March is Ovarian Cancer Awareness month in the UK. Their OvCa patient treatment problems are very similar to ours on this side of the pond. They struggle with drug shortages, entry into clinical trials and much like the US, a two-tiered health system. They have universal health care, but also have a fast-track elite system for those with private medical insurance.
The care seems to differ from one "country" to another within the UK. Scotland's system differs from Wales and Wales from Northern Ireland and England. My parents-in-law live in Scotland. In that part of the world, they try in every way to keep people with illnesses in their own homes rather than institutionalising them. As an example, my mother-in-law now requires constant oxygen and nebulisers, my father-in-law has gained the status of "care-giver" and is entitled to an additional stipend because of it!
Initial ovarian cancer treatment follows international protocols with surgery and chemo followup but the UK system is increasingly reluctant to offer novel treatments, adjunctive care and homoeopathy - all budget related no doubt. We've recently read of "sisters" who are going to other countries within the EU to try to get the latest surgical techniques - HIVAC - heated chemo - and integrative care. Thank heavens for international forums like http://www.inspire.com/ where women from all over the world can share treatment options, regimes and where to find them.
Last month, I read a post from a girl in England who was having great difficulties getting her mother's ovca case dealt with. Through a previous contact, I was able to connect her with another "sister" who lives within walking distance of the poster's place of work. Such a small world. The two girls are now hot on the trail of seeing that the mother gets proper care.
There should be no quality of care issues ever, anywhere - as it is said, so you treat the least of your people is how you shall be judged.
15 Mar 2012
13 Mar 2012
The Gift MD Sponsors Run for Ovarian Cancer!
All funds raised during this event are dedicated to research focused on advanced disease and to discovering a cure for ovarian cancer, going directly toward the Translational Ovarian Cancer Research Program at the London Health Sciences Centre. Since 2003, this run generates the largest amount of funding for LHSC of any non-profit organization in London with only a one-day event!
Once again, our sister site, SunflowerSisters.ca, has entered a team of family and friends to participate in this event and we are committed to not only meeting, but to surpassing last year's fundraising efforts.
To show support for this worthy cause The Gift MD is pleased to announce that:
We will donate 100% of ALL royalties earned on ALL sales in our Zazzle store through TheGiftMD.com for the next 2 months!
You read that right! From March 13 until May 13, 2012 (run day), ALL royalties earned on purchases of The Gift MD awareness products will go directly to sponsor Team Sunflower Sisters in the Run for Ovarian Cancer.
Please pass this good news on to family, friends, co-workers.... and to complete strangers for that matter! Raise awareness for your favourite cause while supporting research for a cure for ovarian cancer - the deadliest of all gynaecological cancers.
If you are in the area and wish to join our team, or if you would like to make a cash donation towards this cause, please visit the Sunflower Sisters Team Page.
Remember, if US$ is not your home currency, visit TheGiftMD.com and click on the links to any of our international sites. Royalties earned at our international sites will also count towards this campaign.
Thank you for your support!
The Gift MD
5 Mar 2012
Closing The Door
Last Wednesday, we closed the door on a chapter in our lives. We moved. We've always maintained that moving is for the better, for an improved quality of life, and exciting. We don't feel stressed about packing things up - it's a new beginning. The stress is the realisation of one's excesses - the collections, the curios and the colossal piles of junk. It's a shock to count the number of sets of pyjamas one has - how many pairs of shoes - how many cake pans - how many kitchen gadgets - how many cords one keeps to equipment that was obsolete 20 years ago.
There were three piles made upon unpacking - keep, cottage and goodwill. Which one do you think won? Imagine paying all that money to have things moved only to put it in the trunk of the car and give it away! It's a relief though, clutter is chaotic, minimising is freedom.
Just a few weeks earlier, my brother-in-law had the same but opposite problem. He closed the door on a 24 year old business location which was jammed to the rafters, only to re-open in a much bigger, nicer and more convenient building. Hooray! In his case, expansion was the order of the day - relief from a dysfunctional setup.
Ultimately, we both ended up in the same position though, someone had to put the key in the door for the final time. It was my sister who ended up locking the door of her husband's building. In my case, I was the last one there and had quite a lump in my throat. We had moved to that location because of my illness, lost two of our beloved dogs there and savoured every panoramic sunrise and sunset.
We're now on terra firma complete with a back yard for our puppy to enjoy and for me to launch an earth garden as opposed to the garden-in-the-sky that I had previously constructed.
It makes you really think...closing the door and coming back down to earth...two truly profound and fitting metaphors.
There were three piles made upon unpacking - keep, cottage and goodwill. Which one do you think won? Imagine paying all that money to have things moved only to put it in the trunk of the car and give it away! It's a relief though, clutter is chaotic, minimising is freedom.
Just a few weeks earlier, my brother-in-law had the same but opposite problem. He closed the door on a 24 year old business location which was jammed to the rafters, only to re-open in a much bigger, nicer and more convenient building. Hooray! In his case, expansion was the order of the day - relief from a dysfunctional setup.
Ultimately, we both ended up in the same position though, someone had to put the key in the door for the final time. It was my sister who ended up locking the door of her husband's building. In my case, I was the last one there and had quite a lump in my throat. We had moved to that location because of my illness, lost two of our beloved dogs there and savoured every panoramic sunrise and sunset.
