Huffington Post article by Dr. Weiss

I don't believe in the sugar theory either because all carbohydrates are converted to glucose after digestion, which is why before a PET scan, you are asked to limit carbs. So if this theory was true, how does the body differentiate "sugar" from other carbs? Is there a difference in the glucose made from sugars than from carbs? 

Ruth:

Wonderful post - says it all!

Sandy

Ruth

thank you - love your post!  And lena, thank you too....I left off reading when things got, well, too "opinionated" for me - but good to come back and see such good humor, rants, and sense!

When I was diagnosed, tons of information was being thrown at me and I had trouble remembering everything (luckily my DH did).  But the one thing I do remember is my onc saying, "Bobbi, you did NOTHING to cause this to happen."  Didn't change anything, but definitely helped me get through the days and nights for awhile.

A few years back I was at the San Antonio breast conference when one of the speakers was discussing metastatic treatments. The speaker had given a patient scenario and kept saying "and then she failed treatment x,.. went on treatment y and failed that after 6 months etc."  One of the breast cancer advocates stood up and said, lets make things clear SHE didn't fail treatment, the treatment failed HER...if I hear one more physician or scientist stand up and say her cancer, or she failed, I'm going to scream.  You could have heard a pin drop.  There was just enough of a language difference the speaker just stood there and didn't know what to say. 

 Since then I've noticed how often things are phrased that way.  It is medical lingo, I don't think they mean anything by it, but, it is demoralizing for those of us living this, and over time, I wonder if it does allow them to depersonalize. 

This is my IMHO very opinionated subjective could be completely cracked opinion.  I think with the focus shift to quality of life and survivorship, looking at rates of LE, chronic pain, neuropathy effects  etc,  the medical establishment at times feels on the defensive.  Instead of concentrating on months lived,people are now reporting quality of months lived. The whole blamegame is backlash.  Got LE?  Not our operation, you're too fat and didn't weight lift enough.  Got a recurrence?  Not our choice of therapy you gained too much weight.  Got chroinic pain?  Not our treatment you're too anxious.  Got chronic fatigue?  Not our fault you didn't exercise enough. 

The media understands weight, exercise etc in a way they'll never understand oncogene addiction, epigentic changes or DNA methylation, so they LOVE reporting on weight lifting and LE instead.  Its a hot topic and the more the media reports it the easier the next grant comes and the more happy your bosses are given today's competition in the medical world, so the medical establishment will keep talking that way.

This is my answer to the medical establishment.  We're the ones living it.  I'll understand that sh-- happens and you're doing the best you can if you LISTEN to me, try to help me, and quit blaming me.

kmmd, I'd want to go further and take "fail" out altogether.

eg.  Treatment x gained 6months before it stopped working.  

That way it doesn't feel like a waste of time doing treatment x.  Maybe the next treatment will give us longer. 

Researchers are doing their best to find better drugs that at least extent life and one day may cure us.  Doctors are trying their best to give us the most effective treatments.  

That way we feel supported and hopeful rather than blamed or let down and hopeless.

Sheila, that is a very good point.  Hadn't taken it that step further in my head, but, it does sound much more accurate and feels better that way

kmmd  - thanks for your post! 

awareness and education to both the medical community and the patients is so important.  words can be powerful.