Bill is a Champaign native who grew up to marry his high school sweetheart. He’s a union carpenter who enjoys working with his hands, and in his free time, he’s always loved the freedom of spending a sunny day behind the wheel of his Trans Am®.
In 2003, Bill went to the doctor because of high blood pressure. Just to be on the safe side, his doctor decided to run a Prostate specific antigen (PSA) test. The test was fairly routine, and Bill had no reason to think anything was out of the ordinary. But when his results came back showing higher than normal PSA levels, his doctor was concerned, so he referred Bill to Carle Cancer Center’s prostate clinic.
After being diagnosed with prostate cancer, Bill began a treatment regimen that involved surgery followed by radiation therapy five days a week for 38 straight treatments. During his treatment and recovery, Bill was unable to work for four months – and for someone who thrives on staying busy, it seemed like a whole lot longer.
But through it all, Bill kept a positive attitude. He had faith in Ron Sapiente, MD, and his medical team, and knew they were using every resource at their disposal to help him face the disease head on.
Today, when Bill puts his hands on the steering wheel of his classic muscle car, you might notice a blue bracelet on his wrist. It’s a small token he uses to promote prostate cancer awareness among others, and to remind him of his own victory.