Minnesota Prostate Cancer Coalition (MNPCC) provides Wellness Coaching. Our Vice President Dave Hulbert is a Mayo Clinic Certified Wellness Coach with extensive prostate cancer experience as a aggressive Gleason 9 patient whose treatments since 2008 include: prostatectomy, external beam radiation, artificial sphincter, penile implant, and parathyroidectomy operations, surgeries for lymph node prostate cancer recurrence in both pelvis and chest, chemotherapy and hormone therapies (Lupron, Casodex, Xtandi) and has rapid bone loss from androgen deprivation therapy.
Dave's will help clients build their own individualized areas of focus including: preparing for doctor visits in all stages of their prostate cancer journeys (newly diagnosed, ED, incontinence, recurrence, etc.) as well as other personal goals they may have (exercise, nutrition, resilience/stress, weight management, etc.) and provide survivor/mentor support.
He will also help clients (s) initially set individual goals that support their areas of focus. In follow-up sessions Dave and his client (s) would review progress toward individual goals, explore or resolve issues and help them set new goals for the next session. By the end of coaching sessions clients can expect to feel confident on new areas of wellness and more accountable for their choices, actions and behaviors.
Highlights from Dave's 2016 Wellness Coaching clients
Rick a 62 year truck driver, who broke his iliac crest (hip bone) bowling, discovered he had Gleason 10 (aggressive) prostate cancer with PSA 247 in the hospital. PSA dropped down to .5 after being on hormone therapy and rose back up to 7.0 within 6 months. (Hormone resistant prostate cancer)
Dave helped Rick learn about Prostate Cancer (reading, support groups, etc) and get treatment opinions from (Univ. of MN, MN Oncology, Mayo Clinic). He then helped him make his own decision to work with a MN Oncology doctor who partners with Mayo Clinic and has a 90% prostate cancer patient base.
Rick started chemotherapy in March 2016 which has dropped his PSA down to undetectable over 10 chemo treatments ! In addition, Mayo Clinic's C11 PET Scan found that his right kidney was failing from prostate cancer ureter invasion and stent was surgically put in place.
Randy a 55 year old warehouseman, who was diagnosed with BPH (enlarged prostate) in 2011 with a PSA of 3.0 which kept climbing to 4.43 over a 4 year period. Randy's current Urologist in NW MN said he could not do anything else for him and suggested he go to the University of MN or Mayo Clinic to get an MRI. Randy was concerned that the gradual PSA rise might be prostate cancer and wanted to go to Mayo Clinic. Dave found a BPH expert at Mayo Clinic and helped him create a one page appointment preparation document outlining his medical history, symptoms, and questions to ask the doctor.
03/2016 Randy had MRI which showed no evidence of prostate cancer, doctor changed his prescriptions and told him to come back in 6 months for MRI, blood tests and consult. Randy was relieved and happy !!
Kip a 62 year old retired guy, diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer 04/2015 with PSA of 147. Kip started hormone therapy (Lupron) which dropped his PSA to 2.95 but now is rising with a PSA of 19.41 before his 3rd Lupron shot. Dave helped Kip summarize his medical history and provided him information to prepare questions for second opinion (s) now that his PSA is rising.
Dan a 61 year old retired guy, wanted to tap Dave's experience with his own artificial urinary sphincter (AUS). Dan's medical history included prostatectomy and 39 radiation treatments for Gleason 8 prostate cancer. During radiation treatments problem surfaced with not being able to void so he started Foley self catheterization because stricters closed up tightly. After catheter was removed moderate to severe incontinence ( 2-5 thick pads per day) started. Urological Surgeon recommended AUS surgery.
Dave listened to Dan's story asked him questions about his incontinence which revealed it was improving down to 1-2 pads per day. Dave suggested that Dan maybe talk with his doctor about waiting for AUS surgery with improved sphincter function.
Dave got an email 3 weeks later saying that Dan showed blood in his urine, cystoscopy showed active strictures were tightening, and urologist did urethral dilation (U/D). Dan's urologist was glad that he did not get AUS surgery done since it would complicate U/D or even make it impossible to do!