A middle-aged professional in his 40s, who had not previously sought routine medical care, came to see me a few years ago. Healthy, productive, and a family man, he finally decided to get a health check-up. After an initial 60-minute consultation and some hesitation for the next steps, he decided that a few seconds of courage for a prostate exam and blood draw was doable. On exam, I noticed a slightly enlarged prostate and expressed concern for prompt investigation in conjunction with lab results.

A few days later, we met again to discuss the possibility of prostate cancer. This was shocking to him since he had no major cancer symptoms. We confirmed the diagnosis with lab results, ordered a prostate MRI, and referred him to a urologist. His diagnosis was advanced prostate cancer. Despite the grim results, he was thankful we spent the time to discuss his health, risks, and benefits of testing. Screening guidelines would not have been recommended for another 5-10 years.

Like my patient, I’m grateful to have longer consultation times in my practice to build a trusting relationship with my patients and guide them on their health journey. However, sometimes prevention and early detection only take a few seconds of courage; a simple blood test or prostate exam can provide peace of mind that all is well or detect disease early before it’s too late. Just a few seconds can save your life. It has been almost 5 years since that diagnosis; my patient is still alive, and for that, I am thankful.

Dr. Prisiliano Salas