Comments on: The small c and the big robot http://www.buzzmachine.com/2009/09/17/the-small-c-and-the-big-robot/ by Jeff Jarvis Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:40:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: John Evans http://www.buzzmachine.com/2009/09/17/the-small-c-and-the-big-robot/#comment-403406 John Evans Wed, 21 Oct 2009 07:10:33 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/?p=5237#comment-403406 Woops. I commented on the wrong post. The above was supposed to be for the latest post you made Woops. I commented on the wrong post. The above was supposed to be for the latest post you made

]]> By: John Evans http://www.buzzmachine.com/2009/09/17/the-small-c-and-the-big-robot/#comment-403405 John Evans Wed, 21 Oct 2009 06:55:54 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/?p=5237#comment-403405 Wow. This was the one post I thought you'd never make. This was the 800 lb gorilla I was talking about regarding this issue and, considering that reports are coming out that a lot of prostate cancer found will probably never metastasize (I realize that your family history said otherwise), your openness is vital to help check any possible greed on the part of doctors who might prescribe expensive surgery without men fully realizing what the side effects would be like to live with. I had a bulged cervical disk 10 years ago and swimming eventually cured that completely. Swimming was the prescription and the treatment for me. But I figured that out for myself, no thanks to US doctors. One doctor in Connecticut told me (I was only 30) that he should do an $11000 operation where he would take a bit of bone out of my hip and, after scraping out my disk between the 5th and 6th vertebrae, insert the bone chip. The quack knew it would cost him about $1000 in marginal cost + $4000 in malpractice insurance (guarded by the documents I would have had to sign). That was a $6000 profit for an afternoon - Doing that regularly would help him retire and play tennis young. But I would have probably been permanently injured by that operation. No tennis for me if I had helped him play tennis. An aggressive swimming program cured me entirely. My original disc is still there, healthy as ever and not bulging at all. While your c was probably extremely serious due to your father's experience, I am reading more and more about how lots of c wouldn't metastasize for 50 years, giving men in their 50s plenty of time to continue a sex life well into their 80s - and maybe then think about an operation like that. So I am deeply concerned about greed and "I better recommend surgery so I don't get sued if this metastasizes" mentality causing doctors to advise men to voluntarily get (possibly) castrated when not necessary. There are surely some doctors out there who want to be sure they have a full schedule of $10,000 profit windfalls for each morning and afternoon using the robot they invested in (with some doctors having invested in an early retirement). The soaring stock price of that robot company gives me mixed feelings (I know such technology is needed of course and should be rewarded and advanced). Next, if you get the chance and you can write about it, please write an article about how these surgeries fit in with the Health Care debate and what options Veterans will have. Wow. This was the one post I thought you’d never make. This was the 800 lb gorilla I was talking about regarding this issue and, considering that reports are coming out that a lot of prostate cancer found will probably never metastasize (I realize that your family history said otherwise), your openness is vital to help check any possible greed on the part of doctors who might prescribe expensive surgery without men fully realizing what the side effects would be like to live with.

I had a bulged cervical disk 10 years ago and swimming eventually cured that completely. Swimming was the prescription and the treatment for me.

But I figured that out for myself, no thanks to US doctors.

One doctor in Connecticut told me (I was only 30) that he should do an $11000 operation where he would take a bit of bone out of my hip and, after scraping out my disk between the 5th and 6th vertebrae, insert the bone chip.

The quack knew it would cost him about $1000 in marginal cost + $4000 in malpractice insurance (guarded by the documents I would have had to sign). That was a $6000 profit for an afternoon – Doing that regularly would help him retire and play tennis young.

But I would have probably been permanently injured by that operation. No tennis for me if I had helped him play tennis.

An aggressive swimming program cured me entirely. My original disc is still there, healthy as ever and not bulging at all.

While your c was probably extremely serious due to your father’s experience, I am reading more and more about how lots of c wouldn’t metastasize for 50 years, giving men in their 50s plenty of time to continue a sex life well into their 80s – and maybe then think about an operation like that.

