“Nothing to Worry About”

February 13, 2009 | Filed Under PET CT Scan, cancer, examinations, oncologist, stress | 4 Comments

I went to see my oncologist today for a follow-up. He examined me and everything seemed to check-out, then he asked me if I’d had any recent scans. I told him that I had a PET Scan last month. I was a little puzzled because the reports are usually faxed to all of my doctors. I assumed because I hadn’t heard about the results before today that the test was okay. As a rule with doctors, no news is almost always good news. Dr. Sachdeva called the hospital to get a copy of the report. After a while he returned to the exam room and went over the report. Like the last time, the scan didn’t come out clean. But, also like the last time, the conclusion was, the it “was nothing to worry about.” That’s not the same thing as saying I’m free of cancer. Now it’s true that I’m showing any obvious signs or symptoms of the disease. I feel great — better than I have felt in years. I’m eating right. Exercising. There is no logical reason to believe that I am no longer in remission. So why am I not reassured? Normally, I come away from a good doctor’s visit feeling pretty high on life. Today, I just feel kind of out of sorts and depressed. And I don’t think it’s so much about the goofy PET scan as it is that everything in my life, every day and every decision I’ll ever make is overshadowed by the fact I’ve had cancer.

Scientists Discover Possible Mechanism for Creating Blood Supply in Tumors

February 12, 2009 | Filed Under cancer, research, treatment | 1 Comment

Scientists at the Institute for Myeloma and Bone Cancer Research have discovered a new protein that might explain how blood vessels form within tumors.

Researchers have uncovered evidence suggesting a new way tumors create blood supply. Recent studies have shown that many tumors make a protein called pleiotrophin. They now show that pleiotrophin produced by tumor cells in multiple myeloma, a common form of bone marrow-based cancer, changes white cells in the blood called “monocytes” into cells that form the lining of blood vessels called “vascular endothelial cells”. These cells then incorporate themselves into the blood vessels that form within tumors.

According to James R. Berenson, M.D., Medical and Scientific Director at the institute, “By uncovering this unique mechanism, how PTN produced by cancers actually changes circulating white cells into cells that line blood vessels that feed the tumor, we can direct our efforts to create more targeted approaches to eliminate blood supplies for cancers which should dramatically improve therapies for many types of cancers.”

The Day Everyone Had Cancer

February 3, 2009 | Filed Under cancer, musings | No Comments

It’s funny how before you have cancer, you don’t really take much notice of how prevalent cancer really is. Of course, we all know people who’ve had or have died from one form of cancer or another, but there’s not a day-to-day awareness of it before it happens to you. Now, of course, it hits home every time I hear about a celebrity or neighbor who has the disease. Everytime I exchange a look with another survivor and we immediately recognize a member of the tribe.

Just yesterday I received news that a former co-worker I hadn’t seen in years died from brain cancer. It really hit home. Not just because Donna was just 10 years older than me or that she had two children still living at home, but because she was a really nice, giving person. Lesson learned: cancer doesn’t care if you are a good person or not.

And Donna Horner was one of the good ones. One of those people who was down-to-earth, funny and could always say just the right thing to ease the burden of the dreariest work day. Rest in Peace, Donna.

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