The Somber Hope of a New Medication

infusion

Sitting at the infusion center at my rheumatologist's office with an I.V. in my arm. I am getting the Rituxan. I trust you, Lord. It is a miracle. . . a miracle mixed in with a melancholy mood. It is a chemo drug. . . now approved for rheumatoid arthritis. Evidently it "works," but there is something about knowing it was designed to treat cancer that gives me fidgety feelings. I have taken cancer meds in the past. You don't embrace the drug as an answer. You juggle the undercurrent of tolerance mixed with hope. I trust you, Lord. I read the side effects on the US National Library of Medicine. The first box is a big warning: Some people who received Rituximab experienced severe reactions to the medication. Some of these people … [Read more...]

Free Cleaning Services for Women w/ Cancer Gears Up for Awareness Week

There are some organizations you run across & you think, "Now THERE is something we need for the chronically ill!" Here is one we especially like, "Cleaning for a Reason." httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZrhqElUfJs Right now Cleaning for a Reason is gearing up for Cleaning for a Reason Week, April 18-24 , 2010. (You can become a Cleaning for a Reason Facebook Fan here to help them spread the word.) They recruit professional residential maid services who are insured &/or bonded & perform background checks on their employees to participate. Each company has agreed to take 2 patients at a time & offer four free cleanings – one a month for four months. They accept cancer patient applications online, receive doctor’s verification … [Read more...]