Navigating Prostate Cancer: From Fear to Flourishing

What happens when you face a diagnosis that changes your entire world? Rod Spratling Sr. joins Dr. C to share his raw, vulnerable, and inspiring story of surviving prostate cancer. This isn't just a medical story; it's a human story about facing fear, building resilience, and finding a new definition of strength. Rod provides an honest look at the journey, offering powerful education for men, caregivers, and anyone navigating a major life challenge.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• The 'silent' signs and major misconceptions about prostate cancer.
• How to mentally and emotionally navigate the shock of a diagnosis.
• Practical strategies for building a support system that actually helps.
• Rod's powerful mindset shift for moving from fear to recovery.
• How to reclaim your life and evolve after a major health crisis.

Transcript

Dr C 0:09

Hola Rod and welcome to the live podcast.

Rod 0:13

Glad to join you, Wanda. Appreciate the appreciate the offer.

Dr C 0:17

So the opportunity. Oh, absolutely. This is a very important story to tell. Thank you so much for your courage and your willingness to share your story. So, to start, when most people hear the words prostate cancer, their minds immediately go to a place of fear. Before you were diagnosed, what was your understanding of prostate cancer?

Rod 0:37

My basic understanding was that it's that it mostly affected older men. But as I aged, I knew that that was not really the case. And so I started reading up about prostates, about prostate cancer and the potential problems. And again, I was I was past I was near the age range where it's it's in it's more important that it be that it be checked. So I normally have my during my annual physicals or biannual physicals, I would ask my doctor to, I mean, of course, they they would take the PSA anyway, but I noticed my numbers kept increasing. And so I said, well, I think it's time for us to go to another level. And my doctor uh recommended a uh urologist. He took some initial tests and said, I think we need you to come back in because we I think we see something and went back in and I did biopsy, and that's where they found uh three three areas of uh cancer out of uh 12 that uh that they normally check.

Dr C 1:54

Wow.

Rod 1:54

So that's uh that's how I got to where I had to take care of it.

Dr C 2:00

Yeah. So take us out of, you know, not thinking about the actual medical definition. Tell us from your lived experience what it really felt like when you received the diagnosis. A lot of people talk about kind of going deaf, right? And not hearing or not understanding anything other than you have cancer. Can you just walk us through and tell us what that moment was like for you?

Rod 2:25

Well, yeah, first of all, when when I knew I had to have the biopsy, that kind of signaled to me that there was a possibility that that there might be cancer, but still you think that, yeah, I'm okay because I'm I'm a healthy person. And that's pretty much the way that I felt that now um they they'll get the biopsy results and they'll uh they'll they'll all be um all be negative. And so in the back of my mind, that's that's what I was thinking that I would be okay. But again, I thought that I would be okay, but also in the back of my mind, I said, what if what if what if the numbers come back positive? What do I do from that point on? And so I kind of prepared myself for that potential, but still holding out hope that everything would be uh would be negative.

Dr C 3:18

Yeah. And you know, you mentioned being a healthy person. Did you struggle with the fact because you are a very active individual, you know, running, playing softball, very active physically. So were you struggling with the fact that I've pretty much done everything I should be doing, and here I am possibly facing, you know, a cancer diagnosis. How did you wrestle with that?

Rod 3:45

Again, it's because I kind of had because my numbers kept going up, I kind of set myself up to think that you know it it could be it could be worse than than I imagined. And so that's that's what was in the back of my mind that there's that great possibility that even though I think I'm healthy, I I do healthy things. But again, in the back of my mind, once I had to have the biopsy, and I actually could have checked the results prior to going back to the doctor. I could have checked the results online, but I didn't want to do that. And the doctor kind of recommended that I didn't check in until you know I went back for to get the actual results. So again, it was a situation where, yeah, I'm healthy, but we know that this can happen to almost anybody. And yeah, I'm in that I'm in that group of uh black men that these things are are kind of prevalent. And so I kind of prepared myself for for the worst, hoping for the best, though.

Dr C 4:58

Yeah, yeah. And you know, one of the most difficult things about this disease is that it's often called a silent killer. What do you believe is the single most the single biggest misconception men have about this, whether it's about the treatment or the recovery?

