May 21, 2013
One quick thing I'd like to pass on to all the guys out there. Last Friday, my wife and I were released from the hospital, and riding in a hotel shuttle. I told the driver I had just gone through prostate surgery for cancer. He told me he also had prostate cancer, and was getting radiation treatments. He was about four years older than me, and African-American. African-American men have a higher risk for prostate cancer. He told me he found out he had cancer after experiencing severe pain one night. He hadn't had a prostate exam in years. When I heard that...it made me sad for him. I'm guessing his cancer is much father along with a symptom like that, but I hope I'm wrong. I hope his treatment works. It just reminded me that we need to go in for annual prostate exams at least by age 50...sooner if you have a family history of the cancer or other risk factors. I had no symptoms...no sharp pain, and yet, I had cancer. Guys, don't wait for a sharp pain to tell you something is wrong.