Terrell Williams diagnosed with prostate cancer

[ctpatsfan77]

I thought skin cancers other than melanoma were generally not as lethal.

They are less lethal. But even melanoma, if it hasn't spread too far, is highly survivable.

(Non-melanoma cancers are so common that they almost "don't count" as cancers in epidemiology.)

 

[UGAPatsfan]

Could that possibly mean it's very early and wasn't there when he was hired 8 months ago?

I have very little knowledge about this sort of thing.

Highly unlikely that he wouldn’t have popped a positive PSA test of it’s cancer now.

But…it is also likely that his previous health issue was not cardiac at all, but this.

And that it hasn’t improved as they would have liked.

Pulling for the guy, but also need a proper DC as I don’t like the idea of an inexperienced DC moving forward.

May need to make that change in the offseason.

 

[n1997y]

Highly unlikely that he wouldn’t have popped a positive PSA test of it’s cancer now.

But…it is also likely that his previous health issue was not cardiac at all, but this.

And that it hasn’t improved as they would have liked.

Pulling for the guy, but also need a proper DC as I don’t like the idea of an inexperienced DC moving forward.

May need to make that change in the offseason.

Why wait?

His performance is being affected now.

The change can be made now, on an interim basis. If he gets better he comes back.

 

[Ross12]

Why wait?

His performance is being affected now.

The change can be made now, on an interim basis. If he gets better he comes back.

Good questions… Kuhr has been fine for 2 weeks but I wonder if he will get exposed for his inexperience down the line. Also, if he’s the permanent DC for the season then the team is missing their LB coach, and we have seen the issue with LBs this year… So I’d think either staff up with another interim LB coach (“assistant LB coach”?) or bring in a new interim DC. I’m not sure who is just floating out there that could step right in and run the scheme though.

 

[BennyBledsoe]

It sounds brutal, because it is. But now is the time to plan as if he won't be here, even in an advisory capacity. You don't play around with medical stuff like that.

Outside of the realm of the team, I wish him nothing but health and the best of care.

 

[DC Patriots]

I don’t think you know enough yet about what’s going on to say when or if he will be back. Human thing is just to wish him well and hope for the best.

Regardless, I don’t see how running out to find a new DC who isn’t up to speed on the defense they are trying to build helps. I don’t know who you could get who would take the job with the possibility that when Williams returns he’ll be replaced. Unless folks are saying they should just fire or demote Williams now. Can’t get behind that.

Bring in additional defensive position coaches seems more sensible.

 

[mgteich]

Counting on Williams for anything this year is just not reasonable. I've known many who have dealt with prostate cancer including myself and my brother. Just consider him to be on full-season IR.

And yes, much depends on how far it has spread. Even if it is early with no spreading, I would consider him out for the year.

That being said, I wouldn't bring in anyone in, other than perhaps an assistant position coach.

 

[Tunescribe]

Counting on Williams for anything this year is just not reasonable. I've known many who have dealt with prostate cancer including myself and my brother. Just consider him to be on full-season IR.

And yes, much depends on how far it has spread. Even if it is early with no spreading, I would consider him out for the year.

That being said, I wouldn't bring in anyone in, other than perhaps an assistant position coach.

If you feel comfortable doing so, please share what the day-by-day challenges are for someone dealing with this. As you note, much depends on how far it has spread. On the other hand I think I recall learning that prostate cancer tends to be an atypically slow-growing form of the disease. So for instance, would that possibly allow room for someone to work, say, part-time while receiving treatment?

 

[TheRainMaker]

Counting on Williams for anything this year is just not reasonable. I've known many who have dealt with prostate cancer including myself and my brother. Just consider him to be on full-season IR.

And yes, much depends on how far it has spread. Even if it is early with no spreading, I would consider him out for the year.

That being said, I wouldn't bring in anyone in, other than perhaps an assistant position coach.

I'm sorry that you and your family have had to deal with it. We give each other a hard time talking football, but we don't know what people are going through. I hope everything is alright.

 

[bresna]

There's a lot of misinformation in this thread.

PSA is not the sole indicator of prostate cancer. 1 in 5 men diagnosed with prostate cancer will not have elevated PSA numbers. I am one of them.

A digital rectal exam (DRE), known to most men as "a finger in the butt", is a necessary second check at every man's annual physical. If your doctor doesn't do one, make him/her do it. Any doctor that refuses is a ****ty doctor and I'd recommend find a new one. When a doctor pushes on your nuts when you cough, that is a hernia check, not a prostate exam.

Basil cell & squamous cell carcinomas (skin cancers) are very survivable. Melanoma is not as cut & dried. Melanoma is a deep tissue skin cancer and as a result, often metastasizes to other areas.

And always remember - you are the only advocate for your health. If you're over 45 and your doctor doesn't want to run a PSA test or do an annual DRE, force the issue or find a real doctor.

 

[signbabybrady]

There's a lot of misinformation in this thread.

PSA is not the sole indicator of prostate cancer. 1 in 5 men diagnosed with prostate cancer will not have elevated PSA numbers. I am one of them.

A digital rectal exam (DRE), known to most men as "a finger in the butt", is a necessary second check at every man's annual physical. If your doctor doesn't do one, make him/her do it. Any doctor that refuses is a ****ty doctor and I'd recommend find a new one. When a doctor pushes on your nuts when you cough, that is a hernia check, not a prostate exam.

