Howard Mills

<< All Prostate Cancer Survivors

On April 5, 2002, I went to my urologist for an ultrasound and biopsy of an elevated 5.8 PSA. He did a digital examination of my prostate and ordered a PSA test from my blood work. I received a call on April 12 from my doctor with the results from the biopsy and blood work. He told me there was cancer on both sides of the prostate and the pathology showed a Gleason of 3+3=6 adenocarcinoma bilaterally. At this time, I was given an appointment to come in on April 18. After talking with my doctor, he advised me to have surgery to remove the prostate. I got a second opinion on April 22 and he recommended permanent seed implant. After talking to him, I felt somewhat better and agreed to have the seed implant, but he didn't get back in touch with me after taking blood work and a digital exam, after twenty days. I sat at my computer, praying, and pulled up cancercenter.com, but the amazing thing about it was that I got an 800 number with a live person on the other end.

I talked to Nancy, an Oncology Information Specialist. After asking many questions and getting the answers to my questions, I gave her my insurance information and she checked everything out and called me back, and made an appointment for my wife and I to go to Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) at Southwestern Regional Medical Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

May 13, 2002, Mother's Day, was a very special day. We traveled to CTCA and arrived at the airport to find a man standing there holding a sign with my last name on it. I was excited, but it keeps getting better. The driver received our luggage from the baggage claim and carried it to the limo, and I then knew that he was teasing us. But he wasn't. We were taken to the hospital in the limo, and I couldn't wait to see the hospital and the staff.

My wife, Marie, and I were welcomed by everyone we met. They were polite, kind, friendly and offered help in every way. After checking in on Sunday, we ate at the cafeteria in the hospital and we met people from other states. On Monday, May 14, we were taken on a tour of the hospital. The staff explained to me the treatment that I was interested in and when the tour was finished, my mind was made up. I knew where I wanted to be treated, and you know by now, it was at CTCA.

On June 9, 2002, I returned to CTCA for HDR brachytherapy. The treatment began on June 10, ended on June 11, and we returned home on June 13. I did real well. So well that on June 14, I mowed my lawn, a 150 x 150 lot, and did it walking behind a self-propelled lawn mower. It took me 2 hours and 30 minutes and I was OK when it was done. Two weeks later, I returned to CTCA for external beam radiation and the most exciting thing happened to me. CTCA made me a cast from hot plastic and molded it to my body to cover the area around my prostate so that the radiation would be targeted right to the spot and not damage other tissues or organs. It was so amazing! After my radiation treatment, everyone involved signed the cast and I still have it for a reminder.

CTCA cares about the whole person’s state of mind, not just the illness. They feel that you need to be in the best condition possible. I went to classes at CTCA, because they feel that the more you, the patient, know about your condition, the better you can prepare yourself. It doesn't matter what kind of cancer you have, CTCA is the best place to go and get treated. When you are a patient at CTCA, you are offered classes free of charge to attend. Some of the classes I attended during my stay included humor therapy, nutrition, naturopathy, and classes in the mind-body-spirit program.

I have never seen or gone to any place on earth like CTCA. We were treated like we had millions of shares and stock in CTCA. It was excellent. I have been telling everyone about CTCA.

The most important key to getting good results is having checkups regularly. I look forward to my checkups at CTCA. I tell everybody that CTCA is my second family because there you are treated like family. I could go on and on talking about my extended family, but I must come to an end. But before I do, I must say thanks and congratulate everyone who helped treat me. Let me just say to Dr. Douglas Kelly, nurses, radiation staff, guest rooms staff, housekeeping, food service staff, travel, admitting, lab, nutritionists, naturopathy, patient relations and the entire hospital, just keep doing the good work that you are doing and God will keep bringing people to you for the best care.