It’s amazing the difference a few months can make.

Life is pretty good.

I have just finished a series of prostate cancer talks at a group of surgeries overseen by Danelle. Four words that don’t normally go together with anything I do. Rewarding and almost uneventful, would describe them. They were well attended, and the feedback was moving, thankful and encouraging. I really enjoyed doing them. There was no more ‘arguments’ or should I say vocal differences of opinion unlike the first talk that I did.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I am not saying that I wanted any of that, it just never materialised. I also made a point of telling the men that they are lucky to be in a surgery where prostate cancer is taken so seriously and they are so proactive. They were taken aback when I shared with them some of the reasons why a number of other surgeries and doctors are doing the complete opposite.

It was two discussions that warrant the title ‘almost uneventful’. The first was a man that asked me after one talk if prostate cancer leads to testicular problems. I said I didn’t know anything about testicular issues, and he would need to talk to a doctor. Then he proceeded to tell me in detail about his testicular problems. The second was a man that had had the prostatectomy operation, and he had shrunk from 4 inches to 1 inch. I said to him that that will happen straight after the operation and not to worry as it will get better.

He said he had the operation 3 years ago. My eyes widened a bit and I paused before him to repeat what he had just said. I asked him if he had a pump and he had no idea what I was talking about. I then told him he needs to talk to his doctor as there are many options that he could follow but only his doctor could advise him. I felt it for him that somehow, he has slipped through the follow up he should have had.

I got a couple of bottles of Malibu from Danielle for my efforts so happy bunny.

I just had my birthday a few days ago and sometimes the best presents are the simple ones. Of course, I can never fail to forget that locum that suggested the PSA test, all those years ago, when I never would have asked. If he hadn’t, I probably wouldn’t be here writing this. In my last post I mentioned the struggles with my weight and running.

In March, my weight was 14 stone 10 pounds.

My weight on my birthday was 13 stone 5 ½ pounds.

In March my average time for a 5km run, as a wobbly person, was short change out of the 40 minute mark.

On the morning of my birthday my time was 29 minutes and 30 seconds.

I am currently typing away in my new flat in sunny Surrey having permanently left the family home a couple of weeks ago. I had been sleeping on an airbed for the last couple of weeks and early on my birthday my bed, that had been out of stock, was finally delivered. I slept like a pig in warm mud that night and ever since.

Though I am still entertaining the mild hot flushes and the thrice nightly visits to the bathroom my body has successfully resisted the hormones attempts to turn me into a tasty chick.

Life is pretty good.

I was asked along with the incredible Wayne and Mansfield, if I would be a part of Prostate Cancer UK’s new social media drive for black men. We had a full day of professional video and photographic shooting. They made a number of different campaigns and soundbites from the day. A few weeks after the shoot I was stopped by one of the shop assistants in my local corner shop. He said he had just seen me on Facebook. Initially, I had no idea what he was talking about. Then he showed me the video. I bumped into my cousin today in the same shop and he also told me he had seen the video. Have a look here,

https://prostatecanceruk.org/about-us/news-and-views/2025/05/let-s-talk-prostate-cancer-conversation

My PSA remains undetectable and last I heard my testosterone count was still a single digit.

Of course, the fight does not stop, the talks and awareness happily continue. Right now, I am trying to perfect the recipe for a Strawberry Daiquiri. I found out that ‘girly’ Malibu is best left to diet coke. I got the harder stuff and going to have some fun experimenting.

You know what, life is pretty good.

Cheers.