Talk Cancer » Cancer Chemotherapy

Mayo Results

admin — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

kilikini schreef: ((((((Kili))))) One day at a time. First they haver to find out whether the tumor has actually spread. Maybe it hasn’t. If it has it will be a difficult process, it would be idiotic to deny that. But it is something people tend to come to terms with. Now it is all fresh and overwhelming but we have a way of adapting to circumstances that is often amazing. Let’s wait for the test results. Please keep us updated and vent all you want, that’s what we’re here for. Use the group. Philip

Thanks, Philip. I feel like I’m being really needy, but, I *do* feel needy. Thanks for being so nice. This is absolutely the most difficult thing I have ever had to deal with. People like you help make it almost bearable. kili — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

(((((((((Kilikini))))))))))) Sending you all my best thoughts. You have wonderful care! I’m quite certain this is all too overwhelming for you, sweetie. :-( Your strength, courage and determination combined with your attitude will take over any and all fears…and you will get through this with the help of all who love you, and care!!!! Love and hugs, Gigglz

Thanks, Gigglz! kili — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Dear Kili, I’m glad you will be getting the very best care possible. That IS good news. I do understand your anxiety. Not only are you anxious and terrified about the Fibromatosis, but all the medical tests, procedures, doctor visits and hospitals as well. Being a phobic about these things myself, I admire your courage and determination. Wishing you nothing but the very best! (((((Kili))))) Thanks, Jackie, I just don’t feel very courageous, but I know it has to be done. I just wish someone could put me in a coma to do it all! kili

Be careful what you wish for, Kili. The best response to treatment for serious stuff comes from the optimism and positivity of the patient. You’ve conquered a lot of battles in this war, and you are still standing, fighting, planning, loving, caring, living and dealing. Keep it up, one day at a time. {{ Kili}} — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

Dear Kili, I’m glad you will be getting the very best care possible. That IS good news. I do understand your anxiety. Not only are you anxious and terrified about the Fibromatosis, but all the medical tests, procedures, doctor visits and hospitals as well. Being a phobic about these things myself, I admire your courage and determination. Wishing you nothing but the very best! (((((Kili)))))

Thanks, Jackie, I just don’t feel very courageous, but I know it has to be done. I just wish someone could put me in a coma to do it all! kili — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

Hi, Kili, It’s a shame they couldn’t have just admitted you right then and there so you wouldn’t have to deal with any added anxiety but that’s not how these facilities work. Vent all you need to, Kili, we are here for you. smiles, Elise Thanks, Jackie, I just don’t feel very courageous, but I know it has to be done. I just wish someone could put me in a coma to do it all! kili — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

– The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Kili, I know this is hard on you. My mom is fighting the cancer battle. I’m afraid she’s so tired of being sick and tired that she is giving up. All I can say is do NOT give up. Keep fighting. The longer you fight, the longer you’ll live and have a chance to beat this. I’m from Jax, FL and know the Mayo Clinic well. You can’t be in a better place!!! BTW, Mom was on Tamoxifen. She had *no* side effects on it. She was on it for about a year, and then it stopped working for her. But, hey… you never know with medication. Each case is different. So, it IS worth a try!!! Peace to you, Kili…. WHAT CANCER CAN’T DO It cannot cripple love, it cannot shatter hope It cannot corrode faith, it cannot eat away peace it cannot destroy confidence, it cannot kill friendship It cannot shut out the memories, it cannot silence courage It cannot invade the soul, it cannot reduce eternal life. It cannot quench the Spirit. Our greatest enemy is not disease, but despair.

Thanks, Laurie and I’m sorry to hear about your mom. I can certainly understand her position of being tired of being in pain and being sick all the time. I wish your mom the best. If you need to talk, I’ll be here to listen as long as I’m not up in Jax! kili — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

{{{{{Kili}}}}} I’m so sorry you have to go through all of this. I hope it works. You will be in my thoughts and prayers. Always keep us posted when you can. Thinking of you now. I’m glad the trip to Mayo was productive. Love, Di

Thanks, Di. I’ve never been one to say "why me", but I’m actually saying it in this case. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone. But, if Sally can deal with her food, and Deirdre can deal with her teeth, I guess I’ll deal with this. We are some brave souls, aren’t we? kili — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

Hi, Kili, Glad to hear you feel good about the facility where you will be treated. Try to keep yourself distracted over the next several days so the anxiety doesn’t get out of hand. Take this one step at a time. Stay positive with the treatment. ((((((Kili))))) smiles, Elise

Thanks, Elise, I’m going to do the best I can. I wish I could sleep; it’s been 3 days without it, now. kili — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m terrified, I’m panicking and I want to go hide in a closet. kili Breathe, kili — breathe. Slow, relaxed breaths. Watch your abdomen rise and fall gently with your breathing. Now that you have some oxygen open the closet door and peek out. No monsters in sight. You can come out now. You have some of the best doctors in the world working for you. Can you do anything about your condition right at this moment? Probably not, so do something else, something more enjoyable. Yeah, I know, it’s easy to say all that. And I’m talking to myself as much as I am to you. Let’s all just breathe tonight. We can deal with tomorrow when it comes.

I’m so glad that you all are here; you’re the only ones who understand how things like this can just torture a person. You’re right, Deirdre, I can’t do anything about my condition today, so why worry about it. Maybe turning on a nice, romantic comedy might help get my mind off everything. I’ve got the TV on now and I swear, every other commercial has the word CANCER in it. I don’t need to be reminded! I’m starting to feel a little better. I want to concentrate on having a nice evening with my husband and no references to my disease! Thanks, folks! kili — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m terrified, I’m panicking and I want to go hide in a closet. Hi Kili, You don’t know me but I drop in here sometimes and have seen a few of your posts. I posted a message here to you last week. The post showed up on my news service list but not on Google, so looks like it didn’t go through. I hope this post goes through properly. You sure have a lot to deal with. But it looks like doctors and other staff at the Mayo are doing all they can and you are getting good care. I can only imagine your anxiety and fear. A lot is going on with you and you are having to face very difficult problems. It wouldn’t be easy for anyone in your position. All you can do is try to control your anxiety as best you can and take it easy on yourself. Best wishes. I’m sure you will do well Kili Mary

Thanks, Mary. The doctors at Mayo are being really thorough; in a way, I wish I could have gone up there first and saved myself months of pain from my previously botched surgery. (The Mayo oncologist called it a hatchet job.) Another good thing about this trip to the clinic was that my husband was there with me and he finally understood the severity of my illness. He kept saying before, why aren’t you feeling better yet? Well, he gets it now! Even though I’ve told him that this is an extremely aggressive and recurring tumor, when he heard it from the doctor at Mayo, I think he was more than a little surprised. The important thing is that he’s being supportive. Thanks for your support, too, Mary. It’s appreciated. kili — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well, folks, I’m home today. I got the litany on my condition of Fibromatosis today. Sigh. (Major panic/anxiety attack at the clinic, btw.) I have to say this clinic is run like a well-oiled machine. Dang, they’re good! Basically, the oncologist thinks the tumor I had removed in late June is back already, and it has possibly spread (which I thought, too). So, I have to return to the clinic Monday morning (that 5 hour drive is torture) for blood work, urinalysis, an MRI – under sedation – and a bone scan to see if the tumors have spread to my rib bones. Tuesday’s regimen is a CT scan, an ultrasound, and then another consultation – with a radiologist, this time. Based upon the results of the tests, a thoracic surgeon, an oncologist, the radiologist and a plastic surgeon are going to talk about what the best course of treatment will be for me. They’re thinking they may want to remove a couple of my ribs, my breasts and another section of my chest muscle. With surgery performed, and with the use of a drug called Tamoxifen, while undergoing radiation and possibly chemotherapy, the oncologist thinks they may be able to control my condition. Again, since Fibromatosis is so rare, I’m going to be basically a guinea pig. Yay. Also, again, treatment all depends upon the outcome of my tests. Meanwhile, I think pulling the trigger on a 12-gauge shotgun to my head sounds like more fun. I’m terrified, I’m panicking and I want to go hide in a closet.

Kili, I know this is hard on you. My mom is fighting the cancer battle. I’m afraid she’s so tired of being sick and tired that she is giving up. All I can say is do NOT give up. Keep fighting. The longer you fight, the longer you’ll live and have a chance to beat this. I’m from Jax, FL and know the Mayo Clinic well. You can’t be in a better place!!! BTW, Mom was on Tamoxifen. She had *no* side effects on it. She was on it for about a year, and then it stopped working for her. But, hey… you never know with medication. Each case is different. So, it IS worth a try!!! Peace to you, Kili…. WHAT CANCER CAN’T DO It cannot cripple love, it cannot shatter hope It cannot corrode faith, it cannot eat away peace it cannot destroy confidence, it cannot kill friendship It cannot shut out the memories, it cannot silence courage It cannot invade the soul, it cannot reduce eternal life. It cannot quench the Spirit. Our greatest enemy is not disease, but despair. —

Anyone heard of targeted low dose chemotherapy?

admin — Wed, 05 Oct 2005 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

a small, meaningless non-randomised phase I study….. J

Response:

Could this procedure for administering low dose, targeted chemotherapy be the way to kill cancer while eliminating the risk of death by chemotherapy? Check out what the The Elka Best Foundation has to say about this at www.elkabest.org We would love to hear from you if you have experienced it or know of anyone Alternately if you would like more information about it email me too.

For a fairly extensive review of Insulin Potentiation Therapy, please see: http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/Cancer/ipt.html Although it has been around since 1932, the therapy appears never to have been tested in scientifically designed clinical trials. Rachel Berhang Best Executive Director P.S. All monetary donations to support our foundation are welcome as well as tax deductible for you.

Hang on to your wallets folks. Alan

Response:

Rachel Berhang Best Executive Director

I emailed my response to this to Rachel Berhang Best as well as to the newsgroups she spammed. Surprise! She did not respond. Alan

Response:

Delayed.

admin — Wed, 15 Sep 2004 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

> >> Have you had complete hair loss? > > Not yet. But it looks like I will. It’s falling out fast. > I wonder how long it will take to fall out completely

I guess it’ll all be gone by this time next week. > cand how long it will > take to regrow.

I think it’ll grow about 11cm a year. > I suppose it will only start to regrow once you’ve finished > with the chemotherapy. Will it be over by the end of October?

Hopefully, if there are no more delays. > Hopefully it > will give you a chance to grow some back before the winter. It can get > pretty miserable and wet out your way.

Hmm yeah. But I guess a wet bald head is easier to dry than wet, thick, long hair. > I hope you’re one of the people who can continue doing things normally. > Personally I think I’d be in a state of shock, everything seems to be > happening so fast for you. You’ve hardly had a chance to take it in.

Yeah, I know. I just don’t need this shit. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> >>>> Did he give you any advice on how to avoid getting infections? > >>> No. I guess I’ll have to think of strategies myself. > >> Have you asked the cancer ng? I guess you’ve Googled for ideas too. If he > >> didn’t give you any advice maybe he doesn’t think it’s likely to be a > >> problem. Sounds like your doctor is using a very ‘light touch’ with you. Or > >> are you avoiding asking the questions? > > I haven’t thought about it much until recently, so I haven’t done much about > > it yet. > From what I can see, you don’t ask questions much. Perhaps you don’t want to > hear the answers. I should imagine it’s very frightening.

Sometimes they ask me if I have any questions. Usually I say "I can’t think of any right now." > >> Do you play yourself or do you have to choose a character? > > You choose a class of character but I guess the character is basically you. > What’s your character? Don’t tell me if this is a trade secret.

A level 46 barbarian. Do you really want to know all this? :o) > I’ve never played a proper online game before… I think I’d have problems, > being on a mac. I tried to sign up for that D’ni thing but I’m just not PC > enough.

I don’t know what that is. > How good are you at > Diablo 2?

I don’t know but the highest level I ever got a character to was 89.

Response:

"Sklenge" wrote in message

news:BD6E13A6.21038%sklenge@yahoo.co.uk… > Pumpkinhead’s post: > >> What does your doctor say about your going back to university? > > I was told that people are affected by chemotherapy in different ways. Some > > people are able to continue doing things normally. Some people get so many > > side effects and just have to rest a lot. So far, I feel o.k. I just don’t > > look so good. I’ve got a rash on my scalp and forehead. > Have you had complete hair loss?

