Andy Thibault

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Cool Justice
The Joy of Chemotherapy
By ANDY THIBAULT, Columnist
Law Tribune Newspapers
December 12, 2005

`Early detection is pretty important'

I want Joe Frazier.

No disrespect, but, for me, Joe Frazier is The Grim Reaper. I want to laugh at him, hit him and use the rage of my tears, the feint of my smile and the beat of my heart to hit him again.

Muhammad Ali put it this way in 1975: "It's gonna be a thrilla and a chilla when I get the gorilla in Manila." What followed was the greatest fight in the history of boxing, Ali-Frazier III. The two men virtually destroyed each other for 14 rounds in 110-degree heat.

Frazier did not stand up for round 15.

Fables keep me going even in the best of times, most prominently those featuring Don Quixote, Holden Caulfield and the denizens of Cannery Row. For now, though, in the midst of a 12-rounder with chemotherapy, I rely heavily on Ali-Frazier III. It's a motivator. It's my plan to finish this contest as Ali, circa 1975.

My first opponent was a tough Jewish guy with a knife, Jeff Cohen, MD, 5-feet, 8-inches, 165 pounds, marathon runner and the Cal Ripkin of colon-cutters and stitchers in Hartford. Cohen took me and a tumor out on Oct. 5 and got me back in shape fast. The great staff at Bliss Building Floor 8 of Hartford Hospital wrote the book on nurturing and care, and they're definitely in practice.

Then I ran into a woman with a knife, Mary Windels, MD, skier, 5-feet, 9-inches, female - as in I didn't ask her weight. Windels cut up my chest rather smoothly, inserted a catheter for the chemo, and now I'm pumping away.

The chemo was necessary because some of the cancer spread to a small number of lymphs. Prognosis is good.

One of my pals, who happens to be a lawyer, advised that I write about the importance of early detection. Guess what? Early detection is pretty important. I'm 52. Some guys older than me who are tested regularly get away with a lot less medical care. Had I not been tested in September, it would probably be a lot more difficult to write this column.

Another lawyer friend was scared into getting tested. He's 50.

So, I'm just saying, it's really a good idea to get tested.

You don't really get to punch back at the nice chemo staff, so that's why Joe Frazier is necessary for my positive mindset. I remember, too, what a great singing voice Joe Frazier had back in the 70's. That could make anyone angry.

All my doctors are athletes. My chemo guy, Paul Berard, MD, 5-feet, 9 inches, 170 pounds, played guard in Rhode Island against one team led by Marvin "Tire Iron" Barnes. Berard is a Frenchman like me, and where he works in Fairfield County it's just like being a minority. Now, he plays in some kind of doctor-lawyer type league in Shelton.

Chemotherapy is kind of like work. You need to prepare and pace yourself. And, as the older folks know, a little rest now and then is a good thing.

Thank you, dear readers, for staying in touch with this column - which isn't going anywhere fast.
                                                                                     

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