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Petey's Big Adventures

I created Petey the Prostate Crusader in 2009 as our mascot for Prostate Cancer Awareness.

 

Why the Walnut?

 

You may wonder why I use a Walnut to make my Petey's. The walnut is the size of the prostate gland so which make it so fitting to use this to signify the size of how this little tiny nut can cause so much heartbreak, anger, emotional roller coaster, etc.

We were sitting at a support group meeting in Lancaster, Ohio in 2009 and a walnut was passed around in the group. It finally got to me and I sat looking at just a plain walnut. But then a light bulb went off in my mind! Thinking of what I can add to give it a personality. Add a few eyes, hands, feet, arms and then Petey the Prostate Crusader was created! This turned out to be my creative way to bring awareness to Prostate Cancer.

Linda

© 2023 by Designs by Thomas Rider.

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Hoetger

My story....

As a wife of a Prostate Cancer Survivor and a Mom of 4 son’s in their 20’s I do not understand how these medical professionals on the USPSFT Board are allowed to recommend against prostate-specific antigen-based screening for prostate cancer for men in all age groups. Because there is moderate or high certainty that the service will provide no benefit and may cause more harm than good.

In 2009 we found out that my husband had prostate cancer at the age of 56 with no family history. The day was June 19th my husband had an appointment with the UROLOGIST! So we could discuss the results from the prostate-specific antigen-based screening and biopsy. The UROLOGIST with a sullen face tells us the news that my husband has an aggressive form of prostate cancer and his Gleason Score was an 8. The doctor did clear his morning schedule to make sure we had the time we needed to ask questions. But at first it was more of Ray and me crying yes you heard it right we cried! Finally the news was started to sink in more and it is time to start asking question to what now. One of Ray’s questions was if the prostate is the cause of all of this I want it out now! The Tumor Board met in length the day before to discuss a plan of attack. He was too met with the Radiology, Oncology which he did. That day was a long day and at the end of the day it was Information Overload. But the best advice that I got from the doctor was when we go home we need to become students of prostate cancer and learn everything that we can. I started doing just that! But then I hit a road block! Ray my husband would not look at any of the information that I found. He was sinking into depression and so did I but that was not going to stop me from learning all that I can. And still to this date I am still learning.

My husband had surgery on October 12, 2009 and we were praying for the news of …Mrs. Hoetger we got all the prostate cancer, but that was not the case. The cancer was an aggressive form and has escaped the prostate and into the lymph-nodes. The Gleason score was raised from an 8 to a 9. We did not want to hear that news, but my husband is alive! Now the recovery begins and the treatment for the remaining cancer in the lymph-nodes. At the first follow up appointment the plan for treatment is prostate-specific antigen-based screening and Luporon Hormone shots every three months.  When it comes time for the prostate-specific antigen-based screening it is so stressful waiting for the results to return and praying for less than 0.01, Undetectable,  no matter how you say it as long as it is still in REMISSION! I wish we never had to deal with prostate cancer we have met many friends whose family has/had been dealing with this horrible disease also.

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