© Provided by India Today Tips and tricks on appearing for a B-school entrance exam

After receiving graduate degree, many graduates choose PGDM/MBA as their post-graduate course. To achieve this goal, they concentrate on preparations for passing the MBA entrance test, the Common Aptitude Test (CAT), and numerous other entrance examinations. Millions of students compete to get into a prestigious MBA college. It is a difficult process that requires careful preparation and strategy. Therefore, it is advisable for the aspirants to spend some time gathering ideas.

Most aspirants overlook the fact that preparing for an admission entrance exam also involves studying for a challenging business degree after passing the exam. Hence, the journey and struggle do not finish once you have got into your dream school. It is merely the beginning of a journey.

The following tips and tricks from the expert Dr. Soni Sharma, Associate Professor, Business Communication and HR, Jaipuria School of Business, Ghaziabad can certainly guide management aspirants to take the lead and overcome their fear of entrance examination.

ATTEND TO MORE VITAL AREAS AND RESOLVE THE WEAKER AREAS:

Students can easily identify strength during preparation by taking online tests. Through repeated testing, they can know their strong or weak areas, whether it is analytical, descriptive, or a data-driven RC. After taking a test and practising the sections, low-score areas can be worked upon to elevate the performance gradually. In the first section, VARC (Verbal Ability and studying Comprehension), introspects your strong and weak areas while you attempt the passages.

MANAGE YOUR TIME PRUDENTLY:

A student should create a way of solving questions in a time-bound manner. Every individual will have their own style of tackling difficult questions. Try to solve them unconventionally with the best shortcuts possible. Come up with unique ideas. If you stick to solving a problem traditionally, like using the long method to solve mathematical equations, it can lead to poor time management. However, to work on this technique, you must build a strong foundation of the concepts. Many students develop their techniques by creating diagrams or codes that help them solve quantitative ability questions. While attempting VARC, see if the passage has data/fact-based elements, and note the critical figures to answer accurately.

ATTEMPT MOCK TESTS:

Mock tests are exams similar to the real exam. Solving mocks will provide you an idea of the questions that can be expected on exam day. Also, mock tests provide a reality check on how adequate your preparation is. While working on a mock test, you will know how fast or slow you are. When you solve mocks, you might realise that you need more time for a particular section and less for another.

ATTEMPTING THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S PAPERS:

Solving previous years' papers can help you understand the patterns, analyse the types of questions, and marking schemes. It also helps students enhance their speed and accuracy. Candidates can develop new shortcut tricks while solving questions from previous papers. Lastly, attempting the previous years' paper will boost the morale of the candidates. The higher the confidence, the better they will be able to perform in their examination.

ACT ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM:

I never suggest my students to refrain from using social media to prepare for their examinations. Subscribing to education websites, news websites, and social media groups can help. Articles, trial papers, and study materials are available on most websites and can be downloaded for free. Ask questions, share thoughts, and broaden your knowledge base by connecting with other MBA aspirants. Many certified and counsellors assist students in studying for such career-defining tests may also be found in such forums.

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The CAT exam is one of the most challenging exams out there, and for those looking to join top business schools in India, it's an absolute must. But conquering the CAT can seem like a daunting task - luckily, this article provides you with the tools you need to ace this high-stakes test! Get ready to explore our section-wise study guide and tips for success as we prepare ourselves for the upcoming CAT exam 2023.

Introduction to the CAT exam and What to Expect

The CAT exam is a computer-based test that assesses a candidate's ability to think critically and solve problems. The exam consists of three parts: verbal, quantitative, and analytical. Each section contains a variety of question types, ranging from multiple-choice to essay.

Candidates are given 2 hours to complete the exam. It is important to note that the CAT exam is not a pass/fail test; instead, it is meant to provide insights into a candidate's strengths and weaknesses. The results of the CAT exam are used by business schools to make admissions decisions.

CAT 2023 Exam: Section-wise Tips to Score Maximum Percentile: -

Firstly, we need to know the CAT exam Pattern, Understand the Question Types & Create a Study Plan.Assuming you are a fresher, seeking admission into the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), here are key section-wise tips to help you prepare for the CAT exam 2023:

1) Quantitative Aptitude Section of the CAT Exam

The Quantitative Aptitude section of the CAT exam is one of the most important sections in the exam. This section tests your ability to solve mathematical problems and to interpret data. The questions in this section are based on arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data interpretation. Some tricks for quantitative aptitude:

• To score well in this section, you need to have a strong understanding of basic mathematical concepts.
• You also need to be able to apply these concepts to solve complex problems.
• Furthermore, you need to be able to interpret data and draw logical conclusions from it.

2) Data Interpretation and Reasoning Section of the CAT Exam

Data Interpretation, Reasoning is one of the most important sections of the CAT exam. This section tests your ability to interpret data and make logical deductions. The questions in this section are based on charts, graphs, and tables.

You will be given a set of data and you will be required to answer questions based on that data. The questions will test your ability to understand the data, make deductions from the data, and to solve problems. Here are tips you can use:

• To do well in this section, you need to have a good understanding of basic concepts such as percentages, averages, ratios, and proportions.
• You also need to be able to understand complex concepts such as permutations and combinations.
• Practice is the key to success in this section. You should attempt as many practice questions as possible.
• In addition, you should also read books and articles on data interpretation. This will help you develop a better understanding of the concepts involved.

3) Verbal Ability Section of the CAT Exam

The Verbal Ability section of the CAT exam is designed to test your ability to understand and interpret written English.

• Read a lot: This is the best way to Improve your understanding of written English. Read books, newspapers, magazines, online articles, etc. on a regular basis. Not only will this Improve your understanding of the language, but it will also help increase your vocabulary.
• Practice studying comprehension passages: In order to do well in the RC section of the CAT exam 2023, you need to be able to understand long and complex passages quickly. To help with this, make sure to practice studying comprehension passages on a regular basis. You can find practice passages online or in textbooks specifically designed for CAT preparation.