Rod 5:17

I think that the biggest the biggest thing is that we just think that some some some men think that we're invincible, that uh it's not gonna happen to me. So once I was diagnosed, I I held off on telling my extended family and friends until until the procedure was all done. Because again, people have as you pointed out earlier, people have this perception that so that you say the big C or cancer that that that's not good. And so I didn't want to hurt any of my family by letting them know that this is what I gotta go through. Because again, I have a large family and we tend to keep each other abreast of uh family issues like this and health topics, but it was around June time frame and graduations, high school, college, weddings, etc. I didn't want to spoil anybody's anybody's excitement during that time.

Dr C 6:21

Wow. So you've been through the diagnosis, the treatment, and now you're in recovery. And you know, we all heal differently, but we all face moments of deep struggle. So I know you mentioned not necessarily sharing it with your extended family right away. But as you reflect back on your journey, what was your most difficult moment? And what was the turning point for you?

Rod 6:47

At the time, the most difficult moment was having to tell, having to tell my daughter and son. And of course, my daughter is here in the Detroit, Metro Detroit, and it was with us. So she she kind of she knew right away, or not right away, but she came by the house one day and we explained to her what had happened. But uh the biggest the biggest thing for me was having to tell my son who lives in Florida. And we called him to let him know what was actually he called us because my daughter called him and said, uh, call your father. And so he called us and it's like, and me said, What's going on? And I tried to tell him what was happening with the cancer diagnosis, but I couldn't because I was I was crying. So my wife had to tell him what was going on, and enforced to him that we we know that what's coming up, and that we'll do whatever the doctors, whatever the doctor says. And again, that doctor indicated I'm a healthy person and that I should be I should be okay. And so part of it was also just reading up on the procedure itself and reading about the surgeon that was going to do the uh the procedure. And all of that reinforced to me that we made the right decision to have the uh have the prostate the prostate removed. But yeah, the biggest thing was was having to tell my son who again was in was in Florida. But after we explained to him what was going on and the prognosis was good, we all kind of settled down and uh moved on.

Dr C 8:31

Yeah, I I can I can imagine telling your son, possibly thinking, you know, how do I prevent him from having to go through this as well?

Rod 8:41

Yes, exactly. Yeah.

Dr C 8:44

And was there a point where maybe he also decided to maybe do things differently so that he can he can start taking care of himself in a different way, so that maybe preventing the same fate?

Rod 8:59

Well, but the thing is, he he's uh he played sports who ran track in high school and college, so he's always been been a healthy person anyway. And so he's uh 33 now. And I I think part of the information we read is that you should, and I'm sure he he probably gets his, I know he gets his annual checkups, but I I think the the important thing is that when he reaches close to 40, that I'll reinforce them that you know you need to make sure that your PSA numbers are are are checked and and followed up if necessary. So that's part of what what I need I need to do with him. But also I have uh many cousins, friends, aunts, I'm sorry, uncles that you know fall fall in my same age range, older, younger. And again, just stressing to them the importance of again, most most of my family members do a very good job of keeping track of the health. But again, for them to look at me and say, we thought you were the best to help and get the diagnosis that you've got prostate cancer. And so it's something that that I needed to share with again with my son and extended family and and friends.

Dr C 10:24

Right. And I think also role modeling for them that you know you did lead, you do lead an active, healthy lifestyle. And um that, you know, that doesn't mean stop getting checked. That doesn't mean you know your annual routine physicals are obsolete. It actually means that that's part of your care, right? That's part of really making sure that you have a healthy lifestyle, is what I'm hearing you say.

Rod 10:50

Exactly.

Dr C 10:51

Yeah. So let's pivot slightly because I want to talk about how you did it, right? For the person listening right now who is scared and overwhelmed, I want them to hear the practical things you learned. So if a listener just received this diagnosis, they're likely feeling completely overwhelmed. Um what is the very first practical step you recommend that they take just to get their bearings?

