Lymphoma

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Dana-Farber Cancer Snowflakes

My wife fell in love with the snowflakes that are being auctioned to benefit the Dana-Farber Cancer Center & The Jimmy Fund. This one is the one she likes the most and it is by the author Jane Yolen. It is the only one with a poem and it relates to the cancer experience.

Let's Try a Poll

I thought we'd try a poll of who reads the blog. Please click the comments link below and answer how many times you read the blog:

Daily

Every couple days

Weekly

Every couple weeks

Monthly

This is my first time but I plan to read it ...

Thanks for your feedback!

Lymphoma Organizations

Need help beyond the Internet? Information, support, sometimes financial aid? Then consider contacting an organization devoted to helping those with lymphoma.

There is a comprehensive list on the site for many countries. Take a second and look. If you know of additional organizations, click the comments link below and add your suggestion.

no novel or funny report today

Sorry, no novel or funny report today as I was busy after terrorists stormed the US Consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Sun Helps Prevent NHL?!

In the International Journal of Cancer, December 10th issue, Australian researchers report sun exposure apparently has a protective effect against the development non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).

Dr. Anne Kricker, of the University of Sydney, and colleagues investigated the possibility that high sun exposure is associated with an increased risk of NHL -- and found the opposite!

More on Hairloss

My last post on hair loss was relatively serious compared to the crackpot scheme I uncovered out of an Isreali company. They claim that if you cool the head with their huge machine during chemo you can keep hairloss from occuring.

If wishes were fishes. . . if you are concerned about hair loss, talk to your doctor and not a salesman.

Lymphoma of the Brain

On the 18th, a new book on brain cancers will be published. Brain Tumors-Leaving the Garden of Eden: Survival Guide to Diagnosis, Learning the Basics, Getting Organized & Finding Your Medical Team, written by Paul Zeltzer, MD, has some very good information on Primary Central Nervous System lymphoma.

Dr. Zeltzer has allowed me to post an excerpt of the book on CNS lymphoma on this site. The book is quite reasonable given it was written by a doctor ;^)

World AIDS Day

Today is World AIDS Day. A time to remember that this incurable infection is still with humanity and continues to grow unless we raise the awareness level.

In the Lymphoma Community, people should also know that a continuing number of lymphoma cases diagnosed each year are caused by HIV/AIDS. HIV weakens the immune system allowing non-Hodgkins and a smaller number of Hodgkin's lymphomas to develop in some people. The literature refers to these as AIDS Related Lymphoma.

Happy Thanksgiving

Here in the States, today we celebrate Thanksgiving. Dating back to the 1600s and the Pilgrims, it is a time for giving thanks for what we have and sharing. We all have something to give thanks for - my survival from lymphoma, my family, being able to taste turkey and pumpkin pie again, and raking all the oak leaves (ok, I lie about the leaves a bit).

My best wishes to all of you today.

Chemo Brain

You're on chemo and you find yourself in a fog or cannot remember simple things. Are you getting senile? No, you have what is called "chemo brain". Back in my day, they didn't have a good handle on the reality of this condition. Then in 2000, Tim Ahles at Dartmoth presented research that chemo brain is a real condition.

Next time you forget to bring home a loaf of bread, blame it on the chemo, not old age.