Tuesday, June 27, 2006
This Cancer Researcher Gave Me a Shower Curtain...
From Law.com: Employment Case Puts Johns Hopkins Under the Microscope
Despite the political infighting at Johns Hopkins and the red tape, Dr. Ko has a grant from the Susan G. Komen Foundation and is going to be studying the effects of the drug 3-bromopyruvate (3-BrPA) on breast cancer and metastatic cancers.
She and one of my best friends (and bridesmaid) Wendy sent me a sequinned shower curtain as a wedding present, and I am so tardy on my thank you notes that I have yet to thank them.
Thank you, Dr. Ko. Thank you very much for the shower curtain and for the work that you are doing which has actual applications instead of being theoretical. Thank you for working on a way of combating tumors that seems to be non-toxic. Chemotherapy is a crap-shoot and is extremely unpleasant. I'd love to be involved in human trials--I'm sure there are many who would be. I hope the politics of your situation do not get you down and that you are able to progress with your work. You have my heartfelt admiration and gratitude.
"Dr. Young Ko believes that she has found a cure for cancer.
Using an inexpensive drug named 3-bromopyruvate, the Johns Hopkins University researcher was able to eliminate advanced liver cancer in lab animals. Earlier this year, after her work was profiled by the Baltimore Sun, dozens of cancer patients and their families contacted the medical school to ask when human trials would begin.
Not any time soon, it would seem. Ko's research is now at the center of a bitter employment dispute between the researcher and the university. " ...read more
Despite the political infighting at Johns Hopkins and the red tape, Dr. Ko has a grant from the Susan G. Komen Foundation and is going to be studying the effects of the drug 3-bromopyruvate (3-BrPA) on breast cancer and metastatic cancers.
She and one of my best friends (and bridesmaid) Wendy sent me a sequinned shower curtain as a wedding present, and I am so tardy on my thank you notes that I have yet to thank them.
Thank you, Dr. Ko. Thank you very much for the shower curtain and for the work that you are doing which has actual applications instead of being theoretical. Thank you for working on a way of combating tumors that seems to be non-toxic. Chemotherapy is a crap-shoot and is extremely unpleasant. I'd love to be involved in human trials--I'm sure there are many who would be. I hope the politics of your situation do not get you down and that you are able to progress with your work. You have my heartfelt admiration and gratitude.
- More on this:
- 3-Bromopyruvate Completely Eradicates Advanced Cancers in Come[sic] Rats
- Posts from The Cancer Forums - includes a post from a former colleague of Dr. Ko's explaining how the development of new treatments is stymied by a completely broken pharmaceutical system
Labels: 3-bromopyruvate, chemo, Dr. Young Ko, Johns Hopkins, pharmaceutical companies, shower curtain, Susan G. Komen, trials, Wendy
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Chocolate Weekend: or, I've been watching too much Food Network
The Food Network (I am enjoying the novelty of cable very much) declared this past weekend to be devoted to chocolate and luuuuuuuv. There were specials on cooking with chocolate, making various confections, the history of chocolate, a chocolate sculpture competition, a wedding cake competition, a very odd segment in which some quirky dude blindfolded people and had them taste unusual items dipped in melted chocolate from one of those new chocolate fountains (oddly, people liked the chocolate-covered cheese puff, and the chocolate-covered carrot wasn't that bad...nay on the chocolate-dipped cheddar cheese, however), most of which I saw multiple times. I've clearly been watching too much of this channel as events will prove, and actually found myself announcing to Brian exactly why I was following particular steps in my cooking this evening.
"Now I'm coating each granule with butter before adding the stock..."
Yes, I cooked for the first time in many months tonight. I intended to do it all myself, but became completely exhausted and had help for the final stages, but am happy and proud to have been able to do something nice for Brian, who's been working very hard to keep me well-fed, despite the challenges (more on that later).
I don't have very many dishes in my repertoire, but one I particularly like involves couscous with toasted pine nuts and chicken with a savory tomato-vegetable sauce adapted from a recipe for something called "chicken provençal" in my cookbook. I tend to use more garlic than required and have nixed the anchovies and olives. It contains onion, garlic, zucchini, eggplant, diced tomato, chicken broth, extra tomato paste or sauce, all simmered together. The chicken is dredged in salted & peppered flour then pan-seared and finally finished up in the vegetable mix. The couscous is cooked with chicken broth instead of water to which a pinch of cinnamon and coriander have been added. The secret ingredient seems to be the pinch of cayenne pepper in the vegetables. The whole thing is very savory and spicy.
We went shopping for ingredients yesterday at Meijer, where I tooled around in one of those motorized scooters. I managed not to run anybody over and was getting really good at making three-point 180 turns. At the store I went a little nuts and started tossing swanky cheeses into my basket. Strawberries. A giant bag of chocolate chips. A French baguette. Crackers.
