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Bill Kish¡¯s prostate cancer diagnosis came after his doctor felt something unusual during his annual physical. Blood work showed his PSA level was at 5.3. He was 69, so this was higher than the normal range for a man his age. 

A local urologist in San Antonio performed a CT scan and prostate biopsy to confirm that Bill had cancer. But he and his wife, Jacki, weren¡¯t comfortable with the doctor¡¯s diagnosis.

¡°They told us the cancer was very slow-growing and suggested we wait to make a decision,¡± he says. ¡°That didn¡¯t sound too good to us. So, we got input from our family, some of whom live near Houston. We all agreed I should come to MD Anderson for a second opinion.¡±

Second opinion leads to more accurate diagnosis

µþ¾±±ô±ô¡¯²õ test results were sent to MD Anderson. Urologic oncologist , spoke to Bill and Jacki over the phone to discuss next steps.

µþ¾±±ô±ô¡¯²õ Gleason score was 4+3, which is intermediate risk. Adibi wanted Bill to get an MRI before developing a treatment plan. He came to Houston for an MRI and met with Adibi a couple of days later.

¡°Based on the CT scan results, everyone thought my prostate was enlarged. The MRI proved that wasn¡¯t true,¡± Bill recalls. ¡°My prostate was a normal size. It was the three tumors attached to my prostate that made my prostate look enlarged.¡±

On June 13, 2023, Adibi performed a robotic radical prostatectomy to remove µþ¾±±ô±ô¡¯²õ prostate and pelvic lymph nodes.

¡°Dr. Adibi did a fantastic job,¡± says Bill. ¡°I was supposed to spend the night in the hospital, and then Jacki and I would drive home to San Antonio the next day. Unfortunately, that didn¡¯t happen.¡±

MD Anderson helps with complications after prostate cancer surgery

The day after surgery, µþ¾±±ô±ô¡¯²õ blood levels dropped significantly, and he had excruciating abdominal pain. Tests and scans revealed that he had internal bleeding combined with clotting in his arms and legs as a result of a rare medical complication.

Interventional radiologist , did a minimally invasive procedure to stop the bleeding. He placed an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter to try to prevent the blood clots from spreading to µþ¾±±ô±ô¡¯²õ heart and lungs.

Bill didn¡¯t get out of bed for three weeks. During that time, his doctors consulted with each other, read medical journals and ran tests to figure out why he had internal bleeding and clotting and to see how they could stop it.  Interventional Radiology performed another procedure to remove blood clots, and Bill had a drain placed into his abdomen, along with getting seven blood transfusions. The quick drop in blood pressure affected his retina, so his vision was blurred for two weeks. He was given pain medicine and muscle relaxers to help manage his pain.

¡°At one point, I had a drain, a catheter, three IVs in both arms and was on oxygen,¡± says Bill. ¡°Jacki and I decided to have our family and a priest come, and I was given last rites. I remember telling Jacki that I didn¡¯t want to die there. There were two things I wanted to do: go home and sit on my back porch and dance at our granddaughter¡¯s wedding.¡± 

Bill and his wife, Jacki

On July 6, things began to look up. µþ¾±±ô±ô¡¯²õ vitals were good, and he developed an?appetite. He used his walker to walk 27 steps during his physical therapy appointment. Afterward, he sat in a chair and did crossword puzzles with Jacki.

¡°Dr. Adibi always shared the good news with me and Jacki when I was making progress,¡± he says. ¡°And my nurses were wonderful ¨C whether it was encouraging me to get up for physical therapy, talking about sports with me or being so considerate when they had to draw my blood at 2 a.m.¡±

µþ¾±±ô±ô¡¯²õ progress continued, and he was released from the hospital on July 18 to a?rehabilitation facility?to regain strength and walk more.?

¡°After four days in rehab, I started having severe pain on my right side. My gallbladder quit working,¡± Bill recalls. ¡°They took me to a nearby hospital, but once they learned about my past health issues, they sent me back to MD Anderson.¡±

Bill returned to his same room and was reunited with his care team and met?, a general surgeon specializing in gallbladder surgery. Ledet decided to place a drain and schedule surgery for a later date.

A week later, Bill and Jacki returned home to San Antonio.

¡°I used the walker to get up the three steps to our home, and I shuffled to the back porch,¡± he recalls. ¡°Then I sat down and cried like a baby. I couldn¡¯t believe I was here, that I¡¯d made it.¡±

Showing gratitude and giving back

On Oct. 24, 2023, Ledet performed a cholecystectomy to remove µþ¾±±ô±ô¡¯²õ gallbladder.

µþ¾±±ô±ô¡¯²õ PSA levels have been normal for almost two years with no detectable recurrence of prostate cancer. His cardiologist says his heart is healthy. And he?walks four miles?every morning.

¡°The unwavering love and support from Jacki, our trust in Dr. Adibi¡¯s abilities and my care team, the prayers from friends, family and strangers, and my faith got me through every challenge during treatment,¡± he says.

Bill has had?sepsis?before, he and Jacki survived a head-on car crash in 2021, and now he¡¯s a?cancer survivor.

¡°My friend who¡¯s a priest told me, ¡®I think God wants you to tell your story,¡¯¡± he says. ¡°So that¡¯s what I¡¯ve been doing.¡±

Bill has volunteered at golf tournaments for 25 years. He most recently volunteered at the?Texas Children¡¯s Houston Open, for which MD Anderson was the Official Cancer Center and the sponsor of the volunteer program.

He takes every opportunity to share his story with others, which he says has helped people facing depression, cancer and other challenges.?

His advice for others facing cancer? Get a second opinion if you¡¯re unhappy with your first diagnosis.

¡°If I hadn¡¯t come to MD Anderson, gotten that MRI and had treatment, I don¡¯t think I¡¯d be here today,¡± says Bill, who currently gets checkups every six months at?MD Anderson League City. ¡°Everybody at MD Anderson ¨C the doctors, the nurses, the technicians ¨C are so nice. They answered every question I had. MD Anderson took great care of me, and I¡¯m forever grateful.¡±

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Bill volunteers at the Texas Children's Houston Open