I want to take a minute of your time to share a personal note with you.
On Monday, February 17, 2014, I received news I did not want to hear. My doctor called to tell me the results from my Prostate biopsy the week before had come back and it was not good news. I have Prostate cancer. I have spent the last few days getting answers to millions of questions which included a few basic procedures like prostate cancer genetic testing. I wanted to know why it was that I had developed it when none of my peers had, and what my options were when it came to overcoming it.
The next few weeks will be filled with decision making and adjusting to this new reality. I have many family members and friends who have gone through the same process, so I am not unfamiliar with the decisions that need to be made. While I’m only 50 years old and considered young for this form of cancer, I am confident we caught it early enough to treat effectively. There have been many recent developments in drugs to help prostate cancer, such as abiraterone acetate for example. This drug was founded by Dr. Lindsay Rosenwald and his previous company. The drug can be given to those suffering from prostate cancer in the therapy and treatment processes. Hopefully, with the help of drugs like that, all will be alright.
I share this information with you for three reasons. First, I know you care and want to know what is going on in my life, personally. I write from my heart and my own experiences and am humbled and, frankly, amazed at how many of you not only read my blog but write personal notes to me thanking me or asking additional questions or advice. I love the connections that I have been able to make with people from all over the globe! I appreciate each of you and value the relationships that we have developed.
Second, I need you to know that I am human, a real man and a real dad, and I live in the same world and struggle with the same problems everyone else has. It is easy to read a blog and develop an image in your mind about what that person’s life must be like. I do the same thing. I have been honored to actually meet a few of the people I’ve been reading and consider mentors. In each case, it was so refreshing to learn that none of them are super-human and immune from the day-to-day struggles of living in a sinful world. I, too, am just an ordinary man and Prostate cancer doesn’t care that I write about intentional living and keeping a positive outlook on life.
Third, and most importantly, is to ask you to please pray for me and keep me and my family in your prayers and thoughts, especially my two boys who have been through more trials than most of than most of their peers. I assure you that I am no stranger to adversity, yet I am an even greater recipient of Grace. This is just another path that God is asking me to walk down. Only He knows the purpose for this journey and my job is just to walk it by faith. By His continued Grace and guiding hand, I will walk this path faithfully and come through it ready to walk more paths of His choosing.
I will continue to keep you updated on my condition and will continue to write my LifeThoughts as long as I have life and thoughts! 😉
UPDATE: I posted an update to this on April 6th, 2014
Bruce, I am so grieved to hear of your illness. You have been such a source of encouragement to me and thousands of others. I will pray faithfully for you and your healing and for your family. Your attitude as you approach this trial relying and trusting upon the Lord uplifts those of us who follow you. The Lord is your strength, and he will uphold you. He is our hope.
Thank you, Melinda. I appreciate your encouragement and your prayers! Indeed, He is our hope!
Bruce
1. Thank you for sharing and letting us pray for you. You and your boys will be in my family’s prayers indeed.
2. Totally agree that it is totally refreshing to see that the most awesome folks in the world that we look up to and admire are human just like us. For me you are a person I totally admire and look up to as you are really a person that has redefined the meaning of awesome in so many aspects of your life!
3. God is pretty dang awesome and I know He has great things in store for you. Sending bundles of smiles and hugs your way my friend along with wishes that abundant blessings come flowing in droves to you during this time.
Jen
Thanks, Jen! That really means a lot to me! You, too, are no stranger to adversity and an amazing testimony to relying on God’s grace while doing everything you can to overcome the setbacks. Thanks for your friendship and prayers!! 🙂
Thank you for sharing. We will definitely include you in our prayers. Please take care!!
Bruce, I have not been following you very long, but long enough to appreciate how you share God’s love and encouragement. We wonder why bad things happen to good people, but I believe it’s sometimes because God knows those He can trust to be a blessing and testimony to others. You are in His grip!
Praying for you and the family. I am sorry that you have to deal with this but know you will handle everything, every step of the way. You are strong. God is with you and that is all you need to know. May God bless you.
Bruce I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers. You have given so much to others and now it is time for you to receive good thoughts and strength from those that consider you a friend. I know your journey will have a positive outcome. Take care.
Bruce, my heart goes out to you. Please read this: http://tomroush.net/2012/04/05/jungles-white-helicopters-and-long-journeys/ it was written under circumstances similar to what you’re facing. Let us be the people in the jungle for you. You’ll understand when you get to the end of the story. Take care. You’re in my prayers.
