Healthy Wealthy & Wise Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD
The Healthy Wealthy and Wise Podcast, with Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD is a monthly podcast that focuses on personal growth and development by exploring a range of topics related to mental and physical health, personal wealth, leadership, and interpersonal relationships. Dr. Choctaw draws on his 75yrs experience and 50 plus years of surgical practice since graduating from Yale University School of Medicine.
Each month, we strive to provide our listeners with mental, physical, and spiritual strength by giving actionable advice, tips, guidance, and information to help them achieve their own personal, professional, and spiritual goals. We consider the health of the mind, body, and spirit paramount as a single unit that provides a cumulative strength greater than the individual parts, to strengthen the whole person.
We appreciate the natural differences in need between men, women, adults, and children. We recognize that the power to be happy is within each of us and under our control. We embrace technology and identify how it is applicable to our daily success. We address the entire human experiences from generation z to the baby boomers.
We’re passionate about the total person, and helping our listeners build and lead a full, well-rounded and happy life. So, tune in every month for an inspiring, encouraging, and informative podcast!
Healthy Wealthy & Wise Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD
Embracing Faith Amidst Prostate Cancer: A Journey with James Catron and Lessons on Healthcare Communication
Embrace the compelling journey of James Catron, a prostate cancer survivor, as he unpacks the profound impact his diagnosis had on his faith. This episode promises to elevate your understanding and perspective on life's trials as James shares how his ordeal led him to walk more by faith, not by sight. Come join us as we delve into his story of perseverance, wisdom, and the empowering revelation that you can only control so much in life, especially when it comes to parenting.
Our conversation with James Catron isn't just about faith and struggles; it’s also about navigating the complex world of healthcare. Hear straight from James how he dug deep into researching his diagnosis and why a second opinion is invaluable. His experience shines a light on the importance of open communication with your medical team, being knowledgeable about your diagnosis, and the power of asking questions when it comes to your health.
As we round off our conversation, we delve into the significance of sharing healthcare experiences. Dr. Choctaw joins James to stress the importance of men sharing their diagnosis and treatment experiences. Hear how James' openness about his journey has not only helped others but also strengthened his faith. Lastly, we discuss the complexities of building muscle mass post-60, and the patience and dietary considerations it requires. This inspiring episode promises an enlightening journey through faith, healthcare, and the power of sharing your story. Tune in and be inspired.
Healthcare Quality Leadership Education Group
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The Host, Dr. William Choctaw; MD, JD, is a healthcare leadership expert, possessing a Medical Doctorate from the Yale University School of Medicine, and a Jurist Doctorate from Western University. Over a span of 50 years practicing medicine, he has served as Chief of Staff, Chief of Surgery, and as a member of the medical executive committee at Citrus Valley Medical Center over a 10 year period. Also, while practicing at Citrus Valley Medical Center, he served as Chief Transformation Officer, (developed a Robust Process Improvement/Lean Six Sigma program). Dr. Choctaw lectures nationally and internationally on medical leadership issues for hospital staffs, executives, and managers. He served as a Physician Surveyor on the Joint Commission. He's the author of 2 books, "Medical Malpractice: A Physician's Guide to the Law" and "Transforming the Patient Experience: A New Paradigm for Hospital and Physician Leadership, published by the Springer Publishing Co. He’s the President of Choctaw Medical Group, Inc., a clinical practice and medical legal consulting firm for medical staff executives, physician leaders, and hospitals.
Welcome to the Healthy Both of your Lies podcast with Dr William T Choctaw, md JD. Our mission is to empower you with the knowledge and equip you with the tools you'll need to thrive in all aspects of your life. Join us now as we discuss everything from nutrition and exercise to money management, personal growth and spiritual growth. Dr Choctaw will provide insightful advice on how to improve your physical, financial and spiritual health, as well as your emotional and mental well-being. So whether you're looking to get the latest in medical news, unlock financial opportunities or cultivate a more positive mindset, we've got you covered. Get ready to become the best version of yourself. So let's get started. Here's Dr William T Choctaw, md JD, with an interview already in progress with Mr James K Tron, a prostate cancer survivor.