Not yet. But it looks like I will. It’s falling out fast. > >> Did he give you any advice on how to avoid getting infections? > > No. I guess I’ll have to think of strategies myself. > Have you asked the cancer ng? I guess you’ve Googled for ideas too. If he > didn’t give you any advice maybe he doesn’t think it’s likely to be a > problem. Sounds like your doctor is using a very ‘light touch’ with you. Or > are you avoiding asking the questions?

I haven’t thought about it much until recently, so I haven’t done much about it yet. > >>> Hmm. I don’t know what I’m going to do for the next 7 days. I’ll probably > >>> just play games. > >> What’s your favourite game at the moment? > > Currently I like Diablo 2. > I’ve never played that, I’ve had a quick look it looks a bit like a cross > between some kind of sim game and shoot-em up adventure game.

Not quite. It’s RPG/action. You are able to make your character shoot things though. > Do you play > yourself or do you have to choose a character?

You choose a class of character but I guess the character is basically you. > Can you play it online?

Yes. Your character gets saved on the server.

Response:

Pumpkinhead’s post: > "Sklenge" wrote in message > news:BD6E13A6.21038%sklenge@yahoo.co.uk… Pumpkinhead’s post: >>>> What does your doctor say about your going back to university? >>> I was told that people are affected by chemotherapy in different ways. Some >>> people are able to continue doing things normally. Some people get so many >>> side effects and just have to rest a lot. So far, I feel o.k. I just don’t >>> look so good. I’ve got a rash on my scalp and forehead. >> Have you had complete hair loss? > Not yet. But it looks like I will. It’s falling out fast.

I wonder how long it will take to fall out completely and how long it will take to regrow. I suppose it will only start to regrow once you’ve finished with the chemotherapy. Will it be over by the end of October? Hopefully it will give you a chance to grow some back before the winter. It can get pretty miserable and wet out your way. I hope you’re one of the people who can continue doing things normally. Personally I think I’d be in a state of shock, everything seems to be happening so fast for you. You’ve hardly had a chance to take it in. >>>> Did he give you any advice on how to avoid getting infections? >>> No. I guess I’ll have to think of strategies myself. >> Have you asked the cancer ng? I guess you’ve Googled for ideas too. If he >> didn’t give you any advice maybe he doesn’t think it’s likely to be a >> problem. Sounds like your doctor is using a very ‘light touch’ with you. Or >> are you avoiding asking the questions? > I haven’t thought about it much until recently, so I haven’t done much about > it yet.

From what I can see, you don’t ask questions much. Perhaps you don’t want to hear the answers. I should imagine it’s very frightening. >> Do you play yourself or do you have to choose a character? > You choose a class of character but I guess the character is basically you.

What’s your character? Don’t tell me if this is a trade secret. >> Can you play it online? > Yes. Your character gets saved on the server.

I’ve never played a proper online game before… I think I’d have problems, being on a mac. I tried to sign up for that D’ni thing but I’m just not PC enough. A friend of ours (who stayed with us for a short while) showed us how to play a game on line (Team Fortress I think), but we were all so naff we got killed before we could turn around. I liked playing the game over our network with the three of us in our computer room though. I learned how to kill people very efficiently… well people who aren’t very good at defending themselves anyway. I got to die a lot too. How good are you at Diablo 2?

Response:

I went to the hospital today. I was supposed to stay for a week but the doctor told me to go home until next week. He told me that my white blood cell count is too low. He wants to wait until it increases some more. I’m not happy. I really want to get back to living my life. I want to go back to work. I want to go back to keeping fit. It looks like I’m going to miss the enrolment day at university. I’ll have to e-mail someone there and see if I can enrol a few days late. I’m also going to risk getting an infection when I go back to university. I’ve got an electronic thermometer to carry around with me. If my temperature goes above 37.5, I need to phone the hospital. Hmm. I don’t know what I’m going to do for the next 7 days. I’ll probably just play games.

Response:

In article , pumpkin_head060877 @hotmail.com says… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I went to the hospital today. I was supposed to stay for a week but the > doctor told me to go home until next week. He told me that my white blood > cell count is too low. He wants to wait until it increases some more. > I’m not happy. I really want to get back to living my life. I want to go > back to work. I want to go back to keeping fit. It looks like I’m going to > miss the enrolment day at university. I’ll have to e-mail someone there and > see if I can enrol a few days late. I’m also going to risk getting an > infection when I go back to university. I’ve got an electronic thermometer > to carry around with me. If my temperature goes above 37.5, I need to phone > the hospital. > Hmm. I don’t know what I’m going to do for the next 7 days. I’ll probably > just play games.

Sorry to hear about the delay. I imagine you are ready to just get it over with. You don’t know how much I admire you. You are so brave. I would have chickened out and ran away from it. How many more rounds of chemo do you think you will have? When you go back to Uni, get a big bottle of the waterless hand sanitizer like purell and use it a lot to help cut back on germs. xoxoxoxo — I promise to spank the plank daily.

Response:

> Sorry to hear about the delay. I imagine you are ready to just get it > over with.

Yeah. > You don’t know how much I admire you. You are so brave. I would have > chickened out and ran away from it.

I just keep telling myself "It’s got to be done." > How many more rounds of chemo do you think you will have?

Two more. > When you go back to Uni, get a big bottle of the waterless hand > sanitizer like purell and use it a lot to help cut back on germs.

o.k. I might try that. I’m also worried about airborne germs though. I’m just going to try to avoid getting too close to people. The problem is that the train gets crowded.

Response:

Pumpkinhead’s post: > I went to the hospital today. I was supposed to stay for a week but the > doctor told me to go home until next week. He told me that my white blood > cell count is too low. He wants to wait until it increases some more. > I’m not happy. I really want to get back to living my life. I want to go > back to work. I want to go back to keeping fit. It looks like I’m going to > miss the enrolment day at university. I’ll have to e-mail someone there and > see if I can enrol a few days late. I’m also going to risk getting an > infection when I go back to university. I’ve got an electronic thermometer to > carry around with me. If my temperature goes above 37.5, I need to phone the > hospital.

What does your doctor say about your going back to university? Did he give you any advice on how to avoid getting infections? This time of year is always bad for infections – because everyone’s going back to college and all the kids arrive at school with new viral strains. Something’s normally doing the rounds two weeks into the new autumn term. > Hmm. I don’t know what I’m going to do for the next 7 days. I’ll probably > just play games.

Theme Hospital? Or perhaps you’re fed up of hospitals :v( I’ve been playing Roller Coaster Tycoon but I really want to get Half-Life back up on my machine. I love Half-Life but I get totally addicted. And I’ve still got to get through Riven (I take my time with these things). What’s your favourite game at the moment?

Response:

> What does your doctor say about your going back to university?

I was told that people are affected by chemotherapy in different ways. Some people are able to continue doing things normally. Some people get so many side effects and just have to rest a lot. So far, I feel o.k. I just don’t look so good. I’ve got a rash on my scalp and forehead. > Did he give > you any advice on how to avoid getting infections?

No. I guess I’ll have to think of strategies myself. > > Hmm. I don’t know what I’m going to do for the next 7 days. I’ll probably > > just play games. > What’s your favourite game at the moment?

Currently I like Diablo 2.

Response:

Pumpkinhead’s post: >> What does your doctor say about your going back to university? > I was told that people are affected by chemotherapy in different ways. Some > people are able to continue doing things normally. Some people get so many > side effects and just have to rest a lot. So far, I feel o.k. I just don’t > look so good. I’ve got a rash on my scalp and forehead.

Have you had complete hair loss? >> Did he give you any advice on how to avoid getting infections? > No. I guess I’ll have to think of strategies myself.

Have you asked the cancer ng? I guess you’ve Googled for ideas too. If he didn’t give you any advice maybe he doesn’t think it’s likely to be a problem. Sounds like your doctor is using a very ‘light touch’ with you. Or are you avoiding asking the questions? >>> Hmm. I don’t know what I’m going to do for the next 7 days. I’ll probably >>> just play games. >> What’s your favourite game at the moment? > Currently I like Diablo 2.

I’ve never played that, I’ve had a quick look it looks a bit like a cross between some kind of sim game and shoot-em up adventure game. Do you play yourself or do you have to choose a character? Can you play it online?

Response:

For Doug – Zoloft Suicide Articles

admin — Thu, 26 Aug 2004 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

Doug, I did a simple Google search and came up with these links, I hope you check them out. I know it’s a small amount of patients, but I guess I fit the small amount: http://www.chiropracticresearch.org/NEWSprozac_and_zoloft.htm http://www.medicinenet.com/sertraline/article.htm (look under side effects) http://www.medicationsense.com/articles/oct_dec_03/suicides_homicides… http://psychrights.org/Articles/AntidepressantsandSuicide.htm Jenn

Response:

"Jenn" writes: > Doug, > I did a simple Google search and came up with these links, I hope you check > them out. I know it’s a small amount of patients, but I guess I fit the > small amount: > http://www.chiropracticresearch.org/NEWSprozac_and_zoloft.htm

Not a study, a press release about a newspaper article. Though the actual newspaper article might have real information. > http://www.medicinenet.com/sertraline/article.htm (look under side effects)

This is the package insert and acknowledges that people have raised questions about Zoloft and suicide. It is also not a study. > http://www.medicationsense.com/articles/oct_dec_03/suicides_homicides…

Not a study, but one doctors take on the controversy. > http://psychrights.org/Articles/AntidepressantsandSuicide.htm

Not a study, a newspaper account of a lawsuit. Look, maybe you misunderstand. I’m not arguing that people haven’t made accusations that certain SSRIs lead to higher risk of suicide. There have been such accusations, and there has been a lot of discussion of the accusation. The links you post are examples of such discussion. And I’m not arguing that SSRIs are good for everyone, they clearly aren’t. I just haven’t seen the scholarship that shows that Zoloft (for example) _causes_ suicide. To do that, you’d need to take a group of depressed people, and give Zoloft to half of them and a placebo to the other half, and see which group had more suicides. And then you’d _still_ need a way to take into account the fact that people recovering from an episode of depression have a higher suicide rate than people who are depressed. This is tricky to do, and I don’t know that anyone has done it. Doug

Response:

"Doug Anderson" wrote in message

news:2p7nq8FhbkqsU1@uni-berlin.de… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> "Jenn" writes: > > Doug, > > I did a simple Google search and came up with these links, I hope you check > > them out. I know it’s a small amount of patients, but I guess I fit the > > small amount: > > http://www.chiropracticresearch.org/NEWSprozac_and_zoloft.htm > Not a study, a press release about a newspaper article. Though the > actual newspaper article might have real information. > > http://www.medicinenet.com/sertraline/article.htm (look under side effects) > This is the package insert and acknowledges that people have raised > questions about Zoloft and suicide. It is also not a study.

http://www.medicationsense.com/articles/oct_dec_03/suicides_homicides… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Not a study, but one doctors take on the controversy. > > http://psychrights.org/Articles/AntidepressantsandSuicide.htm > Not a study, a newspaper account of a lawsuit. > Look, maybe you misunderstand. I’m not arguing that people haven’t > made accusations that certain SSRIs lead to higher risk of suicide. > There have been such accusations, and there has been a lot of > discussion of the accusation. The links you post are examples of such > discussion. > And I’m not arguing that SSRIs are good for everyone, they clearly > aren’t. > I just haven’t seen the scholarship that shows that Zoloft (for > example) _causes_ suicide. To do that, you’d need to take a group of > depressed people, and give Zoloft to half of them and a placebo to the > other half, and see which group had more suicides. And then you’d > _still_ need a way to take into account the fact that people > recovering from an episode of depression have a higher suicide rate > than people who are depressed. > This is tricky to do, and I don’t know that anyone has done it. > Doug

Yeah I can see what you are saying. I guess it contributes, but there needs to be something there to complete it. Jenn

Response:

"Jenn" writes: > Yeah I can see what you are saying. I guess it contributes, but there needs > to be something there to complete it.

I guess I’m not yet convinced it even contributes. After all, depressives really are more likely to commit suicide than the general population. Especially when they are starting to get some ability to act back. And these are _exactly_ the sort of people _taking_ Zoloft. It isn’t this simple, but it would be like saying "Heart medication causes heart attacks because there are more heart attacks among people taking heart medication than among the general population." Or "chemotherapy causes death from cancer." Or pick your favorite. But it is all complicated by the fact that the brain is _such_ a complex organ, and we understand it so poorly.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Doug Anderson wrote: > "Jenn" writes: >> Yeah I can see what you are saying. I guess it contributes, but there >> needs to be something there to complete it. > I guess I’m not yet convinced it even contributes. After all, > depressives really are more likely to commit suicide than the general > population. Especially when they are starting to get some ability to > act back. And these are _exactly_ the sort of people _taking_ Zoloft. > It isn’t this simple, but it would be like saying "Heart medication > causes heart attacks because there are more heart attacks among people > taking heart medication than among the general population." > Or "chemotherapy causes death from cancer." Or pick your favorite. > But it is all complicated by the fact that the brain is _such_ a > complex organ, and we understand it so poorly.

