“no one should have to pay for the test out of pocket when they have a referral,” says holmes.
taylor had lost his father to prostate cancer, only six weeks after diagnosis. when his own urologist shared the biopsy results, he wondered whether he would to make it to meet his first grandchild, whose due date was later that year.
taylor went ahead with surgery. for the next six months, he completed a psa blood test every six weeks to determine whether the cancer required further treatment. it didn’t. he felt relieved but anxious about the recovery process, and he worried about the possibility of erectile dysfunction or incontinence.
“you look at all the side effects and you have concerns,” he says. “after my surgery and some of my recovery, i reached out to a support group where i got to meet men my age and older.”
taylor felt more at ease talking openly with others who were going through a similar experience. a year into his recovery, he was asked to lead the support group. he spent three more years in that role before “passing the baton” to someone else.
it’s been eight years since taylor was first diagnosed with prostate cancer. he is still under the watchful eye of his healthcare team, undergoing yearly psa testing, which continues to show stable levels and no detectable cancer. he has made some changes in his life since his diagnosis: he still enjoys his career but works less than he used to, and is spending more time with family and friends, including his three grandchildren. he’s also dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of early screening.