AlphaMale

Dogs can sniff out early-stage lung cancer

Sniffer dogs can be used for early detection of lung cancer, according to research published in the European Respiratory Journal.

The dogs found 71 out of a possible 100 lung cancer cases by sniffing samples of a patient's breath. They also could dependably rule out lung cancer in 93% of the cases they were tested on -- 372 out of 400.

Earlier studies showed that dogs could also detect prostate, breast, ovarian and bowel cancer. Current diagnostic tests often fail to detect cancer in the earliest stages and at the same time expose a patient to the harmful effects of radiation, as a reporter mentions in Science Daily, where the dogs story is reported.

I bet the dogs, no matter how good they can become at cancer detection, no matter how low-cost the detection program, will never be used commercially. You can't patent the dog's sniffing ability, so you probably can't find a way to make a billion from canine cancer consultants.

I'd love to be proved wrong.

Going for faster cures

The Alpha-1 Foundation plans to fund drug development.

After years of spending on basic Alpha-1 research, the Foundation thinks it's time to speed up development of new therapies for Alphas.

Who takes care of YOU?

Alphas often get tired quickly.

They often tire out the people who love them, too.

If there's an Alpha in your life, taking care of them can be draining.

So who takes care of you? Somebody should.

World's worst prescription service

The worst prescription drug service I've ever experienced is coming my way courtesy of Aetna Rx Home Delivery.

It's a mail-order service. About two weeks ago, I had to mail them two prescriptions, because my spouse's doctor doesn't fax in scripts anymore.

After a week  or so, I checked online Wednesday, to see if they'd been mailed. I could see Aetna had been holding the scripts for two days. 

So I called. Went through the recorded messages until I got a real person. I asked her why the prescriptions hadn't been mailed.

"It doesn't say on the scripts whether you wanted them right now, or you wanted them held," she said. "So we didn't know."

I said, "That is the stupidest answer to a prescription question I have ever heard. Of course we want them now. People don't mail in prescriptions because they don't want them right now. I apologize for dumping on you, because I know this is not your policy, it must be Aetna's. But it's the most idiotic policy I've ever heard of. Would you please ship these prescriptions immediately?"

"I'll tell the pharmacist," she said.

Today we came home to find the answering machine blinking. It was a recorded message from -- surprise -- Aetna Rx Home Delivery.

"We need more information to mail your prescriptions," said the message.
"Please have your doctor call XXXX or fax XXXX within 24 hours or we will not be able to process these prescriptions."

It's Saturday afternoon. What do you think the chances are that the doctor will call or fax Aetna within the next 24 hours?

How does Aetna get away with this?

Because, once they have you signed up, they have what amounts to a monopoly. I can either use their service, or pay the entire bill out of my pocket. And now that Aetna has the scripts, I can't even choose to take my business elsewhere.

 

Prepare to be entertained

And a message, too.

Who knew you could do both in 4 minutes?

The Alpha stories

Is that video too scary?

There's a new video about Alpha-1 on the web.

I just posted it on this blog a few minutes ago.

It's powerful. Most people seem to love it.

But I've been told it's tasteless.

An advertising professional told me it's powerful, expertly done, but far too depressing. More likely to scare people than to get them tested, he said. There's no hope in this video, a desperately grim message.

Do you agree?

I'd like to know what you think.

Best TV show ever about Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency

Frank Deford interviewed Len Geiger on HBO's popular show Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.

Both Deford and Geiger have Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency. Deford also interviewed the father of Korinne Shroyer, the 14-year-old girl whose death made it possible for Geiger to get a lung transplant six years ago. Alpha-1 destroyed Geiger's lungs, and Korinne's are now in his chest, giving him back his life.

It was great television. 

KVOA TV in Tucson, AZ, did a 4-minute interview with Hap and Diane Eaton who were pedaling a tandem bike across the country to raise awareness about Alpha-1, and it was the most satisfying local news segment about Alpha-1 that I've ever seen.

Then ABC World News did its own segment on Geiger and the Shroyers, and it was also beautifully done. If Geiger's account of Kristi Shroyer listening to Korinne's lungs  breathing inside Geiger's chest doesn't bring tears to your eyes, you're just too, too tough.

Now we have a topper.

Many National Public Television stations are broadcasting an Alpha-1 segment of a show called Healthy Body, Healthy Mind. 

It's the best TV show ever about Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency.

You can check to see if the show is on your local Public TV channel, and tell your friends.

Or you can watch the entire show right here.

COULD Michael Jackson really be an Alpha?

Michael Jackson has Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, so severely he needs a lung transplant, according to a writer doing a biography of Jackson.

Many of us with Alpha-1 have said for years, "What we need is a celebrity with Alpha-1."

Michael Jackson was one of the biggest pop stars of the twentieth century. Would any of us have chosen him as our celebrity? Don't think so. Michael has made himself a running joke.

I'm old enough to remember when Michael was a cute little boy fronting the Jackson Five. I was never a fan, but I have a soft spot for that energetic family group and that bouncy, bubbly little kid. Michael grew into a hugely talented performer. He made mountains of money. He seems to have spent most of the last two decades blowing all of it, building another mountain of debt, and self destructing.

So does he have Alpha-1? Nobody is saying so except Ian Halperin, not a reliable source. (Example:  Halperin's bio says he won the Rolling Stone magazine award for investigative journalism, which is news to Rolling Stone itself.)

Michael himself, through a spokesman, denies he has Alpha-1.

Michael ought to know the facts about his own health better than Halperin. But Michael himself has been so unreliable a source of information over the years, I find myself still wondering.

Leaving one more question: COULD Michael have Alpha-1? Is that possible?

Short answer: It's unlikely, but yes, he could.

Two facts to keep in mind:

• African-Americans can and do get Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency. It's considered rare, but the Alpha-1 Foundation recently awarded a grant to study why many African-Americans are dying of lung disease, and test them for Alpha-1.
• Michael Jackson is a sad joke, but Alpha-1 is not. Let's hope all this attention to Michael leads to  more people being tested for this badly under-diagnosed condition.

Carry your oxygen aboard the plane

This time next year, people who need supplemental medical oxygen will be able to carry a portable oxygen concentrator aboard any airline flight in the United States, or any flight beginning or  ending in America.

It's been possible to do this for a few years now -- but only on certain airlines, and it was entirely the airline's choice to allow carry-on oxygen or not.

Now it will be mandatory: Airlines must accept DOT-approved oxygen concentrators.

What's an Alpha look like?

Put another way: What does Alpha-1 look like?

Well, there can be some clues: See the box on the right.

But there's only one way to tell.