NO to Public Health Care Option

I am opposed to a government-run Public Health Care Option as part of the current Health Care Reform bills circulating in Congress.

Health care is not a right.  You and I have no more right to force a doctor or hospital to treat us than we have a right to force a mechanic to fix our car or force a carpenter to fix our house.

The issue is nothing more, or LESS, basic than that.  We do not have a right to strip another individual of his pursuit of life, liberty, happiness, and freedom to choose, in order to serve us.  To do so is nothing more than forceful subjugation and slavery of another person.

As a recent hospital patient and successful survivor of cancer surgery, I can see plenty of room for health care reform, IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.  I am currently engaged in a letter campaign with my health insurance company as they are denying my 2nd day of hospital care (within 24 hours after my noon surgery completion the previous day), saying I was medically stable enough to go home.  Au contraire’, according to my surgeon, and my personal experience on the scene.  I’ll be seeing this one all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary.  And this after paying decades of health insurance.  It’s no wonder the insurance companies are vilified.

HOWEVER, I don’t need dear old Uncle Sam interfering on my behalf.

Further, I am opposed to ANY National Health Care Reform as currently proposed.  Following are just a few reasons:

1.  85% of the population is insured.  National reform will MANDATE that the 85% readjust as necessary to accommodate the other 15%.
2.  Only half or so of the 15% uninsured will become insured under national reform anyway.
3.  The plan will take 3 or 4 years to get started due to the massive bureaucracy involved.
4.  The costs, despite “government assurances”, will likely add to an already crippling national debt.
5.  The government says money will be saved by removing “waste and inefficiencies” in existing government programs.  Who believes this?  If it can or could have been done, it should have been done already.
6.  Proposed national health reform doesn’t address many major issues, such as tort reform.  (Exorbitant non-economic lawsuit compensation is forcing equally exorbitant malpractice insurance on good doctors, thus driving up the costs to consumers, you and me.)  Why no tort reform?  Ohhhh, lawyers have a lot of influence in Congress.  So much for reason, logic, and fairness.

I strongly encourage you to write your Senators and Congressmen and express your own opinions.  Following are links to contact either:

Senators

Congressmen

FYI many of these contact websites won’t let you submit a message unless you can post an address within their district, as they only want to hear from direct constituents.  Phooey on that I say.  Bing, Google, or Mapquest is your friend for finding an address.  Yes, districts elect our representatives, but those reps are voting on NATIONAL issues that effectus all, and we all should have the right to express our opinion to any representative.

Heaven help us should we continue down the road to socialism and the suppression of individual thinking and self-responsibilty.  (To who else but Heaven can we appeal for the ethereal Hope and Change?  Umm, nevermind.)  If we don’t stop this now, I’ll be seeing you in the welfare line, just ahead of me. 

I (DO NOT) have prostate cancer (ANYMORE)

Ref my previous posts, I have prostate cancer, post #1 and I have prostate cancer, post # 2, I no longer have prostate cancer.

I had a DaVinci Robotic Radical Prostatectomy (removal of the cancerous prostate gland) last Tuesday 29 Sep. The pathology report (which I haven't seen the details of yet) came back after surgery saying the cancer appears to be fully contained within the removed prostate. Although there are no ultimate guarantees, and I will have a lifetime of monitoring, it is hugely better than "you have 3 to 6 months".

I am recovering now from a very complex and invasive snip and tuck surgery. They were able to spare both nerve bundles that effect male functionality and I fully expect to get through any incontinence issues too.

I already have my ski pass for this coming winter, so LOOK OUT you mountain people! As life doesn't get any longer, no matter what, I am also still browsing for a mountain property. Simple ol' me. I still like looking at trees and rocks. We shall see.

Thanks for all the support and good wishes, past and future. I feel like this home run was for all those dear family and friends of mine and everyone's who we have lost to the many deadly cancers out there. We can win and beat this thing. I'm incredibly fortunate to be one who has done so.

My good fortune was due in large part to early detection, an extremely high level of medical and technical expertise on the part of my surgeon and his staff, advanced technology medical equipment, and high quality hospital care before, during, and after the surgery.

