In Defense of Iowa

I used to think of Iowa as the armpit of the US, one of the most "un-cool" states in the Union. After all, it doesn't have mountains, a Great Lake, or an adjacent ocean, and it produced Chuck Grassley. Now one of my kids is going to Grinnell College in central Iowa. I've visited the state twice in the past year, and was pleasantly surprised by how pretty and pleasant it is. It reminds me of the English countryside.

Iowa is bounded to the west by the Missouri River and to the east by the Mississippi. It is criss-crossed by several other rivers and streams and has a number of lakes and ponds. The presence of all this water means the state is wonderfully green and lush, at least in the summer. Although usually considered to be a prairie state, Iowa has about three million acres of trees and forest, which adds up to about one acre per resident.

US News ranks Iowa as the best state in the nation, based mostly on its ratings for infrastructure, health care, education, and opportunity. I'm not sure most people would agree. The weather is usually either hot and humid or freezing cold. While the population of the state is growing faster than the US average, many young people leave Iowa for better opportunities elsewhere. According to a 2015 report by United Van Lines, the top ten states people are moving to don't include Iowa. Instead they are (in order of rank) Oregon, South Carolina, Vermont, Idaho, North Carolina, Florida, Nevada, D.C., Texas, and Washington, while the top ten states people are leaving are New Jersey, New York, Illinois, Connecticut, Ohio, Kansas, Massachusetts, West Virginia, Mississippi, and Maryland.

However, as someone once said to me rather defensively about Birmingham, UK, "It's no' as bad as it's painted." Iowa is surprisingly beautiful. I feel a subjective sense of permanence to the place. I love the ubiquitous rain and the charming old Victorian homes on shaded tree-lined streets. Des Moines, which straddles the Des Moines River, is an attractive modern city. Iowa City, on the banks of the Iowa River, is a vibrant university town, home to the University of Iowa, which has, according to the Princeton Review, some of the happiest students in the nation. Iowa City is also a UNESCO City of Literature and is home to the Iowa Writers' Workshop and a pretty Riverwalk. I haven't yet been up to Cedar Rapids, but I'm looking forward to doing so. It is a center of Czech and Slovak (a significant part of my husband's heritage) culture and is home to the National Czech and Slovak Museum & Library and several Bohemian restaurants and bakeries.

I guess I'll be seeing more of Iowa and other Midwestern states over the next few years. My daughter will be traveling to Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and around Iowa to play tennis, and I hope to get out to see some of her matches.

Cancer Sucks!

Some of my friends have, in the past three of four years, had cancer. I am so grateful that they have all recovered, but sadly they and their families suffered greatly. Now another friend, a young man who is very close to one of my kids, is fighting this horrible disease. He was diagnosed with Stage 4B non-Hodgkins lymphoma on Christmas Eve of last year. He was started almost immediately on an aggressive course of chemotherapy. Further tests showed he had developed Hodgkins lymphoma as well. It's apparently very unusual to get both. He continued to receive chemotherapy and began to feel much better. However, a recent scan showed that the cancer has either progressed or transformed. Apparently the chemo he had works in 95% of cases. He is, unfortunately, in the 5% for whom it does not work and now it appears he has become resistant to chemo.

Thankfully there are further options for him. He is currently visiting the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX. It is one of the best cancer treatment facilities in the world and may be able to offer him some innovative and experimental treatments. He may be able to try platinum-based chemotherapy. Another option is a stem cell transplant. If he goes that route, his immune system would be so badly weakened that he'd have to be confined to a sterile room with no physical contact with other people for a month. A third option could be gene therapy. I understand that gene therapy is still experimental, but I spoke to someone yesterday who knows someone who was apparently cured by it (very vague, I know, but still encouraging). In December 2014, MD Anderson published the results of a study that showed the effects of Sleeping Beauty gene therapy (so named because the "Sleeping Beauty" gene can awaken DNA that can replicate itself and insert the copy back into the genome). The results were encouraging, and the therapy can only have improved since that study was published. Our young friend is in the best possible hands.

Diet may be a factor in treating or avoiding cancer. Some studies have shown that cancer cells grow faster in an acidic environment, so an alkaline diet has become a popular anti-cancer approach. However, apparently one can't alter the pH of one's blood through diet. Vegetarians on average have lower risks of developing cancer, and vegans are at even lower risk. According to Lindsey Wohlford, an MD Anderson Cancer Center dietitian, eating red and processed (because they contain chemical preservatives) meats can increase the risk of certain types of cancers. Also eating meats prepared at high temperatures can increase one's risk of kidney cancer. According to the American Institute of Cancer Research, one should eat mostly plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, while avoiding sugary drinks. The AICR recommends that at least 2/3 of one's plate should be made up of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and beans. The center also recommends maintaining a healthy weight and being physically active. The AICR offers a number of suggested recipes that reduce the likelihood of developing cancer.