So I am deeply concerned about greed and “I better recommend surgery so I don’t get sued if this metastasizes” mentality causing doctors to advise men to voluntarily get (possibly) castrated when not necessary. There are surely some doctors out there who want to be sure they have a full schedule of $10,000 profit windfalls for each morning and afternoon using the robot they invested in (with some doctors having invested in an early retirement). The soaring stock price of that robot company gives me mixed feelings (I know such technology is needed of course and should be rewarded and advanced).

Next, if you get the chance and you can write about it, please write an article about how these surgeries fit in with the Health Care debate and what options Veterans will have.

]]> By: Small c: The penis post « BuzzMachine http://www.buzzmachine.com/2009/09/17/the-small-c-and-the-big-robot/#comment-403122 Small c: The penis post « BuzzMachine Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:23:12 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/?p=5237#comment-403122 [...] it’s not. Even when things start working (I hope) they’ll be weird, as a good friend warned me. There’s sensation but there’s no growth and when and if there is liftoff, [...] [...] it’s not. Even when things start working (I hope) they’ll be weird, as a good friend warned me. There’s sensation but there’s no growth and when and if there is liftoff, [...]

]]> By: Jeff Jarvis http://www.buzzmachine.com/2009/09/17/the-small-c-and-the-big-robot/#comment-402778 Jeff Jarvis Wed, 07 Oct 2009 23:44:34 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/?p=5237#comment-402778 Thanks Dan. We're brothers of the robot. I hope you've, uh, learned how to do old things in new ways. I'm still learning. Thanks Dan. We’re brothers of the robot. I hope you’ve, uh, learned how to do old things in new ways. I’m still learning.

]]> By: Dan Buttry http://www.buzzmachine.com/2009/09/17/the-small-c-and-the-big-robot/#comment-402770 Dan Buttry Wed, 07 Oct 2009 21:24:45 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/?p=5237#comment-402770 Thanks for the article. I had this surgery in June. You gave me lots of laughs at the memories. I'm doing great. My Dad died of prostate cancer at my age 30 years ago, so I know how blessed I am. Modesty goes out the window, but with kind medical staff, and in my case a wonderful wife, getting rid of the cancer was a no-brainer. I've got no regrets. I'm just glad the robot was named Da Vinci and not C3PO! Thanks for the article. I had this surgery in June. You gave me lots of laughs at the memories. I’m doing great. My Dad died of prostate cancer at my age 30 years ago, so I know how blessed I am. Modesty goes out the window, but with kind medical staff, and in my case a wonderful wife, getting rid of the cancer was a no-brainer. I’ve got no regrets. I’m just glad the robot was named Da Vinci and not C3PO!

]]> By: Jeff Jarvis http://www.buzzmachine.com/2009/09/17/the-small-c-and-the-big-robot/#comment-401534 Jeff Jarvis Sat, 19 Sep 2009 20:17:33 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/?p=5237#comment-401534 Thanks Steve. And, yes, it's about seeing the need and benefit. That's what we're trying to teach our students: to look at new tools and see the journalistic opportunities they present, to start there. In this case, there were personal benefits. I learned them before with an earlier ailment (afib) and that taught me there was no choice in this case. It was good for me and, I hoped, good for others (see other gratifying comments here). I argued in my column about transparency that when we pool this information/knowledge/experience, it's good for society and thus all of us. The question I then deal with is: what's the step too far? I don't want to bring others into my glass house (my wife and kids). I don't want to be an exhibitionist. I don't want to play for sympathy (well, not too much). Privacy is no longer the line. What is? Thanks Steve. And, yes, it’s about seeing the need and benefit. That’s what we’re trying to teach our students: to look at new tools and see the journalistic opportunities they present, to start there.

In this case, there were personal benefits. I learned them before with an earlier ailment (afib) and that taught me there was no choice in this case. It was good for me and, I hoped, good for others (see other gratifying comments here). I argued in my column about transparency that when we pool this information/knowledge/experience, it’s good for society and thus all of us.

