#leukemia treatment cost

[indianmedguru]

Leukemia treatment in India combines advanced medical technology with cost-effective care, making it a sought-after destination for leukemia patients worldwide.

[drkarunakumar]

Nutrition Guide for Chemotherapy Patients

Understanding the Importance of Nutrition During Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy can significantly strain the body, leading to side effects like fatigue, nausea, and a weakened immune system. Proper nutrition is essential for replenishing energy, maintaining weight, and supporting recovery. A well-balanced diet can help manage these side effects and boost the immune system.

Key Foods for Chemo Patients

1. Hydration

Staying hydrated is crucial. Fluids help counteract nausea and prevent dehydration, which can worsen fatigue. Good hydration options include:

Water: Essential for overall health.

Herbal teas (like ginger or peppermint): Can soothe the stomach.

Warm soups and broths: Easy to digest and hydrating.

Coconut water: Offers natural electrolytes.

2. Proteins

Protein is vital for repairing body tissues. Good sources include:

Lean meats (chicken, turkey) and fatty fish (like salmon) for high-quality protein and omega-3s.

Plant-based options like lentils, beans, tofu, and tempeh.

Greek yogurt: Contains protein and probiotics, aiding digestion.

Eggs: Nutrient-rich and versatile.

3. Whole Grains

Whole grains provide sustained energy, which is essential for combating fatigue. Consider:

Oats: Rich in fiber and gentle on the stomach.

Whole grain bread and pasta: Offer fiber and essential nutrients.

Quinoa and brown rice: Easy to digest and provide slow-releasing energy.

4. Fruits and Vegetables

Packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, these foods boost immunity and aid recovery. Key choices include:

Berries (blueberries, strawberries): High in antioxidants and gentle on digestion.

Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower): May help detoxify and fight cancer.

Carrots and sweet potatoes: Rich in beta-carotene and easy to prepare.

Leafy greens (spinach, kale): Loaded with essential vitamins.

Bananas: Gentle on the stomach and good for replenishing lost electrolytes.

5. Healthy Fats

Healthy fats support brain function and reduce inflammation. Include:

Nuts and seeds (almonds, chia seeds): High in healthy fats and protein.

Avocados: Provide creamy texture and healthy fats.

Extra virgin olive oil: Rich in antioxidants.

Fatty fish: Good sources of omega-3s.

Foods to Avoid

Certain foods can exacerbate side effects and should be limited:

Raw foods (sushi, undercooked meats): Increase infection risk due to weakened immunity.

Alcohol: Can further suppress the immune system.

Spicy and fried foods: May cause nausea and discomfort.

High-sugar foods: Can lead to energy spikes and crashes.

Final Thoughts

Eating well during chemotherapy is about making informed choices. Aiming for five or six small meals a day, incorporating proteins, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats, can help maintain energy and promote healing. Prioritizing hydration and avoiding harmful foods can significantly improve the experience of chemotherapy, helping patients feel stronger and recover more quickly.

If you or your loved one is undergoing chemotherapy, and want some guides on how to manage the side effects of it, visit this post: https://www.drkarunhematology.com/blog/side-effects-of-chemotherapy-what-you-need-to-know/

To read the original version of this article, you can visit: https://www.drkarunhematology.com/blog/best-healthy-foods-for-chemo-patients/

[lisaoshiola]

We uncover surprising and little-known facts about Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, helping you understand how it can impact your health and what steps you can take to manage it.

[detri-per-vita]

hey! listen! omori fans or otherwise, don’t scroll past without reading!

if you have the time or resources, i ask you to consider helping our friend mustafa balata from gázá.

mustafa comes from a family of 10 who are all stuck within gázá and are in desperate need of help. mustafa and his 10 family members once lived in a safe, warm house, but as of the óct 7th attacks, their only living situation has been compromised and they have been searching for a new home. like many other páléstínian families, they have been left with the only option to evacuate from gázá go through the ráfáh crossing.

however, many obstacles stand in their way from evacuating. mustafa’s sister, who is six months pregnant as of january 2024, is fearful of not being able to give birth due to the conditions they are currently living through. almost all hospitals are being overwhelmed with several other people in need, and it is currently a horrifying situation for all involved. along with this, a child in the family needs leukimia treatment, but cannot afford to obtain so in the environment they are in.

the fundraiser needs €60,000 to be fufilled to its minimum and is currently more than halfway there.. in the words of fundraiser organizer maha balata,

