Celebrate Poe's Most Important Episode Yet

Welcome to Celebrate Poe - this is Episode 265 - Celebrate Poe’s Most Important Episode Yet - This is the first episode of this podcast that is NOT Poecentric - an episode that a does not deal primarily with Poe or his writings - but a very personal account of my prostate cancer, the importance of early treatment,   as well as the prostate cancer experiences of many famous personalities.

Transcript

Welcome to Celebrate Poe - My name is George Bartley and this is Episode 265 - Celebrate Poe’s Most Important Episode Yet

Edgar Allan Poe certainly had his physical or health challenges - to name just two -
There were mood disorders - psychology had not evolved to the point where his problems could be diagnosed or treatment - but many scholars believe that Edgar Poe suffered from either a depressive or bipolar disorder.  And I certainly will go into that later.

And of course, alcoholism in Poe is definitely worth a discussion.  It seemed that alcoholism ran in his family - for example, his father, David Poe, and brother, Henry Poe.  And even as a baby, it is believed that the young Poe was given a mixture of alcohol and laudanum - so if there were a family disposition to alcoholism - the poor kid did not stand a chance.  And that is another area that I really want to delve into later.

But for this episode - I want to delve into the subject of prostate cancer - and hopefully by the conclusion of the episode you will see why it is one of my concerns - and should be yours -.

By the way, before we go any further - is it praw - state or pro - state ?
Well, according to the sources I have found, it should be -

• First syllable: "PRAW" - rhymes with "law" or "saw"
• Second syllable: "state" - pronounced as the word "state"
• Third word: "cancer" - pronounced as usual
The emphasis is placed on the first syllable "PRAW". The full pronunciation in American English would sound like:

PRAW-state CAN-ser.   Think LAW when you say PRAW state.

It's worth noting that while this is the most common pronunciation in American English, there can be some regional variations. However, the "PRAW-state" pronunciation is widely recognized and used in medical and general contexts across the United States

But I have heard it pronounced both ways - praw -state cancer and pro- state cancer by employees in the same cancer center - and I might pronounce it both ways - but I would try and stick with the law - for PRAW - state.

Prostate cancer is a common form of cancer that develops in the prostate gland, a small walnut-shaped organ found only in males that produces seminal fluid. It's one of the most prevalent types of cancer affecting men, second only to skin cancer in frequency.  And I know that some of the medical information to follow might be a bit dense - so I will probably repeat myself for the sake of clarity.

Prostate cancer occurs when cells in the prostate gland begin to grow uncontrollably. These abnormal cells can form tumors and potentially spread to other parts of the body if left untreated. While some prostate cancers grow slowly and may require minimal or no treatment, others can be aggressive and spread quickly.

But fortunately there is a way for measuring prostate health - and I know their is a lot of controversy on this - and that is an individual’s Prostate- Specific Antigen - or PSA.  Your PSA is a protein produced by the prostate gland. A PSA test measures the level of this antigen in the blood and is used as a screening tool for prostate cancer.

And this can be a very good thing. PSA testing can help identify prostate cancer in its early stages when it is most treatable.  And from what I understand, men over 40 are generally advised to discuss PSA screening with their doctors. Those at higher risk may need to start earlier.
PSA levels can also be used to track the progression of prostate cancer and the effectiveness of treatments.

This podcast is not designed to give medical advice - but I am personally involved in my own prostate cancer journey - and what to encourage you to
be proactive about your prostate health or those who you might love.

According to my research, prostate cancer was first officially described well after Edgar Allan Poe's time. The first documented case of prostate cancer was reported in 1853, about four years after Poe's death in 1849 - so it would really be stretching things to try and connect Poe’s health to prostate cancer.

The first histologically - that basically means using a microscope - confirmed case of prostate cancer was described by J. Adams, a surgeon at The London Hospital, in 1853. Adams noted in his report that this condition was "a very rare disease" at the time. This discovery marked the beginning of prostate cancer being recognized as a distinct medical condition.

 In the decades following its discovery, prostate cancer was not well differentiated from other urinary obstructions, leading to underdiagnosis and limited treatment options.

The earliest treatments after discovery were primarily palliative, focusing on relieving symptoms rather than curing the disease. Surgical castration OUCH was sometimes used to slow cancer growth, based on the understanding that prostate cancer was hormone-sensitive.

It's important to note that prostate cancer was not differentiated from other types of urinary obstruction until the early 1900s. This means that for several decades after its initial description, prostate cancer was likely underdiagnosed and not well understood.

Since its discovery, there has been a significant increase in prostate cancer cases, attributed to several factors:

Increased life expectancy
Better diagnostic techniques and 
Possible environmental and dietary factors related to Western lifestyles

Doctors began using a major tool  in 1979.  That was the year that the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) was discovered, revolutionizing prostate cancer screening and monitoring - and I will explain PSA’s more later.