I thought that the "Doug" was me, because I said that I hadn’t seen any studies. The comments I made still apply. There was a guy on ASDR going to sue the manufacturers of Efexor, because of inadequate consumer info. He said that he had seen the consumer info for Aus, and it was much more adequate than in the U.S. Someone else wanted to tabulate all the anti-depressants and their pharmacological effects. His theory was that by measuring the level of brain hormones, a doctor could then go to the list for the best medication. It just isn’t that easy, and knowledge hasn’t progressed that far. Your last sentence is VERY true. Do you remember the case you introduced about the guy who went off something suddenly? Doug. Doug. — Commonwealth Youth Games, Bendigo, Australia- http://www.bendigo2004.com The best car safety device is a rear-view mirror with a cop in it. – Dudley Moore.

Response:

I'm back, minus one testicle.

admin — Fri, 13 Aug 2004 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

In news:9568515be8b359a8e6c198de0875625f@localhost.talkaboutsupport.com, nothingbutthetruth wrote : > I sincerely wish this could have been Kitz instead. All the best:)

I think it’s not an appropriate moment for joking. — How do I know he loves me if he doesn’t obey me? Mila Kunis as Jackie Burkhart, That 70’s Show

Response:

> In news:9568515be8b359a8e6c198de0875625f@localhost.talkaboutsupport.com, nothingbutthetruth wrote : >>I sincerely wish this could have been Kitz instead. All the best:) F.r.a-n.k. wrote: > I think it’s not an appropriate moment for joking.

But, but — she’d hurt nothingbutt more than she’ll ever know.

Response:

>> I’ve got to have a CT scan and another blood test on Monday. I asked if >I’d >> also have my head scanned. I’m worried that I might also have a brain >> tumour. I was told not to worry about that. hmm >> Sometime next week, a cancer specialist will contact me. I’ll have to >have >> chemotherapy. Apparently it will be used to wipe out any traces of cancer. >> I was told that I should try to store my sperm because I may become >> infertile. :o( >> I can’t believe it. I’ve got cancer.

i am so sorry to hear this. i know we never really got along too great, but if you need anyone to talk to… a voice of experience… please please please write me. you are not alone. – k i t z – http://www.livejournal.com/users/kitznegari

Response:

>Chemoterapy or radioterapy is >pretty standard after a tumour removal, so it dosen’t really mean >there’s anything left, they just do that to make sure.

yep. >Chemo sure wasn’t fun when i did it, but it got easier after a while.

the worst part is really just how much it wipes you out. – k i t z – http://www.livejournal.com/users/kitznegari

Response:

"fallout" wrote in message

news:XkcTc.247239$a24.102261@attbi_s03… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> "Pumpkinhead" wrote in message > news:vPbTc.719$P83.227@newsfe6-gui.ntli.net… > > They let me out the same day. Nice. I was able to watch the Olympic > Games > > opening ceremony. > > Before the operation, I asked for a pre med. I was given three Temazepam > > pills. That made me feel really weird. It seemed to take my mind of the > > operation though. I couldn’t help thinking about other things. I tried > > walking but I felt really weak. I remember laying down in the anaesthetic > > room. I remember one guy putting the needle into my hand. Then he pumped > a > > syringe of something into it. I asked him, "Is that the one that’s going > to > > put me to sleep?" He said "No." I don’t remember anything else. > Obviously > > I just fell asleep all of a sudden. It was so difficult waking up. The > > first thing I remember was hearing someone say "The operation went well, > > Pumpkinhead." I was talking to a nurse later and he told me that I had a > > conversation with the surgeon as soon as I woke up but I don’t even > > remember. The nurse told me that I was even asking the surgeon questions. > > I must have been on autopilot or something. It’s as if the anaesthetic > > erased my memory. > > The surgeon seemed really cool. I think his name was Doctor Romero. Nice > > work, doc. I’ve got some metal staples left of my pubic region now. And > I > > just have this space where my left testicle was. :o( I don’t think it > > looks too bad though. > > I was told that my chest X-ray showed that my lungs "don’t look right". I > > hope it hasn’t spread to my lungs. It’s frustrating. I’ve never even > > smoked. > > I’ve got to have a CT scan and another blood test on Monday. I asked if > I’d > > also have my head scanned. I’m worried that I might also have a brain > > tumour. I was told not to worry about that. hmm > > Sometime next week, a cancer specialist will contact me. I’ll have to > have > > chemotherapy. Apparently it will be used to wipe out any traces of > cancer. > > I was told that I should try to store my sperm because I may become > > infertile. :o( > > I can’t believe it. I’ve got cancer. > Damn man i’m really sorry. While i know that faith is not a popular subject > here i would like to add you to my daily prayers if you don’t object. > i really hope that the CT scans give you some peace of mind rather than the > opposite. > Take care Pumpkinhead. > tom

Hi tom , what brings you here ? I hope that things are going well for you tom . you remain in my thoughts , Peter .

Response:

Pumpkinhead wrote: > I can’t believe it. I’ve got cancer.

Please know that you are supported in thought. You are not alone in this. We are here for you. – Michaela

Response:

matt weber wrote in news:45vqh0h3mapujl58dtiuanep687gdtk6d7@4ax.com: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> On Sat, 14 Aug 2004 00:24:52 GMT, Lash Rambo > wrote: >>"Pumpkinhead" wrote in >>news:vPbTc.719$P83.227@newsfe6-gui.ntli.net: >>> They let me out the same day. Nice. I was able to watch the Olympic >>> Games opening ceremony. >>> Before the operation, I asked for a pre med. I was given three >>> Temazepam pills. That made me feel really weird. It seemed to take >>> my mind of the operation though. I couldn’t help thinking about other >>> things. I tried walking but I felt really weak. I remember laying >>> down in the anaesthetic room. I remember one guy putting the needle >>> into my hand. Then he pumped a syringe of something into it. I asked >>> him, "Is that the one that’s going to put me to sleep?" He said "No." >>> I don’t remember anything else. Obviously I just fell asleep all of >>> a sudden. It was so difficult waking up. The first thing I remember >>> was hearing someone say "The operation went well, Pumpkinhead." I was >>> talking to a nurse later and he told me that I had a conversation with >>> the surgeon as soon as I woke up but I don’t even remember. The nurse >>> told me that I was even asking the surgeon questions. I must have been >>> on autopilot or something. It’s as if the anaesthetic erased my >>> memory. > No, but the Temazepam may have prevented the memory from forming. > High does Benzodiazapines are well known for creating antegrade > amnesia. You can have a perfectly lucid conversation, and remember > none of it. Temazepam has fairly long serum half life 8-10 hours), and > one of the metabolites, oxazepam (Serax) is also active….

Wonder what it’s like if that conversation gets recorded and you hear it later….

Response:

In article , pumpkin_head060…@hotmail.com says… > > Do you have family to give you emotional support? > Yeah. They have been supportive. Except my dad. He probably does think > about me but…..we haven’t talked for about 8 years. I think he wants to > avoid my mother at all costs.

that is good. I am worried about you.

Response:

In article <411E72D9.B245E…@execulink.com>, libr…@invalid.iinv says… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Peter Clarke wrote: > > Hi tom , what brings you here ? > > I hope that things are going well for you tom . you remain in > > my thoughts , Peter . > Hi Peter, > Tom’s (and many others ) are crossposting from alt.support.shyness. > Folks (on alt.support.shyness), I have to intercede and say that > alt.support.cancer has a Charter. > Some subjects that are permitted on your newsgroup may be Prohibited by our > Charter. > So in order to avoid conflicts or constantly more work for me to educate your > posters as to what our Charter allows or not, I would ask that you uncrosspost > your replies from now on. Look at the "to" at the top of the message (in the > address part?) and delete alt.support cancer from your replies first. > I’m sure that Pumpkinhead can get and receive support separately on each > newsgroup. > Others do. > From what I’ve seen of the posts so far, great bunch of people on yoiur > newsgroup. > However, we have to expect that some trolls or newbies might be a problem > vis-a-vis our Charter and I cannot expect you folks to follow our Charter, nor I > hope, do you expect me to sift through who’s a regular and who’s a troll on your > newsgroup, so I ask for your co-operation and understanding. > Please/thanks, > J- alt.support.cancer

Since I own usenet, I have deemed xposting a non issue.

Response:

Peter Clarke wrote: > Hi tom , what brings you here ? > I hope that things are going well for you tom . you remain in > my thoughts , Peter .

Hi Peter, Tom’s (and many others ) are crossposting from alt.support.shyness. Folks (on alt.support.shyness), I have to intercede and say that alt.support.cancer has a Charter. Some subjects that are permitted on your newsgroup may be Prohibited by our Charter. So in order to avoid conflicts or constantly more work for me to educate your posters as to what our Charter allows or not, I would ask that you uncrosspost your replies from now on. Look at the "to" at the top of the message (in the address part?) and delete alt.support cancer from your replies first. I’m sure that Pumpkinhead can get and receive support separately on each newsgroup. Others do. From what I’ve seen of the posts so far, great bunch of people on yoiur newsgroup. However, we have to expect that some trolls or newbies might be a problem vis-a-vis our Charter and I cannot expect you folks to follow our Charter, nor I hope, do you expect me to sift through who’s a regular and who’s a troll on your newsgroup, so I ask for your co-operation and understanding. Please/thanks, J- alt.support.cancer

Response:

> Do you have family to give you emotional support?

Yeah. They have been supportive. Except my dad. He probably does think about me but…..we haven’t talked for about 8 years. I think he wants to avoid my mother at all costs.

Response:

"Pumpkinhead" wrote in message

news:vPbTc.719$P83.227@newsfe6-gui.ntli.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> They let me out the same day. Nice. I was able to watch the Olympic Games > opening ceremony. > Before the operation, I asked for a pre med. I was given three Temazepam > pills. That made me feel really weird. It seemed to take my mind of the > operation though. I couldn’t help thinking about other things. I tried > walking but I felt really weak. I remember laying down in the anaesthetic > room. I remember one guy putting the needle into my hand. Then he pumped a > syringe of something into it. I asked him, "Is that the one that’s going to > put me to sleep?" He said "No." I don’t remember anything else. Obviously > I just fell asleep all of a sudden. It was so difficult waking up. The > first thing I remember was hearing someone say "The operation went well, > Pumpkinhead." I was talking to a nurse later and he told me that I had a > conversation with the surgeon as soon as I woke up but I don’t even > remember. The nurse told me that I was even asking the surgeon questions. > I must have been on autopilot or something. It’s as if the anaesthetic > erased my memory. > The surgeon seemed really cool. I think his name was Doctor Romero. Nice > work, doc. I’ve got some metal staples left of my pubic region now. And I > just have this space where my left testicle was. :o( I don’t think it > looks too bad though. > I was told that my chest X-ray showed that my lungs "don’t look right". I > hope it hasn’t spread to my lungs. It’s frustrating. I’ve never even > smoked. > I’ve got to have a CT scan and another blood test on Monday. I asked if I’d > also have my head scanned. I’m worried that I might also have a brain > tumour. I was told not to worry about that. hmm > Sometime next week, a cancer specialist will contact me. I’ll have to have > chemotherapy. Apparently it will be used to wipe out any traces of cancer. > I was told that I should try to store my sperm because I may become > infertile. :o( > I can’t believe it. I’ve got cancer.