“However, the financial burden of such a move is staggering, and it's with humility and urgency that I reach out for your support to make this evac//uation a reality. The permit fee to cross Ra//fah is 5000 euros per person, and with ten family members, the total cost is overwhelming. On top of that, we need 8,000 euros to cover immediate living expenses, medical treatment, and care, especially for my sister's delicate health condition. Adding to our challenges, there's a child in the family who recently completed leukemia treatment before the war and needs monthly medical examinations and analyses during this recovery period. Lastly, we require approximately 1,995 euros to cover the GoFu//ndMe transaction fees (2.9% + $0.30 per transaction).”

if you have anything you can give, i beg of you to consider helping a family like this one. even small donations like 5$ or 10$ dónations absolutely matter and can help in large ways. if you cannot, i ask that you bóóst this post as much as you can. reblogging, sharing, commenting, everything helps.

thank you.

edit: i’m fucking stupid and forgot to link the gf//m in the first place REBLOG THIS VERSION

[khizuo]

Video by 86.the.empire

Erika is a Black single mother of two young children.

She recently found stable housing after experiencing homelessness at the beginning of the pandemic. Erika and her daughter have several chronic health issues that require frequent trips to the doctor and the hospital, insurance doesn't cover all the amount of those appointments.

On top of that, her daughter Amonie was recently diagnosed with leukemia, and again insurance doesn't cover all of her treatments and Erika doesn't have enough to pay for them. Amonie recently started chemo and also has meds she needs to balance this treatment. Her chemo appointments are weekly so the cost adds up fast.

Can you help Erika afford the treatments her daughter needs to fight her leukemia?

CashApp : $Amariamother

ko-fi.com/fundsforerikasaunders

Erika’s Instagram: @mommaerika12

As if 11/17/2024, they are at $233 left for chemo meds! Anything helps!

Personally, I first met Erika after I got into mutual aid on instagram, I got into a group chat of people fundraising for her since May of 2023. She has been forced into raising funds to survive for a few years now, unfortunately, however I can also see how her livelihood has improved with mutual aid.

I am humbly asking for your support as well, as these support can’t be done by anyone but other people. Please reblog and send what you can!

[thevexinator]

Urgent post!

This Zalka Yusuf's paypal, she's a Palestinian woman with leukemia who's only $20 short for her treatment costs in Egypt. The link to her PayPal is in this post. She's close to her goal, and I want to help her reach her goal. I pinned my post, where I answered her submission in my askbox. Tag your mutuals, spread the post around, free Palestine.

[noisystudentpatrol]

Don’t scroll please

My name is Tarek abou nahl from Gaza

https://gofund.me/4da8eaa1

Cancer Patient Tarek Abu Al-Abed in Gaza Needs Your Help to Survive ..

At just 50 years old, Abu Al-Abed from Gaza is facing a battle far more difficult than anything he could have imagined. He is suffering from a rare and aggressive form of leukemia, which has spread to his skin, leaving him in excruciating pain. To make matters worse, there is no treatment available where he lives, and even basic medical care is out of reach due to the harsh conditions in Gaza.

He was living in his safe house with his family, but that was before the war. Before this house was burned and bombed by the Israeli occupation.

He has six children who need care, support, education and a decent life away from these wars. He is now suffering and in pain from leukemia and there is no medicine that can help him relieve this terrible pain that he is feeling. Now he and his family are in tents. There is no food or drink and the heavy rain and cold are over their heads.

He came to get out of Gaza with the urgent medical transfers six months ago and until now nothing has been done to save him from the cancer that is eating away at his body in the shelter , in the war, in the bitter cold.

I hope you save Tarek before it's too late, he and his children, because he needs urgent treatment.

We are asking for your help not only to provide Abu Al-Abed tarek and his family with the basic necessities of life—food, shelter—but also to raise funds for his medical treatment and travel costs. Your donation can give this family a fighting chance and help save Abu Al-Abed's tarek life.

Please consider donating to help Abu Al-Abed,tarek and his family

@aleciosun

@palestinegenocide @sar-soor @akajustmerry @annoyingloudmicrowavecultist @feluka

@queerstudiesnatural @northgazaupdates2

@skatezophrenic @awetistic-things @camgirlpanopticon @baby-girl-aaron-dessner

@nabulsi27 @junglejim4322

@heritageposts @chososhairbuns @palistani @illuminated-runas @imjustheretotrytohelp

→

[aliensareradstuff]

URGENT fundraising: 17 year old in my village needs leukemia treatment, please help/reblog

