Prostate Cancer

Identical Twin Brothers, Prostate Cancer and the Path to Proton Therapy

Identical twins Clyde and Harry Clark have shared many things in their 65 years — the same birthday, the same aptitude for mechanics as their father and sometimes even the same health concerns.

Harry listed a few — high blood pressure, two hip replacements, back problems. In 2015, Clyde was diagnosed with leukemia and Harry was a nearly exact match for blood marrow, platelets, plasma and blood cells, which helped in Clyde’s successful treatment and remission.

Then in 2023, Clyde was diagnosed with prostate cancer, discovered as part of a routine physical. Around the same time, Harry was starting to experience issues with cramps, fever and bleeding, leading to a diagnosis of a more advanced stage of prostate cancer.

“It was rough. I wasn’t prepared for it,” said Harry. “Being scared is the worst thing.”  He said he was on a path to have surgery in a month. But he heard from a lot of his friends who had prostate cancer surgery that they were not functioning well. Harry’s cardiologist referred him to the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute. Clyde was referred to the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute by his cancer doctor and his family doctor.

They both started proton therapy for prostate cancer in March 2024 and completed their treatments in May 2024. A year later, Harry says they are both fully functional.

“I’ve been lucky. I have a second chance in life,” said Harry. And while he remains on hormone therapy to help control the advanced disease, he continues to keep pushing himself forward every day. “We’re 65 years old. We still have so many things we want to do.”