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WEDNESDAY EDITION
❘ JANUARY 24, 2017
Siuslaw News
Community Voices
N OTES
FROM THE
S ILTCOOS —
Sweet confusion of the 25-mile curve
B ARRY S OMMER
Special to Siuslaw News
R
ecently we had the
fortune of being
bathed in the light of
a supermoon. From dusk to
dawn it shone like a medal-
lion on the chest of the uni-
verse, larger than usual and
brighter than most of the
stars that surround it.
I met my best friend before
daybreak at the pullout along
Highway 101, just north of
Sea Lion Caves, to watch
him photograph this natural
wonder.
Usually, I don’t go out that
early because it’s dark, cold
and I don’t want to. But in
this instance, long-time
friendship took precedence
over warmth.
For about an hour, as the
sky-lightened pictures were
taken, the moon hung above
the sea as the clouds wafted
across its shining face. All
the while, shifting atmos-
pheres changed colors from
pink to orange to purple to
grey.
It was a devastating beau-
ty.
Even though I have
observed this spectacle many
times in the past, I was struck
at its miracle as if it was the
first time.
“At this height we can see
the curve of the earth!” I
exclaimed to my friend, and
pointed westward towards
the bands of orange and pur-
ple hovering over the farthest
horizon.
I gestured from left to right
in a sweeping arc of almost
180 degrees, from the fog
shrouded north jetty and the
city to my left, to Heceta
Lighthouse and its encircling
beam to the right. I remarked
that with this wide a view,
the curve of Earth becomes
obvious.
Highlighted by the bands
of color and the position of
the moon, I began to ponder
whether there were any
members of the Flat Earth
Society willing to respond to
the evidence before me.
I stood there transfixed,
just staring at that “terra
curvilinear” as it steadily
morphed in tone and hue
until the light of the sun
washed the multi-hued strata
away and into the light blue
of morning.
With the marine layer now
a wisp of its former self and
the azure of the sky making
its way to the horizon, the
arched earth defined itself as
a thin, distinct line 25 miles
from the overlook.
Science says I should not
be able to see any kind of
curve unless I am at 35,000
feet in altitude; anyone flying
commercial airlines has seen
it.
So what was I seeing then?
A mirage?
Science and history may
have vindicated me.
Well, ancient Greek scien-
tists anyway.
It is reported that those
inquisitive Greeks noticed
that ships approaching
showed their masts first and
then gradually the hull would
appear.
This, they concluded, must
mean the earth is round. It is
accepted by science today
that the visible horizon is 25
miles from the observer, thus
we can conclude this is the
distance at which the Greeks
first saw the ship masts.
If the Greeks could see this
phenomenon sans binoculars,
then we can see the curve as
well.
As long as the field of
view is 25 miles and the sur-
face you are looking out over
is perfectly flat, the curve is
there.
Try it yourself by going to
the overlook just north of Sea
Lion Caves on a clear day
and look directly west.
Don’t focus on the hori-
zon. Let your eye relax and
your peripheral vision will
kick in. Kind of like looking
at one of those pictures of
dots and spots where, when
you let your vision unfocus,
you see an image of dogs
playing poker.
You will perceive and then
see clearly a slight but dis-
tinct curve stretching all the
way from far north to far
south.
A bit humbling, isn’t it?
Even if my mind has final-
ly gone and seeing what is
not there has become the
norm, to me it is the believ-
ing that gives meaning to
how grand the scheme of our
existence is.
I am but one man peering
into the mist and sky and
earth, trying desperately to
figure it all out.
The ability to understand
may be slight, but to feel
connected to — and
embraced by the essence —
makes for sweet confusion.
I may not be able to see
the other side, but I am ready
for another curve.
U S TOO P ROSTATE C ANCER S UPPORT —
‘By the way, you have prostate cancer’
B Y M ARK W ETZEL
CANCER SURVIVOR
Following is part of a series
of true personal stories about
men’s experience with prostate
cancer. These men tell their sto-
ries with the hope that they will
help someone else traveling the
same road.
M
y wife, Linda, and
I came to Florence
from Delaware in
2015. My encounter with
prostate cancer began during
an evaluation to become a
candidate for a lung trans-
plant.
In 2014, I was diagnosed
with interstitial lung disease
that progressed to end stage
by early 2017. During the
evaluation interview at St.