The question I then deal with is: what’s the step too far? I don’t want to bring others into my glass house (my wife and kids). I don’t want to be an exhibitionist. I don’t want to play for sympathy (well, not too much). Privacy is no longer the line. What is?

]]> By: Steve Gorelick http://www.buzzmachine.com/2009/09/17/the-small-c-and-the-big-robot/#comment-401532 Steve Gorelick Sat, 19 Sep 2009 19:52:35 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/?p=5237#comment-401532 Jeff: For a whole host of reasons, I am not sure until reading this post that I truly appreciated what benefits a linked transparent world could bring. But having lived through a prostate biopsy and ending up ok, reading this is a revealtion of what we can offer each other of we even slightly alter some of our traditional closely held notions of privacy. To read this is to feel a kinship that as I lived my ordeal a year ago, I never had. But this raises the larger example of what this has to say about how and why people make the leap to new media, transparency, digital tools, etc. And that point is that it really doesn't matter what people say or the feelings and opinions they express about this new world. Because, again and again I have seen that, regardless of what people say, when the situation is such that the advantages are clear, people make the jump quite apart from any previous bitching or moaning. The New York Times, for example, can have had all the sincere doubts they wanted about the place of YouTube and Twitter in news coverage. But last summer, when iran blew up, all bets were off. They seemed to see almost immediately how the new "amateur" technologies could be a avaluable resource, could --judiciously edited -- flesh out and not cheapen coverage. And I, who used to make merciless fun of Twitter and other tools that enabled people to tell me that they were on their way to the fridge, pretty quickly discovered the comfort and solidarity to be had when someone else opens up. I guess the point is that it might not be be necessary to wait too impatiently for people to jump on the bandwagon. In fact, there's nothing wrong with being a Luddite. The day comes when you see that there are simply too many benefits to transparency and to jettisoning Ludditry! To your good health, Jeff. Steve Jeff: For a whole host of reasons, I am not sure until reading this post that I truly appreciated what benefits a linked transparent world could bring. But having lived through a prostate biopsy and ending up ok, reading this is a revealtion of what we can offer each other of we even slightly alter some of our traditional closely held notions of privacy. To read this is to feel a kinship that as I lived my ordeal a year ago, I never had.

But this raises the larger example of what this has to say about how and why people make the leap to new media, transparency, digital tools, etc. And that point is that it really doesn’t matter what people say or the feelings and opinions they express about this new world. Because, again and again I have seen that, regardless of what people say, when the situation is such that the advantages are clear, people make the jump quite apart from any previous bitching or moaning.

The New York Times, for example, can have had all the sincere doubts they wanted about the place of YouTube and Twitter in news coverage. But last summer, when iran blew up, all bets were off. They seemed to see almost immediately how the new “amateur” technologies could be a avaluable resource, could –judiciously edited — flesh out and not cheapen coverage.

And I, who used to make merciless fun of Twitter and other tools that enabled people to tell me that they were on their way to the fridge, pretty quickly discovered the comfort and solidarity to be had when someone else opens up.

I guess the point is that it might not be be necessary to wait too impatiently for people to jump on the bandwagon. In fact, there’s nothing wrong with being a Luddite. The day comes when you see that there are simply too many benefits to transparency and to jettisoning Ludditry!

To your good health, Jeff.

Steve

]]> By: Damiano Beltrami http://www.buzzmachine.com/2009/09/17/the-small-c-and-the-big-robot/#comment-401515 Damiano Beltrami Fri, 18 Sep 2009 22:10:54 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/?p=5237#comment-401515 Recover soon, we'll meet in class! Damiano Recover soon, we’ll meet in class!
Damiano

]]> By: HIFU http://www.buzzmachine.com/2009/09/17/the-small-c-and-the-big-robot/#comment-401505 HIFU Fri, 18 Sep 2009 19:25:35 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/?p=5237#comment-401505 lol. patients should definitely pursue all options when under going treatment for pca. the latest technology can indeed be the best. lol. patients should definitely pursue all options when under going treatment for pca. the latest technology can indeed be the best.