When the gentleman arrived home from work, there was a platter of various cheeses and fruits, including camembert (a less bitter cousin of Brie and one of my favorites), double gloucester, and some kind of white cheese that had cranberries in it. I also had grapes and strawberries on the tray, some pistachios, and a wine glass filled with apple slices. I also made up a few appetizers consisting of a bread round, slice of camembert, apple slice, drizzled with balsamic vinegar. I regret not having taken a picture of the cheese tray, but we did have presence of mind to photograph the dessert, which was chocolate covered strawberries, which I made this morning.
They were served on a chocolate heart-shaped plate which I sculpted from the leftover melted chocolate and put in the freezer on a telephone book to keep its shape.
The Food Network is creating a monster.
The double-boiler which melted the chocolate, the appetizer plates, the wine glasses, and the beautiful flower centerpiece were gifts from my wedding shower, which took place this past Sunday, thrown by my friends Robyn and Lori. Robyn, as I have often said to people, is a devotée of Martha Stewart. Robyn has impeccable taste and is very good at hosting events and putting together all manner of party things. Foods. Centerpieces. It's really quite amazing.
So the two of them threw of lovely luncheon at The Dearborn Inn, to which a small group of friends and coworkers was invited. There were incredibly delicious sandwiches, there was cake (I have been breakfasting on cake leftovers), there were gifts which will necessitate thank-you notes before I forget who gave me what. I've been having a stupidly great time picking registry things; I tried to be practical, but then was talked into asking for bone china, stemware, flatware, and serving pieces by Robyn, who kept insisting, "Are you sure you don't want to sign up for some Waterford crystal or some Lenox china?" My favorite gift was the 3-tier serving tray which I envision using for high tea. I will need to be sure to invite Robyn and Lori for cucumber sandwiches some day soon. Brian was invited to the shower, which he attended with great aplomb, despite his personal preference to be doing almost anything else.
Saturday was equally devoted to girly things as I desperately wanted to go get my hair done at the Mall. I had decided I wanted drastic highlights, which made the whole affair take longer. Then I needed to consult with the stylist about what to do with hair for the wedding since I won't be able to have somebody do it for me. She suggested hot rollers. I have since acquired hot rollers and a wet/dry straightener. (I've also been watching too many makeover shows courtesy of cable as well.)
I am unappologetic about doing frivolous things for myself; this is the first week in a long time I have actually not spent any time vomiting. I am no longer taking MS Contin, which made me unbearably ill. The constant nausea has made keeping me fed and hydrated very difficult. Brian had been trying to tempt me by listing multiple food options in the hopes of finding something that did not repulse me, but having foods listed to me seemed to bring on the nausea. I have tried multiple medications including Zofran, Tigan, and now Anzimet (which, to those without insurance, costs $9,000 for a month's supply). I had been vomiting at least once per week; the last time was at Sears shortly after my last bridal gown fitting. What if the food at the reception bothers me and I yak all over my wedding dress?
Now I feel like that won't be a problem; I'm so relieved.
I am finding other things easier, and yet have new aches and pains which always frighten me. Walking is getting easier; I am beginning to wonder if it might be possible to use the walker only as a backup for going down the aisle. Maybe my dad will be able to bolster me enough without it...I don't know and might be too frightened of falling to try. My hands suddenly hurt more than they ever have before and opening jars is uncomfortable and my fingers are noticably stiff. Is it the arthritis-like ailment of which takers of Arimidex complain? Is it lesions on the bones in my hands? Is this pain in my side a result of stretching funny or are the bones cracked here like they are in my pelvis? Will I ever know how damaged my skeleton is, and are there things I should be doing (or things I should be avoiding) to keep it from collapsing like a crushed can?
I have an appointment with Dr. Hayes next week. Should I wait, or should I ask about my symptoms before then? I never know. Honestly, I'm hesitant to bring it up with Lita, because she will schedule me for more medical tests and appointments right away.
In the meantime, I will watch more cable to take my mind off things, eat some leftover cake, and admire how even something as pedestrian as Crystal Light can taste really good when taken in wafer-thin glass stemware.
"Now I'm coating each granule with butter before adding the stock..."
Yes, I cooked for the first time in many months tonight. I intended to do it all myself, but became completely exhausted and had help for the final stages, but am happy and proud to have been able to do something nice for Brian, who's been working very hard to keep me well-fed, despite the challenges (more on that later).
I don't have very many dishes in my repertoire, but one I particularly like involves couscous with toasted pine nuts and chicken with a savory tomato-vegetable sauce adapted from a recipe for something called "chicken provençal" in my cookbook. I tend to use more garlic than required and have nixed the anchovies and olives. It contains onion, garlic, zucchini, eggplant, diced tomato, chicken broth, extra tomato paste or sauce, all simmered together. The chicken is dredged in salted & peppered flour then pan-seared and finally finished up in the vegetable mix. The couscous is cooked with chicken broth instead of water to which a pinch of cinnamon and coriander have been added. The secret ingredient seems to be the pinch of cayenne pepper in the vegetables. The whole thing is very savory and spicy.
