David Slagle beat aggressive bladder cancer and setbacks but is grateful to be preaching again By Eric Thomas Traveling the highway of life can bring about a few potholes and roadblocks along the way. Many of us have gotten good at dodging them. One Jacksonville man is looking at his in the rearview mirror. In August 2023, David Slagle was going about a regular day when after using the bathroom he decided to go to Prompt Care. “I was passing large amounts of blood in my urine,” Slagle shared. “They sent me to Jacksonville Memorial Hospital for a CT scan.” After that scan he followed up with his primary doctor who wasn’t as concerned as Slagle and his wife but, out of precaution, he was referred to a urologist. Initially it was thought to be an infection. After performing a scope, Slagle was diagnosed with bladder cancer. “I was admitted to Springfield Memorial Hospital for a bladder biopsy,” he continued. “This resulted in an overnight stay and being discharged with a catheter.” After the biopsy Slagle was referred to Dr. Gregory Mauer at Springfield Clinic. “My family and I met with him at the in the December 2023,” said Slagle. “There was an immediate connection.” Slagle was diagnosed with a high-grade form of muscle invasive bladder cancer. His doctor explained to him that he could either opt to do nothing, which would result in multiple hospital visits for catheterization of the area. This would give him a potential lifespan of 12 to 15 months. The other option would be surgery that would result in having his bladder/prostate removed and an urostomy which drains his kidneys into a pouch outside of his body. Bladder cancer would return if left untreated. At this point Slagle and his family needed to decide whether to undergo preoperative chemotherapy. After meeting with the oncologist and hearing what potential side effects could be, the decision was made not to have the chemo. “I am already partially deaf in one ear and completely deaf in the other,” he remarked. “One of the potential side effects would be losing my hearing altogether.” In February of this year Slagle was admitted to the hospital for surgery. The surgery lasted four hours and, according to Dr. Mauer, it was a complete success. Initially he was only to be in the hospital for 5-7 days, but he was there for 26 days. “I had a heart attack 3 days after surgery. My heart completely stopped beating and I coded,” concluded Slagle. “After the medical team revived me, I was transferred to ICU where I spent 2 weeks.” After being discharged Slagle spent a few days in the Rehabilitation Center in White Hall. He had lost major weight and muscle leaving him in a weaken state. Since returning home his wife, son-in-law, daughter and granddaughter have helped him with his recovery. This has definitely been a learning process in dealing with the urostomy bag. His wife and son-in-law have been very patient and good about changing the bag. Often undergoing major surgery like this can diminish the quality of life a person has. The added heart attack has diminished his strength, but he is thankful for each day and, with the help of others, is getting stronger as time goes on. In closing Slagle wants everyone to know a valuable lesson he learned during all of this. “I stopped smoking 53 years ago but that nicotine from that smoking caused my bladder cancer according to the doctors,” he remarked. “The nicotine stayed in my bladder all these years and turned into cancer.” He is currently cancer free and does not expect any follow-ups other than regular doctor visits. His daughter, Tracy Tavender, found great strength and comfort in the phrases “in every season I will praise Him” and “But God” during this whole time. Slagle added that God has walked beside his entire family and the medical teams during this past year. “I am very blessed to know the Great Physician (God) and the other physicians/nurses/techs we have encountered during this journey.” Slagle is a pastor at Walkerville Baptist Church and is blessed to, after several months of absence, return to the pulpit.
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