Prostate Cancer and the PSA Test That Saved His Life with James Waddington

For Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, host Talaya Dendy sits down with James Waddington, a prostate cancer survivor, longtime educator, and advocate for early detection. James was diagnosed in 2020 after a routine PSA test flagged something he was not aware of, caught during blood work for his diabetes. Having lost his own father to late-stage lung cancer just four months after diagnosis, James knows exactly what early detection bought him. In this honest and warm conversation, he talks about getting the news by phone while walking past his own house, choosing surgery after a second opinion at Sloan Kettering, why so many men, especially Black men, stay silent about their health, and how he redefined manhood after losing his prostate. His message is simple and urgent: early detection can save your life, and you do not have to go through this alone.

✨ Episode Highlights:

[8:20] No symptoms at all. How a routine PSA during a diabetes check caught James's prostate cancer.

[12:03] Why his late father's four months made early detection everything.

[18:07] The silence around men's health.

[22:49] Faith and purpose: why he calls his cancer "a mission, not a curse."

[33:09] The one thing James wants every newly diagnosed man to do first.

Transcript: https://bit.ly/podscript185

Key stat: About 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. If caught early, the five-year survival rate is nearly 100 percent. If caught late, it drops to about 38 percent. Black men are about 70 percent more likely to be diagnosed and roughly twice as likely to die from it. (Source: American Cancer Society)

About the guest: James Waddington is a public school educator with 34 years of experience, a husband and father of two, a prostate cancer survivor, and an advocate with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.

Call to Action

If this episode moved you, do two things: subscribe and follow Navigating Cancer TOGETHER so you never miss an episode, and forward this one to a man you love. It could be the nudge that saves a life. New episodes on Wednesday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your preferred podcast app. https://bit.ly/NCTpodcast

Sponsor: This episode is brought to you by On the Other Side, a cancer doula and survivor strategist helping leaders redefine life after cancer. If you finished treatment and you are wondering what comes next, connect with an experienced cancer doula at ontheotherside.life.

Hosted, Produced, Written, and Edited by: Talaya Dendy

Video Editor: Shawn Smith

⚠️ Disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is for general informational purposes only and SHOULD NOT be used as a substitute for sound professional medical advice, evaluation, or care from your physician or other qualified health care provider.

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