CindyA

Hello LCSC friends, Who is getting excited about the 2014 HOPE Summit? I know I am. So hop on this party bus with us and let's get going! Don't have your ticket yet? Here is the info you will need to get yours TODAY! Online Registration Form: http://ow.ly/uqbIm Registration form (print & mail): http://ow.ly/uqb32 Travel Grant Request: http://ow.ly/uqcyG Comment here if you will sign up today.

Help Make Hope Happen By Sue Bersh Five years ago I held my best friend’s hand and watched her take her last breath. For the 2-1/2 years leading up to that moment, I watched Elyse fight a truly impossible battle against lung cancer. What I saw, shared, and felt shook me to my core. When Elyse’s fight ended at age 45, mine had just begun. I recently read a blog that quoted Christopher Robin saying goodbye to his beloved friend, Winnie the Pooh: “If ever there is tomorrow when we’re not together… there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” The author said to imagine your lost loved one whispering this in your ear and in your heart as you move through life without him or her. I have tried to turn my loss and sadness into something positive, and that has helped me do things I had never imagined that I could. I am now a passionate lung cancer advocate. Ask me about lung cancer, and I will tell you about Elyse and my amazing friend Jill, who lost both of her parents, two grandparents, and her aunt to lung cancer and was diagnosed herself five years ago at the age of 39. I will tell you all that I know about lung cancer until you care about fighting this disease too. It’s hard not to care once you know the facts. With only a 17% 5-year survival rate, lung cancer does not have an army of survivors/advocates telling their stories. Many patients are busy fighting for their lives, and so many who have lost loved ones are exhausted and defeated. Adding insult to injury, this is a disease that has wrongly been shadowed with a stigma of blame. People think this is smoker’s disease, but over 60% of those diagnosed have never smoked or are former smokers who quit long ago. Even if someone did, or does, smoke, we ALL have made unhealthy choices. As with any devastating diagnosis, there should be no judgment ~ only compassion and support. No one deserves lung cancer. Although it takes more lives every year than the next top three cancers combined, lung cancer is the low man on the cancer totem pole when it comes to research funding. My LUNGevity friends and I strive every day to turn this around by raising awareness, growing our supporters and advocates, and raising funds for desperately needed research. There is something very special about coming together for something so meaningful, and when you’re the underdog, small strides can make a BIG difference. We don’t take any gesture of support, big or small, lightly. Every voice and every effort is extremely valuable and empowering. As I continue Elyse’s fight as a board member of LUNGevity and Event Co-Coordinator of Breathe Deep North Shore, I am in awe of the generosity of friends, strangers, co-workers, businesses of all sizes, and entire communities that support our efforts. People open their hearts, their minds and often their wallets to support this cause – a cause they may not have understood before. Every conversation is an opportunity, and every display of support is a gift. Three years ago I called our inaugural Breathe Deep event a Field of Dreams – because that’s what it felt like when over 1,200 people streamed into the gates of our fun-run and walk that year. And each year, as our event grows, I am in awe of what a dedicated group of people can do to create community and provoke change. People of all ages have rallied for LUNGevity and the fight against lung cancer like I never imagined. Breathe Deep North Shore is a perfect example of a community uniting for a cause and creating change one voice and one dollar at a time. It’s an experience that leaves your heart full. This is very personal for me. I am driven by Elyse’s memory and sweet spirit, Jill’s courage and dedication as an advocate, and the need to help the 226,000 people diagnosed with lung cancer this year ~ a few are bound to become my friends, as other lung cancer survivors/patients have. We need means for early detection. We need better treatments. We need to change the conversation from “Did he/she smoke?” to “How can I help?” We need more hope! In recent years, there have been great strides in research and there is much to be hopeful about – - yet there is still much more work to be done. YOU can help! Be an advocate for a day, a month, a year, or for always! Educate your friends so we can erase the stigma, increase awareness and funds for research, and help save lives. 1 in 14 Americans will be diagnosed with lung cancer in their lifetime. It is destined to touch us all. Join me and my team, Elyse’s Legacy, on April 27th at Deerfield High School or start, join or donate to another Breathe Deep North Shore team (Jill’s is Just Breathe), or tell a friend or stranger the facts about lung cancer. Your voice matters and can truly make a difference in changing the course of this disease. We can do this – together! You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. Help us MAKE HOPE HAPPEN! http://ow.ly/uyrgJ

Hi Dtrakas, My name is Cindy and I am an Administrative Assistant to Katie B. It is nice to meet you. You sound like a strong chick, I like that. Thank you for turning to LUNGevity for support. We are here for you. If you ever have any questions about this board, volunteering or advocating with LUNGevity, I'd be happy to help you. Here is my email CAlmendarez@LUNGevity.org. I too will be at the Hope Summit. It sounds magical from what I've been hearing. Have you been before? See you around.

