Friday, March 19, 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section B • Page 3
Surgeon removes Joe Torre's prostate
The Associated Press
ST. LOUIS — The surgeon who removed Joe Torre's cancerous prostate gland yesterday believes the disease had not spread, and said the prognosis was excellent for the New York Yankees manager.
"It was very routine," said Dr. William Catalona, a pioneer in the detection and treatment of prostate cancer. "I think he had a very early prostate cancer and it treated very successfully."
and it went very smoothly."
Lab tests on the removed gland and surrounding lymph nodes won't be complete for a few days, but Catalona said, "The way it looked to the naked eye, the prognosis is excellent."
Catalona said the cancer was *sq small he couldn't see it even as he held the removed gland
in his hand. It was diagnosed by the prostate-specific antigen test that Catalona developed a decade ago and confirmed by a biopsy.
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in American men and the second deadliest behind lung cancer. The walnut-sized gland is at the base of the bladder in men. Men 50 years and older are most at risk.
In cases where cancer is confined to a removed prostate, the patient's prognosis is essentially as good as for a man who never had the disease, Catabna said.
Torre, 58, underwent the 21/2 hour surgery at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, where he was expected to remain for 3 to 4 days.
Torre will then recuperate in Florida, said Jeff Wehling, a family friend.
Catalona pioneered a surgical technique known as nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy, which he used on Torre. The procedure generally results in
fewer problems, including impotence, than conventional prostate surgery.
Catalonia said there appeared to be very little damage to the nerves surrounding Torre's prostate.
Catalona said Torre seemed at ease before the surgery, talking baseball and joking with doctors.
Torre's wife, Ali, was ecstatic after learning about the successful surgery, Wehling said. She then called family members and acquaintances, including Yankees owner George Steinbrenner.
"He was very upbeat, cracking all of jokes — he was really very amusing," Catalona said. "I can see now why everybody likes him so much."
Barnes-Jewish spokeswoman Kathryn Holleman said the hospital had received hundreds of calls from well-wishers. Wehling told Torre had also received numerous flowers and cards, many from St. Louis residents who watched Torre when he played for and later managed the Cardinals.
"I'm going to encourage him not to back go too soon." Catalona said. "He's not a very stressful job."
There is no timetable for Torre's return to the World Series champions, but Catalona said his patients typically went back to work 6-12 weeks after surgery.
"He's found greater success in New York, but the people in St. Louis still have incredibly fond memories." Wehlung said.
Catalona was recommended to Torre by former Yankees general manager Bob Watson, and by Cardinals Hall-of-Famer Stan Musial, hospital officials said. Catalona performed prostate cancer surgery on both men.
A physician diagnosed Torre's cancer early in an annual exam, Catalona said. The problem was found during a checkup at the Yankee's spring training camp in Tampa, Fla., and announced last week.
"You're dealing with a tumor that doesn't let its presence be learned unless you're looking for it," Catalona said.
Healthy season Conine's hope
The Associated Press
HAINES CITY, Fla. — There's a lot less of Jeff Conine this season, and he's hoping that translates into more offensive production.
Conine, expected to be the Royals right fielder, has dropped weight, redefined his muscle and staved injury-free.
He weighed 226 pounds when last season ended. Ori Tuesday, he checked in at 209 pounds. And that him looking forward to the upcoming season.
"I'm going to be healthy, for one," he said.
"That's the main key. If I stay healthy, I'm going to produce. I don't know what that translates into numbers—I'll let you do the math on that."
Bottom line: 93 games, eight homers, 43 RBI and a .256 batting average.
As last year's camp closed, Conine was on the disabled list because of a strained abdominal muscle and he didn't play until May 5. In June, he missed six games because of a strained left wrist. A sore back in late July cost him three weeks.
Especially when there were runs to be chased home. Coninite hit .319 (22 for 69) with 31 RBI with runners in scoring position. With runners on third base, his average was .406 (13 for 32).
"It was a waste, really," Conine said. "I really didn't start the season until May 5. If you can't start a season on time, you're already behind the 8-ball. After the first month, I hit real well in June (292) and July (304), then hurt my back in August. The stretches I did play healthy, I think I hit the ball pretty well."
Just the sight of potential runs pumps Conine up;
"In the 3-4-5 holes, that's what you're expected to do, and you've got to look forward to those situations because that's how you make your living," he said.
During the off-season, the 32-year-old Connie began seeing a nutritionist who had worked with
quarterback Dan Marino and other Miami Dolphins.
"I don't know if it'a a case of getting older or what, but you know those few extra pounds that cree on every once in a while and just accumulate? You try to get them off and they just don't come off like normal."
Manager Tony Muser believes that Conine's physical remake is a huge step for him mentally, too.
“It’s a mind-set.” Muser said. “When you feel good about yourself and work hard, you do better. Unless you’re dripping with talent, physical conditioning is more important than anything.”
Indeed, the results are impressive. Conine's average in the Grapefruit League this spring is .391 (nine for 23) with two doubles and four RBI.
"I feel like I'm moving better, I'm a little more quick on my feet," he said. "If you stick a 15- or 20-pound weight around your waist and run with it all day and take it off, obviously you're going to be lighter and naturally quicker."
