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  1. The Kay Barmore Award is named for Kathleen Barmore, one of LUNGevity’s seven founders, all of whom were lung cancer patients when they formed the foundation in 2001. Kay was a nine-year survivor of advanced lung cancer. Always hopeful that new treatments would be identified, Kay directed tremendous energy towards actively petitioning pharmaceutical companies to support the mission of the organization that she launched: to support innovative research at the nation's leading cancer centers. In addition to being a founder of LUNGevity, Kay served as a Board Member Emeritus, and recruited many volunteers. Kay also counseled and encouraged dozens of newly diagnosed patients as they tried to deal with the news. Kay's continuous acclamation to patients, medical professionals, friends and family was, "Believe.” Previously a breast cancer survivor, Kay was diagnosed with Stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer in 1998. Kay's cancer had spread to her lymph nodes, and eventually metastasized to her neck. Following radiation and chemotherapy, her cancer was, for a short time, stabilized. During the past five years, Kay battled the disease in various forms – always with courage and tenacity. Kay was passionate about the need to find a cure for lung cancer. Once diagnosed, Kay discovered that government spending per lung cancer death is substantially lower than for other cancers, despite the fact that lung cancer is the nation's number one cancer killer. She joined forces with six other lung cancer patients in 2001 to create an organization that was focused on raising money solely for lung cancer research. Today, there is only one survivor of the LUNGevity founders, Patti Helfand. Kay died on August 10, 2007. The award named in her memory honors a LUNGevity volunteer who has gone above-and-beyond in his or her efforts to support LUNGevity’s mission of providing support to people affected by lung cancer and to funding research into the detection, treatment, and cure of the disease. This year, the Kay Barmore Award will be awarded to Katie Brown at the 2008 LUNGevity Foundation Fall Benefit in Chicago. For more information on the Fall Benefit or to attend the benefit to share this special night with Katie, visit: http://www.lungevity.org/content/?secti ... 7&page=567
  2. Survivors may encounter situations in which it is difficult to communicate with their partners. During times of stress, effective and healthy communication is often a challenge for couples. This can be especially difficult if there were problems with communication before the cancer diagnosis. Signs that it is time to work on better communication include: You and your partner have frequent misunderstandings. You or your partner frequently withdraw or avoid talking. You or your partner frequently use criticism, sarcasm or name-calling. You find yourself frequently not sharing information with your partner. You and your partner frequently disagree over the same issues. You or your partner has sexual problems, and other expressions of love and affection (talking, touching and sharing) happen less often. You find yourself frequently confiding in others instead of your partner. You feel unable to ask your partner for help or support. You find that the support you receive from your partner is unhelpful. You feel hurt emotionally by your partner. If ever you or your partner responds with physical aggression, seek immediate professional assistance. Couples facing cancer can learn effective communication strategies. Even though it is difficult to break old habits, learning new skills and developing new communication habits is possible. The key is to practice the new skills regularly. The benefit is that healthy communication can increase the couple’s overall relationship satisfaction and positively affect each member’s quality of life. How can survivors learn to communicate well with their partners?
  3. Recurrence is when the cancer comes back after it has been treated. A recurrence can happen in the same place where the cancer first began or it can come back in a different part of the body. You may worry about a recurrence of your cancer often. You may only think about it when you go in for check-ups, or maybe you don't worry about recurrence at all. Fear of recurrence is something that affects survivors differently. While recurrence is a concern for many survivors, some survivors are more afraid of it than others. You might think about recurrence more if you had a kind of cancer that was difficult to treat. You may be someone who is usually very calm and level headed when it comes to other things, but fears about the cancer coming back may be too much for you to handle. You may always live with some fears of recurrence. You may notice that over time, your fears of recurrence have decreased and you don't think about the cancer coming back as much. Some survivors find that their fears of recurrence go away as time passes. No matter how long it has been since you finished treatment, there may be certain moments during your survivorship when fears of recurrence affect you. You may find that you worry more about cancer recurring: When you are due for check-up appointments When you have scans, blood tests or other medical procedures When you hear or read something about cancer that frightens you It's perfectly normal to worry more about recurrence during these moments in your survivorship. These can be very scary experiences. Knowing when your fears of recurrence are usually the strongest can help you prepare to deal with them. What can a survivor do to manage fears of recurrence?
