Cure for Cancer?
According to this morning’s Daily Mirror (my parents buy it not me!) scientists in America have moved one step closer to finding a cure for cancer. The paper says,
“Cancer could be wiped out after scientists found a drug that destroys deadly stem cells which drive the growth of tumours, it was revealed yesterday.
The so-called “mother cells” have so far proved invincible, resisting both radiation and chemotherapy treatments.
But for the first time researchers have identified a chemical, also referred to as a compound, that targets the cells and selectively kills them. Experiments were carried out on breast cancer before a chemical that worked was found.
Piyush Gupta, of the Broad Institute, Boston, said: “It wasn’t clear it would be possible to find compounds that selectively kill cancer stem cells. We’ve shown it can be done.”
They hope the discovery of the chemical, salinomycin, could mean it is included in a clinical drug in future.
And it could be used as a second line of attack with conventional cancer drugs to stop tumours growing back.
Many solid tumour cancers, including breast, prostate, bowel and lung, are thought to be driven and renewed by stem cell “parents”.”
Then, so that the thick British public can understand, go on to liken the cancer cells to the alien queen from the Alien movies. Do they think we’re all so stupid that we can’t reason through this without ridiculous similies.
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE?
“Like the mother in the Alien films, cancer stem cells are elusive and hard to defeat. And just as killing the mother Alien eradicated the threat of her offspring, scientists believe tackling tumour stem cells with salinomycin could destroy a cancer’s source. Injected into mice with breast cancer, the chemical also slowed the growth of the animal’s tumours.”
One final point about this article, considering its potential imapct on the nations health and the amount of interest that this news will generate, they put it on one of the inside pages because of course the news that Katie Price was seen cavorting in a park with her new boyfriend is obviously more important to the Mirror’s readers and needed to be on the front page!
Blast from the past…
The photograph above has just been found after a long period of absence. The picture was taken in 1959 and features my mothers brother, Allen, and his new wife Lillian. The lady 4th from the left is my mother at the tender age of 17. Standing next to her 3rd from the left is Margaret Rutherford. Well that’s a lie, she looks like her and according to my mother her speech and mannerisms were identical to that of Margaret Rutherford’s. That was actually my great grandmother Gertrude.
For those of you who don’t know who I’m talking about, recall the Miss Marple films of the early 1960s from MGM. Yes that’s her! In case you are wondering, the picture above is Margaret Rutherford from the film “Murder, she said” in 1962 and not Grandma Gerty.
Other notable figures in the picture are my grandfather, on my mothers side, poking his head from behind that of my uncle. My Aunt Sandra first on the right, who was 14 and standing next to her 2nd on the right, is my grandmother.
Finally, notice the little 11 year old girl, 2nd on the left, sticking her tongue out. That particularly well behaved young madam is my Aunt Joan.
Sadly, both my grandparents and both Aunt Sandra and Aunt Joan are no longer with us, both having died of cancer quite some years ago. It’s photos like this one that bring them back to life with such vivid memories for me and for mum, she’s had quite a good laugh over this picture this evening, it’s brough back lots of stories for her.
Tea & Toast
Thisbeing the first day of my recuperation, I had a little lie in. Once I’d got out of bed around 8.15am this morning I had a shower, then dressed. As today is Thursday and Thursdays in Penistone means market day, I decided to join my father in a walk around the market.
My father walked around the market like the local squire, saying hello to everyone and stopping to chat to folks more than look around the stalls. I did begin to wonder whether we’d make it back for lunch!
My father is a gregarious chap and will talk to anyone. If I ever had any doubts that my parents were isolated here in Penistone then I need no longer worry. My father knows, it seems, everyone by name! After talking to each person in turn and rejoining me he slipped me a little tit bit of gossip or info about each one “she lost her husband recently” or “he’s got more money than he lets on” and so on.