Don't even get me started on "national health care". Well, ok, for one thing I confirmed the cancer and was rid of it in just over 60 days. Try doing that in Canada, the U.K., or anywhere else.

But I digress. It's just great to be alive.

I Have Prostate Cancer, Post # 1

I only know that 6 of 12 biopsies showed positive for prostate cancer and thus that I should see the Urologist to discuss treatment, so I’m otherwise naïve and glib about it presently.

I’m 63 ½ years old. I’ve lost 35 pounds since the first of January, due to diet and exercise (mostly due to diet actually, as I’ve always gotten a reasonable amount of exercise). My lady has lost over 30 pounds during the same time. I’m healthier now (other than that little cancer thing) than I’ve been in over 30 years.

In June 2009 during a routine cholesterol screen at my G.P.’s we found my PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) had risen from 3.4 (11/08) to 4.1, just over the 4.0 “let’s take another look” level, and I was referred to a urologist. (In retrospect, of course, “maybe” we should have taken a closer look when the PSA went from 2.4 in 11/06 to 3.5 in 11/07, but such was not advised. I now know velocity, or rate of rise, is a consideration. My PSA was between 1.1 and 1.9 for ten years prior to 11/06.) (I’m inclosing PSA info of my levels for the last 13 years.)

I saw a urologist and we did an ultrasound and biopsy on 24 July. My prostrate was larger than the ‘normal’ walnut size but smaller than a golf ball. There were no visible lumps or nodes (either is a sure sign of cancer). I was advised of the results (6 of 12 samples positive for cancer) on 6 Aug. and that a discussion of treatment rather than “watchful waiting” was advised. My lady and I are seeing the urologist on 20 Aug.

A book on prostate cancer was recommended by the urologist’s office so I could be more familiar with the situation and terminology. I bought the suggested Dr. Patrick Walsh's Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer . It is 500 pages long! It is very well written and in terms the layman can understand. I can now recommend it myself. I have read or skimmed the entire book. I skimmed chapters such as Preventing Prostate Cancer (too late) and Help for Advanced Prostate Cancer (too soon). I read in detail chapters such as Diagnosis And Staging (how bad is it!?) and Radical Prostatectomy (the ‘gold standard’ in treatments, REMOVAL!). I skimmed chapters on a variety of other lesser treatments. Any of these can be revisited as needed.

Like most cancers, one must strive to DETECT IT EARLY and GET IT OUT. I do not know my Gleason Score, TNM Staging, Partin and Han Tables rating, etc. Hopefully I’ll get some of these answers at my next consultation.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and the 3rd leading cause of cancer death in men. There have been HUGE advances in its treatment over the years. The possibility of avoiding impotency and incontinence as a result of treatment has been hugely increased. Until I have facts that say otherwise, I am optimistic for now. Stay tuned for Post #2, probably after my consultation.

What’s up with Weight?

My weight. Hopefully it’s not UP but still DOWN. This is an update to my previous blog\diary of my weight loss this year (same blog, different sites):

ONCE THERE WAS A WEIGHT
ONCE THERE WAS A WEIGHT
ONCE THERE WAS A WEIGHT

How am I doing, and what works?

Short answer:

After 6 months of dieting I’m maintaining a weight loss of 32-33 pounds. What has worked is eating a LOT MORE fruits and vegetables, salads, and the like, and eating a LOT LESS fat. I’m also maintaining a regular exercise program, which I did before dieting but was proof positive that exercise alone didn’t work.

Long answer:

May 13 I reported: “My greatest loss… …has been 32 pounds, which I’ve hit twice this month. I’ve hit a 31 pound loss 4 times this month and been at a 30 pound loss the other days.”

In the last 30 days my greatest loss (since dieting started 1 January) has been 35 pounds, which I’ve hit 5 times. I’ve hit a 34 pound loss at least 6 times, 33 pounds at least 6 times, and 31 or 32 the other days. I haven’t dropped below a 30 pound loss since May 1.

Thirty is good! I’d like to stay “around” a 30 pound loss indefinitely. That so-called “cushion”. I feel if I drop below a 25 pound loss I’m in danger of serious weight gain. After all, just how do those pounds creep back anyway? One at a time, I suspect. Over and over and over.