  4. People hope for different things at different times in their lives. When you were first diagnosed with cancer, you probably hoped that your treatment would be successful and that your cancer would go into remission. You may have relied on hope to get you through the difficult days of treatment and the changes that came to your life. Hope may not be easy to find. The changes that come with cancer can sometimes be overwhelming and cause a great deal of uncertainty. Hope can help you move forward despite bad news and disappointments. Even if the challenges that you must deal with are large ones, hope can help you find the strength and courage to face them. What are some suggestions for survivors who want to create more hope in their lives?
  5. Uncertainty may or may not be part of your daily life. However, at certain moments during your survivorship, you may find that you are suddenly faced with a lot of uncertainty. Examples of moments when you may notice that you are living with uncertainty: Going in for a check-up and wondering if your cancer has returned Thinking about getting married and wondering if you can have children Trying to find a new job and wondering if you can get health insurance It is also possible to experience a general feeling of uncertainty about what tomorrow is going to bring. Many survivors think that before cancer, they had fewer doubts or uncertainties. Having cancer can make you more aware of uncertainties, because you never expected to get cancer in the first place. You may find yourself thinking, “If I can get cancer, then what else can happen?” This general feeling of uncertainty in your daily life is a common experience for cancer survivors. What are some suggestions for survivors who find living with uncertainty difficult?
  6. I'm not certain. It could still be an unidentified infection. I've also read that high counts occur in diabetics (worsening of insulin) and also here is more of what I could find : "White blood cell (WBC) count, or the measure of white blood cells in the blood, is a reliable and widely used marker that reflects inflammation throughout the body, according to background information in the article. People who smoke or have acute or chronic infections generally have a higher White blood cell count. Previous studies have linked WBC count to other chronic conditions, including cardiovascular disease, hypertension and diabetes. " Also- COMPONENTS OF BLOOD "White blood cells (also called leukocytes) are fewer in number than red blood cells, with a ratio of about 1 white blood cell to every 660 red blood cells. White blood cells are responsible primarily for defending the body against infection. There are five main types of white blood cells. Neutrophils, the most numerous type, help protect the body against infections by killing and ingesting bacteria and fungi and by ingesting foreign debris. Lymphocytes consist of three main types: T lymphocytes and natural killer cells, which both help protect against viral infections and can detect and destroy some cancer cells, and B lymphocytes, which develop into cells that produce antibodies. Monocytes ingest dead or damaged cells and help defend against many infectious organisms. Eosinophils kill parasites, destroy cancer cells, and are involved in allergic responses. Basophils also participate in allergic responses. Some white blood cells flow smoothly through the bloodstream, but many adhere to blood vessel walls or even penetrate the vessel walls to enter other tissues. When white blood cells reach the site of an infection or other problem, they release substances that attract more white blood cells. The white blood cells function like an army, dispersed throughout the body but ready at a moment's notice to gather and fight off an invading organism. White blood cells accomplish this by engulfing and digesting organisms and by producing antibodies that attach to organisms so that they can be more easily destroyed (see Biology of the Immune System: Introduction). When the number of white blood cells is too low (leukopenia), infections are more likely to occur. A higher than normal number of white blood cells (leukocytosis) may not directly cause symptoms, but the high number of cells can be an indication of a disease such as an infection or leukemia." http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec14/ch169/ch169b.html
  7. I Am Afraid My Cancer Will Come Back When treatment is over, where do you turn? For many, the phase after treatment can be particularly challenging as they struggle to recover from the physical and psychological changes wrought by cancer. Although treatment is finished, myriad emotions, including anger, loneliness and fear of recurrence, often linger. Cancer survivors are also at risk for depression (see On the Side in Lifeline, winter 2005), which can be compounded by the residual symptoms presented by both the cancer and ensuing treatments. In a recent survey of 266 women who underwent cancer surgery, Erica S. Breslau, Ph.D., and her colleagues at Johns Hopkins University found that approximately one-third of the participants had experienced psychological problems after treatment, with problems becoming most severe four months after surgery. Marnie McHale, R.N., senior director of the Kellogg Cancer Care Center at Evanston Northwestern Healthcare in Evanston, Ill., offers several coping tips for cancer survivors who need support during this critical stage of the cancer experience: Talk realistically with your health care team to get an honest appraisal of your recovery time after treatment; in many cases, your recovery may take longer than you anticipate. Hold a family meeting to discuss what you might need during your after-therapy recovery period, incorporating your own ideas and information from your health care team. Consider having a similar discussion in your workplace, if appropriate. Set realistic personal goals for yourself regarding your timelines for resuming activities and responsibilities at home, at work and in the community. Remember, you may need to change or adjust your goals as you go. Incorporate a moderate exercise regimen during your after-therapy recovery; with any luck, it will be an extension of the exercises you were doing during your therapy. Exercise is a powerful tool in the fight again fatigue and other symptoms. Use your support system including your oncology nurse to manage the feelings that occur following the completion of therapy. Sometimes there is a reactivation or escalation of fears of recurrence, especially since you are not seeing your doctor on a regular basis. Seek additional support from trained professionals and support groups if you need it.
