Lenny G

About Lenny G

In late January of 2020, I was diagnosed with high risk prostate cancer. Within the week of diagnosis, my daughter, son, and daughter-in-law traveled from the SF Bay Area to be with me and my wife. This was a true gift considering the fear I had from the diagnosis. I decided to seek treatment at UCSD Medical in La Jolla, California. My first appointment with my urologist at UCSD was in early February. He confirmed the diagnosis, and suggested that I meet with he and two other doctors in late February to arrive at an aligned treatment plan. We agreed that I would have a radical prostatectomy on March 25. With this news, and with COVID beginning to impact society, my kids decided to temporarily relocate to my home to provide support. In mid-March, the medical oncologist was studying my MRI and CT scans taken after the diagnosis. I received a call from her informing me that she was concerned about a 3cm spot on my lower left lung. While the MRI and CT scans were inconclusive, she suggested a PET scan for a more thorough review. The PET scan came back clear, yet she continued to insist that we determine what the mass actually was. In early April, I had a lung biopsy. It revealed that I had another primary cancer, adenocarcinoma. Following this diagnosis, the number one treatment priority was my lung. At the same time, my wife and kids were at home with me to help with this new level of fear. The prostate surgery was postponed, and I met with a cardio thoracic surgeon. It was determined that surgery was the most prudent course of treatment. At this time, the prostate team, started me on hormone treatment, so the fight against my prostate cancer had begun! Early the morning of April 17, my family dropped me off at UCSD, and I underwent a lobectomy of my lower left lung. I was in the hospital for four-days, which included a code-blue episode. When I returned home on April 21, my family was there to great me with love and care. My son and daughter-in-law even had a new puppy to greet me! I cannot tell you what it meant to have them there for me when I came home. Two days after I came home, one of my incisions opened, and fluid began to escape. With the help of the nurse on a virtual call, my daughter patched me up, with no further issues. While my family was there to help, I made it a point to be as self-sufficient as possible so I get back to some semblance of a normal life. Two weeks following surgery, I began to take Zytiga as my ADT therapy ramped up. On June 25, nine weeks post-lung surgery, I had my prostate removed. The surgery went well, but again, it was amazing that my full family was there to support me and my wife. Throughout the summer, my family was a key motivating force for me to do everything I could to heal quickly, and get in as best shape as possible. It is imperative to be fit to fight. As the school year approached, my wife requested to teach virtually so our household could be as COVID safe as possible. Additionally, my son and daughter-in-law decided to move to Carlsbad so they could be very close to me. My daughter decided to move home permanently to provide support. As I continued to heal, the checks on the impact of the ADT therapy went well, as did the CT scans of my lungs, which took place every two months following surgery. On November 5, I began radiation therapy at UCSD. I completed my last session on December 28. At this point, February 2, 2021, I am certainly in a better frame of mind than this time last year. This is not only a result of the great care I’ve been given by UCSD, but more importantly, it’s a result of the support from my wife and kids. They each changed their lives to be there for me. Not just for Prostate Cancer, but for a second cancer. I could not be more grateful. The love I have for them is beyond description.