Theresultsofthetumorbiopsyshowedmyfatherhadan
astrocytoma,arelativelyslow-growingcancer.Afterhe’d
recovered, Benzel referred him to see a radiation
oncologist and a neuro-oncologist about the findings.
They recommended that he undergo radiation and
chemotherapy.Thistypeoftumorcannotbecured,butit
canbetreated,theysaid. Treatmentcouldpreservehis
abilities,perhapsforyears,andmightevenrestoresome
ofthem.Myfatherwashesitant.Hehadjustrecovered
andgottenbacktohisserviceprojects.Hewasmaking
plansto travelagain.Hewasclearabouthispriorities,
andhewasconcernedaboutsacrificingthemforyetmore
treatment. But the specialists pushed him. He had so
muchtogainfromthetherapy,theyargued,andnewer
radiationtechniques wouldmaketheside effectsfairly
minimal.Ipushedhim,too.Itseemedalmostallupside,I
said.Theprimarydownsideseemedonlytobethatwe
hadnoradiationfacilitynearhomecapableofproviding
thetreatment.Heandmymotherwouldhavetomoveto
Clevelandandputtheirlivesonholdforthesixweeksof
daily radiationtreatments.But that wasall, Isaid. He
could manage that.
Pressed,he accepted.But howfoolishthesepredictions
wouldturnouttobe.UnlikeBenzel,thespecialistshad
notbeenreadytoacknowledgehowmuchmoreuncertain
thelikelihoodofbenefitwas.Norhadtheybeenreadyto
take the time to understand my father and what the
experience of radiation would be like for him.
Atfirstitseemedlikenothing.They’dmadeamoldof
hisbodyforhimtolieinsohe’dbeintheexactsame
positionforeachdoseofhistreatment.He’dlieinthe