We went shopping for ingredients yesterday at Meijer, where I tooled around in one of those motorized scooters. I managed not to run anybody over and was getting really good at making three-point 180 turns. At the store I went a little nuts and started tossing swanky cheeses into my basket. Strawberries. A giant bag of chocolate chips. A French baguette. Crackers.
When the gentleman arrived home from work, there was a platter of various cheeses and fruits, including camembert (a less bitter cousin of Brie and one of my favorites), double gloucester, and some kind of white cheese that had cranberries in it. I also had grapes and strawberries on the tray, some pistachios, and a wine glass filled with apple slices. I also made up a few appetizers consisting of a bread round, slice of camembert, apple slice, drizzled with balsamic vinegar. I regret not having taken a picture of the cheese tray, but we did have presence of mind to photograph the dessert, which was chocolate covered strawberries, which I made this morning.
They were served on a chocolate heart-shaped plate which I sculpted from the leftover melted chocolate and put in the freezer on a telephone book to keep its shape.
The Food Network is creating a monster.
The double-boiler which melted the chocolate, the appetizer plates, the wine glasses, and the beautiful flower centerpiece were gifts from my wedding shower, which took place this past Sunday, thrown by my friends Robyn and Lori. Robyn, as I have often said to people, is a devotée of Martha Stewart. Robyn has impeccable taste and is very good at hosting events and putting together all manner of party things. Foods. Centerpieces. It's really quite amazing.
So the two of them threw of lovely luncheon at The Dearborn Inn, to which a small group of friends and coworkers was invited. There were incredibly delicious sandwiches, there was cake (I have been breakfasting on cake leftovers), there were gifts which will necessitate thank-you notes before I forget who gave me what. I've been having a stupidly great time picking registry things; I tried to be practical, but then was talked into asking for bone china, stemware, flatware, and serving pieces by Robyn, who kept insisting, "Are you sure you don't want to sign up for some Waterford crystal or some Lenox china?" My favorite gift was the 3-tier serving tray which I envision using for high tea. I will need to be sure to invite Robyn and Lori for cucumber sandwiches some day soon. Brian was invited to the shower, which he attended with great aplomb, despite his personal preference to be doing almost anything else.
Saturday was equally devoted to girly things as I desperately wanted to go get my hair done at the Mall. I had decided I wanted drastic highlights, which made the whole affair take longer. Then I needed to consult with the stylist about what to do with hair for the wedding since I won't be able to have somebody do it for me. She suggested hot rollers. I have since acquired hot rollers and a wet/dry straightener. (I've also been watching too many makeover shows courtesy of cable as well.)
I am unappologetic about doing frivolous things for myself; this is the first week in a long time I have actually not spent any time vomiting. I am no longer taking MS Contin, which made me unbearably ill. The constant nausea has made keeping me fed and hydrated very difficult. Brian had been trying to tempt me by listing multiple food options in the hopes of finding something that did not repulse me, but having foods listed to me seemed to bring on the nausea. I have tried multiple medications including Zofran, Tigan, and now Anzimet (which, to those without insurance, costs $9,000 for a month's supply). I had been vomiting at least once per week; the last time was at Sears shortly after my last bridal gown fitting. What if the food at the reception bothers me and I yak all over my wedding dress?
Now I feel like that won't be a problem; I'm so relieved.
I am finding other things easier, and yet have new aches and pains which always frighten me. Walking is getting easier; I am beginning to wonder if it might be possible to use the walker only as a backup for going down the aisle. Maybe my dad will be able to bolster me enough without it...I don't know and might be too frightened of falling to try. My hands suddenly hurt more than they ever have before and opening jars is uncomfortable and my fingers are noticably stiff. Is it the arthritis-like ailment of which takers of Arimidex complain? Is it lesions on the bones in my hands? Is this pain in my side a result of stretching funny or are the bones cracked here like they are in my pelvis? Will I ever know how damaged my skeleton is, and are there things I should be doing (or things I should be avoiding) to keep it from collapsing like a crushed can?
I have an appointment with Dr. Hayes next week. Should I wait, or should I ask about my symptoms before then? I never know. Honestly, I'm hesitant to bring it up with Lita, because she will schedule me for more medical tests and appointments right away.
In the meantime, I will watch more cable to take my mind off things, eat some leftover cake, and admire how even something as pedestrian as Crystal Light can taste really good when taken in wafer-thin glass stemware.
Labels: Brian, chocolate, cooking, Dr. Hayes, hair, hip, Lita, Lori, nausea, Robyn, shower curtain, walker, wedding
