After a couple of weeks of being probed (nasty!!!), x-rayed, scanned, etc. I can happily say that the good news is that the bad news ain't that bad ... We've discovered a small prostate tumor (I guess I AM getting old!), but the Docs say we caught it so early it should be an easy fix, and the tests didn't show any other problem areas... It will require surgery ... I had a visit with a specialist at Memorial Sloan - Kettering Hosp in NYC yesterday, and it looks like that it the route I will be taking... Probably late Feb early March ... got to get back in time for golf season!!! ... I want to thank you all for your thoughts and prayers, and 'keep 'em comin' ...
BUT GUYS !!! ..... This thing was found through a physical I was having primarily as pre-op for a knee replacement (which now seems as significant as a toothache!!! )... MAKE SURE YOU'RE GETTING ANNUAL CHECK-UPS that include blood tests of your PSA level, especially over the age of 50 !!! ... If the PSA is over 4 OR makes a jump from one check-up to the other, my advice is see a specialist ... As the Doc said, this thing won't kill me, but it could have developed into something more ...
Make beautiful music, and keep on keepin' on
t.
Peace, Love, and Patience

Tony,
You're going to the ABSOLUTE BEST place in the country for treatment. God Bless you, buddy. You're in good hands.

UD .... I feel He has already blessed me by having this found SO early ...
As for M S-K, our family has had some history there, so I know what you're talking about ... We have a neice who had surgery there for cancerous tumors when she was 5 and 10 yrs of age ... she gave birth to her 3rd son on Fri, and is now a nurse at M S-K..
t.

Tony,

Good to have ya back!! Glad it worked out well for ya.

Dnj

Tony,

Glad all is well! We've all been praying for your good health. I want to see you at my show, you know!

Angelo

Ang ... I have been thinking about your show ... I want to be there, but the schedule may be out of my hands ... I will let you know...
Either way, "Break a leg" (figuratively of course!!!) ... BTW .. anyone know the origin of that expression??? ....
t.

[This message has been edited by tony mads usa (edited 01-22-2003).]

Tony glad to hear every thing is working out
so well.
Your in my thought's & Prayers
Denny

Hi Tony,
Sorry to hear about your surgery, but I`m glad it`s nothing too bad. Also glad to hear you`ll be OK in time for golf season.
Best of luck my friend , God bless
jedi

Great news Tony, The Barnes' will keep you in our prayers. Looks like Golf season will come late here in the NE....so you'll have plenty of recoup time!! best wishes..Brian

Tony,

Godspeed and good luck. Let's hope they don't find anything during surgery. Your in our thoughts and prayers. As a New Yorker myself, I second the kudos on MSK. Thank God I have never been treated there, but my neighbor's 13 year old was a cancer patient there and is now a State ranked soccer star.

And.. I couldn't agree with your more regarding regular Physical exams. Most men are scared sh__ess of them. Don't be, they will save your life!!! I go every 18 months.

Regards,
Al G

Tony! Great to hear the uplifting news that yours will be an EZ fix, and thanks to everyone for sharing the potentially 'life saving' advice of making sure we ALL remember to get annual physicals. - Scott

Tony,
really wishing you all the best, my friend!

Tony, I'm glad to find you back here in good spirits! Unfortunately life will from time to time throw us a curve ball. But if you have the heavy hitter Jesus at bat, you can bet it'll be a home run every time! And it's good to see you're doing exactly that.

As for where "break a leg" came from, ... check this out: http://www.idiomsite.com/breakaleg.htm

Keep on enjoying your music! And your friends here at this forum!

I really want to thank all of you for your prayers, good wishes and support ... and thanks again to Nigel for providing this space where a family of friends can meet, debate our differences, praise our similarities, and through it all give support to each other ... THANK YOU.. Ev ..... thanks for that insight on 'break a leg'...
As for the Good Lord, He has been by my side every step of the way ... since finding out that something MAY have been wrong, (seems like ages ago), my prayers have been that whatever is His will, He would provide me with the ability to handle it ... and I do believe He has...
And may He continue to Bless all of us....
Keep making beautiful music..
t.