Yesterday it was 80 degrees here and now it has cooled down to 45 with a high of 61. So, it will be a crisp afternoon. It's beautiful though. The sky is a gorgeous blue, and I can see some blooms coming from my neighbors trees. I think the children and I will have lunch in the backyard. That's a great sign of a great day. What signs have you seen that indicate that it is going to be a GREAT day?

Hi everyone! Donna- I'm glad the weather is warming up there. I am excited about Spring. All of the flowers and trees blooming are a delight for me. I really appreciate the beauty of nature. What do you appreciate?

New Agents for Acquired Resistance in EGFR Mutation-Positive Patients: C01686 and AZD9291 March 10th, 2014 - by Dr. Jack West Since the introduction of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) for patients with lung cancer, we have seen a subset of patients do remarkably well, with dramatic and long lasting responses. Unfortunately, within a few months of those impressive responses, we learned that people invariably develop acquired resistance to these agents. Over the past period of more than a decade, lab-based scientists, oncologists, and of course patients have been eagerly seeking treatments that can lead to promising responses again in patients who have developed acquired resistance. A couple of new agents show promise that we haven’t seen before in this setting, and they are now the subject of emerging clinical trials that show the promise of breaking an impasse that has existed for more than a decade. The first of the two I’d like to highlight is CO1686, from Clovis. This “third generation” oral irreversible EGFR inhibitor effectively blocks not only activating mutations but the most common mechanism of resistance, the T790M mutation that is detected in about 60% of tumors that demonstrate acquired resistance after a response. It also has the potential advantage of not inhibiting “wild-type” (non-mutated) EGFR at the typical doses used, which means that it doesn’t cause the same severity of rash and diarrhea that the EGFR inhibitors we’ve had available thus far produce. http://ow.ly/urB7s Though CO1686 is still early in testing, Dr. Jean-Charles Soria recently said that 6 of 9 patients with a T790M mutation-positive cancer demonstrated a significant response at the newly established phase II dose of 900 mg by mouth twice daily, and with no rash. Though still obviously still in early stages of development, the early promise of two-thirds of the patients in the target group responding is leading to multiple new trials, including A phase II/III study comparing CO1686 head to head against Tarceva (erlotinib) in newly diagnosed patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that is EGFR mutation-positive A phase II trial of Co-1686 in T790M-positive patients after progression on one prior EGFR TKI Another phase II trial of T790M-positive patients after progression on >1 EGFR TKI or chemotherapy A phase II trial of 2nd line or later CO1686 for patients who have a T790M mutation detected by a serum assay; and A phase III randomized trial vs. chemotherapy in second line or later. Clearly, this reflects a major investment and a lot of optimism in this agent. A second agent that has shown similar promise is AZD9291, another third generation EGFR inhibitor with essentially the same mechanism of action. Dr. Malcolm Ranson and colleagues reported on results from an 89 patient trial of patients with an activating EGFR mutation and acquired resistance, though this study allowed patients with either a T790M mutation or not. The study included testing of the drug at a wide range of doses, from 20-240 mg/day, with no dose reductions required, and almost exclusively mild (grade 1 of 4) rash and diarrhea seen. What was especially encouraging was that 15 of 35 evaluable patients had a response, including 9 of 18 with a T790M mutation. The follow-up plans for this agent are still being defined, but there is a lot of excitement about this agent as well. Though we’re talking only about a few dozen patients and still learning about these agents, I’ve never been as optimistic about breaking through the impasse of acquired resistance in EGFR mutation-positive patients. I hope to share more information about these agents and perhaps others very soon.

