CindyA

HOPE is knowing that other people have survived lung cancer. What or who gives you HOPE?

Hi everyone, This came though my email and I thought I would share it with you. Saint Francis Medical Center is offering a free CT screening for those who qualify. Please share this information with those you know who live in the Illinois area. Please call the lung screening nurse at 309.683.4939 to see if you qualify for a free low dose CT Lung Cancer Screening today! OSF Saint Francis Medical Center530 NE Glen Oak Ave. Peoria, IL 61637 Phone: (309) 655-2000 https://www.osfhealthcare.org/saint-francis/services/pulmonology/ct-lung-cancer-screening/

The Pacific Northwest is home to a vibrant community of lung cancer survivors and advocates and is proud to host a Regional HOPE Summit. This summit provides an opportunity to meet peers and experts, and enjoy the beautiful area. Regional HOPE Summit Northwest (Portland OR) registration is open! Join us Sept 12 in Portland for this great event! www.lungevity.org/northwesthope

Find a Cure Panel specializes in patient research for rare and serious diseases including lung cancer. In the next few weeks, FACP has some patient and caregiver research for people who have NSCLC Stage 4 or Stage 3b. It’s very easy to participate. It’s one confidential and anonymous call with one moderator talking about your experience. FACP gives you a 1800 number to call in and schedule the call at your convenience. To qualify, you or your loved one: 1) Must live in the US; 2) Be diagnosed with Stage 4 or Stage 3b NSCLC since 2011 3) Have non squamous NSCLC 4) Be diagnosed with NSCLC for more than 3 months; 5) Have had some type of treatment for NSCLC If you do the call, FACP will donate $100 to Lungevity If you are interested in participating, please email us at info@findacurepanel.com and reference Lungevity

Mary I having been following this thread and I'm sorry you have had some rough nights. How are you feeling now?

Hello, welcome to the message boards. I'm sorry you are experiencing some discomfort. Has your doctor mentioned a saline spray maybe for your nose? Here is a recommendation from another survivor: I used baking soda and salt a teaspoon of each to a quart of water rinse day and night and drank lots of sweet tea Please keep us posted if you found a solution. Look forward to your next post.

Which one is going through your mind today? For me, food. The weekend is always tricky for me to eat healthy. It's usually days filled with friends, family, and of course FOOD. Why is it when we all gather, food is always involved? Something I try to do is keep almonds in my purse when I start to feel like I want a light snack (but what I really want is a Snickers) & filling snack. What is your favorite tip for staying healthy over the weekend? Whenever we have little gatherings at our home we like to serve Tilapia Ceviche. This is a close recipe on how we serve it. It can be served as a great dip. It's refreshing, light, low in carbs (careful with the chips), and usually a big hit! I borrowed this from a BeachBody website. (Here is the link: http://www.beachbody.com/beachbodyblog/nutrition/shrimp-ceviche?code=SOCIAL_BLOG_PI ) Shrimp Ceviche This Baja California-style ceviche is made with shrimp, fresh lime juice, and refreshing cucumber. Make it as mild or spicy as you want by adjusting the chili peppers to your taste. Serving it in endive shells is a clever and crunchy alternative to fried tortilla chips. Total Time: 24 hrs. 15 min. Prep Time: 15 min. Cooking Time: None Yield: 8 servings, 2 each Ingredients: ½ cup fresh lime juice 1 lb. cooked medium shrimp, peeled and deveined, coarsely chopped 1 medium cucumber, finely chopped ½ medium red onion, finely chopped 2 medium Serrano chiles (or jalapenos), seeded and deveined, finely chopped (optional) 1 medium tomato, finely chopped 1 medium ripe avocado, finely chopped 2 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh cilantro ¼ tsp. sea salt 16 endive leaves Preparation: 1. Combine lime juice and shrimp in a medium bowl; mix well. Marinate, covered, in the refrigerator, for 6 to 24 hours. 2. Combine shrimp mixture, cucumber, onion, chiles (if desired), and tomato in a large bowl; mix well. 3. Add avocado, cilantro, and salt; toss gently to blend. 4. Evenly portion shrimp mixture into endive leaves. Serve two leaves for each portion. ELATED POSTS

I personally am thankful for everyone I have met here online. I'm also thankful for each of you who drop in weekly to post, offer advice and give hope to our newest members. What are you thankful for today?

