Damn

[mandragora]

So, friend who I'm going out with tonight has rung up to check whether we're still on and said that I might want to know that he's just got his test results and that he hadn't got TB!

I knew he was having tests, but he didn't mention what for. The reason he's been tested is that his girlfriend does have TB. Well, it's either that or she's in the terminal stages of lung cancer. I never thought I'd be hoping that someone has TB, but obviously in this case I am. It's not likely she has lung cancer as she's a 26 years old life-long non-smoker and she has none of the usual symptoms of advanced lung cancer.

But still. Damn.

Here's hoping that her TB is not one of the drug resistant strains and that the 6 months course of antibiotics she's on will cure her.

This is a depressing reminder of how TB is making a come back.

Comments

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'm not surprised that your mother had TB and didn't know it because apparently that wasn't uncommon. But we had TB almost - almost - beaten, at least in the West. And now it's on the rise again.

There were lots of jokes last night about my friend being a leper, with much debate as to whether it would be better for him to walk in front of or behind us. He's also got a sinus condition at the moment that leads to lots of coughing - you can imagine the comments...