Bob Rider

Cancer: Prostate 

Years of Survivorship: 13

Every so often, in an otherwise normal life, an unwelcome stranger arrives on the doorstep.  That dreaded appearance happened in the spring of 2004.  My cancer diagnosis was truly a positive thing only because of a pre-op consultation with my Urologist for a kidney stone, of all things.  He insisted that I submit to an “invasive examination”!  I protested because my PSA was 2.6!  The rest is history and I was operated on in December 2004.   As anyone who has gone through this struggle will tell you, there is a roller coaster of emotions!  However, my dominant emotion was Anger – at everything!  How could this happen?  After, many long months of fighting with my emotions, it finally set in that I was truly fortunate - I had survived!  Not a day goes by that I do not notice and appreciate the small things, the beautiful things and wonders of this Life.  How precious it all truly is!