After having a look around the market, it seemed as though there wasn’t as many stalls as I remember. This being my first visit for almost 5 years. My recollection was of a bustling market crammed to capacity with a myriad of cheap and cheerful products to browse over. This morning seemed empty and each stall didn’t seem to carry much stock. I was quite disappointed. I guess it’s a by product of the credit crunch, that and the fact our market is due to be demolished to make way for a new Tesco supermarket. The market is to be relocated, along with the fire station to a new home not too far away. I guess the markets uncertain future is keeping market traders away for the time being.
On our return home, mother had warmed up the toaster and switched on the kettle. So I sat down quite content with one of my favourite breakfasts. Tea & Toast. Bliss!
At the Doctor’s
It wan’t that long ago I posted a tweet about being sat in a doctor’s surgery whilst being well. As it turns out I’m once again sat in one, this time waiting for my name to flash up on the screen.
“The Loved Ones” in there infinite wisdom have made me come and see the doctor about my stress.
Do doctors treat the symptoms of stress? I guess I’ll find out in a few minutes.
I feel like a fraud sat here, for all intents and purposes I’m not sick. I’m having trouble sleeping, keep getting tension headaches, have the occasional panic attack, I’m not eating properly (says mum) and I’m tired most of the time, but that’s normal surely when you’re having trouble sleeping.
But I’m not sick. Am I?
Time to…
That’s it! I’ve had enough. My mind is made up, it’s time to go. Today was the last straw. I’ve had it.
I’m referring to my job of course. I’ve put up with the crap for long enough.
I’m updating my CV (resume) and I’m going to start e/mailing out just as soon as possible. I’ve set myself a deadline of the end of September to find something else.
I’m not going to bore you with the details, but sometimes all it takes is a small thing to push someone over the edge and today it happened. I’ve never been happy there. The job wasn’t what was sold to me on interview. I was mislead and lied to from the start. The only compensation that the job offers is that the money is good, but that’s not my driving force. Never has been.
Onwards and upwards as the saying goes…
Medical Mayhem
Ever since our return from Miami in November of last year, “The Beloved” as been ill. It has been one illness after another, some I was convinced were psychosomatic. He complained of stomach cramps leading to bouts of diarrhea, he complained of feeling tired all the time and also that his skin itched as though he had sun burn with no evidence of redness or dryness of skin.
It was a puzzle. One after a few months of constant whinging and moaning, I demanded he solve by going to visit his doctor. He relented and made an appointment. When the day came the doctor examined him and took a large amount of blood samples for analysis. He claims she took 16 blood samples!
She also referred him to a skin specialist and also to a specialist that deals in stomach problems. So after a few weeks and more tests he finally had his diagnosis. Or should I say multiple diagnoses.
Firstly, he was deficient in iron and vitamin B12. Apparently his body has stopped absorbing iron and had also stopped producing B12. Secondly his stomach had been invaded and over run by friendly pro-biotic bacteria which had been giving him the cramps. Lastly, the doctor diagnosed him with “Metabolic Itch” a condition that resulted in itching as though something was crawling on the skin or sunburn like irritation without the redness.
His treatment for all these skin conditions includes, iron tablets, booster injections for the B12, high intensity light treatment on a supersonic sun bed and also anti depressants for his skin. Yes, his skin is depressed.
And there was me thinking it was all in his head and down to a poor diet.
I’m such a sympathetic person!
Swimsuit Malfunction
Poor American Olympic gold medalist Ricky Berens, there he was all ready to take part in a qualifying heat of the 4x100m relay freestyle during the World Swimming Championships in Rome late in July.
Adrenaline pumping, he launches himself into the air fingertips slipping into the water, suddenly, his all in one swimsuit splits open right down the back. The world’s press photographers have a field day!
Poor boy!
My Journey into Tantric Massage
I mentioned in an earlier post that I’d booked myself onto a tantric massage course. The course was last evening in Manchester. The session was due to start at 7.30pm but I arrived early, not by design but because the journey through to Manchester took me less time than I anticipated.
