Patient Testimonials

Lloyd Cooper and James Davis

Meet great friends, Lloyd Cooper and James Davis. Lloyd and James share similar paths, allowing them to be each others support for 30 plus years.

One discovers he has prostate cancer in December 2005.


Lloyd Cooper and James Davis
They met at work and both made careers working in the pharmaceutical field.   Both have families, brides of nearly 50 years. Both have retired in the same community in Florida. Both have 30 years+ of medical knowledge, having worked for pharmaceutical companies their entire careers.

In 2005, Lloyd’s search for insurance that would take care of his children led, of course, to a physical exam.  It was during the exam that he learned that he had prostate cancer.

“I started asking friends I know about their experiences,” Lloyd says.  ”I researched everything I could on the internet and I checked with four major clinics I’d worked with in my days as a pharmacist and manager. I wanted to know everything I could – especially my options.”

Lloyd’s urologist referred him to Florida Regional Cancer Center where he met Dr. Jayanth Rao.  ”I was impressed with him right away,” Lloyd says. “I like the way he thinks.”

Lloyd says all of this in a contagious upbeat manner. “You need the right attitude. You need to be able to communicate with medial people involved in your treatment. And you need to be able to communicate with your family,” he says.  ”The connection between what you tell yourself about cancer and how your journey progresses is very strong.”

Lloyd says he didn’t always believe that until he studied the intricacies of the brain and how neurotransmitters work.  ”This gave me a better understanding of the relationship between the mind-body connection with the immune system,” says.

This is a viewpoint he shares with his friend James.

They also share cancer.

James was diagnosed just four months after Lloyd.  ”I was confident in referring him to Florida Regional Cancer Center,” he adds.

When you speak to James, you’re met with that same indomitable spirit and an immediate recognition of how these two became such good friends.

James took the same approach to his diagnosis and went into a research mode, ensuring that he knew as much as he could about every possible option.  Ultimately, James underwent the same radiation treatment as Lloyd, IMRT (Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy).

“I had a choice,” James says.  ”I could watch and wait, I could have had surgery or I could had radiation.”  His research led him to radiation.  ’In my particular case it seemed like the best option.”   While James’s in-depth medical background was a huge asset to him as he faced this journey, he says he was still impressed with the time Dr. Rao and the staff spent with him, patiently answering questions, showing him photographs, explaining the procedure.

James’ advice to other cancer patients is to “ask alots of questions until you feel comfortable with the doctor and when you feel comfortable with the answers, you know you have the right doctor. See your doctor every year and  have your PSA level checked. This can save your life. And it is very important.”

“In all my travels in the pharmaceutical field, I’ve never seen a better group than Florida Regional Cancer Center.  They have one of the best staffs I’ve ever encountered,” he adds.

Lloyd and James both agree that information is power.  Their active lives continue now as they both approach 50th anniversary celebrations.

Lloyd leaves us with an acronym:  ACKNES.   Attitude. Communication. Knowledge. Nutrition. Exercise. Spirituality. “I’m not putting them in any particular order,” says Lloyd. “I am saying that you need them all when you’re living your life, especially if you’re fighting cancer.”

And friends.  You need friends.