Be Your Own Boss

A Triad man is sharing a life-saving message. He battled prostate cancer and opened up about his journey. For John Stewart, early detection made all the difference. And his message is clear: Dont wait for symptoms.He said he hopes by sharing his story that more men will follow his advice and make that important doctor’s appointment.”When he told me and said, ‘You have cancer,’ I didn’t hear anything else after that,” Stewart said. “At that point, I was stunned. I sat for a couple of minutes before I even reacted. Initially, I was afraid.”That was back in 2018. Stewart explains that he didn’t feel any different at the time, unaware of the silent nature of prostate cancer.”My PSA levels had elevated and my doctor had noticed that the prostate had started to grow,” Stewart said. “I hadn’t noticed any symptoms or anything because it’s a silent cancer. I didn’t have any pain. I didn’t notice any changes.”Thanks to early detection, Stewart was able to seek treatment before the cancer could progress. Top StoriesNorth Carolina man charged with young boy’s murder after child was scalded in bathtub diesMUST WATCH: Tractor-trailer driver charged after cab detaches from trailer in crashFather of Georgia school shooting suspect arrested on charges including second-degree murderGet the latest news stories of interest by clicking hereNow in remission, he is under active surveillance.”I feel more like myself right now. I have gotten past some of the side effects that I had after the process,” Stewart said. Stewarts message to other men, especially those in the Black community, is simple but urgent.”I have 3 brothers and every male that I know of, I try to have that conversation with them.” he said. “Please get checked. Go see your doctor. It’s not as bad as you might think, and plus you’d rather know then not know.””Prostate cancer is extremely common. It is probably the number one cancer in men,” Dr. Brandon Craven with Novant Health, Urology said. Dr. Craven stresses the importance of early detection, explaining that while prostate cancer is widespread, it is often manageable when caught early.”16 percent of men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime,” Dr. Craven said. “The norm is that you’re diagnosed with prostate cancer, we choose to treat it or surveillance it and watch it over time, and it generally doesn’t cause problems for many years, or even decades.”Dr. Craven said if youre a man over 40, especially with a family history of prostate cancer, talk to your doctor about getting screened. Early detection could save your life.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here Watch: NOWCAST streaming newscastsNAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Watch NOWCAST TV | Local News | National | News We Love |Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here