AUSTIN, Texas — At age 43, Chris Hartley was diagnosed with prostate cancer, unusual for someone his age.
- Runner diagnosed with prostate cancer
- Ran last year’s Austin Marathon days before surgery
- Will run this year’s marathon
“I was healthy, I was an avid runner,” Hartley said. “No symptoms whatsoever, had no history of cancer in my family. The only way we found it was I went in for testosterone therapy consultation.”
Test results showing a high PSA level ultimately led to his diagnosis.
“[I was] very emotional when first diagnosed,” Hartley said. “You’re faced with your own mortality.”
After the initial shock, Hartley began to formulate a treatment plan.
“My doctor thought it was best to have surgery ASAP,” Hartley said. “He recommended January.”
There was just one problem. Hartley was supposed to run the Austin Marathon in February 2018.
“The marathon was the third or fourth thought that popped into my head,” Hartley said. “Looking back it seems a little crazy now.”
So against the advice of his doctors, Hartley ran the Austin Marathon, and finished. Three days later he had surgery. One year later and just months after what he hopes will be his final round of radiation, Hartley is running again.
“It’s my hometown course,” Hartley said. “I love it.”
Hartley plans to run Sunday’s Austin Marathon, marking the ninth straight year he’s run the race. He hopes his story will encourage other men to get checked for prostate cancer and know their PSA levels.