]]> By: Jeff Jarvis http://www.buzzmachine.com/2009/09/17/the-small-c-and-the-big-robot/#comment-401503 Jeff Jarvis Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:38:48 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/?p=5237#comment-401503 Congratulations, John. Candles lit & fingers crossed. Congratulations, John. Candles lit & fingers crossed.

]]> By: Len http://www.buzzmachine.com/2009/09/17/the-small-c-and-the-big-robot/#comment-401501 Len Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:27:35 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/?p=5237#comment-401501 Glad to hear you are doing well. Thank you for sharing this. Glad to hear you are doing well. Thank you for sharing this.

]]> By: John http://www.buzzmachine.com/2009/09/17/the-small-c-and-the-big-robot/#comment-401500 John Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:19:01 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/?p=5237#comment-401500 I just finished 6 rounds of chemotherapy for my cancer (lymphoma). You and others mention the dread and fear - that's the major part I had to overcome also. Thanks for sharing. Also, learned 2 weeks ago that my cancer is now in complete remission -- giving you a shout of hope! I just finished 6 rounds of chemotherapy for my cancer (lymphoma). You and others mention the dread and fear – that’s the major part I had to overcome also. Thanks for sharing. Also, learned 2 weeks ago that my cancer is now in complete remission — giving you a shout of hope!

]]> By: Jeff Marks http://www.buzzmachine.com/2009/09/17/the-small-c-and-the-big-robot/#comment-401499 Jeff Marks Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:16:39 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/?p=5237#comment-401499 Hang in there my man!!! We're rooting for ya! Hang in there my man!!! We’re rooting for ya!

]]> By: michael http://www.buzzmachine.com/2009/09/17/the-small-c-and-the-big-robot/#comment-401497 michael Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:54:05 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/?p=5237#comment-401497 jeez, and you wonder why you called your blog "Buzz Machine"! sorry, couldn't resist... kudos to your for sharing this ordeal/procedure/event... even if it leads to having one guy getting his life saved, you've done a great thing. speedy recovery. jeez, and you wonder why you called your blog “Buzz Machine”!

sorry, couldn’t resist…

kudos to your for sharing this ordeal/procedure/event…

even if it leads to having one guy getting his life saved, you’ve done a great thing.

speedy recovery.

]]> By: Tex Lovera http://www.buzzmachine.com/2009/09/17/the-small-c-and-the-big-robot/#comment-401496 Tex Lovera Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:33:56 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/?p=5237#comment-401496 Jeez, it hurts just reading this. Good for you in being able to face this head on. May your further recovery be complete and speedy. Jeez, it hurts just reading this.

Good for you in being able to face this head on. May your further recovery be complete and speedy.

]]> By: DYSPEPSIA GENERATION » Blog Archive » The small c and the big robot http://www.buzzmachine.com/2009/09/17/the-small-c-and-the-big-robot/#comment-401495 DYSPEPSIA GENERATION » Blog Archive » The small c and the big robot Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:46:14 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/?p=5237#comment-401495 [...] Jeff Jarvis recently had surgery for prostate cancer. Apparently this involved a robot surgeon. [...] [...] Jeff Jarvis recently had surgery for prostate cancer. Apparently this involved a robot surgeon. [...]

]]> By: Jeff Jarvis http://www.buzzmachine.com/2009/09/17/the-small-c-and-the-big-robot/#comment-401494 Jeff Jarvis Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:16:43 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/?p=5237#comment-401494 Like the President with is light saber. Like the President with is light saber.

]]> By: Ryan http://www.buzzmachine.com/2009/09/17/the-small-c-and-the-big-robot/#comment-401491 Ryan Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:17:48 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/?p=5237#comment-401491 Jeff, Your decision to undergo prostate surgery and share your story (including all personal details) are courageous acts. Godspeed with your recovery. Best, Ryan Jeff,
Your decision to undergo prostate surgery and share your story (including all personal details) are courageous acts. Godspeed with your recovery.

