a few facts regarding the Huntsman Cancer Center.

When I told I had prostate cancer at the age of 47, I was placed into a support group. Of the seven that comprised that group, we all chose different therapies. But I was surprised when one told me to never to go the Huntsman Center. He explained the head of the program had a horrible bedside manner and his cure all was hormones.

When this gentleman first went to the Huntsman Center they told him he was too young to have prostrate cancer and to come back in a year's time. He chose not to wait and went to a clinic in Atlanta, Georgia the next week. There he was told he had a 50/50 chance of living. He died within three years at the age of 53.

When I went to the Huntsman Center, I heard the doctor (head of the center) walk down the hall repeating at nearly all of the stops - hormone shot, hormone shot, etc. A patient's wife approached him and his nurse had to separate them - what a jerk (doctor).

When it came time for my physical, first thing he said was "you are too young to have prostate cancer!" sound familiar. He also said it's not possible for PSA counts to go from 4 to 8 in just a month...yet, he had the test results in his hand.

My next stop was to the National Prostate Cancer Conference held in Ventura, California. I was tested as all patients in attendance were. My PSA had jumped to 14 with my free-PSA diving to 13. Here at the conference, I was shocked as they had hospitals, clinics and all of the research centers from all over the country with their booths and speakers. However, the Huntsman Center was missing. I asked the director, why the Huntsman Center was not present. His response will shock you, as it did me:

"We do not recognize the Huntsman Center as a research facility. They do not accurately track their cure rates and by giving hormones, their research tracking is tainted..." He continued, "Hormones place the cancer cells to sleep for five to seven years. During that time, your PSA levels drop to 0 or close to it and you are told you are cured. After the dormant stage of the cancer cells go crazy when they become active and spread quickly." He finished with, "since prostate cancer is usually identified in older men, the patients usually die of other diseases before the cancer cells awaken. But now we find prostate cancer in patients as young as teenagers."

My Doctors are Dr. Bond in Ventura and Dr. Lee in Detroit, who has passed away (they were partners).

Like I said, they probably do good works, but if they are still giving hormone shots and not tracking cure rates without the use of hormones, I would suggest going elsewhere...your life may depend on it. My friend's did and so did mine own.

Wishing none of you ever have to experience this disease or any cancer.

Go Cougars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!