Over the course of his productive career, William Shatner has achieved success. The actor, most known for playing Captain James T. Kirk in the Star Trek series, even had the chance to journey to space in actuality. However, Shatner’s diagnosis of a fatal illness made it difficult for him to live to be 90 years old.
Star Trek actor William Shatner has eight albums to his credit and has distinguished himself not only in the acting world but also in the music world. Despite all of his achievements, the star’s life tragically came tumbling down after receiving a prostate cancer diagnosis. Shatner described how he had led a very lucky life but had also encountered death in a variety of ways in an article for NBC. However, when it was he who was given a dire prognosis, the celebrity understandably began to worry that his days were numbered.
“A doctor informed me that I had a fatal illness. That I was going to pass away,” Shatner told NBC.
“I was unsure of how to respond to this news. We were talking about my funeral, really.
I was informed by the doctor that I had cancer. I reasoned that there must be a mistake. This is what other people experience.
Prostate cancer often progresses gradually, and symptoms won’t appear until the prostate is big enough to interfere with the tube that drains pee from the bladder into the penis.
Shatner’s doctor performed a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test to determine the particular sort of cancer he has. These tests can reveal whether cancer poses a significant risk of death and whether other non-cancerous illnesses have contributed to elevated PSA levels.
Shatner explained his diagnosis by stating: “He took my PSA, a marker for this disease, to figure out which sort it was.
“Up until that point, it was at one or two, well within acceptable ranges. It is ten, he announced. “That is cancer that is aggressive.” Ten! I had been betrayed by my body.
Shatner’s thoughts quickly shifted to the possibility of passing away after being shocked, terrified, and somewhat incensed by the diagnosis.
On an intellectual level, he admitted, “I understood my prognosis; I had written my will, which stated that upon my death, this person would receive this and that person would receive that.”
On a more emotional level, though, I felt positive that I would live forever. I disputed it. For me, it meant making out my will before enjoying a delicious piece of strudel. To me, death didn’t apply.
Shatner learned that testosterone supplements—the very supplements he was taking—might in some circumstances have something to do with prostate cancer after attempting to accept life while carrying the heaviness of a death sentence.
“I inquired as to whether I ought to cease taking the vitamins. That would be a fantastic idea, he replied, “yeah.”
Researchers in Baltimore, USA, used blood samples from 759 men in their study, 111 of whom had been given a prostate cancer diagnosis. Results revealed that males over 55 were more likely to get prostate cancer, providing indisputable proof that a rise in testosterone levels is linked to a higher risk of getting the disease.
A little in contrast, additional research from the University of Oxford discovered that while high testosterone levels were not linked to an increased risk of prostate cancer, low testosterone levels were.
Researchers discovered that there are only a limited number of androgen receptors in the body, so once these are “full up,” the level of testosterone in the body is irrelevant because it is impossible to bind to a receptor. This information was obtained from blood samples of approximately 19,000 men, 6,900 of whom went on to develop prostate cancer.
This study shows that low testosterone levels can lessen the risk of acquiring prostate cancer, even when high testosterone levels do not. And Shatner experienced just this.
“I had another PSA test three months later. It had decreased to one. One. The doctor speculated that the increased PSA number was caused by testosterone, according to Shatner.
“The body acquires cancer frequently and exterminates it, but that test’s sensitivity allowed it to detect even the slightest sign of it, which, when combined with the PSA reading, made me believe I was near death. When I discovered I did not have cancer, I was overjoyed. I’ve resumed not dying. At least immediately.
The NHS explains that “false-positive” PSA test results are frequent and that a blood test, physical examination, MRI scan, or biopsy are more reliable prostate cancer screening methods.
People with the following symptoms should consult a doctor, who will likely conduct the testing described above:
more regular and more frequent nighttime urination
a sudden need to use the restroom
trouble starting to urinate (hesitancy)
straining or taking their time to urinate
Poor flow
feeling like your bladder hasn’t completely emptied
Blood in the pee or the sperm.
People will be given advice on the best treatment options if they are diagnosed with prostate cancer. If the cancer is treatable, this may include “watchful waiting” in the early stages or surgery and radiotherapy in the later stages.