Speaker 2:He had 8.30am already and so in the nuclear testing I had to sit for four hours and not do anything. So I was 9 to 12. When I came back at 12. They put me under a machine because the diet got into my blood and I was able to look at the future in terms of what my health would look like in the future. And the two things that stood out to me was first was, if I don't improve my posture, I have a little mild curve in my back, which is something I'm working on. And number two, I may have arthritis in both knees later on and that's probably doing some extensive running on the court.
Speaker 2:The thing like that is a part-time efficient, but other than that they weren't able to just shine anything else. So I was able to relate that and that happened actually a week before I had the actual removal of the prostate. So at first I kind of did beat myself up regarding the prostate side up, but then, after I went through the genetic testing and everything else, I'm like how can I beat myself up? I had no control over that Exactly. The only thing I can control is what I put in my mouth, what I drink, how much rest I get and what else I do other than that. Other than that, you're right, dr. I did not control the genetics that's in my family. That's something I have no control over.
Speaker 3:One of the things that we try to also tell our patients is to control the control, votes, correct that things that you just mentioned. There are things that you do have to control over, but we don't worry about those things. We tend to worry about those things that we can't control. But there are things like other people you know, yeah, what they do and say we have no control over them, even our children. We may think as parents, we have control, but we really don't always like to say it's not important to be able to control your children, but you want to have influence over you. Exactly, as long as you have influence, then you can at least have a dialogue or communication. But I've learned I think I've worked as a total total that the control is an illusion that we parents tell ourselves. But I can't decide ourselves. All we need to do is just go back and ask ourselves how much control did mom and dad really have us? Do Not as much? It's as if we can figure it out.
Speaker 2:Yes, sir, I agree with that. Yes, you asked me in terms of how I had me, and we told my sons that I had it and that now is genetically linked with me, which means they have to get themselves tested. Okay, so that's the first thing I told them and that you know get yourself tested. Obviously, I can help you when it comes to that. So they all knew right away, as soon as I was diagnosed with it, that they have to now go get tested and monitor themselves. I didn't have that luxury because my dad passed away when I was 21 years old oh, I just turned 21. And at the time he I don't even think his physician even checked to see if he had prostate, because he had other issues that was going on with him. So that's why I didn't. I wouldn't have known Unless he lived longer whether he had prostate problems or not.
Speaker 3:So how has this affected you spiritually?
Speaker 2:This, may, this journey believe it or not, dr Tachka has made me stronger. Good, my walk with Christ has always been strong, but for some reason I have grown stronger and stronger and stronger, I can tell you. When I first got diagnosed, I called my fraternity brothers and I told them you know, you can put this out right away that this is what I'm going through. I need their prayers. This is what I've been diagnosed with and I wouldn't share if anyone would contact me, which they did.
Speaker 2:And then I was able to tell my Sunday school class and pray for me right away about everything that was taking place, and I even told the pastor of my church and I shared with as many men as possible that this is what's going on with me. Will you please pray for me as I make this journey, that I decided to go, that God has put me in and he's put me in there for a reason, and I'm willing to share and I'm hoping to go with everybody. So this made me open up more to my faith and walk more by faith and not by sight, but also realize that God gave me what grace, because it's unbearative favor, and so he gave me favor. Through all of this I was able to pick the right urologist and everything. They just end up being what I felt a really good spiritual journey for me, both physically and mentally.
Speaker 3:When your urologist was explaining to you what they had to do in the procedure and that sort of thing? Were they clear in the information they gave you or?
Speaker 2:Yes, I'll tell you so. When I first got tested it was 35 years old, 25 years ago, and at that time the urologist was at USC I'll never forget. She's since has gone on to Stanford, but she doesn't work and probably not excited anymore. She does other things I sent her a copy of. I had her look at it and she called me and I said could you take a look at this? I was first diagnosed with prostate cancer. I was, since I talked about the Gleason school I always talked about. She broke it all down to me, the five different areas that they found it and that meant and I asked her to recommend urologist for me. That's when she was able to recommend urologist. I ended up with it. So I did my homework back then. Dr Tachtow, look at the undergrad degree where you went to school, where you went to medical school and that type of thing. So I did my research. She connected me with him, but also what I like about him was he sent all my reports to her and temper him a loop Good.
