How Bernie Beat Prostate Cancer

A former Pittsburgh Pirates farm system pitcher and one of the region’s first African-American businessmen, Bernie Durant prides himself on strength and survival.

Is Your PSA Too High?

While PSA levels above 4 can indicate prostate cancer, the most important factor is the rate of PSA change over time. “PSA that increases by more than .75 per year is in the danger zone,” says urologist Arthur Fetzer, M.D. Talk to your doctor about the value of PSA testing for you.

So he wasn’t about to let a 1998 diagnosis of prostate cancer conquer him.

“I first thought, ‘Why me?’” says Durant, 69, of Allentown. “Then I told my doctor, ‘It’s you, me and the Man upstairs, and we’re going to beat this.’”

Durant’s urologist, Arthur Fetzer, M.D., of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network, gave him several treatment options, including surgery and chemotherapy. But one option—a combination of hormone therapy and radiation—was his best bet, given the aggressiveness of the cancer. His PSA (prostate-specific antigen) level was 11, more than twice that of a healthy prostate.

To stop the cancer from spreading, Fetzer prescribed leuprolide acetate (Lupron), a manufactured hormone that halts cancer cell growth by stopping testosterone production. Durant got an injection every three months for three years. To kill the existing cancer cells, he also received external-beam radiation (similar to an X-ray) daily for eight consecutive weeks.

“My radiation treatments were at 8:30 a.m., and I was back at my office right afterward,” Durant says. “I’m amazed how the radiation pinpointed the exact location of the cancer.”

Now cancer-free (his PSA is 0), Durant lives with gusto. He spends his days at Durant Enterprises, Inc., a regional and national product supplier, and off-hours with his wife, Jane, and two adopted daughters. “I’m at the gym three mornings a week at 5, and I take vitamins,” he says. “But most of all, I get checked regularly. I trust my doctors, and I’m feeling great.”

The Truth About Herbal Supplements and Prostate Health

Men, does your anti-cancer strategy include shopping for the latest and greatest herbal supplement? Save your money, says urologist Brian Murphy, M.D., of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. “Many advertised supplements say they ‘promote prostate health,’ but they don’t prevent cancer,” he says.

Popular supplements like saw palmetto, pygeum Africana and stinging nettle only help slow or relieve the symptoms of benign prostate enlargement, a non-cancerous growth of the prostate that causes problems with urination.

If you want to prevent cancer, Murphy says, stick to natural food sources. The same holds true if you’ve been diagnosed or treated for prostate cancer. His recommendations:

A low-fat, low-calorie diet. It’s the foundation for good health and can help prevent prostate cancer, too.

Ten servings of cooked tomato products a week. Tomatoes contain the antioxidant lycopene, which protects against prostate cancer. The easiest-to-absorb forms are tomato juice, sauce and paste.

Soy products. They contain hormone-like compounds that hinder the growth of prostate cancer, so choose soy over meat when possible. Soy milk is a healthy alternative to regular milk.

Fish. Fish, especially salmon, is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to prevent many types of cancer. Fresh fish is best. Don’t bother with a fish oil supplement; it won’t help.

Green tea. Several cups per week of green tea are thought to help prevent many cancers, including prostate.

Want to Know More about prostate cancer prevention? For a previous Healthy You story about soy’s cancer prevention qualities, click here.

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