Damn man i’m really sorry. While i know that faith is not a popular subject here i would like to add you to my daily prayers if you don’t object. i really hope that the CT scans give you some peace of mind rather than the opposite. Take care Pumpkinhead. tom

Response:

"Pumpkinhead" wrote in news:vPbTc.719$P83.227@newsfe6-gui.ntli.net: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> They let me out the same day. Nice. I was able to watch the Olympic > Games opening ceremony. > Before the operation, I asked for a pre med. I was given three > Temazepam pills. That made me feel really weird. It seemed to take > my mind of the operation though. I couldn’t help thinking about other > things. I tried walking but I felt really weak. I remember laying > down in the anaesthetic room. I remember one guy putting the needle > into my hand. Then he pumped a syringe of something into it. I asked > him, "Is that the one that’s going to put me to sleep?" He said "No." > I don’t remember anything else. Obviously I just fell asleep all of > a sudden. It was so difficult waking up. The first thing I remember > was hearing someone say "The operation went well, Pumpkinhead." I was > talking to a nurse later and he told me that I had a conversation with > the surgeon as soon as I woke up but I don’t even remember. The nurse > told me that I was even asking the surgeon questions. I must have been > on autopilot or something. It’s as if the anaesthetic erased my > memory. > The surgeon seemed really cool. I think his name was Doctor Romero. > Nice work, doc. I’ve got some metal staples left of my pubic region > now. And I just have this space where my left testicle was. :o( I > don’t think it looks too bad though. > I was told that my chest X-ray showed that my lungs "don’t look > right". I hope it hasn’t spread to my lungs. It’s frustrating. I’ve > never even smoked. > I’ve got to have a CT scan and another blood test on Monday. I asked > if I’d also have my head scanned. I’m worried that I might also have > a brain tumour. I was told not to worry about that. hmm > Sometime next week, a cancer specialist will contact me. I’ll have > to have chemotherapy. Apparently it will be used to wipe out any > traces of cancer. I was told that I should try to store my sperm > because I may become infertile. :o( > I can’t believe it. I’ve got cancer.

Jesus Christ. Out of the frying pan and into the fryer, I guess. My condolences.

Response:

I sincerely wish this could have been Kitz instead. All the best:)

Response:

"Pumpkinhead" wrote in news:vPbTc.719$P83.227@newsfe6-gui.ntli.net: > I can’t believe it. I’ve got cancer.

I am sorry to hear about this pumkinhead. I just found out my brother has it on his tongue. He is having surgery on Teusday and they are also going to take some lymph nodes out to check them. Good luck dude. -phy

Response:

>> I can’t believe it. I’ve got cancer. >I am sorry to hear about this pumkinhead. I just found out my brother has >it on his tongue. He is having surgery on Teusday and they are also going >to take some lymph nodes out to check them. Good luck dude. >-phy

I have been hearing about cancer a lot. They need to make healthcare affordable so that folks can detect stuff early.

Response:

On Sat, 14 Aug 2004 00:24:52 GMT, Lash Rambo wrote: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->"Pumpkinhead" wrote in >news:vPbTc.719$P83.227@newsfe6-gui.ntli.net: >> They let me out the same day. Nice. I was able to watch the Olympic >> Games opening ceremony. >> Before the operation, I asked for a pre med. I was given three >> Temazepam pills. That made me feel really weird. It seemed to take >> my mind of the operation though. I couldn’t help thinking about other >> things. I tried walking but I felt really weak. I remember laying >> down in the anaesthetic room. I remember one guy putting the needle >> into my hand. Then he pumped a syringe of something into it. I asked >> him, "Is that the one that’s going to put me to sleep?" He said "No." >> I don’t remember anything else. Obviously I just fell asleep all of >> a sudden. It was so difficult waking up. The first thing I remember >> was hearing someone say "The operation went well, Pumpkinhead." I was >> talking to a nurse later and he told me that I had a conversation with >> the surgeon as soon as I woke up but I don’t even remember. The nurse >> told me that I was even asking the surgeon questions. I must have been >> on autopilot or something. It’s as if the anaesthetic erased my >> memory.

No, but the Temazepam may have prevented the memory from forming. High does Benzodiazapines are well known for creating antegrade amnesia. You can have a perfectly lucid conversation, and remember none of it. Temazepam has fairly long serum half life 8-10 hours), and one of the metabolites, oxazepam (Serax) is also active….

Response:

"Pumpkinhead" in news:vPbTc.719$P83.227@newsfe6-gui.ntli.net: > The surgeon seemed really cool. I think his name was Doctor Romero. > Nice work, doc. I’ve got some metal staples left of my pubic region > now. And I just have this space where my left testicle was. :o( I > don’t think it looks too bad though.

lets hope that’s the end of that…

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -"Pumpkinhead" wrote in message … > They let me out the same day. Nice. I was able to watch the Olympic Games > opening ceremony. > Before the operation, I asked for a pre med. I was given three Temazepam > pills. That made me feel really weird. It seemed to take my mind of the > operation though. I couldn’t help thinking about other things. I tried > walking but I felt really weak. I remember laying down in the anaesthetic > room. I remember one guy putting the needle into my hand. Then he pumped a > syringe of something into it. I asked him, "Is that the one that’s going to > put me to sleep?" He said "No." I don’t remember anything else. Obviously > I just fell asleep all of a sudden. It was so difficult waking up. The > first thing I remember was hearing someone say "The operation went well, > Pumpkinhead." I was talking to a nurse later and he told me that I had a > conversation with the surgeon as soon as I woke up but I don’t even > remember. The nurse told me that I was even asking the surgeon questions. > I must have been on autopilot or something. It’s as if the anaesthetic > erased my memory. > The surgeon seemed really cool. I think his name was Doctor Romero. Nice > work, doc. I’ve got some metal staples left of my pubic region now. And I > just have this space where my left testicle was. :o( I don’t think it > looks too bad though. > I was told that my chest X-ray showed that my lungs "don’t look right". I > hope it hasn’t spread to my lungs. It’s frustrating. I’ve never even > smoked. > I’ve got to have a CT scan and another blood test on Monday. I asked if I’d > also have my head scanned. I’m worried that I might also have a brain > tumour. I was told not to worry about that. hmm > Sometime next week, a cancer specialist will contact me. I’ll have to have > chemotherapy. Apparently it will be used to wipe out any traces of cancer. > I was told that I should try to store my sperm because I may become > infertile. :o( > I can’t believe it. I’ve got cancer.

I’m glad the surgery went smoothly. Chemoterapy or radioterapy is pretty standard after a tumour removal, so it dosen’t really mean there’s anything left, they just do that to make sure. Chemo sure wasn’t fun when i did it, but it got easier after a while. You just listen to your doctors and try to keep as positive as you can through this. And keep asking questions, and getting informed, so you know exactly what to expect, that’s important. Getting in touch with a cancer support group would be really good, maybe you can ask your doctors if there’s one locally ?. Or at least some NGOs that would be glad to give you some info and guide you through this, it can be very scary and confusing. Ofc you can always just ask in this a.s.c. too…

Response:

dudenephx1…@aol.com (DudeNEPhx1971) wrote in news:20040813220905.12238.00003618@mb-m01.aol.com: >>> I can’t believe it. I’ve got cancer. >>I am sorry to hear about this pumkinhead. I just found out my brother >>has it on his tongue. He is having surgery on Teusday and they are >>also going to take some lymph nodes out to check them. Good luck >>dude. >>-phy > I have been hearing about cancer a lot. > They need to make healthcare affordable so that folks can detect stuff > early.

My brother has pretty good insurance. He first noticed an ulcer on his tongue and the doctor gave him some antibiotics. It went away but left some cartelidge looking stuff in its place. The doc gave him some more antibiotics that didn’t have an effecft. He had to make the doctor do a biopsy. I hope he fired that doctor. -phy

Response:

Hi, do you use any IM services such as MSN, AIM, ICQ etc? I’d like to talk to you, just because I think you seem like a nice person going through a really tough time. Jon (Mr. Teatime) — My music – http://www.jonathandalton.com "Pumpkinhead" wrote in message

news:vPbTc.719$P83.227@newsfe6-gui.ntli.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> They let me out the same day. Nice. I was able to watch the Olympic > Games > opening ceremony. > Before the operation, I asked for a pre med. I was given three Temazepam > pills. That made me feel really weird. It seemed to take my mind of the > operation though. I couldn’t help thinking about other things. I tried > walking but I felt really weak. I remember laying down in the anaesthetic > room. I remember one guy putting the needle into my hand. Then he pumped > a > syringe of something into it. I asked him, "Is that the one that’s going > to > put me to sleep?" He said "No." I don’t remember anything else. > Obviously > I just fell asleep all of a sudden. It was so difficult waking up. The > first thing I remember was hearing someone say "The operation went well, > Pumpkinhead." I was talking to a nurse later and he told me that I had a > conversation with the surgeon as soon as I woke up but I don’t even > remember. The nurse told me that I was even asking the surgeon questions. > I must have been on autopilot or something. It’s as if the anaesthetic > erased my memory. > The surgeon seemed really cool. I think his name was Doctor Romero. Nice > work, doc. I’ve got some metal staples left of my pubic region now. And > I > just have this space where my left testicle was. :o( I don’t think it > looks too bad though. > I was told that my chest X-ray showed that my lungs "don’t look right". I > hope it hasn’t spread to my lungs. It’s frustrating. I’ve never even > smoked. > I’ve got to have a CT scan and another blood test on Monday. I asked if > I’d > also have my head scanned. I’m worried that I might also have a brain > tumour. I was told not to worry about that. hmm > Sometime next week, a cancer specialist will contact me. I’ll have to > have > chemotherapy. Apparently it will be used to wipe out any traces of > cancer. > I was told that I should try to store my sperm because I may become > infertile. :o( > I can’t believe it. I’ve got cancer.

Response:

In article , pumpkin_head060877 @hotmail.com says… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> They let me out the same day. Nice. I was able to watch the Olympic Games > opening ceremony. > Before the operation, I asked for a pre med. I was given three Temazepam > pills. That made me feel really weird. It seemed to take my mind of the > operation though. I couldn’t help thinking about other things. I tried > walking but I felt really weak. I remember laying down in the anaesthetic > room. I remember one guy putting the needle into my hand. Then he pumped a > syringe of something into it. I asked him, "Is that the one that’s going to > put me to sleep?" He said "No." I don’t remember anything else. Obviously > I just fell asleep all of a sudden. It was so difficult waking up. The > first thing I remember was hearing someone say "The operation went well, > Pumpkinhead." I was talking to a nurse later and he told me that I had a > conversation with the surgeon as soon as I woke up but I don’t even > remember. The nurse told me that I was even asking the surgeon questions. > I must have been on autopilot or something. It’s as if the anaesthetic > erased my memory. > The surgeon seemed really cool. I think his name was Doctor Romero. Nice > work, doc. I’ve got some metal staples left of my pubic region now. And I > just have this space where my left testicle was. :o( I don’t think it > looks too bad though. > I was told that my chest X-ray showed that my lungs "don’t look right". I > hope it hasn’t spread to my lungs. It’s frustrating. I’ve never even > smoked. > I’ve got to have a CT scan and another blood test on Monday. I asked if I’d > also have my head scanned. I’m worried that I might also have a brain > tumour. I was told not to worry about that. hmm > Sometime next week, a cancer specialist will contact me. I’ll have to have > chemotherapy. Apparently it will be used to wipe out any traces of cancer. > I was told that I should try to store my sperm because I may become > infertile. :o( > I can’t believe it. I’ve got cancer.

I was thinking about you all day today. I am so sorry you are going through this. It sounds like you went through the surgery well. Do you have family to give you emotional support? Lotsa hugs and sleep well tonight. xoxoxoxo

Response:

I emailed you, if you didn’t get it could you mail me (mr_Teatime007NOSPAMHERE…@hotmail.com remove the obvious bit….) — My music – http://www.jonathandalton.com "Pumpkinhead" wrote in message

Response:

They let me out the same day. Nice. I was able to watch the Olympic Games opening ceremony. Before the operation, I asked for a pre med. I was given three Temazepam pills. That made me feel really weird. It seemed to take my mind of the operation though. I couldn’t help thinking about other things. I tried walking but I felt really weak. I remember laying down in the anaesthetic room. I remember one guy putting the needle into my hand. Then he pumped a syringe of something into it. I asked him, "Is that the one that’s going to put me to sleep?" He said "No." I don’t remember anything else. Obviously I just fell asleep all of a sudden. It was so difficult waking up. The first thing I remember was hearing someone say "The operation went well, Pumpkinhead." I was talking to a nurse later and he told me that I had a conversation with the surgeon as soon as I woke up but I don’t even remember. The nurse told me that I was even asking the surgeon questions. I must have been on autopilot or something. It’s as if the anaesthetic erased my memory. The surgeon seemed really cool. I think his name was Doctor Romero. Nice work, doc. I’ve got some metal staples left of my pubic region now. And I just have this space where my left testicle was. :o( I don’t think it looks too bad though. I was told that my chest X-ray showed that my lungs "don’t look right". I hope it hasn’t spread to my lungs. It’s frustrating. I’ve never even smoked. I’ve got to have a CT scan and another blood test on Monday. I asked if I’d also have my head scanned. I’m worried that I might also have a brain tumour. I was told not to worry about that. hmm Sometime next week, a cancer specialist will contact me. I’ll have to have chemotherapy. Apparently it will be used to wipe out any traces of cancer. I was told that I should try to store my sperm because I may become infertile. :o( I can’t believe it. I’ve got cancer.

