Ann

Don...I recommend MD Anderson to anyone in this area. Dennis was a patient at the MD Anderson in Orlando and I can't speak highly enough of their entire medical staff. The treatment Dennis and I both received at Anderson was so wonderful. The doctors have a very positive - let's kick butt - attitude. The Orlando facility is only about an hour and a half from Palm Bay and I consider them to be well worth the drive.

I got my cookbooks in the mail today and they are wonderful. Andrea (and all your great helpers) you are to be truly commended for all your hard work on this project. My eyes filled with tears when I saw all of our beautiful angels in the front of the book. For those of you that haven't placed an order, please do so right away. This book will be something you will treasure. The recipes are all so yummy sounding and I can't wait to get started cooking! These books will also make great Christmas gifts. Once again...thanks to everyone that put so much time and hard work into this project!

I just want to welcome you here to our group and assure you that you will find many caring and informative people here that have all experenced many of the same fears. Don't ever be afraid to ask questions or just talk. That's why we are here!

When you find out that someone has lung cancer what advice do you give? A contractor that we do work with, who I conside a good friend, just told me he has been told that his doctor "thinks" he has cancer. results are a bit indecisive, as first he was told there was something there and then that they thought there was nothing. Now, it turns out that the "nodule" that was 5 cm a month and a hald ago is now 8 cm. I advised him to stop "playing" with family doctors and call MD Anderson immediately for a second opinion. I tried to do this in a very "non-panic" mode but I was really worried. Is there anything else I should or shouldn't have said? Anyway....please say a prayer for Dave.

Study to Explore Lung Cancer in Women, Men Florida Today - 11/07/05 Are women really more susceptible to a certian type of lung cancer than men- even if they don't smoke? That question is at the heart of a new multicenter study that hopes to answer the question, as well as determine what factors might contribute to gender discrepancies in the development of this disease. "There's long been a controversy over whether women are more susceptible to lung cancer than men, but its really not clear," said Christine Ambrosone, a molecular epidemiologist and one of the coordinators of the study by the Southwest Oncology Group. "It may not be the case." Ambrosone, who chairs the department of epidemiology at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, New York, said the study will pose two central hypotheses: whether women metabolize tobacco smoke differently than men; or if women's hormonal differences account for differences in a typically earlier onset of the disease. Lunf cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women in the United States, killing one in three men diagnosed with cancer and one in four women. The American Cancer Society estimates that 90,490 men and 73,020 women will die of cancer in 2005. The Southwest cancer group, a network of more than 5,000 physician-researchers nationwide, plans to recruit 720 men and women newly diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer - the most common form of lung cancer- to participate in the study over the next three years. A third of the study group will be the non-smoking men and women. The rest will be smokers. Ambrosone said researchers intend to examine lung tissue for genetic mutations that may play a role, in addition to smoking, to the development of lung cancer. Also, she said, the study will look at whether hormones, in particular, estrogen, influence tumor growth in both women who smoke and those who are non smokers. "We see estrogen receptors on tumors in the breast," she said. "And it looks like lung tissues also have them.," as well as Her-2 amplification. Overexpression of the Her-2 gene, which leads to too much of the gene's protein, is found in about 25 percent of women whose advanced breast cancers have spread to other sites in the body. According to Ambrosone, women tend to develop a particular subtype of non-small cell lung cancer far more frequently than men and at a younger age. They also are more likely to have a close relative with the disease. While some of the rise in lung cancer incidence among women can be attributed to an increase in smoking, Ambrose said, the trend is seen in women who are non-smokers, as well, and the study should help determine why. To Participate: Cancer patients who wish to participate should not have started their treatment, which can interfere with the study's research goals. TO find the nearest institution conducting the study, contact the Southwest Oncology Group at 210-677-8808 or go to protocols@swog.org

I'd gather my family together and eat, drink and be merry. I would also try and think of someway to leave a sign that I had been here. Maybe think of something that might not be destroyed and leave my mark!

I ran for City Council in my town 5 years ago and lost by only 33 votes. That wasn't bad, considering my opponet was the director of the Chamber of Commerce! I'm still very active in local government and sit on a city board.

I believe that the day you come into this world your life is already planned by God. I think each of us can make decisions that will affect what we reap out of life. Sow good seeds...reap good fruits. But, I do believe that our time on earth is already set when we arrive here. I believe each of us have pre-destined accomplishments that we are here to fulfill.

