A new direction: prostate cancer pushes survivor to share his story

Retired corporate executive and Vietnam veteran R. Woody Woodcox has embarked on a new direction in his life following the diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Married to his wife, Ethel, for 43 years, the Washington University graduate worked for two of the largest corporates in St. Louis—Monsanto and Ralston Purina; he retired after 33 years with as a sales and marketing manager with Kimberly Clark paper company.

Prostate Cancer Survivor,

R. Woody Woodcox with his 

wife and loving caregiver,

Ethel

 

However, it was his tour of duty in the U.S. Army that took him down an unwanted path. As a customs agent in Vietnam, he was exposed to Agent Orange— one of the herbicides and defoliants used by the U.S. military as part of its herbicidal warfare program during the Vietnam War—that lead to his prostate cancer problems.

“Having prostate cancer gave me a new direction which I had no idea was in me, “ Woodcox says, a proud member of The Empowerment Network, a St. Louis based prostate cancer advocacy organization.

 

 “I started a one man campaign asking every man I came in contact with ‘have you had your prostate checked lately?’ ” 

A love story that is second to none, his wife, Ethel, has been with him every step of the way as they navigate the new direction in their lives together because of prostate cancer.

 

Woodcox will be a guest on The Empowerment Network's Health Radio Show, today, Sunday, March 16, 5 p.m. (CST) on radio station WGNU 920 AM and live online at www.wgnu920am.com.