Response:

Treat the root causes of terrorism. Uproot'em.

admin — Wed, 07 Jul 2004 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

On the contrary, if the governments of the U.S. and Great Britain have supported terrorism, which certainly seems to be the case, there is no reason not to guess that the governments of Saudi Arabia and Indonesia have supported terrorism from time to time as well. After all, the State is war, and terrorism is a form of war. But if your solution to this problem is to find the best state and support whatever imperial adventures it may concoct in the name of "fighting terrorism", then I don’t think you’re really suited for the anarchism business.

As you are well aware, that is not my proposed solution to the terrorism problem.

Actually, I don’t know what your solution is, if any. There seemed to be a certain admiration for the imperial American state floating around — merely an optical illusion, I guess. Further, you were not arguing against "nation building", "exporting democracy" and similar silliness. You were arguing that various evil regimes were innocent and did not deserve to have their leaders killed and their toys broken.

Odd — I haven’t seen these postings yet, even though I’m supposed to have written them! Well, they must be from my evil twin. Care to transmit them over to this side? — (<<) /*/ { http://www.etaoin.com | latest new material 5/10/04 <-adv’t

Response:

— mmm, oh yes I’m convinced. "Bullshit" and "Indeed". Can’t argue with that. Just as I can’t argue with "I saw it in the news somewhere".

Now what did I see in the news somewhere? – I saw that two muslim governments, nominally allies of the west, were doing bad things. Why would you *want* to argue with that? Presumably you want to argue with that because if governments do bad things that endanger US citizens, it suggests that the US government should deter those governments – and deterrence can easily turn into "nation building" and "exporting democracy" which can then turn into hundreds of thousands of US soldiers walking the streets of Iraq. However, a government deterring other governments is not imperialism, nor is it an expansion of state power. A government deterring ordinary people – for example checking to see if little old ladies are carrying nailclippers on to a plane, is an expansion of state power. A government nailing the likes of Saddam is not an expansion of state power. When you lot argue that the rulers of various unpleasant regimes are innocent, you support state power, out of your preference for oppressive regimes over liberal regimes. If you really opposed imperialism, rather than supported despotism, you would argue against US soldiers on the streets of Iraq, rather than arguing against the death of Saddam, and arguing against the wickedness of various unpleasant regimes. –digsig James A. Donald 6YeGpsZR+nOTh/cGwvITnSR3TdzclVpR0+pr3YYQdkG neGDFkEDxLxndDtwP9KEaLax4EijJsovjPjFCIEd 4IaoKWcSACkMa8LNoekagiqdhpNI78Ix8im+pYB9A What else can – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I do when faced with such potent arguments but "concoct idiocy": ie, describe his position accurately and point out the decidedly un-anarchist character of the purpoted "anarchist". As Bulba said to Josh: "More like you [Josh] concoct idiocy so you could attribute it to debatant, then claim how ridiculous it is (it is ridiculous) and then you jump up & down in joy as if you proved anything." That is empty, so I guess naturally, you find it compelling. Anyone can assert that anything is a straw man regardless of whether it is or isn’t, and this is literally all he’s done. And, as a fellow ng reader has said to me, "this bulba character seems to be a ‘logic free zone’ on afnc", an observation confirmed still more by the reflexively hostile and empty non-response quoted above. And I think I have made similar observations about Josh. As have others about you and James. Except for one problem, that is exactly James’ position (and yours too naturally, independent thinkers that you are). And neither you, James nor ‘bulba’ can form any argument to the contrary, let alone a compelling one.

Response:

— G*rd*n: On the contrary, if the governments of the U.S. and Great Britain have supported terrorism, which certainly seems to be the case, there is no reason not to guess that the governments of Saudi Arabia and Indonesia have supported terrorism from time to time as well. After all, the State is war, and terrorism is a form of war. But if your solution to this problem is to find the best state and support whatever imperial adventures it may concoct in the name of "fighting terrorism", then I don’t think you’re really suited for the anarchism business.

James A. Donald: As you are well aware, that is not my proposed solution to the terrorism problem.

Josh Dougherty That’s exactly your proposed solution: support the expansion of the surveillance, policing and warmaking powers of the biggest and most powerful imperial super state that exists to smash many of the comparably small and least powerful states, which are "evil".

Bullshit. –digsig James A. Donald 6YeGpsZR+nOTh/cGwvITnSR3TdzclVpR0+pr3YYQdkG MLLrDeLUFQFe+TjfC3pJWf6QNMRLAJEVeue+TPlw 41XEKId0QdEq75PaeqWWIKp/4mDbUydGpWeOY+0bK

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – — G*rd*n: On the contrary, if the governments of the U.S. and Great Britain have supported terrorism, which certainly seems to be the case, there is no reason not to guess that the governments of Saudi Arabia and Indonesia have supported terrorism from time to time as well. After all, the State is war, and terrorism is a form of war. But if your solution to this problem is to find the best state and support whatever imperial adventures it may concoct in the name of "fighting terrorism", then I don’t think you’re really suited for the anarchism business. James A. Donald: As you are well aware, that is not my proposed solution to the terrorism problem. Josh Dougherty That’s exactly your proposed solution: support the expansion of the surveillance, policing and warmaking powers of the biggest and most powerful imperial super state that exists to smash many of the comparably small and least powerful states, which are "evil". Bullshit.

Indeed. As Bulba said to Josh: "More like you [Josh] concoct idiocy so you could attribute it to debatant, then claim how ridiculous it is (it is ridiculous) and then you jump up & down in joy as if you proved anything." And I think I have made similar observations about Josh.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – — G*rd*n: On the contrary, if the governments of the U.S. and Great Britain have supported terrorism, which certainly seems to be the case, there is no reason not to guess that the governments of Saudi Arabia and Indonesia have supported terrorism from time to time as well. After all, the State is war, and terrorism is a form of war. But if your solution to this problem is to find the best state and support whatever imperial adventures it may concoct in the name of "fighting terrorism", then I don’t think you’re really suited for the anarchism business. James A. Donald: As you are well aware, that is not my proposed solution to the terrorism problem. Josh Dougherty That’s exactly your proposed solution: support the expansion of the surveillance, policing and warmaking powers of the biggest and most powerful imperial super state that exists to smash many of the comparably small and least powerful states, which are "evil". Bullshit. Indeed.

mmm, oh yes I’m convinced. "Bullshit" and "Indeed". Can’t argue with that. Just as I can’t argue with "I saw it in the news somewhere". What else can I do when faced with such potent arguments but "concoct idiocy": ie, describe his position accurately and point out the decidedly un-anarchist character of the purpoted "anarchist". As Bulba said to Josh: "More like you [Josh] concoct idiocy so you could attribute it to debatant, then claim how ridiculous it is (it is ridiculous) and then you jump up & down in joy as if you proved anything."

That is empty, so I guess naturally, you find it compelling. Anyone can assert that anything is a straw man regardless of whether it is or isn’t, and this is literally all he’s done. And, as a fellow ng reader has said to me, "this bulba character seems to be a ‘logic free zone’ on afnc", an observation confirmed still more by the reflexively hostile and empty non-response quoted above. And I think I have made similar observations about Josh.

As have others about you and James. Except for one problem, that is exactly James’ position (and yours too naturally, independent thinkers that you are). And neither you, James nor ‘bulba’ can form any argument to the contrary, let alone a compelling one.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – — For example the bomb making material that killed 200 australian civilians in Bali was under survielance by the famously efficient and effective Singaporean anti terrorism police – but when it entered Indonesia, they were stone walled by the Indonesian police, and had to rely on australian secret agents, who have no penetration in Java, so they lost track of it. Where did you get this information from? Indeed, that’s a very good question. And one, you’ll notice, that still has yet to be addressed. I read it in the news somewhere.

mmm, very convincing.

Response:

For you, no evidence is sufficient to convict oppressive states.

G*rd*n In a sense that’s true. They’re all "guilty" of being states,

Response:

— On the contrary, if the governments of the U.S. and Great Britain have supported terrorism, which certainly seems to be the case, there is no reason not to guess that the governments of Saudi Arabia and Indonesia have supported terrorism from time to time as well. After all, the State is war, and terrorism is a form of war. But if your solution to this problem is to find the best state and support whatever imperial adventures it may concoct in the name of "fighting terrorism", then I don’t think you’re really suited for the anarchism business.

As you are well aware, that is not my proposed solution to the terrorism problem. Further, you were not arguing against "nation building", "exporting democracy" and similar silliness. You were arguing that various evil regimes were innocent and did not deserve to have their leaders killed and their toys broken. –digsig James A. Donald 6YeGpsZR+nOTh/cGwvITnSR3TdzclVpR0+pr3YYQdkG jGXP/P3sgZ12zZiU0r8EvUtxi9PMUALGU23iWd1j 4REr/KHXlrbwPLNhGu/X3m/XOuDf/t9hDsInr30YQ

Response:

That’s exactly your proposed solution: support the expansion of the surveillance, policing and warmaking powers of the biggest and most powerful imperial super state that exists to smash many of the comparably small and least powerful states, which are "evil". Further, you were not arguing against "nation building", "exporting democracy" and similar silliness. You were arguing that various evil regimes were innocent and did not deserve to have their leaders killed and their toys broken.

If he was arguing that, he would have argued that George W. Bush does not deserve any reprisal for anything, and that we should all support your program for the expansion of the biggest and most powerful military super state around, and support all exercise of its state power all over the globe. Yet he hasn’t done so afaik.

Response:

Since terrorists operate in secret (otherwise they’d be stopped) all sorts of fables can be purveyed about them, such as their association with states their Imperial majesties would like to target. Information which can be verified in another matter.

For you, no evidence is sufficient to convict oppressive states.

In a sense that’s true. They’re all "guilty" of being states, whereas convicting a particular state of being "oppressive" seems to imply that all the others are good. While some states are certainly more harmful than others, I don’t think any of them should be given a blank check, especially when on an imperial rampage. …

– (<<) /*/ { http://www.etaoin.com | latest new material 5/10/04 <-adv’t

Response:

— For example the bomb making material that killed 200 australian civilians in Bali was under survielance by the famously efficient and effective Singaporean anti terrorism police – but when it entered Indonesia, they were stone walled by the Indonesian police, and had to rely on australian secret agents, who have no penetration in Java, so they lost track of it. Where did you get this information from? Indeed, that’s a very good question. And one, you’ll notice, that still has yet to be addressed.

I read it in the news somewhere. I also read in the news that the spiritual leader of the bombers got two years of privileged soft time, and was released after 18 months. Under extreme pressure from Australia and the united states, he was rearrested, and will be charged all over again – probably to a longer period of unusually comfortable prison. You all know that various non muslim groups in Indonesia suffer terror that goes unpunished – why do you do find it hard to believe that terror against non Muslim foreigners is more of the same? You invariably blame the United states for terror committed by nominally non government groups in Indonesia, which presupposes that such terror is protected, and to some extent instigated by the Indonesian government.. Why are you so reluctant to blame the Indonesian government for terror committed against westerners when you have no hesitation in blaming its nominal allies for terror committed against various internal groups? –digsig James A. Donald 6YeGpsZR+nOTh/cGwvITnSR3TdzclVpR0+pr3YYQdkG MXP5dP9bCYc6XWE5mS9ikS4UxER2peHcNK+2Inbz 4Y/YWIF2mD6fZXOwl/+hKY3fx/ZbmdJLxkTi4wY9K

Response:

— For you, no evidence is sufficient to convict oppressive states.