Kel, this is great! I will be eagerly waiting to read your essay on Thursday! You go girl!!!!

Shar...your ex sounds like a real jerk! How could anyone possibly be this insensitive and uncaring? Doesn't he even think about what his own children want? I'm so sorry that you're forced to deal with this right now. Your attorney should really have some good things that will take care of your ex. Put the burden on his shoulders...that's what he's paid to do. I'm sending hugs to you ((((((((((((Shar))))))

Thank God hubby caught you! I am so very sorry you are having such a rough time of this. I agree that waiting until Friday to see the doctor is a bit long. Oh, Addie, I so hope this gets all straightened out for you. You're much too sweet to be feeling this lousy! I'm saying mega prayers for you!

Tell us something that we would all really be surprised to know about you.

I know that we all still have the real meaning of Christmas in our hearts, even if it is hard to outwardly celebrate and enjoy it as we once did. I lost Dennis 10 days before Christmas. He absolutely loved the holidays and was more childlike than any of our boys ever were. We always joked him about his Christmas shopping. He always had a really great idea of what he was buying for everyone but without fail, he would wait until Christmas Eve to hit the malls. Then, he would come home so happy with all his treasures. I can't believe that this will be his third Christmas in Heaven. I sure hope he can see the lights from all the trees, as this was his favorite thing. Kathi, we just have to all pull through this time together. I am so very sorry for your pain.

Keep on fighting, Arrow! We're all here pulling for you and saying lots of prayers!

Frank...you are absolutely amazing! Just to think...posting 3000 posts with sticky chocolate from the donuts all over your fingers and the beer dripping down on your keyboard while you type!!! How do you manage????

Larry, so sorry to read about this new setback. I am saying prayers that the new treatment will work wonders. I'm remembering both of you in my prayers. Please keep us posted and let her know we're thinking of her and sending good wished and lots of positive thoughts...and lots of hugs!!!

Wow...good test results and Elton John...how much better can life get??? So very glad you all (expecially your mom) had a wonderful time!!!

I will certainly keep you and your brother in my prayers. Thanks for giving us an update. Always keep believing in miracles!

Janet, I'm so glad things are improving for out neighbors just south of us. I know how difficult things must have been for you without electricity. It sounds like you did all the right things!

I think many of us actually begin the grieving process when one of our loved ones are diagnosed with lung cancer. This can be both good and bad. It does help us to be somewhat prepared for the loss processs, as we have already gone through some of the first stages of grieving. On the other hand, we sometimes miss out on some really good moments of living because we are so busy preparing for the dying. I think you should take Becky's advice. Now is the time to make a lot of good memories.

Hey Kelly ...so glad things are going well for you and mom! Hey...I would love to buy one of her Kool-Aid bags. Can you hook me up????

Glad to know everything is OK and you are still here with us. Those little darlings can really be a handful! I think of you every time I log on!!!

Name one thing you have always wanted to do but never did.

I am thankful For the wife who says its hot dogs tonight, Because she is home with me And not out with someone else. For the husband who is on the sofa being a couch potato, Because he is home with me And not out at the bars. For the teenager who is complaining about doing dishes, Because that means she is at home Not on the streets. For the taxes that I pay, Because it means that I am employed. For the mess to clean up after a party, Because it means that I have Been surrounded by friends. For the clothes that fit a little too snug, Because it means I have enough to eat. For my shadow that watches me work, Because it means I am out in the sunshine. For a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning, And gutters that need fixing Because it means I have a home. For all the complaining I hear about the government, Because it means that We have freedom of speech. For the parking spot I find at the far end of the parking lot, Because it means I am capable of walking and that I have been blessed with transportation. For my huge heating bill, Because it means I am warm. For the lady behind me in church that sings off key, Because it means that I can hear. For the pile of laundry and ironing, Because it means I have clothes to wear. For weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day, Because it means I have been capable of working hard. For the alarm that goes off early in the morning hours, Because it means That I am alive.

Ann - She never asked for much but got a lot in return. Always remembered her roots and humble upbringing. Loving wife and mother. Made a difference in other people's lives. Always believed in the power of love. Always lived life as seen through the eyes of a child.