Life is Healthy

Yikes!

It's been a while, hasn't it?

I seem to have lost my blogging mojo. I remember a while back when Average Jane wrote that her blogging had been derailed (my word, not hers) by Twitter and Facebook. I get that now.

Whenever I have a quick observation or a link to share, I can gratify myself instantly with Twitter (I'm lauriek, by the way). And while each tweet does go to Facebook and the sidebar of Not Just About Cancer (on the right - see it there?), it hasn't done much for my blogging.

I don't want to give up the blog though, so I'll try and re-commit to posting regularly (how's that for hedging my bets?).

On the cancer front, there is a little news. I loved having a break in April. That month also brought another clean CT scan. My oncologist continues to be happy with how things are going (or not going, really).

We talked a bit more with about the weirdness of being in ongoing treatment (with side effects that are cumulative, both physically and emotionally). He talked frankly (one of the things that I love about him) about how, in my case, he really has no idea what to do.

We don't know what would happen if I were to take a longer break from treatment or stop it altogether.

"You're a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma," he said, quoting Churchill.

He said that, theoretically, we could start our own clinical trial, where half the women stop treatment for three months and half continue as I've been doing.

"But then what do you say to the women in the first group, if the cancer comes back? 'Oops?' 'Im sorry?' " (I'm convinced that the man lies awake at night wondering about these things. His compassion is another thing I love about him).

He has a way of putting things into perspective for me.

I had planned on asking for another break in six months but he surprised me by suggesting I take a break in August (hooray!)

He also said that, some time in the future, he's not sure exactly when, he's going to feel ready for me to take a longer break. Meanwhile, I'll have fewer appointments with him and, unless I'm worried about something, I can call them in (another hooray!).

I am very pleased about all of this but I admit to also feeling a little blue. I'm still dealing with some of the "grey area" fallout. It's really hard to articulate (and I feel guilty for even complaining. Guilt would be a good subject for a whole other post).

Life is a funny thing. And it's really hard to plan even five years ahead, because you never know what's going to happen. I'm trying right now to return my focus to living in the moment, accepting what is and reminding myself to notice the good things.

Governments around the world stockpiled antiviral drugs

Key scientists behind World Health Organization advice on stockpiling of pandemic flu drugs had financial ties with companies which stood to profit, an investigation has found.

The British Medical Journal says the scientists had openly declared these interests in other publications yet WHO made no mention of the links.

It comes as a report from the Council of Europe criticised the lack of transparency around the handling of the swine flu pandemic.

A spokesman for WHO said the drug industry did not influence its decisions on swine flu.

Guidelines recommending governments stockpile antiviral drugs were issued by WHO in 2004.

The advice prompted many countries around the world into buying up large stocks of Tamiflu, made by Roche, and Relenza manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline.

A year after the swine flu pandemic was declared, stocks are left unused in warehouses and governments are attempting to unpick contracts.

Conflict of interest

The BMJ, in a joint investigation with The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, found that three scientists involved in putting together the 2004 guidance had previously been paid by Roche or GSK for lecturing and consultancy work as well as being involved in research for the companies.

Although the scientists involved had freely declared the links in other places and said WHO asked for conflicts of interest forms prior to expert meetings, the ties were not publically declared by WHO.

It is not clear whether these conflicts were notified privately by WHO to governments around the world, the BMJ said, and a request to see conflict of interest declarations was turned down.

In addition, membership of the "emergency committee" which advised WHO's director general Margaret Chan on declaring an influenza pandemic has been kept secret.

It means the names of the 16 committee members are known only to people within WHO, and as such their possible conflicts of interest with drug companies are unknown.

On its website, WHO says: "Potential conflicts of interest are inherent in any relationship between a normative and health development agency, like WHO, and a profit-driven industry.

"Similar considerations apply when experts advising the Organization have professional links with pharmaceutical companies.

"Numerous safeguards are in place to manage possible conflicts of interest or their perception."

ANALYSIS

• Fergus Walsh, Medical correspondent, BBC News
  
  Be open. Be transparent. That seems to be the key learning point for the WHO from this joint investigation.
  
  It is common practice for academic experts to work closely with the pharmaceutical industry, such as getting funding for drug trials, or to be paid for attending meetings.
  
  On all clinical papers authors must publicly declare any competing interests.
  
  So it is surely advisable that the WHO follows the same policy with its advisors.
  
  And there is surely no logic in refusing to name the members of the emergency committee which advised the WHO about the pandemic.
  
