At fifty-four years of age, Dr. Dorso discovers he has prostate cancer. Suddenly Michael Dorso, M.D. becomes Michael Dorso, PATIENT! Seeds of Hope is the story of this physician's personal transformation as he searches for the most promising cure for his cancer. It is also the story of one man's struggle to find meaning in a potentially life-threatening illness. Writing to educate and encourage men combating this disease, Dr. Dorso skillfully describes the hurdles of biopsy, testing, diagnosis, treatment options, sexual impotence. He carefully diagrams the workings of such technological marvels as Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Bone Scans, which can do so much to detect illness, target treatment and preserve quality of life. In non-technical terms, he outlines a man's options for defeating the beast in his loins. Our author describes the choices he made, and tells why. He guides readers "through the dragon's belly" of physical threats, medical odds, emotional costs and spiritual rewards. With candor and honesty Dr. Dorso portrays his own changing mental state through the course of his illness and recovery: disbelief, panic, anger, grief, acceptance, resolve. He gradually moved from denial to action, but not without the caliber of struggle characteristic of a real fighter. He found strength in sharing his illness with widening circles of family, friends and associates. He also found an amazing reserve of internal strength, as he redefined the boundaries of the battlefield to include his spirit and his life as a whole man — and not just a physical body under attack from a treacherous adversary. In redefining those boundaries, he understood that he could defeat his enemy. As only a professional insider could do, Dr. Dorso navigates through the medical world, driven as a prostate cancer patient with his own critical needs. He faces the reality that physicians do not agree on a cure for prostate cancer. In "one of those rare flashes of clarity," he realizes: "Perhaps there is no best therapy!" With that realization he is freed to follow his instincts — the dictates of his own heart. He rejects surgery and elects radiation therapy. Dr. Dorso describes in detail the state-of-the-art radiation therapy as performed in Seattle, where physicians implant radioactive seeds directly into the prostate gland. He finds new promise in his "seeds of hope." The procedure involves physicians using a needle to uniformly implant a hundred tiny, radioactive seeds into the cancer. As the seeds decay, they literally burn out the malignancy. Cure rates are approaching 95% for early cancer. This revolutionary technique offers a viable alternative to surgery. While there are many books on the market about cancer, including a surfeit about prostate cancer, there are only a few describing this new therapy which is exploding on the scene. Readers have the opportunity to experience this revolutionary therapy through the eyes of a sensitive physician. Keeping technical information to a minimum, the author demystifies these procedures and offers some margin of comfort for patients facing them. While Dr. Dorso skillfully describes the medical procedure of implanting radioactive "seeds" with all its implications, he is even more masterful as he himself plants seeds of hope for men and their families contending with the physical assaults and emotional insults of prostate cancer. He says the hard things that must be said about this cancer. Knowing what it is to be rendered impotent, he poignantly examines marital love and sexuality. Dr. Dorso reflects back on his year of therapy and two years of recovery, to realize how his attitudes have changed. His relationships to his wife, friends, work and God have been profoundly altered — healed. A gifted story-teller and a wise man, Michael reflects on where he planted his own hope and how he continues to harvest what has been cultivated in his life since.
--This text refers to the
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Dr. Michael Dorso earned his Bachelor's degree in physics at the University of Florida before beginning medical studies at the University of Miami. He earned his Doctor of Medicine in 1969, and began a ten year career as a flight surgeon in the USAF. His military career included a tour of duty with The Strategic Air Command, as Chief of Flight Medicine at Plattsburg AFB. He served in Saudi Arabia as an advisor to the Royal Saudi Air Force, before finishing his distinguished career at Edwards AFB as Director of Aerospace Medicine. He continued his career in Aerospace Medicine as a civilian, at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center. There he participated in flight testing the Space Shuttle for three years.
In 1979 Dr. Dorso returned to his first love, Emergency Medicine. Presently residing in northern California with his wife and children, he serves as an emergency physician in a busy community hospital.
Early in his career, Dr. Dorso grasped the importance of a positive attitude in healing. His daily interactions with all manner of patients brought him to a carefully reasoned philosophy of life and its illnesses — illnesses which ultimately effect us all. He saw how important it was for a patient to assume responsibility for his own therapy. He realized that patients with a spiritual concept of life fared better. He began planning a book advocating those philosophical principles.
Dr. Dorso was diagnosed with prostate cancer, on a routine physical exam, three years ago. That diagnosis was a life altering event. In his search for information and perspective, he saw a desperate need for an informative, personal book about prostate cancer. His book, Seeds of Hope: A Physician's Personal Triumph Over Prostate Cancer, addresses that need. This book tells the engaging tale of Dr. Dorso's own illness, in the context of his philosophy. It is written for men with prostate cancer, and the families who love them.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Highly Recommended for anyone with prostate cancer,
By "gaa1935" (Wausau, WI United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Seeds of Hope: A Physician's Personal Triumph Over Prostate Cancer (Hardcover)
This is an excellent book, written by a physician, but from the perspective of a patient considering the many options available for prostate cancer treatment. It is particularly beneficial in describing the details of the seed implant treatment, and the impact of this disease on spouse and family. It should be read by every man who has been diagnosed with prostate cancer before a treatment choice is made.
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Priceless,
By A Customer
This review is from: Seeds of Hope: A Physician's Personal Triumph Over Prostate Cancer (Hardcover)
This is an essential source of information if you are diagnosed with prostate cancer. This has certainly been a real eye-opener for me, here is a doctor, who suddenly finds himself as a patient. So well written, so personal, and yet so easily understood, none of the "latin" that we sometimes get from doctors, you feel as though you are actually sitting there with him, or even in his brain. He shares ALL his worries, frustrations, anxieties, relief's and his joys too as he moves forward in his goal to be truly the master of his own destiny. I highly recommend this book, to anyone who is having to cope/deal with prostate cancer. Doctor's too, cancer affects so many people, this book can even give you the professional a lot of insight into patients perspectives. BUY it NOW!
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Two Thumbs Up!,
By A Customer
This review is from: Seeds of Hope: A Physician's Personal Triumph Over Prostate Cancer (Hardcover)
A great book! Prostate cancer, and possible treatments, are not subjects that are easy to explain. However Dr. Dorso is able through his position as not only a physician, but also a patient, to explain possible cancer treatment options in a clear and understandable way. His story is personal and compassionate. Thoughout the book I found his experience became my experience. His sincerity and authenticity shine throughout. "Seeds of Hope" is definitely a must read for anyone who has cancer or who knows someone that has cancer. If I were a doctor I would prescribe it!
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