Mock Tests & Practice Questions

Recommended Links:

For CAT 15 Mock Test trial Papers for the 2023 exam – Click Here

For Best CAT exam Books for 2023 exam Preparation – Click Here

For CAT exam Previous 25 Years Question Paper with Solutions For the 2023 exam – Click Here

For CAT Syllabus for the 2023 exam – Click Here

In order to decode the exam pattern for CAT 2023 Exam, it’s required to undertake practice with as many CAT Mock Test trial Paper as possible. This will not only help you get familiar with the exam format, but also allow you to identify your strengths and weaknesses.

You may opt for CAT Mock Test trial Papers of some renowned publishers such as Oswaal Books, that have exam-ready toolkit such tips, short-tricks, quick revision notes, mind-maps that helps to score maximum percentile. This book is also useful for SNAP, NMAT & XAT Exams.

However, it is important to be careful when using these resources, as some of them may not be of high quality.

Once you have access to the CAT Mock Test trial Paper for the 2023 Exam, it is time to start studying! Begin by looking at the question types that will be on the exam, and then focus on practicing those types of questions. If you can find some trial exams, even better - this will help you get an idea of what to expect on test day.

With enough practice, you will be able to confidently walk into the CAT exam feeling prepared and ready to conquer it!

Conclusion

The CAT exam is a formidable challenge, but with the right preparation and dedication, it can be conquered. By following our section-wise study guide and tips for success you should have all the confidence and knowledge necessary to succeed in this exam. With enough practice and hard work, you will be able to ace your CAT exam 2023! So, start working on it today! Good luck!

Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same.

This one probably violates our "no obvious hacks" rule, but it would be negligent to not have at least one duct tape-related hack from MacGyver. Not every MacGyverism has practical value in the real world, but this one does... sort of. In season 3, episode 18 of the original series, MacGyver improvises a diaper fastened with duct tape. Probably not the most hypoallergenic or absorbent solution, but at least one real-world mom with a real child has found it useful.

Diaper fastening methods have undergone a rapid evolution since the retronym "cloth diaper" first came about.  We've tried all manner of pins, snaps, clips, hooks, and tapes, continually refining them for safety, comfort, and ease of use. In the 1970s, adhesive tape closures became a thing, and disposable diapers using such tapes are still available today, though they've largely been replaced by hook-and-loop tape. MacGyver's duct tape solution is basically a variety of this design, but worse. The big, ahem, sticking point is the ability to reposition the diaper closure. If you've ever diapered a baby, you know that they are disinterested in or, worse, irritated by diaper changes, and not always prone to cooperation. 

Using two hands to unspool duct tape and then taking your one shot at placing it perfectly probably isn't optimal. But it should work, in the sense that you can now get rid of the soiled diaper. And that, ultimately, is the most important thing.

Dear Mr. Bradshaw,

I am a high school junior, and I am planning to apply to several top colleges in the fall. I have been putting off thinking about what I will write for my college essays which are required by some of the schools.

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It is not so much writer’s block as it is that I just can’t find anything interesting about myself about which to write. I am not sure what to say or how to say it. Please help.

Signed,

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Stumped Student

Dear Stumped Student,

First, it’s important that you understand that an essay can play a huge role in your application. If nothing else, let that fact prime the pump and start the adrenaline flowing. Almost every college applicant must write a personal essay about himself or herself. Colleges typically have additional essays for you to write.

I will add a little fuel to the fire by pointing out that it is possible that an essay can make or break your chances of admission. While many colleges are not requiring essays in addition to your personal statement, others do or suggest that you submit one about why you want to attend that college, your desired area of study, your community involvement activities, challenges you have faced or your interests or activities. If the option is there take it. Applicants must separate themselves from the pack because there are only so many openings.

And, when it comes time for the admissions committee vote on your application, my view is that a well-written essay will set you apart and get you into the admit file. Remember that your essays are a chance to show admissions officials a side of you that is not reflected in other parts of your application. It is a chance to talk about your personal traits, plus the values and experiences that helped shape your life and provide you inspiration for the future. Tell them about the person behind the grades and the test scores.

If you aren’t comfortable talking about yourself, the essay task can be daunting. There are a number of books on how to write college essays. My favorite is “50 Successful Harvard Applications Essays,” published by the Harvard Crimson. It features writing examples from students who were admitted to Harvard and provides a helpful analysis at the end of each essay. In my opinion, you must get excited about the task at hand and finding the sound of your voice. I sometimes suggest that my clients read James D. Watson’s “The Double Helix: A Personal Account of the Discovery of the Structure DNA (Gunther S. Stent edition). Watson wrote about the momentous discovery with the easy pen of a diarist. He found the trick is to use a conversational tone of voice that puts even the most skeptical reader at ease without insulting their intelligence. His story is interesting because the discovery was revolutionary and met with skeptics and roadblocks. There is drama at every turn, and there is a huge dose of humor and self-effacement in his prose.

So, start writing. Use a friendly and unaffected tone of voice. Show members of the admissions committee a side of you that made you what you are — happy, sad, funny or serious. Be yourself and tell them about it.

Gerald Bradshaw is an international college admissions consultant with Bradshaw College Consulting in Crown Point.

The Common University Entrance Test also known as CUET is conducted at all Indian levels by the government body – the National Testing Agency for admission in various undergraduate, postgraduate, integrated, diploma, certification courses, and research programs in 45 central universities of India like DU, BHU, JMI, Hyderabad University.

Every year, thousands of students appear for the exam, and if this year it’s you, then here’s a major update: The CUET UG exam Registration 2023 is now open - from 9th February till 12th March 2023. The exam will be conducted between May 21- May 31 2023 in 13 major languages including English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu.

