| On Wednesday at 10:15AM October 13th, my | | | | action encourage a healthy prognosis. |
| body was intact with no parts missing. At two | | | | Facts men and women should know |
| AM, Thursday October 14th, I awakened in | | | | *8 men out of 10 will die with prostate cancer, |
| someone else's bed. Lahey Hospital's. At 3AM, I | | | | but not from it |
| sat in a large leather reclining chair (I tried wheeling | | | | *Get an annual physical (I started them at age |
| it to my car, but the nurses stopped me) giving | | | | 25) |
| thanks for thoughtful and caring friends. Exactly | | | | *Request a Prostate Specific Antigen test. Read |
| 24 hours after the anesthesiologist put me under, | | | | about it here: |
| I stood in my kitchen with a catheter and one | | | | *Pay attention to your PSA levels (mine |
| rather important body part missing. Boy, that all | | | | accelerated to 3.9 quickly |
| happened rather fast! | | | | *Your doctor will perform a DRE; don't resist. If |
| The sequence of doctor's visits, surgery, and | | | | "DRE" does not ring any bells, ask your doctor |
| follow-up force me to ask, "what matters?" Our | | | | *If a biopsy becomes the next step, be sure to |
| wealth or our health? You might think, "Health, of | | | | take what they prescribe before the procedure; I |
| course!" Someone else might reply, "Wealth; my | | | | forgot; it hurts |
| health will take care of itself if I have plenty of | | | | If you must have the prostate removed; check |
| money." | | | | on multiple options (I met with three specialists at |
| Health never takes care of itself. All kinds of stuff | | | | three hospitals. |
| goes on under the skin that needs attention. | | | | *Proton Beam Therapy: [ |
| Overlooking, procrastinating, disliking doctors will | | | | *Davinci laparoscopic surgical method; |
| not slow-down the creeping effects of cancer or | | | | *Laparoscopic surgical method: |
| other ailments. Prostate cancer kills. Men need to | | | | For the sake of the body, keep head and heart |
| take careful steps to protect themselves. Actions | | | | with: |
| may not ward off cancer (they did not for me); | | | | *Faith: the essence of hope |
| they will allow time to manage it quickly and | | | | *Family: the essence of encouragement |
| wisely. Most men just do not get it. | | | | *Friends: the evidence of how many care |
| I get many questions, "What did they do?" "Did | | | | Learn more: |
| they take part of your prostate or all of it?" Is it | | | | *"Unlocking Secrets of Longevity" - Read about |
| a "prostrate" or a "prostate"? What is a PSA | | | | the "Blue Zones" |
| (Prostate Specific Antigen) test? Each question is | | | | *Dr. Patrick Walsh's Guide to Surviving Prostate |
| loaded with nuance and fear. This newsletter | | | | Cancer |
| permits my sharing some valuable thoughts and | | | | Men know more about the stock market than |
| suggestions. If you like wealth, you better | | | | their bodies. An ancient text reads, "We are |
| become responsible for your health. | | | | fearfully and wonderfully made." The outcome of |
| Here are suggestions and observations about | | | | our choices may be answered by our priorities: |
| prostate cancer. Just the same, knowledge and | | | | Health and Wealth?...or...Wealth and Health? |