I was overwhelmed by the beautiful and supportive response last September when I posted "Naked" which dealt with me learning that I had prostate cancer. It reaffirmed my belief in art as a means of connecting and sharing our humanity. In respect to the appreciation many of you related to my art and your your loving support and concern for my well being I feel compelled to update you of my condition.

If all went well with my surgery on Friday I should now be able to say, "I HAD cancer".

As I lay in my hospital room recovering from the surgery, ironically I was treated to the tribute concert to Johnny Ramone who died at the age of 55 after a long battle with prostate cancer. When I was diagnosed, at 45, I was told that, untreated, I would probably have about 10 more years. So what I take away from this is that Johnny died and I will probably live because of one drastic difference... I was diagnosed unusually early. Like Johnny, and like many of you, I am an artist. We don’t generally have insurance, we don’t get sick much, so we don’t go to the Doctor. On top of this, men aren’t routinely screened for Prostate Cancer until 50 or 55. It was because of my wife Kat’s health insurance through work that I decided to indulge myself the luxury of having a physical when I turned 45 and discovered my condition and was able to do something about it while there was still time.

So this is why I’m sharing this information with you my friend. Because like me you probably have never even thought you would hear the words Prostate Cancer until you were a very old geezer...but given the odd’s, one in six, it is likely that one or more of you reading this already have it. A simple PSA blood test is all it takes and it might make the difference between having another lifetime to enjoy or having a statue in Hollywood Forever Cemetery. And who knows, you might just meet a nurse that you could go for...gabba gabba hey...

xxx

bd