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7
Explanation
by illustration
“They helped me overcome
my fears right off the bat,”
he says. “They took time to
explain things in ways I
could understand.”
Fitzwater recalls asking
his doctor how the radiation
treatment worked. His doctor
took out a pen and drew an
illustration showing where the
cancer was and how Novalis Tx
radiosurgery would deliver
precise radiation treatments,
targeting only the cancer cells
and leaving the surrounding healthy tissue intact.
“I walked away and I thought, this is really terrific—they
explained to me exactly how this stuff works,” Fitzwater says.
From his perspective, how it worked was simple. His daily
treatments lasted a mere 15 minutes. There was no pain, and
the open nature of the equipment alleviated his concerns
about claustrophobia.
The best part, Fitzwater says, was learning that the cancer was
gone. Within a few months of his treatment, he headed out for
his annual winter trip to Florida and started making plans for
his latest book, a collection of short stories.
“You are always telling yourself, ‘This works,’ and ‘I hope
it works,’ but
seeing
that it works is a great kind of relief,”
he says.
Watch the entire Marlin Fitzwater interview at
askAAMC.org/cancer
. While you’re there, also check out
the Novalis Tx system. Click on “Watch Novalis Tx in Action.”
Less Cancer = More Birthdays
Help create a world with less cancer and more birthdays.
How? Enroll in the American Cancer Society’s Cancer
Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3). You can help us understand
how to prevent cancer, which will save lives.
There are five convenient enrollment locations:
1. AAMC
Doordan Institute, Health Sciences Pavilion
2000 Medical Parkway, Annapolis
Wednesday, June 13, 3–7:30pm
Thursday, June 14, 7–10:30am
2. Heritage Community Church
, Severn
3. Living Hope Church
, Hanover
4. Westfield Annapolis Mall
5. American Cancer Society
, Gambrills
To schedule your enrollment appointment, visit
CPS3AnneArundel.org
. To volunteer at an enrollment
site, call
410-721-4304
.
When Marlin Fitzwater
learned he had cancer,
he didn’t let fear and
uncertainty stop him
from taking charge
of his health. While
living cancer-free is
the best part, taking
his annual winter
trip to Florida was
a close second.
At AAMC, the Novalis Tx
radiosurgery delivers
precise radiation
treatments, targeting
only the cancer cells and
leaving the surrounding
healthy tissue intact.