Today, prostate cancer is recognized as one of the most common cancers in men, with a much better prognosis than in the past due to advances in early detection and treatment methods.

Survival rates for prostate cancer have definitely improved  for a variety of reasons -

In the early 20th century, prostate cancer was often diagnosed at advanced stages, resulting in poor outcomes.
The introduction of PSA testing in the late 1980s led to earlier detection and improved survival rates.
Today, the 5-year relative survival rate for all stages of prostate cancer combined is nearly 100%

There is so much information out there - I could go on and on - but as I said - I am not a doctor - and you can imagine that when doctors treat prostate cancer, they must have a thorough knowledge of the treatment modalities out here and how those treatments can be modified for each individual’s needs.   But back to my personal story - 

When my PSA started reaching an elevated level, my doctor suggested an specialist who I was to later learn - well - how should I say this - he and I were NOT a good fit - looking back, I can see how I should have been more proactive - but I really didn’t know what to do when his office never returned my calls - and during appointments, he was dismissive at best.

By the way, his name is Doctor Aaron Ludwig.  Let me repeat that - Aaron Ludwig in Indianapolis, Indiana.  I am not angry - just let me repeat that name one more time - Aaron Ludwig in Indianapolis, Indiana.

My general practitioner - how should I put this - tried to follow the chain of command in approaching him, but got the same results.

My PSA level was getting higher and higher and my general practitioner took the somewhat unconventional step in medicine of referring me to another doctor.

And they found that my PSA level was really quite high - and there was a possibility that the tumor was malignant- fortunately, later tests showed that the tumor had not spread.

I know that I could been incredibly angry at Doctor Ludwig for what I perceived as letting it get this far, but realized that would not change a thing, and would only result in non-productive anger that would consume me - emotions that would eat me up and accomplish absolutely nothing.

So I hope I can impress on you from this and the following episode - that  all guys out there over 40 should know your PSA - as well as those who love them - and schedule regular physical exams that include PSA testing - and be proactive about the results.  And if you love someone be sure that person knows their PSA.

Let me repeat - It also helps to know your risk factors: Age, family history, and race can also influence prostate cancer risk.

And don't ignore symptoms: While early-stage prostate cancer often has no symptoms, any urinary changes or discomfort should be reported to a doctor.

And don’t be afraid to discuss prostate health and screening options with your healthcare provider.

Remember that prostate cancer is the second most common cancer (after skin cancer) among men in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates that 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, which amounts to approximately 268,000 new cases every year. Fortunately, the disease is very treatable if found early, and in some cases the only “treatment” recommended is active surveillance, or “watchful waiting.”

Now currently some 3.1 million American men count themselves as prostate cancer survivors, including more than a few household names such as Robert De Niro, Nelson Mandela, and Harry Belafonte.  Some in the following list have even thrived and done their best work - Robert De Niro is not only still acting but fathered a child at 74 years old!  Some are still very much alive, some died from other causes, and others died comparatively young after ignoring the signs of prostate cancer.

Sir Ian McKellen -  British actor Sir Ian McKellen (probably known to most people Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Magneto from X-Men, and one of the best actors in the world revealed in 2012 that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer five or six years prior. So far, he's been able to live healthily with the disease.

McKellen, 83, explained that his slow-growing kind of prostate cancer had not spread to other parts of his body. "Many, many men die from it, but it's one of the cancers that is totally treatable, so I have 'waitful watching.' I am examined regularly, and it's just contained, it's not spreading. I've not had any treatment," he told the United Kingdom's Mirror.

Robert De Niro. -  Known for “tough guy” roles in films including Taxi Driver and Raging Bull, not even prostate cancer could slow down the actor when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2003 at age 60.  He has six grown children and a much younger wife.  And - I hope I get this right - he and his wife recently had a child via surrogate.

Jerry Brown - Jerry Brown announced in 2012 that he was being treated for early-stage prostate cancer. Brown, now 84, said his prognosis was good because the cancer was caught early. The 34th and 39th governor of California, Brown continued working while undergoing radiation therapy, and in early 2013 he reported that his treatment was over and he was doing great.

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell - he actually had to undergo surgery to remove a cancerous prostate gland. This was to remove a cancerous prostate gland in 2003 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Following his treatment, he became a vocal supporter of prostate cancer awareness and devoted his time to the Prostate Conditions Education Council, which sponsors Prostate Cancer Awareness Week every September.