The aspirants are advised to start preparations right away if they want to beat the competition. For gaining high scores, one must be fully prepared, and solving papers plays a very important role in ensuring solid results, as that’s the best way to understand the pattern of the paper, which types of questions are asked, how much time to spend in every question and where is one exactly lagging. There are hundreds of books available in the market, and students generally start referring to 2-3 of them parallelly, which is not the right way as it causes a lot of confusion. One trusted book is enough. In order to the decode the exam pattern, you may opt for best seller exam books such as Oswaal CUET Mock Test trial Paper for the 2023 EXAM. These Mock Test trial Papers come up with exam ready-toolkit, mind maps, tips & short tricks to crack the exam with flying colors.

5 key Tips To Ensure Success in CUET UG exam 2023 & Get Admission in Top Universities & Colleges:-

1. Understand the pattern of paper

Every exam is unique. Therefore, after CUET UG 2023 exam Registration, the very next step that one must undertake is to analyze closely the exam structure, pattern of the question paper, and marketing scheme. If you want to provide the right direction to your preparation, get familiar with exam pattern by practicing with CUET Mock Test trial Paper of renowned publishers such as Oswaal Books for the 2023 exam now, which is exactly according to the latest pattern.

For Best CUET Books for 2023 exam Preparation – Click Here

For CUET 10 Mock Test trial Paper for 2023 exam - Click Here

For CUET Syllabus for 2023 exam – Click Here

As students have to cope with the pressure of balancing both boards and the CUET exam, there’s a lot of anxiety. If you have done CUET UG exam 2023 Registration, that does not mean you have to rush through things as there is still ample time to prepare. These simple tips and tricks will help you go a long way:

2. Keep yourself stress-free

First things, first, keep tension at bay. No one has succeeded in a mission if he/she has too many thoughts already going on in the mind. Keep your body active, meditate regularly, take small breaks while studying, and keep distressing yourself in between, and this can be only achieved if you start early. A healthy diet is very important in ensuring the right balance between your body and mind.

3. Prepare a time-table

As neither of the two exams can be compromised – Boards and CUET, a dedicated timetable can be followed if you really want to see the difference. Devote equal hours to both the important preparations, as that’s the best way to strike a balance.

4. Refer previous year’s question paper, trial paper, and mock tests

If you want to know your real score, then never hesitate in understanding your strength and weaknesses and that is only possible when you solve mock tests and last year’s papers. Take them very seriously, as the confidence that you will get after scoring well in these trial exams would be matchless. Time management, which plays a very important role, will only be possible when you practice papers regularly.

5. Stay motivated

Many people undergo CUET UG exam Registration with lots of enthusiasm but as time passes, they start doubting their abilities. For them, there is just one question, why did you start? And if it’s started, why are you leaving it in between? Put in all your efforts and you will surely succeed.

Now that you know mostly everything about CUET preparations, make CUET Mock Test trial Paper for the 2023 exam your best friend. Always remember revision is key if you are appearing for any competitive exam. Everyone covers the syllabus, but not all are able to remember on the exam day and the only way to make this possible is through last-minute revision.

Why Renowned Publishers Such as Oswaal Books Are So Popular Among Students?

Ensures 100% exam readiness

Quick tips and mind maps, these things might sound mighty but they play a major role one day before your exam. When you have burnt midnight oil for 4-5 months in a row, then why not recall at the end. Oswaal is here to make you 100% exam ready.

Concept clarity with smart answer key

After CUET registration 2023, make your mind ready for one thing, concept clarity before anything else. Until you understand the Topic well, there is a high chance that you will not be able to attempt questions during the exam. Mugging up is for a short period of time only, for long-term preparations, you can bank upon Oswaal books.

Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same.

It was two years since I’d had a proper checkup with my GP in London. A few months before the pandemic struck I’d moved to Cumbria, registered with the local surgery, and between lockdowns popped in, masked up, to have the regular blood tests a man in his fifties has. A few days later I got a call to say all was fine: the statins I took were doing their trick and everything else was normal. But a few weeks later, in May, heading to London for a work trip, I decided to book another medical with the private GP I was still registered with in Notting Hill. There was no particular reason; nothing felt wrong. But something in my head said it would be a good idea. After all, until I’d moved to the Lake District, Dr Haughton had been my doctor for 20 years. He knew the in and outs, the strengths and weaknesses of my health and body over the years and – although not inexpensive – his checkups seemed more thorough than the one I’d just had in Windermere.

“Why are you spending a few hundred quid for a private checkup when you’ve just had one up here?” asked my husband. He had a point. But, as it turned out, so did I. Shortly after my second one, Haughton called to say my PSA levels had risen more than they should have and he’d like me to come back in a couple of weeks to test them again. There’s probably nothing to worry about, he assured me, but it’s best to be sure. To get a more precise reading, he asked me not to exercise rigorously or ejaculate for 48 hours before the blood test. After ten years of marriage I assured him that the latter wouldn’t be a problem.

Of course, I had no idea what a PSA was. And it turns out that neither do many men I’ve spoken to since. The PSA test is a blood test that measures the amount of prostate-specific antigen in your blood. Prostate-specific antigen is a protein produced by both normal and cancerous prostate cells. It’s normal for all men to have some PSA in their blood, but if your PSA levels are raised,it can be a sign of prostate cancer. But it can also just be an indication of your prostate size (the levels tend to increase as you get older, as the prostate grows) or it could be a sign that you have a urine infection.

To complicate things, there is no one PSA studying that is considered normal. And it’s for this reason that there isn’t a national screening programme for prostate cancer in the UK. The NHS argues that false-positive PSA results often lead to redundant and expensive further tests, such as biopsies. They can also cause men to worry unnecessarily about their health. After what I’ve been through, I’d argue that it is necessary to worry about your health. In the UK, one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. And 12,000 men in the UK die from it each year (that’s one man every 45 minutes).