A 30 to 35 pound loss is even better. I haven’t tried to get to the 35 pound loss, and I don’t really want to lose more than that, but perhaps the healthy eating and exercise is taking its (good) toll. I’ve spent hundreds of dollars on clothes alterations, mostly pants. I almost could have bought new for the price, but I’m nervous about gaining. Is this new me too good to be true? Can it last? That will be the real test of weight loss, keeping it off.

I’m trying to get into a “groove” on eating. Eat healthy, eat regular, eat enough to satisfy and maintain the weight level, don’t binge or eat so much that weight-creep starts again. This could take awhile.

Does it seem like I think about it a lot? That’s what it has taken. Fo-cus. (Something I don’t feel is necessarily my strrrrong suit.)

What are my current cravings and binges? Splenda. Lots and lots of Splenda. In coffee. On bread and margarine. On bowls and bowls of fruit (bluebs, strawbs, clementines and yellow peaches when available), and yogurt, often with high fiber cereal mixed in. Best guilty pleasure which I don’t O.D. on: high fiber 8” wheat tortilla thinly spread with peanut butter and Splenda Brown Sugar, rolled and nuked for 17 seconds.

Binged on bread\margarine\Splenda last night (25 June). TLW has introduced me to sugar free gum, which helps to stave appetite if I remember to pop one in in a timely manner. Still, I’ve been eating a lot of cereal in the evenings all this week. Must… eat… “rationally”. (No one said it would be easy.)

Weight loss milestones from the dietetically obsessed (I’d be lost without digital bathroom scales reading in tenths):

01/01/2009 – Weighed 174.6
01/22/2009 – Weighed 164.6 Lost 10 lbs
02/01/2009 – Weighed 159.6 Lost 15 lbs
02/13/2009 – Weighed 154.4 Lost 20 lbs
03/07/2009 – Weighed 149.4 Lost 25 lbs
04/21/2009 – Weighed 144.6 Lost 30 lbs (That 5 lbs took awhile.)
06/02/2009 – Weighed 139.8 Lost 35 lbs (Highest loss to date, hit 6 times in June so far. Wasn’t trying for that and not planning on greater losses, but a “cushion” is nice.)

04/30/2009 – Last time at 29 lb loss
05/11/2009 – Last time at 30lb loss

“Hovering” in the 32-34 lb loss range this month (June).

What has worked? Less food, more exercise. REALLY! Healthier food. (Fruit, vegetables, fiber.) LOTS of salads, usually with meat or fish atop, but lots of Romaine, mushrooms, carrots, onions, tomatoes, dressings (usually lite dressings) often mixed with light olive oil. Egg beater omelets, with fresh cooked spinach, artificial crab meat, shrooms, 2% cheese, onions. Bowls of aforementioned fruit, yogurt, cereal. Snacking on those high fiber tortillas, dry whole almonds roasted on a cookie sheet for 18 minutes for a little extra flavor, chewing gum. Exercise. Home exer-cycle mornings. To the gym for abs and weights. Evening exer-cycle if eating too much during the day. I can do a lot of computing, reading, TV, or crosswords on that exer-cycle. (I just rigged a holder for my laptops, both the light one AND the heavy one (but not both at the same time). Lookout, I may bicycle all day!)

What doesn't work? Craved (crazed?) or binge eating. I do (did) love to eat and it's tough, even though I'm immensely liking the healthy food much more, to not let those cravings take over. I don't binge often, or too much when I do, but that partial loss of control when I want "more" doesn't work.

Will eating healthy ever become second nature? One can only hope. In the meantime… fo-cus… fo-cus.

See photo for my weight loss comparison over recent years. The plunging red line is THIS year.

Debunking Canadian health care myths

Speaking of Health Care, this guest commentary in the Denver Post recently, Debunking Canadian health care myths, just smacked me in the face when I read it.  Despite the arguable debunking of myths throughout, the first and last paragraphs speak volumes:

First: "As a Canadian living in the United States for the past 17 years, I am frequently asked by Americans and Canadians alike to declare one health care system as the better one." 

(If Canada is so great, why do you, a clinical psychologist, live here?  Love?  Money?  Better health care?)