On his birthday in 2011, he posted this message to fans on Facebook: “Today was my 73rd birthday, and the most valuable gift I received was all the well-wishes from so many of you. Thank you. As one of you noted, I am a prostate cancer survivor and a spokesman for prevention. Men should have regular prostate examinations. … Regular exams allowed me to deal with this problem early and make a full recovery.”

Despite being fully vaccinated, Powell died from COVID-19 complications in 2021. He was 84.

Sir Roger Moore - Sir Roger Moore was a self-proclaimed hypochondriac and the longest-serving James Bond actor in history. He played the secret agent for 12 years, beginning with 1973’s Live and Let Die and ending with 1985’s A View to a Kill. 

Nearly a decade after his last turn as Bond, Moore faced one of his worst fears when he discovered he had prostate cancer in 1993. He later underwent a radical prostatectomy (removal of the prostate gland) and made a full recovery, but the experience changed him forever.

In 2009, he wrote about the health scare and resulting fallout in his memoir, My Word Is My Bond. “I had plenty of time to think about my life and how close I had been to losing it,” he recalled. “It was not very admirable behavior, I admit, but the seeds for life change had been planted and were beginning to grow.”

Moore died of cancer at age 89 on May 23, 2017, in Switzerland.

John Kerry - Secretary of State John Kerry, now 78, was a U.S. senator on the presidential campaign trail when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2002 at age 59. His father died from the same type of cancer at age 85. Kerry chose to be treated with surgery. In an interview with Coping With Cancer magazine, Kerry described his post-cancer lifestyle as follows: “I push myself to exercise consistently, and [my wife] Teresa stays on my case and challenges my worst instincts — she makes me eat a healthy, balanced diet!”

While he’s had no recurrence of the cancer, Kerry’s athletic lifestyle has led to numerous knee surgeries, two hip replacements, a broken nose and, in May 2015, a broken leg sustained in a bicycling accident in Geneva, Switzerland.

Ryan O’Neal - When actor Ryan O’Neal, 81, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2012, it wasn’t his first bout with cancer: He had been diagnosed with leukemia in 2001.  He began taking a cancer drug that put his leukemia into remission, and he continues to take it today. 

Initially O’Neal told news sources he had stage 4 prostate cancer, but it was later described as stage T2b, meaning it was in more than half of one side of the prostate and confined to the prostate, according to the American Cancer Society.

O’Neal was treated with targeted cryotherapy and, in an interview with the Prostate Institute of America, said, “I was particularly attracted to the cryotherapy option because of the reduced risk of side effects," he said, adding, “I haven’t had any residual effects.” Indeed in 2015 he was back on stage, per Variety, costarring with Ali MacGraw in a production of the play Love Letters - how appropriate.

Joe Torre - Former Yankees manager Joe Torre, 82, has been an outspoken advocate for prostate cancer awareness ever since he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of the disease in 1999. "What scared me initially, in addition to my cancer, was that I didn't have the answers I needed," he said in a 2000 interview with the Johns Hopkins Prostate Bulletin.

"It certainly was a very difficult time emotionally. I was a mess, my blood pressure had skyrocketed — all from being scared about the cancer and what I had to do about it. I don't know what I would have done if my wife Ali hadn't been there to get me through it all. It later became very clear to me that you need a spouse or a good friend to be there for you, to keep you on level ground and to give you hope," he said in the bulletin. "Otherwise, saddled with a cancer diagnosis, it becomes so easy to think of your cancer as some sort of a dark hole, and that there is no way out for you."

Even Rudy Giuliani - Former New York City Mayor, Rudy Giuliani knew the heartbreak that prostate cancer could cause even before he was diagnosed in April 2000: His father had died of the disease 19 years earlier. Determined not to meet the same fate, Giuliani, now 78 and healthy, chose a multiphase treatment plan that consisted of four months of hormone therapy, implantation of radioactive pellets in his prostate (to radiate the cancer), and five weeks of almost-daily external-beam radiation with continuing hormone therapy. The plan was aggressive, but successful. It left the politician in both good health and good spirits.

“The time that I spent this morning between 8 and 9 was not nearly as painful as most of my morning meetings,” he joked of his treatments during a press conference after the implant surgery. “And there was less fighting. ... so this was actually a much quieter and more peaceful morning than I usually have.”  And let me interject that the treatments I am having myself seem to be very similar to those of Rudy Giuliani

Harry Belafonte - actor, activist, and singer-songwriter (perhaps best known for "The Banana Boat Song," with its famous “Day-o” refrain) — added “survivor” to his resume after he fought and beat prostate cancer in 1996. In the years since, Belafonte, 95, has been refreshingly candid about his ordeal, even going public about his post-surgery struggles with incontinence, a common side effect that Belafonte said he conquered in less than a year with exercises (such as Kegels).

