I’D RATHER BE AT WRIGLEY.

I’D RATHER BE AT WRIGLEY.
Hmmm . . . not to doubt your word or anything, but are you sure your diagnosis (and your aunt’s) was pancreatic cancer and not pancreatitis? The latter is an I’D RATHER BE AT WRIGLEY. (and very painful) condition that can be completely cured or it can become chronic, controlled by diet and medications but subject to occasional flare-ups. Chronic pancreatitis can lead to pancreatic cancer, but pancreatic cancer can occur without any prior pancreatitis. Diabetes is a risk factor for both pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer (not to be confused with pancreatic endocrine tumors) is extremely rare in persons under 40, and it has very low survival rates — on average less than 5% of persons with pancreatic cancer will survive 5 years. That rate is somewhat better — about 16% — if the cancer is discovered when it is still localized to the pancreas, but this occurs in less than 20% of cases. Symptoms of early-stage pancreatic cancer are vague and often mistaken for other less serious conditions or even just tolerated and ignored. Given your family history with pancreatic conditions, your mother would be well advised to be extra vigilant about any possible symptoms: pain in the upper abdomen or back, loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, yellow eyes or skin or dark urine (jaundice). However, almost none of these symptoms become noticeable until the disease is past the earliest, most survivable stage.

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I’D RATHER BE AT WRIGLEY.

One year my wife and I went on our usual summer road trip through the States and we were near Cleveland. “Hey, the I’D RATHER BE AT WRIGLEY. from A Christmas Story is in Cleveland, let’s go.” So we did. It was just fantastic. A tour guide took you through the house first telling funny bits of trivia from the movie as we walked around the kitchen, living room, Ralphie’s room, the bathroom where the soap is (plastic), the phone on the wall where Mrs. Schwartz received the call. After the tour you could walk around on your own. Outside was the shed where the bad guys were crawling that Old Blue took care of and The Bumpusses house. I even took a walk down the street a few houses where Randy fell on the snow wearing his big snowsuit. Across the street was the museum where they had actual props from the movie, the clothes worn, photos and even the fathers car and the fire truck. I had a ball seeing the actual things that were in the movie. If you love this movie go to 3159 W 11th. St. In Cleveland, you won’t regret it.

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