As I entered the room I discovered that I’d arrived before anyone else. I introduced myself to our host for the evening, Jason, and seeing he was in a bit of a flap offered to help him set up. He accepted my offer with serious gratitude. So I set myself to work lighting tea lights and getting coffee and tea ready for the arriving guests, obviously I had to make my own, as Jason was busy placing objects onto what I gathered must be our focal point for the evening, a large rainbow coloured sheet strewn with objects representing the creatures of the Earth and a multitude of tea light candles. There also stood at the centre a large statue of a couple engaging in what I was later to find out was called the “Ultimate Union”, I’ll let your imaginations run with that one! Jason began to light incense sticks and waft them around the room.
Soon the other guests arrived and were offered refreshments, we all settled on some low cushions placed around the focal point and were finally joined by Jason after putting on some appropriate music. You can guess the sort.
He introduced himself and then asked us all to share our names and our reasons for wanting to participate in the evening. When it came to my turn I professed that my reason for wanting to attend was mostly out of curiosity. After the sharing, Jason invited us all to participate in some breathing exercises whilst holding hands in a circle. Left hand up, right hand down. He never explained why!
With this he then invited us to participate in 3 Ohms (Oms), loud exhalations making a long OHM sound. If nothing it made me a little more relaxed. Jason then explained the 7 chakras in the body, their locations, colours and what they represent and explained the links between spirituality and sexuality.
There then followed another exercise involving us standing and breathing slowly at first then visualising the colours of the chakras one at a time beginning with the base, with slow rhythmic breaths getting faster as we traversed up the body until finally finishing at the crown with very rapid breathing and visualising the colour violet.
This exercise left me feeling worn out and very hot, I’d built up quite a sweat! The next exercise was really an ice breaker leading into the main activity, the reciprocal giving of massage. For this we needed to be naked. So, the next activity involved us being blindfolded and we then had to undress each other completely. Quite amusing considering the blindfolds made it very difficult.
Once we were naked, this also included Jason! we were split into two groups, one set of people lying on mats who were to receive the first massages. The second set who were to perform them. I formed part of the latter group!
The massages began with the base and involved the liberal application of warm oils to the genital area of our partner. After this we then moved up to the sacral and then we rotated partners. The massages followed the same theme, moving from base to the next highest point with each rotation of partner ending with base stimulation and crown stimulation at the same time. This activity took the best part of an hour. The process then began again, this time those who were on the receiving end then reciprocated and performed the massages on the rest of us.
Whilst the massage took place we were supposed to concentrate on the colours of the chakra points that were being massaged. This was very difficult to do, especially whilst someone is rubbing massage oil into your genital area.
There were of course the obvious embarrassing swellings, but as this happened to all of us, no one really minded.
As the massages ended, I did feel very relaxed and energised.
In conclusion, my curiosity has been satisfied. I don’t consider myself to be foolish, but then again I’m not too much of a cynic when it comes to matters of spirituality. All that I gained from the evening is an understanding that tantric massage is just a prolonged journey towards an inevitable orgasm. I’m not saying that in just 3 short hours I’ve debunked the whole practice, tantra is a way of life and I’ve only just glimpsed a small part of some of its practices. I did learn a great deal from Jason, but just not enough to want to pursue this avenue any deeper than I have.
The scent of sleep
Isn’t it strange how scents and aromas have the power to evoke memories and affect our moods and general well being. After a spot of retail therapy this weekend I bought a baby powder scented candle to burn in the bedroom.
I’m not one for too many candles but this one I had to get as the aroma was spot on and brought back so many memories, not only that but I’ve slept much better since having this lit before bedtime! The room smells glorious.
A tasty treat for some boys and girls!
Here’s a little something to brighten your day if you’ve not seen it before, pick two of the guys lined up and they’ll swap their shirts for you. You can even watch the exchange in close up slo-mo!
Click on the pic to go visit!
