September, 2015 - Ronny Allan - Living with Neuroendocrine Cancer

30Sep 2015 by Ronny Allan 15 Comments

Opinion: Let’s attack Cancer metaphors

General

Share on facebook Facebook Share on twitter Twitter Share on pinterest Pinterest Share on whatsapp WhatsApp Share on email Email In the past 24 months, I've read dozens of articles on the subject of cancer metaphors and in particular their use in describing cancer experiences with the words 'fight', 'battle' and other 'military' sounding terms. The authors say that perhaps this is not the best language to use. One author used the term 'violence' to describe these type of metaphors. A ridiculous misrepresentation of the metaphor in my opinion.Let me put my cards right on the table as I would hate to twist the meaning of words or the inference of any metaphors I might use. I don't like Cancer - it attacked me, it attacked my family, it attacked others I know, it has killed people I know....... it has killed…

18Sep 2015 by Ronny Allan 32 Comments

Opinion: Neuroendocrine Cancer Awareness – let’s move into the 21st century

Awareness

OPINIONThe build up to so called NET Cancer Day has begun and I can hear hoofbeats becoming louder every day. Is it a horse, is it a zebra etc etc. However, is this aged equine medical adage still applicable as an awareness tool for Neuroendocrine Cancer or should we be looking for something which is more impactful, up to date, more compelling, more likely be taken seriously and attract new audiences? p.s. even our day has a ridiculous name - "NET Cancer" decodes to "Neuroendocrine Tumour Cancer" which is quite ludicrous not only because of the grammar but also because it precludes a whole bunch of people from the Neuroendocrine Carcinoma area of the disease.For those unaware, the term 'Zebra' is a North American medical slang for arriving at an…

07Sep 2015 by Ronny Allan 11 Comments

PRRT and the NHS England Cancer Drugs Fund (now archived information)

Treatment

[caption id="attachment_3922" align="aligncenter" width="425"] cost cutting vs life cutting?[/caption] Please note this post is now historic information - PRRT (Lutathera) was eventually approved for use in UK. See the following post for the very latest on PRRT worldwide - CLICK HERE I was extremely disappointed to learn of the decision to remove PRRT (Lutetium or Yttrium) from the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF). You can read the detail of the decision here: CDF Statement. PRRT has regularly been described by NET specialists and patients as the "magic bullet" due to its potential to shrink or kill tumours. This is the second Neuroendocrine Cancer treatment to be withdrawn this year, after the earlier decision on Everolimus (Afinitor) in April . In fact, the recent cuts to the CDF were described in the…

04Sep 2015 by Ronny Allan 2 Comments

Screw that diagnosis and get on with it!

General

[caption id="attachment_3902" align="alignleft" width="300"] Screw that diagnosis and get on with it![/caption] Every now and then I see a positive story during my travels around the internet. When I saw this one from K**** in Pennsylvania, I had to share. If you're feeling a little bit down and need cheering up, dig out this blog and take a read :-) K**** wrote: "I began my Carcinoid journey about 7 years ago, newly married to a wonderful man and his daughter at the age of 43. I was also newly retired (from CPA and also Large Animal/Equine Surgical Veterinary Assistant) and was looking forward to a nice, peaceful, fun, loooong life. But, things get in the way and can get bumpy - cancer, being one of them (and a now, 16yo…