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Giving the inferences were from those images. I really

Devil a Name appreciated the specificity, and it gave me Your Benefits as a
a lot of confidence.”
Dr. Das confirmed the diagnosis and
made the exact same recommendation for GOLD Supporter
Rick Dawsey was a sickly child. But he outgrew treatment as Rick’s primary oncologist,
it, and from his late teens through mid 70s, Dr. Eric Mininberg in Atlanta. “When you talk
he enjoyed robust health. He started a company to two people you expect there to be some Fast access to
in the late 80s that evolved into ToolPro, a deviations in their points of view,” says Rick.
tool manufacturing and distribution company “But they said exactly the same things, which top specialists
that grew to a nationwide brand. At age 75, gave me confidence. I felt reassured.”
Rick still enjoyed going to the office every day. Most reassuring of all was the way Dr. Das Extended access
So when he was diagnosed with neuroendocrine explained to Rick how this is a slow-growing
tumors last spring, it came as a shock. In his cancer. “He told me, ‘You will die with this beyond immediate
words, “To get a cancer diagnosis is an emotional cancer, but you won’t die of it.’ He said, ‘If family
experience, and you need a place to go.” you’re going to have a cancer, this is the one
Thankfully, Rick knew just where to go. you want.’ He had a sense of humor, which Exclusive invites to
is helpful, and he was reassuring.” physician webinars

T hings happen to people all “Healthnetwork gives you a real High priority medical
the time, and you just always
hope that it’s not you,” says Rick
Dawsey. “The next car wreck, Rick Dawsey is a Vistage member, the CEO of person on the end of the telephone, requests through the
the next cancer diagnosis, the next death in Tool Pro, Inc., and a generous supporter of GOLD Access app
the family—you hope it’s not you. But really, Healthnetwork Foundation. someone who cares, who listens, puts
it’s just luck of the draw. In this case I drew in effort to help you—this is not Customized
the short straw.” common. Those things are hard to advisory reports for

Healthnetwork’s services himself, he made find. They are a wonderful resource.” overseas travel
some contributions over the years because “the
“The next car wreck, the next cancer proposition of the organization just made
diagnosis, the next death in the sense to me.” But when he got the liver cancer Looking Ahead Your personal medical

family—you hope it’s not you. But diagnosis, “Healthnetwork was the obvious Rick is undergoing treatment now and feels coordinator for the
duration of your request
place to go for a second opinion,” he says. “I
really, it’s just luck of the draw. In this knew that with such a dire diagnosis I wanted hopeful for good years ahead. “Whatever
case I drew the short straw.” the best possible advice that I could get.” happens in life—and life is curly—the worst
thing is when you can’t identify the devil.
Gaining Confidence When someone can give it name, it becomes
With Healthnetwork’s assistance, Rick bearable. That’s what you’re trying to do You can check on or renew your
Rick’s doctor, for reasons Rick can’t recall, decided to go to Vanderbilt University Medical with a diagnosis like this is understand what GOLD status through the GOLD
wanted to run a specialized scan. “So I rode Center for a second opinion, where he met your particular devil is—or is not. A lot of Access portal or by contacting Meghan
through the donut, and it came up with some with oncologist Dr. Satya Das. “It was obvious times it’s what it is not. And then once you Fortuna at +1-440-893-0830 or
spots. They did some further tests, and a from talking to him he had done quite a bit understand what it is, you can work with it mfortuna@healthnetworkfoundation.org.
biopsy, which came back positive that I had of research on my case,” remembers Rick. “He much better. Healthnetwork gives you a real Tax ID # 04-3804600
liver cancer.” explained what’s known about my cancer, person on the end of the telephone, someone All contributions are tax deductible to the fullest
As a longtime Vistage member, Rick has and he explained what’s not known about my who cares, who listens, puts in effort to help extent allowed by U.S. tax law.
known about Healthnetwork Foundation for cancer. He showed me the images from the you—this is not common. Those things are
many years. While he never needed scans and explained in great detail what the hard to find. They are a wonderful resource.” ✦

14 Healthnetwork Foundation | www.healthnetworkfoundation.org One Call Starts It All +1 (866) 968-2467 +1 (440) 893-0830 15