More diversity in clinical trials needed and other stories

The New York Times has a flurry of
end-of-the-year stories of interest to 
you as an ET patients. Hint: One of 
them tells you to quit sitting around
all the time.

Newspapers often sit on some really great feature stories until the end of the year, when the news is slow and there's more empty space to run them. Here are some great end-of-the-year stories that you, as an ET patient, might want to be aware of from the New York Times:

Denise Grady did an excellent feature report on the fact that, when it comes to clinical trials for cancer in the U.S., patients are overwhelmingly white. Her story focuses on K.T. Jones, who has been looking for treatments for an aggressive form of Hodgkin's lymphoma for the past 15 years. Jones, who is an African-American, has had good results from experimental treatments, but he is not typical. The report underscores that wage disparities among ethnic groups in the U.S. lead to under-insurance for so-called "minorities," and that this makes learning about and participating in clinical trials more difficult.

A sidebar story, also by Grady, tells readers how to find clinical trials. ET patients looking for clinical trials can also check the MPN Foundation site.

Many patients with ET feel fatigued, either because of the ET or their medications, and sometimes getting the energy to socialize is difficult. However, social isolation can contribute to health problems. Dr. Dhruv Khullar, resident at Massachusetts General Hospital, wrote a touching essay about social isolation and its effects on health: 

Loneliness can accelerate cognitive decline in older adults, and isolated individuals are twice as likely to die prematurely as those with more robust social interactions. These effects start early: Socially isolated children have significantly poorer health 20 years later, even after controlling for other factors. All told, loneliness is as important a risk factor for early death as obesity and smoking.

Dr. Khullar also talks about what some physicians are doing to address social isolation.

Finally, there's this report, that warns readers about the health dangers of prolonged sitting ... even if you work out. Getting up and moving around every hour or 30 minutes if you have a desk job is a really good idea because it keeps your circulation going and maintains the good effects of whatever workout routine you have. This is especially important info for those of us with ET who need to keep our circulation healthy. I looked at a FitBit and figured it was just an expensive pedometer for my purposes. So I have one of the old fashioned clip-ons on order, and hope to get my 15,000 steps in every day in the New Year. 

Best to all of you in 2017. Be well!

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