Mark Grayson
September 6th, 2007
I had prostate cancer. In 2003 when I visited my GP for a routine visit, he noticed from my chart that I had not had a PSA test in a year. The PSA test is an indicator of whether you may have prostate cancer. While most people know that pharmaceutical companies develop medicines, many companies also develop vital diagnostic tests that can lead to early detection of diseases such as prostate cancer. Well, two weeks later my doctor called and said that my PSA test was slightly elevated and he wanted me to go see a specialist. I, of course, thought this would be routine and that this was just a precaution. The urologist suggested that he do a biopsy and scheduled it for a few weeks later. Again the procedure was a little uncomfortable (as any man will tell you). But still I figured this was just routine. The urologist told me before the biopsy that they never give results over the phone so I had to go back to the office to get the results.When he told me I had prostate cancer, I thought again this was routine and it would be no big deal. I had done my research and I was not worried. However, driving home from the urologist’s office, that cool exterior must have crumbled. A few blocks from my home I turned the corner and slightly clipped a guard rail (something I had never done, especially on a street I had driven a thousand times before) and flattened two tires. I was really shaken.
However, a few months later I was able to have surgery to remove the cancer. As the cancer was caught in the very early stages because of the industry-discovered PSA test, I did not have to endure any other procedures. And after 4 years I am cancer free. What a terrific feeling. I cannot tell enough of my friends how important it is to be screened for prostate cancer. It is easy and if caught early can lead to a clean bill of health. Every guy should do it and do it now!
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