It is said that a heart cannot open until it has been broken. Kevin Paves, called Hollywood's hottest hair guru, was interviewed on the television entertainment news show Extra TV this evening, and as I watched I realized I was watching a human being of genuine and extraordinary kindness shaped by a moment of life-changing tragedy. When Paves was still a teen, his little nephew was born with severe birth defects and died shortly after birth. Pave shared, "At 17 years old, I was holding this still baby who was no longer with us, and I begged him to open his eyes, and I begged God to tell my why."

Paves has gone on to a large measure of success as a hairstylist to the stars, but he has given much in return. Eight years ago, he met and became close friends with Jessica Simpson. The friendship has taken both of them to Congress for Operation Smile, which provides surgeries for disfigured children around the world.

The two have also teamed up with Hair U Wear, a wig manufacturer, to help chemo patients by providing them with wigs and hair extensions. Pave speaks highly of Simpson, saying she has a heart of gold. He speaks humbly of himself. "We're not curing cancer or doing any of these things -- but we can help." Have you ever noticed the some of the best human beings are also the most humble? You can view the interview with Paves as a video feed or slide show at Extra TV.

From the Homer Simpson D'oh Research Institute comes the results of a study ... No, wait. I'll start again. Baby boomers are aging. The largest percentage of cancer diagnosis occurs in the older population. When it comes to cancer, it is a true and unavoidable fact that the older one gets, the greater the risk for developing cancer.

One day, with continued advancements in prevention and research, that fact might change. But for now, that is where we are in the reality of cancer risks. The baby boomers, a generation born between 1946 and 1960, are reaching, in mass, people of a certain age. Old age. Don't say that to them. Baby boomers decided, upon reaching 40, that 40 was the new 30, and 50 was the new 40. But you can't fool mother nature, and like it or not, we are all getting older. The first baby boomers turn 60 this year.

Which brings me to the point of the isn't it obvious study from the Homer Simpson D'oh Research Institute.

With the healthcare system in crisis now -- with public and private providers scrambling to figure out how to pay for all the cancer treatments needed for all the patients who have been diagnosed with cancer now -- what is the future of healthcare going to look like, say in ten more years, as significant numbers of baby boomers continue to age and more get sick from age-related life-threatening diseases -- specifically cancer?

When it comes to baby boomers, it is difficult to predict. Since coming of age in the 1960s, they have influenced the cultural landscape as no other generation. They are, as a whole, innovatively affluent, and have in subtle ways, already begun to change the healthcare system. An example is the marketing hospitals do to attract baby boomers as patients with amenities unimagined in previous decades. Some hospitals now serve wine with the hospital meal.

Baby boomers are the premiere paradigm shifters. If there is no change in the current system, we are in terrible trouble in the next ten years. It will be interesting to watch how the baby boomers decide to define and shape the approach to health issues that old age brings. 

Disclaimer: The Homer Simpson D'oh Research Institute is an imaginary facility that does not conduct research because it doesn't exist in real life.