Prostate Cancer: Portrait of a Survivor

Bill Richards

At age 53, Bill Richards was not expecting a diagnosis of cancer. A decorated Vietnam veteran with a long career on Wall Street, Richards was accustomed to a demanding schedule, working 14-hour days with frequent international travel. But an elevated PSA uncovered during a routine physical exam in 1999 put him on alert.

When his PSA continued to rise rapidly over the course of two years, his primary care physician recommended a biopsy. The initial results came back negative, but a second, more extensive biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of early-stage prostate cancer.

Richards was deeply concerned. His father had died at 54—although not of prostate cancer—but this number still loomed large in his mind. Richards recalls poring over Dr. Patrick Walsh’s Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer. “My primary concern,” says Richards, “was getting the cancer out.”

After considering all the available treatments, Richards opted for the “gold standard” of radical prostatectomy (complete removal of the prostate). He was scheduled to have surgery performed at another Manhattan hospital when a friend suggested he see Dr. Herbert Lepor at NYU Urology. Dr. Lepor’s experience and track record, as well as his medical training at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine under Dr. Walsh, convinced Richards to come to NYU.

In the recovery room after surgery, Richards met three other men who had also undergone prostatectomy that same day with Dr. Lepor. The men, who ranged in age to early 40s to late 60s, bonded in the hospital and agreed to keep in touch over the coming weeks. Their support and humor helped carry Richards through the physical and mental challenges of recovering from cancer, and the group still keeps in touch to this day.

Life after cancer

Ten years later, Richards is cancer-free and shows no sign of slowing down. He travels widely, both for business and pleasure, and enjoys riding horses in upstate New York. He also finds time to work with several nonprofit organizations serving young people, including iMentor and the All Hallows School in the Bronx. Richards says that beating cancer has given him a new appreciation of life. “I don’t know how many people would say cancer is a positive experience, but it was for me,” he muses.

Richards’ advice to men who receive a diagnosis of prostate cancer? “Confront the disease immediately, and maintain hope, since it’s a curable cancer. Reach out to other people, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.” And foremost, says Richards, “Take advantage of the superb medical care available at NYU Langone. I was very fortunate to be treated by one of the best urologic surgeons in the world, Dr. Lepor. I can’t say enough about how good NYU Urology has been for me.”