Last: "It is not a perfect system, but it has its merits. For people like my 55-year-old Aunt Betty, who has been waiting for 14 months for knee-replacement surgery due to a long history of arthritis, it is the superior system. Her $35,000-plus surgery is finally scheduled for next month. She has been in pain, and her quality of life has been compromised. However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Aunt Betty — who lives on a fixed income and could never afford private health insurance, much less the cost of the surgery and requisite follow-up care — will soon sport a new, high-tech knee. Waiting 14 months for the procedure is easy when the alternative is living in pain for the rest of your life."

("...it has its merits.  ...She has been in pain, and her quality of life has been compromised.  ...Waiting FOURTEEN MONTHS is easy when the alternative is living in pain for the rest of your life."  Where do I sign up!)

(If the link doesn't work well, try refreshing it a couple of times or search thedenverpost.com.  Author was Rhonda Hackett.)

CANCER, DEADLY CANCER

Not anything I have, thank goodness, but we all know some people that have had cancer of some kind, and many of them died from it. M’lady’s brother died of renal cell carcinoma (kidney) in March, after a miserable but valiant struggle for 2 ½ years after a (high) stage 4 diagnosis spread to his spine and hips. Dad died of pancreatic cancer 3 months after it was diagnosed and just short of his 85th birthday, this after late onset diabetes at age 81 and his meticulous attention to caring for it. I sometimes bitterly joke that he was the healthiest one in the family until he got sick and died. Perhaps his doctor should have given him more meticulous attention, but it is history now.

A good friend died in his 40s of brain cancer he thought he might have contracted from time spent in high ship towers near strong Navy radar. His father died of throat cancer, after a life of smoking I believe. A former co-worker’s mother died of throat cancer when he was about 14. An older gentleman up the street currently has hepato-cellular carcinoma (liver) and is hanging in there with extensive treatments. A very good friend my age had cancer, beat it, and is living a healthy, active life. Of course we’ve all heard of breast cancer, testicular cancer (bicyclist Lance Armstrong), u-name-it.

Sooo many different kinds of cancer. It boggles the mind. Cancer is the 2nd leading cause of death in the U.S. Following is a portion of a chart (a few years old but close enough for government work, as they say) from CDC leading causes of death 2005

Table B. Percentage of total deaths, 2005

Type Death - Number Deaths – Percent of total
... All causes 2,448,017 - 100.0

1 Diseases of heart 652,091 - 26.6

2 Malignant neoplasms (Cancers) 559,312- 22.8

3 Cerebrovascular diseases (Stroke) 143,579 - 5.9

4 Chronic lower respiratory diseases 130,933 - 5.3

5 Accidents (unintentional injuries) 117,809 - 4.8

6 Diabetes mellitus 75,119 - 3.1

7 Alzheimer's disease 71,599 - 2.9

8 Influenza and pneumonia 63,001 - 2.6

9 Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome,nephrosis 43,901 - 1.8

10 Septicemia 34,136 - 1.4

11 Intentional self-harm (suicide) 32,637 - 1.3

12 Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis 27,530 - 1.1

13 Essential (primary) hypertension and

hypertensive renal disease 24,902 - 1.0

14 Parkinson's disease 19,544 - 0.8

15 Assault (homicide) 18,124 - 0.7

... All other causes (Residual) 433,800 - 7.7

As you can see Heart Disease takes a lion's share first with 26.6%, Cancers are close behind at 22.8% of all deaths.

Following are the major types of cancer (table from same source):

Table 10. Number of deaths from 113 selected causes: United States, 2005

Malignant neoplasms (C00-C97) 559,312

Malignant neoplasms of lip, oral cavity and pharynx
(C00-C14) 7,773

Malignant neoplasm of esophagus (C15) 13,499

Malignant neoplasm of stomach (C16) 11,514

Malignant neoplasms of colon, rectum and anus
(C18-C21) 53,252

Malignant neoplasms of liver and intrahepatic bile
ducts (C22) 16,076

Malignant neoplasm of pancreas (C25) 32,760

Malignant neoplasm of larynx (C32) 3,797

Malignant neoplasms of trachea, bronchus and lung
(C33-C34) 159,292

Malignant melanoma of skin (C43) 8,345

Malignant neoplasm of breast (C50) 41,491

Malignant neoplasm of cervix uteri (C53) 3,924

Malignant neoplasms of corpus uteri and uterus, part
unspecified (C54-C55) 7,096

Malignant neoplasm of ovary (C56) 14,787

Malignant neoplasm of prostate (C61) 28,905

Malignant neoplasms of kidney and renal pelvis
(C64-C65) 12,517

Malignant neoplasm of bladder (C67) 13,253

Malignant neoplasms of meninges, brain and other
parts of central nervous system (C70-C72) 13,152