  8. From Patient to Patient: Real-World Coping Tips Have you recently been diagnosed with a serious illness like cancer? Wondering how to cope? We asked cancer patients, members of the Anderson Network, to share some of their real-world coping tips. Educate yourself. “Educate yourself, through your doctor, the Internet, the library, and the other many cancer resources, about your disease and treatment so as to feel more in control and less overwhelmed.” “Become informed about your type of cancer and disease—learn about the disease, and learn the ‘vocabulary’ of your cancer. In other words, understand the terms so that you can better process what the doctors and health care professionals are saying. This also will help you to frame questions better in order to probe for more information or clarification. You don’t have to try to become an expert overnight, but start checking out Web sites, books, and support groups to begin understanding the disease.” “Understand the staging of your disease as soon as it is known. This gives you a marker to use in asking questions.” Ask questions. “An old Chinese proverb says, ‘To know the road ahead, ask those coming back.’” “Take someone with you to doctors’ appointments for the express purpose of taking notes and helping you ask questions. Make up your list of questions ahead of time. Don’t always wait to ask the doctor the questions—you can ask nurses and physician assistants some of the questions also. Sometimes they have a little more time to answer, or you can use them to practice a question for the doctor. They can sometimes help you to frame the question.” Reach out to others. “The best coping strategy for me was to talk with all my friends!” “Do use support networks to talk with others with your disease who can share tips and stories about how they survived.” “Counseling and support groups are important in helping you realize that you are not alone.” “Make sure that you have a network of friends (besides your family) to talk to and vent.” “Get involved with organizations that deal with your disease. Giving back works for so many.” “Don’t try to handle the disease of cancer by yourself, but if you find it hard to talk with someone, try writing your feelings down.” Stay positive and forward looking. “Remember that you are still the same person you were before you were diagnosed. You now just happen to have cancer. Don’t look too far into the future; just aim to get through the day. Remember that no disease is 100% fatal. Why shouldn’t you be the survivor?” Remove yourself from negative people! This is a huge help. As a cancer patient, you have to remain positive and forward looking. Being around negative people and situations will not enhance your healing process.” “Don’t dwell on others’ stories of people they know that died of your disease or had bad experiences. Don’t dwell on the mortality rates that are published on the Internet.” “I wrote down all the bad things about breast cancer, how I felt about the negative aspects (scared for my daughters, sad, etc.). Next, I wrote down the good things about breast cancer (many treatment options, etc.) and known truths about breast cancer (many women have survived it, etc.). I then formed an action plan to get me through the experience by determining what I wanted to have and be at the end of the treatment and the action steps to get me there (positive attitude, etc.).” For more information on this topic or for questions about M. D. Anderson’s treatments, programs, or services, call the M. D. Anderson Information Line at (800) 392-1611 (in the United States) or (713) 792-3245 (in Houston and outside the United States).
  9. Here are some cancer coping tips. What are yours? What helps you, the patient, get thru a bumpy time, get thru treatments, waiting for scan results, or just when you are feeling scared and uncertain- what helps you cope having been diagnosed with Lung Cancer? Survivors post your suggestions and tips here! Coping with a cancer diagnosis: Action plan Get the facts about your cancer diagnosis Try to obtain as much basic, useful information as possible about your cancer diagnosis. Consider bringing a family member or friend with you to your first few doctor appointments. Write down your questions and concerns beforehand and bring them with you. Keep the lines of communication open Maintain honest, two-way communication with your loved ones, doctors and others after your cancer diagnosis. You may feel particularly isolated if people try to protect you from bad news or if you try to put up a strong front. If you and others feel free to express your emotions honestly, you can all gain strength from each other. Anticipate possible physical changes Plan ahead. Your doctor can tell you what changes you should anticipate. Insurance coverage often helps pay for wigs, prostheses and other adaptive devices. If drugs cause hair loss, advice from image experts about clothing, makeup, wigs and hairpieces may help you feel more comfortable and attractive. Members of cancer support groups may be particularly helpful in this area and can provide tips that have helped them and others. Now — after your cancer diagnosis and before you begin treatment — is the best time to plan for any changes. Prepare yourself now so that you'll be better able to cope later. Maintain a healthy lifestyle This can improve your energy level. Eating a healthy diet based on a variety of foods and getting adequate rest may help you combat the stress and fatigue