BREAST CANCER RESEARCH RIGHT NOW! #52: Be part of something BIG this World Lymphedema Day -- March 6, 2017

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPOmBZiZzQ4

Be part of something BIG this World Lymphedema Day

January 2017 0 Comments

Join the movement to designate "Lymphedema: Awareness & Cures" as the 2018 World Health Day campaign for the World Health Organization (WHO)

Last year, because of your efforts, World Lymphedema Day was officially recognized by the U.S. Senate and celebrated around the world.

This year, we are retaining that global focus and petitioning the World Health Organization (WHO) to make LE a global health priority by designating "Lymphedema: Awareness & Cures" as its 2018 World Health Day campaign. This cannot happen without all of you.

Take a moment, right now, and sign the petition.

https://www.change.org/p/world-health-organization-who-designate-lymphedema-awareness-cures-as-the-2018-world-health-day-campaign-for-who?recruiter=470978330&utm_source=share_petition

 Then, share it with friends and family, via email, social media, and word of mouth.

Last year, thousands of people made their voices heard. This year, we need tens of thousands. We know that nothing happens when we are silent and and that amazing things happen when we join our voices together.

Sign today, spread the word, and join the fight.

ENCORE #56! – 12 Inspiring Quotes From Men Who Care For Women With Breast Cancer – or Who Have Survived Breast Cancer Themselves

From the first moment my wife discovered she had breast cancer, there was a deafening silence from the men I know. Even ones whose wives, mothers or girlfriends had breast cancer seemed to have received a gag order from some Central Cancer Command and did little more than mumble about the experience. Not one to shut up for any known reason, I started this blog…That was four years ago – as time passed, people searching for answers stumbled across my blog and checked out what I had to say. The following entry appeared in June of 2014.

“For people who don't know me, I practiced medicine in Casper, Wyoming for 25 years as an orthopedic surgeon, taking care of families in Wyoming. I've been chief of staff of the largest hospital in our state. My wife is a breast cancer survivor.” – John Barrasso (US Senator, Wyoming)

“Men are incredible caregivers when given the opportunity. But they are underserved in education about support,” – Marc Heyison (Author, Founder – Men Against Breast Cancer)

“At the clinic she went to, they said, ‘Here is some information,’ and it was a tri-fold paper that said what to expect, and to be supportive, he recalled. Well that’s not really enough. You need more than that. I tried to get help, but there was nothing there to go to.” – Chris Wrobel (Husband and caregiver of a breast cancer survivor)

“All of the reality TV I've done has usually been simultaneously an opportunity to create awareness or raise funds for my mom's breast cancer organization.” – Stephen Baldwin (American actor, director, producer and author)

“One of the things we've always tried to do is help others with our story. Whether it's with the infertility issues, whether it's with the breast cancer, we said we're gonna turn these negatives into positives. And if we can help others by sharing our story, then it's worth it.” – Bill Rancic (Husband and caregiver of Giuliana Rancic, Italian American television personality and journalist)

“I have experienced firsthand the tremendous impact breast cancer has on the women who fight it and the loved ones who support them. This is a disease that catches you unaware and, without the right resources, leaves you feeling frightened and alone.”

– Ricardo Antonio Chavira (American actor, Desperate Housewives, and son of a breast cancer victim)

“Men get it. I think us men need you women to help us survive.” – Peter Criss (Drummer from the heavy metal band KISS)

“I learned that it is better to tell people what they mean to us now, rather than to save it for a eulogy at a funeral service.” – David (breast cancer survivor)

“We all know people – mothers, sisters, daughters, neighbors – who have dealt with breast cancer, and it’s wonderful when we know people who are really surviving.” – G Roy Duhé (PhD, breast cancer researcher)

“When we embrace uncertainty, it can be very liberating. If you can accept the uncertainty, it allows you to live life every day.” – Victor Gospodinoff (Caregiver and husband of breast cancer survivor)

And lastly, something I said that resonated…with me…

“From the first moment my wife discovered she had breast cancer, there was a deafening silence from the men I know. Even ones whose wives, mothers or girlfriends had breast cancer seemed to have received a gag order from some Central Cancer Command and did little more than mumble about the experience. Not one to shut up for any known reason, I started this blog…” – Guy Stewart

Resource: http://www.menagainstbreastcancer.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/bookComplete-1.pdf

Image: https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5527/10893068965_1d328e8f71_b.jpg

GUY’S GOTTA TALK ABOUT…Alzheimer’s #5: How Much Hope IS THERE For Alzheimer’s Patients?

