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.

December 1, 2008

Just saying the word, cancer, conjures up images of gloom and doom. Saying the words, ‘I have cancer,’ creates axious feelings where death is usually the end point.

When I heard, ‘you have cancer of the prostate,’ for the first time, I tried to put on a brave face. I am a man and shouldn’t show any emotions, isn’t that true? I mean, I’m not a ‘girly man,’ who cry’s just because he is diagnosed with cancer!

Well, I did break down, but only when I had to tell my wife and family. In the presence of the doctor, I put on a bold face, full of bravardo, holding back the choking feeling and the tears. I wonder if the doctor saw this?

Yes, having cancer was not a highlight in my life, but I overcome it. I am still alive, after seven years. And it came back! But I beat it again and will continue to do so. In fact, I believe that I no longer have cancer, though no one can say this for fact.

My encounter with cancer has provided me with an experience that I would have preferred not to have, but which I can pass on to others who feel the same as I did about the disease. I feared it. I wanted it out of my body.

I have met many people since who have had or have cancer and strangely, we were all the same. I accepted it as did the others. I fought it as did the others. I will continue to fight it and I am sure the others will too.

I have written an e-book based on my experiences. My aim is to paint a posive and encouraging view of the disease, and to encourage men in particular to get tested for Cancer of the Prostate. I am donating 90% of the royalties to ‘Kids with Cancer’, using the remaining 10% to keep this site open and to update the book with stories from my readers.

In fact, if you have a story, and need to get it off your chest, or want to share it with others, send it to me by clicking here. I won’t print your story unless you give permission. Together, we can show the world that the disease can be beaten.