But he wasn’t always so comfortable opening up. “The prostate is something that attacks that central part of the male body that men are very preoccupied with. Somehow, any disorder there means your life is over, you can't be a man anymore, you are now something less,” he said at a benefit for the Hoag Family Cancer Institute in Newport Beach, California, adding that he hoped to change that perception. “If you're going to have [prostate cancer], you're going to have it. It’s what you do about it that makes the difference — how you conduct your life."

Phil Lesh - Bassist and founding member of the Grateful Dead, Phil Lesh, 82, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2006 at age 66; his father died of the same disease. As reported in SFGate, he told fans, "Since we caught it very early and it's small and slow-growing, I fully expect to have a rapid and complete recovery.”

In October 2015, Lesh announced he’d been diagnosed with bladder cancer and had had surgery to treat it. In an online statement he said, "I am very fortunate to have the pathology reports show that the tumors are all nonaggressive, and that there is no indication that they have spread."

In 1998, Lesh underwent a liver transplant as a result of complications with chronic hepatitis C. Since then, he has been an advocate for organ donation and has become known for encouraging audience members at his shows to become organ donors.

Sidney Poitier - Legendary performer Sidney Poitier became the first Black man to win an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in the 1963 film Lilies of the Field. When asked by Vanity Fair to name his happiest moments, he said “I was happiest making films, writing books, and surviving prostate cancer.”

Well known for roles in films such as Look Who’s Coming to Dinner and To Sir, With Love, the actor was first diagnosed in 1993 at the age of 66, according to SurvivorNet. He successfully treated the cancer with surgery. Poitier died in 2022 at age 94 from heart failure, as reported by CNN. His death certificate also listed Alzheimer’s disease and prostate cancer as underlying conditions.

Andrew Lloyd Webber - Musical theater veteran Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, known for writing and composing popular musicals such as Cats and Phantom of the Opera and my favorite - Sunset Boulevard - was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2009, as reported by The Guardian. Lloyd Webber revealed in his memoir Unmasked that he considered suicide during his experience with cancer. "It was so painful and I couldn’t sleep," he wrote, according to SurvivorNet.

Pain is not unusual for people with prostate cancer, especially for those with advanced prostate cancer that has spread to the bones. In an interview with Piers Morgan, Lloyd Webber said he had surgery to fully move his prostate, according to the DailyMail. Now 74, the composer has been cancer free since 2010.

Frank Zappa - The musical great Frank Zappa released more than 60 albums throughout his prolific career. In 1990, he was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer after years of urinary tract problems. He opted out of treatments since his options were limited by the late stage diagnosis, according to SurvivorNet. He spent his last years touring around the world.
In other words, he waited too long.

He died just three years later at age 52 from metastatic prostate cancer.

Finally, Nelson Mandela - As a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Nelson Mandela accomplished more change in his lifetime than most people can aspire to. The South African anti-apartheid activist spent nearly three decades in jail for his outspoken efforts. When South Africa formed a democratic government in 1994, Mandela became the first elected president of the nation.

In prison, Mandela faced harsh conditions including poor nutrition and hard labor. In 1985, five years before he was released, he underwent surgery for an enlarged prostate. In 2001, a biopsy revealed “microscopic prostate cancer,” according to Wired, for which Mandela received seven weeks of radiation therapy.

He died in 2013 at the age of 95 from various health complications.

There are so many other notable men that I could discuss who have had prostate cancer - people such as Warren Buffet, Ben Stiller, and even Sir Lawrence Olivier -  but the general agreement seems to be that taking the PSA test saves lives - especially when the cancer is caught early.  In practice, a PSA  is just a simple blood test.  And while this podcast episode is the first one of Celebrate Poe  that does not really deal with Edgar Allan Poe, I think that this in the most important podcast I have ever done.  If just one person finds out their PSA level and takes a pro-active attitude towards the results, then this podcast episode will be the most important episode of Celebrate Poe yet.

In conclusion, I have had my first of several treatments for prostate cancer, and they weren’t as bad as I thought - I am a great deal weaker with uriary problems, but am told that these are expected side effects and should be gone in six months to a year.  I know that sounds daunting - no running or swimming - in the near future - but I will be able to devote more concentrated time to this podcast as well as developing my video skills - kinda of when live gives you lemons make lemonades.   But more about that later.

Join the Ghost of Edgar Allan Poe and myself for the next episode - episode 266 - Poe’ First Story - Part One - where we delve into a fascinating work that many critics believe was influenced by German horror tales.

Sources include perplexity.ai, ChatGPT, and Famous Men Who Have Had Prostate Cancer from Everyday Health.

Thank you for listening to Celebrate Poe.