Texas Pastor Beats Symptom-Free Cancer, Urges Men to Screen

John Wisener felt perfectly healthy when doctors found cancer growing in his prostate. No pain, no blood, no warning signs at all.

The Palestine, Texas resident had been checking in with his urologist regularly over the years. That routine care caught a growth in his prostate in January 2025, when his body still felt completely normal.

"I didn't have any symptoms whatsoever," Wisener said. He chose surgery to remove his prostate gland rather than wait for symptoms to appear and face limited treatment options later.

By May 2025, the surgery was done. Today, Wisener is in good health and using his experience to spread an important message.

The former Huntsville pastor leaned on his faith through the diagnosis and recovery. "Just a little bit of faith carries you a long way," he said.

Why This Inspires

Wisener's story highlights a crucial truth about prostate cancer: it hides well. One in eight men will face this diagnosis in their lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society, yet many ignore screening because they feel fine.

Doctors recommend most men start prostate screening at age 50. Men with a family history should begin earlier, between ages 40 and 45, according to Dr. Edward Dominguez.

The screening process has become simpler and more accepted. Most tests use a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test that providers and patients now embrace more readily than in the past.

Early stage prostate cancer might cause increased urination or blood in urine. Advanced cases can bring back pain and weight loss. But as Wisener proved, cancer can grow silently without any symptoms.

His message to other men goes beyond just medical advice. "It's important that men should take the time to look at themselves and say, 'I'm a person of value, I've got something to give, and I want to share this with other people,'" Wisener said.

Regular screening gave Wisener options, caught his cancer early, and kept him healthy enough to encourage others.