06/10/2026
Mike Cranston has long been dedicated to maintaining his health. The retired letter carrier gets regular exercise by working at a local golf course, eats a plant-based diet, and goes for annual screenings for prostate cancer, a disease that runs in his family. In late 2024, when Mike learned that he had prostate cancer, he was determined to surmount this challenge by learning about his treatment options and choosing proton therapy. At the New York Proton Center,
Mike received lifesaving proton therapy that effectively treated his cancer while avoiding harming nearby vital organs. Today, Mike is cancer free and is back working and playing on the golf course.
“My brother, father, and grandfather all had prostate cancer, so I began going for regular prostate cancer screenings at age 40 because I thought if I began screening early, I would catch it early,” says Mike, who lives with his wife in Stratford, Connecticut. “Thankfully, I caught it early.”
“My advice to men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer is to become knowledgeable about your disease, research all of the available treatment options, and talk to your doctor,” says Mike.
As a result of his experience at the NYPC, Mike plans to volunteer as a peer mentor through NYPC’s Patient Alumni Network. “I look forward to becoming a peer mentor because it gives me the opportunity to help others diagnosed with cancer,” he says. “Going into something like cancer, you’re scared. But it’s okay to be scared. Scared is good because it means you’re alive.”
Read Mike's full story:
In late 2024, when Mike learned that he had prostate cancer, he was determined to surmount this challenge by learning about his treatment options and choosing proton therapy.
