Posts by snare&racket

67

Child with brain tumour taken from UK hospital by JW parents

by Fe2O3Girl in

jw
friends

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-28978655.

a five-year-old boy with a brain tumour has been taken without consent from hospital by his parents, sparking a major police hunt for the family.. ashya king was taken from southampton general hospital and is now believed to be in france with his parents and six siblings.. police said he needs constant medical care and there are "serious concerns" for his life if he is not found today.. brett king, 51, and naghemeh king, 45 removed him from the ward on thursday.. ashya's father was pictured taking him from the hospital"everyone is sending their love now.

we love you so much and we want to see you very soon and i love you so much and can't wait to see you.".

snare&racket

Radiation damages the dna in a cell, which kills the cell. This is useful for killing cancer cells.

Cancer is caused by many things including DNA mutations which can take place when cells are exposed to radiation.

Radiotherapy is used because research shows that on terms of the numbers, it does more good for more people (with certain cancers) than harm.

Obviously, chemotherapy and radiotherapy saves lives and kills cancer, that is why we use it. But there are always risks of side effects including mutations from the radiation. If by terrible luck, the mutations scramble the dna code so that the cell starts replicating uncontrolably..... a mass forms, i.e. a tumor, i.e. cancer.

For a perspective, radiotherapy tends to be used to reduce the size of tumors, usually to help in complex surgery and chemotherapy (killing cells with toxins) is then used to kill the cancer cells....if they have specific receptors to the toxins we have developed.

It is important to note we have only had the scientific method for around 150 -200 years and only had the aid of computers for a couple of decades. We have learned and developed much in a very quick, recent time period. Yes we have much to learn but we also can see that we have made huge advances in prolonging life and increasing quality of life. Chemo and radiotherapy use is a tough desicion as healthy cells die too so the patient really suffers. It is all a difficult balance and the doctors make all the desicions based on protocols. Tumour type, location, spread, lymph involvment along with the patients health status all add up to a treatment specific to their needs or in some cases a desicion to not offer treatment. These proticols/guidelines are based on research and change all the time based on new evidence.

snare

Just to highlight the reality of radiation and risk BOTM, mammograms are a good example....

As with all X-rays, having a mammogram exposes you to some radiation, but only a small amount. For every 10,000 women who have regular 3 yearly screening between the ages of 47 and 73, experts estimate that there will be between 3 and 6 extra breast cancers caused by radiation.

However...... The current evidence suggests that breast screening reduced the number of deaths from breast cancer by about 1,300 a year in the UK.

67

Child with brain tumour taken from UK hospital by JW parents

by Fe2O3Girl in

jw
friends

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-28978655.

a five-year-old boy with a brain tumour has been taken without consent from hospital by his parents, sparking a major police hunt for the family.. ashya king was taken from southampton general hospital and is now believed to be in france with his parents and six siblings.. police said he needs constant medical care and there are "serious concerns" for his life if he is not found today.. brett king, 51, and naghemeh king, 45 removed him from the ward on thursday.. ashya's father was pictured taking him from the hospital"everyone is sending their love now.

we love you so much and we want to see you very soon and i love you so much and can't wait to see you.".

snare&racket

Just to be clear, I am not saying it is not a great or even the best therapy available. There just isn't much research yet it appears. Ethically, doctors can only work with research and evidence in making desicions and there are risks with all treatments, even if the numbers are not yet quantified.

Again, the situation is not a pleasant one for any involved, it would be very easy to judge from the outside, but I feel personally this would be presumpteous and (in the literal sense) ignorant of us to do so. Whether we make judgments about the family or the doctors involved, we don't... and hopefully will never, have the fullest appreciations of the desicions they have made.

I do believe it was unwise to transport a very sick child without medical support, but I won't judge their motives or presume their state of mind at the time. I can't imagine what they are feeling.