Speaker 3:Good, basically two different urologists who were in agreement. That's right. One of the things I used to always tell my patients when I was actually practicing general surgery they would be like I believe in second opinion. Yes, it's time to be in eye and recommend the procedure, be it a gallbladder surgery or whatever it was. That you know, obviously. You know I am so confident in my diagnosis that I want you to go out and validated, should you choose to Sure, you know there's certainly nothing wrong with that and I'm told that if you ever see a physician and he or she tries to discourage you from getting a second opinion, definitely get a second opinion.
Speaker 2:That's why I reached out to her, dr Tachtow, because she had been studying this, in particular, for years. She worked in conjunction with a group in LA and that's all they did was do prostate screening on African American men, and so because by her basically being an expert in that field, I took her advice to heart and I knew she was in. She gave me a list of urologists, but, in particular, this guy was a director of the urology department and his background was extensive in different areas regarding urology, and that's what kind of stuck out with me and that's why I reached out to him and said you know what this is, a guy I want to diagnose and be with me and go through this journey with me. And so you mentioned when he first told me. Well, so, when we first went through the journey from December of 2021 to actually, I saw, in January of 2022 to having the actual removal, he sat down with me and a young urologist that had just finished med school and she's the one that read the report to me and explained to me why they felt it was time to move on doing something regarding prostate. They explained to me, because of like, oh, all the different areas, that they got the different things they can do. They can do at that time. Obviously, radiation they could put seeds in me. I mean, there's all the different areas that they could use in terms of doing that, but they never mentioned removal. And so I listened to all the other ones, dr Tachel, but I had the back of my mind I was already prepared that I was going to do removal if I got to that point.
Speaker 2:And I would tell you something funny prior to that, when they I had two biopsies. The first biopsies was December of 2020, then, I'm sorry, november of 2021, I took out 13 strands of tissues. Yes, so they normally take 11 to 13. Because when she, when I went through the process, looking on the outside of it, my prostate was normal, but she said that doesn't mean anything, we need to go in and see. I was like, oh, they were, so they took the strands out. That's when they diagnosed with me in December. After that, all the way up until February, they took, I think, almost one, because he saw the elevation of my PSA, because they've been monitoring every month and they knew something was going on. And then I was like we used to score, which at time was five point five, that elevator.
Speaker 2:A little bit after they took out these strands of almost 20 strands of tissue and they saw 16 of them were in one area that was dark and he couldn't really see that. Once they were able to really go in and diagnose that, that's when he called and said I need to talk to you right away. And that's when, when he told me that something came over me saying well, james, it gets to the point where you may have to make a decision which way you're going to go operate on it. And I say well, we'll do the report while we listen to everything that he has to say Put in the back of my line I will pay for the business. And that's what I did. So I kind of had a games land already ready when he brought me in and said I need to talk to you because this is pretty urgent.
Speaker 3:So I kind of knew Well, you know, one of the things that impresses me is I hear you talk about you know details specifically as far as I would use that to recommend to all, all patients of potential you know. It's much about what I'm going through, as you're paying for all with that and ask questions. Physicians have a duty to and or you are right to review. That's right. Have a novel. You have to be knowledgeable about things and if the position or change not explaining in words of new understand I've been certain to get opinions from a second channel is not involved with that, nothing disrespectful about that.
Speaker 2:I have a book as thick as I have all things, if not a journal. I can have every single sheet of paper from the diagnosis, from day one, to not talk a day of everything that I've been through and I can go back as reference if I'm not sure about something and just go through it and just look at it so I get a better understanding. And that's the pharmaceutical training in me. So, having gone through that type of training, it kind of prepared me for something like this, not realizing I'll be going through this at this point in my life. But that's why I made sure I wanted to stay as detailed as possible, because nobody understands my body better than I do Absolutely, and I want to make sure that I understand everything before it happens.
