March 31, 2016
Family and Climbing Buds,
I have a health issue that I’d like to share with you. No need for excessive worry since the verdict is not in yet, however after four medical appointments over the last month, I have scheduled a biopsy to confirm or disprove that I have some form of prostate cancer. I expect the results of this biopsy to be available to me by the end of next week. If it comes back negative (probability 30%), life will go on almost as normal. If positive (probability 70%), I will need further tests to help construct a treatment plan.
In either case, I expect minimal disruption to my planned Red Rocks climbing trip for the month of April and the subsequent visits during the beginning of May. I also expect a full recovery in the long term.
I feel perfectly confident and in good hands with my present support group: doctors at Oregon Urology Institute, my friend, MD and OHSU cancer researcher, Chris and of course, Laurie. I promise to keep you updated as I learn more. In the meantime, I recommend that you boys out there do indeed keep track of your PSA levels.