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Cause for a Pause
You’d never know Reynaldo Evano had prostate cancer by the smile on his face.
Looking back, Reynaldo Evano sees his prostate cancer as just a minor setback.
“A lot of people tell me I look happy and am enjoying life,” said Reynaldo laughing. “But why would I be miserable? It was just a little snag in life.”
When this husband and father of seven went to see John S. Wheeler, MD, professor, urology, obstetrics and gynecology, urogynecology, last fall for erectile dysfunction (ED) problems, the diagnosis caught him off guard. “When they told me I had cancer, I couldn’t believe it. I was healthy. I worked out almost every day and played tennis.” |
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Because Reynaldo decided to seek treatment for ED, his prostate cancer, the most common form of cancer in men, was caught before it had the chance to spread. “I would have ignored it,” said Reynaldo. “But I thought, if a doctor could help me, then why not?”
Like so many prostate cancer patients, Reynaldo experienced no symptoms at all. That’s why it is vitally important for men to get PSA screenings and digital rectal exams starting at age 50 (age 45 if you have a family history or are African-American). Noticeable symptoms often include blood in the urine, difficulty urinating and other urinary conditions.
“With early screenings, we’re detecting prostate cancer in early stages when it’s still treatable,” said Marcus Quek, MD, assistant professor, urology, and a urological oncologist at Loyola.
Before Reynaldo did anything, he spoke to several prostate cancer patients and weighed his options with Dr. Quek. Reynaldo ultimately decided to undergo a robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy.
The innovative, minimally invasive surgical procedure uses robotic technology to completely remove the prostate gland. Using finer movements and greater precision, doctors are able to make several small incisions to remove the prostate gland – first separating it from the bladder and urethra and then reconnecting them again after the prostate’s removal. Compared to traditional prostatectomies, the recovery time is shorter and it appears that outcomes such as incontinence, erectile function and cancer control are similar to that seen with the traditional open prostatectomy.
Reynaldo, now cancer-free, is back to work and the activities he enjoys most, like tennis and gardening. “My wife knows I have the green thumb. She plants flowers and they never grow,” he jokes.
Reynaldo has also started training for Hustle Up the Hancock in February, an annual stair race where participants climb 94 floors of the John Hancock Building to raise money for the Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago. It is safe to say that he is not wasting any time. “I had cancer, but it’s the best feeling in the world to know that it’s gone.”
Are You at Risk For Prostate Cancer?
Talk to your doctor today about whether a prostate screening may be right for you. Call (888) LUHS-888 to make an appointment with a Loyola physician.
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