Daily News from New York, New York • 38

rim; CO OJ CO COPING Ctatil E3s)p Ttarm Mod Cancer journal offers few answers, plenty of emj By LAURIE SUE BROCKWAY Every morning, I woke to the momentary hope that I'd been having a nightmare. Every morning, I realized again that I did have cancer. And every morning, I cried. Sometimes I wailed and howled and cursed aloud. When the spasms were over, the cancer remained." The book speaks loudly to the female experience Juliet Wittman was a typically healthy woman until her diagnosis of breast cancer five years ago.

Thrust into "the world of the ill," Wittman, 46, embarked on a journey to a strange new territory, with no idea how long her trip would take or what would be the final destinatioa There was no road map, she says, no book to tell her what life would be like or to tip her off to the roller-coaster of emotions and human interactions that would follow. So, Wittman decided to chart her own passage. The book that resulted, Breast Cancer Journal: A Century of Petals (Fulcrum Publishing. offers a compelling account of Wittman's personal experience, as well as insights into the health-care experience of women in this country. Wittman's descriptions of living with breast cancer vividly evoke the emotions she felt, the depths of her fear, the physical sensations of cancer surgery and treatment, communication with friends and family and relations with her caretakers.

Breast cancer is the focus, but her description of coping with the chaos and the "gush of emotion" applies to most medical situations and major life challenges. Of the early period following diagnosis, Wittman writes: "In addition to the decision-making, there was the simple task of getting through the days. My sleep was broken, sporadic. Healer or Hustler? continued from page 37 the ranch after she expressed dissatisfaction. "It was like another Jim Jones thing, with informants.

I told another woman that I wouldn't recommend the place. Then Gary's brother was screaming at me to leave." Critics also point to Null's complicated relationship with WBAI the noncommercial station that claims to have "made him," and an operation that attributes one-fifth of its 18,000 subscriptions to Null's show. According to WBAI rules, no host can sell products on air or have financial arrangements with people he promotes. Program Director Samori Marksman denies that Null's program presents a conflict of interest. "What happens on the air is all we're concerned with.

Gary has to make a living. It's just like if he sold shoes." But listeners point to the Texas retreat, which Null discussed on air. John Scagliotti, WBAI program director from 1986 to 1989, says that while Null may not break station rules, he walks a fine line between offering information and hawking wares. "When the host of a show is connected to a product, it's a lot like a commercial. What's the difference between what Gary does and a cigaret company with a free show about the virtues of smoking?" Null's personal style characterized best as an angry self-righteousness irks many, too.

In a recent interview at a midtown hotel. Null portrayed himself as something of a superman. He sleeps only two hours, is a nationally ranked race walker year, I won the 30K, the 40K and 14 other national and still has time to counsel fans, do his own shopping and laundry, as well as see friends, four movies and a Broadway play each week. Aspirin? Doesn't swallow 'em. Cavities? Never had any.

Junk food? Not even as a child. Age? Null isn't saying. just another As for romance "I'm not opposed to relationships, but I have to find someone who understands that my first relationship is with my life, my second is with myself and my third is the best I can share of myself with someone else." So, what drives Gary 22 hours a day? "Well, look what I haven't been driven by money, acceptance, ego. I don't need any feedback. I don't have any needs I can't fulfill myself." Schrader, whose own WBAI show followed Null's for four years, says this attitude is precisely the problem.

"Gary's so certain he's right that a kind of rigidity has set in. Any useful criticism of the medical establishment has hardened into dogma." Such stridency reflects alternative medicine's lack of checks and balances, Scagliotti says. "How do people check on what Gary Null says? What's the proof other than anecdotal? But anyone who asks these questions is supposedly part of the 'system' or in cahoots with it. A paranoia has closed the same people's minds who are supposed to be doing open-minded analysis." yond their scientific aloofness for soul, personality with medical care in this country. Wittman believes that women are still so separate from the mainstream medical profession that even their deaths are viewed differently.