67

Child with brain tumour taken from UK hospital by JW parents

by Fe2O3Girl in

jw
friends

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-28978655.

a five-year-old boy with a brain tumour has been taken without consent from hospital by his parents, sparking a major police hunt for the family.. ashya king was taken from southampton general hospital and is now believed to be in france with his parents and six siblings.. police said he needs constant medical care and there are "serious concerns" for his life if he is not found today.. brett king, 51, and naghemeh king, 45 removed him from the ward on thursday.. ashya's father was pictured taking him from the hospital"everyone is sending their love now.

we love you so much and we want to see you very soon and i love you so much and can't wait to see you.".

snare&racket

In the UK treatment goes through strict regulating bodies. Treatments have to be weighed up against issues such as side effects and costs. For example, with expensive treatments, reducing a risk of serious side effects by a small amount and reducing access to the number of patients treated by a large amount is a difficult desicion and is made using equations for the most ethical and efficient desicion for the whole country.

Proton therapy sounds great, it is a focused beam of radiation. with reduced spread to nearby tissue. Sounds great? The problem is it is expensive. This has several drawbacks. One, getting acces to it. Two, with few people using it, the research into long term negative effects and benefits will be reduced. However, even a brief glance highlights issues with secondary cancers due to the treatment when used in children.

So what does the research say. I literally took a quick look at JUST the latest research and the top few results included research that was relevant. Hopefully this will give an appreciation of the specialists potential point of view.

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy, protons, and the risk of second cancers

Eric J. Hall D.Phil., D.Sc.

International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics

1 May 2006, Vol.65(1):1–7, doi:10.1016/j.ijrobp.2006.01.027

"Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) allows dose to be concentrated in the tumor volume while sparing normal tissues. However, the downside to IMRT is the potential to increase the number of radiation-induced second cancers. The reasons for this potential are more monitor units and, therefore, a larger total-body dose because of leakage radiation and, because IMRT involves more fields, a bigger volume of normal tissue is exposed to lower radiation doses. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy may double the incidence of solid cancers in long-term survivors. This outcome may be acceptable in older patients if balanced by an improvement in local tumor control and reduced acute toxicity. On the other hand, the incidence of second cancers is much higher in children, so that doubling it may not be acceptable. IMRT represents a special case for children for three reasons. First, children are more sensitive to radiation-induced cancer than are adults. Second, radiation scattered from the treatment volume is more important in the small body of the child. Third, the question of genetic susceptibility arises because many childhood cancers involve a germline mutation. The levels of leakage radiation in current Linacs are not inevitable. Leakage can be reduced but at substantial cost. An alternative strategy is to replace X-rays with protons. However, this change is only an advantage if the proton machine employs a pencil scanning beam. Many proton facilities use passive modulation to produce a field of sufficient size, but the use of a scattering foil produces neutrons, which results in an effective dose to the patient higher than that characteristic of IMRT. The benefit of protons is only achieved if a scanning beam is used in which the doses are 10 times lower than with IMRT."

and a second paper....

Risk of Developing Second Cancer From Neutron Dose in Proton Therapy as Function of Field Characteristics, Organ, and Patient Age

Christina Zacharatou Jarlskog Ph.D.
Harald Paganetti Ph.D.

International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics

1 September 2008, Vol.72(1):228–235, doi:10.1016/j.ijrobp.2008.04.069

"Purpose

To estimate the risk of a second malignancy after treatment of a primary brain cancer using passive scattered proton beam therapy. The focus was on the cancer risk caused by neutrons outside the treatment volume and the dependency on the patient's age.

Methods and Materials

Organ-specific neutron-equivalent doses previously calculated for eight different proton therapy brain fields were considered. Organ-specific models were applied to assess the risk of developing solid cancers and leukemia.

Results

The main contributors (>80%) to the neutron-induced risk are neutrons generated in the treatment head. Treatment volume can influence the risk by up to a factor of ∼2. Young patients are subject to significantly greater risks than are adult patients because of the geometric differences and age dependency of the risk models. Breast cancer should be the main concern for females. For males, the risks of lung cancer, leukemia, and thyroid cancer were significant for pediatric patients. In contrast, leukemia was the leading risk for an adult. Most lifetime risks were <1% (70-Gy treatment). The only exceptions were breast, thyroid, and lung cancer for females. For female thyroid cancer, the treatment risk can exceed the baseline risk.

Conclusion

The risk of developing a second malignancy from neutrons from proton beam therapy of a brain lesion is small (i.e., presumably outweighed by the therapeutic benefit) but not negligible (i.e., potentially greater than the baseline risk). The patient's age at treatment plays a major role."