Bruce: My prayers go out to you today. It is easy in this world of cyberspace to forget that we are dealing with real people who have real problems. I look forward to many more years of reading your posts.
Bruce:
I am a recent follow of yours on Twitter and have quickly grown to appreciate the wisdom and thoughts that you’ve been sharing. I’m sorry to read about this and I’m praying for you and your family.
Bruce, I enjoy following you on twitter and am always inspired by your tweets. Thank you for sharing your most personal tweet. Please know you will be in my prayers.
Bruce, I know that you know what an awesome God we serve! He is with us through every mountain and every valley.You and your sweet boys will be in my daily prayers! We are all here for you to lift you up and encourage you, just as your words have lifted and encouraged me and so many others day after day. Psalms 30 has always been a great comfort to me through the trials of life. I know you will survive and thrive through this trial.. Thank you for having the courage to share this and please keep us posted!
Dear Bruce,
Prostate cancer has “intruded” in my husband’s and my life twice, first at 58 and then again at 65.
We decided to try brachytherapy to forestall nerve and bladder damage. I wanted to save initimacy and not risk incontinence. We decided jointly.
In time the radiation eroded ‘that’ and in time it — the cancer– came back, it spread slightly outside the prostate. Brachytherapy has the consquence of making the next surgery extremely difficult.
The doctors at Loma Linda University are worldwide leaders in this field.
My husbands bladder was saved but he needed another surgery for artificial device to control the bladder flow. A tissue study has ruled out mortality due to the prostate.
The decision you will make will be the right one. The important first step is survival. Then returning full focus to be a husband and father.
Bruce,
For you to share such a deeply personal, frightening condition with us is quite courageous! Many would hold it in and try to deal with it privately. I’m touched, as I’m sure others are too.
I accidentally purshe “submit” before I was done. 🙂
What I want you to know, Bruce, is that your courage in inspiring. We will be praying for you and your family. God Bless!
For with God, there is nothing that is impossible. Hold on for change is coming and everything is going to be alright. I will be praying for you, it is well with you. God bless you richly
I’ve only known you for a few weeks. It is a shock to hear such awful news happening to a good man and his family. I will send good thought to you whenever I am on Twitter.
Take care, Be well.
Bruce, I am very sorry of your illness. Glass that it has been detected early. Will pay for your health and speedy recovery. I have been an admirer of your tweets and have been following them for the past 6 months. You write from your heart with immense wisdom. Love and best wishes.
My heart goes to you Bruce. I will be praying for you and your family.
God puts some people to death but He brings others to life. He has wounded but He will heal (Deuteronomy 32:39). Surrender it all to Him and trust that He will be healing you and He takes your illness. More blessings to you!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, words, wisdom, and outlook . It is motivating, inspiring, and refreshing. Thoughts and prayer will be your way every day.
Will certainly lift you up in daily prayer.
Bruce stay in faith and know many people are praying for you,.
I will continue to keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers. Thank you for sharing
Bruce, even through your trying adversity you write with courage and conviction. I am always touched by your honesty in your mail, your ‘human’ touch to daily life and although it is not of good news that you share on this occasion, you show strength, that I sometimes find hard to muster myself.
My prayers are truly with you and your family at this time. Thank you so much for sharing an intimate part of your life, that you did not have to share, but you did because of who you are.
I am sure I speak for many when I say, you touch our lives in so many ways, that you must never forget we walk the walk with you through this challenge and beyond. Asking the Creator to please bring you through safe and sound, as you still have much more to offer to this world.
Bruce, I read your posts of encouragement and positive attitude all the time. I truly believe you will not only survive this challenge, but I believe you will find a way to benefit others in similar situations by your experience, which is what you do best. Your positive attitude is your strength; you are like a shining star in the black of night. Keep shining!
Many prayers coming your way!
Bruce- I am really upset to hear this news and wish you and your family only the best. Since working with you, you are in my thoughts often and I keep your inspiring words of encouragement during many of my runs. Please keep us updated and reach out if there is anything that I can do.
Hi Bruce, My brother-in-law, my stepfather & a few of my co-workers have all been through Prostate Cancer in the past few years- and they are all in their 50’s and 60’s – so it seems to be very common now and at a much younger age than “normal” – and they have all come through it with flying colors, I must tell you!! So, of course, there is plenty of hope and optimism. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Bruce – I have and will continue to pray for you and your boys. I pray for healing, strength, courage,wisdom, and understanding through this.