ASPARAGUS! What is your favorite way to prepare asparagus? I like to bake mine and drizzle it with extra virgin olive oil, sprinkle it with lemon pepper and a tiny dash of kosher salt. Here is an article from Meals to Heal. Enjoy! ________________________________________________________________________________________ By Liv Scheinbaum | Meals to Heal http://ow.ly/NBFr6 Asparagus belongs to the lily family (Liliaceae, scientific name: Asparagus officinalis) and has been considered a delicacy since ancient times. In fact, the Roman emperor Augustus purportedly created the “Asparagus Fleet” for carrying these fine green spears. How’s that for the love of a food! Today, asparagus is still heralded in several countries for its delicate flavor, even if it does give one’s urine an “off” odor. One half cup of cooked asparagus is only 20 calories, 4 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber and 2 grams of protein. It is also a good source of vitamin B6, calcium, magnesium and zinc, and a very good source of dietary fiber, protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, iron, phosphorus, potassium, copper, manganese and selenium. Phew! This impressive display of nutrient density makes asparagus a great choice for anyone, especially weight watchers looking to pack in nutrients without extra calories. Health Benefits As one would expect with such a strong nutrient profile, asparagus offers both anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. Vitamins A, C and E, plus the minerals copper, magnesium, selenium and zinc all contribute to the anti-oxidant powers of this springtime special. And although anti-oxidants themselves help reduce inflammation, it is the saponins (a chemical compound) in asparagus that seem to offer the most anti-inflammatory benefits and anti-cancer properties, albeit primarily in lab and rat studies. In addition to the studied cytotoxic effects on cancer cells, saponins have also been shown to improve blood lipid and blood sugar levels, both of which can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Asparagus is also quite beneficial for the digestive system. Not only is it high in fiber, but it contains a good dose of inulin, a type of prebiotic carbohydrate that provides nourishment for the healthy bacteria in our colons and, as such, is associated with better nutrient absorption (a healthy gut absorbs best!) and reduced risk of colon cancer. Season, Selection and Storage Depending on where you live, asparagus can be in season as early as February and as late as July. On the east coast, the season is typically May through July. The stalks should be rounded, firm and fairly thin. A “fatter” stem means a more woody texture. (Cooking tip: if a stalk is too thick after trimming the ends off, you can shave it down with a potato peeler to remove some of the tough and stringy outside fibers.) The spear should be green or purplish with closed tips. Asparagus is best eaten as fresh as possible, but you can extend the shelf life by a couple of days by wrapping the ends in a damp paper towel. If you wait too long, it becomes a bit woody. Before consuming, trim the ends and wash it under running water to remove any excess dirt. This is the time to peel extra thick stalks as well if needed. Recipe: Lemon Pepper Asparagus Ingredients 1 pound asparagus, ends trimmed 1 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 lemon, zested and juiced Pinch of sea salt Lots of freshly-cracked black pepper Directions Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F. Toss or mist asparagus with olive oil and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice until evenly covered. Add a dash of salt and generous dose of freshly-cracked black pepper and then toss in the oven for 8-12 minutes, or until the tips begin to brown and the stalks are tender. Remove and sprinkle with lemon zest. (The asparagus can also be grilled or steamed (about 3 minutes or until tender).) Liv Scheinbaum has a Masters degree in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology from Teachers College, Columbia University and is completing her dietetic internship to become a Registered Dietitian. References: Gimme Some Oven, Lemon Pepper Asparagus recipe and photo. Accessed on May 25, 2015 from http://www.gimmesomeoven.com/lemon-pepper-asparagus/. Podolak, I., Galanty, A. and Sobolewska, D. (2010). Saponins as cytotoxic agents: a review. Phytochemistry Reviews; 9(3): 425-474. Rao, A.V. and Gurfinkel, D. M. (2000). The bioactivity of saponens: triterpenoid and steroidal glycosides. Drug Metabolism and Drug Interaction; 17(1-4): 211-235. SELF Nutrition Data. Accessed on May 25, 2015 fromhttp://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2312/2. Wikipedia, Asparagus. Access on May 25, 2015 fromhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asparagus. The World’s Healthiest Foods. Asparagus. Accessed on May 25, 2015 fromhttp://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=12. http://ow.ly/NBFr6

Hi Ginnyva, Welcome to the message boards. It's nice to read that you have positive energy. Please keep us posted about your test results. Here is a link for more information regarding your type of lung cancer. If you would like to be connected to a personal mentor please reach out to us. Experts Blog | LUNGevity Foundation http://ow.ly/NB2s7 Wishing you strength and healing.

