Scalpel’s Edge

Running Melbourne

// May 29th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Family

I rarely use this blog to beg for money, but I am choosing to on this one occasion. I am an unfit person, and I have been recently working on improving that. My current fitness goal is to run a 10km fun run. I have chosen Run Melbourne, which is in a few weeks time on the 28th of June. I am not a natural runner, so I assure you I will not do it fast. But my aim is just to complete it without walking.

I am working hard to make this possible. I am doing specific personal training sessions aimed at improving my running, and they are seriously awful. Last week our task was to run alternating fast and slow laps for 60 minutes. And then we did interval sprints. And yes, I am paying for this.

As an added bonus to this experience, I can dedicate my run to a particular charity and ask friends and family to support me. I have chosen Breast Cancer research. I have treated a lot of patients with breast cancer, and I know small advances in treatments will help a lot of people. If you feel like helping support this cause, please head over to my fundraising page. Donations close on the 28th of June, when the run is over.

End marketing drive.

DrCris’ Fundraising Page

Tweeple are Funny

// May 15th, 2009 // 2 Comments » // Uncategorized

Twitter is a microblogging service, where users can share short updates about what they have been up to. Some tweeple are pretty funny, and some are pretty interesting. I use this time to share some of my favourite over the last few weeks.

1. michscav‘Obese men have less chance of marriage’ appears in my news feed this morning - how is that even a story?18 minutes ago from Splitweet

2. auntycookielistening to little people eat fruit in my ear…2:49 PM May 5th from web

3. middleclassgirloh look … stuff! (Guess who’s avoiding working on a spreadsheet?)2:26 PM May 5th from TweetDeck

4. ASIOis looking for civilian volunteers to take part in new immunization trials. Side effects include slight monsterism.2:21 PM May 5th from web

5. LilylaurenI have successfully made someone cry today ! Yay me !1:39 PM May 5th from TweetDeck

6. SylviaDiscountIt would be such a beautiful world if everyone wasn’t mental.11:57 AM May 5th from web

7. sentienceMicrosoft’s Windows 7 RC product key request wizard doesn’t work in Safari. Re-evaluating my decision to request one.11:53 AM May 5th from LaunchBar

8. badbananaYour Star Wars Day greeting is insensitive to those of us who do not believe in George Lucas.11:42 AM May 5th from web

9. MyfWarhurstSitting at home with the cat on my knee, purring. It’s nice to know that at home no-one gives a stuff about a dress.11:16 AM May 5th from web

10. dreamingspiresMessage to students — don’t sit too long on the periphery in team work. Big brother is watching you on social learning maps… #edaust0911:07 AM May 5th from TweetDeck

11. atariboyThat’s nawwwwt how yer maaake poridge11:04 AM May 5th from Tweetie

12. thedayhascomeIf your wife asks if sex or twitter is more important, don’t answer that question because it’s already too late.10:38 AM May 5th from Birdhouse

13. AussiewafflerOut for dinner tonight..to a restaurant..wow. It’s the little things you take for granted pre-children, like eating an entire warm meal.10:04 AM May 5th from web

14. goldenskyeWaiting in a queue and reading the ingredients list on a packet of frog prince jellies. They are not as healthy or as natural as they claim.3:52 PM May 4th from TwitterBerry

15. smurphWhy does it take the sales people longer to serve bogans?2:35 PM May 4th from Tweetie
16. movinmeatI was so please with myself when I got the boys to nap. I had to wake them at 5:30. Now they’re bouncing on their beds and won’t sleep. sigh2:17 PM May 4th from Tweetie
17. stitchinsurgeontwo fussy babies. they know mama has to go back to work tomorrow and they are sad too! keep me in your thoughts tomorrow!12:58 PM May 4th from mobile web
18. firstdogonmoonOh dear, Penny Woooonnngg is speeeeaaaakinng zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz clonk12:58 PM May 4th from TweetDeck
19. crikey_newsKevin Rudd just paraphrased Eminem — isn’t that one of the signs of the apocalypse?12:58 PM May 4th from twhirl
20. thedayhascomeIf you love something, set it free. Except for the hostage tied up in the basement. That would be really poor judgement on your part.11:11 AM May 4th from Birdhouse

Is Twitter healthy?

// May 13th, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

Being a doctor, I follow a lot of other medical types on twitter.  They share the funny, exasperating and funny things that go into working in health.  I have compiled some of my favourites over the last few weeks.

1. Geek2NursePsych patient question of the week: “Have I committed mental illness?”4:21 PM May 5th from Tweetie
2. pyknosisHave to miss supping at the Pharma teet this evening due to … work.12:35 PM May 5th from Tweetie
3. ER_docNothing quite like finishing off a shift with a thoracotomy!10:41 AM May 5th from TwitterFon
4. GiggleMedSaw this on a chart: “Allergic to statins and other classifieds”10:01 AM May 5th from web
5. meducateIn updated fairy tale - a fourth little pig was added and his house was made of high-quality HEPA filtration material9:02 PM May 1st from Tweetie
6. pyknosisDamn leukemia stole another one from me. Fuck.2:03 PM Apr 30th from web
7. GiggleMedOMG… saw this on a chart… “Chief complaint: heavy rectal breathing”… (not that there’s anything wrong with that)1:44 PM Apr 30th from web
8. pyknosisWhen you’re in a hospital, checking to see what’s stuck to the bottom of your shoe never has a pleasant outcome.12:53 PM Apr 30th from web
9. healthewomanit’s an influenza virus: wash your hands, stay inside, hold your breath 12:10 PM Apr 30th from Power Twitter
10. ER_docSpent time in a brain today. Always fascinating.11:20 AM Apr 29th from TwitterFon

Motivated to run

// May 11th, 2009 // No Comments » // Health, Surgery

Yesterday was Mother’s day, and for the first time, I ran in the Mother’s Day Classic in Melbourne. This was a part of trying to get fit, and, as I severely hate running, was an exercise in stressing my body (and psyche) despite protests.

Most of the other runners there were also serial fun-runners, or representing various fitness and training clubs. However, there were a big proportion of people running for a cause. The Mother’s Day Classic supports breast cancer research, and many participants wore a tribute placard with the name of their affected relatives and friends. This is pretty typical of charity runs, but I found it particularly moving to see young kids, and obviously unfit adults struggling in memory of “Nanna” or “Mum” or “Auntie Dorrie,” or even “Myself.”

I have not got a strong family history of breast cancer, and I have few friends who have been affected. However, in my few years of training I have done a lot of breast surgery. I have met young women, trying to decide if they will risk getting pregnant again. I have met older women traumatised by an screening interval cancer. I have met elderly women who presented with an advanced cancer after nursing their husband through a long illness.

Breast Cancer is common, so research gets government funding. I believe we have the right to government funded research into common diseases. But I also believe we have the responsibility to contribute to quality healthcare. On the weekend I realised that I believe that extends to medical research. We can expect basic research to continue, but if we care about our medical future, or the treatment of our friends and family, then we should support it.

I was running for selfish reasons yesterday, and happy enough that a portion of my fee was sent to a charity I support. But many people were running and walking because they care, and are taking responsibility. That’s impressive.