UROLOGICAL HEALTH
BRET HART, FIGHTING PROSTATE CANCER, ONE TEST AT A TIME
In 2013, Bret Hart had a routine physical that included a blood test that looked at his prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. They were elevated, which led his doctor to believe he had a slow-growing type of prostate cancer. “I never felt anything. I had no symptoms at all,” he says. “‘Devastating’ is a good word for how I felt when I received the diagnosis.”
But the retired Canadian pro wrestler — known across the world for being the best there is, was, or ever will be — was not going to be pinned to the mat without one hell of a fight.
The battle begins
Hart’s PSA levels continued to rise, then dropped, then rose again in the fall of 2015 to a level that caused his doctor, Dr. Eric Hyndman of the Prostate Cancer Centre in Calgary, to start talking about dates for the surgery to remove Hart’s prostate.
“Once it was booked for Feb. 2016, I had five months to think about it,” Hart says. “I wanted to try and avoid it but in the end, I was painted into a corner and had to confront the situation head-on.” Fortunately, Dr. Hyndman coached Hart through the ordeal with a combination of reassurance and honesty.
Hart underwent a robotic prostatectomy surgery in Feb. 2016 — a less traumatic, minimally-invasive procedure that would leave more nerve endings intact. Before Hart went to the hospital, he posted a poignant and emotional message to his fans on his Facebook page, letting them know he was in the midst of the biggest fight of his life.
Going public
“I had no intention of telling anyone,” Hart says. “But as the day of my surgery neared, I knew I had to tell my sisters and my brothers about it. I decided I should have the courage to speak out so that maybe something good would come out of what I was going through.”
Something good did happen. Fans, high school friends, family members, and strangers who heard about Hart’s journey went to clinics and their family doctors to get a PSA test. This news continues to make Hart happy because he knows firsthand that early detection is the key to beating prostate cancer successfully. “Don’t be afraid to find out the truth,” he says. “Whatever the diagnosis is — you’re better off knowing. It’s as simple as a blood test and it could save your life.”
These days, Hart is cancer-free with a PSA level of zero. Although he’ll continue to have his levels checked every three months for the next 10 years, he’s grateful for all the support he received from his doctor, his wife Stephanie, and his family. “It’s a big win,” he says. “Better than any title I could ever possibly get.”