Hi Peggi, Thank you for introducing yourself. We are glad you to have you as someone who can help us with advice. As for the waterbed, I would ask a family member to start a GoFundMe page for you and ask friends and family to help donate towards that investment. Please keep us posted.

Learning the true meaning of “the bench, the bedside, and the community” Print this page Posted on May 20, 2015 - 10:16am Upal Basu Roy My first HOPE Summit: Learning the true meaning of “the bench, the bedside, and the community” I am a new recruit to LUNGevity, and the May HOPE Summit, a two-day celebration of lung cancer survivorship, advocacy, and research, in Arlington, VA, was my initiation into both LUNGevity and the lung cancer community. I was very excited to meet the different stakeholders in the race against lung cancer, as well as to gain a strong understanding of the complementary roles of the “bench, the bedside, and the community.” Let me explain. Two weeks ago, I was a research scientist, studying cancer at a leading medical center in New York. My focus was solely on the “bench.” But the cutting-edge scientific research on the malfunctioning genes and proteins that cause cancer is just a part of the picture. What is missing are the other two pillars of cancer care—the “bedside,” where laboratory findings are translated to clinical practice, and the “community,” where cancer patients have access to the latest advances in treatment. As the new Director of Science Communications and Programs at LUNGevity, I want to help connect the three pillars, something that I couldn’t do working in a laboratory. I could not have been in a better place than the HOPE Summit to see this connection in action. I thought of the bench when Dr. J.T. Poirier of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center explained how human genome sequencing technology is helping match targeted therapy to the right lung cancer patient. I was reminded of the importance of the bedside when Dr. Raja Flores from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine discussed how video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has revolutionized lung cancer treatment. But what resonated with me the most was the community, the amazing group of survivors who provided a voice for all lung cancer patients, reminding us why we do what we do. When a ten-year survivor talked about how she was one of the first patients to be treated with crizotinib (Xalkori®), I learned the true meaning of connecting the three pillars—how a drug developed at the bench and brought to the bedside can help the patient community. It was a humbling experience to be seated with lung cancer survivors who shared their stories of Heroism, Optimism, Passion, and Empowerment. The HOPE Summit gave me the complete picture of cancer care, and was nothing less than inspirational. http://www.lungevity.org/support-survivorship/get-connected/blog/learning-true-meaning-of-%E2%80%9C-bench-bedside-and-community%E2%80%9D

Hi everyone! I hope you all had a great weekend. I just wanted to let you know that there are ONLY 50 seats available for the FREE research lab tour on Friday during the Tennessee HOPE Summit. Please register today to save your seat, they are going so FAST! If you want more details please send me a private message. www.lungevity.org.nasvillehope

Recipe of the Month – Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp Bars By Liv Scheinbaum Savory and sweet, the two sides of rhubarb make it a fun vegetable to play around with in the kitchen. Here, oats, rhubarb and strawberries provide fiber, while the strawberries and rhubarb give these treats a nice kick of vitamin C and other phytonutrients. Try these strawberry rhubarb crisp bars for breakfast over some Greek yogurt or as a fruity dessert topped with a dollop of fresh whipped cream. Yield: 16 small bars, as shown, or 8 large ones; recipe can be doubled and baked in a 9×13-inch baking pan, where they will come out a little thicker Ingredients 1 cup rolled oats 3/4 cup plus up to 2 tablespoons extra all-purpose flour 1/2 cup light brown sugar Heaped 1/4 teaspoon table salt 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 1 teaspoon cornstarch (optional, but helps firm up the filling) 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, divided 1 cup small-diced rhubarb (from about 1 1/2 medium stalks) 1 cup small-diced strawberries Powdered sugar, for decoration, if desired Directions Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Line the bottom and two sides of 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper. In the pan, mix oats, ¾ cup flour, brown sugar and salt. Next pour the melted butter and mix until clumps form. Add remaining two tablespoons of flour if the clumps feel soft or look too damp. Remove and set aside ½ cup of the crumble mixture and press the rest into the bottom of the pan evenly. Spread half of the fruit over the pressed crumble mixture, sprinkle it with cornstarch, lemon juice and ½ tablespoon of granulated sugar. Spread remaining fruit over this, top with a second ½ tablespoon sugar. Toss reserved crumble mix evenly over the top and bake for 30 – 40 minutes, until fruit is bubbly and the crumble part looks golden brown. Let cool in the pan on the counter for a softer texture or in the fridge if you like them crisp. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and cut into desired shape. Store leftovers in fridge. (Note, the bars will become more crisp-like after being in the fridge.) References: Smitten Kitchen. Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp Bars. Adapted from One Bowl Baking. Accessed on April 14, 2015 from http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2014/05/strawberry-rhubarb-crisp-bars/. LINK TO MEALS TO HEAL BLOG http://meals-to-heal.com/blog/recipe-of-the-month-strawberry-rhubarb-crisp-bars/