What about treating patients who have medical problems? Treating lung cancer in patients with kidney issues or neuropathy March 4th, 2014 - by Dr. Jack West One of the challenges of cancer care is that we guide our treatments by what clinical trial evidence tells us is best for particular patient populations. However, trials exclude patients who have significant medical issues other than cancer. So what do you do for patients who have lung cancer but also have common medical problems like compromised kidney function or pre-existing numbness and tingling (neuropathy) from diabetes or vascular disease? A purist in evidence-based medicine would say that patients who don’t have good kidney function or who have other medical problems that would exclude them from the trials of our standard treatments can’t get treated, but fortunately most oncologists are more flexible than that. What’s the right way to proceed? The answer is that it falls to best medical judgment. But can we be more specific than that? In the setting of renal insufficiency, which is common as patients get older, as well as being a result of years of high blood pressure or diabetes, we need to substitute out the treatments that are most threatening to kidney function worsening. Specifically, this means avoiding the particularly kidney-threatening cisplatin, considering avoiding carboplatin (or perhaps giving it and carefully monitoring kidney function and dropping if it kidney function worsens, and then substituting non-kidney damaging agents instead). If kidney function is only minimally impaired, it may be very acceptable to give carboplatin plus a taxane: Taxol (paclitaxel), Abraxane (nab-paclitaxel), or Taxotere (docetaxel)), Gemzar (gemcitabine), Navelbine (vinorelbine), or Alimta (pemetrexed). An alternative, and the leading one if kidney function is quite compromised or gets worse on carboplatin-based chemo, is to give a nonplatinum doublet, which basically means pairing two drugs for lung cancer that are more commonly partners for cisplatin or carboplatin. Common nonplatinum doublets include Gemzar/Navelbine or Gemzar with one of the taxanes. About 15 years ago, there was a significant hope that these agents might turn out to be an improvement from platinum-based doublets, with comparable or slightly superior efficacy and improved tolerability. That didn’t turn out to be the case: the nonplatinum doublets were typically of the same or very slightly lower efficacy, and the same or slightly better tolerability. Overall, they were a lateral move and never took hold as a leading choice, but they are certainly a fine choice and arguably the ideal one for people with limited kidney function. Then there’s the case of patients with peripheral neuropathy. The taxanes and especially Taxol are the worst offenders here, as is cisplatin, and Navelbine can also worsen neuropathy. Here, we commonly favor carboplatin with a less neuropathy-inducing partner drug, so Gemzar is often a leading choice, or Alimta for a non-squamous lung cancer. It’s also reasonable to consider single agent chemotherapy, though several recent trials have shown that carboplatin doublet chemotherapy is associated with better outcomes as first line treatment than single agent chemo, even in patients with a marginal performance status. But it’s certainly reasonable to consider single agent chemo in individual patients with significant organ compromise, or simply in patients who are particularly wary about significant side effects. Though there are certainly other problems that merit individual treatment recommendations, these are among the most common ones. In the end, it still comes down to individualized judgments and considerations of the circumstances of the particular patient.

Hi Riggle, I agree with Katie. I believe letting your feelings out and letting someone else help you who has gone thru this as well. I hope you will continue to post so we can be a shoulder you can lean on.

Hi! We are back from the Global Leaders Summit in Washington D.C.! I hadn't traveled in years and let me tell you, that alone was an experience. It was a great weekend. I learned a lot about our Events Department. My eyes were entertained with the natural beauty of the city. It was a great experience. The only regret I have is that I didn't take my camera. I will not forget it in May during the National Hope Summit (https://secure2.convio.net/lf/site/TRR/ ... fr_id=4440) where I hope to see you all in person. I can't wait to go back! How was your weekend? A lot of schools around our area are beginning Spring break today. My children are enjoying their time with relaxation, drawing, and video games. Diane, thank you for posting the Friday air. We were ll traveling that day. Any takers for posting on Tuesdays and Thursdays? Cindy

To celebrate National Nutrition Month’s theme this year, “Enjoy the Taste of Eating Right,” we will be featuring many healthy recipes and featured nutrition blogs this March. To kick it off, we would like to share this delicious and nutritious recipe for Quinoa Greek Salad. Quinoa is a great gluten-free source of protein, iron, and fiber, and it cooks in about 20 minutes. The only special handling required with quinoa is to give it a good rinse before cooking; otherwise, it can be bitter. Below is one of our favorite recipes! Quinoa Greek Salad Ingredients 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar ¼ teaspoon dried oregano 1 clove garlic, smashed and finely chopped to a paste Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil 1 cup quinoa Kosher salt and pepper 2 cups red and yellow grape tomatoes, halved 1 cup pitted kalamata olives 2 green onions (green and pale green part), thinly sliced 2 pickled cherry peppers, diced 1 small red onion, halved and thinly sliced ½ English cucumber, cut into small dice Feta, for sprinkling Directions Whisk together the lemon juice, vinegar, oregano, garlic and some salt and pepper in a small bowl. Slowly whisk in the oil until emulsified. Let sit at room temperature while you prepare the salad. Rinse the quinoa in a strainer until the water runs clear. Combine the quinoa, 2 cups water, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a small saucepan, bring to a boil and cook until the water is absorbed and the quinoa is tender, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a bowl, fluff with a fork and let sit for 5 minutes to cool slightly. Add the tomatoes, olives, green onions, cherry peppers, red onions, cucumbers and dressing and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 8 hours before serving. The longer it sits the better the flavor. Just before serving, transfer to a platter and sprinkle feta on top. http://meals-to-heal.com/blog/

