How Learning to Fly Helped Save my Life. This is a story about Prostate Cancer.

In 2024, I was learning to fly airplanes, as one does.

Jokes aside, it was amazing. And terrifying. Occasionally, while a thousand feet in the air lining up with the runway, I'd have to remind my brain it was real. This wasn't flight simulator. I... me... shy little Kevin Koperski from Illinois... had the controls of an actual airplane, and the ground beneath me was solid and unforgiving. In my late 40s, I still wondered which adult allowed me to do such a thing.

Before I could solo, I needed a medical certificate. A routine blood test resulted in another surreal and equally unforgiving adventure: cancer. Prostate cancer, to be exact. A genetic legacy from my dad and grandpa. Thanks, gents!

In this video, I wanted to chronicle a little bit of how that diagnosis felt, how it impacted my life, and what it means for my piloting aspirations and future. Spoiler alert: My surgery was a success and I'm currently doing great.

Cancer proved just as scary as flying airplanes, but in a different way. It can be lonely, even with the support of everyone around you. During and after the process, I found solace in the stories of other men with the same diagnosis. I found reassurance and hope. So many men get prostate cancer, but it's not as public as other cancers. I'm not good at public advocacy and stuff like that, but I can at least share my story. Maybe it will bring peace of mind to someone else on the same journey.

So that's all this is. My experience with prostate cancer. I'm particularly lucky to have caught it so early, and I'm thankful for all the help and support. Just wanted to make that clear in a video. Also, I wanted one last chance to use some of my many many hours of flight footage.

Thanks for being here. And thanks for watching. I appreciate all of you.