Research And Care
In My Bloodstream: Lisinopril, Amlodopine, Omeprazole, Tamsulosin
On The Stereo: 24 Frames: Jason Isbell
We are at the tail end of love bug season, here. We get two seasons a year. They are called love bugs because a large one and a small one attach, and fly aimlessly around, driving you crazy. And we have romanticized the act. That was a big mistake. They are horrible and are everywhere. They are highly acidic and plaster themselves to your car, when you are out driving. If you do not wash your car soon, thereafter, your paint will be damaged. There is no love here for these little creeps. Gripe of the day. Over and out, my little love bug. Our weather is clear, no humidity, and in the mid- seventies. No annoying bugs of any kind. Our version of heaven.
Forgot to shave this morning. Thinking about The Tide. Roll Tide.
I have put off writing about our Princeton trip, for some personal reasons. I will pick up the loose threads, some time later. But now I want to talk to you regarding what has lately been dominating my mind. At least one thing.
Kath and I were talking with her cousin, Donna, last week, about Canadian health care. Despite some difficulty in getting an appointment with doctors in select disciplines, her take was, that when you finally get in, you receive excellent treatment. That is obviously a good thing. My posit to her was, that if you were able to see that doctor earlier, you might not be in crisis mode abetted by time left untreated.
At this juncture, I must remind everyone, that I am not throwing rocks at another country's health care decisions, but offering my opinion, based on my real life medical experience - in both countries. After the next election, this country might well follow a similar path.
The last administration, in this country, gave us a universal healthcare system, but, interestingly, exempted all those who were in a position to vote on it, as well as the UAW. You can decide yourself, why they were conceded special treatment. So much for universality. And a government that passes laws for all to follow, but themselves. It is abhorrent to me, that the people who are elected by us and who are to work on our behalf, would ensure that they are above the laws they pass. And we, the docile voters, let this self entitlement carry on.
In fact, when the Affordable Care Act came to be, some of our elected representatives were told they could not read the proposed bill until it was passed into law. Pass the law, and then find out what you did. My god. For the rest of the population, if you did not participate, you would be fined $100/month. In time, the program began to crumble. It became apparent that costs were high, and that there was no source of funding put in place. And nobody was going to pay a fine for a service in which they did not believe, or could not afford.
Old geezers like me are on medicare, and happy as clams. We have no skin in the game. At this stage, anyway. And the majority of my aged friends love our program. Most doctors, specialists, tests and treatments are covered. The odd exotic can be covered by a supplementary, not inexpensive, but manageable. All in all, it has been good for us. Especially after years of high cost private coverage. Sadly, some of the very best cancer treatments are expensive, and not covered under policy. Years of research and failure need repaid. Successes are few and far between. Insurance companies consider some drugs not necessary. This situation needs Solomon to intervene.
I do know healthcare - up close and personal.
I am not having my hair dried here.
Now the generation behind me, and others my age, are in limbo with a national healthcare plan, all awaiting something - anything.
After our next election, someone will do something, hopefully. Although in our world of zany politics, who knows?
My point here, is that neither healthcare system is perfect. More worrisome, I don't think they are even reaching a decent level of mediocrity. Either one of them.
In my feeble mind, I believe that the two most important things for people in any country, is access to education and healthcare. Both are invaluable to the person and to their country. I will not try to tackle education today. I have a teacher living with me. I need to show caution. But we should all get our minds around our need for good healthcare. For our own good.
Personally, I believe it to be unfathomable, that in countries like ours, we would allow anyone in need of medicine or surgery, to go without. So poverty should not be a reason to ignore necessary treatment, for anyone. Easy enough to say. Who pays, and how do we manage the process? In this country, we have not yet resolved any part of that. Our current system is not effective and the blend of private insurance companies and public funding are not compatible. Leaving insurance carriers to pick and choose their clientele, leaves the government with the chronically sick and the indigent. The recipe for an imbalanced and difficult taxation problem. Our enemies, real or perceived, are greedy corporations, and/or ineffective, and costly, government.
Canadian healthcare, the model for some of our presidential hopefuls, is totally socialized, and not without its own problems. It requires a formidable level of increased taxation and involvement and/or interference with process, rules and outcome, concerning our lives. If you believe that government can manage anything well, you might well be in a tiny minority. Really.
Evidence that cancer can literally be a pain in the neck.
So, back to our discussion with Donna. Healthcare in Canada, has distinctly different problems, than do we Americans. Specialized equipment, like scanning machines, are limited, by population formulae. As with most budgetary items, they are kept to the minimum, until a crisis tipping point is reached. At which point, an assessment is done and a new machine can be purchased, after the proper paperwork, and research. Approvals might then be given.
