The Longest Climb: Cycling Through Prostate Cancer

During our conversation for the Man Up to Cancer Podcast, Andrés Garrido took a deep breath and said this:

“The only thing you have in life is affection.”

From more than 5,000 miles away, I felt an instant connection to this man I'd never met. I'm so proud to share that moment with you.

When Andrés was diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer at age 51, he approached it the way he had approached some of the hardest climbs of his life.

A lifelong cyclist from Chile who has spent decades climbing the Andes Mountains, Andrés was determined to fight, endure, and keep moving upward.

But cancer challenged far more than his physical strength. Surgery, radiation and hormone therapy shook his sense of control, sexuality and identity as a man.

In this deeply intimate conversation, Andrés speaks like a warrior poet. He shares openly about depression and shame, rebuilding intimacy with his wife of 37 years, and discovering how desperately men need meaningful friendships with other men. He also takes us inside Chilean culture, where prostate cancer, sexual side effects and male vulnerability can still be surrounded by stigma and silence.

Cycling runs through Andrés' story. When his doctor warned that treatment-related muscle loss might keep him from crossing the Andes again, Andrés promised to send him a photograph from his bike when he made it across. He did.

Eleven years after diagnosis, Andrés no longer speaks of cancer simply as an enemy. He describes it as an uninvited guest that taught him unforgettable lessons.

“The only thing you have in life is affection.”

This is a conversation about prostate cancer, masculinity, marriage, friendship and survival — and about the walls that can come down when two men give each other permission to be vulnerable. It is one of the most intimate conversations we've had on the Man Up to Cancer podcast.

In this episode, Andrés and I talk about:

• Facing aggressive, high-grade prostate cancer with no symptoms or family history
• Losing control of the life he thought he had planned
• Shame, depression, vulnerability and rebuilding intimacy after treatment
• Andrés’ 37-year marriage and finding a new chapter together
• Prostate cancer, masculinity and stigma in Chile
• Andrés’ vision for supporting patients in rural Patagonia

SPONSOR SHOUT OUT!

I want to thank my sponsor for this episode, Pfizer.

This Is Living with Cancer™ is a free online resource developed by Pfizer Oncology for all people​ living with cancer, regardless of age, income, race, location, cancer type, or stage of disease. This​ comprehensive program is available to anyone in the US, whether they’re on a Pfizer​ treatment or not, with a growing focus on those facing challenges accessing care.

Visit ThisIsLivingWithCancer.com to learn more.

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All views are my own, and the opinions expressed in this show do not necessarily reflect the views or endorsements of our sponsors.