Gavin Hartford takes us on his convoluted path from diagnosis to denial to cure
it is October 2019 and we are at the end of a year of preparation for an off-road adventure across west Africa. It’s taken its toll of endless admin and vehicle prep work. But we are kind of done. Only some visas to collect and we are gone in four days. My head has left already.My GP says she doesn’t like the feel of my prostate and sends me for a ptest. It comes back in the red zone with a 4.5 PSA reading. She says I need to talk to a urologist. I go instantly.
. It’s shot up to 6.7 in the time since we left for west Africa. That’s a 2.2 PSA movement north in just 21 months. My GP in the Mpumalanga rurals says I have got to see a urologist. Again. This time I’m really listening. Nothing to distract. Not even the Covid-19 pandemic.When my doctor daughter hears this story she shakes her head in dismay: “You two are so irresponsible.” She thinks I need psychological help. I am in denial, she says. Of course, she is probably right.
Taught me lessons on how to live light on the earth. Helped me reset my innate prejudice and know west Africa is accepting and doable. It is off my to do list for now. Corona rudely stopped me, isolated me and focused me to face my cancer the second time round.
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