My doctors & the great people who work with them

Long time, no write. There are reasons, but few excuses.  Reason one is almost my full attention has been focused on getting some papers filed to address some insurance/benefit items. I know that's fairly obscure, but it would be premature of me to go too much into detail right now.

But I didn't start this to talk about that.  I wanted to give some accolades to my doctors and the people who work for them or support their work. 

My urologist, who I poked some fun at when I wrote about the biopsy procedure, is great. I give him a lot of credit in getting me to consult the radiation oncologist before making a decision on proceeding with treatment. I called him at one point and said something like, "If I'm leaning toward surgery, why don't we just schedule it now and get started?"  He said he thought I should go see the radiation oncologist first.  His staff has been hugely helpful with paperwork support and there are several people in that office I owe big time.

My radiation oncologist is stellar. Not only did he connect me with the research data I needed to make a decision on treatment, but he's been a great counsel and supporter through the entire course of treatment.  The staff in his office, and in the supporting radiation department of the hospital are incredible, caring, sensitive people who all were (and are) exemplary in their approach, their sensitivity, and their knowledge.

I'll end with this: While my active treatment ended at the end of September, I'm still feeling the effects of the androgen deprivation therapy (what I have elsewhere referred to as "hormone therapy").  And all the research I've read so far indicates I'll be feeling those effects for some time to come.  And so I'm filing more papers and doing more research to find out (duh) what that means for me.  And both doctors, and their people, have been understanding, supportive, and involved.  Part of that is who they are, but part of it is also that I have a need to know, and so I ask them, and others in my network, for help.  Asking doesn't hurt.  Not knowing (for me), does.