I went to see a doctor today. My first visit in about eight years.
Although, I've been to a hospital during that time, when a lady in a car collided with me on a sidewalk a couple of years ago.
"I haven't been to the doctors for about eight years."
"You're probably ok."
And I was. But I got a headache in the waiting room, either from stress, or from fasting for the blood tests I wanted to get. Actually, The Wife had been hassling me to get both my blood pressure and prostate cancer situations tested pretty much since we first started dating.
"Well, I have a family history of high blood pressure and prostate cancer."
"Who had prostate cancer?"
"My dad did about six years ago."
"And he's still alive?"
"Yes. He lives in Japan. His diet is better, so his blood pressure is probably better now too."
I was 'living' in northern England during the harsh winter of 2003/2004. When I returned home to Australia I was told my dad was having a fairly serious operation the next week.
Prostate cancer.
(all men in the world just shuddered)
Everyone in the family had known for about two months but didn't want to tell me in fear of ruining my 'holiday'.
"Don't you have to get your balls checked or something?"
No. Prostate cancer is now a blood test. Sup 2013?
This is the main reason why I reluctantly agreed to (finally) get it all checked out. I've always claimed to my friends that I'd more than likely die from an "embarrassing illness" that I just didn't want to go to the doctors to have checked out. This is probably still true.
"I'm probably just paranoid."
"No, but you are fairly healthy."
"Well, my wife cooks good food."
"Your results should be ready on Friday."
August 11, 2010 [13:21]