May 11, 2009

Cancer is serious. Like the flue or a cold, you can’t just take a pill to get cured. It cannot be ignored. Unfortunately, unlike the flue or a cold which are expressed very soon after contracting the disease, cancer can lay latent, hidden until the right moment to be expressed. But, cancer can provide us with warning signs which are often ignored, particularly amongst men.

Yes, I’m talking about cancer of the prostate. Symptoms include slow urine flow, slow to start, burning sensations, even a pain in the back. Just a sniff of cancer regarding the prostate and many men go into an apoplectic fit. “No ones going to stick a finger up my arse,” they laugh. But if they have the cancer, they don’t laugh for long. A lousy thing to say, but unfortunately true.

You know, there is no loss of dignity about the digital-rectal inspection. It is still rated as a major test for cancer of the prostate. No, it cannot diagnose the disease 100%, but it certainly suggests that the disease may exist within the prostate and is a prompt for more accurate tests, such as a biopsy.

Choose life, not false pride or manhood. I’m sure your family will be please if you do. Life goes on after the procedure. I have lived seven years beyond the operation which eliminated my cancer, and I expect to live a lot longer yet.

Be positive. Take the test and get satisfaction of knowing.

May 9, 2009

It is seven years since I had my prostate removed because of cancer of the prostate. Seven years is a long time when confronting cancer, and I believe that I will endure many more years yet.

Since my initial operation, I have had radiation treatment and Hormone therepy, now, I am at the will of the Gods, so to speak. I am free lancing, living from day to day without a thought for cancer. I bring it up now, because I need to demonstrate that you can fight prostate cancer.

Yes, there may be side effects which many men might find daunting, but I am alive and loving it. I have a new grand daughter, Mika making a grand total (no pun intended) of grand children of seven. Seven years since the operation and seven grand kids. A lucky number.

If I had not undergone a radical prostatectomy, I might not be here now to tell you about it, and I would have missed out on seeing my grand children growing up. Which is more important? Keeping my self image as a man alive or living to tell the story while keeping a watchful eye on my grand kids? I know what I would rather do, and I did it.

Since my operation, I know four other men who have since gone under the knife and had their prostate removed. All of them are grad that they did and are living healthy lives. I believe that we owe it to our families to live and enjoy life with them, rather than put them through the trauma of death. Why am I saying this? Because too many men refuse to have a check up and too many men refuse to do anything about it when they find out that they have cancer of the prostate. What a shame. Death is forever, life is short so why not make the most of life and have a check-up or, have the vital operation which will save your life. What have you got to lose!

Be a man, face your problems head on and live to tell the story.

Help support Kids with cancer. Look through my web pages and find my eBook on cancer of the prostate. 80% of royalties go the kids with cancer. I will add your story if you choose; send me an email telling me about your experience.