachytherapy for my prostate cancer. I now go once a year for a checkup. I have one scheduled in May at CTCA in Tulsa. A year ago, my PSA reading was .10.

In the 10 years since my treatment, I have not had any negative effects, interference with my work or any loss of work time.

I still run several times a week, a minimum of five miles a day, or 15 to 20 miles on weekends when I’m training for a marathon. I am now 70 and shudder to think of what my situation would be had I not had the HDR treatment. I have run 18 marathons since my treatment, and will run another one in May. I only mention this to indicate the positive outcome of my treatment, which hopefully will encourage others to look into the possibility of considering CTCA for treatment.