More on breast cancer

Here's an interesting article on breast cancer from a doctor I used to work with at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.

Food industry PR

This old ad has nothing to do with my leukemia or what I'm up to right now but I love it as an example of food industry PR.

And the envelope, please...

Just a quick note to let you know that I've still got this awful stomach bug. It's definitely getting better, but slowly....Fortunately, my sister Dina and nephew Sam were here this weekend to keep me laughing.

In honor of tonight's Academy Awards, I'd like to nominate Dina for The Most Patient Patient Advocate Ever. She spent 15 STRAIGHT hours with me from 9 am Friday morning through midnight on Saturday morning while we waited and waited and waited for a transfusion. (Long story.) There have been many worthy contenders for this award, but Dina definitely deserves the Oscar this time around...

Why Avon is the best

It's that time of the year again--when many of us sign up for breast cancer walks or runs or are asked to contribute by friends and family. If you're planning on getting involved in one of these popular fundraising events, I'd like to recommend the ones put on by Avon.

The events start in Houston this April and are held in many major cities including NYC, Chicago, San Fran, LA, Boston, and D.C. The reason I like this organization so well is that it made a commitment in 2001 to not support any medical research that uses animals. Hurrah, Avon seems to "get" it! Here's a link to more info about the Avon Walks. (To find out whether a different breast cancer charity is cruelty-free, check out www.HumaneSeal.org.)

Not the greatest of news

Sorry for not writing for a while but John and I have both been battling some sort of awful stomach bug. It's hit me especially hard. I guess I shouldn't have been bragging about feeling so well last week ;(

I don't think this bug has anything to do with the leukemia. It's just that with my compromised immune system, it takes forever to fight off infections. Keep washing your hands and stay healthy!

No news is good news

Just a quick update to let you know that I am still feeling pretty decent. I completed my first round of the new chemo drug (Dacogen) last Friday. It'll take a couple of weeks to know if it's working any better than the Vidaza I took for six months. But so far, I haven't noticed any nasty new side effects.

If it weren't for my weekly blood transfusions, twice-daily pill extravaganza, and a few pesky bald spots and other annoying health issues, I might even forget I have leukemia :)

Inspiring -- and funny -- medical story

Here's a fabulous article on Huffington Post by a woman who donated her kidney to a stranger. It's called My Big Fat Vegan Kidney Donation.

Hospital food, chemo update

Some good news and some not-so-great news. First, British hospitals are going to start promoting meat-free meals as a way to reduce carbon emissions. Here's a link to the Guardian story.

On the medical front: My white counts are still way too high so my doctor has switched me to another drug to see if it'll work better. So far, no bad side effects. Hurrah!