Hi all! I'm asking you to take a moment to please help my village. In all my 10 years of being on Tumblr, this is the first time I'm making a post myself. I'm doing this out of desperation, so please read if you get a chance. I'm an Anthropology student from Kerala (South India) currently working in in Kerala for a few years to do ethnographic study on agrarian life, and during my fieldwork I met 17 year old Gokul and his widowed mother in my village. Gokul has Refractory Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and his mother earns around $3 a day (£2.7) in Indian rupees. He is suddenly in CRITICAL condition and there's no way his family can afford the cost of his treatment. DOCUMENT EVIDENCE GDRIVE LINK ... As a student, I'm doing as much as I can but it's not enoguh. And we are a small village and we can't do much. I've started a fundraiser so that we can go beyond this village make a difference to save this child's life. I adore Gokul and I know how much he's struggling while prepping for his high school exams. He has hopes that he will live a long life, but we can't make this happen it without your help. PLEASE Tumblr, I need your help in spreading this word. If you cannot donate, AT LEAST share the word! PLEASE THE PRICE YOU PAY FOR ONE CUP OF COFFEE IS ENOUGH TO SAVE THIS CHILD FROM THE MOUTH OF DEATH

EVEN 1 CENT COUNTS. ALL FUNDS ARE RECEIVED IN INR, SO ANY AMOUNT HELPS, PLEASE

You can DM me for any alternative payment methods or questions. I will give you regular updates. My email is dvm267@nyu.edu, you can find me on LinkedIn here. Please help, Gokul is the light and love of our village

[mitigatedchaos]

It's no longer just using selective IVF to avoid Huntington's disease from the beginning, monogenic genetic engineering is arriving, and though treatment costs are legitimately in the $1M+ range, one treatment reported 90% remission in a specific variety of childhood leukemia.

This hasn't hit the level of mainstream background knowledge yet.

It probably will, gradually, over the next five years. Even though I don't think the price will come down much, the playing field will shift.

And then... does society demand that huge investment flow into biotechnology? I'm not sure.

[jcsmicasereports]

Emerging infectious agents: an unusual case of Metapneumovirus pneumonia in an adult patient by Graziana Francesca Greco in Journal of Clinical Case Reports Medical Images and Health Sciences

Abstract

Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV), a relatively new virus, is a common cause of acute respiratory infection, especially common in the pediatric population. Despite hMPV infection in adults is possible, this rarely results in serious clinical manifestation. Here, we describe a hypoxemic respiratory failure related to pneumonia in an adult patient in whom hMPV was detected in respiratory samples.

Keywords

Human Metapneumovirus; SARS-CoV-2; Covid-19.

CASE HISTORY

A 61-yr-old caucasian man presented to the Emergency Department (ASST Mantua Hospital, Mantua, Italy) with fever up to 39°C, poorly responsive to antipyretics, nocturnal dyspnea and productive cough with mucus-purulent sputum for three days. On physical examination he appeared in good general condition, collaborating and oriented. The following parameters were recorded: blood pressure 140/90mmHg, heart rate of 100 beats min-1; respiratory rate of 23 breaths min-1; and body temperature of 38.4°C. His arterial oxygen saturation on room air was 87%. Chest examination revealed abnormal breath sounds with rhonchi and fine crackles in the middle lobe and inferior lobes bilaterally, no wheezes were heard. Laboratory findings revealed lymphocytosis (81000 x 103/µl), low platelet count (113000 x 106/µl) and an increase in alanine transaminase value (59 U/L), total bilirubin value (1.13 mg/dL) and CPR value (112 mg/L). Room air arterial blood gas analysis showed a normocapnic hypoxemia: pH 7.43, carbon dioxide tension 40.5 mmHg, oxygen tension 60.4 mmHg, and HCO3 24 mmol L-1. The  SARS-CoV-2 antigen detection test on nasopharyngeal swab was negative. A chest radiograph showed multiple, small, patchy opacities in the right upper and middle lobe and  no pleural effusion was observed. Based on these findings he was admitted to the Respiratory Department.

His medical history included chronic lymphocytic leukemia in follow-up which did not require any specific treatment. He denied taking any medications or to be a smoker, he drinks a glass of wine once a day and has no known allergies. The patient was a farmer who cultivates wheat and maize but he had no animal exposure and no travel history in the last few years. There is no family history or childhood history of respiratory complaints. He was vaccinated with three dosesagainst the SARS-CoV-2 infection (Pfizer) but not against the influenza virus.

