Eyebrows were raised on Sunday night when Roy Cape All Stars performed at Trinity College's "Soka in Moka" and the celebrated bandleader Roy Cape was not seen on stage.
Yesterday, the veteran musician explained why, saying he was diagnosed with prostate cancer 12 weeks ago and decided to sit out the first 2015 school all-inclusive fete.
Speaking from his Oropune Gardens home, Cape assured he was much improved healthwise and would return to the stage as early as Saturday when the band is billed to perform at Queen's Royal College's "Fete Royal".
He told the T&T Guardian: "Three months ago my doctor, Winston Welch, sent me to do a PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) test and this is how cancer was detected.
"I also did bone scans, which revealed that, because of age, there is a little degeneration in my knees. But all my organs are in perfect working order. The cancer is restricted to the prostate and hasn't spread anywhere.
"Dr Andy Bhagwandass, who has my son how he is today, referred me to Dr Darren Bison, a urologist at Westshore in Cocorite and he recommended I do a biopsy, bone scan and CT scan. I went to St Augustine Medical Complex and did the biopsy."
Cape, a national award recipient and holder of a honorary doctorate from UWI, added:
"I have been reading a lot about cancer to learn about various treatments. Dr Dylan Narinesingh, an oncologist at St Joseph Medical Complex, arranged for me to go to St James Infirmary and I have started on a regime of hormone injections to be followed by radiation.
"It's a process I have to go through. With the treatment I am being given I should be able to rid myself of this ailment."
Asked about his frame of mind, Cape said: "When I was uncertain I was quite worried. Now that I know what the facts are I am in a very good frame of mind.
"I am prepared to face any eventuality. The doctors have all been very good to me in letting me know exactly what I was up against.
"God is the creator of everything and whatever He wills it shall come to pass.
"I want to say special thanks to Drs Winston Welch, Andy Bhagwandass, Darren Bisonand Dylan Narinesingh for the confidence they passed on to me and helped me to be in a comfortable position today. I have been treated very gently and very professionally by these doctors."