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I think every day of how lucky I was back in 2021. I knew nothing about prostate cancer — we didn't even know it *was* prostate cancer until after my spinal surgery — and when I first met my RO I was paralysed on a stretcher and hadn't been able to eat for a couple of weeks.
I made it clear I wanted to fight, but to be honest, I would have done whatever he suggested after that. My body was in emotional and physical shock, and at the time I had neither the knowledge nor the energy to advocate for myself the way so many others here in the forum do.
But it's also unfair that anyone has to do that. I wish it weren't just dumb luck whether a cancer patient with a new diagnosis (in Canada or the U.S.) gets assigned to a med team that's up on the latest research and treatments.
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Similarly, I found that I had prostate cancer when I was prepping for back surgery in 2012.
I had been tracking my PSA since 2000 - having first heard about prostate cancer and PSA testing in 1995.
Since my Gleason score was only 3+3=6, we knew that we likely had much time and not to worry - get the back surgery done, heal from that, go through PT, and then once that was taken care of, then get back to the prostate cancer, (It took 9 months to get to that point.)
Fortunately, with my prostate cancer being low-grade, localized, and no other known significant risk factors, I went on active surveillance and had the time to gain knowledge, advocate for myself, and study up on the latest research and treatments.
In my case, I didn’t get assigned to a medical team. During the nearly 9 years that I was on active surveillance, my urologist gave me referrals to any specialist I requested, I attended some support groups, and did much online research.
So, I selected my own radiation oncologist and medical oncologist, and once deciding on proton radiation, haven’t seen my urologist since.
I had treatments during April-May 2021. My journey has been interesting, educational, and (so far) successful,
Wishing you the best and much success as you go forward on your journey.