Based on the patient’s presentation and testing results, on suspicion of bacterial pneumonia he was empirically treated with IV Piperacillin/Tazobactam, the patient required oxygen support at 3L min-1 and an inhalation therapy with Beclomethasone/Formoterol was set up ex adiuvantibus. In the following days, several microbiological investigations were carried out to determine the etiology of pneumonia: blood culture, urinoculture, sputum culture, Legionella, Haemofilus and Pneumococcus serologic tests, Legionella pneumophila and Pneumococcal urinary antigen test, all of which were negative.

A  nasopharyngeal swab FilmArray Respiratory Panel Assay (NP FARP) was then requested: it was positive for human Metapneumovirus and the result was confirmed by repeating the test. For non responder fever and further increase of CPR (230 mg/l) and PCT (0.27 ng/ml), Levofloxacin and later Meropenem were added in the perspective of a resistant bacterial etiology.  On  the 6th hospitalization day a chest computed tomography (CT) scan was obtained (Figures 1 and 2) which demonstrated large opacities with gradient borders, distributed in the peribronchial area at the right upper lobe, middle lobe and both the lower lobes; they tended to the confluence configuring parenchymal consolidations with aerial bronchogram at the level of the cost-phrenic angle. Imaging also showed bilateral hilar and mediastinal lymphadenopathy (max diameter 3.4 x 2 cm), splenomegaly and absence of pleural effusion. Blood chemistry tests for HIV, Aspergillus antigen and galactomannan were also investigated but turned out negative. To rule out other infectious agents the patient underwent bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) into the middle lobe. BAL provides material for various microbiological and cytological tests: Gram stain, culture, Koch’s bacillus DNA, Galactomannan, Cytomegalovirus and P. Jirovecii and immunological analysis were negative. From respiratory virus panel on BAL only human Metapneumovirus was isolated, this unique microbiological data was according to the NP FARP’s result,  thus supporting and confirming the new hypothesis of a viral pneumonia in an adult patient with probable secondary mild immunosuppression due to his hematological disease. About ten days after entering the ward, there was a gradual decrease of CPR and a progressive improvement in clinical conditions and respiratory function to allow the suspension of oxygen therapy. At the end of hospitalization, pulmonary function tests were performed and showed a restrictive syndrome (FEV1/FVC 76.2, TLC 68% and VC 79% of predicted) and mild reduction of diffusion capacity (DLCO 62% and KCO 99%), probably representing the residual functional impairment due to viral pneumonia. The patient finally suspended all therapies and at discharge was referred for a one-month follow-up visit.

DISCUSSION

Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV), a relatively new virus first discovered in 2001, has been detected in 4-16% of patients with acute respiratory infections [1] [2] [3]. In particular, a recent review of 48 previous articles, including 100,151 patients under the age of five hospitalized for CAP, identified this virus as a cause of pneumonia in 3.9% of patients [4]. A recent study of 1386 hospitalized adult patients identified hMPV pneumonia in only 1.64%, indicating that it was much less common than in the infant population [5]. Metapneumovirus causes disease primarily in infants, but rarely can infect immunosuppressed individuals and elderly as well. Seroprevalence studies have shown that 90-100% of 5-10 years old children have previous infection [6]. Reinfection can occur during adulthood because of defected immunity acquired during the first contact with hMPV and/or because of different viral genotypes. The incubation period varies widely but is typically 3-5 days. The disease severity depends on the patient's condition and it ranges from mild upper airway infection to life-threatening pneumonia or bronchiolitis [7]. Clinically, Metapneumovirus infection is often indistinguishable from RSV infection, particularly in the pediatric population, and common symptoms include hypoxemia, cough, fever, upper and lower airway infections and wheezing [8]. hMPV infant patients are often hospitalized  for bronchiolitis and pneumonia [9]. In young adults, a flu-like syndrome with fever may occur in a small number of instances, but infection in geriatric subjects may cause severe clinical manifestations such as pneumonia and, in rare cases, death [10].

As described in this case, it was not surprising that antibiotics and corticosteroids were administered in most patients infected with Metapneumovirus mainly for two reasons: in most cases the specific diagnostic tests for hMPV are not carried out at admission and/or physicians prefer to continue steroid and antibiotic treatment to control potential unidentified bacterial infections in patients in which no etiological agent had been identified associated with hMPV infection. The overuse of these drugs could therefore be reduced through the adoption at admission of specific diagnostic tests for such etiological agent, especially if specific risk factors are present (age, immunodepression, etc.). In addition, the adoption of such tests could reduce the nosocomial spread of this virus, allowing an early isolation of the infected patient [11].

