His PSA kept climbing. His exam was normal. His first biopsy found nothing — but the cancer was there, hiding in just 5% of his prostate.

In this episode of The Cancer Podcast: BeastVsZombie, host Dominique Muhammad sits down with Dr. John Bukowski — veterinarian turned public health researcher turned award-winning thriller author — and prostate cancer survivor. He shares how a rising PSA test led to his prostate cancer diagnosis, why he chose robotic nerve-sparing surgery over radiation, and what every man should know before walking into an oncology appointment.

In this episode:

✅ How a rising PSA test exposed prostate cancer with zero symptoms

✅ Why his first biopsy missed it — and how a targeted biopsy found the Gleason 7 tumor

✅ Robotic, nerve-sparing prostatectomy: three small incisions and home the same day

✅ Why he chose surgery over radiation — side effects, recurrence, and what options are left

✅ Life after surgery: annual PSA checks and minor side effects

✅ What to ask your doctor: how aggressive is it, side effects, survival rates

✅ Dominique's own story: lymphoma at 19 and two bone marrow transplants

✅ From vet school to thrillers: his award-winning writing journey, how to get a book published, and AI in writing

Don't panic. Get the test. Ask the questions. Prostate cancer is no longer a death sentence — and as Dr. John says: show up, every single day. Be a Beast. 💪

🎙 Guest: Dr. John Bukowski

🎙 Host: Dominique Muhammad

📺 Channel: The Cancer Podcast: BeastVsZombie

Chapters

00:00 Episode highlights

01:07 Welcome & meet Dr. John Bukowski

01:40 Prostate cancer diagnosis: why he chose surgery

05:36 Robotic nerve-sparing surgery explained

07:19 How to find the right surgeon

08:51 Why the first biopsy missed it (Gleason score)

11:52 What is a PSA test?

13:29 Dominique's lymphoma story at 19

15:57 Side effects & life after surgery

17:36 How a medical background helped

20:23 "Don't panic": what to ask at your appointment

23:11 Do you need a second opinion?

24:57 From medical writer to award-winning novelist

34:57 Medical technology & bone marrow transplants

36:50 AI & the future of writing

47:35 How to get a book published

53:34 The best advice he ever got

56:20 Where to find his books

🔔 Subscribe for bi-weekly conversations with real cancer survivors, inspiring stories, and life-changing perspectives.

📌 Follow Dominique Muhammad:

https://www.instagram.com/beastvszombie/

🛒 Shop & Support Cancer Research:

https://beastvszombie.com/collections

Shop merch at BeatVsZombie.com — A percentage of all proceeds goes directly to cancer research

📚 Dr. John's books & website: https://www.jbukowskiauthor.com

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#ProstateCancer #CancerSurvivor #PSATest #CancerPodcast