GOP Health Care Proposal Does Not Support Life

Text from report completed by "The Congressional Budget Office"

"Later, following additional changes to subsidies for insurance purchased in the nongroup market and to the Medicaid program, the increase in the number of uninsured people relative to the number under current law would rise to 21 million in 2020 and then to 24 million in 2026. The reductions in insurance coverage between 2018 and 2026 would stem in large part from changes in Medicaid enrollment—because some states would discontinue their expansion of eligibility, some states that would have expanded eligibility in the future would choose not to do so, and per-enrollee spending in the program would be capped. In 2026, an estimated 52 million people would be uninsured, compared with 28 million who would lack insurance that year under current law."

In case you haven't heard, the GOP plan to replace the Affordable Care Act is a disaster.  I don't think the citizens of this country voted for a government that would reduce the number of people covered for health insurance.  We need everyone covered under an affordable, quality plan.  I personally support a Single Payer System.

Please contact your local US Representatives and let them know your opinion on this very important issue.

As a Whole-Life Democrat I view their changes to be anti-life and pro-corporation/pro-CEO. Republicans claim to be Pro-Life, but in this instance they fail massively. For example, within the provisions, CEOs of pharmaceutical companies will get to write off their incomes thusly placing themselves on corporate welfare.  Tax breaks benefitting other companies in the health care industry do not directly benefit patients but rather go back to the companies relying on their "good will" to pass along the savings.  

I don't know about you but when was the last time a CEO passed the company savings onto their end-users.  This profit driven healthcare system has to go, in my opinion. 

It would be wiser to simply improve the ACA to lower the premiums and remove some of the barriers that prevent health providers from participating in the ACA.  My dream of a single payer system may never come true but I can live with simply renovating the existing Obamacare plan to make it better for patients, providers and insurance companies.  


Here is a link to the CBO report.  https://www.cbo.gov/publication/52486

Here is are links to contact your US Representatives and voice your opinion:

https://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

http://www.house.gov/representatives/


PS:  On the mend from my prophylactic bilateral mastectomy.  I can't believe how much pain I am still have though..ha.  I want to share a thorough post on the results of my pathology as well as my view on being pro-active when BRCA mutations are concerned.  I think I dodged a bullet. God was nudging me and I am so glad that I listened to Him.

Peace and Blessings,
Denise Archuleta

Upcoming Surgery and Interesting INFO on BRCA Migrations To Southern Colorado

Breast Cancer Avoidance

In 2012 as I was preparing for a consultation with a breast cancer surgeon for a prophylactic bilateral mastectomy (PBM), my ovarian cancer returned. Due to my recurrence the option of preventative surgery was taken off the table.

I remember at the time my mom had done some research on the BRCA migration within the Ashkenazi Jew population, noting that there was a pocket of people in Southern Colorado/Northern New Mexico carrying the mutation.  I am linking that article along with a few other articles on this fascinating research.  

I recently was told that our grandmother on my paternal side was of Ashkenazi Jewish heritage, which confirms my dearly departed mom's hunch that my gene was inherited on that side of my family.   Now to offer respect to people of the Jewish heritage, I am not exactly sure if our ancestry is actually Ashkenazi or Sephardic, as this is a whole new thing for me to absorb, but there are articles reflecting both populations in terms of the BRCA 1/2 mutation migrating to southern Colorado.

Here is an excerpt from the article in the Smithsonian: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-secret-jews-of-san-luis-valley-11765512/

"When Wright was told that the mutation was characteristic of Jewish people, she recalled a magazine article about the secret Jews of New Mexico. It was well known that during the late Middle Ages the Jews of Spain were forced to convert to Catholicism. According to a considerable body of scholarship, some of the conversos maintained their faith in secret. After Judaism was outlawed in Spain in 1492 and Jews were expelled, some of those who stayed took their beliefs further underground. The exiles went as far as the New World."

My mom used to tell me that grandma had maintained some rituals that were thought to be Jewish, but could not recall what they were exactly. I am desperate to find out. Those rituals were what made my mom curious as to the heritage of my father's mother, whom was otherwise a spanish Catholic.  

At the bottom of this post I will share a few

interesting links on the subject.  

Now that I have a window of opportunity for surgery once again, I am scheduled for a PBM  this February.  My wonderful gynonc was very supportive and successfully facilitated the process.  With warning that the breast surgeon may want to convince me otherwise, I met with her and defended my position.  Understandably breast surgeons are careful to be certain that patients are emotionally ready to undertake such a drastic surgery as opposed to surveillance (annual breast MRI/MAMMOGRAM).  I have been under surveillance since 2010 or 2011, not exactly sure, and I am tired of it.  

I just don’t want to have to deal with a second cancer and the surveillance is starting to get depressing and burdensome.  It is very expensive and the worry is not completely addressed.  The breast surgeon did say that if I stayed on surveillance, breast cancer should be caught in an early stage, but early stage is too many stages.  I feel good about my decision, and because I did want this in 2012, confidence about this choice is strong.  I am grateful beyond measure that insurance will cover the procedure.

