Northwest Urology Helps Heal Patients and Save Lives
12/15/2025
“You’ve Just Got to Hang in There” – Gary, Stage 4 Prostate Cancer Survivor
“It’s been a journey,” says Gary, “and I’m on the other side.”
In June 2023, Gary was 55 years old; married for 34 years with two adult children. As an 18-year Golder Ranch Fire Engineer and racing cyclist who pedaled hundreds of miles a week, he was “fit for fire” and used to the aches and “pain caves” that came with his active lifestyle.
But then he realized the ache in his pelvis wasn’t easing up. He assumed it was from over-training or tight hip flexors, but his primary care physician urged him to see urologist, Jules Manger, M.D., who ordered a biopsy.
“So, Dr. Manger called,” Gary remembers, “and he said, ‘Gary, it’s prostate cancer. It’s Stage 4.’ And I asked, ‘How many stages are there? Like, 10?’”
Cancer has four stages. There is no Stage 5. Gary’s cancer – the size of an avocado – had fractured his pubic bone (which explained his pelvic pain). Because Gary was so healthy, and relatively young, this diagnosis came as a shock.
“This felt like my expiration date; like ‘This is the way I’m going to go out,’” Gary says. “I wondered, ‘How much time do I have?’ and ‘Will my wife be OK?’ When you get this kind of diagnosis, all things you think are important just dissolve.”
Another, more unusual level of fear was at work in Gary: When he was 15, his father died of a cerebral hemorrhage, leaving his mother in difficult circumstances – and a few years later, his mother died of breast cancer at the age of 45. Gary then became the legal guardian of his younger siblings.
Thinking of his beloved family as well as himself, Gary began treatment with 10 rounds of radiation and a medication to suppress his testosterone (which caused hot flashes and lots of big emotions. Gary says he has no idea how women in menopause handle this).
In addition, scans revealed additional concern – the cancer had weakened the top of his right femur. To prevent that bone from breaking – which would have been catastrophic during chemotherapy – surgeons inserted a titanium rod from Gary’s hip to his knee.
After recovering from surgery, Gary began four and a half months of chemotherapy.
None of this was fun, but it was worth it – and Gary appreciated the strong support he received from Dr. Manger and Jenna Bumgardner, P.A.-C., MMS.
“Jenna feels like a part of my family, like a sister, now,” he says. “My wife would say the same thing. Jenna brought calm to the chaos with her excellent bedside manner. What a huge heart; what a good person. Dr. Manger told me that this wasn’t the end of my story, and I believed that because I believed in him.”
The team’s hard work paid off. Thanks to aggressive treatment and exceptional medical care, Gary’s journey from diagnosis to remission lasted just over one year. Today, his PSA – or prostate-specific antigen level – is normal, rather than a skyrocketed 115, the level it was at the time of diagnosis. He gets blood drawn every six weeks, and is back to living a normal life, including his beloved career with Golder Ranch Fire District.
“We have a decision to make when we get that diagnosis – whether to be a fighter and push on, or whether to give up and focus on the crummy hand life has dealt us,” he says. “So I coached myself through it, the same way I’d coach my fire team. I’m never going to be grateful for cancer, but I will be forever thankful for the new perspective it gave me. Now, I focus on what truly matters – my family, my friends, making memories, and living each day fully. Not just being present, but being truly present.”
Gary – who will welcome his third grandson next year – attributes his positive outcome to his faith, his family and friends, his co-workers. His church family, and the cycling community. He wants to offer encouragement to everyone he shares his story with – those who are living with cancer and those who are not.
“Cancer or any serious illness can happen to anyone,” he says, “but it does not have to be that there’s an expiration date put on your life. You’ve just got to hang in there. Focus on your family, friends, colleagues, all the amazing people you know, and all the wonderful things possible in the future. You have to look at the positive, because the truth is you’re going to find what you’re looking for, whether it’s positive or negative, I chose to look for the positive.”
Always talk to your doctor if you are concerned about your health – and learn more about urological care at https://www.nwalliedphysicians.com/urology-care.
Great news: Northwest Healthcare has expanded Northwest Urology via a modified acquisition of two clinic locations previously belonging to Arizona Urology Specialists. These locations, along with Northwest Urology at Houghton, will provide a greater number of patients with convenient access to high-quality urological care.
Northwest Urology at Orange Grove
2260 W. Orange Grove Rd.; Tucson, AZ 85741
(520) 742-9777
Northwest Urology at Professional Park
5670 N Professional Park Drive, Suite #100; Tucson, AZ 85704
(520) 618-1010
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