William Shatner, the renowned actor best recognized for his portrayal of Captain James T. Kirk in the Star Trek franchise, has had a successful career. He has excelled in acting and singing, as proven by the eight albums he has published over the years. Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with a terminal condition, making it difficult to live beyond the age of ninety.
Things took a turn for the worst when Shatner was diagnosed with prostate cancer, and his mortality became a reality. He told NBC that he had been fortunate his entire life, only to face mortality in many forms. They were considering funeral plans after the doctor gave him a dismal prognosis.
The revelation struck Shatner off guard and, unsurprisingly, shifted his worldview. He found himself grappling with emotions such as disbelief, grief, and anxiety, which are usual reactions to getting such terrible health news. Reflecting on those times, he stated that, while it was a difficult time, he was grateful for close family members and friends who supported him steadfastly throughout this period of uncertainty.
A PSA test by the doctor revealed that William Shatner had aggressive prostate cancer. This surprised him, as the findings showed that his levels had grown to 10 – much above what is usually considered a safe limit.
This surprised him because he had been oblivious that anything was wrong with his health and had no notion that his body was fooling him.
His initial reaction to this diagnosis was disbelief, followed by dread and rage. He rapidly began to think about the likelihood of death and realized he needed to take action to prepare for it. As a result, he made efforts such as drafting his will to ensure that everyone received their due upon his death.
Prostate cancer is known to progress slowly, and symptoms may not appear until the prostate has grown large enough to restrict the urethra, which drains urine from the bladder into the penis. However, if identified early, it can be efficiently treated with surgery or radiation therapy. Men over 40 should get frequent screenings to detect anomalies before they become too significant and cause irreversible damage.
William Shatner was met with a stunning discovery after feeling invincible due to his optimistic view of life, even though he faced a death sentence: testosterone pills may be connected to prostate cancer. This caused him to wonder whether he should stop taking them, which his doctor encouraged him to do.
Some studies reinforced the warning even more. For example, researchers in Baltimore took blood samples from 759 men, 111 of whom had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. They discovered that males over 55 were more likely to have the condition due to greater testosterone levels.
In contrast, research at the University of Oxford found that while neither high nor low testosterone levels were associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer, they did discover that when androgen receptors are exhausted, no further binding can occur, rendering any additional testosterone present in the bloodstream ineffective.
Shatner took this advice and decided not to take testosterone supplements, which paid off! After only three months, he had another PSA test, which revealed a significant decrease in his score, prompting his doctor to speculate that the higher number could be linked to excess testosterone.
The human body is tough and can typically detect and fight cancer on its own. However, because of the sensitivity of the PSA test, even the tiniest hint of cancer can be immediately identified, which can be concerning for many people.
“Fortunately, my results were negative, and I showed no indicators of malignancy. This was a tremendous relief for me, and I am grateful for contemporary technology that allows us to discover it so early.”
The National Health Service cautions that false-positive results in prostate cancer tests are common. This means that blood tests, physical examinations, MRI scans, or biopsies are far more trustworthy than PSA tests in diagnosing this cancer.
All of these tests assist in determining whether or not someone has prostate cancer in its early stages, allowing required safeguards to be taken sooner rather than later when the problem may have advanced further.
