The "Good" Cancer

The Good Cancer   Thousands of men will be diagnosed each year “Oh the good cancer” you will most often hear But this is one thing that I never understood Who elevated this cancer to being something good?   Perhaps this individual never had an elevated PSA             Or even a digital rectal exam in the old fashion way Maybe they have never had to take these words to heart             As the doctor would make the notes in their chart   It’s probably nothing, but a biopsy is needed to be sure             Don’t worry; it’s a procedure that people easily endure A shot to numb and a dozen pin pricks is all you will feel             And then several weeks to allow some time to heal   But what about all that apprehension going through my mind             Besides the exposure and embarrassment from behind What about the endless time waiting for the inevitable news             When you hear the doctor say, “I have some bad news”   Now who was it that said this is the good cancer to have             I would gladly trade places so to experience what I have   Next comes the research for the best treatment decision             Hours and hours of reading about this specific condition There are so many choices and methods to treat this disease             One would think that this decision would be just a breeze   The unwelcome side effects won’t be easy that is for sure             But they say it is necessary to hopefully have a cure But what about the other impacts it has on a person’s life             Like the constant worrying and those long sleepless nights   How does one find the courage and strength inside to stand             When a loving wife cries slowly and softly in your hand How does one find the warrior soul deep within his heart             And not let this terrible disease tear his world apart   There are times when it truly brings a tear to my eye When I read again that another brethren has died And I am sadden beyond words each and every time I hear             Another man now must face this terrible fear   Now who was it that said this is the good cancer to have             I would gladly trade places so to experience what I have   Just some morning musing that I thought I would share...and yes it is original

Most excellent, very well said!

I am a new member, just wanted to say... beautiful job Les, so very, very well said!

Les. so poignant and succinct.
best wishes. chris nz

Wonderfully said . . . thank you . . . brings me back to the family member who was talking about a friend with a different type of cancer and how sorry she felt for them because their "world" would never again be the same . . . . I guess my silence made her say . . .ohhhhh I guess you guys know what I mean!! Grrrrrrr!
;o) Linda & Bob

Hi Les,

Thanks for writing this and for posting this! Very nicely done.

I'm just past a month on my Dx and I'm amazed, almost to the limit of my comprehension, how many I know have said the "...good cancer..." thing to me. Many are friends and even some extended family. I've heard the... "oh, a guy at work had this...NO PROBLEM...". Another said..."He just got it scraped out (TURP, I assume)...by the way, how's the new snowblower?". 

Uh-huh. OK.

I could fill several pages with similar comments. 

It's obvious that there are still too many that look at this as being something simpler than it seems. I am trying to doing my part to get people pro-active. Get fit, stay fit, get checked, get checked again.

Thanks for your post.

Mike

I have not had the "pleasure" of someone saying the "Good Cancer" thing to me yet. But I will be ready with a string of replies. Like Yeah,,,It was so "GOOD" I got to have a "pee bag" stuck in me for almost a month! I had a "GOOD OL" metal rod shoved up my pee hole 4 times to have colligen injected into my sphincter. I had such a "GOOD" time having TWO other surgeries to recover my bladder function. Now I get to try to live a "GOOD" long life always wearing a woman panty liner and just wondering how long my "bionic pisser" will hold out before I have to go through that surgery agian! SO, YES I guess I was lucky it was a GOOD cancer to get!!!!

Hang in there guys,
KW

In the terms of Cancer. none are good, but the saying refers to the fact that alot of the cancer is confined to an organ that can be detecetd and removed if caught early. This forum is proof of that. Not alot of Cancer forums have 5-10 year survivors. Yes, Cancer is bad, the worst and disgusting, and never good. Most people who say this are talking about the slow growing PC that exists in old men and that should not be oeprated on, or the fact that alot of people think this can be treated if caught early (hmm, this forum again is proof that might be true)

What beautiful words from such a strong 'Warrior'.  The words tell a story of a man that I know well.  He has taken on Prostate Cancer with a positive attitude and the fight of a true 'Warrior'.  I will always admire his strength, his courage, and his ability to be positive, even when in times he gets discouraged himself.  I love him very much.  I am his wife.

Well said, being told I have the "good cancer" is one of my all time favorite pet peeves.
Randy