Hello fellow bloggers,
The week is almost over thank goodness. For those of you who are following my blog thank you so much for your kind words of encouragement and best wishes to my family. Everyone is doing very well! My brother as you guys know has been cancer free since his last biopsy. Its exciting news! My ex-mother in law (Nini) had her surgery a week later after her diagnosis. The waiting room was filled with so many people; friends, family and a bunch of ex's. However, everyone was there for her. We laughed and kept everyone's spirits up. I didn't get to see her before she went under the knife, but I was assured she was in good spirits and in good hands. She had so many people there for her, it was amazing.
The surgery went well. Nini had a rough night but today she's so much better. The bad mound is gone along with some other hills but all in all I think her outcome is great. She'll probably have to do a few rounds of chemotherapy but all is well. When we talk cancer it is such a scary word. Depending on the stage of cancer will determine the outcome and prognosis of the patient. How does cancer affect HIV/AIDS patients?
We know from this class and all the research each of us have done that HIV progresses into AIDS when CD4 levels drop below 200 and opportunistic infections attack the body. We also have learned that Kaposi's Sarcoma is a type of cancer that presents itself as lesions and bluish spots on the arms, legs, torso and face. This is a malignant type of cancer. This type of cancer is treated with chemotherapy and radiation. There are other types of cancer that HIV patients are susceptible too as well such as lung cancer. Did you know that 60% to 70% of HIV patients smoke? (www.health.state.ny.us) I didn't think that the smoking rate was so high. One has to consider how tough it is to receive a positive diagnosis and at that time who can really blame them. I've known several HIV/AIDS patients and all of them smoked but I never really did any research on the connection. Of course we all know that smoking isn't good for healthy people so why would it be good for people with compromised immune systems. Encouraging better living habits including improving one's diet, stopping all of the things that would cause the patient harm and overall wanting to live. Without a desire to live there is really nothing anyone can say or do to help HIV/AIDS patients improve their diagnosis.
Ultimately, removing a mound of a problem benefits the patient and the prognosis is better for that person whether he or she is HIV positive or negative. Removing the cancer ridden organ or part of the body is the easy part. The challenging part is establishing the initial desire to live. I think in today's day and age, the face of HIV/AIDS is a hopeful one and no longer a death sentence.
I'll keep you all posted on life around the Phillips household. Again, thank you all for your concern and kind words.
Until laterz boggers
Works cited:
Cancer and HIV/AIDS. Health.state.ny.us website. Retrieved October 29, 2009 from http://www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/aids/docs/doh-9532.pdf
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What an interesting post?! I can always count on shed some light or hope on a topic or situation. I am really really glad to hear that your family is no only coming together in a challenging time, but that everyone is ultimately okay. Make sure you take care of yourself too.
ReplyDeleteI have read the article based on the basic of problem faced by the individual.I like post very much as it contain very informative in nature.I agree with the point that removing a mound of a problem benefits the patient and the prognosis is better for that person whether he or she is HIV positive or negative.I hope people's are much aware with the deadly diseases like cancer and Aids.
ReplyDeleteomega-3