We're now on terra firma complete with a back yard for our puppy to enjoy and for me to launch an earth garden as opposed to the garden-in-the-sky that I had previously constructed.
It makes you really think...closing the door and coming back down to earth...two truly profound and fitting metaphors.
21 Feb 2012
Countdown to May 13th, 2012
This fund raising effort is unlike any other. It is not for awareness, detection or prevention - the Run is raising money for the Translational Research Centre here in London. Every dollar goes toward the work of discovering a cure for advanced ovarian cancer. See our blog Lauds and Labs (November 4, 2011).
Follow this link to join or sponsor our team, Sunflower Sisters, led by our own webmaster, Lisa :
London Run for Ovarian Cancer - 2012
We are going to make an all-out effort to have every person we know whose lives have been touched by this disease, directly or indirectly, help us in our quest to support this most worthy endeavour.
14 Feb 2012
9 Feb 2012
Mirror, mirror...
My giggle today was reading Dr. Mercola's column - always and ever chasing the fountain of youth - entitled "Swallow this to Help reduce the Appearance of Wrinkles" (my italics). He is promoting a supplement called Astaxanthin - oh, and be sure to get the natural, organic type. This is a powerful antioxidant that "potentially" reverses wrinkles and age spots. It is the ingredient that causes baby flamingos to turn pink from their white birth state. I lost count after the fifth time he used of the word "phenomenal".
http://products.mercola.com/astaxanthin/?e_cid=20120209_DNL_art_1&source=nl
I guess I better get some...I wonder if they offer volume discounts?
8 Feb 2012
February Focus
February is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in Australia and New Zealand - a big hello to our Sunflower Sisters "down under"! Concurrently, one of their pre-eminent biotech companies announced the launch of a 22 country, 800 patient clinical trial for an OvCa vaccine. Lets hope for success all round.
February 1st is "Imbolc" in the Celtic calendar - the halfway point between winter solstice and spring equinox - what a welcoming thought. February 2nd is Groundhog Day - and according to the experts, he's seen his shadow and it will be an early spring. It was also our very own web master's (and my Sunflower Sister's) birthday - a Very Happy Teal Hug from all of us!
And importantly, February is Heart and Stroke month. I had the opportunity to have an in depth discussion with an Oncology Nutritionist last week on the subject of chemotherapy as it relates to possible long-term effects on the heart. Happily, she said that it was well down the list of common side effects but that certain adjunctive drugs e.g. Avastin, can cause severe hypertension. She said cessation of the drug will regulate this issue. So, if I understand correctly, Avastin is a drug that prolongs progression-free survival, but taking it may cost you your life. What a miserable conundrum.
Upon reflection, I believe that the Nutritionist was literally correct in saying that there are few correlations between chemotherapeutic drugs and heart disease, but figuratively incorrect. Chemotherapy can and does cause all manner of heart-related problems namely anxiety, stress, worry, fear and depression. So here we find ourselves not only with a rare and often incurable disease, but also potentially part of the biggest health issue in North America.
What is the answer? In the words of the late Dr. David Simon "Release what doesn't serve you". It's an expression that needs to become part of your daily existence - making present moment wise choices - letting go of things and people that are harmful - being conscious of every thought manifesting as a physical reality - concentrating on things and people that keep you safe, happy, healthy and peaceful. Letting go is difficult but it does bring freedom. February's focus on heart, stroke and ovarian cancer highlites the necessity to live in the present moment, forgive the past and trust the future.
February 1st is "Imbolc" in the Celtic calendar - the halfway point between winter solstice and spring equinox - what a welcoming thought. February 2nd is Groundhog Day - and according to the experts, he's seen his shadow and it will be an early spring. It was also our very own web master's (and my Sunflower Sister's) birthday - a Very Happy Teal Hug from all of us!
And importantly, February is Heart and Stroke month. I had the opportunity to have an in depth discussion with an Oncology Nutritionist last week on the subject of chemotherapy as it relates to possible long-term effects on the heart. Happily, she said that it was well down the list of common side effects but that certain adjunctive drugs e.g. Avastin, can cause severe hypertension. She said cessation of the drug will regulate this issue. So, if I understand correctly, Avastin is a drug that prolongs progression-free survival, but taking it may cost you your life. What a miserable conundrum.
Upon reflection, I believe that the Nutritionist was literally correct in saying that there are few correlations between chemotherapeutic drugs and heart disease, but figuratively incorrect. Chemotherapy can and does cause all manner of heart-related problems namely anxiety, stress, worry, fear and depression. So here we find ourselves not only with a rare and often incurable disease, but also potentially part of the biggest health issue in North America.
What is the answer? In the words of the late Dr. David Simon "Release what doesn't serve you". It's an expression that needs to become part of your daily existence - making present moment wise choices - letting go of things and people that are harmful - being conscious of every thought manifesting as a physical reality - concentrating on things and people that keep you safe, happy, healthy and peaceful. Letting go is difficult but it does bring freedom. February's focus on heart, stroke and ovarian cancer highlites the necessity to live in the present moment, forgive the past and trust the future.
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