In the mid 1990s, Jack's father was diagnosed with prostate cancer.  I had "littles" at the time, of lap sitting age.  I remember this because John Sr. did extensive research on the subject himself, and decided he wanted what was called "seed implants."  These were radioactive seeds that were inserted into his prostate, making sitting in his lap dangerous to children. 

I would panic each time one of the kids attempted to even hug Baba.  Cassie's head was at the height of his waist and all I could think was that she was going to be zapped.  Truth be told, Jack's father was such a healthy guy, I didn't expect he would succumb to cancer.  I was more worried about the effects of his treatment on my kids. 

We were all watchful that year.  Happily, Baba became completely cancer free in what seemed a very short time.

After a 96 mile scenic cycle from Mount Vernon to Seattle, my nephew David Shirley, cycling across North America to raise awareness for prostate cancer, arrived at a Seattle apartment building around 2:36 am.

My father in law went to bed at 9:00 pm, happy to have his wife home from her reunion in Montreal. I was happy too- we had kept him fed and in good spirits for another five days and even psyched him to get out of the house and view the movie Amelia, when it comes out on Friday. He shook Amelia Earhart's hand when he was ten. She was a hero of his.

Fifteen years after fighting prostate cancer, Baba is now on oxygen. He survived a heart attack, a near stroke, and prostate cancer but he is being taken down by depleted lungs.

But what is prostate cancer?

The Prostate Cancer Foundation with its wealth of information explains,

"Prostate cancer occurs when cells within the prostate grow uncontrollably, creating small tumors. The term “cancer” refers to a condition in which the regulation of cell growth is lost and cells grow uncontrollably. Most cells in the body are constantly dividing, maturing and then dying in a tightly controlled process. Unlike normal cells, the growth of cancer cells is no longer well-regulated. Instead of dying as they should, cancer cells outlive normal cells and continue to form new, abnormal cells.

"Abnormal cell growths are called tumors. The term “primary tumor” refers to the original tumor; secondary tumors are caused when the original cancer spreads to other locations in the body. Prostate cancer typically is comprised of multiple very small, primary tumors within the prostate. At this stage, the disease is often curable (rates of 90% or better) with standard interventions such as surgery or radiation that aim to remove or kill all cancerous cells in the prostate. Unfortunately, at this stage the cancer produces few or no symptoms and can be difficult to detect."

When these cells metastasize, they move to other parts of the body and the cancer becomes more difficult to treat. Prostate cancer is considered a slow growing cancer and in 90% of cases, men are prostate cancer free in five years.

But the disease must be detected. One in six men get prostate cancer. According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, "In 2009, more than 192,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and more than 27,000 men will die from the disease. One new case occurs every 2.7 minutes and a man dies from prostate cancer every 19 minutes."

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Heredity plays a part in the development of cancer- the propensity to fight off the disease seems to have some genetic ties, though a history of prostate cancer does not automatically mean prostate cancer. Other factors like AGE, diet and exercise also affect a man's chances.

Two out of three prostate cancers are found in men over the age of 65.

In the U.S., prostate cancer occurs most in men of African American descent and least among Hispanic/Latino and Asian American males.

That extra tire men accumulate from drinking beer or eating excessive sugar and sitting in front of the tube flashes red flags for cancer testing. Body fat "secretes hormones and specialized proteins that can increase inflammation and oxidation in the cells of your body — two natural processes that are strong contributors to the development and progression of prostate cancer."

But what about cycling?  Over the weekend, I had occasion to speak with a handsome thirtysomething named Ben. I bragged a bit about what David was doing. He grinned and said, "Heck, riding a bike all that way will GIVE your nephew prostate cancer!

I had never heard this. So, I looked it up. This is what I believe Ben was referring to, from Medical News Today, July 2008:

"Men who take up cycling in an effort to stay fit, do their bit for the environment or avoid spiralling motoring costs, could be harming their health if they don't choose the right bicycle. That's the stark warning from consultant urological surgeon Mr Vinod Nargund from St Bartholomew's and Homerton Hospitals, London, in the urology journal BJU International."

Trails.com disputes the connection between prostate cancer and cycling-- as do most cycling groups (would you expect otherwise?)-- however Heather Broker, Trails.com writer acknowledges, "Wider seats keep a cyclist from irritating prostastis or other prostate problems. The more comfortable the seat, the less pressure put on fewer areas around the prostate."

I found all sorts of Hubs on prostate cancer and so, instead of pretending to know much about this disease, I am going to link you to these excellent hubs for more information.

Meanwhile, if you would like to contribute to the cause of Prostate Cancer in David's name, please click on LIVESTRONG.