Conflicts of interest: The authors certify that there is no conflict of interest with any financial organization regarding the material discussed in the manuscript. Funding: The authors report no involvement in the research by the sponsor that could have influenced the outcome of this work.

Authors’ contributions : All authors contributed equally to the manuscript and read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

[lovelyprudent]

HELLO HELLO I'M PRUDENT FROM PALESTINE I AM 23 YEARS OLD I HAVE BEEN SUFFERING FROM LEUKEMIA WHICH I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH 3 YEARS AGO IT HAS BEEN A VERY DIFFICULT MOMENT FOR ME SINCE I AM AN ORPHAN MY GUARDIAN HAVE REALISED THAT MY SURVIVAL RELIES ON ELSALAM HOSPITAL IN CAIRO EGYPT BUT THE TRIP AND THE TREATMENT COST HAS NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL DUE TO FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS KINDLY ASKING FOR YOUR SINCERE SUPPORT TO HELP ME 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾😭😭😭

SUPPORT ME

[jammielambie]

Please Help!

If you can't donate we understand. If you could spread this around It would mean the world! Please share, like, reblog! Thank you

On Sunday (11/19), my roommate (David) rushed his wife (Sam) to the hospital with severe pain and shortness of breath. She had a blood sugar of 44 (extremely low) and a white blood cell count of 116,000 (extremely high). She was put on a dextrose drip because her sugar simply wouldn't come up and stay up. The pain was from her spleen being so enlarged it was pressing on her stomach, heart and lung, which among other things kept her from being able to eat and digest food properly, hence the low blood glucose. The assumption was lymphoma for two whole days, during which her numbers did not improve and in some cases actually got worse. On 11/22 she was finally moved to Northside Hospital in Atlanta, to their excellent oncology center.

This is where the assumed diagnosis was changed to acute leukemia.

The sheer amount of white blood cells her body was getting swarmed with led to fluid buildup around her heart and lungs and was also the cause of the initial swelling of her spleen because it was working overtime trying to filter out all the excess. This overload also led to kidney shutdown and dialysis treatments.

As of this writing (11/26), her spleen has reduced in size, allowing her to eat, and the fluid has receded from around her heart and lungs. She remains on dialysis and ongoing treatments for the remaining fluid. The current assumption is acute lymphocytic leukemia, or ALL. We're waiting on additional biopsy results before starting more targeted treatment.

The fundraising goal right now is an estimate based off of the lost pay from Sam not being able to work, the cost to keep her insurance active, any upfront treatment payments (including the possibility of losing the insurance), plus day-to-day expenses for myself and their daughter at home. As of right now David is our sole earner. He is still working remotely from Sam's hospital room, but his paycheck is not enough for us to live off of in the interim. We have had an absolute outpouring of emotional support from family but there's only so much they can do to help with this facet of it. Other costs we have on a regular basis, excluding regular household bills, include

David's diabetic needs (insulin, needles, testing supplies)

their 11-year-old daughter's diabetic needs (insulin, needles, testing supplies, CGM sensors, a second set of supplies for school)

David's dietary requirements and supplements for his low-iron anemia

It's still very early days with everything so things like disability and FMLA are still being worked out. These are the costs as we are looking at them at this juncture.

Please donate if you can, share if you can't. We are facing a big, scary time and anything that helps ease the financial burdens is more energy we have to devote to Sam getting well.

[norvstforthvwickvd]

Paige Cooper

Date of birth: November 17, 2000

Age: 23

Eyes: Brown

Hair: Brunette

Height: 5'7

Weight: 127 lbs

Paige has always had a passion for dance. From the moment she was able to stand, she would move and shake her body to any rhythm. However, she was also a restless child who would get into mischief whenever she was left alone for more than a few minutes. As a solution, Paige's mother, Jane Reid, enrolled her in a toddler tap class. This not only kept Paige busy but also gave Jane peace of mind, knowing that her daughter's energy was being channeled into a productive activity. Additionally, the cost of the class was comparable to daycare, and the teacher, who was a friend of Jane's, offered to keep Paige for extended hours if necessary.

Paige's father was not present in her life. Initially, she was an infant, but unfortunately, like many men, when responsibilities became overwhelming, he chose to leave. Jane, Paige's mother, was left to raise her daughter single-handedly. Paige was too young to have any recollection of her father. Jane refrained from sharing stories about him, understanding that it would not be beneficial. Furthermore, Jane did not have positive things to say about him and did not want to burden her young daughter with negative sentiments. Consequently, Paige grew up in a single-parent household, spending most nights with her grandmother, attending tap classes until late, and enjoying simple meals and outdoor activities.

