Competence and compassion. That’s what you get at the Bronson Cancer Center.
My name is Floyd and my experience at the Bronson Cancer Center in Battle Creek has been incredibly positive. I'm very pleased with the care I've received and the outcome of my cancer journey.
My story began with ongoing prostate issues like urgency and waking up frequently at night. I went to see my doctor and she told me my prostate was enlarged and put me on some medication that helped for a few years. Then, during a routine visit with my primary care provider, they ran some normal bloodwork. The results came back showing that my PSA was high. At the time, I didn’t even know what PSA meant. I learned that it stands for Prostate-Specific Antigen – a protein produced by the prostate gland. PSA levels are used to help screen for and monitor prostate cancer. She told me my PSA was 13.8, and that it should be closer to 4. That’s when I was referred to a urologist and an oncologist.
I had 16 prostate biopsies. A couple of weeks later, I was told I had stage 3 aggressive prostate cancer. They removed my prostate and thankfully, the cancer was encapsulated. Six weeks later, my PSA was at .06, which I thought was reassuring at the time. Then I got a call from the Bronson Cancer Center where I was told it was actually supposed to be undetectable. That’s when the next chapter began. I underwent surgery and then started radiation. I underwent 27 treatments. Eventually, my PSA dropped to .01 which was considered “undetectable.” I was put on testosterone-blocking medication, which starves any rogue cancer cells floating around looking for testosterone to feed on.
Today, I return every three months for PSA testing. As long as results come back showing low levels, I can continue with my current treatment. If not, then chemo will be my next course of action. But as of now, they tell me I’m pretty much cancer-free, and I intend to stay that way.
This whole journey has been terrifying. I felt like I was scared nonstop for over a year. The physical toll was intense. With prostate cancer, when you go through radiation you have to keep your bladder really full. That was miserable. I had to use a clamp to keep from going to the bathroom. It was painful and humiliating, but the staff was so understanding. They treated me with kindness and respect and never made me feel embarrassed. They were always supportive.
One of the biggest blessings during my treatment was my oncology counselor - Carrie England. Not all angels have wings, and she was truly sent from heaven. At the time, my wife and I were struggling. We had lost our daughter, which led us to losing our house because we couldn’t afford it anymore. We ended up living in motels and even the front seat of our car for three years. Through various cancer support organizations and funds from the Bronson Health Foundation, Carrie helped us find affordable housing and was able to arrange transportation at no cost to me for my appointments. She also handled all the calls to various doctors’ offices and guided us through every step of my care. She was compassionate, skilled and truly cared. I thank God for her. Without her help and Bronson’s care, I don’t know where I’d be today.
The whole Bronson Cancer Center team, from the support staff to the medical team, cared on a deeply personal level. You’d think, in a job that emotional, people would become detached. Thankfully, the Bronson team never made me feel like “just another patient.” They invested in me and exuded positive energy in every interaction. When you're surrounded by that much positivity, it affects your entire outlook on everything… your condition, your treatment and your whole life.
If someone asked about the care I received at Bronson, I’d tell them two things: competence and compassion. The doctors take the time to explain everything in a way that makes sense. They don’t just tell you what to do. They actually make sure you understand why. That meant the world to me.
If anyone out there is facing a diagnosis like mine, here’s my advice: get educated, and fast. Talk to people. Learn what your options are. Follow your doctors’ instructions exactly as they give them. Even when it's hard, especially with eating during radiation or chemo, do what you can. You need strength to fight. Like my wife told me: fight. This isn’t the end…it’s just a chapter in your life.
I was so afraid when I was diagnosed with cancer. I had to be put on anti-anxiety medication for over a year. But I found support. The cancer center offers support groups. They have social workers. They help you connect with people who have been where you are. Don’t go through this alone. Be informed. It’s your life. If you don’t take care of it, no one else will.
This journey has changed me. I’ve always known we all die eventually, but facing cancer brings that truth to the front of your mind. It makes you appreciate life and how fragile and precious it really is. I’ve become more spiritual. I believe there are no coincidences and without God, I wouldn’t be here today.
I used to pride myself on being independent. But this experience taught me that sometimes you can’t do it alone. You learn who you can truly count on, and your entire mindset shifts. Once you’ve looked death in the face, you see the world differently.
At Bronson, everyone I’ve met truly wants you to get better. It’s not just a job to them. They bring real energy and commitment to your healing. That kind of care lifts your spirits in ways that medicine alone can’t.
