Cancer deaths rose during Great Recession; is there a cause or a fix?

Cancer deaths in industrialized nations went up during the Great Recession. The Lancet, a British medical journal, estimated that about a quarter of a million more people died of cancer than expected between 2008 and 2010, and that the rate was higher in countries without universal health care. 

A Washington Post article published yesterday examines the Lancet study more closely and suggests that perhaps those without health care insurance postponed expensive diagnostics and treatment. But establishing a cause and effect between cancer deaths and access to health care is dicey. And even if there is a connection, what, if anything, do we do about it? 

As cancer patients, those of us with ET have more than a passing interest in this issue. Delaying diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment will affect our general health. So please read and ponder.

Be well!

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Better late than never: Michigan poised to pass oral chemo cost bill; Alaska could be next

Michigan may be the 40th state to approve a so-called chemotherapy parity bill that would bring the cost of oral chemotherapy drugs--the type most of us with ET rely on--more in line with IV chemo meds. The measure was passed May 10 in the state Senate, and should be considered by the House soon.

Without such laws, oral chemo tends to cost patients more than IV chemotherapies, partly because manufacturers charge more for them and partly because patients pay a higher co-pay for oral chemo vs. those given IV.

The bill has wide bipartisan support.

Read more at the Detroit Free Press site.

In April, the Alaska state Senate passed a similar bill. Read more here.

If you live in either of these states, please write your state House representatives explaining how much your oral chemo costs, particularly if you take Jakafi, which can run up to $7,000 per month.

If you live in Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennesse, North Carolina, or South Carolina, you may want to check with your state representatives to find out whether a chemotherapy parity law is in the works for you.

Be well!

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Remembering absent friends in May

May is National Cancer Research Month. May is also the birthday month of two dear people lost to blood cancer, and this seems like a good time to honor them:

Ronnie

In 2009, my close friend Ronnie died of a rare form of leukemia. Ronnie and I were college roommates (there she is left in those good old days), and she was my matron of honor. She was a hilarious and dear friend. As we got into our sixth decade, we envisioned a cable access show for middle-aged women called "Don't Get Me Started," in which we'd sit in ratty recliners wearing our bathrobes, drinking coffee, calling up elected legislators and bureaucrats, and exploding myths about anti-aging and beauty products. We never got it on the air, but we had some great times planning our "episodes." She died far too soon, and I miss her every day.

Dad and our son on his first birthday

In 2010, I lost my dad to complications from COPD. Dad, like me, had ET, though his was diagnosed later in life. While Dad didn't die from ET, he did have unpleasant side effects from chemotherapy as well as blood clots and numerous complications from blood thinners. Dad was always high energy and in charge. He loved practical jokes and arguing about politics. Although he was nearing 70 when our son was born, and was in failing health, he was the greatest grandpa to my son (there they are on his first birthday).

It was an honor to know Ronnie and Dad, and I invite you to remember those you've lost to blood cancers in the comments.

I also want to honor all the people who read this blog and follow its sister page on Facebook. Thank you for making me feel less alone with the mysteries of ET.

Be well!

Related: All in the family: My dad's history with ET

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Mukherjee's article on oncological treatment is worth a read!

This chart shows how certain genetic mutations found 

in cancers in one part of the body are linked to cancers

found in other body parts. Glad that's all cleared up ... 

Siddartha Mukherjee seems to be everywhere these days, first with his book, "The Emperor of Diseases," about cancer; then with his latest offering, "The Gene: An Intimate History," and now in the pages of the New York Times with a fascinating article about what he calls "improvisational oncology."

Mukherjee's article is worth a read for anybody with ET or another MPN because it delves into the very complicated link between genetic mutation and cancer, and underscores what we and our doctors have known for years: Not all forms of ET respond to the same treatment.

In the "olden days," before the genetic factors of cancer began to be understood, Mukherjee explains that cancers were classified by the parts of the body in which they occurred--lymph, breast, prostate, colon, blood, etc.--and chemotherapies were developed to address cancers in those areas as if they would all respond the same way. If they didn't, Mukherjee writes:

Why aren't you knitting?

Here's Madame DeFarge and her friends knitting while watching 

the beheadings during the French Revolution. I just knit while 

watchingTV.

Awhile back, I posted 10 tips for dealing with fatigue by MPN expert Ruben Mesa. Along with the tips that Dr. Mesa mentioned, add knitting. And yes, men, this means you, too.

Why knitting? Earlier this year, New York Times writer Jane Brody outlined the many physical and mental benefits for knitters. It does everything from lower blood pressure, to reducing cravings of smoking and eating disorders, to keeping arthritic fingers nimble.

I can testify, as someone who's been knitting for more than 50 years, that it reduces stress and helps you maintain a positive attitude. Brody points out that it's hard to get too downhearted when you see a mitten or a sock or hat or scarf emerging before your eyes. And there's always some new knitting skill you can master to impress yourself with.

Philadelphia chromosome?

This is the Philadelphia steak sandwich, not to be confused
with the abr/bcl rearrangement in the Philadelphia chromosome.
The sandwich is, however, quite messy to eat.

Researchers have used the Philadelphia chromosome to help nail down the diagnosis for ET for many years, though I just heard about it last week. The short story is that those who appear to have all the symptoms of ET but are carrying the Philadelphia chromosome with a certain abnormality should be diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia instead. Here's more info.

The Philadelpha chromosome abnormality is called "the abr/bcl rearrangement." And, yes, like so many things related to essential thrombocytosis (including its acronym, ET), the ABR/BCL Rearrangement sounds like a science fiction story about teleportation gone horribly wrong.