Bibliosphere

Mental illness affects 1 in 6 adults, yet there is a heavy stigma associated with this group of disorders.  Why should such a common group of afflictions be so frowned upon?  Many people lack knowledge about mental illness; they may see it as a sign of weakness, or something to cover up.  Bring Change to Mind is an organization that fights the stigma associated with mental illness. Visit  http://www.bringchange2mind.org/  to learn more. Here are some of the more common misconceptions about mental illness. "Children don't get mental illnesses.'  This couldn't be further from the truth.  1 in 10 children have a mental illness, including depression, anxiety and mood disorders. "People with mental illnesses are violent."  While some violent people are mentally ill, few mentally ill people are violent.  Most people with mental illness are shy or withdrawn, and are more likely to be the victims of violence.  "Mental illness is a sign of weakness."

As a bored college student, I enjoy watching old TV series on netflix.  Last semester, it was "That 70s Show", which was purely entertaining. This semester, I've opted to watch the X-Files.  I enjoy seeing how far we have come with some of the Sci-Fi topics covered in the series: computers, genetic engineering, biology, and communication.  I've also come to a few conclusions: The best way to find someone in a possibly dangerous situation is NOT to do any of the following: walk around loudly screaming their name, wearing high heels, calling their cell phone, ect.  Especially not when any of the following are involved: man eating aliens, mad scientists, bombs, armed gunmen, ect. Cell phones and computers have come a llooonnnnngggggg way since 1993. Big hair should have died in the 80s. The glowing yellow eyes of Eugene tombes will always be watching. There are always new ways to kill off characters. Everything (at least in the show) is a conspiracy.   The lig

Ali's father posted this photo on facebook to point out that while children who want a puppy can get 1 million likes, but children who just want to live can barely get ten thousand likes.  Yet many people who saw this post felt that the children with the puppy were being bullied, that this was an unfair comparison, that it is wrong to try to point out that what people pay attention to might not be what they should.  Today, we live in a world where puppies get more attention that dying children.

More good books to read: One in Three, by Adam Wishart.  An interesting look at the history of cancer, it's treatment, prognosis and research.  Includes modern cancer methodologies, and the author's own expirience with his father's cancer. DNA, by James Watson (yes, one of the scientists who 'discorvered' the double helix).  An interesting look at DNA and it's place society, including biotech, DNA testing and disease treatment and prevention. A little outdated (written 2004), but quite useful for the history. Children with Cancer, by Christine Eiser.  A psychological study of childhood cancer, probably a doctoral dissertation.  Again, a little outdated, but still relevant.  A little dry for most people, but good for those interested in the nitty gritty. More to come as the semester progresses, perhaps even some fiction 

So, as I have previously written, childhood cancer is a subject of great importance to me. Childhood cancer is also a subject of great ignorance of the general population. Most people have seen the smiling bald children on the commercials for the American Cancer Society, or St. Jude’s, but not many continue on to think more about children with cancer. The reality is that childhood cancer is not as rare as you think. With an incidence of 1 in 330 children and over 10,000 cases diagnosed yearly in the US alone, childhood cancer is huge. This number doesn’t include the number of children continuing with their second or third year of treatment, or those who have relapsed. It is because of these numbers that cancer is the number one disease-related killer of our children. This comes after the other diseases that run headlines: cystic fibrosis, AIDS, asthma, congenital defects. These treatments are harsh, causing effects like infertility and secondary cancers. Treatments include chemother

Today I'm flying back to Salt Lake.  It has been a lovely winter break, albeit a cold one.  It was so chilly on New Year's Eve that when I tried to light fireworks, the lighter froze.  Now I'm returning to SLC, where it should be in the high 30s next week. This year, I'm hoping to write a bit more.  Classes will certainly provide some interesting writing, and there are always the anecdotes of working in a medical research lab. Happy Holidays and Enjoy your New Year!