Rod 11:17

First thing is don't be shocked. Prepare yourself for what the possibilities are that you do have uh you do have prostate cancer. But in addition to that, you know, talk to talk to family and friends. And uh again, there are people out there, uh family and friends, and there there's so much information out there for people to to check and see what the uh what the options are, what's best for one person may not be best for another person. So the the options are again evaluate where you are, look up all the information that you can and make a decision based on on what you feel this is is best for you. And uh like I said, there are several options. Again, surgery, which is what I had. You can also go through chemo or radiation. And for me, after I was diagnosed, I did talk to some relatives that had had prostate cancer surgery, and they let me know that they'd been in one case, one of my cousins had had prostate removed and like 26 years ago. So that was a a good uh a good point for me to to know that he and I are the same age. So if if he's you know still kicking around it 26 years later, another friend 12 years ago. So it was it's it's mainly important to to get as much information as you can and follow up with family and friends because uh again, you know, there may be people that you feel more comfortable with and talking about some of these medical issues, and it's it's important that that that's done, that you have somebody that you can that you can trust and fall back on to help you get through this diagnosis. So again, when the doctor first told me that that yeah, there was cancer, yeah, I I'll tell you that I cried, and I think the doctor knew the hospital crackers had the tissue ready for me. So as he said, yeah, we found uh we found the response that were cancerous. So uh my wife was with me when the uh we got the initial diagnosis, and she's also a physician's assistant with that medical background. So a lot of the a lot of the concerns that I may have had, I was able to discuss with her. And again, we came to the conclusion that for my lifestyle, that it was best for me to have the surgery, so that I would have to worry about it coming back because even though there's again there's chino radiation, there are options where you might have to go once a week or whatever length of time it was, it's like that's not for me. I don't I don't want to be dragging this out months or years because I know of other people that that have gone the the other route of radiation or or chemotherapy, and I didn't didn't want to have to uh do that. I wanted it, wanted it done, taken care of, and not have to worry about it. And so it's it's been it's been just over five and a half months now that that I had the surgery and I went back to the doctor in little part of early part of December, actually December one, I believe. And everything was good. And so I don't have to go back until June, which is six months, and then I think six months after that, and then it's yearly, and that may be for whatever length of time. But bottom line is that talk to talk to family and friends and find out, let them know what's going on because first almost any medical issue, you you need someone that you can talk to to help you make decisions, make the right decisions on what's what's best for for that individual.

Dr C 15:22

Yeah. And you know, first of all, I'm so happy to hear that you are recovering and that you're doing very well. So that's great news.

Rod 15:31

Yes, thank you.

Dr C 15:32

And and it's also great news for our listeners to know that you know, this isn't a death sentence, right? There are there are options, there are opportunities, and many have survived prostate cancer, but it is about early detection and making sure that you're making informed decisions on the options for either surgery, chemo, you know, whatever, whatever works for that individual.

Rod 15:55

Yes.

Dr C 15:56

And you mentioned your support system, and you know, this isn't a journey anyone should be taking alone, but it could be hard to ask for help. Um, and it could be hard for someone to learn how to navigate their own support system. So you spoke about how you leaned on your support system, but what advice do you have for partners and family members on how they give support in a way that's helpful and not overwhelming?

Rod 16:24

Well, again, bottom line for me is that this you can't be silent about this. And I mean, that's for any medical issue. You have to be able to be able and willing to share with your family andor support group to say, this is this is something I I've got to go through. And I want and need your support in in dealing with this. And if if if there's no family members or close friends that can help you get through this, I'm sure I'm sure that there's other support groups out there. Because I think if if you look at it for almost any medical issue, there are support groups for any any any type of uh issue that people may may go through. And again, there's there's so many brochures. Again, there's videos on on the various options for uh someone dealing with with uh prostate cancer or any any type of uh cancer for that matter. So it's it's vitally important that that individual again at least read up on read up, listen to videos, things like that. And there are other options in including making sure that this these people, that these individuals follow up with the with their doctors. And even if they don't have a a primary care doctor, there's always uh medical events, free events that that pop up throughout throughout almost any city where you can have free uh free health checkups. And in a lot of cases, there are specific events directed towards men, men health fairs and things like that. So whether it's men or women, it's there's plenty of opportunities to to be able to have your your your health check on a on a frequent basis. And you can you can go online almost anytime and perhaps just Google or type in something that something that you're concerned about. And again, whether it's just general questions or a specific question, there is so much information out there that that individuals can can look at and help them make help to make informed decisions if there's no one else that that they feel comfortable with. But I'm quite sure that many most people have someone that they can talk to and feel confident enough to discuss almost any any medical issue with.

