Lt. Anthony Rounds – Prostate Cancer Success Story

Lt. Anthony Rounds, 48, Dallas County Sheriff’s Department – prostate cancer success story

Because African-Americans are at greater risk for prostate cancer, when I turned 40 back in 2005, my primary care physician checked my PSA (prostate-specific antigen) level. It was a little high, so my doctor connected me with urologist Allan Van Horn, MD.

On Valentine’s Day 2006, Dr. Van Horn called with the results from a biopsy: He found cancer in my prostate.

I was in denial. Dr. Van Horn recommended I have my prostate removed because I was so young, but I insisted that if I changed my diet, the cancer would go away.

It didn’t, though. For four years, I wrestled with this. Finally in 2009, I decided I didn’t want cancer hanging over my head anymore.

I told Dr. Van Horn, “You and I have built this rapport, and I want you to do the surgery.”

In hindsight I wish I’d had it sooner, before the cancer had spread. Some cells remained even after my prostate was removed, requiring eight weeks of radiation therapy. I’m now cancer-free, but running from surgery only made it harder.

I know a lot of guys don’t want to get checked for prostate cancer, let alone consider the treatment options. But if your doctor thinks it’s best for you, you just have to man up and do it. You have to take a step back and think, “This is my life. Do I want to worry about cancer or be here another hundred years? Do I want to live a long life?”