Randy Pausch cancer update 2008: Randy Pausch, 47, has died.

Pausch, a Carnegie Mellon University computer scientist whose “last lecture” about facing terminal cancer became an Internet sensation and a best-selling book, died early Friday at his home in Virginia, university spokeswoman Anne Watzman said.

In August 2006, Randy Pausch was diagnosed with metastatic pancreatic cancer. He pursued a very aggressive cancer treatment, however, he was told in August 2007, the cancer had metastasized to his liver and spleen, which meant it was terminal.

His popular last lecture at Carnegie Mellon in September 2007 garnered international attention and was viewed by millions on the Internet.

Here is Randy Pausch’s Last Lecture on You Tube:

Born in 1960, Pausch received his bachelor’s degree in computer science from Brown University and his Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon.

He and his wife, Jai, had three children, Dylan, Logan and Chloe.

Use the following links for additional resources:

• Download the transcript [.pdf] of Randy’s lecture on YouTube.
• Learn more about “The Last Lecture,” Randy’s new book co-written by alumnus Jeffrey Zaslow.
• Visit Randy’s site to read a personal message from Randy and learn more about his work.

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Dr. Michael DeBakey, the pioneering heart surgeon who is renowned for his procedures developing bypass surgery and invented a host of devices to help heart patients, died at the age of 99.

Houston’s Methodist Hospital officials said DeBakey died of natural causes. They gave no additional details.

In Feb 2006, DeBakey underwent surgery, that used a procedure that he invented, for a damaged aorta.

“Dr. DeBakey’s reputation brought many people into this institution, and he treated them all: heads of state, entertainers, businessmen and presidents, as well as people with no titles and no means,” said Ron Girotto, president of the Methodist Hospital System.

“He has improved the human condition and touched the lives of generations to come.”

Dr. DeBakey is a pioneer in the development of artificial hearts, heart pumps, and other medical tools.

The famed doctor also assisted in the design of several surgical instruments as well.

DeBakey’s first wife, Diana Cooper DeBakey, died of a heart attack in 1972. Three years later, DeBakey married a German film actress, Katrin Fehlhaber.

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Tony Snow, President George W. Bush’s former press secretary, has died of colon cancer, the White House confirmed on Saturday.

In May 2006, Tony Snow was a Fox News Channel and Fox News Radio broadcaster when he replaced Scott McClellan as President Bush’s press secretary.

Tony Snow served just 17 months as press secretary, a tenure interrupted by his second bout with cancer.

In Sep 2007, Tony Snow resigned as President Bush’s chief spokesman, citing a need to earn more money. He then joined CNN as a commentator.

Tony Snow, 53, is survived by his wife , a son and two daughters.

Rest in peace, Tony Snow.

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Mrs Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore Mentor Minister’s wife, suffered another haemorrhage attack in hospital on the 24th Jun 2008.

On 17th May 2008, Mrs Lee Kuan Yew, whose maiden name is Kwa Geok Choo, underwent surgery and was put under close observation.

On 14th May 2008, Mrs Lee Kuan Yew was transferred to a normal ward.

On 12th May 2008, Mrs Lee Kuan Yew was taken to the National Neuroscience Institute, where a brain scan revealed massive right intra-cerebral haemorrhage. She was subsequently admitted to the Neurointensive Care Unit at Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

MRS Lee Kuan Yew suffered another stroke while in hospital on Tuesday.

A brief statement from Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew’s office on Tuesday night said it was a massive haemorrhage.

‘She is currently critically ill, with guarded prognosis for recovery,’ the statement said.

Mrs Lee, 87, suffered a stroke on May 12 and was taken to the National Neuroscience Institute for an urgent brain scan, which revealed bleeding in the right side of the brain.

She was subsequently admitted to the Neurointensive Care Unit at Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

The haemorrhage stabilised after two days of close monitoring and treatment, and she was transferred to the general ward on May 14.

But she remained in serious condition, and underwent surgery three days later.

On June 1, the Minister Mentor’s Office said in a statement that she was making slow but steady progress since her surgery.

Mrs Lee suffered a stroke in 2003 when she and Mr Lee were in London on a European tour. The bleeding was also in the right side of the brain.

She recovered soon after and was well enough to continue accompanying Mr Lee on official trips.

Source

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My Shocking Story – The Man with no face was shown on Singapore Channel 24 Arts Central.

51 year-old Jose Mestre, from Lisbon, Portugal, has been losing his face to a massive growth, distorting it out of recognition for the past 35 years.

The tumour on Jose Mestre’s face is a vascular malformation, a collection of blood vessels that have expanded, producing a raised red area on the skin. It’s now about 33cm long and weighs around 3kg.

Surrounded by a loving family, it seems incredible that he has not been treated and his face was allowed to grow so big as he is a Jehovah’s Witness and his religion denies him to have blood transfusions.

Jose Mestre went on a trip to London to seek medical advice for one last chance to stop his face from suffocating him. He will go through a series of tests, consultations, and meet other patients with a similar affliction.

Doctors from London assured Jose Mestre that surgery can be carried out without blood transfusion. He finally agrees to the surgery, much to the delight of his sister.

Jose Mestre’s dream is to live a long and normal life.

I hope his dream will be fulfill. God Bless Jose Mestre.

