Joys of Journaling

It's amazing how putting down your thoughts can be so powerful for so many people. A good friend and patient at the UW Carbone Cancer Center has been interviewed for WISC TV/Channel 3000 on the benefits of journaling. The lymphoma patient who is being treated by Dr. Brad Kahl has been helped, more than anyone can even imagine, by sharing her thoughts, including her fear of death. She has gotten 30,000 hits on her Caring Bridge site, since her cancer journey began earlier this year! Please watch the story at 10pm tonight or check channel 3000 tomorrow morning. It's a great "feel good" story.

IBC

Another case of: just when you think you've got enough to handle, along comes someone who makes your troubles seem like nothing. Melanie Decker is 28, a new mom and a survivor of one of the most aggressive cancers, inflammatory breast cancer. What's that? You never heard of it? Neither had I until Melanie came along. Now she wants all women to know. The scary thing is, there's no lump, nothing that'll show up on a mammogram. Your only clue is the appearance of the breast--red and inflamed and with an inverted nipple. She's being treated at the UW Carbone Cancer Center and by one of the brightest, young medical oncologists you could possibly find, Dr. Kari Wisinski. With the scariness of a very aggressive cancer, Melanie has time on her "worry list" to be concerned about other women who've never heard about inflammatory breast cancer. Just helping Melanie spread the word!

25,000 in the 25th Year

My, how time flies when you're saving lives! University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinic's Med Flight just completed it's 25,000th live-saving mission. The milestone was reached last night when a patient in a motorcycle accident was air lifted to UW Hospital. We all know that high quality, rapid emergency care is essential. But I really didn't feel it at a gut level until I spoke with Tracy Ohrt, a young mother whose life was saved by Med Flight and specifically Dr. Mike Abernethy, chief flight physician. I had been asked to write a news release about the milestone. I learned that in 2005, Ohrt's car was smashed like a tin can by a vehicle that crossed the centerline of a county highway during morning rush. Because of the commuter traffic crunch, Ohrt couldn't wait for treatment. Med Flight was dispatched. Within minutes, Med Flight touched down and Dr. Abernethy immediately began treating her, even though she had to be freed by a lengthy extrication process. Ohrt said her upper and lower jaws were shattered and practically every facial bone was fractured. It took dozens and dozens of surgical screws to fix her face (she lost count). I've always been proud of, and felt lucky to be associated with, the Med Flight staff. But when my conversation with Tracy was over, I was in absolute awe of what that crew did to save her life. And now with a landmark number of flights, there are 24,999 stories just like Tracy's to help me appreciate the Med Flight staff. Congrats!

The Energizer Bunny

I think this guy should be the new spokesman for Duracell batteries. Dan Lester, a multiple myeloma patient (blood cancer that's incurable but treatable), was expected to die within months of his diagnosis. Fast forward to today, he can ride 60 miles on a bike from Waupun to UW Hospital and Clinics for his next appointment. TV reporters jockeyed for position around him as a welcoming committee from the UW Carbone Cancer Center cheered and clapped at his accomplishment. One reporter asked why he challenged himself with the brutal bike trip. But his response was fitting for a hero. "I didn't do it for myself. I did it for all the cancer patients who are losing hope." Nice going, Dan!

Monday Moment of Inspiration

Even the cynical me can find some meaning and inspiration in this. One of my accounts as a media specialist for UW Health is the Carbone Cancer Center. A patient who has multiple myeloma, and has had two transplants, is riding 60 miles on his bike to his next appointment at UW Hospital. I could bike 6 feet, let alone 60 miles. And this guy has serious health issues. I plan to meet him at the end of his trip this afternoon. This is one of those times when all my nit picky problems seem pretty insignificant. GO DAN!

Eat With Gusto or Cut Calories and Live Longer?

Science magazine has just published a study by University of Wisconsin Professor Richard Weindruch which shows that monkeys who ate a third less calories live longer than their pals who ate like it was their last days on earth. Who hasn't struggled with weight issues? I've gained and lost hundreds of pounds in my lifetime and my heart isn't happy about that. However, it's an intriguing question: Do you prefer to be overweight and eat what you like or count calories and live longer? Despite my love for food, I want to live longer BUT with a good quality of life. I guess I'll be forced to give up Snaps.

SPF Overkill

You know those products which brag a sun protection factor (SPF) of 75, 100 or more? You know it, complete overkill. But my musing about why and when you would need 100 times sun protection lead to some interesting thoughts from UW Health dermatologist Dr. George Reizner. He says the outrageous SPF's are nothing but gimmicks. Reizner admits companies that make sunscreen are doing a much better job creating products that filter out more harmful rays. But Reizner says if you fixate on numbers as you slather on the sunscreen, there's a false sense of security that you can loll in the sun for as long as you want, without reapplying protection. You may not get sunburned, but you're getting light nonetheless, including harmful ultraviolet light. Reizner says sun protection is a matter of common sense. Look for products with zinc oxide and titanimum oxide that areappropriate for your skin type, interpret products that are labeled "water proof" as water resistant and reapply it a few times not just before hitting the beach. Reizner says companies are so busy out-doing each other on SPF that before we know it, SPF 10,000 products will be on the shelves. I thought I had a real scoop. I started out researching a story about high SPF products and ended up with news that companies are developing 10,000 SPF products! He was kidding. See, there's a sucker born every minute.