I hope this helps people appercaite that the treatments used and suggested have to be evidence based and specialists with over 20yrs training, usually really have a good appreciation of the best therapy and treatments. When doctors kids get sick in the uk, they end up in the same hospitals, with the same treatments. It isn't like the USA where you can go to another insurance company and get a better treatment. We offer the same for everyone and we make those choices based on evidence. Our protocols and guidelines come from NICE.

https://www.nice.org.uk

Very sad situation for the family. Difficult situation for all involved, but I must admit I was very concerned for the young boy when they decided to take him out of significant hospital care and even out of the country. Hopefully it will end well for all involved.

Hope you are all well here x

37

Snare & Racket's Graduation Picture

by cofty in

jw
friends

after years of hard work and study, former bethel boy snare & racket is now officially a medical doctor.. his story is an inspiration that there can be life after the watchtower.

he has given me permission to post his graduation picture.. .

snare&racket

Thank you everyone for your kind words, thank you Cofty x

Leave Watchtower, remember what your dreams were before the indoctrination began and go for them....

It really, really could happen ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrbxWOMpwfs

60

Goodbye JW net

by snare&racket in

jw
friends

forgive me for indulging in a goodbye but it would feel wrong not to,.

i hope the discussions and atmosphere here do not change for it is a bubbling brew of doubt, bravery and sincere hunger for answers.

these are healthy ingrediants for humans and especially for a jehovah's witness.. this forum offers not just the ability to ask without consequence, but it also offers the means to be real.

snare&racket

Forgive me for indulging in a goodbye but it would feel wrong not to,

I have much to say thank you for and too many to thank here. I hope the discussions and atmosphere here do not change for it is a bubbling brew of doubt, bravery and sincere hunger for answers. These are healthy ingrediants for humans and especially for a Jehovah's Witness.

This forum offers not just the ability to ask without consequence, but it also offers the means to be REAL. As a JW I would lie and say I questioned everything, I would lie and say I became a JW of my own volition, I would lie and say there were no contradictions, no unanswered questions and no doubt in my mind. The consequences of saying otherwise or thinking otherwise were too high..... here they are not.

I called it 'The Truth' all the while not being allowed, or allowing myself to hear anything from anyone that said otherwise. Not a smart way to live, think or experience the world. I received ALL my information on life desicions, politics, history, religion, science, morals.... from ONE source. The very same source telling me they were right, they were chosen by god, they had the answers. All the mistakes they make were not mistakes but an increase of light... with no answers when old light became new light which once more became old light..... and yet I never dared question..

That was until I bought a phone with WAP internet access (The nokia Matrix Phone...no less). I searched and found the Net Soup Watchtower News page that had links to here. I was a full time pioneer and on my way to bethel when I saw that people had the same questions as me. THAT is the power of this forum.... you realise you are not alone.

I came back here many times and eventually registered (diff account) when I left for university. I arrived at this forum as a believer in god, the bible, I thought evolution was a joke (I mocked my first evolution lecture)...and I was starting to examine other religions such as Islam.

I have been wrong before, so I am hesistant to announce my current stance as 'The Truth', but never have I felt so comfortable with the side of the fence i stand.

I strongly suggest people read the following books, but feel free to come to any conclusion you wish. these were my introduction to atheism, evolution and bible history. The first book is specific to the JW's written by an ex governing body member.

Crisi of Conscience by Ray Franz
The Lost Christianities by B Ehrman
Who Wrote The Bible? R Friedman
God is not Great by Christopher Hitchens
The God Delusion by Prof Dawkins
The Greatest Show on Earth by Prof Dawkins
A Universe from Nothing by L Krauss

These books may not give you all your answers, but they will give you questions and they will provide data. Don't take yourself out of the equation for figuring life out. You are as worthy as any religious man, any religious organisation, to determine the reality around us. You are as worthy as a governing body member or a WT writer to read and decide if 'x' is true or not. In fact the only motives you can be sure of in examining data are...your own.

I guess I feel compelled to write this, it is almost a letter to my youger self. Things I wish I knew before my youth was wasted delivering out of date pamphlets, building windowless indoctrination boxes, assembly halls and the literature itself in Bethel.

