General Norman Schwarzkopf

The Telegraph

General Norman Schwarzkopf is dead at the aged of 78.

This was the news on the Telegraph (and on every media) two days ago. It is sad thought to think that nobody seems to really know what killed the “Stormin” (The Grizzly Bear of the desert as many called him).

They write this;

“Schwarzkopf himself largely kept out of the limelight. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1993, but was treated successfully, and is thought to have died from pneumonia.”

In another news site they say this;

“…Norman survived combat in Vietnam, and the war in the Middle East but tragically couldn't win his battle with prostate cancer.”

I took this soldier’s words seriously when diagnosed with prostate cancer back in 2000. His famous name was recognized and his comments on PCa helped many of us to face the disease with courage and to talk openly about it.

I recall reading him to say that “…now we got the internet as our ‘savior of information’ on the disease”. I see it happen in my case because it has been the internet where I have found a “niche” where to call in times of uncertainty. The net has been a source of help along my twelve years living with the bandit.

General Norman Schwarzkopf had surgery in 1994 but not much is known about his cancer’s aggressivity or the treatment results. He became a spokesman for the Nature Conservancy and an initiative to fund prostate cancer research.

He once wrote;

“.. When my doctor said, “General, you have prostate cancer,” I was thrust into an immediate and fearful state of confusion. I can still recall my inability to move a muscle for what seemed like an eternity after hearing my diagnosis. (Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf)

I salute him for what he has done on behalf of PCa screening.

Sleep well General

VG