Ah, the price of cutting edge technology. Another decade down the road and they'll likely have solved many of the inconveniences, developed stylish caps that help wick heat away while also being water-proof, or at least water-resistant. The gear will be smaller, the batteries will last longer, and the adhesive gel will probably be better, too.
But right now? Yeah, they've probably improved the arrays from the first prototypes, but they're still clunky and hard to custom fit, the wires thick, and the gear, while not enormous, is non-trivial. Add to that the fact that the kit is brand new to you and it's no wonder you're feeling uncertain and anxious. Good luck through the shakedown period, and make your decisions about whether and how long to continue it based on the knowledge you'll gain in the process.
The thing I liked best in the instruction manual is how the effectiveness data was measuring time without tumor progression rather than simply survival times. I'm no expert, but I think lack of tumor progression is a key quality of
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Wow, that's a pretty scary story about your Ig Nobel friend! Whereas the one about the girl who lost her arm reminds me of the stories I'd come up with as a kid to explain the (at the time) rather prominent scar on my chin that I got when I fell chin-first on a fireplace mantel. Pirates were probably my favorite explanation, although after we moved to Yap sharks were the fall back
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Just saw an article about how backpack PCs are a thing. That is what it takes to run a VR headset without being plugged into the wall. So, what you need to do is get a really big pair of goggles. The big dark glasses that people wear after eye exams would be perfect. They're cheap, and they're almost totally opaque, so nobody can see what you are really doing. While you are walking around, it would help maintain the illusion if you occasionally make gestures in the air.
I remember Jay Lake observing what a farce it is that when people are at their most stressed and vulnerable is when they have to fill out a metric tonne of paperwork. It just sucks. On the other hand, you seem to be handling it with your usual aplomb, which is both impressive and a goodness.
Looking at your picture with the backpack, my first thought was that you look like a psychic ghostbuster, or maybe that your ghostbusting proton pack is fueled by energy from your enormously powerful brain. I hear that Kells is haunted. You could go over there, have a pint and zap some restless spirits at the same time.
Other people have gotten the ghostbusters out of this set-up too. Considering that I'm just now re-reading Sofia Samatar's A Stranger in Olondria, about a restless spirit tormenting a sensitive soul, I just hope the transducer arrays *do* keep the restless spirits away. The paperwork is enough torment for me, but I think I can survive it.
Hey, back in my day we had to push our iron lungs to school through the snow. Up hill both ways....
I bet the various accommodations will become less annoying with time and practice. They say it takes 20 days to acquire a new habit, so maybe wait that long before making any decisions about your new cyborg overlord. Because it would be very cool if you found the Optune keeps new tumors at bay until the Optune 9000GI is available in a range of trendy colors and skins.
Meanwhile, in terms of keeping the tendrils covered but cool, maybe you could channel your inner biker, and tie on a sporty bandana?
I used to have some bandanas in my punk rock days, but those are probably long gone by now.
As for living with the Optune, it helps that the medical team having given me clearance to leave it behind when I travel. They can't say for sure whether I'm hurting myself by taking breaks, but I'll still be taking the chemo, so I wouldn't be abandoning treatment entirely. Plus it'll allow me to enjoy myself more. Quality of life vs quantity of life.
In any event, 20 days seems like a fair trial, and I'll certainly give it that much. Maybe even 21.
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But right now? Yeah, they've probably improved the arrays from the first prototypes, but they're still clunky and hard to custom fit, the wires thick, and the gear, while not enormous, is non-trivial. Add to that the fact that the kit is brand new to you and it's no wonder you're feeling uncertain and anxious. Good luck through the shakedown period, and make your decisions about whether and how long to continue it based on the knowledge you'll gain in the process.
The thing I liked best in the instruction manual is how the effectiveness data was measuring time without tumor progression rather than simply survival times. I'm no expert, but I think lack of tumor progression is a key quality of ( ... )
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Looking at your picture with the backpack, my first thought was that you look like a psychic ghostbuster, or maybe that your ghostbusting proton pack is fueled by energy from your enormously powerful brain. I hear that Kells is haunted. You could go over there, have a pint and zap some restless spirits at the same time.
Reply
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I bet the various accommodations will become less annoying with time and practice. They say it takes 20 days to acquire a new habit, so maybe wait that long before making any decisions about your new cyborg overlord. Because it would be very cool if you found the Optune keeps new tumors at bay until the Optune 9000GI is available in a range of trendy colors and skins.
Meanwhile, in terms of keeping the tendrils covered but cool, maybe you could channel your inner biker, and tie on a sporty bandana?
Reply
As for living with the Optune, it helps that the medical team having given me clearance to leave it behind when I travel. They can't say for sure whether I'm hurting myself by taking breaks, but I'll still be taking the chemo, so I wouldn't be abandoning treatment entirely. Plus it'll allow me to enjoy myself more. Quality of life vs quantity of life.
In any event, 20 days seems like a fair trial, and I'll certainly give it that much. Maybe even 21.
Reply
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