Every other aspect of medicine is consistent with that process. In the end, there is good, or great healthcare for everyone. It simply takes an extended amount of time to get it. Like all else in the world, there are some who wield some influence, for one reason or another, and they just might find themselves moved up the line, and receive timely treatment. For the rest, it is a protracted, and perhaps dangerous, wait.
It is all quite complicated. In the U.S., if you are working, and have a decent insurance program, your healthcare is in good hands. Many programs are local, and therefore geographically restrictive, and most all have hefty co-pays. However, that can be a significant burden to lower income earners. Especially if your health is compromised, and treatments and medications are required on a too regular basis. Healthcare, certainly, is most problematic for the unemployed and poor. That needs to be resolved. It would be inhumane to turn our backs on those who require our help. Even if it costs us all a little more.
In Canada, healthcare is in the hands of politicians and accountants - actuarial tables. I have been there, as you know from past posts. Treatment needs to be, if nothing else, more timely. We have had friends and family die, while they waited for necessary scans and treatment. It does not take much stretch of imagination to realize that a sick person puts more of a strain on a budget, than does a dead person. (See my old blog regarding canceled lung surgery in Toronto). I realize there are innumerable success stories everywhere, but I am focussing on the real, albeit darker side of our problems here. I claim no professional expertise. But I have been significantly impacted by healthcare philosophies in three countries, two of which, I have a preponderance of memories and opinions. I am the international patient poster boy. Like that great and oft quoted philosopher, Popeye, said, I yam what I yam.
On the serious topic of cancer research, Dr. Azra Raza, director of the MDS Center at Columbia University has a new book in publication, which most likely, none of us will ever read. It is difficult to read complex medical journals. At least it is for me. Thankfully, she wrote an essay in the Journal, for those of us who, like me, are satisfied with CliffsNotes versions.
She claims cancer is still beating us. A statement of the obvious. She also states that we patients continue to face excruciating, costly and ineffective treatments. This, most of us also know. But here is her "kicker". She proposes that researchers shift from fighting the disease, in its end stages, to finding the very first cancer cells formed. It seems so obvious once you hear it. Recognize and treat problems before they get out of hand. How many friends have we lost due to tardy diagnosis of cancer? How incredibly changed would our world be, if this had been possible. We can only be hopeful, that her suggested path, will attract researchers and funding.
Interestingly, in our talk with Donna, I mentioned that it would make more sense for specialists to begin treatment earlier, rather than what is the currently practice - providing that good treatment, when it is sometimes too late. I suppose, for doctors, it is difficult to get to that point, when they are already beyond their limits, overloaded with critical cases. I remember our family doctor, while we lived in Toronto. He delivered both our girls. He was a gifted, caring, family physician, and he left his practice for the comfort of working for a large corporation. The required and increasing amount of governmental paperwork, and time to ensure his patients' care, were costing him any time to devote to his family. He moved on.
Interesting to me, are the different reasons for doctors to abandon their own practices. In Canada, it is governmental involvement, and here, it is the cost of litigation, and for insurance to fend off bankruptcy. In both countries, I believe doctors genuinely want to help people. We have somehow created environments to prevent that from happening. Amazing. Simply amazing.
We all need good, as well as timely, health care. Whether in Canada or here. It makes sense to me, that we all ensure that our politicians have some thoughtfully and thoroughly considered proposals on their agenda. Cancer continues to need our attention and funding. Too many of us are still dying, prematurely. Strides have been made in HIV and Hep C. Cancer should be next. We need our children and their children to know that if they contract cancer, it is not a death sentence.
Forgive the diatribe. The last while has proven to me, that I have been too complacent. We all need to recognize that we have serious issues in our healthcare programs, and do something about it. Amen.
On a lighter note, particularly for Canadians -
On my recent air travels, I finished a book by Will Ferguson, called Beauty Tips From Moosejaw. He is a Canadian writer, and a good one. His story about finding Canada, is side-splittingly funny and more importantly, rife with historical facts, which, I guarantee, will make every Canadian even more proud of their country.
History we never learned in school. Similar to the creation of America, but with more bad weather and canoes. Took me a couple of chapters to get into it, and then I was very sorry it was over. Good books, like good friends, are missed, when we close their last page.
My trip to Toronto was blanketed in sadness. Ferguson's book brought a lonely soul back to its natural state. Thank you Mr. Ferguson, wherever you are.
By the way, the weekend gave us a big Roll Tide. LSU awaits.
And in another game, four time cancer survivor, Casey O'Brien held the football for the point after, during the Golden Gophers' victory on Saturday. Coach P.J. Fleck made this happen. Evidence that our world is absolutely amazing and courage and compassion is everywhere. Their celebratory hug lasted forever. If that moment did not move you, have your pulse checked.
And congratulations to Tiger. Japan was good to him. Reminded me of a week-long trip there, with my old buddy George Van Fossen. Will spill the beans on that later.
