#and i have a very poor prognosis with the state of my lungs and liver

[not-poignant]

It's that time of year again! Hammered out a modest (for me) word count of 472k over the year, with December's reflecting my overall burnout. Finished Falling Falling Stars, started another story to get addicted to (Underline the Black and friends), and overall it's been a great year for emotionally authentic writing! (My yearly wordcount does not include: worldbuilding, outlining, planning, multiple drafts (only the first draft of a chapter is included), or half-chapters since I *only* count completed chapters. It's a bit unconventional, but having a monthly wordcount where I only count completed chapters has been working for me for years now!)

This has been the first year in a little while that I haven't hit 500k, which I think reflects both a desire to spend more time relaxing and resting between writing, but also being absolutely smashed with a lot of new medical diagnoses and appointments, and being often too burnt out to write at all.

Next year doesn't look much better on the medical front, and may indeed be a lot worse. Being diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), T2 Diabetes (50% of the people with my permacancer get T2 diabetes which only goes into remission upon removal of the tumours, but my tumours are inoperable, so my T2D can't go into remission) and possibly Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) on top of all my other disorders each came as huge blows. One of the saddest being learning I may never be able to take ADHD meds again, and having to stop after a very amazing 3 months where I could schedule writing ahead for the first time in my life, and plan a holiday for December.

There will be no more Schedules going forward, that was sadly a 'medicated ADHD' blessing, and it's gone now. :(

So going forward into 2023 I don't know what writing I will be doing or what I will achieve. I don't know if I can continue writing the way I have been, and if I get an official confirmation on the PAH (so far it's only CT confirmed), and only have around 5~ years left to live, my writing future could look very different indeed.

But it's business as usual in the meantime.

This year I am the most broke I have ever been on the medical front (I have no health insurance, and only some of our healthcare is free, which doesn't include psychiatry, or the calibre of therapy I need, and now that I need to see a private pulmonologist and possibly engage in lung rehabilitation, things might get pretty awful pretty fast). I have never been more grateful to all the folks who have supported or who are still supporting on Patreon or who have given to Ko-Fi.

I love everyone who is in this little community, but for the ones who kept me financially afloat so I didn't drown, thank you.

[bloojayoolie]

