John Holt, Fox 4 News anchor, was recently selected as the top 5 KC TV Anchors/Hosts by KC Magazine... which comes as no surprise to all who know John.  I could go on about all of John's great accomplishments in his career, but what strikes me most about John is his success at being a human being.  An original Kansan, both John and his whole family are loved and revered throughout the community.  Any mention of John normally solicits "he is the NICEST guy and so are all of his family."

Unfortunately, John was diagnosed with prostate cancer recently and we would both like to share his story to prevent unnecessary death from this disease.  Information is power so please pass this information on to any men in your life.

It is my great honor to welcome John Holt to The Global Townhall to talk about cancer, his award winning personality and tips for working in front of the camera.

Gabrielle Reilly:  John, I was so sad to hear you were diagnosed with cancer recently.  You're so young!  What type of cancer do you have and what stage was it at when you discovered it?

John Holt:  I love the "young" part of your question! Thanks for that Gabrielle! I know I'm at least "young at heart"!

I was diagnosed in April 2010, with prostate cancer. Fortunately, we caught it early. I had a low Gleason Score of 6 (the score used to analyze its stage) and 5% coverage. That was good news. The biopsy found that it was on both sides (I didn't even know prostates had "two sides"..I've learned a lot about this male gland. Ha!). That simply meant that while we caught it early, I did need to seriously consider treatment options other than "watchful waiting," which many men will choose to do when it's caught early, particularly if they are older.  

Gabrielle Reilly:  How did you find out about the cancer and what do you recommend guys do in regard to cancer tests?

John Holt:  I am a bit of a health nut, in that I try to eat right, work out, and have regular check-ups. Good thing! Over the past couple of years my primary care physician noticed my PSA (prostate specific antigen) levels jumping up and down. This screening was part of regular blood work I have done for a statin I'm on to control cholesterol.

His digital exam (not fun, but necessary) revealed an enlarged prostate as well. Finally, after my PSA levels jumped again, and knowing my father and grandfather had had prostate cancer, he suggested as a precaution, a biopsy. That biopsy at the University of Kansas Hospital is where I learned the cancer diagnosis and my Gleason Score.

Now, as a result of my experience, I am shouting from the rooftops to my guy friends and viewers: get regular check-ups and a PSA screen, particularly if you have a family history. Prostate cancer is very treatable, like so many other cancers, if caught early. According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the second leading cancer diagnosis among men, second only to skin cancer.  One in six will be diagnosed in their lifetime with this disease.  One in 36 will die of prostate cancer. It's being diagnosed earlier and earlier, and I'm an example of that at 51. There is just no reason not to be proactive!  

   

Gabrielle Reilly:  What is the treatment plan?

John Holt:  Dr. J. Brantley Thrasher, my urology oncologist at the University of Kansas, outlined all of my treatment options, which included the watchful waiting I mentioned earlier. Radiation and cryotherapy (freezing of cells) were also offered. 

As it was explained to me by Dr. Thrasher, radiation can make surgery more difficult later if it's needed. It's better he believes, to have radiation "in your hip pocket" for use later if the cancer has spread. Cryotherapy, he explained, just hasn't been around long enough to have any solid research on effectiveness. The choice for me became clear when Dr. Thrasher looked me in the eye and said, "If you were my brother, I'd tell you to get it out." Enough said!

I had robotic laparoscopic surgery on June 7, 2010. The robotic surgery leads to less blood loss and involves five small incisions, rather than a big one. It allows for faster healing and nerve sparing. I was fortunate at a fine teaching hospital to have this technology available to me.

After two nights in the KU hospital, I recuperated at home for four weeks before returning to the anchor desk at Fox 4 in Kansas City. I will need follow-up visits, and of course future PSA testing to make sure the cancer didn't migrate, but Dr. Thrasher believes it stayed in the prostate.another advantage of catching it early.

Oh, and my post-op pathology showed my Gleason Score was actually a 7, with 10 percent coverage, an "angrier cancer" than we first thought according to Dr. Thrasher. In my mind it validated my decision to get it out!   

 

    
Gabrielle Reilly:  How has this impacted your life?

John Holt:  Great question, and I have to answer it in two ways.

First, it has forced me to put things on hold for four weeks (and some, like my average golf game, a bit more). It forced me to step away from work and activities and heal. Not an easy thing for me to do since I'm a "Type A" guy. I will also deal with the usual and being frank here, not so fun side effects.  Unpleasant yes, but they beat the alternative.

Second, and perhaps most important, cancer has caused me (as it does to so many others) to put things in perspective. I think I'm getting a second chance here, and I hope to use it in positive ways. One way is by sharing my story so other men can learn, and I thank you for that opportunity! 
 

Gabrielle Reilly:  You are known for being as upbeat and lovely off camera, as you are on camera.  What do you think attributes to your positive persona?

John Holt:  Oh my Gabrielle, you are so kind to me. Very good for my ego! J

Honestly, I hope the journalist viewers see on-camera, is the same guy they'd meet off-camera. I try not to change who I am when the red light comes on.

I've always been an upbeat, positive guy. Sure, we all have our down days, but I guess I always try to be glass half-full. I really owe much of that to my parents, and my strong faith. I also try to surround myself with friends who are the same: who love living to the fullest.  

Gabrielle Reilly:  You have such a beautiful empathetic sensibility. Many people seem almost detached from feeling day to day life. Do you feel "life" at your core? 

John Holt:  I absolutely do. I have always looked at each day as a gift, and now that will really be true. I try not to take the day, my privilege to work in a profession I love, or my family and friends for granted.

On that note, I've been so touched by the people who've reached out to me, whether it is a card, a posting on Facebook, an email or a phone call. They're thoughts and prayers have been huge in my recovery. Some of them I know personally, others are viewers who've let me know they care. That's pretty special. 

Bottom line, I try to have as much fun as possible, and not sweat the small stuff, so to speak. Life's too short.  

Gabrielle Reilly:  Now for some of your expert advice to all of the home movie/web cam stars out there... what tip can you offer for working in front of a camera?

John Holt:  I think the best tip I can give to them, and one I often give to broadcast classes I visit, is just be you. That may be harder than it seems, because there's a tendency to want to "put on a broadcast voice" or "pose" for the camera. I find it's best just to pretend like you are having a conversation with one person out there. That's what I do on our newscasts. There may be thousands viewing (we hope), but I just pretend I'm talking over the fence with a neighbor. It goes back to what I mentioned before: hopefully what they see on TV is what they get in real life!

And of course, practice! I used to grab a newspaper and pretend like I was reading the news in front of a mirror, just to work on presentation skills. Or, jot down a few notes and practice the art of speaking "off the cuff." I find that's the most fun part of what we do, when we just tell a story, rather than read the words. Being a good storyteller is an art, and that's really what we do, tell stories!   

Finally, have fun! You can't fake that; viewers can sense it when you do. So have a passion, go for it, and have a good time doing so. Like I said, life is too short!