By Charles Romans
Carter County Times
On September 30, 2016, Ron Arnett received some devastating news. Arnett said that he was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer, and that his urologist told him that he was in ‘really bad shape’.
“My PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) was 419.6 (anything over 4.0 being considered high), so I was off the charts,” Arnett said. “The cancer had metastasized throughout my body, but in my bones only. And now, in the ninth year, it’s still in my bones only.”
Arnett said that by the cancer being in his bones only, and not in any soft tissue, he still had a chance to fight it.
He immediately started treatment with his urologist in Ashland, Justin Dixon, whom he credits with giving him phenomenal care.
“He started me on some medicines to try and get my PSA down. I give him some credit,” Arnett said. “But I also have about 100,000 people praying for me every day. And between the medicine and God, my PSA went back to 0.0 – which is impossible.”
But possible or not, Arnett said, that is exactly what happened.
The miracle he experienced is no surprise to him. He said that he has always been a religious man who was supported by his faith, and he is certain God has taken care of him. He said that once he received the diagnosis, he was prepared for a two-year life expectancy if that was how it worked out. But after such a favorable initial response he changed his expectations.
“I told my doctor I was planning on another twenty years, and we’d go from there,” Arnett said. “And he told me he hoped I was closer to being right than he was.”
“So, here we are in year nine,” Arnett said with an optimism buoyed by his faith and the faith of those who support and pray for him.
“I have been to MD Anderson in Houston, Texas, I have been to the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center, and I’m still seeing Doctor Dixson in Ashland,” Arnett continued. “And I have gotten some of the best medical care available anywhere in the world. And everywhere I have been, I’ve been treated just right.”
Arnett said that he has been doing well and has not had a treatment since the spring of 2024.
“I tell people I am not cancer free, but treatment free,” he said. “My cancer is still present in my pelvis, and that’s the one place that it has never cleared up. The rest of my body did get clear for a couple of years,” he continued. “As of last week, my most recent scans, I still have no soft tissue involvement which is just a miracle.”
He is still going to the University of Kentucky, he said, and will be returning in December to make plans for possible treatments into the future.
“During the time that I have been dealing with cancer, because of the efforts of the American Cancer Society, all the folks who help to raise money, and all the corporations that donate to cancer research, there have been new treatments available about every year,” Arnett said. “When I finish one, there is another one we can try.”
Arnett said that without the efforts of dedicated individuals who raise money and the American Cancer Society, he would not have had the opportunities for treatment that he has been able to make use of. So, he encourages everyone to take part in raising funds for cancer research. In Carter County, 2025 will mark thirty years of fundraising to fight cancer, Arnett said.
Arnett said that he and his wife are involved with Relay for Life and their fundraising efforts. Teams across Carter County compete to raise the most money for cancer research in honor of both those fighting cancer and those who unfortunately have passed. The organization typically does survivor walks to honor those battling cancers of all types, and this year the organization will also have a Survivor Dinner at Kentucky Christian University on Saturday, October 19, 2024.
“But anyone can donate anytime,” Arnett said. “Our committee puts together sponsorship booklets, and of lot of businesses and professional people buy those.”
Arnett said anyone wanting to donate to support cancer research can go online at relayforlife.org/carterky.
Contact the writer at charles@cartercountytimes.com