Being Alone, Andrew Bogut, and Apparently: Silly, Sweet SMOKEY A SUPER SWEET CHUNKY HIPPO FRIENDLY, OUTGOING,& VERY SPECIAL HE LOVES OTHER DOGS TOO! 券 ID 51868, 1 YR. OLD.59 LBS. OF JOY WAITING FOR HIS PERFECT FAMILY AT THE BROOKLYN ACC TO BE KILLED – 3/7/2019 <3 Prepare to lose your heart to sweet, lowrider hippo, SMOKEY! Ok, let’s preface this little lead in story by stating unequivocally that photos just DON’T do SMOKEY justice. You HAVE to watch his videos below with his friends in playgroup to truly appreciate what a living, breathing work of art he truly is. Love at first sight, we guarantee it. And you will be laughing and smiling simultaneously as you watch him bounce around, putting up with every sort of nonsense from his pushy friends. He’s a darling chunky, hippo with a pig tail that never stops twirling. He adores people, loves attention, and he’s silly and goofy and super sweet. Honestly, we just can’t get enough of him. You’d be the center of attention with Smokey by your side, that much is certain. If you are looking for a playful, happy go lucky sidekick who has a sterling resume of skills, look no further. Smokey would be perfect in an experienced home (no children under Age 13). If you can give our sweet boy a soft place to land, hurry and PM our page or email us at MustLoveDogsNYC@gmail.com to foster or adopting him now. With my friend Zena in playgroup! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XmQ6wHKAg4 With my friend Spock in playgroup! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BupPj-GmWsA SMOKEY, ID# 51868, 1 Yr. Old, 59 lbs, Neutered male Brooklyn ACC, Large Mixed Breed, Gray / White Owner Surender Reason: Return, 2/19/2019 Shelter Assessment Rating: New Hope Rescue Only Medical Behavior Rating: 1. Green AT RISK MEMO: We feel Smokey would be best set up to succeed if placed with an experienced rescue partner who can reassess behavior once he has acclimated and decompressed in a stable home environment. Smokey was diagnosed with CIRDC and will have to be kept away from other dogs for 14 days as this is a contagious disease. INTAKE NOTES – DATE OF INTAKE, 2/19/2019: Smokey had a high energy level during intake but was very friendly and outgoing. He became over around quickly but was easily redirected. OWNER SURRENDER NOTES – BASIC INFORMATION: Smokey is a 1 year old, medium mixed breed male who was neutered prior to coming into the shelter. He has no known health issues or injuries and has not seen a vet recently. Smokey was in his previous home for about two weeks and was surrendered due to him not being a good match in the home. Smokey lived with 2 adults and 2 children during his 2 weeks. Smokey is friendly and outgoing when meeting new people. Smokey lived with a 5 and a 13 year old in the home, he was playful and energetic around them. Smokey has some resource guarding behavior with food so he should be housed in a home with older children. (Note: When the smaller child in the home approached Smokey while he was eating Smokey turned and bit him.) Smokey has passed dogs when on a walk and was relaxed and curious when passing them. Smokey has not spent time around cats before. Smokey is not bothered by having his toys touched but has displayed resource guarding around food. Smokey has bitten one family member in the past. He is housetrained and has a very high energy level. He has never had a medical issue. Other Notes: Smokey allowed his owner to bathe him and enjoyed being brushed. Smokey's owner had not trimmed his nails in the past, and he is trained not to go on the couch. Smokey does not alert bark when guests enter the home. For a New Family to Know: Smokey is described as being friendly, affectionate and playful. He has been an indoor dog, likes to play with all kinds of toys, especially toy balls, eats wet and dry food and sleeps anywhere in the home. Smokey is well behaved when left alone in the house, has not been crate trained and walks both on and off leash at night when there is no one else around. He will wander to go to the bathroom but comes right back when done. SHELTER ASSESSMENT SUMMARIES – Date of assessment: 1/7/2019 LEASH WALKING Strength and pulling: none Reactivity to humans: none Reactivity to other dogs: none Reactivity other: none Leash walking comments: Smokey walks nicely on leash, walked calmly through a group of children. SOCIABILITY Loose in room: Moderately social Call over: Approaches with coaxing Sociability comments: Sniffed the room at first then