Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Setting a GOOD Example in those Declining Years

Or not… Since I published my book I have met with a dozen or so small groups of men and their wives to discuss prostate cancer, their survival, my survival, and of course my book. The groups are generally small (often really small) and the talk is very interactive – with others asking questions and making comments as I proceed. It’s all very calm and relaxed.

More often than not the questions sound like, “What should I do?” “What’s the best treatment?” “Does my Doctor know what he’s talking about?” “You must know what works – so share it with us!”

I really don’t know what they should do (except to buy and read my book). Sometimes they think I’m withholding information from them. After all, I have prostate cancer and I wrote a book so I must be an expert. Don’t I wish…

I tell than that if I knew of a cure for prostate cancer I would first cure myself and then share that information with the rest of the world – for a small fee, of course.

What I can do, and try to do, is to live my life the way I say that I do (in the book and during the talks). Whatever it is that I do must be working at least a little - I’m still alive. Basically that consists of good nutrition, staying active, keeping a positive outlook (most of the time), and thinking pure thoughts (OK, probably not the pure thoughts part). I’m not a saint, not even a little bit saintly, and would not recommend that anybody emulate me – unless they came to that conclusion after checking things out for themselves.

Men with prostate cancer should (probably) get as much information as possible, make choices based on their best judgment, and be willing to change direction if something doesn’t work. As far as I can determine, nobody knows for sure what anybody with prostate cancer should do.

axman

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