G*rd*n In a sense that’s true. They’re all "guilty" of being states,

But any evidence, no matter how indirect and far fetched, serves to convict such states as the US and England, while you demand impossiblly high standards of evidence to make Saudi Arabia and Indonesia guilty of what is done by certain Saudis and Indonesians. You demonstrate a bias in favor of tyranny. –digsig James A. Donald 6YeGpsZR+nOTh/cGwvITnSR3TdzclVpR0+pr3YYQdkG iNR6L0HaJFL+goHoH7Ht8RNHxFqQjo0UkDmPwolR 4oh3yfoqLSGNwd5sDHZ/dh3rgu0dK6sMt28FNFY6F

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – G*rd*n: One problem with this suggestion is that it does not appear that the U.S. is capable of determining from whom its attackers acquire their aid and shelter. James A. Donald Well actually US can, but the trouble is that much of it is acquired from US "allies" – in particular Saudi Arabia. Very little, however, is acquired from Libya, Iran, Iraq, or Syria – perhaps because the rulers in those places feel that if they got too cosy with terrorists, the USG would kill them. Deterrence is working – to the extent that the US has the will to apply it. G*rd*n You seem to share the fallacy that effective terrorists must be supported by states… The terrorists that are troubling us now only function to the extent that they are supported and protected by states, the primary sources of support being our "allies": Saudi Arabia, and the great Muslim democracy of Indonesia. For example the bomb making material that killed 200 australian civilians in Bali was under survielance by the famously efficient and effective Singaporean anti terrorism police – but when it entered Indonesia, they were stone walled by the Indonesian police, and had to rely on australian secret agents, who have no penetration in Java, so they lost track of it. Where did you get this information from? Indeed, that’s a very good question.

And one, you’ll notice, that still has yet to be addressed.

Response:

— Since terrorists operate in secret (otherwise they’d be stopped) all sorts of fables can be purveyed about them, such as their association with states their Imperial majesties would like to target. Information which can be verified in another matter.

For you, no evidence is sufficient to convict oppressive states. The truth of the story is confirmed by other more public Indonesian defense of terrorism. – by the Indonesian governments failure to punish terrorists except are extreme pressure by foreign states, its frequent failure to arrest and convict terrorists. Clearly, Muslim terrorists in Indonesia terrorize various non Muslim indonesians, and do not get punished. When they terrorize foreign non muslims, the punishments are often bizarrely light, causing considerable indignation among foreigners. Those foreigners would clearly kill the offenders out of hand, except that to do so they would have to go to war with Indonesia. The terrorists that we encounter originate from, or organize in, states that are conspicuously soft on the murder of non muslims. –digsig James A. Donald 6YeGpsZR+nOTh/cGwvITnSR3TdzclVpR0+pr3YYQdkG Jj1HltCdWhuxLPDSs1kaNOKgau0jURko0NlGJ8NE 4J5gpZ5rLp/O12FcHIWjrYVCRvhPVmMW/VPn2r+8o

Response:

— In any case, that doesn’t sound like "state support" can be blamed. That sounds like you believe there was insufficient state surveillance and oversight of people’s behavior, not too much state support.

A muslim state blocked survielance of explosives in the hands of terrorists by non muslim states. Those attempting to track the explosives had to act furtively, as though they, rather than the terrorists, were the criminals. The Indonesian attitude to Australian spies is similar to the American attitude to Soviet spies, though Australia and Indonesia are supposedly allies – much as America and Saudi Arabia are supposedly allies. Your claim is that the terrorists were able to slip one by because of the insufficient exercise of state power.

They were protected by a Muslim state from exercise of power by two non Muslim states, both of which reasonable expected that their citizens were likely targets for those explosives.. We do not have a similar problem in Somalia, where there is little state power, hence little protection for terrorists, and we have a a considerably lesser problem in Yemen, where state power, though considerably stronger than in Somalia, is still too weak to stop the targets of terrorism from killing terrorists in Yemen. Where there is a strong state that is hostile to terrorists, for example Kuwait, we have no terrorist problem. Where we have very weak states, or no state at all, as in Somalia, we have no terrorist problem. The terrorist problem primarily comes from terrorists resident in strong states that are sympathetic to terrorists – Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and, to some limited extent, Germany and France. Doubtless Syria, Libya, and the rest are even more sympathetic to terrorism, but they have been successfully deterred. The US government needs to apply similar deterrence to Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and perhaps to Germany and France. –digsig James A. Donald 6YeGpsZR+nOTh/cGwvITnSR3TdzclVpR0+pr3YYQdkG W19eeNoad8HhfbV/YPIpAQDFRqVWqROMxiFQTA1P 41YZ3mWdM3dOOX6ABgAYPtgI1Q3ldepxK5l68+1nM

Response:

G*rd*n: One problem with this suggestion is that it does not appear that the U.S. is capable of determining from whom its attackers acquire their aid and shelter.

James A. Donald Well actually US can, but the trouble is that much of it is acquired from US "allies" – in particular Saudi Arabia. Very little, however, is acquired from Libya, Iran, Iraq, or Syria – perhaps because the rulers in those places feel that if they got too cosy with terrorists, the USG would kill them. Deterrence is working – to the extent that the US has the will to apply it.

G*rd*n You seem to share the fallacy that effective terrorists must be supported by states…

The terrorists that are troubling us now only function to the extent that they are supported and protected by states, the primary sources of support being our "allies": Saudi Arabia, and the great Muslim democracy of Indonesia. For example the bomb making material that killed 200 australian civilians in Bali was under survielance by the famously efficient and effective Singaporean anti terrorism police – but when it entered Indonesia, they were stone walled by the Indonesian police, and had to rely on australian secret agents, who have no penetration in Java, so they lost track of it.

Where did you get this information from?

Indeed, that’s a very good question. Since terrorists operate in secret (otherwise they’d be stopped) all sorts of fables can be purveyed about them, such as their association with states their Imperial majesties would like to target. Information which can be verified in another matter. We have to rely on governments and media which have been caught in lie after lie and have no reason not to be lying now. On the other hand, some elements of both government and media probably try to find and tell the truth from time to time, if only by accident. How one deals with this situation probably reveals one’s fundamental relationship to authority. Americans seem to have been suckered about Iraq because the society and its culture have become profoundly credulous, passive and submissive. Yet, astonishingly, many of the lies were exposed. However, when we do see actual terrorist acts, and before the fables begin, there is a remarkable lack of evidence of state involvement — they seem to work with equipment which is cheap and unsophisticated, for example, McVeigh’s fertilizer and Atta’s box-cutters. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – In any case, that doesn’t sound like "state support" can be blamed. That sounds like you believe there was insufficient state surveillance and oversight of people’s behavior, not too much state support. Your claim is that the terrorists were able to slip one by because of the insufficient exercise of state power. In this case you’ve found a way to blame some other state for limiting the exercise of power by the first state, and you think this let’s you off the hook and proves your case. But it’s still the same in the end: insufficiently free and unlimited use of state power as allowing terrorism to be effective, not state support as the only way for terrorism to be effective. The "bad" states are those that are insufficiently brutal and total in their policing and surveillance of "terrorists" These states "support terrorism" when they limit the perogative of "good" states to perform surveillance, oversight, or violent strikes as they see fit. The "good" states are the ones who exercise power and brutality liberally, and who allow other states to do the same as they see fit. In short, as usual, you take the anarchist position in favor of increased use of state power to counter terrorism, with anything that might hinder the use of state power is "supporting terrorism". And you see this as the only means to counter terror, as even Indonesia somehow limiting Singapore’s totally free exercise of state power was sufficient to "support terrorism", in that it allowed the state to "lose track", thereby with the state no longer firmly in control of the situation, terrorism flourishes. Ah, another of my daily lessons in anarchism.

Well, James’s beliefs and positions are hardly "anarchist" in the usual sense of the word. Or if they are, we need another word to denote opposition to government, state, authority, social coercion and the like, since he’s a big fan of the American state in its military-imperial mode. Lots of people feel that way, of course, but it’s odd to me that people who actually want to be ruled by powerful authorities wish to call themselves "anarchists" even as a joke. — (<<) /*/ { http://www.etaoin.com | latest new material 5/10/04 <-adv’t

Response:

For example the bomb making material that killed 200 australian civilians in Bali was under survielance by the famously efficient and effective Singaporean anti terrorism police – but when it entered Indonesia, they were stone walled by the Indonesian police, and had to rely on australian secret agents, who have no penetration in Java, so they lost track of it. Where did you get this information from? In any case, that doesn’t sound like "state support" can be blamed. That sounds like you believe there was insufficient state surveillance and oversight of people’s behavior, not too much state support.

Not really, this is rather the struggle between various kinds of state power: one teocratic (Indonesia), one kind of semi-socialist-with-free-market-in-intl-trade (Singapore) and one social-democratic (Australia). Your claim is that the terrorists were able to slip one by because of the insufficient exercise of state power.

Nonsense. He clearly wrote that it was Indonesian government that has simply made it impossible to track the material. State power was sufficient all right – for Islamic government to make terrorist act in Bali possible. There are many forces all trying to acquire the power and fighting each other. Some are better – Australia, Singapore, some are worse – Indonesia, but that’s about it. In this case you’ve found a way to blame some other state for limiting the exercise of power by the first state, and you think this let’s you off the hook and proves your case. But it’s still the same in the end: insufficiently free and unlimited use of state power as allowing terrorism to be effective, not state support as the only way for terrorism to be effective.

More like you concoct idiocy so you could attribute it to debatant, then claim how ridiculous it is (it is ridiculous) and then you jump up & down in joy as if you proved anything.

You understood nothing. — I love the smell of napalm in the morning.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – — G*rd*n One problem with this suggestion is that it does not appear that the U.S. is capable of determining from whom its attackers acquire their aid and shelter. James A. Donald Well actually US can, but the trouble is that much of it is acquired from US "allies" – in particular Saudi Arabia. Very little, however, is acquired from Libya, Iran, Iraq, or Syria – perhaps because the rulers in those places feel that if they got too cosy with terrorists, the USG would kill them. Deterrence is working – to the extent that the US has the will to apply it. G*rd*n You seem to share the fallacy that effective terrorists must be supported by states The terrorists that are troubling us now only function to the extent that they are supported and protected by states, the primary sources of support being our "allies": Saudi Arabia, and the great Muslim democracy of Indonesia. For example the bomb making material that killed 200 australian civilians in Bali was under survielance by the famously efficient and effective Singaporean anti terrorism police – but when it entered Indonesia, they were stone walled by the Indonesian police, and had to rely on australian secret agents, who have no penetration in Java, so they lost track of it.

Where did you get this information from? In any case, that doesn’t sound like "state support" can be blamed. That sounds like you believe there was insufficient state surveillance and oversight of people’s behavior, not too much state support. Your claim is that the terrorists were able to slip one by because of the insufficient exercise of state power. In this case you’ve found a way to blame some other state for limiting the exercise of power by the first state, and you think this let’s you off the hook and proves your case. But it’s still the same in the end: insufficiently free and unlimited use of state power as allowing terrorism to be effective, not state support as the only way for terrorism to be effective. The "bad" states are those that are insufficiently brutal and total in their policing and surveillance of "terrorists" These states "support terrorism" when they limit the perogative of "good" states to perform surveillance, oversight, or violent strikes as they see fit. The "good" states are the ones who exercise power and brutality liberally, and who allow other states to do the same as they see fit. In short, as usual, you take the anarchist position in favor of increased use of state power to counter terrorism, with anything that might hinder the use of state power is "supporting terrorism". And you see this as the only means to counter terror, as even Indonesia somehow limiting Singapore’s totally free exercise of state power was sufficient to "support terrorism", in that it allowed the state to "lose track", thereby with the state no longer firmly in control of the situation, terrorism flourishes. Ah, another of my daily lessons in anarchism.

Response:

Your claim is that the terrorists were able to slip one by because of the insufficient exercise of state power. Nonsense. He clearly wrote that it was Indonesian government that has simply made it impossible to track the material. State power was sufficient all right – for Islamic government to make terrorist act in Bali possible. Do you ever cease adding nothing to usenet exchanges? And if no one’s around to hear it, is it still stupid?

Don’t blame me for your inability to understand nature of your mistakes. — I love the smell of napalm in the morning.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – For example the bomb making material that killed 200 australian civilians in Bali was under survielance by the famously efficient and effective Singaporean anti terrorism police – but when it entered Indonesia, they were stone walled by the Indonesian police, and had to rely on australian secret agents, who have no penetration in Java, so they lost track of it. Where did you get this information from? In any case, that doesn’t sound like "state support" can be blamed. That sounds like you believe there was insufficient state surveillance and oversight of people’s behavior, not too much state support. Not really, this is rather the struggle between various kinds of state power: one teocratic (Indonesia), one kind of semi-socialist-with-free-market-in-intl-trade (Singapore) and one social-democratic (Australia). Your claim is that the terrorists were able to slip one by because of the insufficient exercise of state power. Nonsense. He clearly wrote that it was Indonesian government that has simply made it impossible to track the material. State power was sufficient all right – for Islamic government to make terrorist act in Bali possible.

Do you ever cease adding nothing to usenet exchanges? And if no one’s around to hear it, is it still stupid?