approached the assessor with soft body. HANDLING Soft handling: Seeks contact Exuberant handling: Seeks contact Handling comments: Social, leaning into pets AROUSAL Jog: Engages in play with handler, soft Tug: Tugs, drops toy. Comments: Follows, becomes a bit playful with toy. RAISED VOICE Approaches (loose) Comments: None TOY No response Comments: None PLAYGROUP NOTES – DOG TO DOG SUMMARIES: 1/5: When introduced off leash to male and female dogs, Smokey engages in bouncy play. INTAKE BEHAVIOR - Date of intake:: 2/19/2019 Summary:: Friendly, outgoing, active MEDICAL BEHAVIOR - Date of initial:: 2/19/2019 Summary:: Social, loose bodied, a bit mouthy though allowed all handling ENERGY LEVEL:: Smokey is reported to have a high energy level in the care center in line with what is reported in his previous home environment. We recommend daily mental and physical stimulation as a way to direct his energy and enthusiasm. BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only Behavior Asilomar: TM - Treatable-Manageable Recommendations:: No children (under 13),Place with a New Hope partner Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to Smokey's previous bite to a child in his former home, we feel he may be best set up to succeed in an experienced adult only home environment at this time. Place with a New Hope partner: Because of Smokey's previous bite incident, we feel he would be best set up to succeed if placed with an experienced rescue partner who can reassess behavior once he has acclimated and decompressed in a stable home environment. We recommend only utilizing force-free, reward based training when introducing or exposing Smokey to new and unfamiliar situations. Potential challenges: : Bite history (human),Resource guarding,Basic manners/poor impulse control,Social hyperarousal,Mouthiness/poor bite inhibition Potential challenges comments:: Smokey was reported to have a bitten a child when approached while eating. Please see handout on resource guarding Smokey has been observed to jump up high and mouth handlers, please see handouts on Mouthiness, Social hyperarousal and Basic manners. MEDICAL EXAM NOTES 01/05/2019 [DVM Intake] DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 1yr Microchip noted on Intake? N Microchip Number (If Applicable): History: stray- found tied to pole outside Subjective: BAR Observed Behavior - attention seeking, likes pets and treats, compliant for exam Evidence of Cruelty seen - N Evidence of Trauma seen - N Objective T = DNP P = WNL R = WNL BCS 6/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean and cropped AU, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: clean adult dentition PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, lungs clear, eupnic ABD: Tense but non painful, no masses palpated U/G: Intact male- both testes in scrotum MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat; ears cropped AU CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Rectal: Externally normal Assessment: apparently healthy ~1yr MI dog; cropped ears Prognosis: excellent Plan: ok for surgery and placement SURGERY: Okay for surgery 01/06/2019 Hx: Came into shelter on 1/4; went to foster on 1/5. Foster reports that pt vomited 4x overnight. The vomit contained food, and the last time, there were also spots of blood. He had no appetite overnight, but he did drink a large amount of water. S: Alert, walks well on leash, allows all handling, wags tail continually O: BAR-H, BCS 5/9, MMs pink and moist, CRT <2 sec EENT: No discharge OU, AU, nose. Scant tartar. PLNs: Not significantly enlarged. H/L: NSR, NMA. Eupnic, quiet lung sounds. No coughing or sneezing. Abd: Soft, no pain on palpation, no masses palpated, not distended M/S/I: Amb x4. No skin lesions noted. UG: Male intact, testicles soft and symmetrical Neuro: Alert and appropriate, no sign neurological deficiencies A: Hx vomiting - R/O stress vs. diet change vs. vaccine reaction vs. GI foreign body vs. other cause P: CBC/chemistry 1088 01/06/2019 CBC: Hct: 54.5% WBC 21 k/ul . Neuts 18 k/ul Plt 405 k/ul Chemistry: Glucose 121 mg/dl BUN 19 mg/dl, creat 1.2 mg/dl Cl slightly low dl at 108 (ref 109-122 mmol/l) Unremarkable proteins, liver values ASSESSMENT: 1. Largely unremarkable bloodwork. Slight stress leukogram. Normal liver and kidney values. No sign of underlying disease. No further vomiting noted today. PLAN: 1. Feed small amount this evening; if pt holds that down, okay to give another small meal a few hours later. 