In November, Lafayette City-Parish Councilman Kenneth Boudreaux announced he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Boudreaux said he wanted to share his story in the hopes it would help someone else.
It has.
Boudreaux wears different hats to different people in the community. A father, councilman, cook, radio host… just to name a few. On Tuesday, Boudreaux took off all his hats and spoke to KATC’s Justice Henderson about the man battling cancer.
“The “C” word is no stranger to my family. Unfortunately, my mother died of colon cancer, my father died of lung cancer, I have a niece who defeated breast cancer, my former wife defeated breast cancer,” Boudreaux said.
He says being there for all those people were easy, but when the table was turned, things were different.
“I never thought. I prayed and hoped it would never happen,” Boudreaux said.
Boudreaux says he has always suffered from prostate issues, but one day, after some irregular test results, he got the news he’d always dreaded.
“I find this to be the easy part. The challenge was the unknown. So waiting for the results to know do you have cancer or is it just something else, and secondly, it was how bad is it. Is it early, is it late,” Boudreaux said.
He found out that he had stage three prostate cancer. On the same day he was diagnosed, Boudreaux said a miracle happened. His first grandson Micah was born.
Boudreaux doesn’t like to say he has cancer.
“I have a body that cancer is inside of. Knowing that I am that person, I just really want to beat it bad. I just wish there was a way to dig in there and take it out sometimes, to be honest with you,” Boudreaux explained.
Since his diagnosis, Boudreaux says he’s heard from other men, who are now getting checked.
“There was a turn, to where people were thankful I shared my story. They were reaching out to me because they were now encouraged to go and get checked. They knew that they just couldn’t wait anymore,” Boudreaux said.
However, he says the outpouring of love he has received has been abundant.
“To think that there are churches I have never even stepped foot inside of are praying for me in my name, makes me feel good. It’s a good feeling.” Boudreaux said.
According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men, after skin cancer. It is treatable if it’s caught early. You can read more here.
