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Decided to write a Prostate Cancer Journey book

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Posted 12/21/2012 5:19 AM (GMT 0)
I'm glad to read of your plan -- I'm positive it'll help many
Posted 12/21/2012 5:29 AM (GMT 0)
David,

No offense to your previous books--but with this topic and your expertise and writing ability, this book could become really popular. I can see you being asked to appear on talk shows and radio interviews.

DJ
Posted 12/21/2012 10:39 AM (GMT 0)
As a current librarian, I would say this is a story which needs to be told. As others have suggested, wouldn't worry about the audience. It is there.
You do write well so this will be a work that engages the readers easily.
Posted 12/21/2012 5:07 PM (GMT 0)
David,
With all your personal experiences with PC and what you have been through, coupled with your unique writing style, I bet you have a home run. Not only that, but it would raise PC awareness too.
Posted 12/21/2012 8:52 PM (GMT 0)
David,

I wish you luck with this project. You have a unique perspective and the ability to make a very meaningful contribution.

Have my mother-in-law here now and will be tied up until after Christmas. Hope to get together sometimes soon after then.

San Carlos
Posted 12/22/2012 2:29 AM (GMT 0)
thanks, san carlos, was thinking about you this week. i am tied up until end of the day Wednesday. Hope we can get together after that.

Merry Christmas to you and your wife and family. Windstorm wasn't half as bad as predicted here in Easley. Did get a load of firewood just in case we lost power, plus I love a good wood fire regardless.

Having the whole Riley gang over Christmas eve.

david
Posted 12/22/2012 10:24 AM (GMT 0)
David, I am one of your buddies that has made this suggestion several times.  You have a way with words and you're very intelligent.  I think I would start with your posts as so much of your life is included in your messages and responses here!  I think this is an excellent idea!  I wish you the very best with this project!

Hugs,

Aimzee

Posted 12/22/2012 11:16 AM (GMT 0)
David,

You certainly have the life credentials and the eloquence to bang out a best seller. Jump on it while the idea is still warm. I have no talent in that arena ... but I can do a killer tango .. HOO HA!

Jim
Posted 12/23/2012 12:46 AM (GMT 0)
thanks, jim.

not expecting any kind of best seller. this idea is more of a self-redemption kind of thing, feeling that if can write the usual fiction nonsense that i usually do, i could devote the same time to write something that could be of direct help to someone new to prostate cancer, writen strictly from a personal basis and as a patient.

for all the troubles i have, and still enduring in the name of pc, might as well get something positive from it.

david
Posted 4/30/2013 9:54 AM (GMT 0)
David, any news on your writing project?  Still thinking about it.  If you were to include anything about "Helping Forums" a warning of how you can become attached to people on the forum would be note worthy.  I am still thinking about Bud (Raddad) and sure do miss him!  You are a very talented person! Good luck!

Hugs,

Aimzee

Posted 4/30/2013 1:15 PM (GMT 0)
D:i had been thinking of asking you if you'd had time to do any more writing since your last book, but wasn't exactly expecting this...you'd be a great one to write about the journey ! wishing you the best, and give us an update every now and then....bob
Posted 4/30/2013 1:38 PM (GMT 0)
I forgot about that.

How is that book coming?

Mel
Posted 4/30/2013 2:36 PM (GMT 0)
Wow, someone had to dig, lol, this thread wasn't touched since December.

Aimzee - actually been busy on it quietly. got about 6 chapters done to my satisfaction. usually I write much faster than this, but with all my other issues, its a miracle I am this far along. plan to be finished by September or October of this year. It's going well, got a pretty good flow developing, kind of writing itself. thanks for asking

bob - thanks. always have time to write, just not always in the "mood", like many writers, I can be touchy about when I choose to write. Having loads of time on your hands doesn't always translate to sitting down and writing. but once I am in the mood, I typically write 3-5k words wroth at a time.

compiler - see answer to aimzee above, same answer
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I am looking for 2-3 test readers for this project. They will be the only people to pre-read this book in advance. If anyone is interested, e-mail me and tell me why you would like to be one.

david
Posted 4/30/2013 3:53 PM (GMT 0)
Aim beyond the cancer survivors to all people. It will add a challenge to the task, not that it isn't a challenge on its own. A tweaking of the title could do that, as well as a twist of narrative. Just a thought that occurred to me….. Im happy for you and your nighttime epiphany!
Posted 4/30/2013 4:08 PM (GMT 0)
David - any progress in deciding who is going to play you in the movie version of your book? :)

I wrote a couple of screen plays at college - I'd be happy to try and turn it into a movie or mini-series...

