JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas (Oct. 1, 2014) -- A Mission and Installation Contracting Command Soldier's life spiraled out of control when doctors diagnosed him with cancer.
"It was supposed to be just a routine checkup," said Sgt. Maj. Clifford Lovejoy, the MICC Human Resources sergeant major. "Then the next thing they are telling me is that I have cancer. I was totally devastated. At that point in time everything in my mind just went blank."
Having no family in the San Antonio area, the only thing Lovejoy could think of at that moment was to call his supervisor.
"I was the first phone call after his appointment," said Maria Allen, director of Human Resources for the MICC. "The news really just struck me hard. I was in shock and upset. I was also very concerned about his well-being; because he has no family here, I was worried about him going home and being alone after receiving the news."
Doctors at San Antonio Military Medical Center diagnosed Lovejoy with prostate cancer in December 2013.
According to Dr. (Col.) Michael Dullea, chief of the Radiation Oncology Clinic at SAMMC, prostate cancer is the leading cancer in men today. Most patients treated at the center are over age 60, but they have treated patients as young as their early 40s.
Fortunately, Dr. (Maj.) George Kallingal, a urologic oncologist at SAMMC, said prostate cancer is very treatable with early detection. Doctors can expect cure rates as high as 90 percent.
"Men who are between the ages of 55 to 70 should discuss with an urologist to see if they would benefit from screening," Kallingal said. "Also those younger than the age of 55 who have certain risk factors, like a family history of prostate cancer, should consider having themselves checked by a doctor."
However, even after being armed with all of the medical information about the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer, Lovejoy said he left his appointment feeling alone, overwhelmed and wanting to find answers to his questions.
"At the end of the day, no matter how well you've served your country, you deserve the opportunity to take care of your family," Lovejoy said. "So I made some promises to myself if can get through this I would be a better father, son and Soldier."
To figure out how he was going to deal with his diagnosis, Lovejoy felt he needed to find others like him who have been in a similar situation; however, when he reached out to find such counsel, he found a void.
"After his appointments he would come to my office just to have a safe place to talk," Allen said. "You could see it in his face, what he needed was to talk with individuals who had or were going through the same thing. That was when we realized there were no such groups at SAMMC. He was instrumental in establishing the support group at SAMMC."
To fill the void, Lovejoy approached SAMMC about developing an awareness tool that will help those who have received a diagnosis of prostate cancer not to feel alone, to bring awareness to the subject, and to inform military patients and their families. Together they produced a three-minute video that is shown in the medical facility and is online.
Along with the video, he next created a support group at SAMMC for those looking for answers and to share their stories with each other. Lovejoy said he came up with the idea to set up a support group because other than doctors, he felt he didn't have anyone to talk to who had or was going through prostate cancer. He said he felt that a strong support group could help others like him deal with the diagnosis of cancer.
Along with the video and the support group, there are resources like doctors, nurses and case managers to help maintain care for patients undergoing treatment for cancer.
"It was a very difficult time in my life, but the medical personnel surrounded me and put their arms around me," Lovejoy said. "So, I am a prostate cancer survivor today because of the team effort of this facility and its personnel."
In September, Lovejoy transferred to the Warrior Care and Transition Program to ensure continued access to healthcare services that support healing and rehabilitation while recovering at the Warrior Transition Battalion here. He will also serve as a mentor for cancer warriors and facilitate the standing up of the prostate cancer support group at SAMMC.
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