2. Rx sucralfate 1 gm PO BID - this will protect the lining of Smokey's esophagus and stomach from further vomit. If pt doesn't vomit any more, then no need to give. If pt does continue vomiting, then give sucralfate twice daily x5 days. You will need to dissolve the tablet in water and then administer orally with a syringe - you can try adding some sugar to the solution make it more of a positive experience. 1088 01/06/2019 Pt was given some more food today and he vomited again. Start Sucralfate, famotidine, Proviable. Consider abd rads if vomiting continues. 1088 01/08/2019 S: Bright, walks around kennel and room O: Today, pt had multiple episodes of retching or coughing/hacking with production of foam/food afterwards. Pt was happy to eat the vomitus afterwards. This occurred several times while pt was chewing a rawhide, and also several times while pt was wandering around inside a room, with no food. A: Observed vomiting - R/O secondary to tracheal irritation from leash vs. early CIRDC vs. tracheal stricture/narrowing vs. other congenital disease P: Neck and abd rads tomorrow at time of neuter (+/- neuter itself) 1088 01/08/2019 Was this dog a cryptorchid? No, 2 testicles palpated If so describe - Pre scrotal Incision Spermatic Cord Ligation with: 0 monocryl with 2 Miller's knots Sub Q closure: 0 Monocryl with in a subcutaneous to intradermal closure pattern Skin closure? Yes A linear green tattoo was placed parallel to the incision site 1619 01/08/2019 Pre-op exam S: Alert, friendly, allows all handling O: BAR-H, MMs pink and moist, CRT <2 sec EENT: No discharge OU, AU, nose. PLNs: Not significantly enlarged. H/L: NSR, NMA. Eupnic, quiet lung sounds. Abd: Soft, no pain on palpation, no masses palpated, not distended M/S/I: Amb x4. No skin lesions noted. UG: Male intact, testicles soft and symmetrical Neuro: Alert and appropriate, no sign neurological deficiencies A: Hx vomiting - R/O brachycephalic syndrome vs. other cause Short-term prognosis: Good-fair P: Neck, chest and abd rads today +/- neuter 1088 01/08/2019 Neck, thoracic and abd rads, 2 views each The trachea gets narrower just inside the thoracic inlet. No evidence of redundant tracheal membrane or other stricture. Unable to identify the esophagus. The lungs and heart are unremarkable. The stomach and small intestines are gas-filled. The colon contains feces. The liver and spleen are unremarkable. The pelvis is heavily rotated due to pt's musculature. ASSESSMENT: -Hypoplastic trachea -Hypoplastic trachea is a component of brachycephalic syndrome and suggests the presence of other components such as an elongated soft palate. This may be causing pt's retching/vomiting after eating. Alternatively there may be an esophageal disease that we cannot see on rads, such as esophageal stricture vs. motility disorder vs. other. -No airway disease is noted that would interfere with pt's neuter today 1088 01/09/2019 Owner was here to pick Smokey up after surgery around 7pm but he was very groggy and he did not want to walk. Vitals all wnl HR=108 bpm RR=eup MM= pink & moist, CRT <2s Pre-scrotal incision CDI with no active bleeding or discharge Gave him Antisedan 0.21 mL IM. 02/19/2019 DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 1-2yrs Microchip noted on Intake? yes Microchip Number (If Applicable): 981020025133862 History: Adoption return >30d Subjective: Dog is BARH Observed Behavior - immediately social - jumps up to greet, body loose, wagging tail, little restraint needed for exam, gets mouthy when overstimulated, but immediately releases and calms down when corrected using a verbal 'no' Evidence of Cruelty seen - no Evidence of Trauma seen - no Objective T = NA P = wnl R = pant BCS 5/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: Healthy adult dentition PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupnic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: Male neutered MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Rectal: NE Assessment: Apparently healthy Prognosis: Good-Excellent Plan: On DOH hold SURGERY: Already neutered 2/03/2019 SO: BAR, good appetite, unremarkable elimination Multiple sneezes heard during assessment along with mild serous nasal discharge present Remainder of visual exam unremarkable MSI visually unremarkable A: CIRDC P: Proviable 1 cap PO 5 days Enrofloxacin 10mg/kg PO SID for 14 days Cerenia 2mg/kg PO SID for 3 days Move to ISO 1619 *** TO FOSTER OR ADOPT *** SMOKEY IS NOW RATED NEW HOPE RESCUE ONLY. You must fill out