  To fail to do so presents an own goal to critics and conspiracy theorists.

Related Article:

The pandemic that never was: Drug firms 'encouraged world health body to exaggerate swine flu threat'

As many of you know, I’ve been clearing out and giving away some of the “tools” I’ve used to get in shape over the last five years. Today I’m offering the chance to win one of two of my favorite books on women’s health and strength training.

While I used the Weight Watchers Points system to lose weight, I combined what I learned there with solid, science-backed information on weight loss and nutrition from other sources, such as “Body for Life for Women” by Pamela Peeke, M.D. and Joan Pagano’s “Strength Training for Women.”

Because I’m heading out the door soon to go on a (flat) hike and do some bird watching, I cut and pasted portions of the books’ reviews from Amazon.com so you get an idea what each book is about and decide which one you’d like to throw your name in the hat for (you can choose both!).

“Body for Life for Women”
“[Peeke’s] firm belief is, most women already know what they’re supposed to do: eat a balanced diet, ditch junk food, exercise, think positively. Peeke strives to show her “girlfriends” how to accomplish these tasks, customizing plans for young and old. Clients’ stories lend credence to Peeke's 12-week weight reduction plan; so do the wowsie before-and-after pictures.

“Gender-specific scientific evidence supports Peeke's premise that women's bodies require different care than men's. But she doesn't stop there. Peeke digs deeper for her audience, defining four hormonal milestones of a woman's life (menarche to beyond menopause) and customizing a physical and mental transformation plan to suit each.

“Easing off on strict calorie and weight guidelines, she focuses instead on serious fat reduction, muscle improvement, and practical suggestions for self-care. But for Peeke, weight reduction pales to bolstering a woman's self-worth through nurturing healthier habits.” (Review by Liane Thomas)

“Strength Training for Women”
From Publishers Weekly: “A personal trainer in NYC’s Upper East Side, Pagano has dedicated the past 16 years of her life to passing her knowledge and passion for fitness on to other women in the hopes of helping them improve their lives and prevent common diseases like osteoporosis.

“Like a good personal trainer should, she begins with a three-part fitness test and questionnaire to assess whether the reader should consult a doctor before beginning her program. For true beginners, she provides an anatomy chart that depicts the major muscle groups and the exercises that are best suited to them. She dispels fitness myths like ‘lifting weights will bulk you up’ and ‘you can spot reduce,’ and talks about the risk factors, exercise guidelines and restrictions of osteoporosis.

“Best of all for novices, many of Pagnano’s beginner exercises require no special equipment, relying instead on everyday fixtures like chairs, walls and kitchen countertops. (More advanced exercises use free weights, stretch bands and stability balls.)

“The color photos, diagrams and clear explanations make the exercises easy to follow, and Pagano provides full training programs for improving posture and strengthening the lower, upper and core muscles of the body. This book may be one of the best substitutes for pricey gym memberships and personal trainers.”

If you've read and used one or both of these books, I'd love to read your review, too.

If you haven't and would like to win one of them, throw your name in the hat! The only catch is if you win, you agree to give the book away when you’re done, or if you can’t part with it, you’ll donate a healthy food item to your local food shelf. That’s it! So leave a comment or send an email to lynnbering@verizon.net and let me know which book you’d like to win. I’ll draw the winners on Sunday evening (June 6).

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Brandon, age 22, was not overweight but he suffered from depression, low energy, exhaustion and panic attacks for two years. He was on anti-depressants plus going to therapy but these were not helping.

All the while, his diet was never examined. Breakfast was several cans of Mountain Dew, a high-caffeine soda. He ate pizza, chips, French fries and candy throughout the day, and dinners were often Hot Pockets and snack foods.

"I was never overweight, so diet was never something I thought about. I was not eating any fresh fruits or vegetables," he said.

Check out the intereresting article about how food affects mood.

I have a summer cold, and it's not too bad—but has it's moments. Like this morning when the dogs wanted to go out. I got up and started heading for the door. I started coughing—and then peed my pants. The dogs didn't care; they still wanted out. Luckily, my brother had already gone to work. So I was alone in my pee pants.

I made an appointment with the orthopedic doctor. I have cysts on my wrists, and my knees hurt too bad to continue ignoring them. Arthritis isn't much fun.

None of this is getting me down, however. I am staying focused on making the most out of my life. I am grateful for my life and all of my friends—including you all. Thank you for always being there.