Truer words are rarely spoken. On top of that, we are all conditioned to believe that it's almost all science, and not art. In truth, it's a strong combination of both.

The moral of the story is that it's very important to take control of your own health care. As we get older, the aches and pains and tiredness seem to come with the territory. To an extent that's true, but not always. I think it's a good idea to insist on extra blood testing - it's relatively cheap and can lead to significant diagnoses, either preventative or curative.

And, having gotten a few shots of Aranesp while doing chemo a few years ago, I can attest that it is magic juice. Just a few points on the hematocrit make a big difference in how you feel.