Dick Stienmier, a pathologist, writes about his experience with esophageal cancer in July's issue of The Swallow Tales, the newsletter of the Esophageal Cancer Awareness Association. He tells of making his own preliminary diagnosis quite early, after only two mild episodes of difficulty swallowing. After consultations with various oncologists, a plan was set for neoadjuvent therapy to take place in a week's time, followed by surgery.So what did Stienmier do now? Did he launch into research and study all of the details of the treatments including the surgery, drugs and radiation?
Nope! He went to Florida for the week with his wife, children and grandchildren. They visited Discovery Cove and he even kissed a dolphin at his grandchildren's insistence!
Stienmier explains:
Did I waste valuable time by not obsessing over investigating every source I could find and then trying to design my own therapy? I don't think so at all. Even as a pathologist, I did not think I could propose and design a better course of therapy than the experts I "hired". I let them take care of my medical treatment, while I took care of equally important issues -- strengthening and enjoying my human bonds with my descendents. If my luck with my disease had not been as good as it has been, I still would feel that I could not have spent my precious time in any better way. I hope this may give you something to think about. Kiss the dolphins!
