Speaking the same language

Barry and a group of colleagues from various countries throughout the world are the principle investigators on a major study funded by the European Union to examine side effects of radiation therapy for the treatment of breast, lung, and prostate cancer. This has been a major focus of Barry’s research work over the past 15 years. The hope is that this world-wide study involving 5,300 patients will enable better predictions of which patients are most likely to experience adverse side effects, thereby helping to guide treatment choices for future patients.

In order to conduct research in an international setting, much care must be given to ensuring that the same questions are being consistently asked of the patients in the various languages spoken in the participating centers. But sometimes even countries speaking the same language may use that language differently to describe clinical experiences. For example, among the many symptoms queried, each prostate cancer patient in the United States is asked whether he had experienced “loose stools” following the radiation treatment, and presumably most Americans know what that means. Meanwhile, the form used in the United Kingdom, where English is also the spoken language, asks about “sticky/slimy motions.” During a recent teleconference, a question was raised by the lead investigator in Germany (who knows why?) whether these two responses mean the same thing. Barry did not wish to spend much time ruminating over this, not to mention recognizing that it might not be the most appropriate dinner conversation with his loving wife, so he quickly responded to the German colleague that the two phrases represent the same digestive upset, or as our friend David Roth sings in the song I have attached here, it always comes out okay in the end.

David Roth Magic Pill

I look forward to receiving your bad jokes in response to this post. Having said that, I appreciate as well as anyone that long-term side effects of cancer therapy are no laughing matter, whether chronic diarrhea or peripheral neuropathy. Perhaps being able to chuckle now and then is the key to living well despite these daily reminders of this long road.   

Love,

Rebecca