Medical treatments in the 1970s in the US

downtherabbithole · Aug 6, 2010

I'm writing a story that centers, in part, around a young girl with leukemia in the 1970s in the United States.

Finding stuff about the 1970s isn't too difficult at all--especially since my own parents more than old enough to remember little details I can ask.

I have a cousin who died of leukemia in the 1960s, but from what I understand, there were a lot of advancements made after her death. I know they used chemo and bone marrow transplants, but does anyone know any resources I can go to for something to fill it out a bit more? I just want to make it as authentic as possible. Seeing as I wasn't even born then, it's a bit difficult.

If anyone has any first hand accounts as to something like that, that would be awesome as well.

Thanks in advance!

Hip-Hop-a-potamus · Aug 26, 2010

Maybe look at Ebay every couple of days to see if they have any old copies of medical journals like "The Lancet" from that era. Or medical textbooks circa 1970-whatever.

I can help with other 70s stuff- music and TV and other cultural stuff (born 1966), but not a doctor, so can't help there! By that I mean...don't have them sitting around in 1975 listening to Voulez-Vous by ABBA since it came out in 1979. That type of thing.

Nova Odyssey · Aug 26, 2010

Besides the good suggestion of searching medical journals, maybe you can get in touch with a few doctors who practiced in that era and specialty, and if they prove helpful, acknowledge them if you publish.

Peggy Blair · Aug 26, 2010

What I've done, for it's worth, is searched the topic with the year of, and before, the year of the story I wanted to tell to see what academic articles popped up -- a lot of them are available on-line and they'll tell you what the new treatments were at that time.

walter.ed01 · Aug 29, 2010

Maybe you can look at Ebay everydays or two to see if they still have any old copies of medical journals like The Lancet from that era and or medical textbooks circa 1970-whatever.

Maryn · Aug 30, 2010

You'd probably want to speak with a doctor who practiced hematology and oncology (those are the specialists in leukemias) during that period. Many of them are still practicing or recently retired. An oncology nurse who practiced in the 1970s could also be helpful, perhaps more patient-oriented in his/her sharing of information.

Medical professionals, like anybody else, are often eager to help authors get it right when it comes to their areas of expertise. Finding the time to talk might be difficult, but contacting the offices of doctors currently in practice might get you the names of people who'd speak with you.

Maryn, whose husband had leukemia in the 1990s*

* And is among the 5% of those who survive the type he had for more than 5 years

Hip-Hop-a-potamus · Aug 31, 2010

Good idea, Maryn.

Hip, wonders why she didn't think of that!

Medical treatments in the 1970s in the US

downtherabbithole

Hip-Hop-a-potamus

My rhymes are bottomless

Nova Odyssey

Marvelous

Peggy Blair

I like my snow hot.

walter.ed01

Maryn

I Tried

Hip-Hop-a-potamus

My rhymes are bottomless