Andrew
Posted 4/30/2013 5:02 PM (GMT 0)
David...looking forward to reading your book. I know when I first started my journey I would have bought it or checked it out of the library...or whatever. At the time I was searching for any and all information I could get my hands on...still do to some degree. After all that is why I keep coming back to this site day after day. The first hand experience is just as important as anything a doctor could write.
Andrew, More importantly than who will play David. Who is going to play us?! Surely some of us will be included in the book along with our clever and endearing comments. LOL
Posted 5/1/2013 2:06 AM (GMT 0)
good one Andrew, it would be one boring movie, who would want to see it.

td - I still find the best book for all beginners is the latest revision of Walsh's "Surviving Prostate Cancer", it was my original primer, and feel it still gives a concise and fair view of most all things PC, least its easy to understand. there are other good books I have read, but if I had to choose only one, it will still be that.
Posted 5/1/2013 4:06 AM (GMT 0)
Way to do David. I hope you have good enough health and less pain so you can write this great book that will be essential reading for all on HW and especially for those who like all of us here have been, recently diagnosed to understand from a patient perspective the journey, having hope, asking a ton of questions, shopping around for the best oncologist, etc.

your post the other day about radiologist oncologist down playing the SEs came to mind when I meet with a R.O. today. i had my final weekly exam before I am finished on Thursday, with a stand in R.O. with my R.O. out of town. I mentioned to the back-up R.O. that i started experiencing pain before and after urinating and that I had blood in my underwear yesterday that came from my penis.

The R.O. just blew it off to we probably just irritated and it should be no big deal. It was a big deal to me when I saw blood drops in my underwear. Then she asked how i felt and I responded Yucky. She said that was all related to HT and not the radiation. She really had me burning, but I decided to just walk out and go on my way and chalk it up to another clueless MD that has read too many books and never really takes the time to listen and give credence to the patient in what they are saying. My regular R.O. is awesome and would not have reacted that way or said what she said.

While I have had amazing doctors down this journey, this one really pushed my buttons. I am sure all of us here have come across at least one or more during our journeys. I know from reading your posts over the last two years that you have had more than your share.

Best wishes on penning this book that you are undertaking. BTW, what name have you published your other three books?

Best Regards
Posted 5/1/2013 4:40 AM (GMT 0)
devasted,

everytime I mentioned feeling being burned during my srt treatments, both the operators and my ro blew it off as an active imagination on my part. It infuriated me at the time, I knew what I was feeling, it was only my urologist that took my complaints seriously, and he did call my ro once near the end, and asked her, what are you doing to my patient? I stand by my comments on the whole srt business.

my books are all written under my real name, david m. riley, they can easily be found at amazon online and barnes and noble..

one reason my ro didn't want to mix ht with the srt, was to keep any side effects separate from one another, too easy to blame side effects on the opposite treatment, gives the doctors a way out if a problem develops.

my best to you, as you move ahead, hope all that radiation does you a world of good

david
Posted 5/1/2013 6:28 AM (GMT 0)
David, I hope you will have a chapter on "The women in their lives" including wives, partners, daughters, sisters, etc.  If you have the time, I would strongly recommend reading the thread called, "August Surgeries".   Anyone can access that thread by using the Google search at the top of the page.  There is a wealth of information for the ladies!  Good luck!

Hugs,

Aimzee

Posted 5/1/2013 1:05 PM (GMT 0)
Go for it, you've certainly got the experiences to share, and are a good writer. Given your journey, maybe Stephen King would sign up as co-author :)
Posted 5/1/2013 1:46 PM (GMT 0)
aimzee, there will certainly be an entire chapter for the women's side of PC, I wouldn't be here now without the love of my life being there the entire time. the women of HW are critically needed member here.

thanks, reachout
Posted 5/1/2013 7:34 PM (GMT 0)
Dave/Purge,
Why not? You write with passion and certainly have enough experiences. I, for one, would buy it..The project might keep you out of Peg's hair! Go for it man!
Bill
Posted 5/2/2013 12:49 AM (GMT 0)
Bill, thanks.

moon - I am very open on my writing and titles. Just look under David M. Riley, same as my e-mail address, easy to find on Amazon or Barnes & Noble book sites. No big deal really.

Glad I could help you back when you first got started here, that's why we are here.

David
Posted 5/2/2013 4:01 AM (GMT 0)
After your recent roller coaster I'd say that you are locked and loaded for one heck of a book. Would you email me the titles of your three published novels, I am a voracious reader and would love to give your books a read. I know that I would have benefitted reading just such a book, not another medical tome, I've enough of those. but a real life journey sure would have helped me through the first two years of my own journey. Here's hoping to see it and a dose of writer's strength to do it . . . Q
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