When you’re at war with cancer, you use every weapon you’ve got. There’s no room for diplomacy or negotiation — it’s total war from day one. Each battle plan depends on which “general” you’re talking to, but the mission is always the same: destroy the enemy before it destroys you.
For some generals, the best opening move is a surgical strike — precise, decisive, and aimed to take out the target cleanly. But the battlefield isn’t always straightforward. You’ve got to think about collateral damage, what’s in range, and what’s simply out of reach.
Other generals may advocate for a chemical offensive. It’s brutal, yes, but effective. When chemo hits hard, it can root out the enemy wherever it’s hiding. There’s no running, no refuge, and nowhere left for cancer to retreat. This approach works best when it can be concentrated — short, sharp, and overwhelming (ideally in less than six months).
But when the fight drags on and the enemy refuses to surrender, there’s still one last, powerful weapon in the arsenal: the nuclear option.
These missiles come in all shapes and sizes, guided by cutting-edge targeting systems designed to hit the tumor and spare the surrounding landscape. When everything else fails — or when you just want to be certain you’ve finished the job — it’s time to go to DEFCON 1 and unleash the nuclear option. Nuke it!
Radiation Oncology: A “Nuclear Strike” on Cancer.
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| Radiation Oncology: A "Nuclear Strike" on Cancer! |
In all seriousness, I think the analogy holds. I’m about to go “nuclear” on a new tumor in my liver, using high-dose SBRT (Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy) over the course of three days: November 12, 13, and 14 at Mayo Clinic here in Jacksonville. The plan is simple — hit it hard, hit it accurately, and make sure it doesn’t come back.
Honestly, I’ll be glad to complete this campaign and shift my focus to something far more rewarding — a great Thanksgiving with the people I love. Here’s hoping for stable scans, quiet battles, and a little peace on the home front.