There is no need to be down however, If you are here as I was, you are one of the lucky ones, you may just get out....

So to everyone here, once again thank you. Remember it is never too late to do something with your life, to follow a dream or life goal. I strongly advocate education, it has changed my life for sure and I will always promote its power.

Than you to Simon and Angharad for this site, for nearly 10 years now I have survived with all my JW friends gone, their backs turned against me. I have had few family members in my life, the majority not even knowing if I am indeed alive. For having people to talk to here and share fears, joy's and questions...thank you all.

We have very short lives, 10/10 humans that have ever lived...have died... we were sold a lie and time is precious. Do something with it and most importantly, BE HAPPY :)

I had confirmation from the health board yesterday that I am now officially a medical doctor at the tender age of 33, there is life after Watchtower!

Dr Snare & Racket

Good bye x

13

Focus sends his LOVE to the GOVERNING BODY, senior OVERSEERS, etc.

by Focus in

jw
friends

focus.

("love and kisses" class).

focus.

snare&racket

is adam playing a guitar?

"....scuze me while I kiss the sky..."

60

The hardship of being a gay Jehovahs witness.

by truthwillsetyoufree in

please spare a moment to consider the difiiculties faced by gay jehovahs witnesses.

i was raised and baptised as a very serious jw.

every waking moment of my day was lived for jehovahs and his organization and for nothing else.

snare&racket

I am pained to read what you experienced, it is a monstrous corporation built on judgmental ignorance.

I am glad you are free of it, you deserve it.

Snare x

p.s. great post, I had no idea what young gay people went through and it was very enlightening though totally shameful.

14

I got my mother to say animals evolved !

by cookiemaster in

i wanted to share with you guys the argument i had today with my mother.

i've been away last week in a far away city for my college exams.

i've been staying at a friend, a jw who, just like me, is actually an atheist and doesn't believe a word the wt says and knows it's a bullshit cult but because of his family and friends he still stays in.

snare&racket

Great reasoning, I use the same angle when discussing disease i.e. who designed the cancers, the diseases?

They are tempted to say satan but they know that is not biblical and gives satan creative powers, so it bakes their noodle

Good work x

21

ENCOURAGING VISIT!?!?

by DATA-DOG in

about a week ago, i had my "encouraging visit!

" it was real last minute, and i said , "yes!

" they were not expecting that, and they missed their dinner.

snare&racket

What is more important, unity or truth?

Unity has no value beyond apperance. What is the benefit of being united in a false belief?

It is illogical and irrational to listen to such thinking.

65

Higher Education and Disqualification for Privileges in the Congregation

by 00DAD in

when i was still serving as an elder in the late summer of 2006 in a congregation of jws in socal we received a letter from the "christian congregation of jehovah's witnesses" (read: the governing body) directing that anyone pursuing a higher education would be disqualified from privileges of service: elder, servant, pioneer, etc.

i remember this quite distinctly because i had just received by ba in education in june a few months before this.

in 2002, i had decided to pursue a degree under the society's then current "it's a personal decision" policy and was quite shocked at their drastic policy change.

snare&racket

Best desicion you will make this year !

I graduate after 6 years of university next week and it has been the best thing I have ever done. The WT could not have beeen more wrong about higher education and its value. I also was a JW in the 90's where we had circuit assemblies that outright mocked higher education. I knew one boy that went to university and he got baptised the weekend before he left for uni, that circuit assembly was full of anti university talks, poor guy.,

Knowing now that the WT are being so untruthful about how successful it is and how rewarding it is, whilst ramping up lies about the 'dangers' of higher education (I haven't seen the sodom & g they described all my youth, in 6 yrs.....i looked real hard though lol). It left me realising they simply recognise that high education leads to higher thinking, demanding higher answers, wanting higher evidence and seeking higher authority for answers than 8 unknown men who declare themselves gods spokesman on earth.........whilst denouncing education!

I am happy and excited for your daughter, truly I am, it is my favourite thing to read on this forum, people seeking higher ed, because it is so positively life changing for a JW.

Snare x

p.s. Well done for being so brave.