Last updated: 12/31/20
Binnacle List
Stan Sharp (1st Co)
Dick Tillman had a chance to talk at your
60th. reunion first company party. I asked a general question like how are
you doing and he changed the subject. I did not pursue the topic. I
am sorry I did not pay more attention. We both had the same problem.
Dick probably developed prostate cancer several years ago. If so he
had his prostate removed and went on some form of hormone therapy.
There are two versions of prostate removal:
total and partial {developed at John Hopkins.)The latter is very very expensive
generally $100,000 plus. Mine was total thru Kaiser and cost about $40,000. I
was put on hormone therapy which cost about $54,000 over a period of eleven
years. This is not a cure it just extends your life. At some point your cancer
moves into very high gear and you cannot stop it. That probably is what
happened to Dick and that has now happened to me.
My cancer went into high gear last November.
I have one to two years to live. I have a good doctor his specialty is prostate
cancer. My hormone therapy now costs $12,000 per month and I am not worth that
much. When we said goodbye at our company party Dicks handshake was very very
firm. I grabbed his right forearm it was all muscle. He tightened his grip and
laughed. Next I placed my left hand on his back and he started laughing. I
said “ I cannot believe you are weight lifting at 82 you are all muscle.” I
told my wife as we left that Dick would be the last to go and would probably
reach 100.