As life went on, Paige's passion and talent for dancing grew stronger. The tap classes transitioned into various alternative classes, including hip-hop and interpretive dance. Whenever she faced challenges or stress at home, Paige would seek solace in the dance studio, where she would dance with all her might until she felt physically and emotionally drained. Dancing served as her escape, her therapy, and the source of her greatest joy, second only to her mother.

When she finally reached high school and the dance team tryouts were held, Paige eagerly seized the opportunity. She successfully made the team, and dance became an integral part of her daily life. However, her mother's sudden illness, leukemia in its early stages, presented significant challenges. With limited financial resources due to living on a single income and relying on government assistance, Paige felt compelled to find employment to support her mother and cover the costs of her treatments and chemotherapy. Despite these challenges, Paige remained dedicated to her passion for dance, practicing late at night after ensuring her mother was comfortably asleep and receiving the necessary care.

Fortunately, Jane's health remained stable throughout Paige's high school years. She worked diligently and persevered through challenges. Her sole desire was to witness her daughter's graduation, and she was able to do so. Jane shed tears of joy in the bleachers as Paige's name was called.

After graduating, Paige commenced posting her dance routines on social media platforms. Remarkably, they garnered significant popularity in a remarkably short span of time. Her inaugural video amassed an astounding five million views, which left her in a state of disbelief that such a vast number of individuals appreciated her dancing prowess. Furthermore, her talent even captured the attention of the esteemed Nevada Scarlet DanceLine. Subsequently, Paige found herself participating in an audition for the dance line, and to her immense delight, she successfully secured a position. Her first performance took place at a game, where she was accompanied by her mother, grandmother, and a considerable number of her friends, all of whom occupied seats in the front row and exuded immense joy and pride in her accomplishment.

Paige was able to provide her mother with the best possible treatment thanks to her new income. Her mother was still alive and well, and she was being cared for whenever Paige had to be away. Paige was deeply grateful that her mother had enrolled her in that toddler tap class, and she was even more grateful that she was now able to take care of her mother in the same way that her mother had taken care of her.

[everythingseasoning]

TW: loss of pet.

My baby black kitten died of fading kitten syndrome. She had congenital abnormalities (defects she was born with) like an enlarged kidney (which was very concerning), and extreme anemia aka low red blood cell count (her gums were all white), probably due to the Feline Leukemia she had tested positive for. She was the runt.

She was eating and licking small chunks of wet food off of her lips just the other day. She was play fighting with her siblings just the other day (granted she always was the least active because of the doomed cards she’d been dealt). But despite all her efforts to try and become healthy, in the last 24 hours, she faded.

I gave her the best possible life. Her attempted treatment lasted 12 hours before we made the decision to euthanize her, as she wasn’t responding to treatment and the leukemia was fatal. It consisted of an oxygen chamber, dextrose (sugar for her anemia), tube feedings, bloodwork, X-rays, disease tests. Those 12 hours costed me $2,500 USD. I used my life savings. I wanted her to live so badly. I wanted her to be a grown, healthy and recovered black cat who sat by the window and soaked in the gentle sunlight. I wanted to hold her and have more moments of her falling asleep in my arms— the night before her decline she was fine and had been laying on my arm, swaddled by my hoodie, her tiny 0.87 ibs / ~370 gram body cozy and warm, and she fell asleep before I started watching Survivor. I remember soaking that moment in, the yellow light of the living room. The quiet of the navy night beyond the curtains. A moment of pure coziness and sleepiness. A moment made only by two.

She was always sick and tired but didn’t show her pain. I blamed myself for her rapid decline, but the doctors all said she stayed alive as long as she could because of me (we took in a litter of kittens from outdoors last week, and it’s been so rainy, the wooden blanks under which they rested were all soaked through).

I’m grateful for every moment, my baby. Every nom of food. The way you walked up to me and meowed for food after just one day knowing me. You were starving and trusted me. The way you stared at me and jumped up, put your paws up on the oxygen chamber’s clear walls as they took you away to do treatment— you tried to go to me. I loved you and I love you forever. It was so unfair. It is so unfair. You should be alive now. I know how hard you fought to survive, to grow big and healthy. Your siblings were always so much heavier than you, alive and playing around with each other right now, though you are dead and cold and limp and decaying.

