Category: My lymphoma and related medical stuff

A very sobering story from CNN. Well worth the read. As Lorraine sat in the waiting room with Susie that May morning two years ago, she prayed her husband's liver lobe would cure her brother-in-law. She prayed for her husband, too, but she was less worried about him, since she says the surgeons had reassured…

Yup. Great health professionals, chemotherapy and prayer. Here's what I posted last year on the fifth anniversary. I could never quite figure why having your stem cells returned to you constituted a transplant, but that's what they call it. Anyway, the idea is to re-build your immune system, after the high dose chemo has (hopefully)…

Turns out, the key is not so much what your resting heart rate is; rather whetehr it's been rising over the years, and by how much. From the always-useful NY Times health section A large study has found that a rise in resting heart rate over a decade may indicate an increased risk of death…

Further proof there is a God! Now an analysis in the January issue of The Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs suggests that martinis and beer may be just as effective at extending life. Wine may have appeared to be better only because the people who choose it are generally healthier.  

An encouraging article in the excellent NY Times health section. hit the link for the whole article – after all, it's your body.  (FULL DISCLOSURE: I graduated from my fifties this past summer.) Is physical frailty inevitable as we grow older? That question preoccupies scientists and the middle-aged, particularly when they become the same people.…

From the NY Times a few days ago. Very interesting. For some reason they put it in the retirment area of the business section, instead of in health and fitness. “We’re really proud of our older lifeguards,” said Mr. Gorman of the New York State office of parks. “To me, these guys are like Jack…

Aaron Cruden, who wasn't even in the original World Cup team, but was called into the national side when the first two choice players were injured during the tournament. Cruden Triumphs Adversity Again It should not surprise anyone that first five-eighth Aaron Cruden had the mental and physical fortitude to guide the All Blacks into…

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 67% of Likely U.S. Voters favor training and licensing of nurse practitioners to expand the level of routine medical care they provide. Only 20% oppose such training and licensing, with another 12% not sure about it. (To see survey question wording, click here.) Seventy-seven percent (77%)…

Today had my semi-annual visit with lymphoma doc, Dr. Zelenetz at Sloan Kettering. I'd had my now-every-year CAT scan and it was "pristine". Bloodwork was fine; a couple of readings slightly outside the norm, but nothing of any importance. So, we can still buy green bananas! 

I could never quite figure why having your stem cells returned to you constituted a transplant, but that's what they call it. Anyway, the idea is to re-build your immune system, after the high dose chemo has (hopefully) killed off the remaining lingering cancer cells. The side effect is that the chemo gives your immune…