My second PSA test results also came back high. For a man of my age, the studying shouldn’t be higher than 3ng/ml. Mine was 4.3. “I think you need to have an MRI scan,” said Haughton. “Let’s just be sure there’s nothing there to worry about.” This meant another wait for a week or two, and yet another few hundred quid. I was more worried about the cost than the results. There was no cancer in my family, I ate healthily, exercised regularly and was slim. This was just one of those annoying blips you have to go through when you reach middle age, to be on the safe side.

But a few days after lying in a giant scanning machine that was able to produce detailed images of my prostate, I got another call. The radiologist’s results from the scan revealed signs of what appeared to be significant tumours. I was boarding a plane to Cork for a friend’s wedding when the call came through, so couldn’t google what on earth this might mean until I reached the hotel. I had to spend the flight chatting to friends as if nothing had happened. Telling everyone I’d just discovered I might have cancer – but then again, might not – seemed a bit of a Debbie Downer en route to a weekend of celebrations.

● Half of men miss target time for urgent prostate cancer treatment

It was the “maybe” having cancer that was worse than the real news that I did have it. It was the journey there, rather than the big reveal, that I found torturous. The dithering, not the diagnosis, was the killer, so to speak. When you only “maybe” have cancer, you can’t do much about it. You can’t book time off work, cancel travel plans, decide on a course of treatment, even elicit much sympathy. You can’t even feel sorry for yourself. You might have nothing to feel sorry about. All you have to do is nod cheerily every time someone tells you it will be fine, that it will probably turn out to be nothing at all, that loads of people who have prostate cancer often die of old age without even knowing they’ve had it.

And yet, despite having no symptoms, despite never having had a serious health problem, hospital stay or broken limb in 56 years, despite being one of those men who never even has to get up in the middle of the night for a pee, I knew that something serious was up. You can tell by the casually concerned voice of your GP when he calls to say he wants to do more tests. You can tell when you ask the surgeon who performed your biopsy how long before you get the results and he doesn’t look you in the eye, when the nurse holds your hand and says it’s so unfair when you’re so young (no one had said that to me for a while), when the appointments in an increasingly beleaguered NHS are surprisingly quick, that something is wrong.

And so, without much of a rehearsal, I suddenly entered a whole new world of waiting rooms, neon-lit corridors, prodding, poking, pills and operating tables; months and months of visiting certified who dealt in parts of the body I didn’t know existed. And while they visited parts of my body, I visited parts of the country I’d never seen. The next few weeks were like a Grand Tour of northwest hospitals. Now that I needed to see urologists and undergo biopsies I was back with the NHS – I couldn’t afford to continue this journey privately and also wanted to be near home. One week I was seeing a urology consultant at a hospital in Kendal, the next having a biopsy in a hospital in Barrow, and shortly afterwards getting the results from a consultant at a hospital in Lancaster.

It was the prostate biopsy – to clarify whether the suspected tumours were cancerous or not – that I dreaded more than anything else I’d ever undergone before. I had done too much online research and thus realised how truly unpleasant it was going to be. The thought of sitting semi-naked in a semi-reclined chair, with my legs up in stirrups, while needles were inserted through my perineum (the sensitive area of skin between your balls and your bum) to administer a local anaesthetic, followed by a spring-loaded tool that would puncture the prostate gland itself a dozen or so times (making a loud staple-gun sound as it did so) in order to remove tissue samples, was beyond the pale. To add insult to injury, simultaneously an ultrasound probe would be inserted up my bum to help the doctors guide the needles. Even though so many people go through so much worse every day, I had sleepless nights for the ten days leading up to the procedure. On the allotted morning, I turned up 20 minutes early, desperate for it to be over. An embarrassed nurse peered over the counter: “I’m so sorry. The machine just broke. We’ll have to postpone the biopsy. We’ve found you a slot” – an unfortunate turn of phrase in the circumstances – “in a week’s time at a different hospital.”

It’s the waiting that gets to you. Friends of mine who have had cancer agree. Waiting for results no longer means watching Strictly on Sundays or checking numbers on the EuroMillions; it means waiting to know whether you might live or die. The morning of the rescheduled biopsy, I woke up with agonising toothache. I had clearly been clenching my teeth for weeks on end. I rang my dentist’s surgery at 8.30am and begged for an emergency appointment. Kindly, they told me to come straight in. I had cracked a perfect tooth, it was untreatable and they would need to remove it straight away. But I’m having a local anaesthetic at lunchtime, I told them. I can’t have two in one day, can I? I could and did. With my mouth and eyes wide open, I watched as the dentist sweated and struggled to remove the tooth. I could taste the blood. As soon as this was over, I would get in the car, blood around my mouth, and drive to the hospital, to receive another local anaesthetic, and have my prostate punctured. Good times.

The nurses were so kind. And honest. This is going to hurt, one of them told me, so I’m going to hold your hand and try to distract you with annoying chatter. And she did. I listened to her babble on as the gun shot loudly into my prostate a dozen times. Through my legs I studied the faces of the two poor doctors whose view I didn’t envy. You become good at studying people’s faces in this process and I caught the slight glance they gave one another when the lubricated probe gave them both a glimpse of what exactly was going on down there.

It was only at this point that I actually wondered what the f*** a prostate was for in the first place. The walnut-sized gland that lives at the base of the bladder inside the pelvis isn’t often the centre of conversation. Most friends I asked didn’t seem to know much about it either. My mum even asked if she had one. Considering the urethra carries urine from the bladder through the centre of the prostate and then the penis, and that its main job is to make semen, the fluid that carries the sperm, I told my mother I sincerely hoped she didn’t. I inanely wondered if it was technically classified as penis or bottom cancer and, if it had to be one of those, which would I prefer? Penis cancer might get more sympathy, cancer of the bottom more sniggers – my friends are quite childish. It’s actually a pelvic cancer. I was ashamed of myself for finding that a relief.

