Wall Street Alpha Report | Volume 11, No. 1

The Wall StreetAlpha Report

The official Wall Street Alphas newsletter Kappa Xi Lambda Chapter, NYC

The Dream Continues

October 2021 | Volume 11 No. 1

Martin Luther King Memorial Celebrates 10th Anniversary

ASSOCIATE EDITOR’S ADDRESS

Greetings Brothers,

Welcome to the first issue of the 2021 series of Wall Street Alpha Report! The chapter is already off to an amazing start with programs and service for the community, as you will see throughout this issue. You all are continuing to make individual strides within your respective professions, and still manage to make time to check on one another as we continue to acclimate into a post- COVID world.

I’ve truly had the great pleasure of putting this issue together with a smile on my face. Reading the stories of your accomplishments, and your ability to overcome life’s obstacles is a testament to your resiliency. I’d like to give a huge thank you to the Brothers who have decided to share their personal stories in this issue. I think it’s important that we continue to celebrate one another, and take the time to listen to one another's stories, as we never truly know or understand what people are going or has been through.

For this fraternal year’s future issues, we are always looking for ways to improve and increase the design of the Wall Street Alpha Report. That said, Brothers, please feel free to reach out to me with anything you feel should be added to future issues. This newsletter is as good as the content that is submitted. I would also like to thank all of our supporters reading this. Without you, we have no audience. Whether you support us from afar, or support us in person during many of our programs and initiatives, just know, you are appreciated!

I hope you all enjoy the first issue.

Sincerely,

Zikomo Barr, M.Ed. Associate Editor of the Sphinx Kappa Xi Lambda Chapter Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

| Volume 11 | No. 1 | The Wall Street Alpha Report

I am Now a Five-Year Prostate Cancer Survivor

Photo Credit: Forbes

By Bro. Derrick Butts

In April of 2016, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer and successfully treated. My latest checkup (April 16, 2021) confirmed that my cancer remains undetectable, and I remain cancer free. I am most grateful, and while I focus on maintaining a healthy lifestyle, I am passionate about advocating for men’s health and prostate cancer awareness.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men, except for skin cancer. In 2021, an estimated 248,530 men in the United States will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. 1

I wasn’t surprised that I was among some of the most common cancer cases in the country. Knowing that I have a strong family history of prostate cancer, it was just a matter of time before I would be diagnosed. I’d been planning for 15 years for the day that I would be diagnosed. I began getting screened at age 38 after speaking with my physician, Brother Dr. Charles Franklin. He was very proactive and began my screenings so we could get a baseline of my numbers to track changes in my prostate health.

Yes, I was fearful leading up to my diagnosis. Preparing for the unknown, I could not see the cancer and hopefully wouldn’t feel it. I thought

that if I ever began to experience symptoms, the cancer would likely be in an advanced stage. On March 10, 2016, the day of my diagnosis, I received the call from the nurse telling me I had prostate cancer. At first, I was scared, even after the years of preparation. But then I felt calm, and a sense of relief, knowing that because I had prepared for this day, I was ready to take action. When the nurse asked me to come in for a consultation to discuss next steps, I reacted with a simple, “no, thank you.” She was taken aback by my response. I then said, “I’d like to schedule the surgery to remove my prostate.”

As I reflect over the last five years, I’ve had a range of emotions. I was relieved and grateful after my successful treatment (I chose to have a radical prostatectomy, where they remove the entire prostate and any adjacent glands that may be cancerous.)

During my first year, post treatment, I concentrated on establishing my new normal of living. I was optimistic that prostate cancer wouldn’t return but what would my day-to-day life be?

• Would the minor leaking I was experiencing go away, or would I always need a pad?

• How will my marital intimacy be impacted?

• What would be the limitation on thing I could or could not do?

• How was it going to be traveling on long trips?

• How was it going to be on my first airplane flight?

These questions and emotions filled my mind, but I knew I had to be patient as it would take time to heal. Although I was in good health, I began to ask myself, how could I live better and increase my health regimen to maintain good health – eating well and exercising. After the first year, I no longer needed a pad, and I had control of all my muscles. I started Kegel exercises before surgery and have continued up until now, along with my morning core workout. I’m sure I’ll continue them for the rest of my life.

During my second year, regular checkups allowed me to stay optimistic that cancer was in my rearview mirror. I continued focusing on increasing my quality of life. I was comfortable with my work-life balance and began talking about my journey to others as I’d been keeping a journal of my experiences since my surgery.

| Volume 11 | No. 1 | The Wall Street Alpha Report

Supporting Black Entrepreneurs

Zikomo Barr, is a fitness coach with a proven track record of helping clients achieve results. He provides customized in-person and virtual training workout programs for those seeking to reach their fitness goals. He understands that in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle, it’s important that we invest in our own physical health. If you would like to talk more in detail about how Zikomo can help you reach your goals for the close of the 2021 year and beyond, be sure to reach out to him for a free initial consultation.

For all bookings and business inquiries:

Email: zikomobarr@gmail.com Cell: 347.688.6805 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zikomo.b

My name is Tony Bell and I am a franchise owner and operator of CruiseOne of Princeton, N.J., a certified Dream Vacations travel agency based in Princeton, N.J. As part of the nation’s leading home-based travel agent franchise network, CruiseOne of Princeton N.J. has access to the best cruise and land vacation deals and Dream Vacations’ exclusive, elite product and service offerings. Benefits of using an agent: https:// www.tripsavvy.com/reasons-to-use-a-travel-agent-3259812

G. Tony Bell Owner / Vacation Specialist Princeton, NJ

T:(609) 436-5123 E:gbell@dreamvacations.com

Web: https://gbell.dreamvacations.com/ travel/HomePage.html

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ gtonybelldreamvacations

| Volume 11 | No. 1 | The Wall Street Alpha Report