As we move solidly from Spring into Summer, we can certainly celebrate the opportunities for some downtime and vacation, but it seems that we are confronted with many challenges.  

According to a report from the Washington Post, July 4th was “the hottest day ever recorded on planet earth,” as stated by the U.S. National Centers for Environmental Prediction based on their latest data.

“Tuesday was the hottest day on earth since at least 1979, with the global average temperature reaching 62.92 degrees Fahrenheit (17.18 Celsius), according to data from the U.S. National Centers for Environmental Protection. As a result, some scientists believe July 4 may have been one of the hottest days on Earth in about 125,000 years, due to a dangerous combination of climate change causing global temperatures to soar, the return of the El Niño pattern and the start of summer in the Northern  Hemisphere,” the Washington Post reported.

However, developing reports have alluded that there might be even hotter days coming. According to the Associated Press (AP) , “the planet’s temperature spiked on [July 4] to its hottest day in decades and likely centuries, and Wednesday [July 5] could become the third straight day Earth unofficially marks a record-breaking high. It’s the latest in a series of climate-change extremes that alarm but don’t surprise scientists.”

According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Chief Scientist Sarah Kapnick, “38 million Americans were under some kind of heat alert” on July 5, adding that “the global heat is from a natural El Niño warming of the Pacific that heats up the planet as it changes worldwide weather on top of human-caused climate change from the burning of coal, oil, and gas,” AP further reported.

In China, Beijing has reported “9.8 straight days when the temperature exceeded 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius) and that heavy flooding on July 2 has displaced thousands around China,” with “such a streak last recorded in 1961,” said AP.

With this, we have crazy weather across the country and around the world. Some may be challenged by the different impact of climate change in their local region— whether severe heat, storms, or even flooding. 

Those heading on trips and vacations have been faced with major travel disruptions and delays. Myeloma patients looking to improve their resilience skills have certainly been put to the test . It is important to stay calm and focused to be able to make the best plans possible—whether it be heading off to a vacation or considering needed new therapy.

Staying Home and Organizing New Treatment

For those facing a need for new treatment, it is worth exploring available resources.

Consider a Second Opinion

Although your local doctor has probably brought you to this point with great success, with so many new options available and clinical trials opening at different centers across the country, asking for a second opinion may be better to decide on the next best steps. 

Take Advantage of the IMF’s InfoLine and Support Groups

The IMF InfoLine is always ready to help. The IMF also provides educational support to empower patients and caregivers with information, insight, and hope through a network of over 150 myeloma-specific groups. Members are welcome to share experiences in a volunteer-led group and to interact with others to learn the latest advances in the treatment and management of myeloma. Connect with a support group to find your local group information. Your doctor can also help with local referrals possibly on Zoom.

Use ChatGPT for Assistance

In my previous blog, I introduced how golden prompts make up-to-date best searches possible using Chatbots and ChatGPT-4, in particular. Brian X Chen’s series of articles in the New York Times provides tips and tricks to make best use of ChatGPT resources, including plug-ins. 

On his July 3rd New York Times article, “How to Turn your Chatbot Into A Life Coach,” Chen gives helpful advice on utilizing a chatbot as “an effective motivator to help you set goals and organize your schedule to achieve them.”

Chen advised to use the steps he elaborated “on any of your life goals—such as saving money to buy a house, or setting yourself up to get a promotion at work. A bit of automation can turn vague advice into a more actionable plan.”

For myeloma patients, this is an especially helpful tool in setting up a schedule for planned treatments. If you provide the protocol details, ChatGPT will “plug in” your daily schedule for the upcoming weeks and months.

While searching out a new treatment, you can instruct the chatbot to only use trusted resources, or you can list your preference, including IMF resources such as Frontline Treatment Options; Emerging Therapies; Using the Immune System to Fight Multiple Myeloma; Current Approved Medications; and the recently launched IMF Myeloma University page.

You may also explore the IMF’s vast educational resources such as publications and videos, as well as the IMF wellness and care partners pages.

Obviously, one can also reference sources such as the American Cancer Society, National Cancer Institute/National Institutes of Health (NCI/NIH), and other known entities. 

Another amazing source but requiring a subscription is UpToDate.com as it captures all new myeloma publications in an organized and searchable fashion. Again, AI tools can do the research work for you.

Myeloma Care Team Discussions

Ultimately, information must come back to you and to the care members you trust: your doctor, nurses, family members, friends, and others. It’s always important to know and consider all aspects—a new treatment may work really well (and several immune therapies have been producing amazing results) but you also need to be aware of its side effects, toxicities, impact on day-to-day quality of life (QoL) and on your ability to work and travel. Is the treatment you need fully available and reimbursable? There are many key questions to consider.

Taking a Vacation and Recharging 

For those fortunate enough to have achieved excellent remission or are off treatment, I would advise taking an opportunity to recharge. 

During stressful times, you need your resilience. And so, it is good to get a top-up whenever you can. There are plenty of relaxing and rejuvenating options to indulge yourself in, whether sailing or boating, hiking, fishing, swimming, even forest bathing. 

Engage in activities that give you pleasure and reduce stress, especially ones where family or friends can be involved. Even sitting in the shade while reading a good book can count as a relaxing activity. 

For those interested in science, two books of interest are Planta Sapiens: The New Science of Plant Intelligence by Paco Calvo and Natalie Lawrence; and We Are Electric: Inside the 200-Year Hunt for Our Body’s Bioelectric Code, and What the Future Holds by Sally Adee. 

It is also a good time to tune up a healthy diet, focusing on the Mediterranean diet approach, as I have mentioned several times in my past blogs, as well as avoiding additives, and high-sugar food items. 

During these challenging times, eating healthy can also be good for the planet. Obviously, a minor break for the 4th of July barbecue was okay! Consuming meat, lamb, and chicken are part of the Pangea festivals in some Blue Zones where people still live to be over 100 years .

 

The Bottom Line

Whether you’re staying home or heading off on a trip, keeping safe and making sure you get all the help and support you need are essential to cope and get through these challenging times.