| Readers had a lot to say about the Summer 2004
issue and more. Here are just some of the letters we received.
I read with great interest the “Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow” article
and wondered why I haven’t lost my hair when I’ve been
getting weekly chemo treatment for stage 4 inflammatory breast cancer
for the past two and a half years! In fact, I still have to pay to
get my hair thinned! I’m almost 60 years old and have thick
blonde hair. If a drug manufacturer would like to do research on
me as to why I didn’t lose hair and hopefully learn something
that could help others, I’m all for it. JoAnna Lund
DeWitt, Iowa
[Editor’s response: Chemotherapy can affect patients
differently. Weekly administration of many chemotherapy drugs like
Taxol and Taxotere
markedly reduces the risk of hair loss.]
I have just finished reading my first copy of CURE. I was delighted
to find two articles that fit my situation perfectly. In 2001, I
was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Everything that I went through
and
the treatments I received were exactly as your article had them.
I have been cancer-free now for more than two years. I was also
glad to see the article about depression. It is a difficult part
of dealing
with cancer that often goes unspoken or untreated. I dealt with depression
after I finished my battle. Your whole world has changed, especially
for me as a 26-year-old. It can be hard to deal with, but after some
help from a counselor I am as good today as before. Thank you for
your wonderful and informing magazine. What excellent help it can
be to all!
Jason Midkiff
Marietta, Okla.
I enjoyed reading the article “Inside
Stem Cells: A Look at Blood & Marrow Transplantation”
in the Summer 2004 issue. As a two-year survivor of a stem cell
transplant to treat AML, I know firsthand that transplants save
lives. However, you missed one source of stem cells that may be
of interest to your readers: umbilical cord stem cells. I received
my stem cells from umbilical cords donated by parents after the
birth of their children because I had no matched sibling or unrelated
donor. Today, thanks to those generous parents, I am living a cancer-free,
totally normal life.
Rhonda Kottke
Chicago, Ill.
[Editor’s response: Umbilical cord blood cells are
another source of stem cells that is being increasingly used in
transplants, especially
for children who may need a stem cell transplant.]
The recent article “Overcoming Depression” was
terrific, very informative and, as always with your magazine, very
well-written.
However, I was shocked and disturbed to read, “Dr. Brown and
researchers at the University of Rochester found that symptoms of
depression may be the most consistent psychological predictor of
shortened survival in cancer patients.” If your goal was to
expand one’s
knowledge of depression and help someone to understand they may need
professional help, that one line damaged the entire article and may
stop a person from seeking professional help.
Peggy Reidy
Port Orange, Fla.
[Response from Kirk Warren Brown, MD: That a psychological
state such as depression can impact cancer-related survival time
is understandably
disturbing. But Ms. Reidy is correct in emphasizing that depression
can be successfully treated. In our article, to which the CURE story
refers, we recommend that cancer patients be screened early for high
levels of depressive symptoms, noting further that such screening “could
serve as a basis of referral for therapeutic intervention, given
that psychotherapy has been found to reduce depressive symptoms.”]
My name is Shelley Handel and I am a survivor! I just finished
reading Dr. Jain’s “Message from the Editor” column
in the Summer issue. One statement he makes [about the First
National CURE
Patient & Survivor Forum] is: “The CURE staff thanks each
of you for attending.” I was one of the 430 Forum attendees
and to Dr. Jain and the CURE staff I say thank you for hosting such
a wonderful event. I learned so very much. I run the Bosom Buddies
Breast Cancer Support Group in Joliet, Illinois. I have shared with
my group a few messages that I brought home from the weekend, the
most important of which is to never give up hope and have faith that
something good is coming along soon. I love the picture of the CURE
staff also. I looked at that picture and smiled, remembering the
laughter, hugs and tears of May 22 and 23.
Shelley Handel
Plainfield, Ill.
I recently received my second issue of CURE, having subscribed
shortly after my mother was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Ironically,
the
first issue I received was the Spring 2004 issue, which contained
the article “Into the Brain: Unlocking New Brain Cancer Treatments.” Although
I was quite educated about my mother’s diagnosis by that point
in time, I found the article to be an extremely interesting read
and quite accurate when compared to what my family members and I
were being told by the doctors. Sadly, my mother passed away May 12,
2004,
almost exactly nine months from the date of her diagnosis. I was
also
able to relate to the article “Overcoming Depression,” found
in the Summer 2004 issue, because shortly after we were informed
of my mother’s diagnosis and subsequent prognosis, she fell
into a significant depression. She had discussed her feelings with
us,
which were in turn discussed with her neuro-oncologist. He immediately
prescribed Paxil. Within a matter of weeks, we saw a tremendous improvement
in her mood. Although her prognosis never changed, by taking an antidepressant,
she was able to feel “good” about herself for the last
few months of her life. When faced with such an awful prognosis,
her psychological livelihood was all she had remaining to keep her
going
until the very end.
Barb Lemke
Milwaukee, Wis.
I had just turned 15 when my dad was first
diagnosed with one of the rarest brain tumors. After 13 months of
fighting this brain
cancer,
my dad past away. Since his death I have done a school project, raised
money and talked to a few people about this disease that touches
all of us. I just recently found your magazine in his bedside table
and
read it cover to cover. It gave me hope for all those fighting cancer,
and I know it gave my dad hope when it was tough. Thank you for inspiring
so many who have been affected by cancer.
Kelley Elder
Peachtree City, Ga.
As a survivor of esophageal cancer I have been anxiously awaiting
an article regarding EC. It is a nasty disease, but the survival
rates are improving. My big concern is the lack of awareness by
providers as well as the general public. There are so many commercials
on television
now regarding acid reflux and GERD, but no mention of EC, the ultimate
consequence. Many physicians have been in practice for years without
seeing a case of EC. An article by your magazine outlining the symptoms
could do a great deal to raise consciousness of this disease.
Dennis
P. Hawkins
Monmouth, Ill.
[Editor’s Note:
A feature on esophageal cancer will appear in the Spring 2005 issue.]
A Reader’s Tip
I am writing to share a tip that may bring
relief and comfort to those who receive intravenous chemotherapy.
My husband is a cancer
patient who has had several rounds of chemo. Among the many challenges
patients like him face is the difficulty, and sometimes trauma, of
getting the I.V. line into a vein. We discovered that by wrapping
his hand in a ThermaCare pad prior to leaving home for the hospital,
the slow-release heat on his hand plumped up the veins. By the time
we arrived at the hospital he was ready to take the “stick” on
the first try. Both he and the nurses have been delighted with this
little trick, and they encouraged me to share the idea with others
who might have a similar problem.
Margaret C. Burris
Lutherville, Md.
Address
your comments and letters to editor@curetoday.com.
Letters are published at the editor's discretion and may be edited
for length. If you prefer your letter not be published, please indicate.
|
