Memorial Day Forum
Steven L. Taylor
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Monday, May 25, 2026
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15 comments
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About Steven L. Taylor
Steven L. Taylor is a Professor Emeritus of Political Science and former College of Arts and Sciences Dean. His main areas of expertise include parties, elections, and the institutional design of democracies. His most recent book is the co-authored
A Different Democracy: American Government in a 31-Country Perspective. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Texas and his BA from the University of California, Irvine. He has been blogging since 2003 (originally at the now defunct Poliblog).
Follow Steven on
Twitter and/or
BlueSky.
@CSK: I’m still upright, thanks for asking. It’s been a very rough couple of months. I’ve done 3 rounds of 3 days of carboplatin/etoposide chemotherapy, but my latest scan shows it’s not doing any good. The cancer has metastasized to my hips and pelvis, makes it very hard to get around. I use a walker for any “distance” walking. They want to do targeted radiation and put pins in my hips after I get to Oregon.
I just got done with a new round of chemo, Folfirinox, and it’s kicking my ass. I’m not sure I’m going to do another round of it.
Scheduled to move to Oregon this next weekend. I’m hoping I feel better by then.
@Jax:
I hate that you’re suffering. Please check in when you can.
@Jax: I’m so sorry you’re going through this. Know that we’re thinking about you and sending good vibes.
@Jax: Sending my best thoughts your way
@Jax: Jax, we’ll all be thinking of you and keeping you in our hearts.
@Jax: Hoping for the best for you, and that the move to Oregon goes smoothly.
The hardest part is getting appropriate pain pills. For whatever reason, doctors and pharmacists in Utah and Wyoming are very hesitant to prescribe fentanyl in a dose that cuts the pain. My local pharmacy can’t get it at all, so I have to drive to another town for a dose that only lasts a couple days.
I mean, I know I’m not surviving this. Don’t give a shit if I become addicted, I just want to be able to live with the pain.
@Jax:
I am sorry to know that.
@Jax: I am so sorry about the pain, deeply sorry
@Jax:
You’re in my thoughts and sending good vibes.
@Jax: That sounds awful — I hope you get some quality time in Oregon with the cows, for some definition of quality time (and cows, are the cows making the trip?)
Also, rural Oregon might be able to set you up with Fentanyl if the doctors can’t…
@Jax: Wish you well and hope you find help with the pain. Surprised that the oncologists have not been able to help. Have you tried hospice?
Steve
@Jax:
Hoping for the best.
@steve222: “Palliative care” in Utah can’t prescribe me anything because I’m a Wyoming resident. Oncologist in Utah was willing to prescribe me patches, but I can only get them in Utah, for 15 days at a time, and the patches wear out by the end of day 2. So I have to drive down there for a refill, which I am not capable of doing, the 4 hour trip down there for the chemo wipes me out.
@Gustopher: Yeah, it’s funny but not funny I can probably get better pain pills on the black market, despite being a legitimate cancer patient in need.
Fingers crossed I can make it through this next week, and get set up comfortably in Oregon. I’m still reading you all here regularly, I just often don’t have anything to add and want to sleep.
Sonny Rollins 95
RIP