Dr. Maurice Beer in New York City said, "Mr. Milner, looks like you're going to have a bout with the medical world. Your PSA is in the 27 range. When you go home back to Sante Fe, please have a biopsy right away."

I did. My urologist, Dr. Eric Anderson, said on the phone, "Mr. Milner, I'm sorry to say you do have prostate cancer, low to medium range. There are three spots on your prostate."

I said, my mouth full of guacamole, "Please call me Barry. And, is this a death sentence?" I was serious, and hoping for the best possible response. He chuckled and said, "Now, now ... this is going to be workable." After we chatted he said the following: "It's almost a right of passage for men. Have yourself a margarita, fire up your energy, and go East, young man, to New York or Boston."

So that's what I did. At that point I found three friends who had had prostate surgery, and three who had had radiation. I worked backwards from there: Who were their doctors? Where were they treated? What were their results? Both the surgery patients and the radiation patients were doing well a year or more after their treatments. The question for me -- and many people in my situation - was, surgery or radiation therapy? I had to really dig it out for myself as best I could. I was feeling conflicted and panicked, and had to make a decision soon.

That's when my friend, Victor Zeiness, DDS, called. He said he had prostate cancer, too, and was looking into the Leonard Farber Center. I called, made an appointment, and went down to Lower Broadway with a posse of two close friends. The center was beautiful environmentally, and the staff were warm and welcoming. That was my first impression. Then I went backstage, consulting first with Dr. Michael Jackowitz and Dr. Leonard Farber. They laid out the entire treatment picture, and their confidence washed over me.

However, I needed more research, and continued to investigate other options, meeting with doctors who did surgery and other radiation therapies. It was a process of narrowing things down, understanding everything as best I could, talking with survivors and friends. To cut to the chase: Two days before I was scheduled for prostate surgery at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston, with Dr. Martin Sanda, my doctor friends and others said that, if it were them, they would choose radiation, which they felt was less invasive and scary.

That did it for me. I called Leonard and said, "Sign me up -- let's go." My treatment consisted of six weeks of precisely targeted radiation with technologically advanced machines, expert doctors, physicists and radiology therapists.

The rest of the story? You couldn't ask for a better team. They were going to save my life. I could feel it. First, the two doctors: Drs. Farber and Jackowitz, who've seen it all and know the territory. Both radiated confidence and a light touch, a sense of humor. Next, the radiologists, Amy, Regina, Andrew and Kimberly, all gentle and encouraging. The reikki therapists, Keely and friend, and the front desk staff, Vivian and Sammy, who were so helpful and warm.

Over the six weeks of treatment, I felt so vulnerable and grateful. I couldn't help falling in love with everyone. All of them were on the same page, my page. That is the vision, what the Leonard Farber Center is all about. Bottom line: enormous kindness, brilliant mind/heart gentle care.

Yesterday, March 27, four months after treatment ended, I got the first results. My PSA had fallen from 27 to 7. It's still falling, according to Dr. Farber. The cancer cells are dead. The future looks good. I'm grateful that I had the sense to listen to Dr. Farber's firm advice: "Bite the bullet, and let's go."

If you find yourself in a similar situation, full of fear and hesitation and feeling overwhelmed, I'd like to encourage you to meet Dr. Farber and his team. I can't say what's right for you, but please give the Leonard Farber Center a good look.

All my best wishes for good health,

Barry Milner