Speaker 2:And I must say he took the time with me. He saw how serious I was about my body, about taking care of my body. But most importantly, I think we develop a pretty good relationship with kids. We kind of love of shooting and it just made all the difference in the world. I think that was one of the spacious. You enjoyed seeing it. So I think that makes all the. You know, and I knew it. I didn't know what would happen post removal. Obviously, I can't predict that, but I knew that let's prepare it as I was going in, that I will make sure that I follow all the instructions and do what I'm supposed to do and stay obedient.
Speaker 3:Well, you touched on another point that we've pre-credited me, because that everything is a relationship and the doctor-patient relationship is important on both sides. You have four. Both sides you respect mutual trust, good communication and you get that communication and you get that trust and respect, and that's mutually beneficial. Well, what would you recommend, Say, say in conclusion, to you know, individuals listening to your podcast or listening to your experience? What would you recommend to the men and the families?
Speaker 2:I would recommend that. And then, obviously, every email. You know it doesn't matter what ethnicity you are, but if you're African American male and you have 35 or over, I would recommend you get yourself checked just to see where you are at health wise. That's the first thing, okay, and that's every male, I don't care what ethnicity you are. Find your gene or your history, do as much research as possible and then share those results with your family.
Speaker 2:My wife knew everything that was going on with me from day one, and it's just important to do that because you just never know. You never know. I didn't know that I was going to be diagnosed at 68 and then have my prostate removed at 60. I had no idea. Right, it happened and I was prepared and, yes, I was a little shocked. But I'd recommend anyone do that at that age. Learn as much as possible and if you don't understand, then ask someone that can explain it to you and ask as many questions as possible. One of the things that my urologist can't say is that I asked every time I went in there. He knew I was going to ask at least a minimum of five questions. I had questions ready because I wanted to know if this happened. That didn't happen, it wasn't the alternative there. So he was always prepared anyway, because he was just open like that. But I wanted to make sure I was prepared too, because this is my body retraction problem.
Speaker 3:And one of the things I recommend to patients a lot of times when they go in. Many times patients are very nervous. I don't say worries, but they get there, they're really nervous. So write down the questions before they go. Sure, A lot of times you can't think or you may not think and you're nervous and you just want to get out of there. But write down four or five questions, whatever they are, or take some line with you who has the list, so that your questions are addressed.
Speaker 2:I agree. I agree with you. The only time I got nervous, dr Tuck told me when he told me I needed to talk to him after the last biopsy. But prior to that I was fine. But when he told me that my gut feeling told me I had to make a decision, honestly. So that was the only time that I think I was anxious, when I went to go see him and we almost sat down and talked, but God was able to put me at peace because he told me you're making the right decision, james, this is what you should do, and that's exactly what I did, and I have been smiling ever since. I'm smiling prior to the procedure, during the procedure and after the procedure and after the procedure.
Speaker 3:Well, one of the things we learned that health care is not a strata marathon. Yeah, it is, it really is, and we get older. We certainly learned that. If anything else you want to share with us, we don't want to take a bit more of your very precious time, but any last thing, words you want to leave with us, the biggest thing, dr Chaktao, is.
Speaker 2:As men, we have a tendency not to talk and not to share. The main thing I will say If you are diagnosed with anything, you should share it. Don't hold it, don't keep it to yourselves. If you only share it with your family and close friends, that's fine. But share information, because shared information could help someone and save some going. I'll just share something briefly.
Speaker 2:A co-worker of mine was and I didn't even notice that we would talk here at a sort of co-worker, but we worked together back in the 80s. We were running to each other in Walmart. They say hi, okay, well, I didn't know it at the time, but he was concerned about his prostate and he's four or five years older than me and I sent him over to where I went and also to the doctor I went to, and he's been happy ever since and he appreciates me doing that. But in turn I'll be helping him that way. Then one of our church members sent me to one of his former one of his co-workers who actually went to the procedure six months before I did. Yes, and he's been guiding me since the procedure and post procedure. So that's why, as men, we have to open up and really share information like that, because it doesn't do any good to keep that to yourself and that could you be surprised who you did help or who has been through it.
