Joost, who lives in Utrecht with his wife and their two dogs, is an entrepreneur and doesn't like to sit still. "Besides running my cleaning company, I play sports three to four times a week." He describes himself as a bon vivant. "I regularly go out for dinner with my wife and we enjoy a good party."
In early 2022, Joost felt a bit tired. "I had some aches here and there, was fatigued. Nothing serious, but I was curious about what the cause could be. I had heard about Prescan from friends, they had previously had a preventive examination done and were enthusiastic about the insight it gave them into their health."
That’s why Joost decided to do a bodyscan. “I had no idea where the fatigue was coming from, and with such a scan, you learn a lot about your body and maybe there were things I could work on. I had previously experienced heart problems, and wanted to rule out that it might be related.”
On May 5 of this year, Joost went to Prescan. “I had chosen a bodyscan plus, which includes an additional blood examination. I was greeted politely, after which blood and urine samples were taken. Then I had a cycling test, where they monitor your whole body. This was followed by several MRI scans. In total, it took about 3.5 hours. Everything was well organized and the atmosphere was very welcoming, it felt a bit like a lounge. There was coffee and tea, and delicious sandwiches were provided.”
It's a kind of wake-up call: if you wait too long to enjoy, you might not be able to later. That's why I now do the things I enjoy right away, instead of waiting. I no longer postpone fun things."
The follow-up conversation ensued, during which all the results were reviewed directly with Joost. “They start from the top down, discussing everything point by point. Everything was actually fine, until they got to my bladder. There, they saw a spot that they did not trust.”
With the result of the examination, Joost then went to his general practitioner. He was referred to the hospital for further examination. It was determined there that the spot on his bladder was indeed a tumor. “Then my world did momentarily collapse. When you hear cancer, you immediately think you're going to die. But that’s no longer the case; many forms of cancer can be effectively treated in an early stage.”
Fortunately, this was also the case for Joost. “I had a CT scan to check for metastases, but there were none. I underwent surgery in June and then started chemotherapy.” During his last checkup, Joost received good news: “Nothing was visible anymore, I was declared clear. I still need to undergo three preventive chemotherapy sessions and will remain under surveillance for the next ten years, but everything looks positive and good.”
Joost reflects on an eventful summer. “I am very glad it was discovered so early, and that the treatment went well. Of course, the chemo was tough at times, but everything still works and I have no lasting damage. It could have been much worse, and I have been spared that. I am very grateful for the opportunity to do preventive examination; otherwise, I might have discovered this much later.”
The examination has changed his life. “I quit smoking after 35 years, I now prioritize my health. I’ve also reduced my working hours to make more time for the important things in life, like going on vacation with my wife and enjoying dining out together. I’ve started living more consciously and savoring life. I’m almost 50 now, and I’m fully engaged in life, planning to grow even older. It really is a sort of wake-up call: if you wait too long to enjoy life, it might not be possible later. That’s why I do the things I enjoy now, instead of postponing them. I no longer delay enjoyable things.”
