The philosopher’s stone is a mythic alchemical substance capable of turning base metals such as mercury into gold or silver. Alchemists believed that it could be used to make an elixir of life which made possible rejuvenation and immortality. The philosopher’s stone was the central symbol of the mystical terminology of alchemy, symbolizing perfection at its finest, divine illumination, and heavenly bliss. Efforts to discover the philosopher’s stone were known as the Magnum Opus (“Great Work”).
With that heady background, I’ve had an uneasy relationship with ADT. Yes, it has meant my sexual drive has gone MIA, but I was also taking it during an important time for MEA based upon my book launch and tour and the launch of our Santa Fe campus. The side effects of ADT include low energy, mood changes, brain fog, declining muscle mass, added weight and all kinds of additional menopausal symptoms. It has required me to go deeper within to find both energetic resources beyond myself, but also it has made me even more reflective and philosophical. In some ways, I feel like I’ve gotten a taste of what life might be like at age 80 when one’s body is starting to be reclaimed by nature (it also led to this popular blog post from the end of last year “Not Eating My Wheaties Any More” that went viral).
As of today, my doctors are taking me off ADT so that my testosterone can recover. Since testosterone can fuel prostate cancer, ADT has helped to bring my PSA scores to under 0.1. But the fact that I still have a scant amount of prostate cancer in my system without a prostate (due to my stage-3 metastatis) while on this strong medication is a small concern. By taking me off the ADT, they can regularly monitor whether and where the cancer is growing and, if it is, we’ll go back to a regimen of radiation in that area of my body. In the meantime, I’m doing all kinds of other alternative therapies. Being a cancer patient is tiring – not just due to the medications – but because of all there is to learn about the various recovery paths.
While I may no longer be trying to alchemize my philosopher’s stone, I do feel like being a midlife activist and thought leader is my Magnum Opus, my Great Work no matter what is happening with my body, my soul knows I’m on the right path, up till my dying day.
-Chip