Burt Watson has a message for you
Burt Watson: “Prostate cancer is something that men don’t want to go and get checked or get tested. But you do it once, and once you do it, then every year it’s about blood test.”
Burt Watson is arguably the most beloved figure in mixed martial arts, and he has a message for you (if you’re a guy).
During a recent appearance on MMAjunkie Radio, Watson said that after he stopped working for the UFC, and the attendant brutal travel schedule, he had time for, “the old man [medical] test.”
They did all of my vitals, they did blood work, and they did everything, said Watson as transcribed by Fernanda Prates for MMAjunkie. And everything was good.
18 months alter he got tested again, and his PSA (prostate-specific antigen) levels had gone from under 1 up to over 5. A biopsy was ordered.
‘Yuck.’ That was my first thought,’ said Watson. Because no guy likes do to that biopsy. But I did it. They took the biopsy. They called me back about two weeks later. I went to the office, and he said, ‘OK, here’s what we need to do: There’s chemo, there’s surgery, or there’s radiation.’ And I’m like, ‘For what?’
I don’t want to spring violins here, because I am still Burt Watson, baby, and I am still rollin.’ But at the time, my brother had just kind of out of nowhere died on us. He had COPD [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease], had a case and died. My mother had got a stroke and was sick and was in the hospital.
This was all last December. So my family was dealing with my brother passing away and my mother having a stroke and in a nursing home. And I went to the doctor and found out that I had cancer. My head was like, ‘Wow, prostate cancer – what the hay.’
But what I found out with prostate cancer: No. 1, it’s hereditary. And No. 2, that it’s prevalent in African-American men. So I had to tell my son.
The story has a happy ending – Watson says he is, “100 percent a cancer survivor.
However, the disease spreads quickly and if he had not had the tests, the story could be a tragedy. Burt Watson doesn’t want your life to suffer tragedy. He has a message for you.
Everybody knows somebody, says Watson. And everybody loves somebody. I want to be the person to get the message to them, to touch somebody and let somebody know. Go get tested. Seriously. It takes five minutes – if that.
Prostate cancer is something that men don’t want to go and get checked or get tested. But you do it once, and once you do it, then every year it’s about blood test. You go back and get a blood test.
It’s good to say [I’m cancer-free], said Watson. I’m proud to say it. But I’m even more so, now, to share that message. And to share that message with everybody. And to be a voice for it.
And I can tell you, I’m going to do that. Because I work with all men – athletes and guys. And we’re mature. Everybody’s not as old as me, but you know what? You want to live to get to be that old. So go get tested.
In addition to ordering you to get tested, the babysitter to the stars is raising awareness and funds for ZERO – The End of Prostate Cancer so that more men get tested and understand their risks. Help him raise $10,000 and spread the word to save lives – share his story and donate today.