Dad’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s stayed hidden from everyone until I took over the medical administration of my parents in 2015. Once I found out, there was a deafening silence from most of the people I know even though virtually all of them would add, “My _____ had Alzheimer’s…” But there was little help, little beyond people sadly shaking heads. Or horror stories. Lots of those. Even the ones who knew about the disease seemed to have received a gag order from some Central Alzheimer’s Command and did little more than mumble about the experience. Not one to shut up for any known reason, I started this part of my blog…

This is a question that plagues me every day; whether I’m visiting Dad to fix his TV, giving up on an idea I had for him to put together a small bookshelf, or when I see those idiotic commercials on television that promise to restore his memory – and how excited he is when he calls me to ask, “Do these really work?”

According to the article below, “…the fact remains that over the past decade Alzheimer's drugs have a 100% failure rate.”

Ouch.

“…FDA guidelines have traditionally called for improvements in both cognition and function [in Alzheimer’s patients]. Clearer guidance, and a faster path, would keep companies from fleeing the field in the absence of a victory. But that might also risk giving patients drugs that don't do all that much.”

In September of last year, Forbes Magazine reported this: “More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, and the number is expected to triple in another 35 years. By far the most common brain disorder, Alzheimer’s has long eluded researchers’ attempts at finding its cause. Efforts to develop long-term treatment protocols have fared no better. Most pharma organizations are attacking the disease in either of two ways: pursuing possible triggers or seeking treatments to help subdue symptoms.” (Emphasis mine) [http://www.forbes.com/sites/oppenheimerfunds/2016/09/26/battling-brain-disease-the-new-frontier-in-treating-alzheimers-patients/#79d54c40254f]

In 35 years, I’ll be 95. There is a chance – probably a likelihood – that I will develop Alzheimer’s. I will be one of 15 million people who will be living (or dying from) the disease.

Perspective?

15 million people are living with some form of cancer.

30 million Americans are living with Type 2 diabetes.

30 million Americans are living with heart disease.

33 million people world-wide live with the effects of stroke.

How intent will drug companies be in finding a cure – especially if there has been virtually 100% failure? The first article has this to say, “…says Paul Aisen, an Alzheimer's researcher at the University of Southern California who is involved in studies run by various drug makers. ‘I think this is not a refutation of the amyloid hypothesis, I think this is a confirmation of the amyloid hypothesis. In fact I think this is the strongest confirmation to date.’”

Hmmm…interesting. Hopefully, the Chinese curse will not come into play in subsequent research. (Which turns out to be neither Chinese, nor a curse… http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/may-you-live-in-interesting-times.html)  The curse: “May you live in interesting times.”

As I did with breast cancer, I’ll keep you posted.

Resource: http://www.forbes.com/sites/matthewherper/2016/12/09/how-much-hope-is-there-for-alzheimers-drugs/#1bf392712602

Image:  http://az616578.vo.msecnd.net/files/2016/06/25/6360242025150255191939281878_Alzheimer-disease-patients.jpg

ENCORE (PLUS) #55! – GUY’S GOTTA TALK #1

From the first moment my wife discovered she had breast cancer, there was a deafening silence from the men I know. Even ones whose wives, mothers or girlfriends had breast cancer seemed to have received a gag order from some Central Cancer Command and did little more than mumble about the experience. Not one to shut up for any known reason, I started this blog…That was four years ago – as time passed, people searching for answers stumbled across my blog and checked out what I had to say. The following entry appeared in March of 2014…

OK – after nearly three years of posting, it’s time to reevaluate.

Looking at my stats for each “type” of post I’ve made since starting:
A Fantastic Cancer Voyage: total hits on 13 posts = 326; comments = 0
Breast Cancer Research Right Now!: total hits on 18 posts = 395; comments = 2
Breast Cancer Wisdom: total hits on 8 posts = 62; comments = 0
Comments on other subjects: total hits on 4 posts = 19; comments = 0
Feelings, Nothing More Than Feelings: total hits on 24 posts = 1041; comments = 8
Guest Post: total hits on 1 post = 68 ; comments = 0
Introductions: total hits on 1 post = 22; comments = 2
Random Thoughts: total hits on 6 posts = 61; comments = 0
Reconstruction Era: total hits on 11 posts = 138; comments = 0
Somewhere Along the Way: total hits on 39 posts = 1750; comments = 0
Translating the Doctors: total hits on 41 posts = 2276; comments = 3

Now for some math.
Percentage of hits:
A Fantastic Cancer Voyage: 13/326 = .039 x 100 = 3.9%
Breast Cancer Research Right Now!: 4.5%
Breast Cancer Wisdom: 12.9%
Comments on other subjects: 21%
Feelings, Nothing More Than Feelings: 2.3%
Guest Post: 1.47%
Introductions: 4.5%
Random Thoughts: 9.8%
Reconstruction Era: 28.9%
Somewhere Along the Way: 2.2%
Translating the Doctors: 1.8%

