Prostate Cancer

Survivor Spotlight: Pete Gardner

Pete Gardner Used His Health Physicist Know-How to Choose Proton Therapy for Prostate Cancer Treatment.

Pete Gardner is a U.S. Navy veteran and was working as a health physicist for the Navy when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. When he found out that radiation was one of the treatment options for prostate cancer, he knew a thing or two about the effects of radiation on the body. He did his research and told his physicians he wanted proton radiation.

“I had already done my research, and I understand nuclear particles. I told my physicians that I understand the positive charge of a proton and the destructive aspect it could have on the cancer cells as opposed to gamma rays (photon), as well as the limited scatter and exit energy,” he said. Pete proceeded to obtain referrals from Tricare, and then he was off to receive proton therapy at the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute.

This decision from diagnosis to start of treatment did not happen overnight, as he was diagnosed with very low stage prostate cancer. However, when a close family member was also diagnosed with cancer, he saw the stress a cancer diagnosis can cause for the whole family. It was then that he moved forward with his plan for treatments. He encourages others to include their family members in the decision-making process when they are diagnosed with cancer. “Be educated, understand your treatment options and the potential side effects and talk to your family,” said Pete.

Today, five years after completing proton therapy treatment, Pete regularly monitors his PSA, or prostate-specific antigen, and has no evidence of prostate cancer. He still works full time for a government contractor and is fully active outside of work, enjoying riding his motorcycle, scuba diving and snow skiing.