The following was submitted by Addison Gilbert Hospital: An initial evaluation for a free lung cancer screening will take place on Tuesday, April 15 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Flint Public Library, One South Street, Middleton. Beverly Hospital and Beverly Radiology Associates are offering a free, low-dose chest CT screening to individuals who meet the established National Comprehensive Cancer Network's (NCCN) high-risk criteria. Persons between the ages of 50 and 74 who have smoked at least an average of one pack of cigarettes per day for twenty-years, may meet the criteria for a free screening. To learn if you meet the criteria, an initial assessment is required and will be held on April 15 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Flint Public Library, Middleton. Appointments are not necessary and the initial evaluation only takes a few minutes. It is not necessary to be a resident of Middleton to participate; all are welcome and invited to attend. While private insurers and the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) do not currently cover low-dose CT lung screening, and most hospitals charge a self-pay of at least $350. for the screening, Beverly Hospital is determined to help bring awareness and accessibility of this testing to all people at high-risk at no charge. The screening does not obligate you to return to a Beverly Hospital facility for any further screenings, for further evaluation of any findings, or any other services that Beverly Hospital provides. http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/mid ... ening.html

Lung cancer is the only one of the four deadliest cancers in the United States that is not subject to routine screenings. According to the National Lung Screening Trial, Low-dose Computed Tomography lung screenings can save the lives of those who are at risk for developing lung cancer, yet most private insurers, Medicare and Medicaid services won’t cover the procedure. “There have never been recommendations of lung screenings like there are for breast, colon and cervical cancers,” said Dr. Trina Poretta, board certified oncologist/hematologist and medical director of the Kennedy Cancer Program. A 2002 study showed that lung cancer screenings helped to reduce lung cancer deaths by 20 percent. “The majority of lung cancer cases are diagnosed in the advanced stages,” Poretta said. “We finally have the support of the United States Prevention Task Force and hope to get insurance coverage for these screenings.” In an effort to help bring awareness and accessibility of lung screenings to high risk patients, Kennedy Health System now offer these screenings at the Kennedy Outpatient Imaging Center in Washington Township free of charge. Lung screenings are quick, easy and result in minimal exposure to radiation. Those who meet the criteria established by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network may qualify for a free screening. “Patients get a low-dose cat scan which uses less radiation, decreasing the risk of radiation exposure to the patient,” Poretta said. “We look at the lungs and lymph nodes around the lungs for nodules, patchy density in the lungs which could be tumor material, or any changes in the lungs that warrant a biopsy.” Screenings are recommended for the following individuals: You are between 55 and 74 years old. You have smoked at least a pack of cigarettes a day for 30 or more years, or two packs a day for 15 years. You are currently a smoker, or have quit within the past 15 years. You do not have a history of lung cancer. The regular out-of-pocket expense for the High-Risk Lung Cancer Screening at Kennedy is $300, payable at the time of the study, but this cost will be waived for community members who meet the screening eligibility requirements. While the LDCT lung screening exam is free, any additional testing or evaluation performed as a result of recommendations arising from the LDCT lung screening exam is not free of charge and will be billed to your insurance in the customary fashion. For more information, call 856-218-5324 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.Lung cancer is the only one of the four deadliest cancers in the United States that is not subject to routine screenings. According to the National Lung Screening Trial, Low-dose Computed Tomography lung screenings can save the lives of those who are at risk for developing lung cancer, yet most private insurers, Medicare and Medicaid services won’t cover the procedure. “There have never been recommendations of lung screenings like there are for breast, colon and cervical cancers,” said Dr. Trina Poretta, board certified oncologist/hematologist and medical director of the Kennedy Cancer Program. A 2002 study showed that lung cancer screenings helped to reduce lung cancer deaths by 20 percent. “The majority of lung cancer cases are diagnosed in the advanced stages,” Poretta said. “We finally have the support of the United States Prevention Task Force and hope to get insurance coverage for these screenings.” In an effort to help bring awareness and accessibility of lung screenings to high risk patients, Kennedy Health System now offer these screenings at the Kennedy Outpatient Imaging Center in Washington Township free of charge. Lung screenings are quick, easy and result in minimal exposure to radiation. Those who meet the criteria established by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network may qualify for a free screening. “Patients get a low-dose cat scan which uses less radiation, decreasing the risk of radiation exposure to the patient,” Poretta said. “We look at the lungs and lymph nodes around the lungs for nodules, patchy density in the lungs which could be tumor material, or any changes in the lungs that warrant a biopsy.” Screenings are recommended for the following individuals: You are between 55 and 74 years old. You have smoked at least a pack of cigarettes a day for 30 or more years, or two packs a day for 15 years. You are currently a smoker, or have quit within the past 15 years. You do not have a history of lung cancer. The regular out-of-pocket expense for the High-Risk Lung Cancer Screening at Kennedy is $300, payable at the time of the study, but this cost will be waived for community members who meet the screening eligibility requirements. While the LDCT lung screening exam is free, any additional testing or evaluation performed as a result of recommendations arising from the LDCT lung screening exam is not free of charge and will be billed to your insurance in the customary fashion. For more information, call 856-218-5324 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. http://ow.ly/uj0xS