applications with New Hope Rescues to foster or adopt him. He cannot be reserved online at the ACC ARL, nor can he be direct adopted at the shelter. PLEASE HURRY AND MESSAGE OUR PAGE FOR ASSISTANCE! HOW TO RESERVE A “TO BE KILLED” DOG ONLINE (only for those who can get to the shelter IN PERSON to complete the adoption process, and only for the dogs on the list NOT marked New Hope Rescue Only). Follow our Step by Step directions below! *PLEASE NOTE – YOU MUST USE A PC OR TABLET – PHONE RESERVES WILL NOT WORK! ** STEP 1: CLICK ON THIS RESERVE LINK: https://newhope.shelterbuddy.com/Animal/List Step 2: Go to the red menu button on the top right corner, click register and fill in your info. Step 3: Go to your email and verify account \ Step 4: Go back to the website, click the menu button and view available dogs Step 5: Scroll to the animal you are interested and click reserve STEP 6 ( MOST IMPORTANT STEP ): GO TO THE MENU AGAIN AND VIEW YOUR CART. THE ANIMAL SHOULD NOW BE IN YOUR CART! Step 7: Fill in your credit card info and complete transaction HOW TO FOSTER OR ADOPT IF YOU *CANNOT* GET TO THE SHELTER IN PERSON, OR IF THE DOG IS NEW HOPE RESCUE ONLY! You must live within 3 – 4 hours of NY, NJ, PA, CT, RI, DE, MD, MA, NH, VT, ME or Norther VA. Please PM our page for assistance. You will need to fill out applications with a New Hope Rescue Partner to foster or adopt a dog on the To Be Killed list, including those labelled Rescue Only. Hurry please, time is short, and the Rescues need time to process the applications. Shelter contact information Phone number (212) 788-4000 Email adoption@nycacc.org Shelter Addresses: Brooklyn Shelter: 2336 Linden Boulevard Brooklyn, NY 11208 Manhattan Shelter: 326 East 110 St. New York, NY 10029 Staten Island Shelter: 3139 Veterans Road West Staten Island, NY 10309 *** NEW NYC ACC RATING SYSTEM *** Level 1 Dogs with Level 1 determinations are suitable for the majority of homes. These dogs are not displaying concerning behaviors in shelter, and the owner surrender profile (where available) is positive. Some dogs with Level 1 determinations may still have potential challenges, but these are challenges that the behavior team believe can be handled by the majority of adopters. The potential challenges could include no young children, prefers to be the only dog, no dog parks, no cats, kennel presence, basic manners, low level fear and mild anxiety. Level 2 Dogs with Level 2 determinations will be suitable for adopters with some previous dog experience. They will have displayed behavior in the shelter (or have owner reported behavior) that requires some training, or is simply not suitable for an adopter with minimal experience. Dogs with a Level 2 determination may have multiple potential challenges and these may be presenting at differing levels of intensity, so careful consideration of the behavior notes will be required for counselling. Potential challenges at Level 2 include no young children, single pet home, resource guarding, on-leash reactivity, mouthiness, fear with potential for escalation, impulse control/arousal, anxiety and separation anxiety. Level 3 Dogs with Level 3 determinations will need to go to homes with experienced adopters, and the ACC strongly suggest that the adopter have prior experience with the challenges described and/or an understanding of the challenge and how to manage it safely in a home environment. In many cases, a trainer will be needed to manage and work on the behaviors safely in a home environment. It is likely that every dog with a Level 3 determination will have a behavior modification or training plan available to them from the behavior department that will go home with the adopters and be made available to the New Hope Partners for their fosters and adopters. Some of the challenges seen at Level 3 are also seen at Level 1 and Level 2, but when seen alongside a Level 3 determination can be assumed to be more severe. The potential challenges for Level 3 determinations include adult only home (no children under the age of 13), single pet home, resource guarding, on-leash reactivity with potential for redirection, mouthiness with pressure, potential escalation to threatening behavior, impulse control, arousal, anxiety, separation anxiety, bite history (human), bite history (dog) and bite history (other). New Hope Rescue Only Dog is not publicly adoptable. Prospective fosters or adopters need to fill out applications with New Hope Partner Rescues to save this dog.

