Aw safire, get a life. Herbert Benson, MD is a mind/body researcher, he also
wrote the following on Faith-based Healing:

My research has convinced me that there are many additional possibilities
for the Relaxation Response -- especially as it operates with a person's
deepest religious or philosophical convictions -- which were not apparent
when my first two books were published. In my experience, those who discover
the exciting and powerful forces of the mind do so by eliciting the
Relaxation Response in conjunction with their personal belief system.
The term Relaxation Response, for those who may be unfamiliar with the
concept, refers to the inborn capacity of the body to enter a special state
characterized by lowered heart rate, decreased rate of breathing, lowered
blood pressure, slower brain waves, and an overall reduction of speed of
metabolism. In addition, the changes produced by this Response counteract
the harmful effects and uncomfortable feelings of stress.

In this relatively peaceful condition, the individual's mental patterns
change so that he or she breaks free of what I call "worry cycles." These
are unproductive grooves or circuits that cause the mind to "play" over and
over again, almost involuntarily, the same anxieties or uncreative,
health-impairing thoughts.

A simple technique I use to bring out, or elicit, the Relaxation Response
consists of four steps: (1) finding a quiet environment; (2) consciously
relaxing the body's muscles; (3) focusing for ten to twenty minutes on a
mental device, such as the word one or a brief prayer; and (4) assuming a
passive attitude toward intrusive thoughts.

A number of years ago, I thought that this approach was all that was
required to elicit benefits from the Relaxation Response. And it's true that
the basic procedure is as valid as it ever was for helping individuals
reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and otherwise enhance their physical
and mental well-being. But now I've come to understand that the effects of
this simple technique, combined with a person's deepest personal beliefs,
can create other internal environments that can help the individual reach
enhanced states of health and well-being.

This combination of a Relaxation-Response technique with the individual's
belief system is what I call the Faith Factor. It's by no means an entirely
original concept; rather it's a new kind of "package" that contains two
powerful but familiar spiritual vehicles: (1) prayer or meditation; and (2)
a deeply held set of philosophical or religious convictions. My function in
exploring and describing this Faith Factor is to serve as a bridge between
two disciplines: traditional faith and meditative practices, and scientific
observation.

I am not interested in promoting one religious or philosophical system over
another. Nor do I intend to comment in any way on the truth or falsity of
any religious system. Rather, I'm most concerned with the scientifically
observable phenomena and forces that accompany faith. Also, I plan to
concentrate on the techniques and attitudes that can be used by those of any
faith to tap those forces.

Not only did my research -- and that of my colleagues -- reveal that 25% of
people feel more spiritual as the result of the Relaxation Response, but it
showed that those same people have fewer medical symptoms than do those who
reported no increase in spirituality. It became clear that a person's
religious convictions or life philosophy enhanced the average effects of the
Relaxation Response in three ways: (1) People who chose an appropriate
focus, that which drew upon their deepest philosophic or religious
convictions, were more apt to adhere to the Relaxation Response routine,
looking forward to it and enjoying it; (2) affirmative beliefs of any kind
brought forth remembered wellness, reviving top-down, nerve-cell-firing
patterns in the brain that were associated with wellness; (3) when present,
faith in an eternal or life-transcending force seemed to make the fullest
use of remembered wellness because it is a supremely soothing belief,
disconnecting unhealthy logic and worries.

So, what do you mean "not a very smart idea"?

GD

I might have told "gym buddies", except that most of them have far worse
problems than I. "Steve", the leanest, fittest gray-haired guy there --
Energizer Bunny on speed for hours 5-6 days a week -- takes 25 meds for
his heart and other problems, and would quickly die if he didn't
exercise HARD and long almost every day to produce enzymes he can't get
any other way. "Bill" has had heart bypasses and stents and may drop any
day. "Fred" has been hobbled all his life by congenital pelvic
musculoskeletal problems. Another guy had his legs blasted to Hellenbach
chasing Bin Laden in Afghanistan ... but could probably take anyone
there in upper body strength. "Anne" is confined to a wheelchair by MS,
but takes the stairs instead of the elevator as part of her workout; one
floor takes her 10 minutes. Ex-football-player "Robert" can almost catch
a ball with his hands -- his only (barely) functional extremities --
after breaking his neck in a hot air balloon accident many years ago.
"Sam" is 98 years old, twisted into a pretzel by some damn disease or
another, accompanied in his wheelchair 24/7 by a caretaker, but he's in
the pool often and on the gym floor occasionally.

"I used to have PC" or "My PSA is high" or even "Time to change my pad"
or "Look! My balls glow!"? Most of these guys would swap places with me
in a New York minute ... so far.

I.P.

I guess it's the timing as much as anything...what with christmas a
week away, and now news about dan fogelberg dying of pca as well as
others recently...it's bound to provoke....pity?.....distress,
etc.......and the ineveitable questions, so I will try to continue to
keep it quiet until the last minute, and then only to a few.
Like someone said, I can always tell them afterwards if I choose.
Bottom line...I just don't see how it's anyone's business but mine.

Ah, having been self-employed most of the time and paid my own
insurance, I hadn't thought of that.  Never had to deal with office
politics either, but I know to survive amongst my working peers, PCa
is better kept to oneself.

Excellent!  A perfect silver lining.