LUNGevity Heroes Program to Celebrate Advocates in the Fight Against Lung Cancer FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Aliza Bran abran@susandavis.com (202) 414-0798 Doug Kammerer Chosen as First LUNGevity Hero WASHINGTON (March 4, 2014) – The LUNGevity Foundation announces the LUNGevity Heroes program, a monthly honor recognizing individuals or organizations whose advocacy or research is making a difference in the fight against lung cancer. The top cancer killer in the United States, lung cancer, can affect anyone, regardless of smoking history, gender, or ethnicity, but remains underfunded and overlooked. LUNGevity Heroes advance the fight against lung cancer, serving as vocal advocates to spread awareness of the disease, carrying out groundbreaking research on early detection and treatment methods, and inspiring the community with powerful stories of survival or support. NBC4 Chief Meteorologist Doug Kammerer has shone the spotlight of public attention on lung cancer, using his post as NBC reporter to extend awareness of LUNGevity’s mission and actions to a much larger audience via broadcast and social media. Doug very often serves as the public face of LUNGevity and for three years has emceed Breathe Deep DC, the Washington, DC-based 5k walk, encouraging participation and general awareness. Inspired to work with LUNGevity after lung cancer affected his own family, Doug has become a strong supporter, creating visibility for LUNGevity at NBC events, including the Health & Fitness Expo where he led the LUNGevity walk for two years. His involvement through social media in conjunction with LUNGevity’s activities and the resources it offers has been extremely effective at getting the word out throughout the greater metropolitan Washington area. This has resulted in newly diagnosed lung cancer patients and their families becoming aware of LUNGevity as a resource. At the 2012 Musical Celebration of Hope Gala, LUNGevity honored Doug for his contribution to the fight against lung cancer. For more on NBC4 Chief Meteorologist Doug Kammerer, visit LUNGevity Hero’s Spotlight at http://blog.lungevity.org. For more information on the LUNGevity Foundation, please visit www.LUNGevity.org. About Lung Cancer 1 in 14 Americans is diagnosed with lung cancer in their lifetime. About 60 percent of all new lung cancer diagnoses are among people who have never smoked or are former smokers. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, regardless of gender or ethnicity. Lung cancer kills almost twice as many women as breast cancer and more than three times as many men as prostate cancer. Only 16 percent of all people diagnosed with lung cancer will survive 5 years or more, but if it’s caught before it spreads, the chance for 5-year survival improves to 52 percent. About LUNGevity Foundation LUNGevity Foundation is firmly committed to making an immediate impact on increasing quality of life and survivorship of people with lung cancer by accelerating research into early detection and more effective treatments, as well as by providing community, support, and education for all those affected by the disease. Our vision is a world where no one dies of lung cancer. For more information about LUNGevity Foundation, please visit www.LUNGevity.org.

