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John Loesing, Project Director
Prostate Cancer Climb
Hap Weyman Memorial
Prostate Cancer Fund
3694 El Encanto Drive
Calabasas, CA 91302
Contact John

Dr. Terry Weyman, Founder
Prostate Cancer Climb
Hap Weyman Memorial
Prostate Cancer Fund
2277 Townsgate Rd. #101
Westlake Village, CA 91361
Contact Dr. Terry

PROSTATE CANCER CLIMB
Mount Aconcagua, Argentina - January, 2001
To Benefit
Hap Weyman Memorial Prostate Cancer Fund
Prostate Cancer Research Institute

My Prostate Cancer Bio and Why I Will Climb
by Murray Swindell

First, the prostate cancer bio:

Fall, 1992-Age 58
Random screening at local hospital. Digital exam: “you have the prostate gland of a 20 year old.” Blood test results indicated 7.1 PSA.

Early 1993
Transrectal ultrasound and biopsy at Lahey Clinic. The metastatic workup revealed no evidence of metastatic disease.

March 1993
Prostatectomy was performed at Lahey Clinic. PSA 7.1 at that time. Epididymitis and gastrointestinal irritability followed after 4-5 weeks. Pathology specimen revealed the presence of seminal vesicle invasion but did not reveal presence of lymph node involvement. The Gleason score of 8 (4 + 4) was recorded.

April 1993-June 1994
Post prostatectomy nadir PSA reached 0.4, with followed on PSAs until 6/1994, when PSA had slowly reached a high of 1.1.

Restaging took place and cytogen score was performed. Had consultation with Dr. Christopher J. Logothetis at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. He recommended definitive radiation therapy that was completed 10/1994. Evaluation indicated no evidence of metastases with falling PSA.

November 1997
Again, evaluated at M.D. Anderson after PSA slowly began rising. Metastatic workup failed to reveal evidence of metastatic disease. Rectal examination revealed presence of adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Evaluation included bone marrow examination and transrectal biopsy.

February 1998
Solicited second opinion for treatment with Dr. Kenneth Pienta at University of Michigan. After consultation, enrolled in a trial of investigative chemotherapy with nitrogen mustard and etoposide. At U of M, conducted CAT scans, bone scan, and chest x-ray. (UM9545) Phase II. Chemotherapy.

March-June 1998
Oral estramustive and oral etoposide for four 21 day cycles with 7 day rests between chemo cycles. No effective result with PSA immediately continuing slow climb.

June 1998 to Current (October 2000)
Initiated ADT administering 5 mg Proscar and 50 mg Casodex daily. Undetectable PSA during this period, and as of this date.

Second, why I am interested in this climb, and my personal story:
With the doctor’s positive exclamation in 1992 that “you have the prostate gland of a 20 year old” based on his DRE, followed by the disappointment, one week later, of an abnormal PSA, biopsies and tests, surgery, more biopsies and tests, radiation, more biopsies and tests, experimental chemotherapy, more tests, and, now, hormonal therapy, I have sampled most of what is offered today to eliminate or resist the growth of prostate cancer. And you know what? I feel great, I am able to participate in most everything 66 year old guys do . . maybe more. I have had the privilege of consulting with the best in the field of prostate health, and yet I recognize that I am not “out of the woods” with this disease. This obviously raises the question, what next?

Ironically, this “medical journey” has presented additional amazingly positive “side effects”. There is a bonding among those who share the prostate problem that transcends everyday relationships . . . a fraternity of sorts. There are “helping hands” that I never imagined were out there. And I believe that I’ve become a better person for having experienced this affliction. And yet, who would ask for such an experience?

I have three sons, a son-in-law, and five grandsons. It is for them and for the other young men in the world that we must do more to cure prostate cancer. In short, we need more funding for R & D. It is happening with breast cancer, with AIDS, and with additional funding, we can be assured that prostate cancer will, too, be eradicated. For these reasons and others, I will climb Mount Aconcagua in January 2001.

And it is my guess that along this medical journey, there will be even larger mountains to climb, for me and for other members of the prostate cancer “club”.

Sincerely,
Murray Swindell

p.s. Stay off the red meat, avoid fatty foods, eat lots of beans, fruits, and vegetables.

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Proceeds of the Prostate Cancer Climb will go exclusively to funding education and research. No portion of the proceeds will be designated for operating or administrative expenses. Distribution of the Hap Weyman Memorial Prostate Cancer Project Fund will be determined by the Independent Educational Research Funding Committee (IERFC).

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23-Jan-03 @ 11:40 AM