And just like that, I completed my last treatment today. As far as the physical aspect of my cancer and treatment, it has not been bad at all. I have no acute side effects from the radiation, and I feel as good as I did before this whole thing started. And while it may have been emotionally challenging, in the end, everything worked out as best as I could have possibly hoped for.

While initially the treatment options weighed heavily on me, in the end I found a treatment option that was not even on my radar in the beginning. And I was fortunate to be able to get all my treatments done in the time frame when I was off on vacation, so I didn’t have to miss any work. And I am also grateful for the insurance coverage I have as the out of pocket costs have been well below what most others would have to pay. So, the financial burden of cancer has not been that bad.

Now that my treatments are done the only thing to do is follow up with a PSA test in 6 months to see the effectiveness of the treatment. I feel very good about my prognosis. So, after many doctor’s visits and tests and consults and treatment, I get a reprieve.

As anyone who has had cancer can tell you though, you never get to go back to what it was like before being diagnosed with cancer. I will always have to follow up at regular intervals to ensure it remains gone for the rest of my life. But that can’t stop me or slow me down.

In fact, I hope having cancer can help me grow. I hope I can have more compassion for others as they go through challenging times. I hope I have a renewed sense of vigor for life and to appreciate things more. And I hope I am even more determined to live a positive life for myself and those around me. I truly believe that this was just merely a bump in the road, and I have many many more productive years left. But then none of us really knows how long we have.

And I am grateful for all the support from my friends and family. It has helped more than you possibly realized. I only hope one day I can support you all as you have supported me. Now is the time to turn the page and write the next chapter in my life. The best is still yet to come!