In conjunction with gamma globulin, the doctors decided to try more aggressive treatments. Essentially, knock this thing out of my system. Since I had responded to hormonal therapy-steroids and gamma globulin-with limited success, the doctors wanted to experiment with chemical therapy. Let them try to slip that one by you.

`Oh my God, he gets his treatment right in his heart,' exploded in my head. Later, when I repeated this, I learned the man had a Port-a-Cath, a metal device the size of a pocket watch, which is placed under the skin, usually in the chest. A tube is threaded through a vein and connected to the device. Treatment is administered through the device by merely pricking the skin, so there is no assault on the veins.

Gamma globulin, which had been less effective over time, stopped working almost completely, or worked just enough to let me drag along. While doctors determined the next course of action, I had a new diet of gamma globulin with a side of red blood cells.