of the cancer and its treatment. Exercise and participating in enjoyable activities also may help. Recent data suggest that people who maintain some physical exercise during treatment not only respond better, but may also live longer. Let friends and family help you Often friends and family can run errands, drive the car pool, prepare meals and help you with household chores. Learn to accept their help. Accepting help gives those who care about you a sense of making a contribution at a difficult time. Also encourage your family to accept help if it's needed. A cancer diagnosis affects the entire family and adds stress, especially to the primary caregivers. Accepting help with meals or chores from neighbors or friends can go a long way in preventing caregiver burnout. Review your goals and priorities Determine what's really important in your life. Avoid or reduce undesirable activities. If needed, try to find a new openness with loved ones. Share your thoughts and feelings with them. Cancer affects all of your relationships. Communication can help reduce the anxiety and fear that cancer can cause. Try to maintain your normal lifestyle Maintain your normal lifestyle, but be open to modifying it as necessary. Take each day one at a time. It's easy to overlook this simple strategy during stressful times. When the future is uncertain, organizing and planning may suddenly seem overwhelming. Fight stigmas Some old stigmas associated with cancer still exist. Your friends may wonder if your cancer is contagious. Co-workers may doubt you're healthy enough to do your job, and some may withdraw for fear of saying the wrong thing. Many people will have questions and concerns. Determine how you'll deal with others' behaviors toward you. By and large, others will take their cues from you. Remind friends that even if cancer has been a frightening part of your life, it shouldn't make them afraid to be around you. Just as each person's cancer treatment is individualized, so is the coping strategy you use. Ideas to try: * Practice relaxation techniques. * Share your feelings honestly with family, friends, a spiritual adviser or a counselor. * Keep a journal to help organize your thoughts. * When faced with a difficult decision, list the pros and cons for each choice. * Find a source of spiritual support. * Set aside time to be alone. * Remain involved with work and leisure activities as much as you can. What comforted you through the rough times before cancer is likely to help ease your worries now, whether that's a close friend, religious leader or a favorite activity to distract you. Turn to these comforts now, but also be open to trying new coping strategies.
  10. Suzanne Pleshette takes on chemotherapy for lung cancer Suzanne Pleshette's agent reported on Friday that the actress is currently undergoing treatment for lung cancer. The cancer was discovered during a routine X-ray and was no bigger than a grain of sand. Pleshette apparently feels very lucky and is in great spirits as she receives outpatient chemotherapy at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center -- where the cancer was diagnosed. Pleshette, 69, is best known for her 1970s role as wife Emily on The Bob Newhart Show. Her other television credits include 8 Simple Rules and Will & Grace. She has appeared in the films If It's Tuesday This Must Be Belgium and Oh God! Book II. And her raspy voice has been featured on several animated films. Pleshette has been married to Tom Poston, 84, since 2001. Poston costarred with Pleshette on The Bob Newhart Show.
  11. 1. Thou shalt regard the word, "Cancer", as exactly that: a word. Nothing more, nothing less. For its original meaning hast changed mightily over the years, as have such words as Smallpox, Tuberculosis. and Polio, all once dreaded ailments, now no longer fearsome for, to them, hast come The Answer. And thus, too, shall go thy cancer. The Answer shall come to those who shall be present to hear it. Be present to hear it when it comes. 2. Thou shalt love thy chemotherapy, thy radiation, thy monoclonal antibodies, thy vaccines, and thy other treatments even as thyself, for they are thy friends and champions. Although they may exact a toll for their endeavors, they are oft most generous in the favors they bestow. 3. Thou shalt participate fully in thy recovery. Thou shalt learn all the details of thy ailment, its diagnosis, its prognosis, its treatments, conventional and alternative. Thou shalt discuss them openly and candidly with thy oncologist and shalt question all thou do not comprehend. Then, thou shalt cooperate intelligently, and knowledgeably with thy doctor. 4. Thou shalt regard thy ailment as a temporary detour in thy life and shalt plan thy future as though this detour had not occurred. Thou shalt never, at no time, nohow, regard thy temporary ailment as permanent. Thou shalt set long-term goals for thyself. For thou will verily recover and thy believing so will contribute mightily to thy recovery. 5. Thou shalt express thy feelings candidly and openly to thy loved ones for they, too, are stricken. Thou shalt comfort and reassure them for they, too, needest comforting and reassurance, even as thou doest. 6. Thou shalt be a comfort to thy fellow-cancerites, providing knowledge, encouragement, understanding and love. Thou shalt give them hope where there may be none, for in hope lies their salvation. And by doing so, thou providest comfort for thyself, as well. 7. Thou shalt never relinquish hope, no matter how thou may feelest at that moment, for thou knowest, in the deep recesses of thy heart, that thy discouragement is but fleeting and that a better day awaits thee, perhaps tomorrow, perhaps the day after tomorrow. 