But you’re no longer in pain. You’re not going to suffocate to death. I found you in time and put you through treatment so that you could be warm and fed and given the oxygen you needed to fill your failing body— I found you in time to give you a comfortable death. You should be alive right now, you should’ve been born healthy. But you aren’t alive. But you also aren’t in pain. I did everything I could do and I am so sorry. I will take care of your siblings for you. Through the intense grief. Through it all. I love you forever, my blessing. My little kitten. 🖤

[johnstevenmullaly]

The Impact of Gene Therapy on Modern Medicine

Gene therapy is a groundbreaking approach in medical science. It offers hope to many patients suffering from genetic disorders and other diseases. The aim of gene therapy is to provide long-lasting and potentially curative treatments by targeting the root cause of these ailments at the genetic level. This approach highlights a significant transformative impact on modern medicine.

Gene therapy involves introducing, altering, or removing genes within an individual's cells to treat or prevent disease. The two primary types are somatic gene therapy, which targets nonreproductive cells, and germline gene therapy, which affects reproductive cells and can be passed on to future generations. Techniques such as viral vectors, which deliver new genes to cells, and CRISPR-Cas9, a precise gene-editing tool, have revolutionized this field, enabling more accurate and efficient genetic modifications.

The journey of gene therapy began in the early 1970s with foundational research that paved the way for its clinical application. However, it was not until 1990 that a significant milestone was achieved. This was when the first successful gene therapy procedure was performed on a young girl with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). This landmark event demonstrated the potential of gene therapy to cure genetic disorders. Since then, there have been a number of clinical trials conducted, leading to the development of therapies for various other conditions.

Gene therapy has shown huge potential in treating a range of genetic disorders. For instance, in cystic fibrosis, a condition caused by a defective gene, gene therapy aims to introduce a functional copy of the gene into the patient's lungs. Similarly, in muscular dystrophy, gene therapy seeks to restore the missing or defective dystrophin protein in muscle cells.

Cancer treatment has also seen remarkable advances through gene therapy. Techniques like CAR-T cell therapy, which modifies a patient's T cells to target cancer cells, have shown major success in treating certain types of leukemia and lymphoma. There is also ongoing research exploring gene therapy applications in neurological disorders like Parkinson's disease and cardiovascular diseases, expanding its potential reach.

One of the most important advantages of gene therapy is its likelihood to provide targeted and precision medicine. By addressing the underlying genetic cause, gene therapy can offer more effective and personalized treatments compared to traditional methods. This precision lessens the risk of side effects and enhances treatment outcomes.

Additionally, gene therapy holds the promise of curing previously untreatable conditions. For many genetic disorders, traditional treatments only manage symptoms without addressing the root cause. Gene therapy, on the other hand, offers the potential for a permanent cure, improving patients' quality of life and reducing long-term healthcare costs.

Some areas need improvement, and most gene therapies are still in clinical trials. This means that there are technical and scientific challenges that researchers are continually working to overcome. This includes effectively delivering therapeutic genes to the right cells, avoiding immune system reactions, and ensuring the long-term stability of the introduced genes.

Ethical concerns also arise, particularly with germline gene therapy, which can alter the genetic makeup of future generations. The implications of such modifications raise questions about consent, the potential for genetic enhancement, and the possibility of creating societal inequalities. Ensuring equitable access to these advanced therapies and navigating the regulatory landscape for approval and safety are crucial considerations for the future of gene therapy.

Regardless, the future of gene therapy is promising, with ongoing research and development opening new avenues for treatment. Advances in delivery methods, such as nanoparticles and improved viral vectors, aim to enhance the precision and efficiency of gene therapy. Researchers are also exploring the possibility of gene therapy to treat more complex conditions.

As technology evolves, gene therapy is expected to play an increasingly significant role in health care. There are expectations of having personalized medicine, where treatment is tailored to an individual's genetic makeup, offering hope for more effective interventions.

[cleoselene]

tw suicide, cancer

My Uncle Art, who married into the family when he married my Aunt Leslie, he's a great guy. He wasn't always, I'll be honest, he was a real dick for most of my childhood, but he was an alcoholic. And when he quit drinking, it was like a personality switch was flipped and he became this gentle, loving, helpful, compassionate person when he was none of those things before he got sober.

This last month alone, Art has been down from Ohio where he lives to visit his sister, who lives in the same town in Florida as me, three times. He comes down from time to time because he owns the condo she lives in (and pays all her bills and expenses... while she goes through a fifth a vodka a day. How she is alive, not one of us can comprehend. But while he was here, Art took time to A) install a new hot water heater for us and haul the old one out, B) do the same for our dishwasher (and then he went to the grocery store and bought us a huge tub of detergent pods and a bottle of rinse aid, because he's thoughtful like that and noticed we were low on pods when he was fussing around under the sink), and C) fixed the garbage disposal. He didn't have to do any of these things, he volunteered because he's one of those old guys that likes to, as my mom says, "putz around and fix things" because it's his love language, honestly. Acts of service.

