Category: cancer

Categories
cancer leukemia

Interrupted

“…having a life-threatening disease in your 20s carries a special set of psychological and social challenges. It defies our very definition of what ought to be. Youth and health are supposed to be synonymous. If only I could sue my body for breach of contract with the natural order of things.”

I wept when I read this piece a few days ago. Honestly, I tear up just thinking about it still. Suleika Jaouad tells her incredibly brave story of being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia at 23 and a few scenarios I can certainly relate with: being the youngest patient on the floor, constantly wondering about my future, and what would happen if I were unable to work.

Read SuleikaÂ’s New York Times column here, visit her site here and watch her incredible video portrait here.

Categories
cancer chronic illness crohn's disease nutrition tools Vasculitis wegener's granulomatosis

Cure-all or quack remedy?

I get a lot of advice from people who donÂ’t have CrohnÂ’s disease or WegenerÂ’s about what I should be supplementally taking and/or eating — and last time I checked, none of them were nutritionists or doctors (she says, cynically). I know, I know…everyone is just trying to help.

I’m all about the science though — and perhaps that is why I absolutely love this infographic (left) from Information is Beautiful around the scientific evidence for many health supplements (thanks for pointing it out Lindsey!).

View the interactive map here. And throw out that giant bottle of resveratrol already.

Categories
cancer chronic illness leukemia lymphoma

Blood cancers and a call for inspiration.

A few years ago, I had a discussion with an oncologist at Stanford who explained to me that cancer is truly a chronic illness. She said that after an experience with cancer, whether it was your battle or your best friendÂ’s, it becomes a part of the fabric of who you are — for better or for worse. IÂ’ve yet to meet one person who hasnÂ’t been affected by cancer in some way and IÂ’ve been thinking about that conversation quite a bit lately. IÂ’d like to reflect upon the for better, here goes…
We recently launched an OpenIDEO challenge around blood cancers and how we might compel more people around the world to register for bone marrow donation. For me, it seems simple enough — you can order a kit via BeTheMatch.org, attend a drive, or set up your own initiative. The process is as easy as having your cheek swabbed — that’s right, no blood. Yet, there still aren’t nearly enough donors in the registry — particularly for people of South Asian and African-American descent.
So what can you do to help, right now? Aside from the above, you can log-on to OpenIDEO and upload an inspiration. Be sure to check out Jennifer Aaker and the 100K Cheeks’ video made especially for the challenge. We’re seeking everything from compelling campaigns to donation experiences of any kind — and the broader we go, the more we’ll have to inspire us.
I can’t wait to see what you can come up with — and I can’t thank you enough, in advance, for your contributions for the better.