Mr Tang was living an active life and going for his regular health check-ups when one routine blood test changed everything.

Today, at the age of 75, he looks back on a prostate cancer journey that began about 14 years ago.

At the time, he felt well. There was no pain, discomfort or obvious sign that something was wrong. As part of his regular health screening, however, Mr Tang included a Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test.

One day, the result came back much higher than expected.

The PSA level was initially above 20 and soon increased to more than 30. The rapid rise raised concern and further investigation was arranged without delay.

For Mr Tang, the diagnosis came as a shock.

He described the feeling as if “something like a bomb happened to you”, because it was difficult to process what was happening when he had felt completely normal before the test.

After reviewing his results, his doctor arranged an MRI on the same day.

The scan and subsequent medical assessment confirmed that Mr Tang needed treatment for prostate cancer. He was diagnosed with a high-risk cancer, with a Gleason score of 9.

Rather than waiting, the medical team moved quickly with the next steps.

Mr Tang underwent radiotherapy as part of his treatment.

Looking back, he believes that the speed of the response made a major difference.

For Mr Tang, one lesson from that experience has stayed with him ever since: when cancer is suspected, time matters.

After completing treatment, Mr Tang continued to return for regular follow-up appointments and PSA monitoring.

At first, his PSA was checked every three months. As his condition remained stable, the follow-ups were gradually extended to every six months and later once a year.

Over time, his PSA level continued to fall.

Today, his PSA reading is around 0.08.

Fourteen years after his diagnosis and treatment, Mr Tang continues to attend his regular follow-ups.

He is also grateful that he did not experience significant treatment-related side effects.

Throughout his journey, Mr Tang says the guidance from his doctors gave him confidence in what to do next.

He remembers not only the medical treatment he received, but also the way his doctor communicated with him during a difficult and uncertain time.

That trust became especially important in the early stages of his diagnosis, when everything happened very quickly.

Instead of facing the uncertainty alone, he had a clear treatment plan and regular monitoring after completing therapy.

Before his diagnosis, Mr Tang admits that, like many people, he knew very little about prostate cancer.

The fact that he had no symptoms made the experience even more surprising.

That is why he now encourages other men not to wait until something feels wrong before going for a check-up.

For Mr Tang, that routine blood test helped uncover a serious condition at a time when he still felt completely healthy.

Fourteen years later, he continues to live his life while keeping up with his yearly follow-ups.

His experience has also changed the way he speaks to friends and people around him. When the subject of health screening comes up, he encourages them not to delay.

Cancer may not always cause symptoms in its early stages. For Mr Tang, knowing his PSA level and acting quickly when the result changed became an important part of his survival story.