The message in this article is actually taken from a slightly risque account from Lewis Grizzard’s last gift to his fans (per Dedra Kyle Grizzard) prior to his untimely death on March 20, 1994 at the age of 47.
It might not have much appeal to the carefree youngsters of today but old timers in the “Silent Generation” (1929-1945) and “Baby Boomer Generation”(1946-1994) may appreciate the humor and reality of “The Comedy of Eros” entry from “It Wasn’t Always Easy, But I Sure Had Fun” (Villard Books- 1994).
The issue of prostate or testicular cancer in elderly males was described in L.G.’s unique, delicate, and humorous fashion:
“A friend was telling me a story about his elderly parents
“Daddy’s 81,” he began. “And Momma’s 76.”
“Daddy went to the doctor and found out he might have prostate cancer. He was supposed to have a lot of tests done, and I asked my own doctor what sort of prognosis I could expect if Daddy’s tests were positive.”
“He said, ‘I really don’t know why they would do a lot of tests on your father. They’re not about to operate on him at this age. Prostate cancer moves so slowly, he’ll likely die of something else before the cancer has time to do it.’
“Anyway, the doctors went ahead and did the tests, and they did find prostate cancer in Daddy, but, like my doctors said, there will be no operation.”
“But Momma called me again and seemed a little worried. She said, ‘Son, there’s something your daddy and me want to find for us.’
“I said, ‘What is it?’
“She said, ‘Well, our doctor at home is just so young we didn’t want to ask him. But do you mind asking your doctor if, with Daddy’s condition, is it still safe for us to have sex?’”
I have another friend whose father, a widower, was in his mid eighties when he was diagnosed as having cancer of the testicles. An operation was scheduled to remove them.
“Daddy worried and worried about it,” said my other friend.
“I said, ‘Daddy, you’ll do just fine.’
“He said, ‘I’m not worried about the operation, I’m worried about what’s going to happen to my social life if I live through it.’”
(No. 2 is yet to come!)
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You can reach Jerry Summers at jsummers@summersfirm.com
Jerry Summers