TO MY MALE FRIENDS:: 
Mike Bales was friend of mine - until he died two weeks ago of prostate cancer. He lived just around the corner and he and I visited many times in the street, in the back yard and at my parties. He probably was in his late forties and I feel partly responsible for his early death. I didn't discuss the danger of prostate cancer and I should have because of my experience with the ailment.
Fifteen years ago, my doctor advised me to start having the PSA blood test once a year and at that time my test score was running between 3 and 4. That was a higher than normal score but concerning the fact that it was about the same every year, my Doctor simply said, "We'll chart it so if it increases we will know it in time to treat it."
So, we tested and watched it for eleven years and four years ago, it jumped to 7.1. An ultra sound test showed that I had cancer of the prostate in a small area toward the medial side which is most feared portion. That side of the prostate has a hard shell separating it from the blood vessels in the area. Once that shell cracks, the cancer quickly spreads through the blood stream to other parts of the body. It can re-appear in any other part of the body. The parts where it re-appears are unknown until usually it is too late. Prostate cancer is one of the major causes of death among men past 40.
When my diagnosis occured, my Doctor calmed me down and looked me in the eye and gave me my choices. Number 1 was "Do nothing about it, many times this type of cancer grows very slowly because of the shell protecting it from the blood stream." I said "Forget that option, what's next?" He said, "Operate and take out the prostate, usually the only after effect is that you are impotent for about 12 months". I said "Next!" He said, "Another option is chemo which may leave you nausiated and drowsy" I said - "Keep going!!"
Then he told me of the newer method that has proven greatly successful - it is called "seeding", where, under anesthetic, they insert ten needles into the prostate and as they pull them out, they push a plunger nine times that inserts radio - active seeds in the prostate., so at completion of the operation (which took about an hour as out patient, I had 90 seeds permanently in my prostate). I came home, rested for four hours, and assumed normal everyday activities.
One year later, my PSA had dropped to 2.2, one year after that, it was 1.3, then the next two years it was below one - this year it is .06. My doctor is very optimistic and says if it stays below one through this year, there is a 98% chance I am cured and will never have prostate cancer again .
I am sending this to my male friends because if you have neglected to have your PSA tested -MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TOMORROW!!!! Check out more information on the Prostate Cancer Foundation's site.
LONG LIVE MY FRIENDS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!