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10/17/2006: "Changing Horses"

Tommy Castro is a San Francisco Bay Area blues musician. His song, “You Can’t Keep a Good Man Down” is slowly becoming my theme song. He has a line in the chorus that continues to ring true, “Its not how many times a man falls down, its how many times he picks himself up.”

So here I am, picking myself up once again. Yesterday I met with my Oncologist for our regular post PET scan appointment. As expected, he strongly encouraged me to get back on a chemotherapy regiment. And I am considering it. You know, I have had a lot of time to think about cancer and my death, but sometimes it punches me in the gut. When that happens, I consider any treatment that will keep me alive a little longer.

Anyway, it has forced me to reorganize and plan a new attack. The first thing I did was to tell my doctor that I was looking to go elsewhere. I have decided to work with Alta Bates Summit Medical Center. Unlike my current doctor who is on his own and can refer me to other support providers, Alta Bates in their words, “…offers a full-spectrum approach to cancer treatment encompassing the latest in medical technology, research, and psychosocial services.” These include nutrition, massage, Jin Shin Jyutsu, chemo, psych, etc.

The doctor I have chosen is Dr. Martha Tracy on Dwight Ave. in Berkeley. She is highly qualified (Harvard Med School Cum Laude), interested and open to “complimentary” treatments. And her interests are in Stem Cell and Bone Marrow transplant.

The other approach I have decided on is Dendritic Cell Therapy. This will require a few trips to Cologne, Germany (Not patentable, not available in the US!) for treatment. The first visit will be a vacation with Jeanette and Nick. Considering that Jeanette and I lived and got married in Vienna, Austria, I have wanted to take Nick over to Europe and open his eyes to that world. This looks like our chance, so we are planning a two-week trip around the beginning of December.

My next post will go into more detail on Dendritic Cell Therapy as I find it fascinating.

Also, scroll down to see a new photo of me on mile six of the half marathon - still smiling.

Replies: 6 Comments

on Sunday, October 29th, ME said

Hope were on for Halloween ....I will have Ajax need to break him in to the Prouty tradition ..Karly wants to dress him up as Elvis...what do you think...xox us

on Friday, October 20th, Old friend said

"The power of life and death is in the tongue"
"As a man thinks in his heart so is he" "I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse...Choose life!" " I can do all things thru Christ who stengthens me!" Rocky... You are one of the only men I have ever believed in! If there was EVER a man that will beat this it is you! you know it! I Love you!
"Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world" "...and by His stripes you ARE healed!

on Thursday, October 19th, Mike Herbst said

Hey Doug

Alta Bates in Berkeley, good choice, I went there when I had my kidney transplant, very good folks. Look forward to seeing ya when you come this way.

The line you measure the success of a man not by how many times he gets knocked down, but how many times he gets up from each struggle is what Vince Lombardi use to tell his players too. Interesting we used the same thought to keep us going.

Hang Tough,
Mike

on Wednesday, October 18th, Marguerite said

Love the iPod strings!

And you look great too.

on Tuesday, October 17th, Mia said

I'm glad you have a new plan of attack!

on Tuesday, October 17th, sando said

Thanks for the update and the switch over to Alta Bates sounds like a good fit. Love the new pict of you in the marathon - might be my favorite so far!