Larry's Blog

VICTIM

I’m a victim now
there’s a menu
at the cancer center
if your prostate’s ailing

I’m a victim now
there’s a menu
at the cancer center
if your prostate’s ailing

first there’s
RAD-I-CAL
PRO-STA-TEC-TO-MY
can you spell it?
avoid it if you can
If you can’t?
that’s the way it is!

then there’s
radioactive seed implantation
under guidance of an MRI
sounds like a sensation
but avoid pregnant women
and children passing by

You’re radioactive? yes!
but you’re no Chernobyl
or Three Mile Island -
but then - do you glow in the dark?

there’s also external beam radiation
at first, no sensation
in fact, elation -
you’re still here!
18 MEV - that’s mega-electron-volts

a linear accelerator
blasts electrons
into a tungsten plate
and photons - much more energetic
than a beam of light -

blast away at your cancer cells
(and some healthy ones!)

they blast -
and the body heals
they blast again -
and the body heals

so I’m a victim now -
will live for 30 years

(Ladies! - I may not be flirting anymore)

radical prostatectomy?
radioactive seed
im-plan-ta-tion?
external beam radiation?

What will it be?

It’s day 10 at the oncology center
OK therapist
blast away!
I plan to stay!