Prostate cancer and work vs. retirement

My clinical profile was similar to you. One 4+3 = 7 biopsy core and a 7.1 PSA. I am 67 and own/run a management consulting business. I can determine my own office hours.

I opted for 5 weeks of daily IMRT treatments + a post IMRT high dose radiation "boost" procedure + 6 months Orgovyx pills ADT.

I had no problems with the daily IMRT sessions as they were at 8:30 am each day. I was able to have a cup of coffee (to ensure empty bowel) and drink a large bottle of H2O on the way to ensure a full bladder before IMRT treatments began. I never had any issues with any of the treatments or the HDR procedure and went from the hospital radiation center to my office each day.

I've read 75% of population die w/in 5 years of retiring. Many likely due to health issues vs. lack of mental stimulation. The stat is misleading but I want to work as long as possible. My work is interesting, not demanding physically, and helps my cash flow.

I say keep working as long as possible. Depending on what PC treatment protocol you select will determine how you feel. I am now 6 months post my treatments and feel back to normal...thank God!

@capatov
I retired at 67 after running a computer consulting business for 25 years. If something goes wrong with your computers, they expect you to work day and night to get things going. At 67 I had enough.

11 years later, and I still haven’t died. I’m in good shape other than the 16 years of prostate cancer, which you could not tell I have. I go to the gym three days a week and run the track a mile every morning and afternoon. I told somebody my age last week and they were surprised said they thought I was 68.

There aren’t enough hours in the day to do all the things I want to do.

There is no need to die after five years. My wife retired 20 years ago. She is always busy.

@jeffmarc - I saw your story and continue to be impressed with your knowledge and continued vitality despite the challenges of PC. Stay healthy and vibrant my friend!

If you are a US citizen you can have your MO write HR's Accommodations Manager with a list of reasonable accommodations. This will put the company on record (confidential of course) that you have a protected medical condition. As for accommodations, I requested WFH, fatigue and stress management flexibility.

If you work for a small company, they might not have an HR person to handle this.

Your managers will be aware that you have such a letter on file but not the nature of your medical condition.

I was diagnosed at 59 while working full time, with a seasonal tax job on the side. Gleason: 3+4, 3+4 and 4+4; modest PSA @ 10.4; PET scan was clean, but the cancer was still considered high risk. I opted for External Beam Radiation Therapy and ADT, though declined the Zytiga and prednisone. I began the bicalutamide and Lupron in the middle of "tax season" and, on April 16, with a pile of extended tax returns in the drawer, got mapped for the radiation therapy. I didn't think that I had much of an option in regard to work - my full-time job is for insurance, the part-time job for entertainment.

Anyway, it was only a ten-minute drive to the radiation lab. For twenty-eight days I slipped out of the office for a bit, lay on the radiation table, and returned to the office for the rest of the day. Only one or two people in the office knew where I was going. On nice days I even rode my recumbent bicycle twelve miles home. Then, after the treatment was completed, everything conspired to kick my butt; fatigue, hot flashes, urinary problems and brain fog made the two jobs difficult. My adjustments included more sleep at night, fewer bike rides, a little less time at the gym and, most importantly, two naps a day. Fortunately, I can close my office door, turn everything off, and sleep for twenty minutes. When I go on the road for work, I need to plan a nap or two, usually in the car in between meeting sessions. It is rather comical.

As others have said, each of our journeys is a little different. I am fortunate enough to have a situation that allows for my adaptations. Or perhaps I am just stubborn/dumb enough to press through in this fashion. I'm not quite a year into this game and "tax season" looms. It all makes me very tired so I will continue with the nap therapy and hope for the best.

Stay strong.

Gopi might investigate Tulsa procedure and continue working?

@derf4223mc good suggestions. My workplace is always very supportive when people go through things so I know they will be with me. I’ve let my boss and my team know that I’ve been dealing with some health issues and tests. Meeting with HR and my boss this week to let them know more. I know they will be sympathetic and accommodating. I feel fortunate to have a great job and wonderful colleagues.

Dealing with PC sounds like it can be so long and drawn out, and because of the age it hits most, it seems like guys are often already retired.

I’m on the younger side so I hope I can keep working. Time will tell, I suppose.

@acn25 sounds like you have done a great job of juggling lots of demands while dealing with all of this. Kudos to you. I definitely understand the need for health insurance. Before this, I went to the Dr for an annual physical, and very rarely anything else. I guess it’s somewhat normal for that to change with age anyway.

@billfarm I’m definitely going to look into that. Thanks for the suggestion