"I've always been kind of a stick man anyway."
The Royals will need offense from him this year. With top hitters Dean Palmer (34 homers, 119 RBI) and Jose Offerman (.315, 102 runs) leaving through free-agency, a productive season from Conine is a must.
"He's got his swing down," Johnson said. "It's shorter and more compact. And he's being very selective at the plate. When he does hit the ball, he hits it hard."
Lamar Johnson, the Royals' new batting coach, sees good reason for optimism.
In 1992, the Royals exposed Conine to the expansion draft. He was grabbed by the Florida Marlins and opened the 1993 season in left field. After five years and the 1997 World Series championship with the Marlins, Conine was dealt back to the Royals.
Conine feels at home in the outfield, though if Jeff King is traded or needs a break, Conine can easily return to first base. He's had just 14 errors in 321 games at first. Last year, he had only one outfield error.
Atlanta Brave fights battle with cancer
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Andres Galarraga didn't have to put on his uniform and swing a bat to inspire the Atlanta Braves.
The Associated Press
The slugger, whom physicians diagnosed with cancer, visited the team's spring training complex Wednesday, and his teammates liked what they saw.
Galarraga was cheerful and confident that he'll beat his illness and return to the club next year.
"I told him to put it this way: It's just like you got hurt," said infielder Ozzie Guillen, like Galarraga a native of Venezuela. "It's like you broke your leg or Kerry Wood being out eight months.
Just think of it like that. I think Andres will come back pretty soon."
The 37-year
old first baseman began chemotherapy last month and is scheduled to start his second treatment today. The initial session made him nauseous with headaches for several days. But he's not complaining.
"The first three days are probably the most difficult," said Galarraga, who spoke with reporters for about 45 minutes in his first public appearance since doctors found a cancerous tumor in a bone in his lower back on Feb. 18.
"But after awhile, I began to feel better. If that's what's going to make me better, then I can hang with those three days."
The attitude Galarraq brought for his brief visit to spring training was the same one teammates encountered when they made a surprise visit to the slugger's West Palm Beach home on Monday.
"I love baseball so much," Galarraga said. "To be here is special... Just talking to these guys about the game helps a lot, I think it helps them, too."
Fans gave Galarraga a standing ovation before Wednesday's game between the Braves and the Detroit Tigers. Walt Disney World, where Atlanta holds camp, presented him with a 14-by-6 foot get-well card bearing more than 2,500 signatures.
Since news of his illness broke, the first baseman has received thousands of letters and also has heard from Darryl Strawberry, Eric Davis and Brett Butler, who all came back from stints with cancer to play baseball again.
Galarraga will undergo treatment every three weeks for the next few months.
"They say I will have about five or six treatments, but it all depends on my body's reaction to each one," he said. "I have been through the first treatment, but it is too early to see the results."
Guillen said the slugger's illness is a huge story in their native country.
"That's the worst news we've heard in a long time. A lot of people didn't believe what happened," Guillen said. "When you say cancer, people think you're going to die. The country was really in shock and they're still talking about it."
Galarraga, who hit .305 with 44 home runs and 121 RBI in 1989, signed a $24.75 million, three-year contract with the Braves before last season.
"I talk to him like he doesn't have any disease," catcher Javilo Lopez said. "I still don't want to think about him having cancer. I don't want to bring out any more emotion. To me, he looks fine. We feel like he's still with us in our hearts."
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Rodman: Had been on paid leave for unspecified reasons.
However, Rambis and Lakers players vehemently denied a TNT cable network report that team members voted unanimously that Rodman be fined.
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Coach Kurt Rambis confirmed in Cleveland, where the Lakers played the Cavaliers last night, that Rodman will be assessed an undetermined amount, Los Angeles-area newspapers reported in yesterday's editions.
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LOS ANGELES — Dennis Rodman, on a paid leave from the Los Angeles Lakers for unspecified personal reasons, will be fined because of the length of time he has been away.
The Associated Press
Rambis said Wednesday that the fine had nothing to do with reports that Rodman was in Las Vegas.
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A spokesman said the firm's only statement is one issued earlier in the week — that Rodman planned to rejoin the team soon, possibly during the current road trip.
While the Lakers were losing in Sacramento Sunday, Rodman reportedly was in Las Vegas. A public relations firm, Bake Winker Rurier, which began working for Rodman this week had no comment today when asked about his whereabouts by The Associated Press.
Saturday, and after meeting with Rambis was granted the indefinite leave to handle his personal affairs.
After Rodman joined the slumping Lakers last month, they ran off 10 straight victories, including nine in which Rodman played. During that span he averaged 10.3 rebounds per game.
responsible for being with the team," he said. "I think the difference lies in how long an absence is."
The premier rebounder of the '90s, who played on five NBA championship teams in Detroit and Chicago before this year, is being paid about $500,000 for this strike-shorted season. He needed to play in Chicago, New York or Los Angeles to collect $3 million this year on a Converse shoe contract.
Rodman reportedly had an elbow injury which kept him out of the second half of the last game in which he played.
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