LUNGevity Hero: Doug Kammerer March 4th, 2014 - by bnetter It is with great excitement that we launch our monthly LUNGevity Hero spotlight to honor some of our most important allies in our fight against lung cancer. LUNGevity has an incredible community of supporters from all walks of life who make a difference in the fight against lung cancer – from vocal survivors and inspiring caregivers to members of the media who shine the spotlight of public attention on this important issue and scientists investigating and finding innovative early detection methods and treatments. Our first LUNGevity Hero is NBC-4 (Washington, DC) Chief Meteorologist Doug Kammerer. Inspired to work with LUNGevity after lung cancer affected his own family, Doug is important to LUNGevity in so many ways. For a number of years he has served as emcee and vocal supporter of our Breathe Deep DC walk, often acting as the public face to a much broader audience via broadcast and social media channels. His support has helped build momentum and participation in the annual Breathe Deep DC walk on the National Mall, inspiring involvement, participation, and awareness across the DC metropolitan area. Breathe Deep DC veterans know Doug as an encouraging member of the LUNGevity family, while newly-diagnosed lung cancer patients and their families may find him a welcoming introduction to an important community and resource. In fact, one member of the community remembers coming across one of Doug’s tweets about the DC LUNGevity walk soon after being diagnosed with lung cancer. Incredibly thankful to have found a resource and a community, he is now a strong public advocate and volunteer for LUNGevity, all because of Doug’s high profile support. Without Doug’s social media outreach, this community member might not have known where to begin in his own battle with lung cancer. He and many others across the National Capital region have benefited from Doug’s generous use of social media. Doug supports LUNGevity at NBC events, including leading LUNGevity walks at the annual NBC4 Health & Fitness Expo. In 2012 at the LUNGevity Musical Celebration of Hope Gala in Washington, DC, Doug was honored for his contribution to the fight against lung cancer. He continues to serve as a vocal advocate, inspiring the support of those who are not as familiar with the disease, and touching the lives of those who are personally affected. We thank Doug for all of his support, and we are proud to launch LUNGevity Heroes with our enormous appreciation and gratitude to Doug Kammerer.

I look forward to Wednesday's they are the peak of the week! Well, I look forward to everyday really. However, Wednesday's are days where I feel extra motivation and feel extra productive. Diane, how are you doing? How is your friend handling everything? I've been thinking about you and her. We are here for you. I will send positive thoughts your way. Bruce! We haven't heard from you in a LONG time. That's for commenting on the Monday air. How are you doing? What's new? Quick question, since I will be leaving out of town on Friday...does anyone care to be the initiators for the Friday - Sunday air? I'd like it if we could maybe take turns anytime after this weekend. I can start with Monday, Wednesdays & Fridays. Also, I've noticed some of you welcoming the new members, and I want to tell you that I really appreciate that, as I'm sure they do as well. We know your time is important and we appreciate that you choose to take the time to post in the message boards. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Hi Angeline, Welcome to the this message board. We have a forum dedicated to those who are seeking alternative treatments in this link viewforum.php?f=44 I know there is another person here who recently posted that she too was interested in taking a non traditional approach. Her name is Marlene. Maybe you two could be message board friends. Whichever treatment plan you choose, we are here for you. Even if it is just to tell you that we are sending positive vibes your way.

Tairen, My heart is so heavy for you. I'm sending you sincere positive thoughts.

Braised Chicken Gumbo http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/brais ... gumbo.html From EatingWell: January/February 2011 Leftovers make this chicken gumbo an absolute breeze. The only prep you’ll need to do is to dice a bell pepper and slice some okra if you’re using fresh. That’s it! If you don’t have leftover chicken and sauce from Wine & Tomato Braised Chicken, you can use 2 cups shredded cooked chicken and 2 cups canned diced tomatoes instead of the leftover sauce. 4 servings, about 1 1/2 cups | Active Time: 20 minutes | Total Time: 30 minutes Ingredients 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1 medium red or green bell pepper, diced 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 2 cups shredded chicken from Wine & Tomato Braised Chicken (recipe follows) 2 cups sauce from Wine & Tomato Braised Chicken 2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth 1 cup sliced okra, fresh or frozen (thawed) 3/4 cup instant brown rice (see Tip) 1/8-1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper Preparation Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add bell pepper and flour and cook, stirring, until the pepper is beginning to soften and the flour is golden brown, about 2 minutes. Add chicken, sauce, broth, okra, rice and cayenne. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the flavors meld and the okra is tender, about 10 minutes. Nutrition Per serving : 362 Calories; 16 g Fat; 4 g Sat; 7 g Mono; 81 mg Cholesterol; 24 g Carbohydrates; 27 g Protein; 3 g Fiber; 674 mg Sodium; 551 mg Potassium 1 1/2 Carbohydrate Serving Exchanges: 1 starch, 1 vegetable, 3 lean meat, 1 fat Tips & Notes Tip: If you want to use rice that is not “instant,” stir in 1 cup of any leftover cooked rice instead. Or, if you have time, add 1/2 cup of quicker-cooking whole-grain rice, such as Bhutanese red rice or Kalijira rice, and an additional 1 1/4 cups of chicken broth before adding the okra. Cook until the rice is almost tender, about 25 minutes (or according to package directions), then add the okra and simmer until it is tender.

