Comments on: Jeffrey Medkeff

By: Bing McGhandi

Bing McGhandi — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 06:24:44 +0000

I stopped by his blog this morning (been keeping an eye out). Didn’t see anything.

He was really bright. That was so fast. I know that the liver is 1) important, 2) a tough organ to treat for cancer. He left this silly little rock better for his having been here.

By: Jeremy White

Jeremy White — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 18:15:33 +0000

I started reading Jeff’s blog regularly about 4 months before they found the tumors. It’s sad to see him go. He was articulate in the fight against stupidity and I’m sad that he’s gone.

By: Parrotlover77

Parrotlover77 — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:02:17 +0000

Shauna – I’m a little surprised you don’t get more of the “but think of the babies” excuses. You know, the ones who think scientists are aborting pregnancies specifically to get stem cells. Nevermind that most of the stem cells are going into the garbage from fertility clinics (“zygote killers” that strangely fall below the radar of the pro-lifers) if not used for research.

By: LadyRavana

LadyRavana — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 00:34:42 +0000

Shauna: I’m sorry for the loss of your mother. My condolences.

Right now, I’m watching a special on the Dark Ages on the History channel. I was just thinking that every time we let the Bibul dictate our lives, and let superstition rule us rather than our reason and our wits, it only goes downhill from there. (Black plague anyone?) You’d think we’d have figured that out by now.

I will admit, unlike most here, I’m not an Athiest, per se. I do have a spiritual side, and spiritual beliefs, (not Christian though) but I also do know there are limits.

By: Shauna

Shauna — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 21:19:02 +0000

Parrotlover77: Yes, I was being screened due to a prescription as welll for a while (some drugs can be another risk factor), but I intend to get it done now regardless. I think you are right about finding out later rather than earlier, except that the type of cancer my mom had is highly treatable early on, but it is also very fast-growing. The god thing is that my mom suffered for only a very short time. I agree, when science prevails against these diseases, that will be phenomenal. Let’s hope that the “stupids” of this country will stop the ridiculous objections over genetics and stem cell research. When people pull out their arguments against scientific research based on their jebus and the “buybull,” I kindly remind them of how much I would love to still have my mom…and that genetics and stem cell research could save theirs. Usually I get stunned silence, but then there are the stupified morons who look at me and say “Yes, but she’s in heaven now, so you should be happy for her (if there was such a thing, I’m sure she would be there, but how callous!).” Sorry, I’m selfish. I’d just rather have her back here…

By: Parrotlover77

Parrotlover77 — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 20:51:53 +0000

Shauna – that is interesting. I get annual liver panels because of a perscription I have to take for completely unrelated reasons, so I suppose that is another way to find out when you don’t have normal risk factors. The panel is relatively cheap, relatively painless, easy to perform at any doctor’s office, and can catch quite a few different things — I wonder why it’s not recommended more just in general?

Despite that, I would personally probably prefer to find out about a terminal untreatable cancer very shortly before dying than to know for months or years that the end is near. Bliss through ignorance perhaps?

Anyway, it’s sad. It will be a triumphant day for science when these sorts of terminal cancers have effective treatments which can promise remission and long lifespans — the allusive “cure for cancer.”

By: Shauna

Shauna — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 19:39:38 +0000

I did not know about this blog until now, and it’s such a shame. What an intelligent person! My mom passed from liver cancer a year ago, after being diagnosed for only ONE month (a month earlier they thought she had gallbladder cancer). She, as Jeffrey, was not an alcoholic, nor did she have any of the other conditions usually associated with this form of cancer. The sad thing is, by the time you feel ill, it usually is too late. A routine screening yearly for liver enzyme problems is the only way to know: they routinely screen people who are at risk for this type of cancer, but the general public is not screened. So sad to have another loss to this terrible disease, and so quickly.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:16:28 +0000

I never talked to him, but from that comment posted, he was obviously vair intelligent. I hope the best for his family.

By: LadyRavana

LadyRavana — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:18:39 +0000

I’m sorry for your loss, Ron. My sympathies.

I’d never heard of the guy, but it’s a shame that a voice of reason has been forever silenced.

By: Parrotlover77

Parrotlover77 — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:12:26 +0000

I read that the other day and was deeply saddened. I was not a frequent BCS blog reader, but every article I read by him I thoroughly enjoyed. He will be missed.