Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Facing Cancer Under 40
The New York Times ran a story today about cancer in young adults. From my point of view, there isn't really a lot of new news in it (wow, cancer sucks). What the article does clearly point out is how little is known about cancer in young people-- is it a statistical lightening strike, or is it the result of some genetic damage that was done early on to make a young person more susceptible? Who knows.
In late October of last year, The Chicago Tribune did a similar article.
In late October of last year, The Chicago Tribune did a similar article.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Thank You Lance
It was such a relief to see this on cnn.com. Despite taking place the same day as a speech by the President, and the ongoing debate about Iraq, Lance's public statements regarding cancer attracted a lot of media attention.
Monday, January 01, 2007
New Year's Resolutions
If only resolve could keep me cancer-free, and protect my father-in-law from the disease which he fought on two fronts during 2006 (relapsed lymphoma and prostate). In absence of any control, my resolutions focus on quality-of-life changes that I'd like to make in 2007. More than anything, I'd like to feel a greater sense of health and well-being. (I won't bore you with the specifics.)
Somewhat related, I'm also resolving to attempt to stay away from the two on-line support groups that I frequent. I use the word attempt because I've tried to cut the mouse cord before. The longest I stayed away was about a month, at which time I thought...surely I can handle a brief visit, to check up on old friends and see if there's any research news. But there's something addictive about the experience...I got sucked into people's stories, other peoples musings of what causes cancer and their voodoo like prescriptions for keeping it at bay (curry powder, olive leaves and the right balance of dietary fats, in case you're wondering).
Lately the on-line support groups have been a source of anxiety, but I also feel isolated without them-- in my civilian life, cancer really isn't something that is part of my everyday existence, except of course, in my mind. Somehow I feel validated when I log-on and confirm that I'm not crazy, this horrible thing happened and it is entirely normal to still feel somewhat off-balance from it. But sometimes the information on the sites is upsetting...like the woman with almost my exact diagnosis and treatment recurred in a way that I had never imagined...her treatable Her2 breast cancer morphed into a non-her2 metastasis to her lung. I thought I knew my enemy, its strengths, weaknesses and had a battle plan ready to go should it resurface-- but it can be even more evil than I assumed.
Somewhat related, I'm also resolving to attempt to stay away from the two on-line support groups that I frequent. I use the word attempt because I've tried to cut the mouse cord before. The longest I stayed away was about a month, at which time I thought...surely I can handle a brief visit, to check up on old friends and see if there's any research news. But there's something addictive about the experience...I got sucked into people's stories, other peoples musings of what causes cancer and their voodoo like prescriptions for keeping it at bay (curry powder, olive leaves and the right balance of dietary fats, in case you're wondering).
Lately the on-line support groups have been a source of anxiety, but I also feel isolated without them-- in my civilian life, cancer really isn't something that is part of my everyday existence, except of course, in my mind. Somehow I feel validated when I log-on and confirm that I'm not crazy, this horrible thing happened and it is entirely normal to still feel somewhat off-balance from it. But sometimes the information on the sites is upsetting...like the woman with almost my exact diagnosis and treatment recurred in a way that I had never imagined...her treatable Her2 breast cancer morphed into a non-her2 metastasis to her lung. I thought I knew my enemy, its strengths, weaknesses and had a battle plan ready to go should it resurface-- but it can be even more evil than I assumed.
