Published on January 18, 2024
1 in 6 men will get prostate cancer in their lifetime; learn how Dr. Holick responded to his diagnosis, treatments he used, and what tricks helped conquer the side effects and cancer progression
Key Points
- In November of 2021, after celebrating his 75th birthday, Dr. Michael Holick learned that he had stage 3 prostate cancer; leading up to his diagnosis, he had been extremely happy, was cycling 35 miles on the weekends, gardening, and maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle
- Watch the video interview to learn more about Dr. Holick’s journey from diagnosis, through treatment, side-effects, and his road to recovery, and how he intervened to create better outcomes for his body and health
- Dr. Holick’s goal is to run the Boston Marathon (April 15th) to be an inspiration for men and women with cancer. He is dedicating his marathon run to his brother Frank who recently died of colon cancer. Please consider donating to support his fundraising goal!
In November of 2021, after celebrating his 75th birthday, Dr. Michael Holick learned that he had stage 3 prostate cancer. Leading up to his diagnosis, he had been extremely happy, was cycling 35 miles on the weekends, gardening, and maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle.
At the time of diagnosis, Dr. Holick had a Gleason score of nine. The Gleason score is used to grade the severity of the cancer found – with a grade of 1 representing normal prostate tissue and a grade of 10 representing the most aggressive cancer. An MRI confirmed that the cancer was already growing out into the nerve bundle.
“I’m an endocrinologist and I’ve seen lots of patients with prostate cancer. Now, I’m a patient… and this monster inside me wants me. And so, I’m going to do everything in my power to prevent that monster from really destroying my body.”
Tune into the interview video featured below to learn about Dr. Holick’s journey with prostate cancer, the cancer treatments, side effects, and the efforts he puts in on a daily basis to fight the monster (prostate cancer) from taking over his body and his health.
Please Help Support Dr. Holick’s Goal to Raise Money for the Boston Marathon 26.2 Foundation’s Team Inspire
Dr. Holick’s goal is to run the Boston Marathon (April 15th) to be an inspiration for men and women with cancer. He is dedicating his marathon run to his brother Frank who recently died of colon cancer.
To support Dr. Holick’s fundraising goal, please click here or use the QR code to make your tax-deductible donation. Follow Dr. Holick’s training and journey on his Facebook – Dr. Michael Holick
Watch the Video Interview
Diagnosis Prostate Cancer
Snippets of Dr. Holick’s Journey through Diagnosis, Treatment, Side-Effects, and Recovery
Dr. Holick was put on androgen deprivation therapy to stop the ability to make testosterone or androgens; before treatment began, he immediately started to intervene by creating habits to help fight the unwanted side effects.
“Cause when you have no testosterone you don’t just wake up one day fat and flabby, right? That happens over time. And so I decided to intervene and I intervened by making my New Year’s resolution for 2023 is to walk five miles every day and to increase my personal training, weight training, from once a week to twice a week.”
Learn how he coped with all of the medications he had to take and how he kept his motivation to move, because “if you use it, you won’t lose it. And that’s why I was so aggressive in intervening…”
Dr. Holick developed side effects, including diabetes; he decided to remove cakes and muffins and everything from his diet – he did it instantly and was focused on making better dietary choices. Within about three months he lost 10 pounds as well as his diabetes.
He began getting severe chills after eating and discovered that adding chili to his meals helped to prevent that.
He began getting hot flashes, and found a product called the Cool Cuff. It worked so well for him that he started a Cool Cuff virtual Clinical Trial – he is recruiting!
Dr. Holick will be running the Boston Marathon this year; he is trying to raise money right for the bib (see above), but more importantly, he wants to be an inspiration. “If I can do this, anyone can do this. I’m gonna be 78 years old when I run it on April 15.”
His new goal for running the Boston Marathon is to honor the memory of his brother, who at 75, passed away with colon cancer just a couple weeks ago.
Men with prostate cancer have a four times higher risk of suicide; it is incredibly important for families who have a loved one, brother, husband, grandfather, with prostate cancer, to be in closer touch and to be sure that everything is well with your loved one. “And on the opposite side is, it’s really important but presumably very difficult for anyone to admit that they’ve been thinking about this. But incredibly important. If you don’t want to talk to your provider, your primary care doc, talk to your family, because just releasing it from you can make all the difference in the world and really help give you clarity.”
Thank you Dr. Holick for sharing your story, inspiration, and your wisdom with all of us!
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