Men and their loved ones may find themselves blindsided after receiving a diagnosis of prostate cancer. They may panic and want to jump straight into treatment without first weighing all their options carefully.

On the Prostate Health Podcast up until now, we have spoken to many different experts, leaders, and innovators about various treatment options available for prostate cancer. Today, we have the pleasure of welcoming a prostate cancer survivor, Gogs Gagnon, to share his story. Gogs was diagnosed and treated for prostate cancer in 2017. After having surgery and recovering, he decided to write a book to share his story, inspire others to advocate for their health, and help other men learn from his experiences. His book is Prostate Cancer Strikes: Navigating the Storm. 

Gogs is a prostate cancer advocate. He has created a YouTube channel, capturing the details of his diagnosis. He has also developed a website and blog, and is active in various prostate cancer support groups. He is a member of the Prostate Cancer Foundation, British Columbia Support Group Council, and most recently, he took on the role of the Content Creator for ProstateCancer.net.

Dr. Pohlman and Gogs have known one another for about a year. They initially crossed paths on social media as prostate cancer advocates. Since then, Dr. Pohlman has had the opportunity to read Gogs’s book and provide a testimonial on the impact it has had on affected men and their loved ones. 

Today, Gogs joins us to share his story. Be sure to listen in!

Disclaimer: The Prostate Health Podcast is for informational purposes only. Nothing in this podcast should be construed as medical advice. By listening to the podcast, no physician-patient relationship has been formed. For more information and counseling, you must contact your personal physician or urologist with questions about your unique situation.

Show highlights:

• Gogs shares his background.
• Gogs explains how his prostate cancer story began and discusses what happened when he had a prostate biopsy.
• For the five consecutive years that Gogs had his PSA tested, it was higher each year.
• Gogs discusses the results that came back after his urologist suggested that he should have an MRI.
• Gogs talks about his reaction after receiving the devastating news that he had prostate cancer even though he had no issues or symptoms.
• Gogs had no idea that there were many different treatment options for him to consider when he got his diagnosis.
• More tests, including a CT scan and a bone scan, followed Gogs’s cancer diagnosis.
• Gogs was advised not to make a rushed decision about the kind of treatment he would opt for before having his surgery.
• Gogs talks about two of the potential side effects of prostate cancer surgery.
• Why Gogs opted for an open prostatectomy rather than robotic.
• The recovery process after surgery.
• What men can expect in terms of follow-up after surgery for prostate cancer.
• Some advice from Gogs for men who have recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
• Gogs explains why he recommends joining a prostate cancer support group as soon as possible.

Links:

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Go to the Prostate Health Academy to sign up for the wait-list for our bonus video content. 

You can access Dr. Pohlman’s free mini webinar, where he discusses his top three tips to promote men’s prostate health, longevity, and quality of life here.