From: bulldog23x@gmail.com   
      
   Alzheimer's has replaced cancer as major medical fear   
   By Rich DeLong    
   Columnist   
   July 17, 2015 7:00 p.m.   
      
      
   When I was a kid growing up in the northeastern hills of Pennsylvania, there   
   was a word we all feared. Cancer! There is a thread of cancer that runs   
   through my family history.    
      
   My father, sister and aunt all had complications with cancer. Plus, as a young   
   boy I watched my parents agonize over friends who were diagnosed with the   
   disease.    
      
   Through the years, I have had friends and children of good friends diagnosed   
   with cancer. Fortunately, many of them came through with positive outcomes.   
      
   With all of the advancement in screenings and treatments for cancer, being   
   diagnosed with the big "C" is not nearly as fatal as it once was. Make no   
   mistake, cancer is no picnic in the park; but chances of survival with early   
   detection and treatment are    
   better than ever.   
      
   Today, the word that seems to be feared most is Alzheimer's. There is no cure   
   for Alzheimer's; and the treatment only addresses the symptoms, not the   
   disease itself. But, like cancer, advancement in treatments for Alzheimer's   
   will take time and money.    
   Hopefully we will be able to persevere long enough to come up with a cure.   
      
   Till then, we must deal with the hard, cold fact that Alzheimer's is among us,   
   causing heartache, heartbreak and much concern. Alzheimer's not only affects   
   the diagnosed, it has a lasting impact on the health of family members and   
   loved ones -- of whom    
   many become the primary caregivers. Nobody signs up for that job, but many   
   have no other option. Alzheimer's care can be both expensive and exhausting.   
   And the likelihood that a care-taking spouse will die before the person being   
   cared for is    
   surprisingly high. Obviously, it makes sense, then, to get support from every   
   avenue possible.   
      
   I came across a book recently that is a must-read for every person who has   
   contact with someone who has Alzheimer's. The book is titled "Welcome to   
   Planet Alzheimer's" and is written by Candace Stewart. Ms. Stewart knows   
   firsthand the challenges facing    
   families of loved ones with dementia and Alzheimer's disease; two of her   
   family members were diagnosed with the illness, including her mother.   
      
   Her personal and professional experience prompted her to write the book. It's   
   a short, to-the-point, 10-page booklet regarding communicating with someone   
   who has Alzheimer's, with a little laughter and love added in. You can contact   
   me or swing by my    
   office if you would like a complimentary copy.   
      
   Another resource is support groups. Both the Bryan County Health & Rehab   
   Center and Station Exchange Senior Care sponsor support groups. Again, contact   
   me for more information on the next meeting dates. Coming together with other   
   folks who are dealing    
   with some of the same care issues can be very helpful. At least you will know   
   you are not alone.   
      
   I also want to tell you about a fun gathering we are having to raise both   
   awareness and money for research for Alzheimer's. Thursday, July 23, we will   
   host a team rally at Flashback in Richmond Hill. Come between 5:30 and 7:30   
   p.m. for some fun and    
   entertainment. You can sign up for prizes and join our team of walkers for the   
   Alzheimer's walk in September -- or maybe even start your own team.   
      
   Most important, you'll spend an evening with other folks who are dealing with   
   the effects of Alzheimer's and are dedicated to doing something about it.    
      
   Stay blessed, my friends.   
      
   Contact DeLong at 912-531-7867 or visit him on the web at www.th   
   suitesatstationexchange.com.   
      
      
      
   http://www.bryancountynews.com/m/section/6/article/38161/   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)