8. Thou shalt not regard thy ailment as the sum total of thy life but as merely a part of it. Fill thy life with other diversions, be they mundane, daring, altruistic, or merely amusing. To fill thy life with thy ailment is to surrender to it. 9. Thou shalt maintain, at all times and in all circumstances, thy sense of humor, for laughter lightens thy heart and hastens thy recovery. This is not an easy task, sometimes seemingly impossible, but it is a goal well worth the endeavor. 10. Thou shalt have enduring and unassailable faith, whether thy faith be in a Supreme Being, in Medical Science, in Thy Future, in Thyself, or in Whatever. Steadfastly sustain thy faith for it shall sustain thee. Paul H. Klein, September 3, 1993
  12. Recongizing Fatigue With cancer and it’s treatment comes fatigue, no matter how well you live there is a very good chance you will have some level of fatigue. So how do we know if it is a problem? Fatigue may be a problem for you if your so tired you spend most of your time resting, have trouble caring for yourself, have little interest is spending time with your family and friends, can’t do the things that you want to do, or feel upset about feeling tired most of the time. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, cancer related fatigue may be an issue. And if you do, you are not alone! According to the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, two of every three people with cancer have fatigue at some point during their treatment. Managing Fatigue Managing fatigue is a balancing act that requires speaking with your health care team; but a good starting point is eating a well balanced diet, getting exercise, allowing for the rest our body calls for, and managing the emotions we have. To understand what is affecting you energy level it is wise to chart your daily life; what you eat, feelings you have, things you do, when/how long you sleep and the energy level you have through out the day. Chances are once you take the time to outline you daily habits, there will be some clear steps of changes you could (and probably should) take. There is one thing that directly affects the steps we are able and willing to take… time. It takes a considerable amount of time to eat well, exercise, address our emotions and to rest when needed. Time management is the first important action to grasp. And by charting your day to day (hour to hour) energy levels and actions performed, you will begin to understand the best time to accomplish tasks before you. Recognizing and optimizing each of our unique daily cycles is vital.
  13. "It must get dark before you can see the stars!!" Cancer is often like a childhood fear of the dark. When we first find ourselves within it’s blackness, it’s emptiness; we are afraid of the unknown it may contain. But as we grow and learn we realize that it is not the darkness that we should fear, but rather our own thoughts. The more time we spend within the darkness, the more light there is. Just as our eyes grow accustom to the lack of light, our minds also grow accustom to the fear of cancer with the gaining of knowledge.
  14. It takes a little courage and a little self control and some grim determination if you want to reach the goal. It takes a deal of striving with a firm and stern-set chin, no matter what the battle if you really want to win. There's no easy path to glory, there's no rosy road to fame and life however you may view it is no simple parlor game. But its prizes call for fighting, for endurance and for grit and a rugged disposition and a don't know when to quit. You may take a blow or give one, you may risk and you may lose and expect that in the struggle that you'll suffer from a bruise. But you mustn't wince or falter is a fight you once begin, be courageous, face the battle- It's the only way to win. Author Unknown
  15. {QUOTE} As someone fighting cancer you may often find yourself often saying, “Only if I had done this.” or “If only I hadn’t done that.” And on the same hand as a family member or friend you may find yourself thinking, “If only they hadn’t done this or had done that.” The truth is, Ifs are a part of life. In fact it takes if to make up life. And while it is important to recognize the Ifs that could have changed our lives (so we don’t repeat them), it is equally important we don not dwell upon those Ifs. Yes, there are many Ifs that could have changed your chances of getting cancer; but today cancer is part of your life and you must embrace the Ifs you have before you now. The American Cancer Society states that 75 to 80% of all cancer cases and deaths could be prevented by our actions. Diet, exercise, tobacco use, environmental factors are all Ifs we have control over (although some environmental factors are society based ifs). Don’t beat yourself up over past Ifs… rather use them for today… use them to ensure the Ifs you choose for today are of the ones in which will help you overcome your cancer (or prevent you from getting it). We can’t change the past, so don’t waste your time and energy wishing you could. The battle before you need everything you have! The past may be who we were, but it does not have to equal who we are going to be tomorrow! {END QUOTE}
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