I wish to express my support and encouragement to Michael Douglas in his battle with cancer. I know just how painful and debilitating the disease is. I have had two of them. I also know that they can be defeated. As of now, I am cancer free.

I hope his doctors are making it clear to him that recovering from the treatment can take longer than recovering form the disease. The loss of energy, especially, can take a long time to recover. I started treatments four years ago and I still have a significant lack of energy and motivation. I have to make myself get out of the chair and go do physical work. Then I have to take frequent rest breaks. Of course my age contributes to that problem.

To the rest of you, please get tested regularly, keep watch over your body and have any unusual symptoms checked immediately. The secret of winning over cancer is to detect it early. Not only does early detection and treatment improve your chances of a cure, it also reduces the amount of “collateral” damage to your body. Remember that both chemotherapy and radiation cause harm to you. The goal if the therapy is to kill the cancer while limiting damage to healthy tissues. The key word there is “limit”

I encourage another effective treatment for cancer, prayer. There were numerous people and groups who offered prayers for my healing and I am convinced that they made a difference. Thank you. I urge all of you to pray for Michael Douglas and all other cancer victims. When we fight that disease, we need all the help we can get.