OT: Cancer and My Card Collection

[marzoumanian]

Mark, you have prostate cancer.
When I heard the news from my urologist in September 2020, I didn’t become overly worried because I had been taking annual physicals for years. So I knew this particular cancer, which is well-known for progressing very slowly, was very treatable.
But I would be lying if I didn’t admit to thinking about what would happen to my baseball card collection if I died in the next year or two. You see, my two younger brothers are well aware that I have this collection. But they have no interest in collecting cards or enjoying for themselves what I collected. Put more bluntly, they would auction off the cards after I was gone.
Fortunately, when I retired in 2014 I decided it was time to slowly auction off my collection. I figured the best way to do this was to sample the customer service provided by three auction houses: Heritage, Mile High and PWCC. I was very satisfied with the consignment results but all three lacked in customer service to one degree or another.
I tried yet another auction house, REA, because I had heard that it had a stellar reputation and integrity beyond reproach. I’ve been using it now for the past few years. No auction house can control consignment final prices realized but they can control their customer service and REA has served me well.
No matter what your individual circumstances, having a plan for the future of your card collection is critical. Why? You want to make certain that it lands in the right hands. And you also want to make certain that the transition process goes smoothly, even if it means that you know the cards will be sold within weeks of your death. That’s okay. Not everyone loves cards like you do. But it’s worth making the effort to know who will be turning your cards into cash. Ideally you want it to be someone you care about.
Now, since my cancer diagnosis am I in a hurry to auction off my cards so that I can enjoy the money before I die? Not at all. Why?
As mentioned earlier, thanks to getting annual check-ups my primary care doctor noticed that my PSA (a test used to indicate the presence of prostate cancer) was a bit high (at 5.86) and recommended that I see a urologist. The urologist proceeded to perform a biopsy (not a pleasant experience!) that led to the cancer diagnosis.
Prostate cancer is pretty common. It grows slowly and is confined to the prostate gland. When it is detected early, this particular type of cancer has an excellent chance to be successfully treated. Nevertheless, some types of prostate cancer are aggressive and can spread quickly. So you need to take quick action once your urologist gives you the bad news. Don’t hesitate to get that biopsy. And if you have trouble urinating or see blood in your urine, please make an appointment with your doctor.
According to the Mayo Clinic, you can reduce your risk of prostate cancer if you:
• Chose a healthy diet of fruits and vegetables;
• Exercise most days of the week; and
• Maintain a healthy weight.
Thanks to 44 days of radiation treatment in late 2020, today my PSA is 1.00. The treatment itself was absolutely painless and I was fortunate not to experience any side effects. The hardest part was getting to the appointments on time each day (Monday to Friday).
Bottom line? I sleep well at night, not only because my cancer is in remission but because I planned the dispersion of my baseball card collection years before I was hit with the diagnosis. I realize the advice is simple: Have a plan for your collection. Do it today. It’s one less issue to worry about if life should throw you a curve. Like it did to me.

P.S. If you would like to read any of my past columns, visit www.markearzoumanian.com and then click on "Love of the Hobby."