Im so sorry to hear bout the sad news n well done for treatin it with the same steadyness, u have, that it deserves
Bruce I am so sorry to hear about the trial that you are going through. You have been a source of uplifting positive inspiration in my life. You and your family are in my prayers. God will see you through this..if he brings you to it, he will bring you through it.
Bruce I am sorry to hear this news from you. I have met and known a few patients with same problems. I am a physician that have left the profession, and one of your twiends. I can only say that having a positive attitude wll and can help a lot in battling any disease. You have a good attitude keep it up. The surgeon will be able to help you and hopefully get the disease at a very early stage for a future health. Will pray for your treatment and recovery.
Praying for you and your family. Really enjoy your posts. God is with you.
Hi, Bruce
Just wanted to extend my prayers to you and your family. Stay strong!!! You have many people that are praying for you. 🙂
Hi Bruce,
My family & I are holding you and your family up in pray. Stay string, stay focused and stay faithful. As one of God’s faithful, you know that we never walk alone. God Bless!
Will keep you & your family in prayer. Thank you for your words of encouragement that you share to your subscribers. Yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread(Psalm 37:25).
You are in my prayers.
I’m so sorry to hear about your illness. I do not know you personally and only began to follow you about a month ago or so, but I decided to follow you because of your inspiring spirit. And I’m sure you already know that God only gives his hardest battles to his strongest soldiers. 🙂 Keep positive thoughts, stay positive, pray hard, believe, have faith, and God bless you and your family during this struggle.
Very sorry to hear this, but I also know that our Great Healer is there through all battles of mind, body and spirit. Praying for you and your family as you make your decisions and as you draw closer to each other and to God through this situation. Keep fighting, stay positive, and know you are being lifted up!
I am praying for you Bruce and for your family at this time in your life. I do want to thank you so much for sharing this private time in your life with so many.
You have touched my life in so many ways! You are one of my biggest inspirations that keep me going! I find your daily Tweets an Inspiration in more ways than I can count! I so look forward to each and every one!
You will come through this!
Praying for you Bruce and family. God is good. Bless you.
Isaiah 53:5
New King James Version (NKJV)
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
Dear Bruce.
The situation you face, requires to break some paradigms, and while following the Doctor´s advice, you also follow your own path of investigation and trials.
Dr. Clark as you can check on her website, investigated cancer for 40 years. The main problem is caused by certain parasites, that cause the tumor to be formed and grow.
She has a 21 day protocol, around 1900 US, to be bought online, and in such short period of time, your cancer status may change drastically. You must first clean your body, taKe out many toxins from your daIly life, and then reduce tumor growth, until it just vanishes.
She also has specific information in her books about prostate treatment.
Also, your prayer must be direct with Jesus, visualizing you are already in excellent health condition.
Even when Dr. Clark promotes the use of Apricot Kernels, you can buy online the B17, which is used extensively for cancer treatment, since it destroy´s tumors, with no effect on healthy cells.
We have been working in Mexico with Dr. Clark protocols and B17, with great success.
Wish you full Health, and mainly, the elimination of fear. Fear, affects your immune response, so, you must strive to be in good emotional stance, and visualize your healthy body, running in perfect condition.
Thanks for sharing,
You will be OK Soon.
Luis Wintergerst.
Bruce, I’m praying for a speedy recovery. To encourage you, I wanted to recommend a book: Kisses from a Good God by Paul Manwaring. It’s the recollection of struggles, revelations, and stories of the author’s diagnosis with prostate cancer. It encouraged me for other reasons, but I figured I might share it with you!
Bruce,
Chip Finley here. It has been a long journey from those days at BHS. Those were the good ‘ole days. I wanted to let you know that you will be in my family’s prayers over the coming months. Your faith is strong and your support system seems to be well intact. May God bless you my friend. I hope to see you soon. Take Care!
Chip
Hello Bruce!
I happened upon you last year and have enjoyed your tweets, blog and book. There have been so many positive postings and I share many of them with others, and with my church I pastor in Washington State. I was just in DC last month and had hoped to make a connection with you but the snow storm(s) really created some travel concerns.
There is another author I love to read and have followed for several years. He, too, has suffered from Cancer and penned a lovely book as a result of the diagnosis that I have shared with many – “The Council of Dad’s” (Bruce Feiler).
My prayer is for you and with you for healing, strength, and grace to go through whatever this path unveils. You will be on my church prayer list. And, I will track you through this challenge and keep reading your postings, and reposting your tweets.
Blessings!