I was quite calm as I waited to see the consultant ten days later at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary for the results of the biopsy. It was pretty obvious I had cancer; I just needed to find out how bad it was. My friends were all convinced I’d be told it was early stages and just be advised to keep an eye on it over the next few months to see whether it was growing quickly or not. This is called active surveillance. Many prostate cancers are slow-growing and so if there’s no symptoms or problems, the idea is to delay treatment until/if it becomes necessary. Many of the side-effects of treating prostate cancer can be long-term and dramatically affect the quality of your life. When my name was called, I jumped up quickly and practically ran to the consultation room; I absentmindedly left my husband Simon behind, who had gone to get a snack. He soon caught me up, red-faced, carrying an unwrapped ham sandwich.

The consultant urologist was just as you’d hope: studious-looking, bespectacled, polite and matter-of-fact. He was also straight to the point. It was an aggressive tumour, radiologically a stage T3a disease – ie had broken through the covering of the prostate – and rated a 5+4=9 on the Gleason grading score. There was a high risk that it had advanced elsewhere. The Gleason score is not a Northern Premier League football team but the method used to calculate the grade and aggressiveness of a prostate cancer. It ranges from six to ten. I was nine. A top scorer (a first for me since my 11-plus). Dr Jalil said he was going to request an urgent bone scan.

Simon went pale. I just sat there. Having spent the last two weeks googling, it was what I had expected, if perhaps a little more severe. If the bone scan was clear, Jalil explained, we would be able to look at radical options: radiotherapy, hormonal therapy, radical surgery and brachytherapy.

“And if it is in the bones?” Simon asked.

“Then the likelihood is that it can’t be cured, but can hopefully be treated,” the urologist explained. “There are certainly things we can do to make metastatic bone cancer more comfortable for you. But bone metastasis can be painful and can cause other problems, such as fractures, spinal cord compression or high blood calcium levels. If your bones start to deteriorate, there are things we can do: we can insert a metal pole into your spine to help strengthen it, for example.” Although Jalil didn’t mention it in our meeting, I recalled having read that the life expectancy for men with the advanced disease was likely five to six years.

Everyone tells you that your mind goes a bit blurry and your recall hazy when you receive a diagnosis like this. And they’re right. Even though I asked the consultant to write it down for me, and Simon was there too, it was hard to take everything in. Fortunately, the hospital team are fully aware of this and so as soon as you leave the consultant’s room you are taken straight to see a urology key worker, who will take you through the diagnosis again, talk about the next steps and treatment options, and even provide you a mobile number to call if you need to ask anything. This was a godsend. My mind was still floating, as if outside my body – this body that suddenly seemed to have decided to attack me for no reason – when I refocused and heard Lorraine asking me whether I wanted her to order me a free penis pump. A penis pump?

“Many of the treatment options can lead to a smaller penis or erectile dysfunction,” she explained. “The sooner you start tackling this potential outcome, the better.” Where would the penis pump be sent to, I asked. “Your local pharmacy,” she said. But it’s a family-run chemist in a small village. I can’t go in there and ask if my penis pump has arrived yet, I said, horrified. Lorraine smiled.

I don’t want treatment if it’s going to shrink my penis, I added. “Well, sometimes,” she replied, patiently, “you have to choose between a longer life or a longer penis.” I’ll have to get back to you on that one, I told her.

Having a serious illness, it turns out, is a full-time job: the admin, info sheets, care pamphlets, hospital appointment forms, test results, books that tell you what to eat to beat cancer, ordering industrial quantities of broccoli, and answering the dozens of inquiring calls, WhatsApp messages and texts you receive from kind and concerned friends each day. The latter, rather ungrateful-sounding I know, can be a little overwhelming. You get asked so many questions that you don’t know the answers to yet. You get bored of replying to the same questions, of only ever discussing cancer, of always talking about your health. I was even kindly sent a small plastic card by the Macmillan charity to keep in my wallet that I was to show staff in bars, petrol stations and restaurants. It says on it, “Due to my cancer treatment I need urgent access to a toilet. Please can you help?” In the old days, it used to be cards for complimentary memberships to fashionable clubs that arrived in the post. Now I had free admission to other people’s toilets. Welcome to Club Cancer.

With some cancers, such as prostate, you can occasionally choose between treatment options. The problem is that the menu you’re choosing from isn’t remotely appetising. Once I’d discovered, thankfully, that the cancer hadn’t reached my bones, I was advised that there were two obvious next steps. One was a radical prostatectomy. This major surgery involves the removal of the prostate gland, seminal vesicles, blood vessels, nerves, surrounding tissue and potentially a number of lymph nodes too. The upside is that if it works, the cancer is gone. The downside is that side-effects can include temporary or permanent incontinence as well as erectile dysfunction; plus, without a prostate, I would never be able to ejaculate again.

The second option, I was told, was a combination of hormone therapy for two years and radiotherapy to the prostate and pelvic nodes for seven and a half weeks. The upside is that this usually works and you don’t undergo major surgery and lose your prostate. The downside is that the radiation can cause secondary cancers, urinary issues, problems with bowel function and fatigue; while the hormone replacement therapy can lead to erectile dysfunction, gynecomastia (the growth of breast tissue), depression, heart disease, weight gain, loss of muscle mass and osteoporosis. Wow. Spoilt for choice. Which to choose?

Although I was unlucky enough to get prostate cancer – it was just bad luck, I think, since, basically, some of my own cells had inadvertently decided to attack the ones around them (their cellmates?) for no other reason than pure malice – there were fortunate moments too. One was that the cousin of a close friend happened to be one of the UK’s leading prostate specialists, Ben Challacombe. We spoke on the phone. He suggested he first conduct a PSMA PET scan (for which your body is injected with radioactive gallium to light up the areas of cancer) to double-check whether the cancer had spread to my bones or not, but also check the lymph nodes and other organs. If this was clear, he suggested I consider surgery while I was still young and strong enough to take it.

