From hacker to hospice in seven weeks • Hacker News Board

Re: From hacker to hospice in seven weeks

#51

Post by yummyfajitas » Mon, Dec 01, 2014, 2:14 PM UTC

dkbrk wrote: post #14

sillysaurus3 wrote: post #9

How long until a daily brain scan and body scan is a part of everyone's routine, the same way brushing your teeth is? Problems like these are untreatable if left for too long, but if caught early, there's sometimes hope. The solution seems to be to develop as many types of passive scanners as possible. The problem is false positives. But wasting a month needlessly visiting the doctor doesn't seem that bad.

False positives aren't inherently a problem. If you have accurate understanding of the sensitivity and specificity of a test, then you can take action to maximise the utility of the expected outcome. This means, for example, not necessarily performing a biopsy just because something is there (but it's probably benign). The cost of invasive procedures such as biopsies, and risk-increasing tests such as CT scans has to…

If full-body scans were, as you say, routine, the cost of the machine would be amortised and an economy of scale should prevail.

That's not really true. The cost of the machine is amortised by having it be in use at all times. In my experience MRI's are already fully utilized. I've had 3 in the past year. Even during Diwali there was always someone immediately before and immediately after me, and I never have much choice about appointment times.

Re: From hacker to hospice in seven weeks

#52

Post by hluska » Mon, Dec 01, 2014, 2:21 PM UTC

benjamincburns wrote: post #20

leonardinius wrote: post #8

I know I'll get downwoted for this, nevertheless .. I don't know how about Steven and Nicola, however I myself would mind having certain intimate moments shared with general public (e.g. overheard phone conversations, etc ..) Having sad that, I feel for Steve's and Nicola family. It's always tough.

No need for the preface - it's a fair thing to say. I hemmed and hawed about whether to post this article at all for this exact reason. In the end I decided that if I was going to post it I should be both respectful and truthful. I probably could've worded it better. I probably could've added some disclaimer that this is true as far as I remember, but my memory is fallible. [Edit, as I hit post too soon]: Either way,…

I think that you made the right choice, though for purely selfish reasons. This post really made an impact on me and seriously, thank you so much for publishing it exactly as it is. I appreciate it was uncomfortable and I feel horrible for his wife, family and work team, but this story seriously out some important things in perspective for me.

Thank you so much.

Re: From hacker to hospice in seven weeks

#53

Post by maxerickson » Mon, Dec 01, 2014, 2:22 PM UTC

rwallace wrote: post #42

Multics wrote: post #13

If people donate nothing towards ameliorating diseases of ageing[0], then what's to be expected? People die. People get sick. Everyone you, and I, know is probably going to suffer and perish. The poor soul in the blog post sounds like he got struck down in his prime; but rest assured, your time is coming in a matter of decades. Accept death/disease or do something about it; but don't be shocked when it happens! Stati…

Upvoted because what you said was true and relevant, but the downvotes you got from other people suggest it might be an idea to work on your delivery; occasions like the current tragedy tend to be occasions when people don't appreciate comments that come across as snarky.

I downvoted it because it is ghoulish and cynical to use a personal story like this to promote some particular research agenda. Perhaps especially in the case of oncology research, where mainline work is well funded and will be pursuing an endless variety of potential treatments.

Re: From hacker to hospice in seven weeks

#54

Post by debacle » Mon, Dec 01, 2014, 2:47 PM UTC

sillysaurus3 wrote: post #9

How long until a daily brain scan and body scan is a part of everyone's routine, the same way brushing your teeth is? Problems like these are untreatable if left for too long, but if caught early, there's sometimes hope. The solution seems to be to develop as many types of passive scanners as possible. The problem is false positives. But wasting a month needlessly visiting the doctor doesn't seem that bad.

It's not really necessary to scan anything if you can collect the symptomatic biometrics and detect possible issues just based on deviance from normal variations.

Re: From hacker to hospice in seven weeks

#55

Post by debacle » Mon, Dec 01, 2014, 2:50 PM UTC

madaxe_again wrote: post #50

I don't have a brain tumour, but I have had, and am still having, an experience which has made me think seriously about my mortality. I'm 31. About three years ago I started having three/four day long bouts of total delirium, roasting fever, extreme nausea, can't even keep sips of water down when it happens - by day three or four, I'm usually too weak to move, totally dehydrated. Two years on, my GP is still going "c…

Why wouldn't your GP even order an ultrasound? If you're experiencing jaundice, and are otherwise healthy, gallstones are the most likely culprit and can be detected via a simple ultrasound in most cases.

Re: From hacker to hospice in seven weeks

#56

Post by johnaspden » Mon, Dec 01, 2014, 2:52 PM UTC

edw519 wrote: post #41

I am so sorry to hear this and also so glad you posted it here, Ben. Thank you. We all get so busy in our daily details, it's nice to be reminded what's really important. Just some quick, well intentioned feedback from someone who has lost almost every important loved one... Please don't be angry. That may seem like a natural response, but it is wasted output, serving as input into no productive process. Life is not…

Death is a bad thing. Anger is appropriate. We can probably fix it. If not in time to save ourselves, we might be able to save our children. We need to start now and spend a fortune. People need to stop pretending that it's ok.

Re: From hacker to hospice in seven weeks

#57

Post by AznHisoka » Mon, Dec 01, 2014, 2:59 PM UTC

So I'm somewhat confused by the responses to this post. It seemed to me that his long hours at work contributed to his developing the disease. But ppl seem to be responding as if he had a natural inclination to developing it, and that we should accept it.

So there's absolutely nothing to learn here aside from "visit the doctor often"?

Re: From hacker to hospice in seven weeks

#58

Post by patcon » Mon, Dec 01, 2014, 3:01 PM UTC

madaxe_again wrote: post #50

I don't have a brain tumour, but I have had, and am still having, an experience which has made me think seriously about my mortality. I'm 31. About three years ago I started having three/four day long bouts of total delirium, roasting fever, extreme nausea, can't even keep sips of water down when it happens - by day three or four, I'm usually too weak to move, totally dehydrated. Two years on, my GP is still going "c…

This is going to sound stupid, but I love you. Thanks very much for writing this.

Re: From hacker to hospice in seven weeks

#59

Post by seren » Mon, Dec 01, 2014, 3:03 PM UTC

AznHisoka wrote: post #57

So I'm somewhat confused by the responses to this post. It seemed to me that his long hours at work contributed to his developing the disease. But ppl seem to be responding as if he had a natural inclination to developing it, and that we should accept it. So there's absolutely nothing to learn here aside from "visit the doctor often"?

This is rather a memento mori, a stark reminder than it could happen to any of us at any time.

Re: From hacker to hospice in seven weeks

#60

Post by phkahler » Mon, Dec 01, 2014, 3:05 PM UTC

AznHisoka wrote: post #57

So I'm somewhat confused by the responses to this post. It seemed to me that his long hours at work contributed to his developing the disease. But ppl seem to be responding as if he had a natural inclination to developing it, and that we should accept it. So there's absolutely nothing to learn here aside from "visit the doctor often"?

>> It seemed to me that his long hours at work contributed to his developing the disease.

What on earth makes you say that? Is there a documented link between working long hours and getting cancer? Citation please.