Basil cell & squamous cell carcinomas (skin cancers) are very survivable. Melanoma is not as cut & dried. Melanoma is a deep tissue skin cancer and as a result, often metastasizes to other areas.

And always remember - you are the only advocate for your health. If you're over 45 and your doctor doesn't want to run a PSA test or do an annual DRE, force the issue or find a real doctor.

I thought DREs are obsolete?

 

[bresna]

I thought DREs are obsolete?

When only 1 in 5 cases of prostate cancer are discovered in patients with low PSA numbers, doctors can safely say, "Well, you really don't need it", and mostly be correct... unless you're that 1 in 5.

I have prostate cancer in my family. My primary care doctor had me see a urologist every 6 months because of that family history. My PSA was never much higher than 1.0. At my last 6 month check-up in 2016, my doctor said that because my PSA was only .77, he was going to change me to a visit every 2 years. Then he did what was supposed to be my last DRE for 2 years and went, "Hmm", which is not something you want to hear when a doctor's finger is there. A biopsy and diagnosis was next, followed by removal. Weird sidebar: My cancer surgeon is now in prison for murdering his wife: Dover doctor Ingolf Tuerk sentenced to 12 to 16 years in wife's strangling death

My older brother had a female doctor that told him she didn't think he needed a DRE. She said it in a way that implied that she didn't really want to do it. He asked her to do it anyway because of my situation.

Again - you are the ONLY advocate for your healthcare. If you are OK skipping the DRE, skip it.

I like to think that a DRE prolonged my life.

 

[bresna]

From a 1996 NY Times article on prostate cancer, published in the wake of Frank Zappa's death from undetected prostate cancer:

"The main obstacle to detecting prostate cancer early is that men are not as progressive as women are about getting routine checks," said Dr. William J. Catalona, chief of urologic surgery at Washington University Medical Center in St. Louis. "The fact is that 85 percent of men will not submit to a rectal exam unless they're having problems, usually related to urination."

As a result, he said, "7 out of 10 cases have already spread beyond the prostate gland by the time we detect them," at which point they are harder to treat.

 

[Nikolai]

Horrific. Wishing him all the best in his battle.

Football is a distant, distant second to this.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

I thought DREs are obsolete?

Last time I went for my physical w my urologist (kidney stones are an annual occurrence) he used what was an ultrasonic type appliance to check the prostate. Same point of access just a machine not a few fingers
One other point, if you h.ave sexual relations a day before your PSA test, ti can result in an elevated PSA which wouldn't be there otherwise and unnecessary worries.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

And always remember - you are the only advocate for your health. If you're over 45 and your doctor doesn't want to run a PSA test or do an annual DRE, force the issue or find a real doctor.

Great post.

 

[lancerman]

That sucks. Don't blame him for being out and putting his health first.

 

[TheRainMaker]

A digital rectal exam (DRE), known to most men as "a finger in the butt", is a necessary second check at every man's annual physical. If your doctor doesn't do one, make him/her do it. Any doctor that refuses is a ****ty doctor and I'd recommend find a new one. When a doctor pushes on your nuts when you cough, that is a hernia check, not a prostate exam.

I had a finger up the butt exam in my in may late 20's because I was ejaculating a little blood which was very embarrassing and concerning at my young age. The exam was very quick, but felt extremely weird. It was just an infection. I read that people with low risk get the first exam at 50 years old.

 

[bresna]

I had a finger up the butt exam in my in may late 20's because I was ejaculating a little blood which was very embarrassing and concerning at my young age. The exam was very quick, but felt extremely weird. It was just an infection. I read that people with low risk get the first exam at 50 years old.

Recent recommendations have lowered the age to start monitoring PSA to 45 and that's mainly to establish a baseline PSA number. Most of you should already be getting bloodwork done prior to your annual physical and adding PSA is just a checkbox for your doctor. It's simple and it makes little sense to skip it. It blows my mind that all doctors don't do this for all of their male patients over 45,

Prostate cancer can usually be completely cured if caught early. It makes sense to be proactive.

I had a former coworker recently die from undetected prostate cancer. By the time he went to his doctor with problems urinating, it was everywhere. He was gone in two months.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Recent recommendations have lowered the age to start monitoring PSA to 45 and that's mainly to establish a baseline PSA number. Most of you should already be getting bloodwork done prior to your annual physical and adding PSA is just a checkbox for your doctor. It's simple and it makes little sense to skip it. It blows my mind that all doctors don't do this for all of their male patients over 45,

Prostate cancer can usually be completely cured if caught early. It makes sense to be proactive.

I had a former coworker recently die from undetected prostate cancer. By the time he went to his doctor with problems urinating, it was everywhere. He was gone in two months.

I just turned 43, so I'll be doing that at age 45 along with the colonoscopy.

I'm reading about it right now and I'm curious why they are saying people with low risk getting a PSA test before 50 does more harm than good. What am I missing here?

Prostate Cancer Screening: Should I Have a PSA Test? | Kaiser Permanente

Guides through decision to have a PSA test to check for prostate cancer. Includes what PSA results tell you and what they do not. Covers benefits and risks. Includes an interactive tool to help you decide.

healthy.kaiserpermanente.org