Larry: Living after Cancer TreatmentFor me, what riding a bike does is it stimulates my brain. I'm able to ride through some of the most beautiful neighborhoods in the city. It's quiet and the only thing you hear is the wind. It's such a peaceful journey.In all of New York City, I've done the Five Boro Bike Tours. My longest ride was 45 miles. And you also say to yourself, "Wow, I can't believe I did this." Your emotions are flowing, but you're also tired.So when I finish a 40-mile ride, I want to sit down for a second and just contemplate it. But you're also thinking back like, "Wow, how I navigated around some potholes? Or where did I struggle? How can I navigate that? How can I switch my gears?"Just like cancer treatment, there may be certain parts that you struggle with. Sometimes your levels may be off, right?Just like in your bicycle, you may need to add air, you may need to adjust a little bit. You may need to get your bike fine-tuned.I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2021 at 47 years of age, and what you hear generally is at 50 you should be checked. And at that point, I sought several different opinions and we moved towards treatment. The reason for the second opinion is because I'm a Black man. And as a person of color, we know that there are certain ailments and issues that impact men of color a little bit differently than they would other people. And there's something to be said for standard of care as it relates to people of color. And so you want to make sure that you have access to multiple care options. My treatment was through brachytherapy. And what brachytherapy is when there are radioactive seeds implanted towards the cancer cells in the prostate. And throughout a course of time, the radiation dies out and the cancer cells are eradicating, and I'm at the tail end of that treatment.My cancer diagnosis is a tool that I use continually in my service of others. I have a career in public service, whether it's been through corporations, through my own consulting firm, orthrough other individuals that I work for. I'm a professional career public service entity. Public service is important to me because I grew up in public housing and I've seen people be left behind.Through my community, I was able to attain positions that could be used to help others make their lives better. There have been so many men who have called me and said, "My numbers have gone up. What do I do?" And as a cancer survivor, I've been able to give them step-by-step instructions on what to do, who to ask for, where to go, why go there, what your thoughts are, what they're facing. So being a cancer survivor is like being in the army. It's another medallion that you get on your chest. You received the Medal of Honor because you're a survivor.And so survivorship encompasses a large number of factors for me that I hold very personally. And I try to inspire other people who may not even be afflicted with anything, but just look at me and say, "How do you do it? How are you so positive? How are you so active in all of these things and maintain a smile?" That's what survivorship means to me.I see my primary care physician regularly, and I also see my radiologist and the team that performed the procedure biannually. Recurrence is always in the back of your mind. You're always thinking, will this come back?If there is a recurrence, I'm ready to attack it with the same level of intensity that I attacked my initial diagnosis. And so sitting in the back of your mind, but you always stay on top of your appointments and monitoring and feeling your body. Survivorship for me is an ongoing battle. Survivorship is the fierce urgency of now. What are you doing every day to make sure that you survive? How are you changing your diet? How are you changing your approach to life?And so, I wake up with a positive spirit every day. I try to smile, I laugh, I try to joke, and I try to make others feel good because that will only come back to you. So if I can do that, I can beat cancer.That's the mentality that I have. To cancer survivors, I would just say be inspirational because you are. Be life changing because you are. And continue your service of others because your struggle is helping someone else somewhere deal with their battle.This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.© The Wellness Network
© The Wellness Network
