How Loren caught prostate cancer before symptoms

At a glance:

Function member: Loren, 68

Function focus: Men’s Health

Biomarker imbalances: PSA

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What a lab visit can uncover

Loren wasn’t sick. No pain. No glaring symptoms. Just a man in his late 60s trying to stay healthy. So when his Bay Area startup offered Function as a benefit, he signed up immediately. It sounded simple enough: a quick lab visit to test 100+ biomarkers. 

With a family history of cancer—both his biological parents passed away from it—Loren saw Function as “an easy button” to check in on his health.

What he didn’t expect? A physician through Function calling to flag two critical results: a "very elevated" prostate specific antigen (PSA) level—and a signal detected through the Galleri multi-cancer early detection test, warning of abnormal cells.

That one call triggered a chain of appointments, tests, and decisions that may have saved his life.

The tests & results

After the call, Loren processed the information and logged into his Function dashboard to see the numbers himself.

With the PSA score and the Galleri test both sounding alarms, there was no denying the urgency. 

Loren took action—immediately.

Taking control 

Things moved fast.

Loren scheduled an appointment with his primary doctor. The doctor took one look at his PSA results and referred him to a urologist. 

Once the urologist saw Loren’s numbers, he ordered additional tests to understand if the cause was from cancer, an enlarged prostate, or some other factor like medication or an infection. 

An MRI showed areas of concern. A biopsy confirmed it:  prostate cancer. His Gleason score — a measure of how aggressive the cancer is — was 9 out of 10.

It was the same diagnosis President Biden was given—prostate cancer with a Gleason score of 9. While the President’s had metastasized to the bone, Loren’s appeared to be contained.

After weighing all options, his doctor recommended a two to three-year multi-phase treatment plan: hormone therapy to suppress testosterone (a major driver of prostate cell growth), followed by targeted radiation to kill what remained.

The impact 

Within weeks of starting hormone therapy, Loren’s PSA levels had dropped to a healthy range for his age.

At first, he thought the results had to be a mistake—maybe a typo or someone else’s data. But his doctor assured him the numbers were real. That’s how fast the treatment can work.

Loren is still early in his treatment plan, but this new level of awareness has given him control. 

And the good news: prostate cancer is highly survivable when found before it spreads. 

The power of ownership 

For Loren, Function wasn’t just convenient. It was empowering.

He was able to test proactively on his own terms.

And once the results came in, he didn’t hesitate. He took action.

That clarity helped him move quickly—scheduling appointments, getting answers, and regaining control over his health.

Now, even as he undergoes hormone therapy and prepares for radiation later this year, he feels equipped with knowledge, a plan, and power over what comes next. 

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If Function didn’t exist 

Loren didn’t have warning signs. He was hiking, working, living normally—completely unaware prostate cancer was growing beneath the surface.

He wasn’t looking for a diagnosis. He simply wanted a clear, easy way to measure his health. That’s why he joined Function: stress-free, straightforward access to comprehensive lab testing. 

So if Function didn’t exist?

It’s possible the cancer wouldn’t have been caught until it was too late. 

But because every male Function member gets a PSA test as part of their annual membership, Loren caught it early and took control of his future.

The lesson 

Don’t wait for symptoms. It’s as simple as that.

Loren is now encouraging others to test before it’s urgent and before the options narrow.

I tell everybody—get these tests done. It may save your life. It can be the difference between catching cancer early or late. It could mean you live and you can treat it—or not.

And for him, that message isn’t rooted in fear.

It comes from clarity—because he’s lived it. 

Knowing what’s happening inside the body is the only way to change the outcome. And Loren is determined to help others get that same chance.

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