Secondly it is important to discuss genetic testing.  In 2010 my test was completed by Myriad Genetics, whereby which pre-approval and coverage for such a test was hard to come by.  Today things are different and there are a greater number of testing options available.  Thanks to a support group via Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance I was informed about a new test by Myriad called HRD testing.  This test can better predict the ability of parp-inhibitors to effectively treat cancer in women with a BRCA1/2 mutation.  

"By predicting response to PARP inhibitors, myChoice HRD can help physicians select the appropriate therapy for their patients. Both a positive and a negative HRD result can help drive treatment decisions. An HRD positive result indicates the patient is more likely to benefit from treatment with PARP inhibitors such as olaparib and rucaparib, while an HRD negative result indicates that the patient is less likely to respond to PARP inhibitors, and can be spared the time and toxicity associated with an ineffective treatment. myChoice HRD seeks to offer physicians the ability to personalize treatment plans for patients."  Myriad Genectics

My Choice HRD

"Jewish Ancestry In the San Luis Valley"

"Lethal Gene That Emerged In Ancient Palestine"

"The Next Exocus? New Mexico's Crypto-Jews Seek Liberation"

Facingourrisk.org

Peace and an Abundance of Blessings

Cancer Moonshot Webinar Jan 25th Please Register

Cancer Moonshot Webinar Link

Webinar Info: UPDATE:  Here is the link to the webinar on January 25th:  https://youtu.be/ci6GIRh0OmA As a woman who knows that ovarian cancer comes and goes throughout survivorship I feel very threatened by the push towards removing the Affordable Care Act. I do rely on Medicare to provide coverage for my healthcare.  Millions of people suffering with cancer and other long term chronic illnesses feel the same. Now that Donal Trump has officially been sworn in as our President we must forge ahead as one unified voice standing up for all of the vulnerable and explore our representatives in government to provide legislation that protects affordable healthcare for ALL! More opinions encouraged... Peace and Blessings! Denise Archuleta

Alarming Rate Of Depression In Medical Students

I came across an article about depression amongst medical students that needs to be shared. Unfortunately I am not surprised by this information. Students should be inspired and supported to perform at optimum levels, not browbeaten to prove their worth.

I used to work in healthcare as an occupational therapist before losing that career to rheumatoid arthritis. Healthcare  settings can, certainly not always, be very abusive. I witnessed this first hand. This atmosphere is never good for patients.

Not everyone in the healthcare industry should be a person who provides patient services. There are alternative fields within healthcare, such as lab work, that are less directly involved with patients.  But to take an eager, skilled, bright student and beat them down as part of medical boot camp is unethical in my mind. This approach to training kills students, doctors and patients.

Please pray for your medical care team.  

Peace and Blessings,

Study: More than a quarter of medical students are depressed, suicidal

http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/06/health/med-students-depression-suicide/index.html  

We Need Mercy

In the wake of the Presidential Election those of us with serious and potentially life threatening diseases are very concerned about what changes may come to the Affordable Care Act. 

Pray that politicians know the heart of Jesus as they make critical decisions that will effect the health and outcome of millions of Americans across the USA. God asks us not to worship money and unfortunately money worshippers are running the healthcare system. This has to change. A for-profit healthcare model does not work.

Here are two links that you may find helpful today.

The first is the link to The Divine Mercy Chaplet on You Tube.  I am praying this daily, and it will help you to learn this prayer.  It is beautiful, calming and connects you in a special way to our Lord.

The Divine Mercy Message and Devotion

http://www.thedivinemercy.org/message/

The message of The Divine Mercy is simple. It is that God loves us – all of us. And, he wants us to recognize that His mercy is greater than our sins, so that we will call upon Him with trust, receive His mercy, and let it flow through us to others. Thus, all will come to share His joy.

The Divine Mercy message is one we can call to mind simply by remembering ABC:

A - Ask for His Mercy. God wants us to approach Him in prayer constantly, repenting of our sins and asking Him to pour His mercy out upon us and upon the whole world.

B - Be merciful. God wants us to receive His mercy and let it flow through us to others. He wants us to extend love and forgiveness to others just as He does to us.

C - Completely trust in Jesus. God wants us to know that the graces of His mercy are dependent upon our trust. The more we trust in Jesus, the more we will receive. 

The second is the link to Healthcare.gov https://www.healthcare.gov

Plus:  I am nominated for a Best Health Blog contest by Healthline.com.  I could use your vote

Hi Denise, Congratulations! Nobody Has Ovarian Cancer: The Soft Whispers of a Fierce Blow is nominated for Healthline’s Annual Best Health Blog Contest! Check it out here:

http://www.healthline.com/health/best-health-blogs-contest

Every year we take a look at the top health blogs to honor & recognize them. This year things may look a little different, as we’ve updated the contest and taken strides to make sure everything runs smoothly & everyone has a good time voting for their favorites! The contest has a nomination period, starting now, until November 21st. After that, you can vote once per day for your favorite blog up until December 12th when the winner will be announced. Once voting begins, we’ll send you a reminder email so you can share with your followers. Remember, the blog with the most votes will receive a $1000 cash prize! Let me know if you have any questions. Congrats and good luck! Maegan -- Maegan Jones 

Thank you Meagan Jones for the nomination.

God Bless You All