After a Fashion

Becky Beaver and husband John B. Duncan Jr. at the Texas Freedom Network Party (Photo by Seabrook Jones)

JUST ENOUGH TMI

There's a bit of backstory to last week's column about my "surprise" surgery and hallucinogenic recovery: My prostate cancer had been causing terrible problems (much too much information to go into), but I found a program through Scott & White that would work with me despite my having neither insurance nor savings. I'd been referred to a urologist there who immediately ordered a CAT scan, chest X-rays, and a bone scan. During the bone scan, the radiology department alerted the urologist that they'd found something alarmingly unusual that required immediate attention. While I knew I'd be going through prostate surgery, this surgery was in a different place entirely. There was something – a large undefined mass – in my colon, and it had to come out instantly. And it did come out, along with about 15 inches of my colon, bringing me to the start of last week's column. We still don't know whether the tumor is benign or malignant. But it's gone, and I have this enchanting line of staples straight down my abdomen and pain that gets a little less aggravating every day. But thank God the pain caused by the tumor is gone. I felt like I was in the movie Alien – that something vile was going to burst out of my abdominal cavity, unleashing horror upon the world. It's been a wicked recovery, but I received excellent care. Now I'm reasonably confined at home, able to sit at my computer for short periods, spending lots of time in twilight to cope with discomfort. But as I said, it is getting better. The rest of the story is that any work to be done on my prostate cancer will occur further into the healing process. We have not yet seen complete results, but it is evident that the prostate cancer has metastasized to my lymph system. The only thing I can do is go to the vet and get neutered like all our puppies (except Miss Caswell). It's true though, that there are few treatment options available – including something politely called an orchiectomy. Sounds positively musical, doesn't it? It's not. It's castration. I could choose not to get the little snip snip, but my only other alternative involves massive hormone injections that will be even more costly and have worse side effects. Chemotherapy and radiation are out – it's too late for that. I've made my choice. I thought I had so little time to live when I was diagnosed so long ago that – poof! – I'd be gone in a cloud of smoke. Four years later, I'm just not gone, and ironically, I may have "a few good years." I'll tell you one thing: If I have a few good years, I'm going to make damn sure that they are better than the last few.

OCTO-VATION

Well, a few Saturdays ago was the OctoTea Dance, but I was pre-surgery and began to feel disturbingly fatigued and weak and had to take a taxi home. I refused to miss Nakia's soul-shaking performance, but left shortly thereafter, just as Octo's beloved Roland Belmares began his set. The event was held on Saturday this year instead of the traditional Sunday OctoTea events and for the first time at the Mexican American Cultural Center. The location was great, except a bit of rain made things more crowded indoors. The event outdid itself financially as it does every year, but this year, Nakia's performance lent a special energy. After his stint on NBC's The Voice, Nakia looks better, sounds better, and seems to have the world in the palm of his hand – just like OctoTea does every year.

BOOKISHLY YOURS

Another great Thames & Hudson volume is the slightly less showy and more academic Textiles: The Whole Story by Beverly Gordon. The books are of such good quality that it's fun just to feel and flip through them. But when you flip through this one and your eyes land on intriguing pictures of garments, paintings, and the details that go into textiles, expect to be lured into learning the whole story. Count on Thames & Hudson for excellent fashion publications.