Shelby County Judge Executive Dan Ison counsels practically every man he meets to ask their provider about prostate cancer screening. He knows it’s important from experience.
A proud public servant and Vietnam War veteran, Dan Ison enjoys spending his free time with his wife, Debbie Holloway, and their quarter horses on the couple’s Shelby County farm. During Ison’s business career, his company required him to get an annual physical exam.
“Once I retired, I was in excellent health, and I just stayed away from doctors,” Ison said. “Seeking medical attention wasn’t part of my thought process.”
In 2024, his mindset changed.
“A Complete Curve”
Ison developed low back pain he assumed was related to working on the farm. Holloway encouraged him to get screened for prostate cancer at the annual Men’s Health Fair at UofL Health – Shelbyville Hospital in June.
Providers at the event collected a blood sample to test for a protein called prostate-specific antigen—elevated levels may indicate prostate cancer. They also checked Ison’s prostate for enlargement during a digital rectal exam.
The results of the tests were concerning. Within days, Ison had a biopsy at Shelbyville Hospital and learned he had stage 4 prostate cancer, the most serious and advanced form.
“I held my wife’s hand and said, ‘Debbie, I’ve really messed up. I’m sorry,’” Ison said. “Life threw me a complete curve when I learned I had cancer. It was something I’d never given any thought to.”
Spreading an Important Message
A year after his diagnosis, Ison continues to receive care from a medical oncologist at UofL Health – Brown Cancer Center in Louisville. He takes a medication to limit the spread of the cancer and is determined to do whatever it takes to beat the disease. Most of all, Ison wants other men to learn from his journey.
“Men need to talk to their providers about getting tested for prostate cancer,” Ison said. “There’s no reason to fear the screening. The earlier you can detect this disease, the better. I was stubborn. If I’d listened to Debbie about screening years ago, doctors might have caught my cancer early.”
Step up for your health today. Talk to your primary care provider about prostate cancer screening. To make an appointment with a UofL Physicians – Primary Care provider, call 502-588-4343.