Malignant neoplasms of lymphoid, hematopoietic and
related tissue (C81-C96) 55,028

Hodgkin's disease (C81) 1,272

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (C82-C85) 20,873

Leukemia (C91-C95) 21,623

Multiple myeloma and immunoproliferative
neoplasms (C88,C90) 11,200

Other and unspecified malignant neoplasms of
lymphoid, hematopoietic and related tissue (C96) 60

All other and unspecified malignant neoplasms
(C17,C23-C24,C26-C31,C37-C41,C44-C49,C51-
C52,C57-C60,C62-C63,C66,C68-C69,C73-C80,
C97) 62,851

(Apologies for the poor formatting of the previous data.)

Here is a thorough document for 2008:

CANCER FACTS AND FIGURES 2008

There is a LOT of information out there. (Google is your friend.)

I’m all for free market capitalism in the research and development of cancer cures, but if the government really feels it must throw bailout money at someone, cancer (and heart disease, Parkinson’s, MS, et al) would be a good place to start.

According to the article On front line in cancer fight “A record 861 cancer drugs are in the research pipeline…”

What can we do? Contribute, run, help a friend, contribute. We can beat this.

ONCE THERE WAS A WEIGHT

Diary of a loser …or how I lost 20 pounds in 8 weeks and a total of 30 pounds in 16 weeks to become one of the biggest losers I have ever been. (All puns intended.) I have dropped from a near all-time high of 174 pounds on Jan. 1, 2009 to around 144 pounds in May 2009. For those of us with a Napoleanic stature of 5’5-1/2” (he was actually taller) it’s called ‘making a difference’.

But can I keep it up (or down, actually)? As Billy Shakespeare said, “THAT is the question”. Following are some notes and communications I’ve made over the last months as events unfolded:

06Jan2009:

Weight

It’s all about weight. Mine has been on my mind since I returned last week. I don’t like being heavy. I don’t feel good physically (too much huff and puff) and I don’t like the way I look. (I’m not vying for America’s Top Model, but seriously folks.) I’ve lost up to 5 pounds since 1 January, though I’m back to only 4 lost today. I could gain the entire amount back in 2 good meals. Yesterday I skied, had one modest-sized bowl of soup for lunch, one bowl of popcorn with light olive oil, herb seasoning, and no salt, my usual many cups of coffee with sweetener and non-diary creamer, and gained a pound. The story of my life. Of course it’s not only the number of pounds, but the percentages. 5 pounds is about 3% of my January 1 high weight of 174.9. (Thank goodness I don’t weigh 175!!) During some periods in 2006 and 2007 I was actually 15% lighter, in the low 160’s (briefly even in the high 150’s) and it made a difference in my looks and clothes fitting. I have no idea what I was doing to get like that.

What works for me is eating less, and that is what has helped me shed 4-5 pounds in 5 days. I’m living proof that exercise alone will not make you lose weight, though I’m firmly convinced that exercise is an absolute necessity for health and well-being. So, in the last week I have shunned eating really good things. There is no way I will do that forever but I really must ‘just say no’ to the frequency with which I have so many savory things to eat. Eating is fun and I enjoy it very much, it’s unfortunate it is killing me. Of course one must eat enough to prevent light-headedness and to support one’s relative activity level.

14Jan2009:

Weight Update:

I’ve lost up to a whopping 8 pounds since the 1^st. As a result I’m down to a weight I haven’t seen since very early last April. One more pound and I will hit a weight I only hit on 3 days last year. The fun part will be keeping it off, as well as losing more. Not much of a difference in clothes yet, but it’s a start. I’m still mainly working on eating less. I’ve cut out nearly all salt and laid off popcorn for several days now. (52 grams of carbs per bag, not counting a cup+ of light olive oil. What was I thinking!?) TBC.

