Originally published in the Jamaica Observer on Monday, June 10, 2019

Dear Editor,

I am writing to share my experience and to use this medium to express my profound thanks and appreciation to Dr Roy McGregor for the wonderful treatment and care he gave me leading up to and after my recent laparoscopic surgery. I was unaware that this surgery was available locally, and part of the objective of this letter is to let my family and friends and the rest of the “old boys” like myself know that this is available here in Jamaica.

Before I went to Dr McGregor for the operation I was very nervous and daunted by the fear of the unknown, having been diagnosed with early stage prostate cancer, but he was reassuring, which took away a lot of my apprehension, bearing in mind that, due to my religious belief, I required that the surgery be done without blood transfusion. I am happy to tell my friends that this type of diagnosis is no longer a death sentence.

The prostate laparoscopic surgery, which is less invasive, reduces blood loss and healing time and, importantly, the surgery allows for accurate nerve spare, which helps with preserving erectile function and potency, was done successfully and now I have returned to work four weeks after surgery.

Also, I would like to particularly thank Nurse Roxanne Shaw-Edwards of Andrews Memorial Hospital who provided me with exceptional nursing care and for her post-operative support which was very important in my treatment and recovery. She is a very special person and I cannot thank her enough for the excellent care that she gave to me. My wife and I are truly grateful to her.

Thanks too to the surgical team and the other nurses who all played such an important part in my treatment and recovery.