Hansell preps for another battle against cancer
By Terry Murry on Tuesday, January 2nd, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
ATHENA – Oregon State Sen. Bill Hansell (R-Athena) is preparing to battle prostate cancer one more time. He announced the diagnosis to his friends and followers on Facebook on Dec. 20, 2023. Hansell battled and beat prostate cancer in 2000 and was declared cured five years later.
“Then, a couple of years ago, my prostate specific antigen (PSA) score ticked up ever so slightly,” Hansell said. “I told my primary doc we probably should check this out. He agreed.”
Even though even now, Hansell’s PSA score remains in the normal range, he underwent a biopsy in early October which confirmed cancer had returned. Further testing at Oregon Health and Science University determined the cancer remains contained in the prostate.
“What a wonderful answer to prayer and a gift from the Lord,” he wrote.
Hansell is in the process of turning over his medical records and care to OHSU. He said when that’s done, he will work with the experts there to determine the best course of treatment. He was cleared to travel to Mexico for a family vacation and to spend New Year’s Day cheering on his beloved Oregon Ducks in the Fiesta Bowl. He returns today (Tuesday) to Athena.
The Republican from Athena said he reached out to Democrat Senator Elizabeth Steiner-Hayward, who connected him with oncologists at OHSU and has been extremely supportive as he considered what the future holds.
When Hansell battled cancer the first time, he was one of the first in Oregon to receive proton beam treatment. Since then he has worked to ensure that insurance companies in Oregon will cover that treatment. He said as he prepares for his final term in the Oregon Senate that this second battle can also be used to help others.
“When I announced that I was retiring, I had cancer and I had no idea I had it,” he said.
Now, because of his earlier proton beam therapy, there are two types of treatments that are off the table for him. He cannot have surgery and he cannot undergo more external radiation. Internal radiation is what his oncologists are considering. There are at least two different methods of this type of radiation that involves implanting radioactive material into the prostate. That’s what Hansell said his doctors will determine once his transfer to OHSU is finalized.
“When I had proton beam therapy, we had to fight for insurance coverage,” he said. “Perhaps this time around I will find and be able to fight for keeping options available for all Oregonians.”
In the meantime, Hansell stressed that people who have had cancer must continue with regular checkups for the rest of their lives.
“It’s a tricky disease,” he said. “You need to keep checking that it hasn’t come back.”
According to the PSA score, he is still cancer free. Hansell didn’t like that it was climbing, slowly but surely, and dug deeper. He’s glad he did.
Facebook photo of Margaret and Bill Hansell that appeared with his post about beginning another battle against prostate cancer
