Word is out: State Sen. Mike Brubaker has prostate cancer.

Surprisingly, he's OK with it. He's OK with talking about the C-word. In fact, he's relatively OK with having the C-word.

Pressed to sum up in just a few minutes between Friday-night appointments his roller-coaster experience since his diagnosis five weeks ago, Brubaker, of Lititz, said it might actually be a good thing in the long run.

"Having cancer for someone like me is a fantastic opportunity to talk to a significant number of people," he said. "It gives me a platform to speak about taking care of yourself, proactively living a lifestyle that reduces your risks."

Brubaker, 50, who has been in office just a year and a half, said he had a PSA — or prostate-specific antigen — test this year because it's the earliest age for which his insurance covers the cost of the test.

When the results were out of normal range, he was tested again, and the results were normal. Brubaker said his physician concluded there was no cause for alarm.

But Brubaker, whose father successfully beat prostate cancer after a diagnosis at about age 60, pushed for a biopsy, which could detect cancer conclusively.

When he returned to his specialist's office for the biopsy results, he waited 20 minutes to see the doctor. Eventually, he decided to leave rather than miss his day's appointments, but a nurse told him to cancel them because "The doctor really does have to see you."

Brubaker assumed the worst and called his wife, then his office, with the news — he has prostate cancer.

Shortly thereafter, it was announced at a Harrisburg hearing that Brubaker would be absent because of a medical emergency. A local radio station got word and called Brubaker's office to find out what kind of emergency.

The next morning, the radio station aired the story. And that's how word hit the street about Mike Brubaker's cancer.

"I had to make a decision: Is this going to be a private matter or do people desire to know this? I made the decision that I wanted there to be some kind of net gain for the public," he said.

"It's not about Mike Brubaker talking about Mike Brubaker," he said. "It's Mike Brubaker talking about a cancer diagnosis that will likely lead to a successful outcome for me."

This summer, when the state Senate is not in session, Brubaker will have his prostate removed, and he's weighing other treatment options. But he's optimistic, he said, thanks to faith and family, and he's refreshingly candid about taking a private issue public.

"The first day was emotional, but after that first day, I really became comfortable talking about it with people who want to talk about it," he said. "I want people to know I truly am completely open. If anyone wants to talk to me about it, as someone who cares about other people, I would be happy to share anytime."

He's also putting his diagnosis to good use at work, questioning conventional medical wisdom that calls for prostate cancer screenings only after age 49.

"My doctors told me prior to age 50, even with a family history, insurance would not pay for me to have more sophisticated tests," he said. "I'm talking to a lot of people in the health care industry about how often people are diagnosed in their 30s and 40s.

"I'm hearing a lot of stories, and that's making me think maybe we need to analyze that magic number of 50. Everyone in the health care industry agrees that early diagnosis is key to increasing survival."

Now he's also considering the need for more funding for preventative health screenings, although he said health care always has been a priority.

Don't be surprised when you run into Brubaker and he asks about the last time you saw your family physician. It's become a habit for him lately.

"I want to say, 'I have cancer. If you can learn anything from me, I hope it's to make sure you do everything you can for early diagnosis by getting that checkup.' "

E-mail: slindt@lnpnews.com