I went a way for the weekend and had a great time. I drove 160 miles in a pouring rain but saw some foliage as I was in Northern New Hampshire. It tired me out. I stayed up too late with my friends but was the first one to bed both nights - midnight on Friday and 10 last night.
Being the first one to bed means I missed the excitement of the missing person who was lying on the floor in the corner (and later realized they had misplaced their clothes as well). Its not what you think it was and alcohol might have been involved.
This morning we saw moose tracks and a deer trail - both in the backyard.
I also stood too much and made my back hurt which is why I am lying on ice right now. With a warm cat on my feet.
It was a nice weekend away but now its back to reality... but not until tomorrow morning.
Its Friday
In fact it is the last Friday in September before the deluge of pinkification. And there are only 39 days until the elections.
The sporting world is overjoyed that NFL refs are back on the job. They received a standing ovation last night. I am sure that will last one day.
The sporting world is also saddened that the NHL has cancelled all their preseason games. The bars outside the NHL arenas are probably very sad as their business will be way off during that time.
The Boston sporting world is saddened that the Red Sox have ended the season with the worst record in decades. Would anyone like to place a bet if Bobby Valentine will have a job next season?
(What? Am I supposed to write about cancer and health all the time? There is more to me than just medical ailments.)
This weekend I am going away for a girls weekend (and my husband will be helped by the cat in guarding the house while I am gone). I will leave after I get the stitches out from my skin biopsy - which I am sure will be nothing. (See I snuck in a little medical stuff.)
I am looking forward to a weekend of 'Girls Rule - no pets, no children, no husbands, no rules'. We have hula hoops and are having a pizza themed weekend. I am making a carb free one with an egg plant crust. We may go antiquing. We will definitely eat too much.
During the next two weeks I am very busy - basically over committed through mid October. But what else is new?
After this afternoon's doctor appt, I don't believe I have another appointment for three weeks? What will I do with my time?
But life goes on. Its Friday and I will enjoy the weekend.
The sporting world is overjoyed that NFL refs are back on the job. They received a standing ovation last night. I am sure that will last one day.
The sporting world is also saddened that the NHL has cancelled all their preseason games. The bars outside the NHL arenas are probably very sad as their business will be way off during that time.
The Boston sporting world is saddened that the Red Sox have ended the season with the worst record in decades. Would anyone like to place a bet if Bobby Valentine will have a job next season?
(What? Am I supposed to write about cancer and health all the time? There is more to me than just medical ailments.)
This weekend I am going away for a girls weekend (and my husband will be helped by the cat in guarding the house while I am gone). I will leave after I get the stitches out from my skin biopsy - which I am sure will be nothing. (See I snuck in a little medical stuff.)
I am looking forward to a weekend of 'Girls Rule - no pets, no children, no husbands, no rules'. We have hula hoops and are having a pizza themed weekend. I am making a carb free one with an egg plant crust. We may go antiquing. We will definitely eat too much.
During the next two weeks I am very busy - basically over committed through mid October. But what else is new?
After this afternoon's doctor appt, I don't believe I have another appointment for three weeks? What will I do with my time?
But life goes on. Its Friday and I will enjoy the weekend.
They must have a really big crystal ball
The title of an article published by the BBC screams "Cancer Death Rates Set for a Dramatic Fall" by 2030. Yup. I believe it. Not until I see it. Thats 18 years from now. There are still some cancers increasing in incidence. People are still dying from cancer. Cancer rates are increasing in third world countries as well.
They state that there will be a 17% drop in the death rate due to advances in treatment and decreases in smoking rates. They predict that the death rates will drop from 170/100,000 deaths to 142/100,000 deaths. Here is the little chart showing their data in a very simplified form.
So if my numbers are correct (I was not the stellar math student and claim chemo brain so there is so margin for error) while it is exciting that there is an expected 42% drop in ovarian cancer death rates, that really only 6000. This would be 100,000 fewer deaths in the US in 18 years. Or a drop of 5555 less each year. At that rate it will take 86 more years to end cancer deaths in the US. That is too long as far as I am concerned. Most of us can expect to be here in 2030 but probably very very few will be here in 2116.
