THERE WAS NO RESPONSE TO AN UPDATE REMINDER IN 2013 SO THERE IS NO UPDATE.
Treatment was set for a radical prostatectomy surgery in May of 2009. My request was for a stay of proceedings until September 2009, at which time a lower PSA test of sufficient amount coupled with an evaluation of the personal work I had been doing shifted the thinking towards a further three months delay. In December the Urology department undertook a second biopsy, taking a further 14 samples (8 samples had been taken initially in January of 2009). The results of this second test showed a Gleason score of 3 + 3 = 6, with a PSA of 5.2 (January 2010). Treatment was then decided to place me on a 3 monthly "watchful surveillance". Two watches later, at last, count my PSA was 4.6. Heading in the right direction!
Geoff's fuller story is given in two articles he wrote:
Cancer: Giving Good Cells A Boost
A few weeks ago, after a year of various tests, I was diagnosed positive as having prostate cancer. This came as a surprise for I am healthy and generally feel great. I would never have known I had this condition but for a yearly physical check-up with my GP, Dr Roger Leitch. His initial examination, followed by a series of tests including an exploratory biopsy a couple of months ago have resulted in the cancer diagnosis.
Since receiving the news I have googled extensively on the condition, consulted widely, talked with friends and "strangers" and read much material concerning cell structure and behaviour. I have learnt a lot and as a consequence I am following several courses of action. My attitude is buoyant, treating the situation as an opportunity as well as a challenge. Some readers may wonder why I would write an article about such a personal matter, but considering cancer is one of the biggest killers worldwide, and adding an understanding that "no man is an island", my view is that there is nothing strictly personal with respect to anything really.
My attitude is to learn and share as much as I can.
That's the background!
Of the several options for treatment, the one I want to share in this article concerns the proaction of being deliberate about who I am, what I'm here for, and what I am doing. This magazine promotes the spiritual expression approach and I am very thankful for this means for communication and sharing the great messages of our time. Here is my account of deliberate work focusing spirit during a specific and evolving set of morning physical exercises which include elements of remembrance, reconnection, reconciliation and revelation: all useful for daily living and cellular health. (Some time I'd like to show you these movements)
The setting is at my house in Auckland, outside on the deck facing a rising sun.
There are specific exercises, but central to begin is a focused meditation of deep and profound love of life: much more that merely the will to live. All around, the environment is engaged in a wakening round of excitement, birdsong, electric air, stirrings of fresh earth response. Here, a profound love of life (as in kinship) happens; a deepening sense of presence comes. The words I AM might well identify the personal description. In my experience this enlightened state takes a few moments of specific focus to discover (and still can when I forget who I am).
As deliberations proceed I begin working a range of feelings and mental images which press for attention. Then came one morning when I found a voice in my mouth saying "Wilt thou be made whole?" At first I gladly agreed, "I will!", but instinctively knew that was no real answer, and so my exercises continued to work on several levels of consciousness with regard to this, over several more days, (surprising how rooted cellular beliefs can be) Finally one day I smiled and confidently replied "I am whole!"
Further exercise elements during the approximately 40 minute routine focus strength through service. Throughout I target the dispersal of residual codependent attitudes and renew interdependent complementation and surround (surround being different from support which tends to undergird codependency). Towards completion there are deliberations taken to release any futuristic elements to "I will", and confirm the present ,"I do".
The outcome brings a profound sense of deep peace, contentment, aliveness, hunger for life, and breakfast!
The river of life is flowing on earth - the drinks are free.
The mystery of God is finished on earth - I am the answer.
Come and behold Him - be with the positive radiant aspect of life.
All is well!
Geoff Tisch.
CANCER UPDATE
In the April/June 2009 I wrote an article entitled "Cancer: Giving Good Cells a Boost", in which I outlined my then experience and the steps I had begun to transcend the condition.
February 2009 I was being measured up for a surgical procedure "Geoff, it is not good to have this cancer in your body!" was the advice of the very fine man and surgeon in charge of Urology dept. North Shore Hospital, NZ Health. I thought he was right but asked for a stay of proceedings until after my return from a much anticipated trip to Canada, and further opportunity to "try" changes in diet including supplements, and a keen desire to affect a self administered program of visioning, affirmation and exercise. This plan was initially agreed to and proceedings were extended to September, after which improvements warranted further extension till the end of 2009.
February 2010, following the results of further extensive biopsy tests, the national health doctors downgraded my condition to "Active surveillance" on three monthly checkups. I am happy!
Question is, as with any undertaking for transformational and transcendental change, "Can I make it stick"? All things historical point to a track record of sliding back into old worn and comfortable habits, denial of which requires a stiffer backbone than mine, even a narrowing of mindset and derailing of desire. I don't have that kind of set to my jaw because in my experience it doesn't work in the long run, mostly because pleasure is preferable to pain.
Just as well then that I also know the sufficient answer depends on "worship" on whether or not I know who I am in divine identity - that is a state without conclusion, so I won't be jumping to any!
Cheers
Geoff Tisch.
Acknowledgements and thanks to:
Linda Tisch - alpha wife extraordinaire
Maria Middlestead - nutritionist exemplary
Dr Roger Leitch - personal GP
Mr. Tony Bevan - Surgeon, head of Urology NSH.
Nurse Specialist- Susan Osbourne NSH
Everybody else!
In response to a reminder Geoff said in part:
I am indeed alive and well and intact! Thankfully so. The last update from me was in 2010. I continued on with 3 monthly PSA tests which fluctuate up and down but never higher than in 2009 when radical prosectomy was prescribed and a date set for the operation...
Since then I have been monitored by Tony Beaven, Surgeon with the District Health Board, Auckland, New Zealand. Tony interviewed me again on April 4 2011 and noted on examination that my prostate is small and remains benign to palpitation, with PSA level being 6.2. Tony is happy for me to continue on active surveillance every three months with the proviso that should there be a rise on three consecutive occasions he would require a further biopsy. I am in any case to be reviewed in a year's time.
My personal aim is to continue with the regime of diet, exercise, and most of all to broaden the spectrum of personal awareness that I wrote about in my second article - concerning identity. I believe there is a link in this to health...
I have now progressed from being selected for radical surgery in 2009, then later having that decision commuted to active surveillance. All on account of personal steps taken to improve diet, attitude, and vision which I outlined in my previous stories.
An exciting new development began in mid January 2012 when I was invited to take part in a Urology Research Study being run by the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at the University of Auckland in conjunction with Tony Beaven (the original surgeon who had wanted to operate in 2009) Consulant Urologist at North Shore Hospital. So far I have undertaken to fill in a number of forms concerning my diet and exercise/lifestyle/attitude routines, and attended one oral interview session for the study, which will take about a year to work through I am informed. My GP will be kept informed and I will have opportunity to view the results also - my only request being to skip the technical detail and put the findings into simple laymans language please.
I notice in my other stories that I was noted as not having had a second biopsy. Actually I did have another with 14 samples taken showng a declining gleason count of 1 point (from 3+4 = 7, to 3+3 =6). I am informed that there will likely be a further biopsy as the Urology Study proceeds later this year or early next.
I am in very good cheer!
Geoff Tisch
Geoff's e-mail address is: gptisch AT gmail.com (replace "AT" with "@")
NOTE: Geoff has not updated his story for more than 15 months, so you may not receive any response from him.