Challacombe’s particular area of expertise was performing radical prostatectomies using the Da Vinci robot system. In a nutshell, the robot has a number of arms wielding forceps, scissors, needle drivers and cameras that are operated by the surgeon a few feet away via a giant console. It offers flexibility, steadiness and precision in hard-to-reach areas and involves smaller incisions that ultimately make it easier to spare integral nerve and tissue damage (between the urethra and rectum), less bleeding, less pain, quicker recovery times and shorter hospital stays. Challacombe told me to read a piece he and Stephen Fry – on whom he had performed one of these operations a few years before – had both written for a publication called Nature. I had almost exactly the same type and stage of cancer as Fry and so was able to read in detail what to expect. I also, against everyone’s advice, watched a video of the operation on YouTube. It wasn’t pretty, but at least I knew what I was in for.

There was only one hitch. The cost. Challacombe, who was based at Guy’s and St Thomas’ in London, split his time between private care and the NHS. If I went through the NHS it would probably be a month or two before I could be operated on (for admin reasons, as much as waiting lists). If I went privately, at a cost of around £26,000, potentially it could be done in only a couple of weeks. Without wishing to push me, he indicated that time was not on my side.

Typically, for very nearly three decades I had worked for magazine publishers and then fashion retailers who provided Bupa health insurance as part of the remuneration package. Less than three years before, however, I had left full-time employment to be a freelance consultant. I no longer had any health insurance at all. Neither did I have £26,000 sitting in a bank account. If we’d had to, Simon and I would probably have been able to raise the funds through a loan, or increase the mortgage, or borrow from a family member. In the end, my 80-year-old mother, who was about to move permanently into our guest barn, kindly insisted that she pay for the treatment.

Once again, bad luck followed good. The robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy was booked at Guy’s Hospital in London Bridge for 9am on September 19.

A few days after the op was confirmed, the Queen died. Different dates for her funeral were being bandied around. Please don’t make it the 19th, I prayed. Not only was I worried it might mean the operation was postponed – London would be at a standstill for a funeral of that size – but I didn’t want the doctors and nurses watching TV while I lay on a table with my prostate hanging out. The funeral was set for the 19th. My operation was pushed back a week. The selfish queen (her, not me). Once again, the waiting.

I’m not especially sentimental, nor so far particularly scared of dying, but I do like to be in control. And there was, of course, something mildly disconcerting about spending the days before undergoing major surgery for aggressive cancer watching endless footage of a perfectly planned funeral. So one evening, while home alone, I decided to plan mine. Just in case. Although a procession through Wellington Arch and a final resting place in the private chapel at Windsor Castle were unlikely, I could at least make a few choices.

Unexpectedly, I enjoyed plotting my own funeral a little too much. I chose irreverent readings to unsettle the poor person who would have to stand at the lectern and recite them; I wrote my own eulogy – so absurdly delusional and flattering that the thought of my friend Richard having to read it with a poker face made tears of laughter run down my face. I finished with the epitaph for my grave stone. I thought about this for some time. It would state, truthfully, “I had a lovely time.” And it has been. If this all went ass up – literally – I couldn’t really complain. (I also couldn’t really complain because I’d be dead.) I rang my sister, Sophia, to see what she thought. “I like that,” she said. “It’s true. You have. And better than what I’d have written on mine.” What would your epitaph say, I asked. “A little bit disappointed.” We laughed out loud.

I can’t say much about the operation, as I was unconscious, but you won’t be surprised to learn I survived. I was in the operating area for around six hours. The robot arms had slowly scissored, squirmed and burrowed down through my abdomen to the area surrounding the prostate. There, expertly and carefully – to avoid as much nerve damage as possible – Challacombe had removed the prostate gland (the robot arms place it in a minuscule carrier bag before bringing it out of the body to prevent the cancer cells spreading) and also removed 20 of the surrounding lymph nodes in case the cancer had got into those too.

I came to in the recovery bay to the sound of heartbreaking screams from the cubicle next to me. The poor woman in there had just undergone a mastectomy and the reality of her breasts being removed was too much for her to take when she regained consciousness. I was eventually wheeled back to the ward with drips in my arm, a catheter in my penis and a urine bag strapped to my thigh. I hated the pain and discomfort, the inability to move, the helplessness of being attached to a bed and drips and tubes, worrying how you’ll get to the loo if you need to poo, watching your own wee fill a see-thorough plastic sac, the ignominy of being asked every ten minutes to try to pass wind (they dilate your abdomen with carbon dioxide during surgery to make it easier to progress through it), not even having the energy to lift a phone to read messages.

Somehow, you slowly get your strength back. Vanity played a big part in it. I was so aghast at the thought of a nurse taking me to the loo and waiting for me that, on the second night, I slowly sat up, undid the drips and catheter, and waddled my way to the bathroom. It was agony, and took for ever, but I managed it.

Cumbria was deemed too far from the hospital in case of complications, so I stayed with my sister for ten days until the catheter had been removed. Each day I got stronger, learnt to sit up, lean forward and go for short, wobbly walks. I learnt to empty the urine bag from my catheter multiple times a day; empty the other bag poking out from my stomach where the fluid from the lymph nodes was draining; change the dressings on the six wounds; inject myself each evening with blood-thinning medication. It would be around five days before the lymph-node drain could be removed, ten days before the catheter could be taken out, six weeks for firm scar tissue to develop, and six weeks before I could have another PSA test that would establish whether I was free of cancer or would need radiotherapy. Yet more waiting.

