TEN YEARS

 Linda and Patches grab some serious down time

I have been away from my computer for several weeks, visiting my daughter and husband at their beautiful farm in Wisconsin,  I travelled by Amtrack, and one of these days I will write something about that experience, which was more or less pleasant.  But, in the meantime the 10^th anniversary of Linda’s death rolled by.  The picture shows her about 25 years ago, enjoying some serious down time with a creature that grew into what must have been the world’s most beautiful cat, Patches.  Oh how I wish they were here with me today.

God made a serious blunder when he took Linda instead of me all those years ago.  She had a long and productive life left to live, whereas I was more or less worn out.  Agnostic though I always have been, I even asked Him, as she was about to go, to let me take her place.  Such are the silly things we think at such moments.  Anyway, if Linda dying of ovarian cancer in such an unnecessarily cruel way is in any way part of “God’s plan”, then I don’t like Him very much.  I prefer to think it was all the result of brute biology and bad luck.  At least we can fight back against the brute biology part by donating to her research fund at Fred Hutch.  You can track it down easily; start by Googling “Linda Joyce Beck” and go from there.  Thanks.  And those of you who knew her should take a moment to remember how beautiful, kind and loving she was.

SEVERAL RELEVANT TOPICS

                                                    In Athens

                                                        God, how I miss her

Here is a discussion of the importance of seeking out a clinical trial if you get an OVCA diagnosis.  If at all possible, enroll at one of the top research hospitals: Fred Hutch, Sloan Kettering, Fox Chase, MD Anderson, etc.  It would be worth a long commute.

https://www.curetoday.com/view/making-strides-in-ovarian-cancer

And here is another discussion, of a new anti-OVCA drug, Rucaparib.  This bio-weapon belongs to a class of drugs called PARPi, with which you, as faithful readers of this blog  are familiar.  (If not, consult Professor Google).  Apparently Rucaparib is most effective if used before standard, platinum-based, chemotherapy.  For some unfathomable reason OVCA cells develop an effective defense against Rucaparib if first attacked by platinum!  Nasty little bastards!

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-05/uows-nco050321.php 

 

HELP FROM THE PLANT KINGDOM

           Linda studies the geology of central Oregon

While killing time prowling through the WiFi jungle in search of useful news about either either/or ovarian cancer or the stock market, I stumbled upon an article which may turn out to be a double whammy:

https://www.healtheuropa.eu/promise-for-ovarian-cancer-treatment-from-plant-derived-drug/107818/

Seems as though some people in Kentucky have uncovered evidence that a drug called artesunate – heretofore employed as a heavy duty weapon against advanced malaria – may have genuine value against ovarian cancer as well.  At least. In vitro it looks likely.  The authors of this blurb suggest that it might be combined with carboplatin and paclitaxel as a first-strike therapy.  Probably not a cure, but welcome nonetheless.

Warning:  artesunate is derived from a member of the very common Artemisia family.  For heaven’s sake, don’t just go out,  pick some common Artemisia plant and steam it for dinner.  Some are poisonous.

As for the stock market potential – forgetaboutit!