[what-s-up-friends-us]

Discover the advances that today make it possible to detect Lyme disease, slow the progression of Parkinson's disease, anticipate heart attacks and much more. 1. Help for paralysis Scientists at the Center for Injury Research in Kentucky, in the United States, have developed a novel technology that allows patients with paralysis to walk again. According to Dr. Susan Harkema, who is in charge of the investigation, thousands of motor neurons usually die in the place affected by a spinal cord injury. But "below the affected region, there are millions of healthy cells that have the ability to relearn, make decisions and integrate new brain connections." After implanting electrical stimulators in the spinal cord, experts were surprised to notice that a patient with complete paralysis had moved his toes again. They decided to continue the study with that patient and three more with total paralysis: first, they were taught to stand up and then to take steps. Today two walk with the help of a walker. 2.  Heart alarm The atheroma plaque that clogs the arteries and can be identified by a CT scan is responsible for almost all myocardial infarctions. And if the arteries prone to accumulate this plaque could be identified in advance? A new CT team developed in Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States analyze signs of inflammation in the arteries to predict five years in advance or more, which vessels are at risk of obstruction, in order to modify the lifestyle. 3. Against antibiotic-resistant bacteria Bacteria that have developed resistance to antibiotics due to excessive use could cause 700,000 deaths in Europe per year. Recently it was found that the joint use of antibiotics and probiotics ("good bacteria", such as those that convert milk into yogurt) allows the destruction of two strains of resistant bacteria known to infect wounds. Although they could not kill these super germs separately, both compounds "managed to eradicate the bacteria completely," said Dr. Ana Jaklenec, a researcher at MIT in Massachusetts. 4. Diagnosis of Lyme disease Diagnosing borreliosis, or Lyme disease increases the chances of patients recovering and reduces the risk of long-term effects, such as arthritis. But its symptoms are often confused with those of other diseases and laboratory results can take up to three weeks. Today, a new analysis that identifies the presence of bacterial DNA in a blood sample, allows to detect the evil without delay. This progress could transform the clinical outcome of those infected by ticks (whose bite transmits it), according to Dr. Steven Schutzer, a researcher at Rutgers University in New Jersey, author of a study in this regard. 5. Cure for hereditary tremor At 78, retired American professor Julia Czyz loved painting and crafts. But in 2006 he began to suffer involuntary movements in his right hand and shortly after he was diagnosed with hereditary tremor. It is the most frequent dyskinesia, which causes uncontrollable shaking. Soon it was impossible for him to write his name. In June 2008, thanks to a new procedure with focused ultrasound waves, Julia was reborn. The doctors put on his head a device similar to a helmet with wings, put it inside an MRI and directed ultrasound to the neurons responsible for the tremors without injuring other brain tissue. To make sure, the doctors removed Julia from the MRI team several times and asked her to hold a bottle of water. The tremors were reduced in each of these stages until they finally disappeared. "Checking that my hand had stopped shaking was magical," he recalls. 6. Parkinson's brake In recent years, the scientific community has begun to notice a side effect of calcium antagonists, used to normalize stress. During a large-scale study, the number of people who developed Parkinson's was 29 percent lower than expected. In addition, the drug delayed the progression of the disease even in previously diagnosed patients. The researchers conduct a clinical trial with the most promising drug in this group, isradipine. If it is confirmed that it delays functional impairment, "the therapeutic approach to Parkinson's will change completely," says Dr. Tanya Simuni, director of the Center for Specialized Parkinson's Disease and Dyskinesias at Northwestern Medicine Hospital. 7. Against depression without medication "I feel like I've been in a dark tunnel for most of my life," Belgian Daniele Brege explains at 69. Daniele suffers from bipolar disorder and has struggled with persistent depression. Although medications helped her support her existence, they didn't cheer him up. In 2018, his psychiatrist suggested a transcranial stimulation treatment with direct current, which consists of placing electrodes on the scalp for 20 minutes to direct low voltage discharges to the brain area related to depression symptoms. Daniele says the treatment has been "miraculous." “I was again the person I was before I got sick.” Now, she and her psychiatrist are considering reducing the dose of antidepressants. 8. Fish oil works Many people consume fish oil to reduce the risk of heart disease. But it works? A recent study says that people with high concentrations of triglycerides who took 4,000 mg a day of Vascepa, a supplement with purified fish oil, had a 25 percent lower risk of having a myocardial infarction or stroke than treated participants with placebo. Vascepa contains 4,000 mg of icosapentaenoic acid, one of two beneficial omega 3 acids. 