Response:

— G*rd*n One problem with this suggestion is that it does not appear that the U.S. is capable of determining from whom its attackers acquire their aid and shelter.

G*rd*n You seem to share the fallacy that effective terrorists must be supported by states

Response:

Mark F: What to do? The key for the United States

How to shut up your critics with a single word

admin — Sat, 26 Jun 2004 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

Robert Fisk: How to shut up your critics with a single word Thank God, I often say, for the Israeli press. For where else will you find the sort of courageous condemnation of Israel’s cruel and brutal treatment of the Palestinians? Where else can we read that Moshe Ya’alon, Ariel Sharon’s new chief of staff, described the "Palestinian threat" as "like a cancer …

end of radiation last monday

admin — Sun, 16 May 2004 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – hello all linda bliss here oh my goodness. you all remember me telling you that i had BC in 99 had lumpectomy lymph nodes removed er/pr+ HER2- had 4 cycles chemo then rads all ended may 2000 i was NED until august last year when ca 27-29 went from the norm up to 100. had pet/cat scans and came back mets from bc to chest wall. well i have been on Femara since november ‘03 and in march’04 began 6 weeks of double dose radiation which ended last monday. i must say this radiation completely has exhausted my entire body but it has seemed to work cus the latest ct scan shows no progression and some shrinkage which is good. both oncologists feel that they want to give my body a rest for about 4 weeks; have another ct scan and if it shows further decrease then i most likely will not need taxotere. so for right now i am trying really hard to get back into the swing of things including my appetite. i have been drinking boost plus: put in blender add ice cream ice cubes blend and i have a shake..tastes pretty good..been eating soft foods since the mets is in upper mediastinum and the rads sorta burned my throat so it hurts to swallow solid foods so i have been eating baby food how sad. is this normal to be so exhausted from the rads??? did i mention mets is in the upper mediastinum lungs are clear any thoughts take care all… love linda bliss

Linda, So glad you are finished with the rads. I would think a lot of the fatigue would be caused by the circumstances of just having to go thru the ordeal. The stress would be enough to make you want to turn over and sleep away the day. That was what happened to me when I found my markers had gone from 120 to 1300. I hyperventilated everytime I passed a mirror and didn’t want to get out of bed and I hadn’t even gotten the results from the bone and ct scans, yet..After the scans and finding that I, so far, hadn’t had any soft tissue invasion have been feeling a little better..I have bone mets to the head and ribs..Not sure why the numbers were soooooo high…Pat from Apple Valley, CA

Response:

this radiation completely has exhausted my entire body but it has seemed to work cus the latest ct scan shows no progression and some shrinkage which is good. Fantastic! I was wondering, though, whether or not you had had radiation the first time around. Some are receiving radiation a second time. Others are still being told that can’t be done.

Response:

Glad to hear that your radiation is done. I’ve never had it, but remember when my Dad did, for laryngeal cancer. His main side effect was fatigue, with some burning and a very sore throat.

I was told that whatever else happened I’d be exhausted but I wasn’t. I did have burning which was not nice. Has your radiation oncologist given you any indication how long before you begin to feel better?

I suspect it differs among those receiving it. Thinking of you and hoping that the side effects are short lived.

That’s the thing to hold on to – it DOES come to an end. As does chemotherapy and its effects. It’s like labour, you remember that you DID suffer but it goes and the result was worth it! Mary Best – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – wishes. Barb

Response:

" i was NED until august last year when ca 27-29 went from the norm up – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – to 100. had pet/cat scans and came back mets from bc to chest wall. well i have been on Femara since november ‘03 and in march’04 began 6 weeks of double dose radiation which ended last monday. i must say this radiation completely has exhausted my entire body but it has seemed to work cus the latest ct scan shows no progression and some shrinkage which is good. both oncologists feel that they want to give my body a rest for about 4 weeks; have another ct scan and if it shows further decrease then i most likely will not need taxotere. so for right now i am trying really hard to get back into the swing of things including my appetite. i have been drinking boost plus: put in blender add ice cream ice cubes blend and i have a shake..tastes pretty good..been eating soft foods since the mets is in upper mediastinum and the rads sorta burned my throat so it hurts to swallow solid foods so i have been eating baby food how sad. is this normal to be so exhausted from the rads??? did i mention mets is in the upper mediastinum lungs are clear any thoughts take care all… love linda bliss

Hi Linda, Glad to hear that your radiation is done. I’ve never had it, but remember when my Dad did, for laryngeal cancer. His main side effect was fatigue, with some burning and a very sore throat. Has your radiation oncologist given you any indication how long before you begin to feel better? Thinking of you and hoping that the side effects are short lived. Best wishes. Barb

Response:

hello all linda bliss here oh my goodness. you all remember me telling you that i had BC in 99 had lumpectomy lymph nodes removed er/pr+ HER2- had 4 cycles chemo then rads all ended may 2000 i was NED until august last year when ca 27-29 went from the norm up to 100. had pet/cat scans and came back mets from bc to chest wall. well i have been on Femara since november ‘03 and in march’04 began 6 weeks of double dose radiation which ended last monday. i must say this radiation completely has exhausted my entire body but it has seemed to work cus the latest ct scan shows no progression and some shrinkage which is good. both oncologists feel that they want to give my body a rest for about 4 weeks; have another ct scan and if it shows further decrease then i most likely will not need taxotere. so for right now i am trying really hard to get back into the swing of things including my appetite. i have been drinking boost plus: put in blender add ice cream ice cubes blend and i have a shake..tastes pretty good..been eating soft foods since the mets is in upper mediastinum and the rads sorta burned my throat so it hurts to swallow solid foods so i have been eating baby food how sad. is this normal to be so exhausted from the rads??? did i mention mets is in the upper mediastinum lungs are clear any thoughts take care all… love linda bliss

Response:

Just need some support

admin — Sun, 29 Feb 2004 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

My mom is dying from cancer that has spread to her brain, my grandmother is also dying from cancer that is throughout her whole body. My uncle just passed away and I am grateful I spoke to him the evening it occured, yet it makes me feel empty inside, he was more like a father to me as I was growing up, I feel bad for my aunt and how she is going to deal with all of this. I can not deal with the death of a loved one, I don’t know how, any suggestions? I myself had to deal with cancer for 4 years March 28th 2nd time around I will be cancer free. Yet I feel it is so unfair to happen to my mom and grandmother, they are terribly suffering from this horrible disease. I am helpless and wish I could help them but I can’t fight their battle with cancer as my own was enough I am still recovering from. I am glad to be back in this news group there are alot of good supportive people here. Love,Peace, and Harmony, Jackie

Response:

I wish I had words that could make it feel better, but all I can promise is that the pain of loss passes, leaving good memories. Hang tight, and enjoy the time you have with your mother and grandmother as much as possible. Diane

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My mom is dying from cancer that has spread to her brain, my grandmother is also dying from cancer that is throughout her whole body. My uncle just passed away and I am grateful I spoke to him the evening it occured, yet it makes me feel empty inside, he was more like a father to me as I was growing up, I feel bad for my aunt and how she is going to deal with all of this. I can not deal with the death of a loved one, I don’t know how, any suggestions? I myself had to deal with cancer for 4 years March 28th 2nd time around I will be cancer free. Yet I feel it is so unfair to happen to my mom and grandmother, they are terribly suffering from this horrible disease. I am helpless and wish I could help them but I can’t fight their battle with cancer as my own was enough I am still recovering from. I am glad to be back in this news group there are alot of good supportive people here. Love,Peace, and Harmony, Jackie

Response:

Dear Jackie, your post makes me so sad as I too have only recently learned that my mother also has cancer which has spread to her brain. Because I live with her, I am her main caretaker. I don’t know if you live with your mother or your grandmother. Either way, the very best you can do is to let them know in different ways that you love them, and by your presence. My brother and sister, bothn married with nearly adult children of their own, are seeing more of mum now that the time is limited, and I’m *so* glad of that. Somehow, time seems that most important thing. It doesn’t matter what you do. It might just be to sit alongside, just read a book or watch television. Maybe your mother or grandmother would like you to read aloud to them?? I expect that your mother and grandmother have the best of medical care that is available, so you can’t improve on that. Just be there and tell them you love them. Not enough people say that in our lives, and miss it later. My heart goes to you. Let me know here how you go. My own mother is so far free of much pain. she has started palliative chemotherapy in order, hopefully, to slow down the growith of the cancer in her lung, which is a fast-growing cancer. She has another in her throat which the doctors are much less worried about. Sad time for us all, isn’t it? Best wishes, avril

Response:

OT:Rudy & others – Sarge update

admin — Sat, 31 Jan 2004 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

Hi, Special prayers for both of you. What terrible luck, so rare, only seen one and it was a knee joint. Never have I heard on of one on the hand. Special prayers for Howard and for you.

Thank you Mu. Most of the time it shows up in the lower body, and the knee is the most common site. In searching I found a few more in the hand, but they’re rare. Take care, Carmen

Response:

Hi, Thanks for the update. Sorry you and Sarge are going through this, the waiting must be dismal. Glad to hear his lungs are clear though, that’s great news. Good on you for insisting he get it checked out when he did and not letting the army play russian roulette with his life. Sending loads of positive thoughts your way.

Thank you Rachel. :-) Take care, Carmen

Response:

Carmen, I’ll make certain that your family, and you, are in my family’s prayers. — JJ.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Rosie, will remain in my thoughts and prayers! Thank you Rosie. Take care, Carmen

Response:

We ought to find out the bone scan results tomorrow and I’ll post those too. It’s kind of odd because if his bones are clear then the hand needs to come off for the best chance of a cure. If they aren’t clear then there’s no sense to removing the hand since the cancer will have already left the original tumor site. He’d get to keep it. What do you wish for? Weird….

That’s pretty crummy, Carmen. :-( Better to lose your hand than your life, but it’s going to be so hard…. — Jean B.

Response:

My thoughts are with you, sweetie. eff

Response:

Thanks for the update, Carmen. I AM one of those ‘geeks’ (genetics was my major) so getting the details was interesting. Thank you for including them. I’m SO glad the lung scan came back clean. That’s got to be a huge relief for you. I hope the rest of the scan comes back equally good news. I’ll be continuing to keep you both in my thoughts and sending Healing Vibes to Sarge for the best possible outcome. In the meantime I hope he continues to feel well. Aramanth

Response:

Special prayers for both of you. What terrible luck, so rare, only seen one and it was a knee joint. Never have I heard on of one on the hand. Special prayers for Howard and for you. Mu – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -You asked about Sarge’s health issues, and since I’ve gotten some other requests I’ll just post the answer here. The tumor in his left palm was officially diagnosed as a synovial sarcoma based on the immunohistochemical testing BUT the pathology lab did not perform a karyotype to ascertain the tumor’s genetics. This sort of cancer has a specific mutation associated with it. For the geeks in the group it’s a reciprocal translocation of SYT on 18p 11.2 with (most often) SSX1 or SSX2 on Xq 11.2. For the nongeeks that means that the SYT (synovial tumor gene – imaginative, huh?) gene on the short arm of chromosome #18 switches out for the SSX1 or SSX2 (synovial sarcoma gene 1 or 2) on the long arm of the "X" chromosome. I’ve asked that the karyotype be performed for a couple of reasons. First, the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology at Walter Reed only sees an average of two cases of synovial sarcoma annually – it’s a rare cancer. Secondly, people make mistakes. Treatment will be predicated on the type of cancer we’re up against and in Sarge’s case the stakes are high. Since synovial sarcomas are aggressive cancers and often recur at the site of the primary tumor a "wide excision" is the front line treatment. Due to location that will mean amputation of his left hand, followed by chemotherapy. The specific mutation is *only* seen in synovial sarcoma, so that would remove the last niggling doubt in my mind. One more reason for wanting the kryotype done is there are prognosticative differences in the cancers correlated with *which* SSX gene is involved. SSX1 corresponds with a deadlier form of the disease, and would militate towards the most aggressive treatment decisions. The first spot this cancer likes to vacation is the lungs. About 25% of the time it does it. Howard’s lungs have checked out clean (yeah!), and we’re awaiting the results of the full body bone scan he had Thursday. At this point we’re waiting for the bonescan results as well as an answer as to whether or not AFIP will perform the karyotype. His surgeon down at Eisenhower is going to relay the request, but cannot promise it’ll be granted. Waiting sucks. In the meantime he feels great. :-) I’ll post more updates when they happen. Take care all, Carmen

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap970210.html Lift well, Eat less, Walk fast, Live long.