As always, thank you for your time. Share your love. We all need it.
jrobinmullen@gmail.com
On The Stereo: 24 Frames: Jason Isbell
We are at the tail end of love bug season, here. We get two seasons a year. They are called love bugs because a large one and a small one attach, and fly aimlessly around, driving you crazy. And we have romanticized the act. That was a big mistake. They are horrible and are everywhere. They are highly acidic and plaster themselves to your car, when you are out driving. If you do not wash your car soon, thereafter, your paint will be damaged. There is no love here for these little creeps. Gripe of the day. Over and out, my little love bug. Our weather is clear, no humidity, and in the mid- seventies. No annoying bugs of any kind. Our version of heaven.
I have put off writing about our Princeton trip, for some personal reasons. I will pick up the loose threads, some time later. But now I want to talk to you regarding what has lately been dominating my mind. At least one thing.
Kath and I were talking with her cousin, Donna, last week, about Canadian health care. Despite some difficulty in getting an appointment with doctors in select disciplines, her take was, that when you finally get in, you receive excellent treatment. That is obviously a good thing. My posit to her was, that if you were able to see that doctor earlier, you might not be in crisis mode abetted by time left untreated.
At this juncture, I must remind everyone, that I am not throwing rocks at another country's health care decisions, but offering my opinion, based on my real life medical experience - in both countries. After the next election, this country might well follow a similar path.
The last administration, in this country, gave us a universal healthcare system, but, interestingly, exempted all those who were in a position to vote on it, as well as the UAW. You can decide yourself, why they were conceded special treatment. So much for universality. And a government that passes laws for all to follow, but themselves. It is abhorrent to me, that the people who are elected by us and who are to work on our behalf, would ensure that they are above the laws they pass. And we, the docile voters, let this self entitlement carry on.
In fact, when the Affordable Care Act came to be, some of our elected representatives were told they could not read the proposed bill until it was passed into law. Pass the law, and then find out what you did. My god. For the rest of the population, if you did not participate, you would be fined $100/month. In time, the program began to crumble. It became apparent that costs were high, and that there was no source of funding put in place. And nobody was going to pay a fine for a service in which they did not believe, or could not afford.
Old geezers like me are on medicare, and happy as clams. We have no skin in the game. At this stage, anyway. And the majority of my aged friends love our program. Most doctors, specialists, tests and treatments are covered. The odd exotic can be covered by a supplementary, not inexpensive, but manageable. All in all, it has been good for us. Especially after years of high cost private coverage. Sadly, some of the very best cancer treatments are expensive, and not covered under policy. Years of research and failure need repaid. Successes are few and far between. Insurance companies consider some drugs not necessary. This situation needs Solomon to intervene.
I do know healthcare - up close and personal.
Now the generation behind me, and others my age, are in limbo with a national healthcare plan, all awaiting something - anything.
After our next election, someone will do something, hopefully. Although in our world of zany politics, who knows?
My point here, is that neither healthcare system is perfect. More worrisome, I don't think they are even reaching a decent level of mediocrity. Either one of them.
In my feeble mind, I believe that the two most important things for people in any country, is access to education and healthcare. Both are invaluable to the person and to their country. I will not try to tackle education today. I have a teacher living with me. I need to show caution. But we should all get our minds around our need for good healthcare. For our own good.
Personally, I believe it to be unfathomable, that in countries like ours, we would allow anyone in need of medicine or surgery, to go without. So poverty should not be a reason to ignore necessary treatment, for anyone. Easy enough to say. Who pays, and how do we manage the process? In this country, we have not yet resolved any part of that. Our current system is not effective and the blend of private insurance companies and public funding are not compatible. Leaving insurance carriers to pick and choose their clientele, leaves the government with the chronically sick and the indigent. The recipe for an imbalanced and difficult taxation problem. Our enemies, real or perceived, are greedy corporations, and/or ineffective, and costly, government.
Canadian healthcare, the model for some of our presidential hopefuls, is totally socialized, and not without its own problems. It requires a formidable level of increased taxation and involvement and/or interference with process, rules and outcome, concerning our lives. If you believe that government can manage anything well, you might well be in a tiny minority. Really.
So, back to our discussion with Donna. Healthcare in Canada, has distinctly different problems, than do we Americans. Specialized equipment, like scanning machines, are limited, by population formulae. As with most budgetary items, they are kept to the minimum, until a crisis tipping point is reached. At which point, an assessment is done and a new machine can be purchased, after the proper paperwork, and research. Approvals might then be given.
Every other aspect of medicine is consistent with that process. In the end, there is good, or great healthcare for everyone. It simply takes an extended amount of time to get it. Like all else in the world, there are some who wield some influence, for one reason or another, and they just might find themselves moved up the line, and receive timely treatment. For the rest, it is a protracted, and perhaps dangerous, wait.