Dr C 19:07

Yeah. And you know, I think the other thing is not not putting the onus just on the individual going through the diagnosis. I think one of the things you're you also are trying to mention here is as partners, as family members, we need to educate ourselves as well, right? The internet is is available. And in order to truly be supportive, we also need to understand the disease, the diagnosis, and how how to be a good support system for those that we that we love and and care for. Exactly. So I see that you know, both ways, the individual going through it, but also the support system fully informing themselves and educating themselves. So thank you for that because I don't think that we kind of think about that a lot. We tend to hear something and then go, oh, but what does that mean? And so we put the bonus on the individual going through this. Traumatic experience, you know, thinking about their own, you know, vitality and longevity, and then kind of having to educate others during that time. So yeah. So a lot of men struggle with fear, whether it's fear of treatment, side effects, or just fear of losing a part of themselves. How did you push past that fear and start advocating for your own health?

Rod 20:27

For me, I don't think it was so much a fear. It was just I I know I needed to do this. And yeah, that there may have been a fear factor initially, which I think is happens with anybody. When you're diagnosed with any type of medical issue, yeah, there's fear that it's going to creep in. And for for me, it's I knew the fear was there because like I said, when the doctor first told me that I that I had cancer in three places, like that was like you know, kicking me in the stomach saying, Yeah, I'm I'm wrong. It's like this can't be happening to me. But the the fear factor was was there initially, but once I got the the tears out, it's like I'm not going to allow this this cancer to take me out. And as I mentioned, my wife is a physician's assistant. So any any questions that that I may have overlooked, she knew to ask the medical staff. And they gave us they gave us all the right answers. And so again, fear for me was probably just worried about what would happen if something terrible happened as a result of this uh diagnosis. And and you know, the fear is that you know that could something could go wrong in in the medical procedure. But again, I I read a lot, I read a lot after after after being diagnosed and saw a video of of how the how the procedure would go. So after looking at the videos and checking the checking the references, not so much the references, but looking at the results of the surgeon that performed the uh surgery and and seeing that how many surgeries he had done and the the positive outcomes, it's like, okay, there's I I don't have anything to worry about. It's just do what the doctors tell me to do and continue to follow up after the procedure because that's one of the most important things that after the procedure I have to follow up with what the doctors recommend. And uh again, it's three months, six months, twelve months, a year, two years. And it it it really is important that that you follow up with what the doctor recommends because I I know of people that unfortunately did not follow up with what the doctors recommend, recommended, and unfortunately they're you know they they're no longer here. So just hearing things like that and knowing that people that that some some people did not follow up, that was definitely a motivating factor. But again, for me, it's I knew what I wanted to do and knew what I needed to do. And as you and I have pointed out, I still wanted to play play sports, still wanted to play softball, still wanted to bike and and and run and participate and have marathons, 5K's and 10Ks and things like that. So I was not going to allow this to uh to hamper what I could do after recovery because after the surgery, you know, I was checked with my surgeon, you know, a few weeks at a time because I was I really wanted to get back to playing softball.

Dr C 24:12

You had priorities.

Rod 24:13

Yeah, and so I jokingly told people that I was an injury reserve for three weeks. So after three weeks, I was back to playing softball. And part of that was because I did what the doctors told me to do, that I was fairly healthy anyway. And yeah, so after three weeks, I was back playing softball. But even though I was able to play softball, I still had a minor concern that something could go wrong, but because running the bases and things like that and chasing fly balls or round balls, I was kind of a little concerned that something might rip. But again, my doctor said if you go out there and play, you have to evaluate yourself and make sure that if if you feel something, then stop. And so I didn't feel anything. And I went out there and played. And again, it's five months later. I'm still ready to go, looking forward to uh playing again in 2026.

Dr C 25:15

I know that's right. I know that's right. Claim that. And you know what a difference it makes when you're fully informed, is what I'm hearing. I feel that the education you received, the education that your family also absorbed gave you power. And again, and it empowered you to know that there is a recovery pathway and that you can get back to your normal life, you know. And so I love I love the advice of following the doctor's orders because I am one not to follow the doctor's order, right? I'm starting to feel better. I'm fine, I don't need to take that anymore, right? Exactly. So I think that that's a that's a that's a very, very good piece of advice that we the doctors are there for a reason. And along with informing and educating ourselves, right? That's the that that's the combination. It's not just hearing your doctor and just going with what they're saying, but also simultaneously educating yourself and really making informed decisions. And it has made a difference in in your in your journey as well. So you're now on the other side of recovery, thank God. Um looking back, how has this entire journey maybe changed you? Or what's the biggest long-term transformation you've seen in yourself?

