As I write my blog for week #5 I am saddened at the wasting of my next door neighbor who is 47 years old and in his last days. He does not have HIV, but was diagnosed with cancer about six years ago. I remember when he first shared with us that he had a tumor. He did not seem overly concerned. He was ready for the surgery and then things would go on as normal. I have watched him bounce back and forth from healthy to not healthy, depending on whether or not he was in remission or if he was able to tolerate the treatment. He has gone from a healthy 230 pound man to wasting away to almost nothing. He has lost his desire to eat, to visit, to survive. He has had to deal with fever, nausea, horrible pain, sores, and fatigue while wasting away to someone who is barely recognized.
The human body and what it accomplishes each and every day is amazing. The body has automatic survival skills that are at work 24/7 so when a virus or disease gets the best of our bodies we know it has put up a good fight. It seems that many viruses and diseases have many of the same signs and symptoms at the onset and throughout the longevity of the illness. Anything that attacks our immune system seems to cause a breakdown in our bodies ability to defend itself from many different fronts. If the disease or virus can't get us through muscle, it moves to bone, if it can't get us through our bones, it moves to our blood until it consumes us. Meanwhile the unfortunate victim of the horrible disease/virus is at the mercy of available treatments and the body they were born with.
Reading over this weeks module gives me the desire to take better care of myself. I will be more quicker to get to the doctor and the dentist. I will not put off getting my moles checked or my pap smear done on a yearly basis. I will pay closer attention to the little signs that could mean I have the beginning of something more serious. I will be more proactive in not taking unnecessary risks like having unprotected sex or engaging in IV drug use. I will do a better job of taking care of this body since it is trying to take care of me. I will make each day count because life can be short.
My tidbit this week is on the similarities and differences of HIV and cancer. On the web site, The HIV-Cancer Link, they are studying the similarities and differences of HIV and cancer. Some of the similarities is in the area of cytokine research which has to do with chemical interactions and the immune systems response to infection. Another similarity has to do with several sexually transmitted viruses that are linked to HIV cancers (those cancers that are common in HIV patients).
Some differences that are important are the patient populations affected, the attitudes of the physicians and how the FDA approves clinical trials. With some of this new information, researchers are finding that those HIV patients who are living longer will develop some type of HIV cancer. AIDS research has lead to a better understanding of some infections within the cancer community. The sharing of data and information between the HIV/AIDS and the cancer research community can only have a positive impact on the fight against these debilitating viruses.
Web: HIV-Cancer (2009). Retrieved Sept. 20, 2009, from http://www.aidsinfonyc.org/hivplus/issue2/ahead/cancer.html.
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After taking this course I couldnt agree with you more about taking care of your body. I feel the same way. Like maybe if you can catch sickness or cancer before it gets too late you can prevent some of the negative side effects. Just by being more proactive, like you said it could make a world of difference for your health. I know I take for granted being healthy until I get a cold or like last year when I had bronchitis twice. I think most healthy people do. We think of being healthy as something that we are always going to be and don't think twice about it. When you sit back and look at someone, like your neighbor or anyone going through cancer or sickness, it does make you stop and think. I've learned not to take my health for granted because there are many people out there who can never have their health back.
ReplyDeleteWow. Very well put. I, myslef, have began to think more about my physical state lately.I am 30 years old and weigh abiut 116lbs. That sounds good, but I am really out of shape. I've been trying to get the motivation to start some kind of weekly regimen for working out - for me and my family. In my Physio Psych class we have to read the book 12 Brain Rules and the very first rule is to exercise. It really does do the body and mind good. I think even HIV/AIDS patients could benefit from a good exercise regimen - given that they have the energy. I get scared that even though I might seem healthy on the outside that there might be something going on on the inside. More and more this makes me more motivated to do something about it. If I didn't have such a crazy schedule as I work 3rd shift, then it would be much easier to be able to do so.
ReplyDeleteCathia, I agree with you 100%. Since I started this class I have had to give up all exercise so that I can spend any free time working on this classes assignments. I will be happy when this is over so I can get back to my walks and yoga. I have noticed the older I get and with being less active due to work and school that I can definitely feel a difference in how my body moves.
ReplyDeleteCathia, I have also been someone that is sad to say likes be in a "denial" state about my own health. I always thought I would rather not know if I had a disease or sickness because I thought if I didn't know it could not affect me. After this class it makes me WANT to be aware. If I'm aware I still have a chance, a chance to fight. Great comments! I also feel very overwhelm sometimes with school and wish I had more time to take care of my physical being.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting that you pick cancer and HIV. I can remember when people with cancer were so upset when funding went to HIV researchers. They claimed they were getting short changed. In reality they were getting more for their money because what was learned from HIV positive patients who also got cancer could be generalized to the cancer community. I believe it will be this sharing of data that just might defeat two diseases instead of one.
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