PCa and us, athletes and injuries: some similarities

It's probably not something that comes immediately to mind, but I do believe there are some similarities between the two.

While watching the college football game between the University of Florida (my Gators) and the University of Kentucky last night, I sadly witnessed the severe injury that the quarterback for the Gators, Felipe Franks, suffered during the third quarter:

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=felipe+franks+injury+youtube&view=detail&mid=ca143bd498ce5eae6d1dca143bd498ce5eae6d1d&form=vire

The injury, a dislocated ankle, was serious enough that he will now be unable to play for the team any more for the rest of the football season. That is so unfortunate, as these student athletes work and train so hard, that it is so disappointing when this happens to them.

But it occurred to me that this young man, and for that matter any athlete who sustains a season-ending injury such as he has, will be undergoing a regimen of dealing with it and being treated for it that actually has similarities with how we deal with PCa.

For example:

The athlete suffers the shock of the injury, and the fear and uncertainty that it immediately brings, concerning his future.

We suffer the shock of diagnosis, and the fear and uncertainty which that brings, concerning our futures.

The athlete must immediately think, probably fearfully, about what happens now, how his playing days will be affected.

We think immediately about our own futures, how things will now change for us.

The athlete will likely now have medical treatment, perhaps one time, as surgery for a broken limb, as we might have surgery for PCa; or ongoing, such as rehab therapy for a knee injury, or as in radiation treatments for us.

Treatment for the athlete may be ongoing, such as regular hot-tubs, or therapy exercises with trainers.

Treatment may be ongoing for us as well, such as employing coping techniques for urinary issues, or sexual dysfunction.

For the athlete, the injury may be career-ending.

For us, the PCa may be life-threatening.

Perhaps the observation of such similarities may have some value for us, in that it may help us to understand better the trauma, both physical and psychological, that the athlete feels when experiencing serious injury, as well as the course of dealing with it.

But it may also provide for us a model to learn from, that in dealing with PCa, perhaps we can profit from seeing how the dedication and commitment of many athletes to regain their physical abilities to play again, can show us the way to regain the lives we want for ourselves, as we deal with the beast.

In particular, the extraordinary courage that so many athletes show in fighting to regain their former on-field skills can serve as such an inspirational model for us as well, as we fight to regain our former lives.

I know we all have such high regard for all those athletes, like Felipe Franks, who will work so hard when they have to, to fight and overcome the injuries they sustain, so that they may play again.

But perhaps we should stop and think for a moment that the model they show us for dealing with their own situations may well serve us as something we can emulate, as we deal with our own form of "injury," PCa.

And best wishes for Felipe Franks, and for all the other athletes, college and pro, who if they are unfortunately injured, will work so hard to overcome this hardship, do so, and be able to return from it.

When I was 55, in October, second game of the season playing in an old timers hockey league, playing "D", I checked a forward skating in to shoot on net, something I had done thousands of times over the years. The difference this time was that my stick tripped up the player and he crashed into my lower right leg breaking a bone and tearing the ankle ligaments and tendons. After surgery, the Orthopedic surgeon said it would be 1.5 months ,no weight bearing and physiotherapy after that. Unfortunately, when the cast was removed after 1.5 months, the X-rays showed that the surgeon has not done the job he wanted, and so repeated the repair properly and after 3 months total I started physio. With in a month I was back cross country skiing and light walking, no hockey. That March, I competed in our local 36 km. ski marathon on a hilly course. My time was slow because I had only skiied for a month before but at least I participated. My ankle and leg (after plates and screws were removed) have not caused any problems or shown any weakness to this day.

The quarterback for Florida I am sure is disappointed with sitting out for the season, but to compare his injury which to me is no more than 2.5 months with all of the modern facilities that are available and the fact that this athlete is young and strong, to PC in older men, is a bit of a stretch. My own experience shown above and I was not in the same shape or age as this athlete is, if It wasn't for the extra surgery, by 2.5 months after the injury, I could be doing light workouts and probably by less than 6 months, this quarterback would be ready to lead his team once again.
Many on this PC forum are facing life-threatening problems and descisions every day for the rest of their lives.

One thought that came to mind with this post after reading it, wouldn't it be special if men who have PC spent only a tiny fraction of the time getting daily vigourous exercise compared to the amount of time they spend in front of the tube or sitting in the stands watching their favourite athletes making 100's of millions of $ playing a sport that they love. With a stronger body through vigorous exercise, the SE from the many procedures, drugs, etc. that we all have to endure during this journey with PC might turn out more positively.

Dave

Maybe it's because I have never watched a football in my life, or other sporting event for that matter, but I don't see the same correlation of a sports injury with PCa. When we get our diagnosis we are faced with our mortality. The college player is faced with loss of scholarship.

BTW, I am not completely tone deaf regarding sports as I am an avid, somewhat competitive runner and swimmer, and coached high school cross country for a decade.