Rod 26:35

I think and and it's not it's not a long-term or a big change. It's just a reminder that our health is important and we have to get our annual checkups. And if if you if you as an individual feel that something's not right with the results you're seeing from the doctor, get a second or third opinion. And you have to advocate for yourself because again, even though there's medical professionals out there, if you feel that something doesn't feel quite right, you have to let let your primary care doctor know that, okay, I I'm not feeling I'm not feeling well, or there I I see I feel something that's that's unique and I I I need to uh need to get it checked out. So the the thing is advocate for yourself and you have to be be aware of of your body because again, you know, we we can all have little things that may irritate us and say, yeah, it'll it'll go away or I'm good and it'll it'll clear up on its own. But there are some issues that that tend to stick out and you have to have to follow, follow your your your your thinking that something is not quite right and I need to I need to have this checked out. And if if my primary care doctor says don't worry about it, then if I feel that I need to worry about it, then I I'll find somebody else or or again get a second or third opinion. And so even with with the doctor, the surgeon, even after the surgery was done, and a few weeks later, we we talked to another person about any follow-up activities to make sure that that the cancer would would not come back. Because again, I I believe there's a small chance that cancer could come back, because in my case, there was like um maybe a three millimeter, I think that's the term, three millimeters that were just outside of a prostate. And so we talked to another another uh specialist in this category. And she she she informed us uh that yeah, as long as as long as I continue to get to get checked up, that I should be okay. But if if my PSA numbers spike up, then my pro the person that did the surgery would contact this other specialist to say, okay, we need to go back in and see see what's going on. So bottom line, you have to advocate for yourself and follow up with uh with the with the medical staff then that you're that you're working with.

Dr C 29:23

Right. You know, and and I believe that our listeners are hearing a very pivotal uh piece of advice. First is educate yourself, understand your body, advocate for your own health. You know, there have been horror stories of people saying they just weren't feeling right. They went to the doctor or they went to emergency, got sent home, and you're fine, you're fine, you're fine. And they knew and they knew just instinctly that something was wrong. So, and unfortunately, some people have not made it right out of those situations because their body just they didn't catch things on time. So I I I do I definitely want to kind of you know double down on that. Like you have the you should be empowered to advocate for your health. You should be empowered to get second and third and fourth opinions. You should be empowered to say, I understand you're saying I'm fine, but I don't feel fine. Something is wrong, and let's keep looking. I think, you know, we tend to, if the doctor says you're fine, everything is okay, we tend to go, okay, well, if you say so, it must be true. But the reality is that, you know, you're the one feeling it. You, you know your body better than most. You're with yourself 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And so who better to say, there's a problem here and we need to investigate it? So I love, I love that piece of advice. And I really hope our listeners take that with them as they as they continue to care for their health. So, Rod, I want to sincerely thank you for sharing your journey as personal and as difficult as this requires immense courage for you to do this. And it's exactly the kind of transparency that saves lives and makes others feel less alone. So I truly appreciate you trusting this platform with your story today. And I know you wanted to make sure that the masses understand that this is not a death sentence. This is a wake-up call for sure. Yes, but it's survivable, and we all can be empowered by your story to know that being informed, staying empowered, and being an advocate for our own health is truly life-changing or life-saving.

Rod 31:41

Exactly. Very well stated, Wanda. Very well stated.

Dr C 31:46

Thank you so much for your time. I appreciate you. And happy new year. I'm looking forward to 2026 and all the 5Ks, 10Ks, and softball games you'll win.

Rod 31:57

I'm looking forward to it too, Wanda. As a matter of fact, I may have an indoor practice, indoor batting practice session on Monday.

Dr C 32:05

All right.

Rod 32:05

So I'm looking forward to that. And again, after I'm done with this with this interview, I may decide to get out and get out and do one of uh one of my almost daily walks. And uh the weather's still cold, but I've learned how to learn how to dress for the environment and get in three to five miles and wow, continue, uh, continue my healthy regimen.

Dr C 32:29

Oh, well, that is ambitious in this cold weather. I applaud you. I will be inside while you're outside.

Rod 32:36

Okay.

Dr C 32:38

Take good care of yourself, Rod.

Rod 32:40

Okay, you do the same one and say hello to