We're Not Just Standard

I love this man, this doctor, Patrick Soon-Shiong. Granted, I don't really know anything about him other than this video, but I love what he's doing. I love his brain. I love his basic statement of question your treatment. Question the standard. Don't just do what your doctor tells you, ask questions. Double check the research. Is that a lot of work? Of course it is, but what is the price of your life? You deserve the best. You deserve to live. When you get diagnosed with cancer it's overwhelming, and exhausting, and everything happens at once, but things level out (usually), you just have to push through and give all of your energy to figuring out the best path - then maintain. It seems crazy to have to research what your doctors are recommending, but man is it worth it. Doctors often have different opinions about dosing, about treatments, about what is best. Also, in my experience, and in talking with cancer friends, they downplay short and long term side effects. Anyway, I'd better hop off my soapbox or you'll end up being turned off of the video and that would be a serious tragedy. This man is incredibly exciting. I am so grateful for private cancer businesses. Heaven forbid we have to rely on the government to save us; we all know how bogged down it is.

You guys, cancer is a multi-billion dollar industry. What we don't realize is that we're customers, that we can drive demand. We have power if we start speaking up with our pocket books. Yes there's the issue of insurance, and that makes it tricky, but this is and isn't about money. It's intrinsically intertwined, but it's more than that. We have to stand up and get off the assembly line, and analyze the big picture. If we're going to endure treatments, and everything that goes with cancer, let's make sure it's going to work. Let's make sure it's cutting edge, that it's the best. One of the worst words, one that gives me a visceral reaction, is "standard". Who ever wants to be "standard" in any area of life. I don't. Don't settle for it either. (Click the image for the video or click HERE.)

SHAPE Magazine Interview

Over the holidays, I was contacted by one of SHAPE Magazine's associate editors about an article she was writing about the language we should use when we talk about cancer. If interested, you can read the article below. The hard part in being interviewed is that things always come up later, things you forgot. When I talked to Dan about it we discussed how in the past I used a lot of "war" terminology. I always used to feel like I was in battle, that my body was waging a war against cancer. I have since changed my view. It was too exhausting to think that I may be "fighting" for the rest of my life. I knew that I didn't have the stamina. Fighting is exhausting. Now I see cancer as unhealthy cells that may be in my body. I see them as damaged, bruised, weak. But I also believe that my body can heal the residual cancer cells in my body, or perhaps turn their activity "off", with my immune system's help. I don't completely know if that's a scientific fact, that cancer cells can differentiate into healthy cells, but I like to think it's possible.

Regardless of how I look at it, we all have different perspectives and they're all right. It's hard enough as it is to imagine us all having to feel the same way. I think that whatever terminology that's comfortable to you is how you should describe the experiences on your journey.

I was shocked to be contacted, and it was an honor to be interviewed. Happy New Year you guys. I love you all.