Health First! Don’t Wait or Procrastinate!

High PSA leads to further evaluation

On receiving extremely high PSA results, my doctor urged that I seek further evaluation. Now I must point out that there are no urologists and MRIs are not available in my island home so regional or international travel is a must but virtually impossible at the height of the pandemic leading to the closure of borders!

Missing classes due to diagnosis

On the day of travel, I was to begin my work as an adjunct lecturer at the college after a two-year hiatus and continue at another institution of higher learning. My thinking was I’ll only miss the first two weeks which should be ok as I can schedule make-up classes. Well, that turned out to be two months, and with treatment scheduled for early January following my diagnosis in October that call of duty so to speak was aborted!

returning home

Ironically I was scheduled to return home on my wedding anniversary to celebrate with my wife but that was canceled. I also hoped to undertake repairs to one of my properties following the ravages of Hurricane Irma and that too was placed on the back burner and is still there after 5 years! I also hoped to start a new business-consultancy business service and that was thwarted!

prostatecancer treatment

I had to get treatment for prostate cancer as quickly as possible so everything else was placed on hold. Of course, this was mixed with anxiety spurred on by the insistent urgency of my urologist since my diagnosis (based on the Gleason Scores 4+3 and 3+4 and the location of the tumor) was assessed as intermediate risk. On reflection, it only confirms the importance of knowing your status through screening as early detection means Health First! Don’t Wait or Procrastinate!