And a ranking:
Reconstruction Era: 11/138 = .289 x 100 = 28.9%
Comments on other subjects: 21%
Breast Cancer Wisdom: 12.9%
Random Thoughts: 9.8%
Introductions: 4.5%
Breast Cancer Research Right Now!: 4.5%
A Fantastic Cancer Voyage: 3.9%
Feelings, Nothing More Than Feelings: 2.3%
Somewhere Along the Way: 2.2%
Guest Post: 1.47%
Translating the Doctors: 1.8%

Eliminating “Comments” because those were things like “Internet Down!”; Introductions because I’ll only introduce myself once; and Guest Post because that was a one-time thing, we have:
Reconstruction Era: 11/138 = .289 x 100 = 28.9%
Breast Cancer Wisdom: 12.9%
Random Thoughts: 9.8%
Breast Cancer Research Right Now!: 4.5%
A Fantastic Cancer Voyage: 3.9%
Feelings, Nothing More Than Feelings: 2.3%
Somewhere Along the Way: 2.2%
Translating the Doctors: 1.8%

According to Google tracking on my administrative site, my top 5 most popular posts since I started were:
“Lymph Node Excision, Mosquito Bites and a Return to Normal” with 538 hits
(Category: Somewhere Along The Way)
“Metastatic Breast Cancer: Brain Cancer” with 404 hits
(Category: Translating the Doctors)
“Easter Saturday Reflections of Nearly One Year Since I Started This” with 199 hits
(Category: Feelings, Nothing More Than Feelings)
“Metastatic Breast Cancer: Bone Cancer” with 144 hits
(Category: Translating the Doctors)
“Husbanding A Bigger Middle” with 132 hits
(Category: Feelings, Nothing More Than Feelings)


All right then. I’m going to combine categories:
Reconstruction Era: 11/138 = .289 x 100 = 28.9%
Breast Cancer Wisdom: 12.9%

Random Thoughts: 9.8% + Somewhere Along the Way: 2.2% + Feelings, Nothing More Than
Feelings: 2.3% for a total percentage of 14.3%
Breast Cancer Research Right Now!: 4.5%  + Translating the Doctors: 1.8% for a total of percentage of 6.3%
A Fantastic Cancer Voyage: 3.9%


Finally, the new categories:

Reconstruction Era: 28.9%
Random Thoughts: 14.3% *Rename: GUY’S GOTTA TALK ABOUT…*
Breast Cancer Wisdom: 12.9%
Breast Cancer Research Right Now!: 6.3%
A Fantastic Cancer Voyage: 3.9%


So, there we go this is the “new” GUY’S GOTTA TALK ABOUT BREAST CANCER. Who knows, I may retool the look of the site, too! We’ll see.

FEBRUARY 2017…almost three years later…

I didn’t retool the site.

CURRENT Categories:

 GUY’S GOTTA TALK ABOUT…

GUY’S GOTTA TALK ABOUT…ALZHEIMER’S

Breast Cancer Research Right Now!

Encore!

According to Google tracking on my administrative site, my top 5 most popular posts since I started were:
“Lymph Node Excision, Mosquito Bites and a Return to Normal” with 963 hits

“Neulasta: What’s that?” with 553 hits
“Easter Saturday Reflections of Nearly One Year Since I Started This” with 434 hits

“Metastatic Breast Cancer: Brain Cancer” with 404 hits (this one has not changed in three years…)
“Metastatic Breast Cancer: Skin Cancer” with 283 hits
“Another HOLD ON THERE BABA LOUIE! Moment” with 212 hits and

“Celebrating Twenty-Five Years of Marriage” with 195

I added ENCORE! Because the stress of writing about breast cancer every week was wearing me out. Plus, there were several things that bore retelling – as you can see above.

The BC Research Right Now! Appeals to the “science guy” (pun intended!) in me.

And Alzheimer’s became an issue for me only two years ago. My father is now firmly ensconced in Stage Five…he doesn’t have that long left to live and this stage may be stable for as long as ten years, so there’s a strong likelihood and I’ll be writing more about that than breast cancer.

GUY’S GOTTA TALK has lately been drifting – international efforts against breast cancer, especially in developing countries; as well as more and more emphasis on lymphedema. Next time around, however, I’ll rail against breast cancer again because of a recent development…

At any rate, enjoy! Thanks for stopping by!

Image: https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5527/10893068965_1d328e8f71_b.jpg