Capital Region | Capital Health | Spring 2018

crmc.org 3 ‘I never walked alone’ In early February 2017, Jim Crabtree, vice president at Central Bank, had no symptoms but, in keeping with his annual screenings, saw his urologist for his annual prostate check. At that visit he learned that his PSA (prostate-specific antigen, which is measured through a blood test to help determine the risk of developing prostate cancer) had climbed from 3.4 to 12.03 in one year. The digital prostate examination was not reassuring, and a biopsy was scheduled. The biopsy unfortunately showed all 12 of the samples taken were cancerous. The tumor was large, and it was firmly attached to organs in the pelvis. Crabtree and his wife, Sarah Gordon, MD, a pediatrician, came away from receiving the news with the impression that the tumor was inoperable and invasive and that options were limited. Although the outlook was bleak, Crabtree didn’t feel defeated. “I definitely felt a bit overwhelmed, but challenged to learn more and find the best care,” Crabtree says. “We came home, did some internet research on the treatment of advanced prostate Pictured above: Jim Crabtree's radiation therapy team—back row, from left: Edward Bowen; radiation oncologist Jay Allen, MD. Front row, from left: Kayla Elliott, Jennifer Welschmeyer, Brittanie Dudenhoeffer, Carol England and Jim Crabtree. A routine prostate check set Jim Crabtree on a cancer journey and onto a discovery: World-class care is close to home —Continued on next page