Miss the show? Check out the video

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Randy Pausch, born on 23rd Oct 1960, is a Professor of Computer Science, Human-Computer Interaction, and Design at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.

In August 2006, Randy Pausch was diagnosed with metastatic pancreatic cancer. He pursued a very aggressive cancer treatment, however, he was told in August 2007, the cancer had metastasized to his liver and spleen, which meant it was terminal.

Randy Pausch then started palliative chemotherapy, to extend his life as long as possible. At that time, doctors estimated he would remain healthy for another three to six months.

On May 2, 2008, a PET scan showed that his cancer had spread to his lungs, some lymph nodes in his chest and that he had some metastases in his peritoneum and retroperitoneum, evidence that the disease has begun to take over.

On May 18, 2008, Randy Pausch made a surprise return to Carnegie Mellon University to deliver an inspirational speech to the Class of 2008 at the Commencement ceremony.

Here is the video of the speech:
Read the rest of this entry

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Be careful about natural and organic soaps, shampoos and other consumer products.

A new tests of 100 show that nearly half of them contained a cancer-causing chemical that is a byproduct of petrochemicals used in manufacturing.

Many items tested positive for the carcinogen includes well-known brands, including Kiss My Face, Alba, Seventh Generation and Nature’s Gate products.

The findings are from the Organic Consumers Assn, a consumer advocacy group.

Here is the Los Angeles Times reports:

Of the 100 products tested, 47 had detectable levels of 1,4-dioxane, which the Environmental Protection Agency has declared a probable human carcinogen because it causes cancer in lab animals.

Most traditional soaps and shampoos contain 1,4-dioxane. But the discovery that the chemical is present in many housecleaning and personal care products, including some for babies, that are advertised as being natural, organic or “green” comes as somewhat of a surprise . . .

The compound is not intentionally added to products; it is a byproduct of a process used to soften harsh detergents. It is formed when foaming agents, or surfactants, are processed with ethylene oxide or similar petrochemicals . . .

The Food and Drug Administration, which regulates cosmetics, has set no standards for 1,4-dioxane. The agency has occasionally tested products for the compound since the late 1970s and says levels of it have substantially declined since then. The FDA says the current levels “do not present a hazard to consumers,” although it has advised the industry to reduce amounts in cosmetics as much as possible.

Many companies in the “natural” business have been striving for years to eliminate 1,4-dioxane. They use coconut or other plant oils as surfactants, and they have reformulated products and added a process called vacuum-stripping. But traces still remain, in the parts-per-million range.

Some organic company owners said it is deceptive for many products to be called natural when the carcinogenic compound indicates that petrochemicals are used in their manufacture.

No standards govern the words natural or organic for personal care products. But a few companies, including TerrEssentials, Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps and Sensibility Soaps Inc., which makes the Nourish brand, have certified their products as organic under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s food standards.

“It makes it really difficult for us to communicate real organic when our little voice gets lost in this sea of products that are all claiming to meet the [USDA organic] standard when, in fact, they don’t,” said Diana Kaye, co-founder of TerrEssentials, a small Maryland company. All six TerrEssentials soaps and other products tested were free of 1,4-dioxane.

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Sarcoidosis, aka sarcoid or Besnier-Boeck disease, is an immune system disorder characterized by non-caseating granulomas that most commonly arises in young adults.

Sarcoidosis involves inflammation that produces tiny lumps of cells in various organs in your body. The lumps are called granulomas because they look like grains of sugar or sand. They are very small and can be seen only with a microscope.

These tiny granulomas can grow and clump together, making many large and small groups of lumps. If many granulomas form in an organ, they can affect how the organ works.

This can cause symptoms of sarcoidosis which can occasionally appear suddenly but usually appear gradually.

The cause of the disease is still unknown. Virtually any organ can be affected.

The clinical course varies and ranges from asymptomatic disease to a debilitating chronic condition that may lead to death.

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Is this a hoax? This news has been circulating on the internet. It said 7 women have died after inhaling a free perfume sample.

Here is the news:

Important news to pass it on

Please spend 1 minute and read on… News from Gleneagles Hospital (Ampang) URGENT !!!!! from Gleneagles Hospital Limited

Seven women have died after inhaling a free perfume sample that was mailed to them. The product was poisonous. If you receive free samples in the mail such as lotions, perfumes, diapers etc. throw them away. The government is afraid that this might be another terrorist act. They will not announce it on the news because they do not want to create panic or give the terrorists new ideas. Send this to all your friends and family members.

Warmest Regards,

Mei ling
Gleneagles Hospital Limited
Human Resource Department
Tel: 03-4270 3474
Fax: 03-4270 3472

According to Gleneagles Intan Medical Centre, the news is a hoax.
Here is the link.

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GYROTONIC, aka Gyrotonic Expansion System or GXS, is an exercise system created by Juliu Horvath, who was trained as a ballet dancer.

Juliu Horvath sought asylum in the United States in the 1960s and developed the Gyrotonic system there, after an injured Achilles tendon brought his dance career to a halt.

GYROTONIC exercises employ movements found in swimming, yoga, gymnastics, and tai chi, using specialized machines developed by Juliu Horvath. The system is intended to improve flexibility and balance as well as muscle strength, and to increase overall flexibility and mobility in joints.

More information on Gyrotonic can be found at www.gyrotonic.com

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