There was some good news. My bladder control, only a few days after the catheter was removed, was back to normal. It could have taken months. The relief I felt as I put away all the TENA Men nappies and absorbent pads I’d been told to stock up on was immeasurable. I followed, and still do, the daily reminders from the Squeezy app (it incongruously sits alongside my Soho House one) that instructs you on how to do your pelvic floor exercises six times a day. It will be another few months (or even years), however, before my nerves are repaired enough to enable an erection unaided (hello, penis pump from Amazon). And, of course, there will be no second coming when it comes to ejaculations. Dry orgasms only from now on (not quite the same, but better than you might imagine).

On November 16 I went to London for a blood test and the next day to Guy’s to see Challacombe and find out if I still had cancer. I was nervous for those who cared for me; I was nervous about my two grown-up sons (from my first marriage), whose young lives I wanted to watch and nurture for longer; I was nervous too – you’ll think I’m insane – about a future without cancer. Since last spring my life had been lived in a cancer bubble. Over the past few months the only thing I’d had to worry about was being ill and getting well. Work had been on hold, my social life had been paused, nobody had expected anything from me. My daily timetable had been dictated by disease, doctors and search engines. The only thing anyone asked of me was to live. Sometimes that felt as if it might be an unwieldy task, but at least it was the only one.

Challacombe looked relaxed as he opened the door to his office. “How does a PSA test of less than 0.03 sound to you? You’re cancer-free.” My sister, who had insisted on coming with me, cried with relief. I felt numb. It was just too difficult to process the fact that, within the past six months, I’d been diagnosed with cancer, despite not having a single symptom, discovered it was an aggressive, potentially incurable one, learnt that I may need metal poles in my spine to hold up the bones, written my own eulogy, had parts of my body removed, and now didn’t have cancer again. I was so fortunate. All those poor patients – some of whom I’d chatted to over the months as we shared hospital waiting rooms decorated with children’s drawings and motivational quotes – whose journeys weren’t so straightforward; those friends of mine who had died too young from cancer over the years – the first, Ruth, when we were only 32. I felt guilty that two friends of mine who had been diagnosed with cancer before me were still being treated for the disease after me. So why didn’t I feel more lucky? And did I now just go back to work again on Monday morning as if nothing had happened?

Today, last year’s journey feels like a surreal dream. Apart from the scars on my abdomen and the nerve-related side-effects, life seems pretty normal. That’s a good thing, of course. But perhaps I would like it to feel a little less normal. Someone asked me at a dinner last week if recovering from cancer had given me a different perspective and new goals in life – you often read about “a new lease of life” in people who’ve escaped a potentially terminal illness. Alas, I haven’t gone skydiving, trekking in Peru or launched a wellness brand. Perhaps that will come. What I have become, at least, is even more grateful for what I already knew I had: an amazing family, an extraordinary group of friends and a home I love in one of the most beautiful parts of the country. And grateful, too, for the doctor and surgeon who both saved my life – the former for spotting the cancer and the latter for removing it.

I was initially reluctant to write this as my experience of the disease has so far been much easier than that of many others (I still have to test my PSA levels every 12 weeks to ensure that cancer hasn’t appeared anywhere else). But since there are around 167,000 deaths in the UK from cancer each year, I wanted to share this story in the hope that more men aged over 50 will request an annual PSA test when they visit their GP. If you don’t ask, you don’t get. Your prostate doesn’t normally loom large in your life. But just because it’s hidden somewhere up your bum doesn’t mean you shouldn’t keep an eye on it, so to speak. It could save your life.

Shoot credits
Styling Hannah Rogers. Grooming Dani Guinsberg at Carol Hayes Management using Daimon Barber and Cellcosmet

Friday, Feb. 17 

• SAJE Senior Ministry is hosting chair yoga at 10:30 a.m. at Concord Trinity United Methodist Church, 5275 S. Lindbergh Blvd. Admission is $3 and SilverSneakers is accepted.

• SAJE Senior Ministry is hosting ZumbaGold at 11:30 a.m. at Concord Trinity United Methodist Church, 5275 S. Lindbergh Blvd. Admission is $3.

Saturday, Feb. 18

• The Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site, 7400 Grant Road, is hosting a ‘Ranger Talk” at 10 a.m. Park Historian Nick Sacco will discuss the relationship between President Grant and Frederick Douglas. Reservations recommended, call 314-842-1867 ext. 230.

• Discover library resources to prepare for the ACT, SAT and AP exams at Grant’s View Branch of the St. Louis County Library, 9700 Musick Road, at 2 p.m. This session will show all the tricks needed to get ready for test day. For teens, registration required at slcl.org/events.

• Cut out and create silhouette scenes in the style of African-American artist Kara Walker a the Oak Bend Branch of the St. Louis County Library, 842 S. Holmes Ave., at 10 a.m. In honor of Black History Month. For ages 4 to 10; registration required at slcl.org/events.

Sunday, Feb. 19

• Take part in the “Great Backyard Bird Count” at the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site, 7400 Grant Road, at 2 p.m. Every year, people across the world participate in an annual citizen-science bird count project for four days in February. Park Ranger Ashton will guide the group and provide details about the project. All ages welcome.

Monday, Feb. 20

• All branches of the St. Louis County Library will be closed in observance of President’s Day.

• The Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site, 7400 Grant Road, is hosting a President’s Day museum quest at 9 a.m,. All ages are welcome to participate in a quest using clues to learn more about President Grant’s life.

Tuesday, Feb. 21

• The Oak Bend Branch of the St. Louis County Library, 842 S. Holmes Ave., is hosting a glow show at 6:30 p.m., presented by Mad Science. Learn about the properties of light. For ages 6 to 11; register at slcl.org/events.

• The Mehlville Oakville Alumni Association will meet at 6:30 p.m.,  2625 Telegraph Road.

• The Ladies of Oakland will meet at 1 p.m. at the Oakland House, 7801 Genesta Street.

The Take-Off Pounds Assembly meets from 9-10 a.m. at 824 Union Road.

