Brother to Brother: Protecting Yourself from Prostate Cancer [Paperback]

Rupert Green (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2004

A moving account of a Black man with the disease, his operation and recovery. A valuable tool for Black men who are going through the same disease.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Introduction

There is a serious problem afflicting brothers. They are dying unnecessarily because they are afraid of being dead. Faced with a similar dilemma, after a gut wrenching decision, I opted to live. My hesitancy centered on the fact that being only 47 years young, the idea of having a dead penis was troubling. I subsequently delayed my surgery for seven months after being diagnosed with prostate cancer; I may have subconsciously entertained the thought of dying, rather than being dead. Surely, I would have died if I had not followed the advice of a caring woman and got myself screened for prostate cancer. But as many singers beg in their the songs, "Just one more time," I too, wanted a last chance to pack in some life before saying goodbye to my most prized possession.

Prior to my affliction, I cared nothing about prostate cancer even though I heard notices that men such as myself had the highest death rate from this disease. I am neither stupid nor ignorant; I am like most men; I was just plain afraid of having a doctor and his scalpel near to my manhood. Not surprisingly, before my diagnosis, I had one friend with the disease, but now I have over a dozen. Some of these were long time friends, who, when I revealed I had the disease, now abandoned the veil of secrecy with which they had cloaked themselves and this illness. It is although I had gone through an initiation and now joined the brotherhood.

Exploring the secrecy surrounding men and prostate cancer, I learned that this disease is treated as a taboo subject. It appears as though many men, by their inaction, would rather die from it than face what they believe is the alternative. Further exploration revealed the "tabooing" of the subject has roots in the socialization of men, homophobia, cultural mores, poverty, historical factors and ignorance. Whether it be through the elicitation of fear, shame, pride or mistrust, each of those factors plays a significant role in keeping men from having potentially life-saving cancer screening exams.

The purpose of this book, then, is to have a straight-up discussion with brothers, while revealing to their caring women the inhibitions that would cause a brother to choose death over being dead or impotent. After all, in most cases, it is the women who persuade their men to take the cancer screening exams.

It is hoped that this book will also serve to reveal some of the converging factors that condition men to be afraid of being tested; expose the historical roots and the myths behind these factors, and discuss the new technologies in prostate cancer treatment—especially those that can help foster healthy and robust sex after "death?" For, it is about sex! In the end, it is my intention, through the information presented here and with the help of wives, girlfriends, and significant others, to educate brothers to choose life over death.

Product Details

• Paperback: 114 pages
• Publisher: Seaburn (January 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592320716
• ISBN-13: 978-1592320714
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,536,077 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)