An IE Man's Cancer Journey From Deadly Prognosis To Recovery: 'Seek Peace Of Mind'

LOMA LINDA, CA — When doctors first told Jose Espinoza that his cancer had spread to his bones, the prognosis was bleak. But with a combination of cutting-edge therapy, a dedicated medical team, and personal resolve, his outlook dramatically changed.

Loma Linda University Cancer Center, which shared the story of Espinoza's journey this week, is hoping his story will inspire others to seek innovative treatment options.

Espinosa has always been a person who took pride in staying on top of his health and going in for regular checkups. But in November 2022, he was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer.

Espinosa always led an active life, whether tending his backyard garden, caring for his chickens and dogs, camping with family, dancing at celebrations, or working as an arborist.

But years of enduring the physical demands of arboring led to back pain that he began to dismiss as part of his work. But in March 2022, a routine prostate test revealed concerning results. As the months went on, the back pain that he once wrote off as work-related became excruciating.

“I was only able to move my eyes,” Espinoza told the medical center. “That was the only part of my body I could move. It was a pain I wouldn’t wish on anyone.”

Months later came the cancer diagnosis.

'One Foot In The Grave'

Dr. John Shin, a medical oncologist at Loma Linda, recalls meeting Espinoza.

“He came in a wheelchair with an oxygen tank, and he looked like he had one foot in the grave," Shin said.

Espinoza's cancer was so far along that Shin says he only had one chance for his body to respond to treatment — an aggressive plan of chemotherapy and hormonal therapy.

Despite Shin's fears when he first met Espinoza, his response to the treatment was "remarkable," according to the center.

"Within months, he no longer needed an oxygen tank, traded his wheelchair for walking, gained weight, and most importantly, saw his PSA levels drop," the Cancer Center said.

'A Godsend'

After completing his treatment, those once concerning levels that appeared on his prostate exam (PSA) had dropped to zero. A remarkable feat.

When he rang the celebratory bell at the Cancer Center, he wept.

“I saw family that I hadn’t seen in a long time,” Espinoza said. “They came thinking it was going to be my last birthday, but I was convinced it wasn’t.”

But cancer has a way of adapting. Almost a year later, Espinoza’s PSA levels began to rise once more. The disease was pushing back, becoming resistant to previous therapies.

At that crossroads, Loma Linda’s specialists presented another option to Espinoza: theranostics, a next-generation treatment that blends targeted nuclear medicine with precision delivery. Through intravenous infusion, a radioactive drug homes in on cancer cells, seeking and destroying them while sparing healthy tissue.

“This treatment was a godsend for him,” said Dr. Eric Peters, radiologist at the Loma Linda Cancer Center. “There really wasn’t any other potentially viable therapy available, other than retrying something that hadn’t worked effectively before.”

In just six sessions, Espinoza was ready to ring that bell again.

'Seek Peace Of Mind'

Espinoza says it was more than medicine that lent him the courage and strength to survive.

“For me, a full house during family parties was better than any chemo session,” he said. “That gave me life.”

Espinoza, a man of faith, says his doctors often prayed with him and were gracious to ask about his wife and children.

“That filled my spirit every time,” he said.

Espinoza's cancer has remained under control in recent days. He's been able to spend his days gardening, walking and enjoying all the things he did before he fell ill.

“It’s all about changing your habits, especially your eating habits," he said. "But above all, seek peace of mind. Your spiritual peace is very, very important. That is essential.”

Loma Linda University Health urges that prostate cancer rarely shows symptoms in its first stages. Make an appointment for a screening here "for you or a loved one."

Lea esta historia en español aquí.