What does a radiation oncologist do when he is suddenly diagnosed with cancer?
Dr. Ed Gilbert shares his insight on life before, during, and after cancer treatment.
By Tina Withdrow, North Dallas LIVING WELL Magazine
“I certainly never expected it to come knocking on my door,” says Dr. Ed Gilbert. “I received a routine physical and my PSA (prostate specific antigen) was elevated at 3.9. I ignored it. I was just too busy and quite frankly too scared to check it out. I refused to do anything about it. My nurse was always prodding me to do something. I would always find a way to put it off. I finally had it re-checked after two years and my PSA was 6.5! I had to do something.”
Dr. Gilbert continues, “I believe, and most of us know, that chronic stress and unresolved issues in our life are a major cause of disease and illness in this country. I lived in the bubble of stress and was aware of the dangers of it.”
“When I received my biopsy results, I simply couldn’t move. I was suddenly frightened, vulnerable, scared. After what seemed like an eternity, I did what most cancer survivors do. I called in the troops! This included anyone and everyone. Colleagues, friends, survivors, and anyone willing to talk to me and who would listen to my concerns. I asked questions that I, as a physician, already knew the answer to. I just needed reassurance in the answers.”
“For a man with prostate cancer, there are lots of treatment options and most of them will give you the same results. You try to pick what works best for you and your lifestyle. I picked IMRT external beam radiation because I believe in what I do every day. I had treatment for eight and a half weeks and the biggest side effect that I experienced was tiredness.”
Dr. Gilbert works at Verity Radiation in Plano and Northpoint Cancer Center in Dallas. Verity Radiation and Northpoint Cancer Center strive to bring their patients an extremely convenient, patient-centered experience. They provide a significant step forward for patients in all areas of treatment who require radiation therapy or radio-surgery treatment including 3-D conformal treatment planning, intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), image guided radiation therapy (IGRT), and rapid arc and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS).
Says Dr. Gilbert, “I am proud of the work we do each day at Verity. Now when I meet with my patients, I truly understand the shock, the fear, and the extreme vulnerability of cancer.”
“The instant you can relate one-on-one, survivor-to-survivor, and you know that someone will finally listen…you know you are on common ground with someone who has been there. It really can make a difference!”
You may reach Dr. Ed Gilbert at Verity Radiation Therapy by calling 972-820-1400. They are located at 6957 W. Plano Parkway, Suite 1300, Plano, TX, 75093. He is also available through Northpoint Cancer Center by calling 469-364-7880. Northpoint is located at 12606 Greenville Avenue, Suite 160, Dallas, TX, 75243.
Author Tina Withrow is a certified cancer navigator and director of client service at Health-Sync. You can reach Tina at 214-546-2215 or by visiting www.health-sync.net.
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