Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2008/11/06
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Having been reading this list for years and being an infrequent poster, I feel a bit like part of the extended LUG family. Therefore, I feel comfortable and hope no minds me asking for advice on an important topic totally unrelated to photography. I was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. One of the advantages of living in Houston, is that we have MD Anderson Cancer Center here. Frequently rated number one or two in the USA for cancer care, they have been a client of mine for years. I was able to speak to some friends and got an appointment very quickly. They are also one of only three sites in the USA with a proton radiation therapy machine, a form of therapy that uses particles rather than photons. This is a breakthrough, as it can reduce the risk of collateral tissue damage during the course of therapy. I am 53 years old and my father died of prostate cancer metastatic disease at the age of 70. Since there a probably many of you here near my age or above, I thought some of you might have been through this experience. Everyone in my family has advised me, and I have had first and second professional opinions on all the various treatment options. Of course since day one, I have scoured the internet to learn more. Finding that people are right when they say the internet can be a torrential downpour of information, mostly unfiltered and frequently overwhelming. Given all this, I feel fairly well versed in all of my options. I am almost convinced to have a radical prostatectomy using the DaVinici robot, but if any of you have been through this mess of treatment options you know that each medical professional who consults with you is totally convinced that their specialty offers a great chance of a total cure. Radiation oncologists are convincingly describing a 90% chance of no cancer in 5 years and surgeons give about the same odds. It boggles the mind and makes it hard to come to a decision. It is interesting to see how some people react when they learn you have cancer. A few are motherly and are willing to consult and share thoughts. But mostly people are strangely silent, as if the subject is taboo and too personal to speak about. Weird! So if any of you photographers here have been down this road, I would appreciate any advice or thoughts you are willing to share. Contact me by private email. Thanks Don Lawrence