14Feb2009:

Weight update - 20 and counting

20 pounds lost, that is, in the 6 weeks and 3 days since 1 January 2009. It’s a personal best of that much lost in that little time. The fun part will be losing a bit more, and the REALLY fun part will be keeping it off. TLW (The Little Woman) and I got to thinking seriously about our weight after returning from our Christmas holiday travels. (She has lost 10 pounds, despite her constant travels and work-related restaurant eating.) Christmas, and any other time spent visiting family and friends, has always been an excuse for an orgy of eating (something I LOVE to do). The results have always been predictable, major weight gains and subsequently slow weight losses. I’ve realized MY weight problems are all about self. Let others handle their own situations, what am “I” going to do about me.

How have I done it so far? I’ve always gotten regular exercise, lots of gym time, and winter skiing, healthy but with little visible results. What has made the difference this time is getting exercise and:

1. Eating a lot less food (going a little hungry from time to time, something I’ve rarely ever done, and snacking on healthy things when I can’t stand it anymore)

2. Eating a lot better food (REALLY watching calories, carbs, fat, protein, et al. Not with computer accurate precision, but just being more aware of what has how much of what in it.)

One of my favorite hunger busters is dry whole almonds. (Bake them on a shallow pan for 12-14 minutes at 350 degrees (stir and turn them halfway through) for an added toasty flavor. Just don’t eat bowlfuls of them.)

We’ve switched from non-fat vanilla yogurt (still has lots of sugars) to plain, fat-free (tart tasting) yogurt, to which we add Splenda to sweeten, and frozen blueberries with a smattering of cereal for substance.

A friend has suggested artificial crab meat for substance in salads or omelets. Works great! Speaking of salads, I eat a lot more of them, and I’m liking it. I add the crab meat or salmon or very lean burger or nothing but veggies, and I like it! What a novelty. And I eat a lot of fish, and, and, well, I just say NO to pizza, chips, cookies, etc.

Ah well, I’m a six-week flash and wonder. Time will tell. It’s all about self.

18Apr2009:

I spent the better part of 2 weeks in Kansas City, MO at the end of March and not surprisingly, despite the best of intentions and some reasonably healthy eating, I gained 4 pounds. (HORRORS!) Fortunately, when I returned to Denver I lost a pound a day for the first 4 days. (Phewww. Close one.) Of course, this brought me back to a 28 pound loss since the 1^st of January. It’s not like a went obese or anything. I have since hit a 29 pound loss once, and I’ve been hanging at that 28 loss for a week. It would be “nice” to lose a few more pounds and have more of a cushion to fluctuate within, but still I’m in a weight range now that I don’t think I’ve seen in 30+ years.

13May2009:

Here we are, the future that is now. My greatest loss (well, gain, but a loss is a gain when it comes to weight, umm, you know what I mean) has been 32 pounds, which I’ve hit twice this month. I’ve hit a 31 pound loss 4 times this month and been at a 30 pound loss the other days. These little milestones are important to the obsessed dieter, as are the daily measured tenths of a pound from the digital bathroom scales. (I could NOT do this on my older weight-mechanism scales, fluctuating 3-5 pounds daily. Arrghhh.)

I’ve lost more weight in a shorter time than ever in my life. I weigh less than I did 30 years ago. ALL my clothes fit, or, they’re TOOO BIG (a badge of honor for the time being). It’s a good weight to be at (144), with plenty of “cushion” on which to fluctuate.

BUT CAN I KEEP THIS WEIGHT? “…ay, there's the rub.” THAT will be the REAL test, as many have warned me and with which I totally agree. I have to keep eating healthy food (which I now enjoy more than ever before). I have to keep exercising (that has never been a problem, though I’m a lazy exerciser and without good diet it has been insufficient alone). I also think I’m gonna’ keep an eye on the EXCUSES my wily psyche comes up with to gain a pound here and munch on something REALLY yummy there.

We shall see, we shall see. The fun has just begun. Stay tuned, don’t touch that dial. To Be Continued.

(P.S. TLW has lost about 23 pounds. Not too shabby either.)

(Attached picture: Weight chart for 1^st six months of the year 2003-2009.)