Joseph’s Hospital and
Medical Center in Phoenix,
Ariz., I told the transplant
team pulmonologist that I
had a familial link with
prostate cancer.
My uncle died from the
disease; my older brother has
prostate cancer and opted for
surgery several years ago.
My prostate specific anti-
gen level, PSA, went from
4.0 — the upper limit for
normal at age 60 — to 4.4.
The transplant team was con-
cerned about cancer.
Immunosuppressant drugs
used post-transplant can
accelerate growth rates for
some cancers. The rules were
recently changed to allow
prostate cancer patients to be
accepted for transplant, pend-
ing diagnosis and a treatment
plan.
I attended several meetings
of the Florence Us TOO sup-
port group. Dr. Bryan
Mehlhaff of the Oregon
Urology Institute attended to
present new information and
answer questions.
Bob Horney and the group
let me take over the meeting
to discuss my unique situa-
tion.
It was a cathartic experi-
ence and Dr. Mehlhaff was
interested in my case regard-
ing lung transplantation and
prostate cancer.
Subsequently, I had a consult
with Dr. Brady Walker at
OUI.
Dr. Mehlhaff had relayed
the information from the Us
TOO meeting to Dr. Walker,
so he was familiar with my
special case. A prostate biop-
sy was ordered in May. At
OUI, I was prepped, and Dr.
Walker loaded the sample
gun and fired.
I felt a slight sting and he
declared, “One down, eleven
to go!” (Urologist humor.)
Twelve core samples were
taken, six on each side of the
prostate gland. The pathology
showed that I had a confined,
non-aggressive form of
prostate cancer with Gleason
score 7 (3+4).
Under normal circum-
stances, we would have done
active surveillance or hor-
mone treatment; testosterone
reduction with a leuprolide
shot which shrinks the
prostate and starves cancer
cells of testosterone “food.”
My professional technical
background had educated me
in how to search and assess
the literature.
A literature search on the
Internet found a small collec-
tion of journal articles that
showed no definitive correla-
tion between organ trans-
plants and an acceleration of
prostate cancer cell growth.
However, the transplant
team wanted me to have
treatment before being
accepted into the program.
Surgery was not possible
with the state of my lung dis-
ease; there was a high risk
with anesthesia when using
supplemental oxygen.
Dr. Walker recommended
that I undergo Image Guided
Radiation Therapy (IGRT.)
More importantly, he
included in his report to the
transplant team that treatment
be delayed until after surgery.
Urologist and oncologist con-
sultations in Phoenix con-
curred with his recommenda-
tion — and the St. Joseph’s
team agreed that we could
wait until after the transplant
to start IGRT.
In June, I had the surgery
for a double lung transplant
in Phoenix, receiving a gift
of life from a donor. Over the
next three months, I recov-
ered in the competent hands
of the transplant team. Linda
and I then returned to
Florence in October.
I started my 45 days of
radiation therapy at OUI on
Oct. 30, 2017, graduated on
Jan. 5, 2018, and had the
pleasure of riding the won-
derful Friends of Florence
bus every single day.
So far, so good.
Us TOO Florence has been
critical in helping me through
the entire process from eval-
uation to the decision of what
to do and where to go and
into the therapy itself.
The group meetings are
invaluable in learning from
others about their individual
experiences and outcomes.
(Thanks guys!)
Having the OUI urologists
attend meetings provides
information and insights that
enabled me with an engi-
neer’s mind to learn about
treatment options, the tech-
nology used, probable out-
come and potential side
effects.
Bob Horney has been a
great resource and advocate.
Thanks Bob for your leader-
ship!
More to come from the
new masked man in town,
Mark Wetzel.
A nother year, another chance to show you
how much we appreciate your business!
We look forward to your visits in 2018!
Open Mon- Sat 9am - 5 pm
1751 12th Street, Florence
541-997-2726
T he
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O N
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After
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Clearance
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We have beautiful Christmas merchandise
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Hurry in for the best selection!
Tim Sapp
Owner /
Principal Broker
541 999-8230
(some restrictions apply)
129 Maple Street , Old Town Florence
541-991-7739
85577 Hwy 101 – Remodeled, spacious 3 bdrm,
3 bath home with views of the Siuslaw River.
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#2777-17629512
1749 Highway 101 • 541-997-1200
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