A Man at Peace |
|
Editor’s Update: On May 16, 2011, Drayton McLane sold the Houston Astros for $680 million, and announced his commitment to continue to raise awareness of cancer prevention and cancer rehabilitation.
Drayton McClane, who is entering his 19th and possibly final season as owner of the Houston Astros, is a man at peace. His purchase of the Astros in July 2002 changed his life in enumerable ways, just as his diagnosis of cancer in July of that same year did.
Drayton McLane, A Cancer Survivor In The News on CancerForward.org
Lisa Malosky caught up with Drayton just before the start of Astros’ 2011 spring training.
LM: How did you discover you had cancer and how were you ultimately diagnosed?
DM: Since the early 1970’s, I had been going every year to the Cooper Institute in Dallas, Texas to see Dr. Ken Cooper. For 27 straight years, on the first of June, I went in for my annual physical. I had never had a problem of any kind related to my health but on June 1, 2002, my PSA level, which had always been 1 or 2, was a 3 – 4. Dr. Cooper wasn’t alarmed and told me he didn’t think those numbers indicated prostate cancer, but he recommended I go to a urologist. So, I went to see Dr. Scott Coffield who did a biopsy. He called me four days later and said, “Drayton, I hate to tell you this, but you have a malignancy.” I was shocked. I had never been sick a day in my life. Dr. Coffield told me I needed to go back to see him. I hung up the phone and was furious. I said, “Why me? This is unfair!” The outrage lasted about five minutes and then I called him back with two questions. I asked, “What are the chances you’ve gotten mine mixed up with someone else?” and he answered, “I knew you would ask me that and the answer is zero.”
Then, I asked, “Well, what’s the next step?” Scott told me to come into the office so we could talk about it. I did and found out prostate cancer is one of the slowest developing cancers and I did not have to make an instant decision. The gold standard is to have surgery but radiation was an option. I was told there were dangers to waiting and watching – the cancer could be spreading to other parts of my body.
I called Dr. Ken Cooper back and he told me the number one authority on prostate cancer in the world is Dr. Chris Logothetis, and he’s in Houston, Texas. So, my wife Elizabeth and I went to see him. He is the kindest, most thoughtful person in the world. He looked at the x-rays and suggested I have surgery. He said having the surgery done at Scott and White Hospital in Temple, where I live, would be just as good as having it done in Houston. And it was obviously easier for me to have the option of staying home. So, that’s what I did. I checked into the hospital Tuesday, had the surgery and checked out early Saturday morning. I was told I would need to stay home from work for nearly a week, but I was back at work Tuesday morning and stayed for a few hours. The recovery has been very successful with no side effects.
LM: Do you have a family history of cancer?
DM: Yes. My father had prostate surgery when he was 64 years old and my grandfather ultimately passed away from prostate cancer when he was 82.
LM: How did your diagnosis affect your work and family life?
DM: It really didn’t affect my work or family life in any significant way. I was away from the office for a few days and it honestly affected my family life in positive ways. Everyone was very supportive. I have two grown sons and they were extremely supportive and my wife Elizabeth was truly outstanding. She made life so much easier.
LM: What helped you emotionally and physically face your diagnosis and treatment?
DM: My Christian faith. I grew up in Cameron Texas, a small town of about 5,000. I had two of the finest Christian parents anyone has ever had, and they helped me develop my faith. It was my faith that helped me zip right through. I attend First Baptist Church in Temple.
LM: What did you learn from your cancer experience?
DM: One of the most important things is to have an annual checkup after you turn 40 years old. You should also have your PSA taken at that time. One of the other things that helped me recover is the fact that I’ve been exercising most of my life. After reading Ken Cooper’s breakthrough book about aerobics in the 1960’s, I started jogging in 1968 and still do. I’m 74 years old and run between three and five miles a few times a week. I have a low pulse rate and the doctors told me I recovered as well as I did because I am in excellent physical shape.
LM: Did your experience make you more aware of your diet?
DM: Eating a healthy diet has always been important to me. I do like hamburgers and chocolate, but I try to control what I eat. I eat a balanced diet and have maintained the same weight for 50 years.
LM: Do you have advice to offer other cancer survivors?
DM: First and most importantly, get an annual physical check-up. Next, stay in good physical shape and control your weight. Having a strong spiritual base is also critical. I recommend meditation, so you can better understand yourself and your spiritual faith. And speaking of faith, have faith in your physicians and surgeons. Finally, share your story with others. I have met a lot of people who had prostate surgery, and hearing their stories and sharing my own has been very important to my recovery. I also made a point of sharing the entire process with my family, everyone knew what was happening at every stage, and that was a tremendous help as well.
LM: After 35 years of selling wholesale groceries, you bought the Astros in July of 2002. I understand you are actively looking to sell the team because you’re ready for a new stage. Is that right?
DM: “Doing something the whole community gets involved in has been thrilling,” says McClane with a smile, “In business, it’s just you and your family. In sports, everyone gets excited, especially about spring baseball.”
I’ll miss it but you go through various stages in your life. You enjoyed high school and your friends then, but you change and move on. A person always needs to look ahead and I am looking ahead to an even more spiritual life with my wife Elizabeth. We are hoping to devote more of our time to philanthropy and helping others.