Page 113 - MN

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Ha Ha Death, I Laugh at You
Let's cheer things up now and talk about death. In Thailand they cremate most dead people. There are Buddhist monks who sit in the crematoriums and meditate on death. I have chosen not to do that.
Back in 2003 I went in to see my old college buddy, Dr. Glen Ruark, for a physical. He found my PSA was up around 17 and that's not a good thing. Then they did a biopsy and that was painful. I was brave. Well, I didn't have a choice because I didn't want Glen hearing me scream for my mommy. The biopsy came back positive for prostate cancer. I learned that if you're going to get cancer, prostate cancer is the way to go. In the old days they didn't even treat it because it was usually slow moving and you'd probably die from something else first.
We went over the choices. Now there are lots more options because medicine has made progress but back then the operation seemed logical. If the cancer was confined to the prostate, they could get it all and I'd get on with my life. So I opted for that.
I have to admit I was fatalistic. None of this "Oh no, I'm going to die!" panic for me. I figured I'd had a really good life and whatever happened I was way ahead of the game.
They operated and they also took out a lymph node to see if the cancer had gotten out of the prostate. It had. A tiny amount had escaped. Damn those sneaky cancer cells.
I had the best recovery ever, because after the operation Glen and Judy invited me to stay at their farm outside of Spokane. I think it sets your mind at ease to recover in the home of a doctor and a registered nurse. You can't get better