Her daughter is a little younger than me? I'm almost 45, I wanna say she's 35. Anyway, I didn't know her super well, but I know her. We shared an aunt and uncle, not quite like a cousin, but she was nice. Chill. She sold me weed at cost (she was a weed dealer) a few times, we smoked out together a few times. She had survived leukemia, and we bonded over being in the Terribel Illness Club, right down to the fact that my disease-modifying drug is Kesimpta, which was used to treat leukemia under the name Arzerra. Bonded over the joys of poisoning your body to save your body.

Well, she unfortunately succumbed to mental illness yesterday, taking her own life. My poor uncle, he is devastated. So is my aunt. It never makes sense when these things happen, and it's sticking with me a little not just because I knew her and considered her a friend, but because she had been in the Awful Illness Club with me and she's beaten hers! I love when people get the diagnosis and beat it! It's one of my favorite things! My roommate had spinal surgery last year and he has recovered so much more mobility than he could have possibly dreamed of and I see him thriving more and more each day and it warms my heart, and he told me he feels bad because he knows there's no miracle procedure to make me suddenly turn around and feel better. But I don't want him to feel that way! I love living off successes like this vicariously!

Anyway, it turns out that leukemia was the one she could beat. Mental illness she could not. I'm so sorry, Emily. I hope you've found peace.

It has been a bad week for uncles. My Uncle Chris was diagnosed with prostate cancer. They think they caught it early, but given that he's 78 years old they have to look everywhere to make sure that's the only place the cancer is. I gotta admit, I'm scared. I know prostate is one of the more survivable cancers, one of my other uncles had it and the treatment was so fast and effective that the extended family didn't know it had happened until he was already in remission. But Chris is not Bob -- he has a much more fragile constitution, and probably an eating disorder? All his life he's been scary skinny and obsessive about his weight. Bob climbs mountains and stuff, Chris sits on his porch and sips vodka and watches the ducks. There's just a whole different level of healthiness here.

Also, to be frank, Chris's wife is a wretched succubus. She is AWFUL to be around because she is one of those people that just CREATES stress out of thin air. It's like her magical power, creating stress out of nothing at all! She has alienated him from all three of his sisters (well my mom not as much, but she also doesn't spend nearly as much time with him as she used to? They used to go to the beach and see the sunset 2-3 times a week. Now it's like. 2-3 times in the last year) .

I am not on speaking terms with the wretched bitch or her daughter (this child has been a brat since birth, and continued to be. Last I talked to her was an argument because she thought I was vagueblogging about her on Facebook, which, lol? I do not care enough about her life to be passive aggressive to her like that. She also accused me of being jealous of her life, which is HYSTERICAL because she has three small children (that she cannot handle and honestly didn't want more than one, but well...) and a Republican husband with the personality of damp toast. He's like 6'7" and I think she fell prey to the "he's not hot, just tall" trap. Anyway my cousin accusing me of being jealous of her life, really funny stuff, she's probably projecting? But sure, she can imagine that i'm jealous of her 3 children under 6 and her ugly inside-and-out husband and her exciting career shilling cleaning products for an MLM scheme.

But I love my uncle and I really am worried between his wife and his daughter they are going to stress him to the grave. They have stressed him out constantly for 4 decades now, don't see any reason they would change when they can both enjoy walking all over him. Which they do. It's depressing. My mom worked with DV offenders for 3 decades and she says their relationship has all the hallmarks of verbal and emotional abuse, and I believe it. Sometimes the things my aunt would say about my uncle would make me tilt my head because it would be some outrageously offensive thing that my uncle would never, ever say.

It goes like this: Aunt Beeyatch: Your uncle told me I looked fat Me: *head tilt* Really? That doesn't sound like something he would say. *turns to uncle* You didn't really say that, did you? My mom: Say what? Me: Aunt Bee just said Uncle Chris said she looked fat, which i thought was really weird, because it doesn't sound like something he would say it all. My mom: Of course he didn't say that, *dismissive as all hell, turns to Aunt Bee* Why would you make that up? Aunt Bee: I'm just joshing you (I kid you know she says "joshing" all the time -_-) Me; *politely* Oh okay. I knew it didn't sound like something he would say!

some version of this conversation has been had MANY times over the decades

all this to say I'm worried about my uncles :( send good thoughts to them both.