JAM: February/March 2002 Issue: President's Corner

John Leisenring

Good News... and Healthful Advice
In this issue, my comments will be in two unrelated parts.

The first is very positive and exciting. In the last issue of JAM, I appealed to the readers to help the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors in a time of crisis. The events of 9/11, and other factors, had created a financial crisis that threatened to cause cutbacks in all of the various things that we do, not the least of which the magazine you now read.

I am delighted to report that your response has been wonderful! We have received additional funds such that we are able to publish JAM on schedule, without skipping an issue as we might have had to do. We have received offers of volunteer help, and will be adding additional personnel to our active group of volunteer workers in the near future. We have been invited to apply for at least one foundation grant, and we have done so. All in all, I am most pleased to report to you that, though there is much work still to do, we have likely weathered the storm and are on the rise once again. By the end of this summer's fund raising season, I hope and expect to report to you that your organization is in better shape than ever. Thank you so very much to all those who have stepped forward to help, and to all who will do so in the future.

The second part of my message is also positive, though it will not appear so at first reading.

I have cancer. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer last July. After much soul-searching, I decided against surgery, and had radioactive seeds implanted instead. I can report that, after four months, my blood tests show a marked decrease in PSA, and I am hopeful that within the next four to six months I will be cancer free once again. The treatment is working!

My message to all of you is both enthusiastic and passionate. Early detection is a very big deal! Since there was a history of prostate cancer in my family, I was having blood tests once every three months, and therefore was aware of my raising PSA very early. When diagnosed, the numbers were still low, and the cancer was therefore confirmed very early. Because of this early detection, my doctors talked about complete cure, not just treatment.

So I implore all of you, dear readers, to take cancer screenings very seriously. Men over 50, line up for your prostate checkups right now. I mean it! Women, chase your loved ones off to the doctor for checkups. And, by the way, early detection of breast and cervical cancer is critical as well. While you're chasing your men off to the doctor, get yourself checked as well.

There are numerous places where checkups are free, or offered for a nominal fee. I intend for the Jazz Ambassadors to become more active in helping our jazz community find and utilize the free clinics that are available in our area. Watch this space for further announcements. In the meantime, I will be happy to talk with anyone with questions regarding my treatment and the decisions which led me to opt for that treatment.

Once again the good news: since I have been diagnosed and treated early, I have a very good chance of being cancer free, and soon. If I had waited, or ignored the symptoms, it is likely that my cancer would have spread, and become something far more dangerous if not terminal. I am thrilled to see my numbers coming back down, and wish you all the same thrill for yourself and/or your loved ones. It will happen if the cancer is caught early enough.

So, do it! Have that checkup! There is still much good music to hear, and many more dances to dance.

RETURN TO FEBRUARY/MARCH 2002 MAIN INDEX

© Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2002. All rights reserved.






	Search our site:		John Leisenring Good News... and Healthful Advice In this issue, my comments will be in two unrelated parts. The first is very positive and exciting. In the last issue of JAM, I appealed to the readers to help the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors in a time of crisis. The events of 9/11, and other factors, had created a financial crisis that threatened to cause cutbacks in all of the various things that we do, not the least of which the magazine you now read. I am delighted to report that your response has been wonderful! We have received additional funds such that we are able to publish JAM on schedule, without skipping an issue as we might have had to do. We have received offers of volunteer help, and will be adding additional personnel to our active group of volunteer workers in the near future. We have been invited to apply for at least one foundation grant, and we have done so. All in all, I am most pleased to report to you that, though there is much work still to do, we have likely weathered the storm and are on the rise once again. By the end of this summer's fund raising season, I hope and expect to report to you that your organization is in better shape than ever. Thank you so very much to all those who have stepped forward to help, and to all who will do so in the future. The second part of my message is also positive, though it will not appear so at first reading. I have cancer. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer last July. After much soul-searching, I decided against surgery, and had radioactive seeds implanted instead. I can report that, after four months, my blood tests show a marked decrease in PSA, and I am hopeful that within the next four to six months I will be cancer free once again. The treatment is working! My message to all of you is both enthusiastic and passionate. Early detection is a very big deal! Since there was a history of prostate cancer in my family, I was having blood tests once every three months, and therefore was aware of my raising PSA very early. When diagnosed, the numbers were still low, and the cancer was therefore confirmed very early. Because of this early detection, my doctors talked about complete cure, not just treatment. So I implore all of you, dear readers, to take cancer screenings very seriously. Men over 50, line up for your prostate checkups right now. I mean it! Women, chase your loved ones off to the doctor for checkups. And, by the way, early detection of breast and cervical cancer is critical as well. While you're chasing your men off to the doctor, get yourself checked as well. There are numerous places where checkups are free, or offered for a nominal fee. I intend for the Jazz Ambassadors to become more active in helping our jazz community find and utilize the free clinics that are available in our area. Watch this space for further announcements. In the meantime, I will be happy to talk with anyone with questions regarding my treatment and the decisions which led me to opt for that treatment. Once again the good news: since I have been diagnosed and treated early, I have a very good chance of being cancer free, and soon. If I had waited, or ignored the symptoms, it is likely that my cancer would have spread, and become something far more dangerous if not terminal. I am thrilled to see my numbers coming back down, and wish you all the same thrill for yourself and/or your loved ones. It will happen if the cancer is caught early enough. So, do it! Have that checkup! There is still much good music to hear, and many more dances to dance. RETURN TO FEBRUARY/MARCH 2002 MAIN INDEX © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2002. All rights reserved.