September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

Tim Hunter spent his entire career in entertainment. The legendary local radio host retired in 2024 after 35 years behind the microphone, but continues heading up his own production company. Always full of energy and ready to crack a joke, the self-described “goofball” was stopped in his tracks upon hearing the two words all too common for men aged 55 and over: prostate cancer.

During his annual physical, doctors observed Hunter’s PSA levels had climbed into “uh oh territory.” Hunter is no stranger to prostate cancer. At his age, he can count at least half a dozen friends who have been diagnosed with and undergone treatment for prostate cancer. In fact, the American Cancer Society states that one in eight men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. For men who are 65 or older, that number climbs to about six in 10. For African American men and those with a family history of prostate cancer, the risk is higher.

Learning you have prostate cancer can come as a shock. There are a lot of things to think about before you and your care team choose the treatment that is best for you. When detected early, prostate cancer is highly treatable. Most men diagnosed with prostate cancer survive. Depending on your unique situation, you will find there are many treatment options available, especially in Seattle.

Hunter immediately began researching treatments. He spoke with his friends and former colleagues who had undergone prostate cancer treatment. He read emails, article links, and books. What he found was that many treatments can be effective in eliminating cancer cells. Hunter thought, “If different approaches can all be effective in curing prostate cancer, which treatment will get me there the easiest, fastest, and with less interruption in my daily life?”

Two radio voices meet

Friends and colleagues of Dave Wyman often quip, “You’ve become the expert on Swedish CyberKnife” to which Wyman usually launches into the slogan, “Five treatments all less than an hour each, less side effects than other treatments, and the most technologically advanced treatment in the Pacific Northwest.” Wyman has endorsed Swedish CyberKnife for prostate cancer treatment on Seattle Sports since 2021. Tim Hunter first heard of Swedish CyberKnife from Dave Wyman, and he’s glad he did. After undergoing successful treatment, Hunter volunteered to share his personal testimonial, hoping others would hear it.

While interviewing Hunter about his prostate cancer treatment experience, Dave Wyman asked, “When you learned about Swedish CyberKnife, you must have thought, ‘this is too good to be true?'” Indeed, Hunter chose Swedish CyberKnife for his prostate cancer treatment and was raving about his experience and results. His treatment was completed in less than a week. Each treatment lasted between 35 and 45 minutes. From the time he left his house to the time he arrived home, about an hour and fifteen minutes in total had passed.

In addition to the swiftness of the treatment course, Hunter appreciated the minimal interruption to his daily life. Most of his friends who had undergone prostate cancer treatment did so with options other than CyberKnife. He heard stories of inserted catheters, wearing diapers, surgery, and weeks of radiation treatment. After Hunter completed his treatment, he remarked, “Huh, that’s it?”

Post-treatment care

Now that Hunter’s PSA levels have decreased from over 12 to less than 2, he’s on a six-month recall, meaning he has an appointment every six months to monitor his PSA levels. The care he received and continues to receive from Swedish is excellent.

“It’s about what you would expect from Swedish.”

Now, in addition to entertaining and making others laugh, Hunter rejoices in telling others of his experience. He hopes adult men will get their PSA levels checked and, if diagnosed with prostate cancer, schedule a consultation with Swedish CyberKnife at Swedish.org/cyberknifeprostate.

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