In Praise of Science and Research

I know that I have mentioned several times in our podcast that I was diagnosed with leukemia several years ago. Some might think I overshare, but I believe in and want to model the idea that despite how men are cultured to keep personal and emotional things to themselves, being open and transparent is often better; better for the men and the relationships in which they find themselves. 

Anyway, I was diagnosed with CML (Chronic Myeloid Leukemia) in 2019.  It was initially caught by Dr. Foxx during a routine medical exam who whisked me off to an oncologist/hematologist, Dr. Lee Hicks, who diagnosed as to specific type and treatment course. I immediately began trying out a certain schedule of medication and finally found one that I could tolerate. I will likely be in treatment for the rest of my life, as this type of leukemia is (so far) impossible to determine whether or not there is ever a complete cure. 

What I want you to know is that had I been diagnosed less then 20 years prior, my treatment would have been much more difficult with much less successful outcomes. It is very likely that my chronic condition would have evolved into an acute one that would most likely be my demise. But because of some amazing medical research and advancements, I take one pill a day for the cancer and one pill for some side effects of the med and have now been in remission for several years!

Every day I am thankful for science and medical advancement. Think of how fast the Covid-19 vaccine was discovered and refined. Think of the millions of lives that saved. But my gratitude will also always be tempered with a demand that the drug companies be better guided by high ethical and human standards and a little less concerned by profit margines. In our praise and gratitude, we can't let them forget the imperative of making sure everyone, despite financial means, has access to these amazing discoveries.