Back Home Again

Mirabile dictu, the electric company came by and replaced our downed power line this afternoon. Blogging will resume tout de suite, but first can I at least get the temperature in here above 60 degrees?
(Up from 44, that is).

While cranking up the thermostat in my office today I thought about some of my patients who have been started on a "rigorous" chemotherapy regimen (even oncologists rely on the occasional euphemism). I always worry about the toxicity of such treatment but once it has been given there is no taking it back, so all parties must agree that the decision to start is the right one. During the following week's visit they usually look at me like skydivers waiting for their first jump: should I do it or make a dash to the nearest seatbelt?

"Look at it this way," I say. "You've already jumped. You can't climb back up into the plane so you'll have to make the best of what I know is a terrifying but hopefully successful dive.

"Now you're just waiting for me to come by with the parachute."

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