Thanks to Mark Simpson for bringing this to my attention!
Eh? Is that the time?
Has it really been a month since my last post, and what have I missed..quite a bit actually. I’ve missed my 500,000th visitor! More than half a million people out there in cyberspace have read my blog! That’s not a huge amount in the grand scheme of things, but by crikey it makes you think! I’ve also missed my 3rd year anniversary of blogging. It was 3 years ago around this time that I started spouting off to no one in particular and that no one has risen to 502,000 people in 3 years. What do you guys find so interesting?
I know I’ve had a patchy blogging record over the past month, but that’s down to fatigue. Not blog fatigue but work fatigue. Some nights I get home and all I want to do is climb into bed. Some nights it’s all I can do to force food down my neck. I’m so ready for my vacation.
Incidentally, I’m not going to Miami this year. This year we’ve decided to give it a break and head on over to Las Vegas, mainly because I want to catch Bette Midler in concert, I’ve been trying for years and the timing has never been right, but this year our dates co-incide. I’m so looking forward to finaly seeing the Divine Ms M in the flesh! This will be our 3rd visit to Las Vegas and this time we’re stying at The Mirage, we’ve done The Bellagio and The Venetian, but The Mirage had a really good deal on rooms and as we’re staying for 14 nights it was really worth it. Maybe we’ll actually get around to visiting the Grand Canyon this time, we’ve never quite managed it on previous visits. Strangly enough we’ve never even managed to find a single gay bar in Las Vegas and I know there must be some. I’ll have to do a little research on the web to find a suitable place. Are there any Go-Go boy bars in Las Vegas?
We’re also going early this year too, we’re flying out on the 13th October instead of our usual November visit. I’m a little upset that we’re going to be back in the UK a few days short of Halloween. I’ve always wanted to be in the US on 31st October and experience a true American Halloween in person.
As you can gather, work has been a pain. I’ve decided that I hate it and most of the people that work there. I want to move on and so I’ve begun to look around for something a little more static. I’m not rushing into things as although the job is hideous, the money is good. I’ve actually never been as well off as I am at the moment. It’s quite scary.
What else am I doing, oh yes, I’ve booked myself onto a tantric massage course for gay men. If nothing it’ll make me giggle. It’s only a one off 3 hour course but I’ve often wondered what it’s all about. The course has only cost £25 ($40 approx) I’m not the shy type as you may well have gathered and being naked in front of strangers isn’t something that’ll bother me, so I’m quite looking forward to the evening. That’s in early August in Manchester and I’ll let you know how I get on.
That’s it for now. TTFN
Milk – Revisited
Further to my late night post where I didn’t feel up to writing anything due to tiredness and being affected emotionally by watching the film Milk.
I wholeheartedly recommend this film to anyone who has more than half a brain and doesn’t rate a film by the amount of car wrecks and explosions it contains.
This film is a true account of the last few years of the life of gay activist Harvey Milk. Milk was the first openly gay person to be elected into public office in the US in the 1970s.
Milk was assasinated, along with the Mayor of San Francisco, by his former collegue Dan White.
This film dramatises Milk’s drive, determination and courage to stand up to what he called “The Machine”, meaning the right wing politicians and religious fanatics that sought to remove many human rights from gay and lesbian people in the US in the 70s.
Milks determination not to give in but to fight back by standing for office himself inspired many people and gave then hope where none existed before. The sad truth is that Milk was not murdered because of his sexuality but because he used his position to better the lives of many gay, lesbian, disabled and elderly people within the San Fransisco area.
Milk did not just stand up for one minority group, but he championed them all.
The film is moving, it makes you angry and it makes you sad in equal amounts.
Sean Penn richly deserves his Oscar as his performance is flawless.
This is the best film I’ve seen this year.
Michael Jackson
Milk
I’ve just finished watching Milk.
I cried. A lot.
Mike Deakin's Big Yellow Taxi 