Just one mutation can make a world of a difference to a patient, researchers at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hosptial and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC-James) and collaborators from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, recently discovered. Reported in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, the team’s study detailed the treatment of an advanced-stage lung cancer patient with the drug sorafenib during a clinical trial. The patient responded within two months of beginning treatment and has remained progression-free and asymptomic for five years while continuing oral sorafenib therapy—she had the most positive response by far among the other 305 trial participants. Whole-genome sequencing of cancerous tissue samples and RNA sequencing of cancerous and healthy tissues taken from the patient before treatment with sorafenib were able to identify a possible reason for the patient’s positive response: a mutation in ARAF S214C. It is common for cancerous cells to contain more than a hundred alterations in DNA relative to normal cells, but this specific mutation was both expressed at a high level and a possible target for sorafenib. When the researchers introduced this mutation into normal lung cells, tumors formed, and the tumors were inhibited by sorafenib. Genome sequencing is often used to identify genetic mutations in a patient’s cancer cells that may indicate which drugs would be of most benefit to the patient. “Knowing which mutations are present in lung tumors can help us tailor a patient’s treatment to the unique genetic features present in his or her cancer cells,” said David Carbone, MD, from The OSUCCC-James Thoracic Oncology Program. “Our study suggests that we can discover important new gene mutations that drive cancer development and progression by analyzing genes in cancer cells from patients who fare far better or far worse than others in a particular clinical trial.” In the case at hand, the patient might be considered lucky. “If recurrent but rare mutations underlie cancer growth and responsiveness, they are not likely to be statistically called out as a potential driver of cancer through a genome scan of several hundred or even thousands of cases because they are so rare. But for the patients who do have these specific genetic mutations, having this information is critical,” said Dr. Carbone. http://ow.ly/udXpY

Changing the Outlook on Lung Cancer March 3rd, 2014 - by Amy May Most people don’t think about lung cancer until it hits the people they love. I lost an uncle to lung cancer several years ago. He was taken very quickly after his diagnosis and we didn’t really have time to wrap our heads around it. I didn’t really think about it again until my brother’s wife, Sara, was diagnosed with lung cancer at the age of 31. She wasn’t feeling well before their honeymoon. When they returned, there were months of trying to find out what was happening with her. She was so young and looked so healthy. I couldn’t believe that she could have a terminal disease. She had no risk factors. It was such a shock to everyone. It’s a helpless feeling when someone you care about is diagnosed with lung cancer. You want to do something but you don’t really know what to do. You want to help but you don’t really know how. When Sara was finally diagnosed with lung cancer in 2010, Sara and John did a lot of research to find out as much as they could about the disease and what resources were out there, and they found out about LUNGevity. When we found out about the unbelievable statistics around lung cancer survival rates, and that lung cancer could happen to anyone even if they never smoked, we wanted to do something to raise awareness about the disease. I thought, “Ok, we need to get in here. What can we do?” We decided to turn to LUNGevity and start with a running event, Breathe Deep Seattle. We had never put on an event before. LUNGevity has an events team that walks you through the steps of organizing an event and makes the entire process less overwhelming. The first year of Breathe Deep Seattle, my husband, Scott, and I were helped by our family and friends. Through that event we built a community of volunteers, people who had been personally impacted by a lung cancer diagnosis and people who wanted to help our cause. I have an event volunteer page on Facebook, and whenever anybody visited the page, I asked whether they’d like to help. Nine times out of 10, they said yes. People stepped up in many ways. If we put out a call to find someone who could pick up food at Costco or who could find a sponsor or who knew a graphic designer, someone always jumped right in and took care of it. We felt incredibly supported by the people who stepped up to volunteer. Many people ask me now about lung cancer. What I talk about first is Sara and her story. People are often surprised because, in their mind, lung cancer doesn’t happen to someone young and healthy. Lung cancer can happen to anyone. What gives me hope is seeing what’s going on with lung cancer research and young doctors getting into the field and making a commitment to detecting and curing this disease. I’m also filled with hope when I see survivors. We had about 20 survivors participate in our 2013 event. Our event was a place for them to connect with each other in Seattle and celebrate their survivorship. My hope for the next five to ten years is that—short of lung cancer being gone!—people will understand more about the disease so that it’s not a forgotten or lost one. I’m hoping for more awareness and dedication to the cause. I’m hopeful that together we can really change the outlook for lung cancer patients and their families.