Michael Gurley
Wish u all the best .
Dear Bruce,
You encouraged me so many times. I am so sorry about this terrible thing in your path. But knowing you from your twitter posts, I know you will fight back and win, and now your messages will have even more meaning, since you have human struggles just like me and everyone.
I promise to pray for your health.
Karen
God bless you, Bruce – Praying for a miracle.
Bruce,
I’ve been right where you are and I remember the day I was diagnosed— I was faced with uncertainties, doubts, and concerns, in spite of having an amazing group of Docs to take care of me. And the most interesting thing is that although everyone can sympathize with your plight, it’s a truly personal thing. It’s in your body…not someone else’s. My prostate cancer hit me a bit later than yours–I was 58 at diagnosis; and there were issues where I had to undergo hormone therapy treatment prior to the surgery. I’m now 62. I’m having PSAs every six months; last results were great, thank God.
You’ll enter into what I’ve classified as a “discovery phase”–one in which you talk to everyone, you read all that you can, and you ask every question that you can think of…but the decision on how to treat your cancer and how you will proceed will come down to a call you and your doctor will make.
Keep in mind that people who find out you have prostate cancer generally want the best for you, but they may awkwardly not communicate that to you at the time. I was especially challenged when people, meaning to say the right thing, would ask if I remembered “so and so”…well, “so and so died of prostate cancer…they just said there was nothing that they could do…” Another great line that I learned to just accept was, “I hope they get yours in time…” Learn to accept these as positive comments from people who honestly don’t know how to relate, and truly don’t know what to say. You’ll find that you become ever more empathetic towards your fellow human beings. It’s a side effect of whatever course of treatment you choose.
You can bet there will be lots of people praying for you; I actually had people all over the world holding me up in prayer groups and praying for God’s will to be done. If you ever want to talk to someone that’s been there, don’t even hesitate to email or call. Good luck and Godspeed your treatment and remission.
alan
Bruce – I had PC at 48. There are several good treatment options for you to consider. Pros and Cons with each option, but there’s a “right” one for you. I had surgery and was able to run a half marathon several weeks later.
You will overcome this nasty disease and use this experience to help others. Feel free to contact me if you have questions. Check out my website for info on PC.
http://ten26.wordpress.com
Take care,
Don
My story: http://ten26.wordpress.com/2009/02/22/11/
This is distressing news. As I ponder the implications, I wonder why it had to be you!! Then it dawns on me that you are a human being, like you so eloquently mentioned. It is reality that such situations emerge, sooner or later, and even death. It is, therefore, of utmost value to choose faith rather than fear. Faith in the ONE, TRUE, LIVING GOD, for He is our refuge and strength (Psalm 46:1-2). He is always in control of circumstances (Romans 8:28-30). And He HEALS (Psalm 103:1-8). The fact that the disease was identified early enough is reassuring and comforting. As you look forward to any eventualities, my earnest prayers are with you. May God heal and immensely bless you. Very best regards.
Hi Mr. Bruce, You’re a great and inspiring man. Have absolute faith in him who created you. My prayers for you and your family is found in (3 john 1:2). The sun will not smite you in the day,neither the moon at night. Stay blessed and healthy in Jesus Christ name, Amen. Please Sir,don’t neglect medical advice as offered by professionals but know God is above all.
Will include you in our daily prayers ..absolutely love your positive, uplifting and inspiring tweets. God- Speed……Doug Channell
Hi Bruce,
You are so right – God has His own paths that He chooses to take us through. And He has His own reasons for that. That He has chosen you is the most graceful thing.
I am sure that your faith will see you through this current situation. He is capable of taking care of our children than any of us. Do entrust them in His hands.
We will certainly remember all of you in our prayers.
This is the first time I am writing to you though I read your posts & RT some of them. I am sure that with your faith you will continue sharing your thoughts with all of us & glorify God.
Take care & God bless.
Regards,
Dilip
What a painful story but all i can say is that God does some things for the glory of his name he is your rock and your strength…he is even strong enough in your weaknesses. I will remember you in my prayers you are such a great person to me personally
Thanks for your positive outlook. I really enjoy the tweets that you put on tweeter daily. Yesterday my wife and I visited a close friend who has cancer and is dying. Our friend has had cancer twice and the second time around hasn’t been able to fight it off. We were able to say some prayers with the family. Driving home I reflected on life. Just thankful for Jesus Christ and how through his atonement will be able to return to him and be with our families!
Thank you for sharing and may God continue to light your path.