I am a Virgo. People say Virgos are meticulous, obsessed with perfection, and maybe even a bit fastidious. I’m not sure if that’s entirely me—only my family and friends can decide. After all, how can billions of people fit neatly into a handful of astrological signs?

While I was in the US in May 2023, I got distressing news: my brother-in-law had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. His diagnosis deeply troubled me, both for his family and personally. He started hormone injections and later underwent radiation therapy after his children could join him to provide support during the treatment.

The situation affected me in two distinct ways. First, I felt a great deal of concern for his pain, stress, and the emotional toll on his family. But more troubling was the gnawing thought—*could I have prostate cancer too?* At that time, I had lost 11 kilograms, with an additional 2 kilograms following soon after. One of my daughters-in-law insisted that I see a doctor, but life had other plans.

Before I could address my health concerns, I suffered a heart attack, forcing me to return to India within five or six weeks. After tending to my wife’s severe ankle pain, which left her unable to walk, I finally managed to consult my urologist about my prostate issues.

Prostate cancer has a specific marker: the PSA test. My PSA levels came back high, which raised serious concerns. The doctor tried antibiotics, thinking it might be a urinary tract infection, but the PSA levels kept rising, ruling that out. The next step was an MRI, which strongly suggested the presence of cancer. A biopsy confirmed my worst fears—the cancer was "high-risk," meaning it was aggressive and fast-growing.

A PET scan brought some relief, showing that the cancer hadn’t spread beyond the prostate. Still, the situation was urgent. My doctor gave me two treatment options: surgery or radiation therapy. Both would need to be followed by hormone-suppressing injections.

After weighing my options, I chose radiation therapy. At my age, the thought of surgery was overwhelming, and I didn’t want to take unnecessary risks. Radiation seemed like the safer choice.

Contd. 317. Virgo Has Cancer - Part 2