Okay so remember how I was telling you Texas had a beautiful Friday and Saturday? Well, Sunday we had "ThunderSleet" storms. Those types of storms are rare for Texas. My whole town has a thin covering of snow cone looking ice. Guess what happens when Texas has ice around? Schools shut down, and everybody clears the chip and cookie aisles at the grocery stores. The roads around my house look safe enough. I really think they close the schools to protect those who ride the bus and have to wait up to 20 minutes at the bus stop. Most stores here don't sell warm enough jackets that will stand up to -4 wind chills. It is Texas. Enough about my weather. I think I can hear Bruce laughing at our temps. How was your weekend?

Hi Alisa. Thanks for sharing your experience.

As part of her MYP personal project and involvement in Student Leadership, sophomore, Tess Garcia, presented the Breathe Deep Fashion Show on Saturday, February 22, at the the Community House in Birmingham. There were over 100 people in attendance, and 40 local students wore clothes provided by several Birmingham merchants. The show raised over $1,700 to benefit the Lungevity Foundation! A Silent Auction, managed by Student Leadership junior representative, Karyln Sykes, also took place during the show. It featured variety of prizes, including gift cards from Yummy Cupcakes, The Varsity Shop, Sundance Shoes, and more. "The show went so much better than I ever could have imagined. I know my grandma would be proud, and I'm happy that I could help LUNGevity both through raising money and spreading awareness," said Tess. All proceeds from the event and Silent Auction will go directly to Lungevity in funding further lung cancer research and treatment for those patients and families affected by this disease. Click here to view more photos from the show! For more information about the Lungetivy Foundation, visit lungevity.org/fashion http://www.bloomfield.org/news/item/ind ... duleId=113

My extra thought on this recipe is that I think it would be great to prepare this in a muffin pan. That way you can eat how many calories are specified to you and it will be easy to share, freeze, or heat up in the oven a day or two later. Directions Prepare the crust: Pulse the flour, baking powder and salt in a food processor until combined. Add the butter, one piece at a time, pulsing until the mixture looks like coarse meal. Separate the egg; refrigerate the egg white. Beat the egg yolk and milk in a bowl, then add to the food processor, pulsing until the dough comes together. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and gather into a ball. Flatten into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap and chill at least 1 hour. Meanwhile, make the filling: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Prick the potatoes with a fork and bake directly on the oven rack until tender, about 45 minutes. Cool slightly, then peel and break into small pieces. Bring the chicken broth, carrots and thyme to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat and cook 2 minutes; cover and keep warm. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until soft, about 8 minutes. Sprinkle in the flour and stir until lightly toasted, about 3 minutes. Add the milk, celery, potato pieces and the warm broth mixture and simmer until thickened, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the chicken, yogurt, peas and parsley. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer the filling to a 2-quart casserole dish. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface until about 1/2 inch thick and slightly larger than the dish. Beat the reserved egg white in a bowl; brush over the dough and season with salt and pepper. Press the dough against the sides of the dish. Place on a baking sheet and bake until the crust is golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Per serving (1 cups): Calories 482; Fat 19 g (Saturated 8 g); Cholesterol 137 mg; Sodium 795 mg; Carbohydrate 47 g; Fiber 5 g; Protein 31 g Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food ... c=linkback

Hi everybody! I hope you have had a peaceful week. Do you have plans for the weekend? It's supposed to be a beautiful day here in Dallas. 80 for the high and THEN Sunday's low will be 19! So the season is beginning at that weird point where we need to keep our coats in the coat closet and our sandals right underneath them. I still love Texas. Hope you have a great weekend!