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“We must have talked for another 45 minutes to an hour, and I don’t remember 
any part of the conversation,” Bennett says. “I remember absolutely nothing. 
And then when I left his office, I went out, sat in my truck, and I just cried.”
MAKING TOUGH DECISIONS
After his diagnosis, Bennett underwent additional scans and bloodwork. He 
met with several physicians and weighed surgery against radiation.
He researched heavily, joined support groups, read medical information and 
made spreadsheets. By the time he decided to have surgery, he said he had 
spoken with six doctors through Lakeland Regional Health, the VA and Moffitt 
Cancer Center.
“The patient and their urologist will decide together” which treatment path is 
best, Essig says. “The decision has to be individualized to the patient’s age, the 
patient’s health and the aggressiveness of the cancer.”
Bennett chose surgery and had his prostate removed Feb. 28 at Moffitt Cancer 
Center. Before surgery, Bennett had already started preparing for recovery by 
doing Kegel exercises to strengthen his pelvic floor.
“I started doing Kegels early on, all day, every day,” he says. “I would set an 
alarm on my phone, like, every two hours.”
The decision and preparation helped him shift into a sense of determination.
“The depression started to leave,” he remembers. “I went into surgery knowing 
that I was going to be okay on the other side.”
RECOVERY AND AFTERCARE
After his prostate was removed, Bennett wore a catheter for seven days and 
dealt with bladder spasms, incontinence, and pelvic floor therapy as part of 
recovery. The full recovery is expected to take 12 to 18 months.
A couple months after surgery, his first post-surgery PSA result came back at 
0.04, which Bennett says is considered undetectable by standard testing.
“You want that confirmation, you want that victory,” he says. “This is where I 
want to be.”
For Bennett, recovery has also meant accepting support. An online prostate 
cancer support group gave him a place to hear from men, spouses, and loved 
ones who spoke openly about incontinence, erectile dysfunction, and the 
emotions that follow treatment.
BREAKING THE SILENCE
Even with prostate cancer on both sides of his family, Bennett says no one had 
prepared him for the fear, decisions or recovery that came with the diagnosis.
“I just wish men would talk in general — prostate cancer, mental health, other 
illnesses and ailments that they’re going through,” he says. “We’ve been taught 
to believe that holding our stuff in makes us strong, which is just the opposite.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, black men are 
at increased risk for getting or dying from prostate cancer. They are more than 
twice as likely to die from it and tend to be diagnosed at a younger age.
“Prostate cancer is almost never associated with any symptoms until it has 
spread considerably,” Essig says. “That is why PSA testing is so important.”
Bennett has already urged his male cousins and family members to get 
screened.
“You can’t bury your head in the sand and think it’s just going to go away,” he 
says. “It’s not.”
Now, only months after surgery, Bennett wants his story to help someone else 
feel less alone.
“You have to advocate for your health and your well-being,” he emphasizes. 
“Don’t be afraid to reach out. Don’t be afraid to talk about what you’re going 
through.” HN
Roan Cadavona, 
APRN, FNP-C
Nurse Practitioner
Ritu Aparajita, 
MD, RPVI
Vascular Surgeon
Kollagunta Chandrasekhar, 
MD, FACC
Cardiologist
Milcah Grace S. Caculitan, 
APRN, FNP-C
Nurse Practitioner
K.S. Chandrasekhar, MD, FCC
…established his clinic over 20 years ago. He is well known 
in the community and trusted for his accurate diagnosis and 
compassionate care.
 
Ritu Aparajita, MD, RPVI
 
Roan Cadavona, APRN, FNP-C
Milcah Grace S. Caculitan, APRN, FNP-C
• Board certified Family Nurse Practitioner
• Member of Staff for BayCare Winter Haven Hospital
• Board certified in Cardiovascular Disease and Internal Medicine
• Executive Director the Heart Function Clinic, Low Risk Chest Pain Center and 
 the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program for BayCare Winter Haven Hospital 
• Staff for BayCare Winter Haven Hospital
• Staff for Lake Wales Medical Center
• Clinical Associate Professor, FSU College of Medicine
• Nursing School: Laguna College. San Pablo City, Philippines
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing: Laguna College, San Pablo City, Philippines
• Master of Science in Nursing: University of South Florida,  Tampa, FL
• Board Certification:  Family Nurse Practitioner
• Hospital Affiliations BayCare Winter Haven Hospital
A Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon who earned her MBBS at University of Delhi, 
India. She then completed a research fellowship at Columbia University Medical 
Center and a residency in general surgery at Staten Island University Hospital in New 
York, she completed her fellowship training in Vascular Surgery at Newark Beth Israel 
Medical Center and St. Barnabas Medical Center in New Jersey. She’s co-authored 
more than two dozen journal articles. She was recently nominated for the American 
Medical Association Inspiration Award that recognizes physicians who have 
contributed to the achievements of women in the medical profession.
…brings a high level of education and experience in Cardiac Catheterization, 
Electrophysiology and working in the Cardiovascular Progressive Care unit. He serves 
a vital role in providing patients with optimal cardiovascular care through counselling 
and screening, as well as disease prevention and management strategies.
Upon receiving her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of South Florida, 
Milcah worked as a Nurse Practitioner at a Neurology Clinic for 10 years.  Prior to that 
she spent 8 years as a Charge Nurse in the Medical Surgical Unit at Lake Wales 
Medical Center. These experiences have enhanced her perspective on providing 
exceptional care. She prides herself in taking the extra time to listen and educate patients 
while promoting participation in their cardiac health. Milcah believes in the importance 
of the patient-provider relationship and is committed to providing 
high-quality, patient-centered care.
LAUREN STEWART
“You have to advocate for your health  
and your well-being. Don’t be afraid to reach out. 
Don’t be afraid to talk about what you’re  
going through.”
– Nakia Bennett

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