Interview on NBC's Today Show

QUESTION: Can you tell me how you first discovered you had prostate cancer?

SECRETARY POWELL: Well, I've always gone for regular checkups. Being in the Army, you get used to that. And I had digital exams every year, as well as a PSA test, the blood test, taken. And about 1998, the blood test showed some elevated level of PSA so we followed it very closely. I had biopsies in the late '90s twice. Nothing was discovered. And then, in the summer of 2003, another biopsy was taken when the PSA was still elevated, and they found the cancer.

QUESTION: Okay. And what kind of options were you faced with at that time. What kind of treatment options?

SECRETARY POWELL: Well, the treatment that my doctors laid out for me was to do radiation or to do surgery. And after thinking about it, full consultation, talking to others, getting a lot of advice, I decided on surgery.

QUESTION: Okay. And may I ask you why, or steer away from --

SECRETARY POWELL: I'd rather not. I think each person should make their own decisions.

QUESTION: Okay, yes. Tell me that, because I think our viewers want to hear, you know, how difficult was that decision for you and what -- you know, and how personal is it? You know, how difficult was that decision?

SECRETARY POWELL: Well, it wasn't that difficult a decision for me because I had known for years that I had a high PSA and I'd had a couple of biopsies, so I had a suspicion that sooner or later I might have to face the reality of cancer and so I had been studying it for a number of years. And when the cancer was discovered, I sat down with radiologists and I sat down with surgeons, went over it, and felt that surgery was the best option for me.

But there are a variety of options, and nobody should tell you they know the right answer. The only one who knows the right answer is your doctor and you should consult with him and consult with others -- consult with her -- and read a lot. There are a lot of books out there on prostate cancer, and I found those to be very helpful.

QUESTION: Okay, wonderful. And what message do you have for --

CAMERAMAN: We've got a little bit of a reflection. Okay.

QUESTION: Thanks. Okay?

CAMERAMAN: Yep.

QUESTION: And what message do you have for men because, you know, we're -- you know, and African American men are twice at risk for this disease, and if we can get some information out to them, what would you tell other men?

SECRETARY POWELL: The most important thing is to have regular exams, and don't shy away from it. It isn't the most comfortable thing in the world, but it's necessary, especially African American men, because we are twice as likely to get prostate cancer as non-African Americans. And so make sure you have your PSA checked on a regular basis, go in for the physical exam; don't be afraid of it. If you have it, it's best to learn about it as soon as you can because there are treatments available, a variety of treatments, that will remove this cancer.

QUESTION: Okay. And men are afraid of -- everyone -- men, women -- are afraid of surgery, invasive surgery or, you know, radiation, and, you know, a lot of men say, "Oh, I don't even want to get tested because I may have surgery and I would never want that." You know, what's your message regarding the surgery and the decision you're making? Because it's one that will affect --

SECRETARY POWELL: Well, I had never had surgery before in my life. In fact, I had never spent a single night in a hospital in 66-plus years of life. And so, for me, it was a daunting experience, but I put myself in the hands of good surgeons, a great hospital, Walter Reed Army Medical Center. They took good care of me and I have had a full recovery, so I'm pleased that I made that choice. And each man will have to make a choice of his own between surgery, radiation and other treatments that are available. But get regular exams and then listen to your doctors.

QUESTION: Okay. And we're also doing a day on the life after surgery or radiation or treatment. What message do you have for men in terms of life after the treatment?

SECRETARY POWELL: There is life after treatment, whether it be radiation, surgery or any other treatments. But it's better to go through the treatment, to have the work done, because what you don't want to go through life thinking is that cancer is still inside of you growing.

Now, obviously, you can reach a certain age where your doctors may say to you that the cancer is not growing at a rate that should cause you to think that this is going to be the cause of death, and they won't treat it at all. But that's a choice for your doctor to make with you, the two of you consulting on this.

But regular exams. Don't be afraid of it. Deal with it. It is a problem that so many men face, especially African American men, and it doesn't get better by ignoring it or thinking it can't happen to you.

QUESTION: Wonderful. Thank you so much, Mr. Secretary. It was wonderful.

SECRETARY POWELL: You're welcome. Thank you.