Best of the worst

I asked Lucia to come with me to get the results of the biopsy, she's going to be an important part of this whatever the result. As we drive to the office, she's trying to put me at ease, but I've got too much on my mind to listen.

The waiting room was crowded, but we weren't there long. The nurse, the really cute one who liked the way I emptied my bladder, escorts us into a consultation room, takes my temperature, and does the blood pressure thing (not surprisingly it's a bit high).

Then Dr. Peck comes in...he's smiling (that's a good sign...right?). "Well," he begins, "if you've got to get a positive result, this is the best news you can get. Let me read from the pathologist's report: 'A minuscule focus in one core.' (at least, I think that's what he said...I kind of zoned out after hearing the word positive)."

"So," he continued," this is curable (I heard that!), and doesn't mean surgery is required. If you were ten years older, I might suggest we do nothing and just keep an eye on it (Hey Doc, I don't want to be ten years older for at least ten years)...but at your age, I think we need to treat this.

You might want to get a second opinion, I'll be happy to send the file to whomever you wish.

If you decide on radiation, you can choose either open beam or go with the seeds and I'll set you up with a radiologist. You should spend the next few weeks reading about the options before you make your decision (my decision?). We'll set up an appointment before you leave."

I tell him I'm glad surgery is not required as I'm surgery free and would like to remain so. Then I shake his hand and follow him down the hall to get my little booklet about prostate cancer...yep, I've got cancer...and make the next appointment.

As we leave the parking lot, Lucia begins to talk for the first time since we entered the consult room...but I'm not really listening...cancer, I've got cancer.