Speaker 2:I found out going through all of this and guys I didn't know went through it, went through the same thing I did and I never would have known it had I not shared it with them. But they felt comfortable enough. I told them what I went through to share, what they went through. That's what I would say. As men, we have to learn out to share and that whole disinformation is too valuable and too important because you know better than I do. This is a second cause of death and Armpit of the first is heart disease, seconds, prostate cancer, and we have to be able to share and feel comfortable sharing, and the more people I've shared it with, the more better off our shell. So that's what I would tell me any nail. Whether they're not any atlasty, it doesn't matter, I shared.
Speaker 3:I completely agree with that and you're exactly right. But one of the things that and maybe it was the way we grew up or whatever we're where we just thought that being a man meant that we just sort of kept all that to ourselves. But the reality is you need else and partner and a friend. Yeah, just, you know and Bullish that. You know pre and during and post and certain age. They, the folks, can't read our minds and so you do have to share the song one and that's always helpful.
Speaker 2:And as you go through this, well, prior to that, one of my classmates says you just don't look, you look stressed. And then one of you know my wife and I part of marriage ministry. One of them, one of the Marriage ministry couple, said James, you don't look the same. And when I sit down in church on Sunday, I just sat there and I listened to the choir and it was so dynamic listening to and it touched me and I said you know what they might be right? And I went home and I prayed on and said God, what should I do?
Speaker 3:We all need to listen to our bodies because the body will tell you.
Speaker 2:My body told me because I have, you know, I've lost 10 pounds Okay and I'm trying not trying everything to get it back. I want to build muscle back because I know I'm honest, I can't. I can't gain a pound, dr Topped. I mean I gained a couple pounds. I'm at 175. I've never I haven't been 175 since my senior high school. I will. I've never. I mean it. Just I got to get back to at least one.
Speaker 3:Well, you know, it's more difficult as we get older, and the reason is that as we get older, our weight is, is is muscle and fat. You know, you know earlier it's, it's, it's, I'm sorry, I mean it's muscle and fat.
Speaker 3:But you know, we were younger as we get older, we have less muscle, that's correct, you know, and so you know you can, you can gain some of the fat, but even some of that will be less, but a lot of it is because, and particularly with the surgery that you've had, that's taken away some of your muscle mass. Yes, it's long in a bill back up, and Post-60 is more difficult to build it up than pre-60. You know I've mixed a lot of sense. Yeah, so so, but, but just be patient with it. You know, just eat properly and just continue to do what you've been doing, but but it takes longer to build that muscle mass than say, 20 years ago or 10 years ago. I agree. But again, I want to thank you for taking your very valuable time and sharing your your, your experiences on a broad host of things, particularly your healthcare, and we will certainly have you back in the future to share some more information with us.
Speaker 3:Anytime by this time we're gonna let you go and you have a blessed day.
Speaker 2:I do you do the same to Dr Tachtel. Thank you so much for taking the time out of your schedule to spend time with me just to find out how my journey has been in terms of this. I call it a journey and but I really appreciate you doing this so that it makes all the world in the difference.
Speaker 3:So you're very welcome and, as we always like to say, be the change you want to see in the world. Yes, sir, thank you.
Speaker 1:Thanks for listening to the healthy, wealthy and wise podcast with Dr William Chokta, md JD. We hope you enjoyed this episode. In fact, if you found this episode helpful, you can support and subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast platform with the keywords Dr William Chokta, and you'll find it very quickly. Also, subscribing helps ensure that you don't miss any future episodes and then takes the next step of action and share it with your family, friends and or your co-workers. They'll be glad you did so. Until the next time, live your best possible life the best possible way. You've been listening to the healthy, wealthy and wise podcast with dr William Chokta, md JD.