Best,
Ryan

]]> By: Matthew Snodgrass http://www.buzzmachine.com/2009/09/17/the-small-c-and-the-big-robot/#comment-401490 Matthew Snodgrass Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:15:10 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/?p=5237#comment-401490 Yikes. If I saw that robot coming at me, I might have shot it with my blaster! Yikes. If I saw that robot coming at me, I might have shot it with my blaster!

]]> By: Rosenblum http://www.buzzmachine.com/2009/09/17/the-small-c-and-the-big-robot/#comment-401489 Rosenblum Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:13:12 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/?p=5237#comment-401489 The best piece I have ever read about this or any medical procedure for that matter. Bravo! Brave and brilliant all at the same time. The best piece I have ever read about this or any medical procedure for that matter. Bravo! Brave and brilliant all at the same time.

]]> By: Jeff Jarvis http://www.buzzmachine.com/2009/09/17/the-small-c-and-the-big-robot/#comment-401488 Jeff Jarvis Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:54:41 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/?p=5237#comment-401488 Jamie, I'm only four days out, but it is getting better each day and the freakishness diminishes. I'm pulling no punches so I hope you'll have no surprises. Best of luck and don't hesitate to email if you have more questions. Jamie,
I’m only four days out, but it is getting better each day and the freakishness diminishes. I’m pulling no punches so I hope you’ll have no surprises. Best of luck and don’t hesitate to email if you have more questions.

]]> By: Angel http://www.buzzmachine.com/2009/09/17/the-small-c-and-the-big-robot/#comment-401486 Angel Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:44:10 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/?p=5237#comment-401486 Wow. That is very brave of you both to go through the surgery and then to so publicly discuss the cancer and procedures here. To hear if from someone as it is happening allows the rest of us to learn some more about this. Good to hear you are recuperating, and I hope everything keeps going on well. Best, and keep on blogging. Wow. That is very brave of you both to go through the surgery and then to so publicly discuss the cancer and procedures here. To hear if from someone as it is happening allows the rest of us to learn some more about this. Good to hear you are recuperating, and I hope everything keeps going on well.

Best, and keep on blogging.

]]> By: lewis http://www.buzzmachine.com/2009/09/17/the-small-c-and-the-big-robot/#comment-401485 lewis Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:26:25 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/?p=5237#comment-401485 get better soon get better soon

]]> By: Jamie Nelson http://www.buzzmachine.com/2009/09/17/the-small-c-and-the-big-robot/#comment-401484 Jamie Nelson Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:16:18 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/?p=5237#comment-401484 "As with all challenges, once you’ve faced it, it’s not as daunting as the dread." Thanks for all your posts, Jeff. I have my surgery date (also robotic) of October 21 for prostate cancer and you are helping me to face it one day at a time. In all honesty, I'm completely freaked but it is being able to read your account and some of these comments that make me better able to face what's ahead. My best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery. As others have written here, we need you. “As with all challenges, once you’ve faced it, it’s not as daunting as the dread.”

Thanks for all your posts, Jeff. I have my surgery date (also robotic) of October 21 for prostate cancer and you are helping me to face it one day at a time. In all honesty, I’m completely freaked but it is being able to read your account and some of these comments that make me better able to face what’s ahead.

My best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery. As others have written here, we need you.

]]> By: Worte zum Wochenende « Real Virtuality http://www.buzzmachine.com/2009/09/17/the-small-c-and-the-big-robot/#comment-401483 Worte zum Wochenende « Real Virtuality Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:03:35 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/?p=5237#comment-401483 [...] Jarvis , Buzzmachine // The small c and the big robot Verfasst von realvirtuality Abgelegt in Internet, Medien Verschlagwortet mit : Jeff Jarvis, [...] [...] Jarvis , Buzzmachine // The small c and the big robot Verfasst von realvirtuality Abgelegt in Internet, Medien Verschlagwortet mit : Jeff Jarvis, [...]

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