Response:

Carmen, I hope that the clear lungs are a harbinger of test results to come:)Robyn

Response:

Hi Carmen Thanks for the update. Sorry you and Sarge are going through this, the waiting must be dismal. Glad to hear his lungs are clear though, that’s great news. Good on you for insisting he get it checked out when he did and not letting the army play russian roulette with his life. Sending loads of positive thoughts your way. cheers Rachel (New Zealand)

Response:

Carmen and Sarge, I apologize for not sending you both my prayers and positive thoughts until now. Carmen, you sound like a very strong person…I admire that in you, and I feel that Sarge is a lucky man to have your love, support, and devotion. Best wishes for both of you. Tee http://www.geocities.com/tee_king Remove -no-spam- to email me.

Response:

Sending prayers and thoughts your way. Linda

Response:

Since synovial sarcomas are aggressive cancers and often recur at the site of the primary tumor a "wide excision" is the front line treatment. Due to location that will mean amputation of his left hand, followed by chemotherapy.

Sorry to hear about this. That’s a tough road to go down. The first spot this cancer likes to vacation is the lungs. About 25% of the time it does it. Howard’s lungs have checked out clean (yeah!), and we’re awaiting the results of the full body bone scan he had Thursday.

Hope he gets clean results. At this point we’re waiting for the bonescan results as well as an answer as to whether or not AFIP will perform the karyotype. His surgeon down at Eisenhower is going to relay the request, but cannot promise it’ll be granted. Waiting sucks.

Waiting on test and news are their special hell. Knowing and dealing with issues are hard but something your can *DO* — waiting to known is a helpless pain. In the meantime he feels great. :-) I’ll post more updates when they happen.

Thanks, and let us know when you can. Thoughts and hopes are with you. — Rudy – Remove the Z from my address to respond. "It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees!" -Emiliano Zapata Check out the a.s.d.l-c FAQ at: http://www.grossweb.com/asdlc/faq.htm

Response:

Hi Rosie, will remain in my thoughts and prayers!

Thank you Rosie. Take care, Carmen

Response:

Hi Jean, Thanks for the update, Carmen. I’m glad to hear Sarge’s lungs are clear. I hope you get the test done and that it indiactes the better of the two scenarios.

Response:

Hi, I’ll post more updates when they happen. please do, and know that you have my bestest wishes for a positive outcome.

Tomorrow we should get the bone scan results, and I’ll post those. Thanks. :-) Take care, Carmen

Response:

Hello, My thoughts are with you and your family. Your positive attitude through all this will certainly make a difference in the outcome.

My goal is to do whatever it takes to get him healthy, and if that doesn’t work then to do my best to make him happy despite being sick. Thank you. Take care, Carmen

Response:

Hi Eff, My thoughts are with you, sweetie.

Thank you Eff. :-) Take care, Carmen

Response:

Hello, I hope that the clear lungs are a harbinger of test results to come:)Robyn

Thank you Robyn. So do we. :-) Take care, Carmen

Response:

I’ll be thinking of you and yours Carmen, and wishing you all the best. — Cheri Type 2, no meds for now. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Rosie, will remain in my thoughts and prayers! Thank you Rosie. Take care, Carmen

Response:

Hi, I AM one of those ‘geeks’ (genetics was my major) so getting the details was interesting. Thank you for including them.

I knew there’d probably be a few. Despite the impact it has on Howard and the rest of the family I can’t help but be interested in the details. Perhaps that’s my way of getting some sense of "control" in a situation where it’s pretty hard to come by. I’m SO glad the lung scan came back clean. That’s got to be a huge relief for you. I hope the rest of the scan comes back equally good news.

So far, so good. If the bone scan is negative too then we aren’t out of the woods – he”l end up with his left hand amputated – but we’ll have the best setup for a good longterm outcome. I’ll be continuing to keep you both in my thoughts and sending Healing Vibes to Sarge for the best possible outcome. In the meantime I hope he continues to feel well.

Thank you. It’s ironic that he won’t feel bad until the medical folks start the treatments. I hope that his stellar good health holds up to the rigors to come. Take care, Carmen

Response:

Hello Rudy, You asked about Sarge’s health issues, and since I’ve gotten some other requests I’ll just post the answer here. The tumor in his left palm was officially diagnosed as a synovial sarcoma based on the immunohistochemical testing BUT the pathology lab did not perform a karyotype to ascertain the tumor’s genetics. This sort of cancer has a specific mutation associated with it. For the geeks in the group it’s a reciprocal translocation of SYT on 18p 11.2 with (most often) SSX1 or SSX2 on Xq 11.2. For the nongeeks that means that the SYT (synovial tumor gene – imaginative, huh?) gene on the short arm of chromosome #18 switches out for the SSX1 or SSX2 (synovial sarcoma gene 1 or 2) on the long arm of the "X" chromosome. I’ve asked that the karyotype be performed for a couple of reasons. First, the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology at Walter Reed only sees an average of two cases of synovial sarcoma annually – it’s a rare cancer. Secondly, people make mistakes. Treatment will be predicated on the type of cancer we’re up against and in Sarge’s case the stakes are high. Since synovial sarcomas are aggressive cancers and often recur at the site of the primary tumor a "wide excision" is the front line treatment. Due to location that will mean amputation of his left hand, followed by chemotherapy. The specific mutation is *only* seen in synovial sarcoma, so that would remove the last niggling doubt in my mind. One more reason for wanting the kryotype done is there are prognosticative differences in the cancers correlated with *which* SSX gene is involved. SSX1 corresponds with a deadlier form of the disease, and would militate towards the most aggressive treatment decisions. The first spot this cancer likes to vacation is the lungs. About 25% of the time it does it. Howard’s lungs have checked out clean (yeah!), and we’re awaiting the results of the full body bone scan he had Thursday. At this point we’re waiting for the bonescan results as well as an answer as to whether or not AFIP will perform the karyotype. His surgeon down at Eisenhower is going to relay the request, but cannot promise it’ll be granted. Waiting sucks. In the meantime he feels great. :-) I’ll post more updates when they happen. Take care all, Carmen

Response:

will remain in my thoughts and prayers! — read and post daily, it works! rosie

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello Rudy, You asked about Sarge’s health issues, and since I’ve gotten some other requests I’ll just post the answer here. The tumor in his left palm was officially diagnosed as a synovial sarcoma based on the immunohistochemical testing BUT the pathology lab did not perform a karyotype to ascertain the tumor’s genetics. This sort of cancer has a specific mutation associated with it. For the geeks in the group it’s a reciprocal translocation of SYT on 18p 11.2 with (most often) SSX1 or SSX2 on Xq 11.2. For the nongeeks that means that the SYT (synovial tumor gene – imaginative, huh?) gene on the short arm of chromosome #18 switches out for the SSX1 or SSX2 (synovial sarcoma gene 1 or 2) on the long arm of the "X" chromosome. I’ve asked that the karyotype be performed for a couple of reasons. First, the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology at Walter Reed only sees an average of two cases of synovial sarcoma annually – it’s a rare cancer. Secondly, people make mistakes. Treatment will be predicated on the type of cancer we’re up against and in Sarge’s case the stakes are high. Since synovial sarcomas are aggressive cancers and often recur at the site of the primary tumor a "wide excision" is the front line treatment. Due to location that will mean amputation of his left hand, followed by chemotherapy. The specific mutation is *only* seen in synovial sarcoma, so that would remove the last niggling doubt in my mind. One more reason for wanting the kryotype done is there are prognosticative differences in the cancers correlated with *which* SSX gene is involved. SSX1 corresponds with a deadlier form of the disease, and would militate towards the most aggressive treatment decisions. The first spot this cancer likes to vacation is the lungs. About 25% of the time it does it. Howard’s lungs have checked out clean (yeah!), and we’re awaiting the results of the full body bone scan he had Thursday. At this point we’re waiting for the bonescan results as well as an answer as to whether or not AFIP will perform the karyotype. His surgeon down at Eisenhower is going to relay the request, but cannot promise it’ll be granted. Waiting sucks. In the meantime he feels great. :-) I’ll post more updates when they happen. Take care all, Carmen

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello Rudy, You asked about Sarge’s health issues, and since I’ve gotten some other requests I’ll just post the answer here. The tumor in his left palm was officially diagnosed as a synovial sarcoma based on the immunohistochemical testing BUT the pathology lab did not perform a karyotype to ascertain the tumor’s genetics. This sort of cancer has a specific mutation associated with it. For the geeks in the group it’s a reciprocal translocation of SYT on 18p 11.2 with (most often) SSX1 or SSX2 on Xq 11.2. For the nongeeks that means that the SYT (synovial tumor gene – imaginative, huh?) gene on the short arm of chromosome #18 switches out for the SSX1 or SSX2 (synovial sarcoma gene 1 or 2) on the long arm of the "X" chromosome. I’ve asked that the karyotype be performed for a couple of reasons. First, the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology at Walter Reed only sees an average of two cases of synovial sarcoma annually – it’s a rare cancer. Secondly, people make mistakes. Treatment will be predicated on the type of cancer we’re up against and in Sarge’s case the stakes are high. Since synovial sarcomas are aggressive cancers and often recur at the site of the primary tumor a "wide excision" is the front line treatment. Due to location that will mean amputation of his left hand, followed by chemotherapy. The specific mutation is *only* seen in synovial sarcoma, so that would remove the last niggling doubt in my mind. One more reason for wanting the kryotype done is there are prognosticative differences in the cancers correlated with *which* SSX gene is involved. SSX1 corresponds with a deadlier form of the disease, and would militate towards the most aggressive treatment decisions. The first spot this cancer likes to vacation is the lungs. About 25% of the time it does it. Howard’s lungs have checked out clean (yeah!), and we’re awaiting the results of the full body bone scan he had Thursday. At this point we’re waiting for the bonescan results as well as an answer as to whether or not AFIP will perform the karyotype. His surgeon down at Eisenhower is going to relay the request, but cannot promise it’ll be granted. Waiting sucks. In the meantime he feels great. :-) I’ll post more updates when they happen. Take care all, Carmen

Thanks for the update, Carmen. I’m glad to hear Sarge’s lungs are clear. I hope you get the test done and that it indiactes the better of the two scenarios. — Jean B.

Response:

Waiting sucks.

ayuh. In the meantime he feels great. :-)

i’m very glad to hear it. I’ll post more updates when they happen.

please do, and know that you have my bestest wishes for a positive outcome.

Response:

Carmen, My thoughts are with you and your family. Your positive attitude through all this will certainly make a difference in the outcome. Brenda – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Hello Rudy, You asked about Sarge’s health issues, and since I’ve gotten some other requests I’ll just post the answer here. The tumor in his left palm was officially diagnosed as a synovial sarcoma based on the immunohistochemical testing BUT the pathology lab did not perform a karyotype to ascertain the tumor’s genetics. This sort of cancer has a specific mutation associated with it. For the geeks in the group it’s a reciprocal translocation of SYT on 18p 11.2 with (most often) SSX1 or SSX2 on Xq 11.2. For the nongeeks that means that the SYT (synovial tumor gene – imaginative, huh?) gene on the short arm of chromosome #18 switches out for the SSX1 or SSX2 (synovial sarcoma gene 1 or 2) on the long arm of the "X" chromosome. I’ve asked that the karyotype be performed for a couple of reasons. First, the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology at Walter Reed only sees an average of two cases of synovial sarcoma annually – it’s a rare cancer. Secondly, people make mistakes. Treatment will be predicated on the type of cancer we’re up against and in Sarge’s case the stakes are high. Since synovial sarcomas are aggressive cancers and often recur at the site of the primary tumor a "wide excision" is the front line treatment. Due to location that will mean amputation of his left hand, followed by chemotherapy. The specific mutation is *only* seen in synovial sarcoma, so that would remove the last niggling doubt in my mind. One more reason for wanting the kryotype done is there are prognosticative differences in the cancers correlated with *which* SSX gene is involved. SSX1 corresponds with a deadlier form of the disease, and would militate towards the most aggressive treatment decisions. The first spot this cancer likes to vacation is the lungs. About 25% of the time it does it. Howard’s lungs have checked out clean (yeah!), and we’re awaiting the results of the full body bone scan he had Thursday. At this point we’re waiting for the bonescan results as well as an answer as to whether or not AFIP will perform the karyotype. His surgeon down at Eisenhower is going to relay the request, but cannot promise it’ll be granted. Waiting sucks. In the meantime he feels great. :-) I’ll post more updates when they happen. Take care all, Carmen