As a music producer, I believe that music is all about connecting the best musicians with the best instruments. And I feel that same philosophy holds true for cancer treatment – it’s connecting the best physicians with the best technology. That’s why I chose to seek treatment at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Proton Therapy Center when I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2007.
How I found out I might have cancer was not in the conventional way – where the doctor calls and delivers the news. Instead, my life insurance agent told me when I called to increase my coverage.
He said, “We can’t increase your coverage until you talk to your doctor.” I didn’t understand why. The agent, who was a good friend of mine, told me that results from my recent PSA test showed elevated scores. I didn’t know what to think.
Not knowing what the test scores meant, I made an appointment with my family doctor, who referred me to a urologist. It was there that a biopsy confirmed that I had prostate cancer. Fortunately, the urologist quickly dispelled my fears by telling me that the disease was treatable and referred me to the MD Anderson Proton Therapy Center.
For those who are unfamiliar with it, proton therapy is an advanced type of radiation treatment that uses protons to send radiation directly to the tumor. Because of its precision, proton therapy spares surrounding healthy tissue from exposure.
While at the MD Anderson Proton Therapy Center I met Dr. Andrew K. Lee, who said something to me that really sunk in. He told me that proton therapy wouldn’t affect my lifestyle. That was all I needed to hear to pursue treatment.
According to Dr. Lee, because proton radiation treatment is so targeted, they are able to spare healthy areas near the tumor, which leads to fewer side effects and allows many patients to continue to live active lives, both during and after treatment.  In addition to my daily proton therapy treatments, it was also music that helped me heal. Music has been a part of my life since I was a young boy. I spent years as a musician and now work as a music producer. I have also been a voting member for the Grammy’s ™ since 1977.
Today I am four years out from my diagnosis, and I’m cancer free. According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer occurs more often in African-American men, and we are also more likely to be diagnosed at an advanced stage.
With the increased risk we have, I encourage all African-American men to get their PSA scores checked regularly.
To learn more about the MD Anderson Proton Therapy Center, visit www.mdanderson.org/proton.