They state that there will be a 17% drop in the death rate due to advances in treatment and decreases in smoking rates. They predict that the death rates will drop from 170/100,000 deaths to 142/100,000 deaths. Here is the little chart showing their data in a very simplified form.
Let's put some numbers to this to see how it looks on this side of the pond.
| US 2012 Predicted Deaths | %+/- | estimated 2030 death rate | |
| All cancers | 577,190 | -17% | 479,067 |
| Breast cancer | 39,920 | -28% | 28,742 |
| Bowel/Colon | 51,690 | -23% | 39,801 |
| Kidney | 13,570 | -17% | 11,263 |
| Oral | 7,850 | +22% | 9,577 |
| Liver | 20,550 | +39% | 28,565 |
| Lung | 160,340 | -8% | 14,7513 |
| Ovary | 15,550 | -42% | 9,019 |
| Pancreas | 37,390 | -3% | 36,268 |
| Prostate | 28,170 | -16% | 23,664 |
So if my numbers are correct (I was not the stellar math student and claim chemo brain so there is so margin for error) while it is exciting that there is an expected 42% drop in ovarian cancer death rates, that really only 6000. This would be 100,000 fewer deaths in the US in 18 years. Or a drop of 5555 less each year. At that rate it will take 86 more years to end cancer deaths in the US. That is too long as far as I am concerned. Most of us can expect to be here in 2030 but probably very very few will be here in 2116.
The medical roller coaster goes round and round
Yesterday I went to see a new doctor, Dr. P., to see if I have rheumatoid arthritis due to all my aches and pains that never seem to go away. I have a family history of RA from my mother and maternal grandfather. I was referred there by my pain management doctor, Dr. G.
When I got there Dr P said that Dr G had put in his notes that I had myofascial pain/fibromyalgia. I said he had never mentioned fibromyalgia to me at all. At first Dr P said she would clarify that with Dr G and that it would be treated through the pain management department as I already am. By the end of the appointment Dr P said that I probably do have fibromyalgia because I have all the signs after she pushed on all sorts of places that caused pain.
Dr P was also concerned that, because of my family history and symptoms, I could have other ailments. A family history of RA does not mean I will get RA but that I am probably more prone to getting other autoimmune ailments. Dr P also said that because of my history and symptoms this wasn't going to be a one time visit but that I would get all sorts of fun tests. So I left a urine sample, went for blood word, and hand, wrist and ankle x-rays. If everything comes back negative, she will follow up with me in six months. If anything comes back positive, I will see her in three weeks for more fun and games.
On the plus side, its not cancer. On the negative side, these things don't ever really go away. But I really am a healthy person - if I keep saying this, maybe it will come true.
When I got there Dr P said that Dr G had put in his notes that I had myofascial pain/fibromyalgia. I said he had never mentioned fibromyalgia to me at all. At first Dr P said she would clarify that with Dr G and that it would be treated through the pain management department as I already am. By the end of the appointment Dr P said that I probably do have fibromyalgia because I have all the signs after she pushed on all sorts of places that caused pain.
Dr P was also concerned that, because of my family history and symptoms, I could have other ailments. A family history of RA does not mean I will get RA but that I am probably more prone to getting other autoimmune ailments. Dr P also said that because of my history and symptoms this wasn't going to be a one time visit but that I would get all sorts of fun tests. So I left a urine sample, went for blood word, and hand, wrist and ankle x-rays. If everything comes back negative, she will follow up with me in six months. If anything comes back positive, I will see her in three weeks for more fun and games.
On the plus side, its not cancer. On the negative side, these things don't ever really go away. But I really am a healthy person - if I keep saying this, maybe it will come true.
Things that go bump in the night
The cat and my husband didn't move a muscle. I think it was a bird or large bat (biggish thud) with a poor sense of radar and/or vision. Yes it was the middle of the night but the house is light green so you think it would stand out to flying things. It was probably only a foot or two from the corner of the house... (Why am I thinking of 'George of the Jungle' who couldn't swing from tree to tree, but went into the tree instead?)
