When Ben Weykamp’s prostate most cancers returned, he knew he was in good fingers with the multispecialty most cancers workforce at Lemmen-Holton Most cancers Pavilion. (Chris Clark | Corewell Well being Beat)
Docs first identified Weykamp, 81, with prostate most cancers in 2007 and he opted to have his prostate eliminated with robotic surgical procedure. For 15 years his PSA was zero, indicating no indicators of most cancers. (Chris Clark | Corewell Well being Beat)
However in January 2022, Weykamp’s PSA jumped to 2.1 ng/ml. “It was not that the quantity was so excessive, however that it was such a giant change from earlier than,” he stated. (Chris Clark | Corewell Well being Beat)
It was on Could 23 that Weykamp discovered himself assembly with three medical doctors via the multispecialty most cancers workforce—a surgical urologist, a radiation oncologist and a medical oncologist. (Chris Clark | Corewell Well being Beat)
Emerson Lim, MD, Weykamp’s medical oncologist, and the workforce met to debate remedy choices. A more moderen, state-of-the-art scan helped pinpoint areas for remedy. (Chris Clark | Corewell Well being Beat)
Weykamp acquired a six-month dose of hormone remedy, administered with a shot. Thirty days later he was prepared for high-dose radiation therapies, each different day for 10 days. (Chris Clark | Corewell Well being Beat)
After remedy, Weykamp underwent one other PSA check. He and his spouse of 60 years, Nancy, noticed the quantity they hoped for: a zero. The couple may resume their busy life. (Chris Clark | Corewell Well being Beat)
Dr. Lim encourages males to satisfy with their main care doctor or urologist to debate if, when, and the way usually they need to have a PSA check. (Chris Clark | Corewell Well being Beat)
Ben Weykamp and his spouse, Nancy, had simply met with three medical doctors to debate choices to deal with his recurrence of prostate most cancers.
They have been ending up for the day when extra folks walked in.
One in every of them carried a cake for his or her sixtieth wedding ceremony anniversary.
“It was simply the sweetest factor ever,” Weykamp stated. “Right here we sat via two to 3 hours of anxious stuff and so they are available in with a cake for us. It was completely marvelous.”
That’s only one cause Weykamp felt he was in good fingers with the multispecialty cancer team at Corewell Well being’s Lemmen-Holton Cancer Pavilion.
“That’s the sort of factor that occurred each time I went there,” Weykamp stated. “That’s the sort of folks we have been coping with.”
Karen Moy, who gives administrative help for the multispecialty most cancers workforce, stated that when she referred to as Weykamp to arrange his appointments that day, he talked about it was his anniversary.
So she ordered a cake and introduced it to work.
“I really like doing these additional issues for sufferers to make their go to particular,” Moy stated.
State-of-the-art options
Weykamp had already been on a protracted journey with prostate most cancers earlier than he discovered himself at Lemmen-Holton Most cancers Pavilion that day.
When medical doctors first identified the 81-year-old in 2007, he opted to have his prostate eliminated with robotic surgical procedure.
Yearly after that, his physician would do bloodwork to test his PSA, or prostate-specific antigen. And for 15 years, it was zero, indicating no indicators of most cancers.
“That was all the time the very first thing I checked out, to see if it was zero,” Weykamp stated.
However in January 2022, it jumped to 2.1 ng/ml.
“It was not that the quantity was so excessive, however that it was such a giant change from earlier than,” he stated.
His main care doctor feared that would imply his most cancers had returned, so he referred Weykamp to a urologist, who then despatched him to the multispecialty workforce.
Scans confirmed: the most cancers had returned. And now his PSA was as much as 5.1 ng/ml.
It was on Could 23 that Weykamp discovered himself assembly with three medical doctors via the multispecialty most cancers workforce—a surgical urologist, a radiation oncologist and a medical oncologist.
Emerson Lim, MD, Weykamp’s medical oncologist, stated the workforce met previous to assembly with Weykamp to debate remedy choices. The workforce then organized back-to-back appointments with all of the medical doctors to debate suggestions.
That course of made every thing rather less anxious, Weykamp stated.
Their choice: androgen deprivation remedy, generally referred to as hormone remedy, and radiation.
As a result of Weykamp’s preliminary scans had proven most cancers in some lymph nodes, they opted to do a more moderen, state-of-the-art scan referred to as a prostate-specific membrane antigen PET scan. It will assist pinpoint areas for remedy.
“It does supply way more delicate and particular detection of prostate most cancers,” Dr. Lim stated. “It’s now FDA-approved and we do have it obtainable at (Corewell Well being).
“We thought earlier than placing him via the course of radiation, we should always double-check and guarantee that the most cancers hasn’t gone wherever else.”
Fortunately, it hadn’t.
“We may really feel extra assured continuing with radiation to that space,” Dr. Lim stated.
Staying busy
First, although, on June 1, Weykamp acquired a six-month dose of hormone remedy, administered with a shot. Thirty days later he was prepared for radiation, within the type of 5 high-dose therapies, each different day for 10 days.
After remedy, he underwent one other PSA check.
And Weykamp noticed what he hoped for: a zero.
That meant he may get again to the busy life he loved, together with fishing, {golfing} and doing all his personal yardwork—at 81 years previous.
“I don’t sit nonetheless a lot,” Weykamp stated. “Should you sit nonetheless too lengthy, they’ll kick grime on you.”
Weykamp labored for 40 years as a salesman within the printing enterprise. In retirement he enjoys his interest as an occasion, nature and wildlife photographer.
He additionally serves on the Grandville Parks and Recreation board.
“I feel angle has loads to do with it,” he stated. “In my thoughts, I assumed, ‘OK. I’ve most cancers. However we will deal with it, so let’s get to it.’ It’s scary, however with Lemmen-Holton and the system they’ve, the medical doctors, that simply put us comfy.”
He had super help from his household, together with his spouse, Nancy, his son, John, who attended appointments with them, and his grandson, a physician from Seattle who Facetimed with them throughout appointments.
Weykamp is grateful he saved up together with his PSA exams.
“Yearly after I had my bodily, that was one thing that all the time got here up in my thoughts,” Weykamp stated. “Ought to we do it? And I’m glad I did.”
Dr. Lim encourages males to satisfy with their main care doctor or urologist to debate if, when, and the way usually they need to have a PSA check.
In the meantime, Weykamp plans to maintain busy—and he stays grateful for the care he acquired, in addition to the easy acts of kindness he skilled.
“These are issues which you can’t educate,” he stated. “These are simply good, good, compassionate folks. You may’t educate that. It’s simply inside these folks.”
