I started swimming as a kid and became a scholarship athlete. Last summer, I completed the Triple Crown of open water swims. I’m Bill Shipp, a resident of Mitchellville, and I work as a lawyer.
When I was 50, I went for my annual check-up and my PSA level was elevated. We repeated the test and it came in under 4.0, so I thought I was fine since that’s usually considered the standard cutoff. Still, my doctor suggested I see a specialist, so I went to a local urologist. We decided to do a biopsy, and that confirmed the diagnosis.
I then went to Johns Hopkins for a second opinion about managing my prostate cancer. There are many treatment options for prostate cancer, and I went there because of their expertise. They ultimately recommended a robotic prostatectomy as a definitive treatment. That’s a minimally invasive surgery where the prostate is removed through small incisions. It’s a procedure they perform frequently and have extensive experience with.
It all felt surreal because it was cancer, and that word hits you hard. At the same time, it was reassuring knowing they handle cases like mine all the time. On surgery day, they checked me in, introduced me to the anesthesiologist, and the nurse set up my IV. Eventually they wheeled me into the operating room. They talked to me briefly, and then I don’t remember anything. I woke up and it was done. That’s basically how it goes.
Recovery from a radical prostatectomy happens in two phases. The first is healing from the surgery itself—incisions, anesthesia, and the general physical impact—which usually takes a few weeks. The second phase is functional recovery, which doctors work to optimize with specialized techniques. Many advances that help improve these outcomes were developed there, and they focus on helping patients recover as quickly as possible.
When I got home, I started walking right away. Each day I felt a little stronger and a little more healed. I was back in the pool within four weeks. I feel very fortunate, both because of the surgical technique and because of the results. I didn’t need follow-up radiation or chemotherapy, which was incredible news.
Today I’m doing great and never really skipped a beat in my law practice. I don’t have limitations in my daily life, and I’m still competing as a swimmer. I’ve even started collecting the names of friends who are dealing with cancer, and during my swims I repeat a quiet mantra for them, matching it to my stroke and breathing: “I see you whole, healthy, and healed.” When you’re swimming, it’s quiet and it’s just you, your heartbeat, your breath, and your rhythm. I believe putting positive energy out into the world helps everyone.