• The International Plastic Modelers’ Society meets at 7 p.m. at the Affton Elks Lodge, 6330 Heege Road.

Wednesday, Feb. 22

• The Kiwanis Club of South County meets at 12:30-1:30 p.m. at Frailey’s Southtown Grill, 4329 Butler Hill Road.

• South County Toastmasters meets at 6 p.m. at the Sunset Hills Community Center, 3915 S. Lindbergh Blvd.

• The Rotary Club of Crestwood and Sunset Hills meets at Jubilee Church, 10801 Sunset Office Drive, at noon.

• The Cliff Cave Branch of the St. Louis County Library, 5430 Telegraph Road, is hosting a presentation about adaptive aging at 6 p.m. Using library resources, learn about the lifespan approach to aging. For adults. Registration required at slcl.org/events. 

• Learn how to use Google Maps for navigation, exploring local businesses, viewing satellite footage of a location and much more at the Oak Bend Branch of the St. Louis County Library, 842 S. Holmes Ave., at 10 a.m. Registration required at slcl.org/events.

Thursday, Feb. 23

• Jeffco Swing Dance Club meets 7 to 10 p.m. at the Arnold VFW, 2301 Church Road.

• The Meramec Valley Branch of the St. Louis County Library, 1501 San Simeon Way, is hosting a Red Cross Blood Drive from 1 to 5 p.m. Sign up for an appointment at www.redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.

• SAJE Senior Ministry is hosting a movie matinee, “Belfast”, at 1 p.m. at St. Thomas Holy Spirit, 3980 S. Lindbergh Blvd.,

• SAJE Senior Ministry is hosting bingo at 10 a.m. at Advent Episcopal Church, 9373 Garber. Fun prizes.

From new drivers from manufacturers like Callaway and TaylorMade to shoes and clothing, the 18th annual Pete Carlson Golf and Tennis Golf Expo will offer desert golf fans equipment and other golf-related items that have only been on the market a few weeks.

The expo, free to the public, will be Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the driving range at College of the Desert off Fred Waring Drive in Palm Desert. While golf expos and demonstration days are common in the desert at private clubs and even some golf resorts, the Pete Carlson expo is the only one featuring more than a dozen golf companies that can be attended by the public.

Golfers will be able to test the latest equipment unveiled by major companies just two weeks ago at the PGA Merchandise Show in Florida. While golf courses in the east and north might be months away from play, golfers in the desert can buy the new equipment at the show and be among the first in the country to use the clubs. Representatives of the manufacturers will be on hand to custom fit golfers throughout the day.

“We pretty much have them available,” Carlson said. “People can test them and purchase on site.”

Among the new items recently put on the market are the Paradym driver by Callaway, recently used by Jon Rahm in winning his first two starts in 2023 including The American Express in La Quinta, and the Stealth 2 driver from TaylorMade. Carlson also mentioned the new Ping 4T430 driver as a club expected to get attention from buyers.

More:Column: The American Express winning over some non-believers with strong field, great energy

"Golfers can get fittings from the manufacturer reps and they will be there to be hands on with the public,” Carlson said. “It’s a good experience. People can get some quality time with someone who is knowledgeable about the products. They have the shafts there, so you can try different shafts.”

In addition to manufacturers like Callaway, TaylorMade, Cleveland, Titlelist, Ping and more, Carlson said more than 20 manufacturers will be on site with shoes, clothing and other golf accessories.

Carlson added that purchases at the expo will be under discounted pricing, meaning the clubs will be less expensive than at the store in a week or two.

Trick Shot artist Joey O will perform on the driving range at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. each day, with PGA champion Al Geiberger giving a short-game clinic at noon each day.

Admission and parking are free both days, with parking provided on the campus of COD.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Free golf expo to showcase latest drivers, accessories at College of the Desert

Feb. 14—SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — The Flurry "Winter Roots" Festival, a celebration of traditional music and dance, is happening this weekend in the Spa City.

This winter's festival, scheduled for Friday, Feb. 17 through Sunday, Feb. 19, will take place entirely within the Hilton and Saratoga Springs City Center complex on Broadway in downtown Saratoga Springs.

The event will offer more than 100 sessions of live music and dance for all, featuring contra dancing continuously throughout the weekend and a full schedule of swing and blues dance on Sunday.

Winter Roots will include 18 different dance styles such as Irish, English country, waltz, balfolk, Czech, square dance, sean-nós/old style Irish, Métis and French, Canadian, Zydeco, samba, Israeli and Scottish country dancing, along with concerts, workshops, and plenty of opportunities to jam with other musicians.

Swing dance programming will take place Saturday night and all day Sunday.

Sessions range from beginner through experienced levels, and there will be lots of opportunities to learn how in a fun and friendly environment.

Dances are informal, participatory and appropriate for singles and couples. Eventgoers never need to attend with a partner for partner dances, and partners will change between dances in many of the sessions.

It is recommended to dress casually and comfortably, with soft-soled shoes preferred.

"Whether you're a seasoned dancer or musician, love to experience new types of dance, learn new musical tricks, or just enjoy listening to fantastic tunes among friends," a press release for the festival said, "there's something for everyone to enjoy at Winter Roots!"

Adult ticket prices range from $38 to $145. Volunteers are needed, and free admission is provided for those who work six hours during the weekend.

Per the Winter Roots COVID-19 policy, attendees must document vaccination with an initial dose/series, plus one booster if first vaccinated in 2021, and must document a negative rapid test on the day of entry. Masking is optional but encouraged. Masks will be provided, and some

dances will have a mask-required line/section. The full policy with additional details is available online at https://www.flurryfestival.org/winter-covid-policy/.

Winter Roots will not include sessions specifically focused on family or children's programming.

More information about ticket sales, the schedule of sessions, performers and volunteer opportunities can be found online at www.flurryfestival.org.

(c)2023 The Saratogian, Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.