Euvon Jones admits he took his health for granted. “I had great health all the way into my late 50’s,” says the Accokeek, Maryland resident. “I worked, went to the gym, and had an active life. I didn’t think it was necessary to check on my health or get screenings.” But when a limp from hip pain and diminishing appetite and energy levels could no longer be ignored, he went to the doctor. The news was not good. At age 59, Euvon was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer. “Getting that diagnosis just about floored me,” he says.
Euvon’s PSA (a blood test used to screen for prostate cancer) was 398. A normal PSA is 4 for a man his age. Euvon’s cancer was most likely silently growing for years, and a screening could have caught it. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men. One in eight men will receive a prostate cancer diagnosis during their lifetime, but most will make a full recovery when the disease is caught early. Being aware of your risks and ensuring timely PSA screening can make all the difference.
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Euvon’s cancer had spread to his lymph nodes, bones, hip, and back. He and his wife, Janet, began researching treatment centers which led them to Nancy Dawson, MD, director of the genitourinary medical oncology program at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. “Dr. Dawson was so professional. What I like about her is that she doesn’t pull punches. She walked us through the different treatment options,” Euvon says.
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Ultimately, Euvon choose immunotherapy, a process that stimulates a person’s own immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells more effectively.
Dr. Dawson put Euvon on Provenge, a medication that is tailored to match each patient’s immune system. MedStar Georgetown, through the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, the region’s only NCI (National Cancer Institute)-designated comprehensive cancer center, participated in the clinical trials that led to Provenge’s Food and Drug Administration approval in its current use as a frontline therapy.
The treatment process involved removing some of Euvon’s white blood cells and sending them to a lab, where staff exposed them to a protein that stimulates the cells and programs them to fight prostate cancer. The transformed cells were then infused back into Euvon’s body. “I’ve got a lot of warriors inside of me,” Euvon says.
Those warriors did their job—Euvon’s PSA dropped to below one-his cancer is undetectable. Euvon and Janet also made major lifestyle changes, replacing processed foods with fresh fruits and vegetables, increasing exercise, and creating a healthier home environment. Several years later, Euvon continues to take medication and remains cancer free.
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Euvon and his family are thrilled with the results. “I can’t say enough about Dr. Dawson and the entire MedStar Georgetown team. They are really on the cutting edge of prostate cancer treatment and care,” he says.
“Prostate cancer doesn’t give you symptoms when it’s confined to the prostate. By the time prostate cancer gets big enough to push on your urinary system, it’s already advanced, so you don’t want to wait to get screened,” Dr. Dawson explains.
During his journey with cancer, Euvon says he was blessed to have the support of his family. His wife researched the disease, and as she studied, she began to write about it. The result was a book, The Trail of Stage IV Prostate Cancer, A wife’s case for faith, hope, and help.
“This book has become a doorway to talk with other men about prostate cancer. I want others to receive the benefit of what I went through,” he explains. Euvon and Janet travel all over the country presenting seminars, helping people live healthier lives, and enforcing the message “men get your checkups!”. “Men need to know how important it is to get a screening,” he says. “The reality is simple: life is precious.”
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