Two-time prostate cancer survivor:Why I’m grateful for a cancer recurrence

Most people would not look at a cancer recurrence as a blessing. But I consider mine nothing short of a miracle.

If God hadn’t led me to MD Anderson after a prostate cancer recurrence, I might not be here today. And, even if I was, my quality of life would be much, much worse. 

My previous cancer treatment 

Due to a lifelong clotting issue, I developed massive blood clots in both of my legs as a complication of my initial prostate cancer treatment. The surgery was successful, but the blood clots severely diminished my quality of life.

Before my original prostate cancer diagnosis in 2021, I’d led a very active lifestyle. Afterward, I got worn out by even the tiniest things. I could get super short of breath just bending over to tie my shoes. My legs were also extremely weak, and I had considerable swelling.  

The vascular specialist my doctor sent me to said that unfortunately, there was nothing he could do. The blood clots in my legs were so extensive that if anyone tried to fix them, they would likely do more harm than good. I just had to accept it. 

The prostate cancer recurrence that led me to MD Anderson 

Three years later, my PSA levels started rising again. My urologist suspected the cancer had returned. He wanted me to go to another facility for radiation therapy, but I wanted a second opinion.  

It was right around that time that a former neighbor named Jennifer Cobb heard about my diagnosis from friends. She retired from MD Anderson in 2023 after 15 years of service as a shuttle driver. She reached out to encourage me to contact MD Anderson and helped us schedule our first appointment there. 

MD Anderson specialists gave me hope 

We met first with Dr. Paul Corn, a medical oncologist who specializes in genitourinary cancers, including prostate cancer. He confirmed my prostate cancer recurrence but said it was something MD Anderson could easily handle. The new tumor was just a tiny nodule on the pelvic bed. He and radiation oncologist Dr. Quynh-Nhu Nguyen recommended 35 rounds of radiation over seven weeks to treat it.  

Then, Dr. Corn said he wanted me to meet with hematologist Dr. Michael Kroll and interventional radiologist Dr. Rahul Sheth to see what could be done about the blood clots. I let Dr. Corn refer me to his colleagues, but I thought I’d hear the same story as before.

I told Dr. Kroll that I’d been warned not to let anybody mess with the blood clots. His response was, “Mr. Fagg, if there’s anybody in the world who can help you with this, it’s our interventional radiologists.”  

It turns out he was right. 

A new plan to fix old problems 

To my surprise, Dr. Sheth said he thought he could help me. He wanted to perform a surgical procedure to remove the blocked inferior vena cava (IVC) filter that had been inserted previously to prevent blood clots from traveling to my lungs. It had gotten so clogged right after insertion that it soon collapsed. Dr. Sheth also wanted to remove as many clots as he could from my legs and restore the blood flow to them by installing new stents.

I told him if there was anything at all he could do to help me, I’d be willing to take some risks. But my wife, Vickie, a retired medical imaging director, was more reserved. She said she would rather have me around like I was than not have me around at all. Dr. Sheth reassured her that the procedure carried minimal risk. He seemed very confident, so we moved forward. 

My quality of life has improved remarkably 

Dr. Sheth performed the surgery at MD Anderson on April 17, 2024, the day after I rang the bell to mark the end of my radiation treatments. It took him six hours. I spent the night in the hospital. 

Since coming home the next day, my life has totally changed. I’m still not 100% back to normal, but after three years of being anything but normal, I almost don’t remember what that feels like.  

Still, just two weeks after surgery, I was walking up and down a very hilly course when I played golf with friends in Branson, Missouri. I can plant flowers and work in my yard again. I was even thrilled to take out the trash. 

MD Anderson fixed the ‘unfixable’ 

I don’t think you can fully appreciate something until it is taken away from you and given back. But the treatment I received under Dr. Sheth was nothing short of remarkable. I can’t even begin to express how much gratitude I feel for him and MD Anderson.  

I thought I’d have to live the rest of my life the way I did for those three miserable years. Even other radiologists were skeptical of Dr. Sheth’s plan. They said it was not possible to do what he did. They said it was too risky. So, I’d resigned myself to life being what it was.

Today, I feel like my life has been given back to me. MD Anderson has changed my life, and I am forever grateful. 

Request an appointment at MD Anderson online or call 1-877-632-6789.