It is all quite complicated. In the U.S., if you are working, and have a decent insurance program, your healthcare is in good hands. Many programs are local, and therefore geographically restrictive, and most all have hefty co-pays. However, that can be a significant burden to lower income earners. Especially if your health is compromised, and treatments and medications are required on a too regular basis. Healthcare, certainly, is most problematic for the unemployed and poor. That needs to be resolved. It would be inhumane to turn our backs on those who require our help. Even if it costs us all a little more.
In Canada, healthcare is in the hands of politicians and accountants - actuarial tables. I have been there, as you know from past posts. Treatment needs to be, if nothing else, more timely. We have had friends and family die, while they waited for necessary scans and treatment. It does not take much stretch of imagination to realize that a sick person puts more of a strain on a budget, than does a dead person. (See my old blog regarding canceled lung surgery in Toronto). I realize there are innumerable success stories everywhere, but I am focussing on the real, albeit darker side of our problems here. I claim no professional expertise. But I have been significantly impacted by healthcare philosophies in three countries, two of which, I have a preponderance of memories and opinions. I am the international patient poster boy. Like that great and oft quoted philosopher, Popeye, said, I yam what I yam.
On the serious topic of cancer research, Dr. Azra Raza, director of the MDS Center at Columbia University has a new book in publication, which most likely, none of us will ever read. It is difficult to read complex medical journals. At least it is for me. Thankfully, she wrote an essay in the Journal, for those of us who, like me, are satisfied with CliffsNotes versions.
She claims cancer is still beating us. A statement of the obvious. She also states that we patients continue to face excruciating, costly and ineffective treatments. This, most of us also know. But here is her "kicker". She proposes that researchers shift from fighting the disease, in its end stages, to finding the very first cancer cells formed. It seems so obvious once you hear it. Recognize and treat problems before they get out of hand. How many friends have we lost due to tardy diagnosis of cancer? How incredibly changed would our world be, if this had been possible. We can only be hopeful, that her suggested path, will attract researchers and funding.
Interestingly, in our talk with Donna, I mentioned that it would make more sense for specialists to begin treatment earlier, rather than what is the currently practice - providing that good treatment, when it is sometimes too late. I suppose, for doctors, it is difficult to get to that point, when they are already beyond their limits, overloaded with critical cases. I remember our family doctor, while we lived in Toronto. He delivered both our girls. He was a gifted, caring, family physician, and he left his practice for the comfort of working for a large corporation. The required and increasing amount of governmental paperwork, and time to ensure his patients' care, were costing him any time to devote to his family. He moved on.
Interesting to me, are the different reasons for doctors to abandon their own practices. In Canada, it is governmental involvement, and here, it is the cost of litigation, and for insurance to fend off bankruptcy. In both countries, I believe doctors genuinely want to help people. We have somehow created environments to prevent that from happening. Amazing. Simply amazing.
We all need good, as well as timely, health care. Whether in Canada or here. It makes sense to me, that we all ensure that our politicians have some thoughtfully and thoroughly considered proposals on their agenda. Cancer continues to need our attention and funding. Too many of us are still dying, prematurely. Strides have been made in HIV and Hep C. Cancer should be next. We need our children and their children to know that if they contract cancer, it is not a death sentence.
Forgive the diatribe. The last while has proven to me, that I have been too complacent. We all need to recognize that we have serious issues in our healthcare programs, and do something about it. Amen.
On a lighter note, particularly for Canadians -
On my recent air travels, I finished a book by Will Ferguson, called Beauty Tips From Moosejaw. He is a Canadian writer, and a good one. His story about finding Canada, is side-splittingly funny and more importantly, rife with historical facts, which, I guarantee, will make every Canadian even more proud of their country.
History we never learned in school. Similar to the creation of America, but with more bad weather and canoes. Took me a couple of chapters to get into it, and then I was very sorry it was over. Good books, like good friends, are missed, when we close their last page.
My trip to Toronto was blanketed in sadness. Ferguson's book brought a lonely soul back to its natural state. Thank you Mr. Ferguson, wherever you are.
By the way, the weekend gave us a big Roll Tide. LSU awaits.
And in another game, four time cancer survivor, Casey O'Brien held the football for the point after, during the Golden Gophers' victory on Saturday. Coach P.J. Fleck made this happen. Evidence that our world is absolutely amazing and courage and compassion is everywhere. Their celebratory hug lasted forever. If that moment did not move you, have your pulse checked.
And congratulations to Tiger. Japan was good to him. Reminded me of a week-long trip there, with my old buddy George Van Fossen. Will spill the beans on that later.
As always, thank you for your time. Share your love. We all need it.
jrobinmullen@gmail.com
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