[Leica] Off Topic - Prostate

[leowesson at gmail.com (lug)]

Don,

I recently photographed a meeting/demonstration about the DaVinci.   
The doctors there spoke highly of it's use for prostrate surgery.

leo wesson
photographer/videographer
817.733.9157





On Nov 6, 2008, at 9:26 AM, Don Lawrence wrote:

> 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
>
>
>
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