She points out that movies about death, including "Dying Young" with Campbell Scott and "My Life" with Michael Keaton, tend to feature men in the tragic roles. "If a woman dies of a disease, that's she says. "When a man dies of a disease, that's There's a very deep level in which the lives of women are not as important as men's in this culture." Her background as a journalist in Colorado led her to look critically at her medical caretakers, searching be and a sense of connection. "We're all the center of our universe," she says, "but I wondered what it would be like to be a doctor and be dealing with this every day. What's it like to be an oncological nurse and push these poisons into someone's veins? What do they feel like, how do they live in the world and maintain their compassion, or do they?" (Laurie Sue Brockway is a freelance writer.) VBTAi- 3ICSIMS BY COLETTE BOUCHEZ New Wrinkle In Sun Protection cers.

They recommend supplementing sun- pain reliever to become available in nearly a screens with clothing that covers skin and decade. The drug, Aleve (naproxin sodium), While you're no doubt aware of what sitting wearing hats to protect the face and eyes. contains the same ingredient found in the in a traffic jam can do to your nerves, do prescription pain relievers Naprosyn and you know that it can age your skin, and He por Hyp Annaprox, which are used to treat arthritis. 1 possibly increase your nsk of skin cancer? The FDA says Aleve may be used in place -J According to a new study in the Archives of For many children with Attention Deficit of aspirin, Motrin (ibuprofen) or Tylenol Dermatology, spending long hours behind Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHA), the com- (acetaminophen) to reduce fever or treat a the wheel of a car, especially on very sunny monly prescribed medication such ailments as backache, menstrual days, significantly increases the risk of pho- methylphenidate hydrochloride, or Ritalin, cramps, toothache and headache. It is due i toaging (significant skin damage caused by causes so many short and long-term side on the market in early spring.

the sun). The more hours you spend in the effects that parents often reject drug treat- This news follows a strict FDA warning driver's seat, say researchers, the greater ment altogether. Now, a new study reports about a different prescription painkiller that the risk of damage, especially to the left that buspirone, a drug often used to treat may have already caused seven or more side of your face. And driving with the win- anxiety in adults, may offer kids with ADHA deaths. The drug a narcotic skin patch dow closed actually makes matters worse, the relief they need without the unwanted known as Duragesic, is supposed to be as it allows for greater reflection of the problems.

Buspirone affects two of the used only for extreme pain caused by can-harmful UV-A rays. The study, conducted by same brain chemicals as Ritalin, altering cer or other chronic illnesses, and only after i the University of Minnesota Medical noradrenergic and dopaminergic functions. patients do not respond to more conven- Center's Department of Dermatology, also Unlike Ritalin, though, it also suppresses Donal treatments. The FDA reports that found that those who spend long hours as the activity of a third brain chemical, sere- some doctors have used the drug incorrect- passengers can experience damage, but to tonin. This difference, say doctors, may by prescribing it for such routine proce- the right side of the face.

account for the drug's success. The pilot dures as dental surgery or tonsillectomies, Using a sunscreen will help. However, a study was conducted at the Acadiana and sometimes in doses that are too high, second study reported in the Journal of the Family Practice and the Dept. of Statistics The FDA reports that a number of deaths National Cancer Institute warns that you at the University of Southern Louisiana. have resulted from such misuse.

Duragesic, should not rely strictly on these products for manufactured by Janssen Pharmaceutical, protection. Doctors at the University of Drug News, and Bad News should not be used by children or by any- Texas M.D. Anderson Skin Center found one younger than 18 weighing less than that while using a sunscreen will help pro- Last week, the Food and Drug pounds. Nor should it be used for tect against sunburn, it does not necessari- Administration (FDA) gave the nod of acute or postsurgical pain or for any mild ly protect against the growth of skin can- approval to the first new nonprescription pajn that responds to other drugs. 0) CO UJ a CALL US WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND? IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT ABOUT ANY OF OUR STORIES, PHONE OUR HEALTH LINE AT 212-210-6332 eaincnsV rl'iv-'.