This is me in avoidance mode this morning. I have a doctor appointment today I am not ready to discuss. So I will worry about things that go bump in the night instead. And hope there isn't a little suprise waiting outside on the patio for me...
Breakthrough research but...
Its all over the news this morning that a new study was published in Nature Magazine yesterday. You can read it here in its full technical jargon. You can also read about it here in its 'translated for normal people' version. It does represent some great research where they have broken down breast cancer into four types:
"For now, despite the tantalizing possibilities, patients will have to wait for clinical trials to see whether drugs that block the genetic aberrations can stop the cancers. And it could be a vast undertaking to get all the drug testing done. Because there are so many different ways a breast cancer cell can go awry, there may have to be dozens of drug studies, each focusing on a different genetic change."
So as always, more studies (and patient patients) are needed.
- Triple negative seems to be a basal type which makes it more related to ovarian cancer so this is saying should it be treated like ovarian cancer? An interesting thought for a very aggressive and difficult to treat disease.
- The most common type of breast cancer ER+/PR+/Her2- is divided into two groups based on the luminal status (whatever they are). One group does well with chemotherapy, one does not, but both do well with hormonal therapy (Tamoxifen/Femara etc). So this means some women would no longer get chemo as in the past.
- The last group is the Her2+ group which has recently been treated with Herceptin that has turned one of the worst cancers in to one of the easier to treat.
"For now, despite the tantalizing possibilities, patients will have to wait for clinical trials to see whether drugs that block the genetic aberrations can stop the cancers. And it could be a vast undertaking to get all the drug testing done. Because there are so many different ways a breast cancer cell can go awry, there may have to be dozens of drug studies, each focusing on a different genetic change."
So as always, more studies (and patient patients) are needed.
End of life medication
In Electionovember (this is not a political post), Massachusetts residents will have the opportunity to vote on End of Life Medication. There are several requirements to the law:
I will vote for this. First of all, I think it should be an option. If you are dying and in pain and there is no hope, why can't you say 'that's it' instead of lingering in pain for a few more weeks? If you disagree, you do not need to make the choice to do it.
The problem with these laws when they try to pass them, is people start saying 'well I would never do that' and people come out of the woodwork saying my neighbor's hair dresser's cousin's friend was given 3 months to live and 20 years later they are still here. Everyone has the right to their own beliefs and this is a law that would allow people to make a difficult decision if they wished.
What if you had something like Parkinson's or Alzheimer's which is irreversible and incurable and you knew you were destined to die over a period of months or years and you could make the decision while you were capable that you wanted to be prescribed end of life medication when you got down to the bitter end? If you know your lot in life is to die a slow and painful death, wouldn't you want a way to avoid the pain if you could? We do not know what is in our future and we could all end up in that circumstance. I think we should be allowed to have that choice if we choose to.
- Must be an MA resident
- Must have been given less than six months to life
- Must be capable of making and communicating medical decisions
- Must voluntarily make a wish to die and make an informed decision.
I will vote for this. First of all, I think it should be an option. If you are dying and in pain and there is no hope, why can't you say 'that's it' instead of lingering in pain for a few more weeks? If you disagree, you do not need to make the choice to do it.
The problem with these laws when they try to pass them, is people start saying 'well I would never do that' and people come out of the woodwork saying my neighbor's hair dresser's cousin's friend was given 3 months to live and 20 years later they are still here. Everyone has the right to their own beliefs and this is a law that would allow people to make a difficult decision if they wished.
What if you had something like Parkinson's or Alzheimer's which is irreversible and incurable and you knew you were destined to die over a period of months or years and you could make the decision while you were capable that you wanted to be prescribed end of life medication when you got down to the bitter end? If you know your lot in life is to die a slow and painful death, wouldn't you want a way to avoid the pain if you could? We do not know what is in our future and we could all end up in that circumstance. I think we should be allowed to have that choice if we choose to.
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