9.  Radiation therapy that prolongs life  Cancer mortality is not always attributable to the initial tumor but to its spread to other parts of the body. However, in a couple of recent trials, the administration of high doses of radiotherapy in new tumors allowed to prolong life. During a study in patients with lung, colon or breast cancer that had spread, one group of participants received radiotherapy and the other a placebo. Five years later, 50 percent of the members of the first group were still alive while only 25 percent of the second. According to the results of a second Swiss-American study with men with prostate cancer, radiotherapy increased the survival of patients presenting with metastases only in lymph nodes or nearby bones. 10. Cancer diagnosis in ten minutes Australian researchers have developed a test to detect cancer in ten minutes with 90 percent accuracy. Even notes the study published in 2018 in Nature Communications, "it can be detected with the naked eye based on a color change." The study consists of extracting a DNA sample from the blood plasma and adding a mixture of water and gold nanoparticles. If a pink color appears, there is cancer; the blue color means that the cells are healthy. 11. Sclerosis under control In multiple sclerosis (MS), the immune system that normally protects us from external threats is confused and attacks the central nervous system. Until recently, the prognosis of this disease used to be not very promising. But today an experimental treatment called stem cell transplant helps fight the disease and reverse its effects. The British Roy Palmer is 50 years old. He was diagnosed with sclerosis in 2003 and his illness progressed so aggressively that in 2008 he ended up in a wheelchair. In 2016, he heard about treatment with progenitor stem cells and requested it. But he risked destroying his immune system. Despite everything, he decided to try it, and in October 2017 he started the treatment. First, doctors extracted progenitor cells from the patient's body. He was then given chemotherapy to end his poor immune system. The next step was to reintroduce the previously extracted progenitor cells. If all went well, the cells would restart the immune system and shape it more or less out of nothing. At Christmas 2017, Roy Palmer had walked again with the help of a walker. He kept improving, and today he even dances. "It's amazing to get in my car normally," he explains. "The best of all is to be able to walk with my wife and children." 12. Aspirin against cancer Acclaimed for over 100 years for its properties, aspirin not only calms pain and reduces the risk of developing heart disease and cancer of the pancreas or colon. In addition, daily doses of aspirin reduce the likelihood of liver cancer by 49 percent, according to a study published in JAMA Oncology in 2018. These benefits were seen in people who took at least 487.5 mg a week at over 5 years. According to another study, the use of low-dose aspirin reduces the risk of ovarian cancer. 13. Remove polyps easily With a colonoscopy, small polyps can be removed from the intestine, but larger ones usually require surgery. With the Flex Robotic System device, the removal of some large polyps and even precancerous lesions can be performed with a minimally invasive procedure. "Our robot is distinguished by being flexible, as the colonoscope," says Kevin Fitzpatrick of Medrobotics, the US manufacturer. The device is equipped with surgical instruments and is flexible so that it can follow the curved trajectory of the colon and allows polyps to be removed from areas that could only be accessed with open surgery. 14. Vaccine for coeliacs For a year, scientists from Australia, New Zealand, and the United States have conducted phase II studies to test the efficacy of Nexvax2, a new vaccine that contains small amounts of gluten protein, a compound known to cause the inflammatory reaction of the celiac disease As the dose of the vaccine increases gradually over time, it is expected that patients with this disease acquire a level of tolerance that allows them to eat without much trouble the foods they have missed so much. 15. Detection of ovarian cancer As ovarian cancer is usually diagnosed in advanced stages, only 30 to 50 percent of women survive more than five years. But Australian researchers have identified a substance in the blood of 90 percent of patients with early ovarian cancer and 100 percent of those with advanced cancer (not detected in healthy women). A blood test to identify this compound may be more likely to survive. 16. Peanut Allergy Peanuts can cause one of the most lethal food reactions. That is why several researchers tried to desensitize a group of patients with this problem. They were given a drug with small amounts of peanut protein and gradually increased the dose. The allergic response was less intense than that of the participants treated with placebos. A minimal variation in the magnitude of the allergic reaction could make the difference between life and death. Click here for more tips

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