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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cI was informed by a doctor that I had a fatal condition, that my life was nearing its end,\u201d Shatner shared with NBC. \u201cI didn\u2019t know how to respond. We even started planning my funeral.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe doctor informed me that I had cancer. I reasoned that there had to be an error.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prostate cancer often develops slowly, and symptoms may not emerge until the prostate enlarges enough to block the tube that drains urine from the bladder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shatner\u2019s doctor performed a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test to identify his type of cancer. These tests help assess the severity of the cancer and whether elevated PSA levels are due to other non-cancerous conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe tested my PSA, a marker for this type of cancer, to determine its nature,\u201d Shatner explained regarding his diagnosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUntil then, it had been one or two, which is within the normal range. He revealed it was ten. \u2018Aggressive cancer,\u2019 the doctor declared. Ten! I felt betrayed by my own body.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shocked, horrified, and angry at the diagnosis, Shatner quickly confronted the possibility of death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI understood my prognosis; I had already drafted my will, assigning my belongings to various people upon my death,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut emotionally, I believed I\u2019d live forever. I fought against it. It meant acknowledging my mortality every time I wanted to enjoy something simple, like a piece of strudel. Death was abstract to me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As he grappled with the weight of his diagnosis, Shatner learned that the testosterone supplements he had been taking might be linked to prostate cancer in some instances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI wondered if I should stop taking the supplements.\u201d \u201cYes,\u201d he replied, \u201cthat would be a great idea.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During their research, investigators in Baltimore, USA, analyzed blood samples from 759 men, 111 of whom had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. The study found that men over 55 were more susceptible to prostate cancer, suggesting a correlation between increased testosterone levels and a higher risk of developing the disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, a contrasting study from the University of Oxford indicated that while high testosterone levels did not increase the risk of prostate disease, low levels could actually diminish it. Researchers observed that the body has a finite number of androgen receptors, and once these are saturated, additional testosterone in the bloodstream becomes irrelevant, as it cannot bind to any more receptors. This conclusion was drawn from examining blood samples from about 19,000 men, 6,900 of whom developed prostate cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The findings suggested that low testosterone levels might reduce the risk of prostate cancer, but high levels do not increase it\u2014a pattern that applied to Shatner as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThree months later, I took another PSA test, and it had dropped to one,\u201d Shatner recalled. \u201cThe doctor believed the previous high PSA was influenced by testosterone supplements.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe sensitivity of that test sometimes detects even minor abnormalities, which along with the PSA results, initially made me think my life was in immediate danger. I was relieved to find out I didn\u2019t actually have cancer. Now, I\u2019m back to not dying\u2014at least not right now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The NHS notes that \u201cfalse-positive\u201d results are common with PSA tests and that a combination of blood tests, physical exams, MRI scans, or biopsies provide more reliable screening for prostate cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Symptoms warranting a doctor\u2019s visit include frequent and urgent needs to urinate, especially at night, difficulty starting urination, weak flow, or feeling that the bladder isn\u2019t fully emptied. Presence of blood in urine or semen also necessitates medical consultation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If diagnosed with prostate cancer, patients will be counseled on optimal treatment strategies, which may range from \u201cwatchful waiting\u201d in early stages to surgery and radiotherapy if the condition progresses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
William Shatner has achieved great success over his illustrious career. Renowned for his iconic portrayal of Captain James T. Kirk<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1306,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1303","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-house-designs"],"yoast_head":"\n