An elevated PSA level indicated Robert Tilly potentially had prostate cancer.
Robert Tilly was diagnosed with stage 2 prostate cancer earlier this year. In the span of 4 months, he was diagnosed and cured just in time to walk his daughter down the aisle.
Prior to being diagnosed with cancer, a different care provider suggested to wait 6 to 8 weeks for symptoms to abate. After hearing this story, a friend from church recommended he get a second opinion and see Dr. Timothy Wilson at Providence, Saint John’s Health Center. Dr. Wilson found a higher PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) level in Robert’s blood, an indication there may be cancer in the prostate. Robert underwent a biopsy to confirm if prostate cancer was present, how far it may have progressed, and to learn his treatment options if cancer exists. Since Robert had a family history of prostate cancer—his dad and brother both had it—he chose to be treated with robotic assisted surgery for a prostatectomy, performed by Dr. Wilson, an expert in minimally invasive urologic surgeries utilizing the da Vinci robotic surgery system, and urologic surgical oncology fellow, Josh Gottleib, MD.
Even though prostate cancer is a leading cancer in men, it is highly curable if found early. When Robert, or Bob, as he calls himself, found out he had cancer, it was devasting for him to hear. No one wants to hear they have cancer, and our minds may drift to worse case scenarios from uncertainty. The disease may progress quickly, and ultimately change our lives. However, Robert took notice of his bodily changes and decided to get checked immediately; he did not wait. “It was just a blip on the radar with my life, but it was just ahh…when you’re looking up the face the mountain you don’t know what it is. It was big. Now looking back, I was like golly, that wasn’t that tough after all,” Bob disclosed in his testimonial. Cancer is curable when found and treated early. It can be a blip in one’s life. It can be. In addition, certain cancers will have no symptoms, and Robert’s symptoms could have been a bladder issue, typically seen in men of his age which may explain his initial diagnosis.
“The initial screening is so simple. Golly, it could change your life.”
-Robert Tilly
In a heartwarming testimonial, listen to Bob tell his journey from discovery to recovery.
Robert Tilly interviews with Saint John’s Cancer Institute in the Rose Gardens at Saint John’s Health Center, Providence.
Like prostate cancer, there are many cancers that can be found early from screening. Such as, mammograms for breast cancer, PSA for prostate cancer, colonoscopy for colon cancer, endoscopy for esophageal cancer, CT scan for lung cancer, endoscopic ultrasound for pancreatic cancer, and while other cancers are harder at detecting, screening for cancer has now been the best approach to curing cancer and methods are improving every day. For instance, MCED is newer screening method that can identify 50 types of cancers through a single blood draw, which is now available at Providence Saint John’s Health Center.
Advice To Others from Bob
- Anyone who may suspect anything, get it checked, and come to Saint John’s to see Dr. Wilson.
- During my journey, from surgery to post surgery, it’s all about responding and being quick on it.
- Now that I’ve been through it (cancer treatment), I’m hearing others tell me they’ve also been through it. I’m hearing good reports from different fellows.