Bibliosphere

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 A little outdated (written 2004), but quite useful for the history.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  Again, a little outdated, but still relevant.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!

As the nation thinks about the recent tragedy in Connecticut, where 20 children and 7 adults lost their lives, many look to bring gun control into the news. Gun control is seen by some as a way to prevent shootings, but it's not the real cause of this problem. With gun control, guns will still be availible, honest people just won't have any.  That's not to say every gun should be availible.  We don't really need assault rifles for purchase. The true cause of tragedies is often untreated mental illness.  For many, affordable and accessible mental health care is out of reach.  Medications are expensive and may not be covered by insurance.  Counseling is even less covered, and is more expensive without benefits.  Psychologists and psychiatrists are often overbooked, lacking the time to treat many patients.  Mental health care facitilities are shrinking, and are now mostly found in prisons.  Indeed, the incidence of mental illness is the prison pop...

Monday night another angel earned her wings. After over five years of fighting childhood cancer, Ariel passed away in her mother's arms on Monday night.  Ariel always fought like a lion, and will always be remembered as Brave.  Rest in Peace.

"The Truth 365" has been released! Watch it here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oljTL1iuMmY