Kenneth Lourie Not exactly “like a frightened turtle” as “similed” on a long-ago Seinfeld episode by Jerry himself; this shrinkage is the good kind, the kind you hope a radiological oncologist characterizes when viewing your CT Scan (computed tomography). Specifically, the exact kind of scan I get every three months to assess and evaluate the tumors, and fluid, in my stage IV, non-small cell cancer-affected lungs. The actual scanning itself takes about 30 seconds of “breathe in,” “hold it,” and “breathe out” to determine if my life is on hold – in a good way – or in jeopardy (not a belated reference back to last week’s column). The week-long wait until we have our face-to-face appointment with my oncologist to learn the results is not as interminable as you might think. Over time, we have gotten used to the experience. After all, living with cancer means living, not dying, and adapting and compartmentalizing cancer’s effects – mentally, physically and spiritually; all keys to surviving and enduring the good, bad and ugly that daily can traumatize those of us “characterized as terminal” who frequent the Infusion Centers hoping for a miracle cure. Since March, 2009, I’ve been treated with nearly non-stop chemotherapy, infused mostly, except for 12 months or so when I was able to take a targeted therapy pill at home and only had to show up at the Center for scans and doctor’s appointments. Six years ago almost, this process began; I can’t say it seems like yesterday, because there are yesterdays – due to the effect of chemotherapy – that I simply don’t remember (“chemo brain” is the accepted condition/characterization), but time flies when you’re having fun or rather, you’re still alive against all odds. And so it seems as if I still have a few tomorrows. Tomorrows that were hardly promised to me back at the original Team Lourie meeting in late February, 2009. Somehow, through a variety of fits and starts, I have survived: my DNA, my family history, my attitude, my pills, my supplements, my alkaline water, my diet and lifestyle changes, my above-average luck, whatever, however, I am still present and accounted for. And though “stable” is a radiologist’s/oncologist’s description I have come to hope and pray for and embrace over these past six years, “shrinkage” is a description “most welcome” as Hercule Poirot might say and one I rarely anticipated hearing – considering my stage IV circumstances. But I can take it. Though I’m not cancer-free and certainly not in remission, I am doing reasonably well. I am, as a good friend says: “in pretty good shape for the shape I’m in.” The scan results are results with which I can live (Duh!) and so I intend to – until three months hence when we do this scan dance all over again. Granted, this cycle of gloom and doom and results-not-soon-enough is hardly ideal, but it is a living and a living I was not “prognosed” to have (“13 months to two years” was the original prognosis) when first diagnosed. I’m nowhere near home free; I’m still in for the fight of my life – for my life, but for the moment, at least, for this quarter, due to the shrinkage, I can take a bit of a break, which if you want to know the truth, I can certainly use. http://www.lungevity.org/support-survivorship/get-connected/blog/shrinkage ______________________________________ “This column is my life as one of the fortunate few; a lung cancer anomaly: a stage IV lung cancer patient who has outlived his doctor’s original prognosis; and I’m glad to share it. It seems to help me cope writing about it. Perhaps it will help you relate reading about it.” Mr. Lourie’s columns can be found at www.connectionnewspapers.com(link is external). (key word, Lourie) Read Kenneth Lourie’s 1st LUNGevity blog post & bio.

Dr Carbone will be doing his FIRST ever twitter chat today with LUNGevity. We will be talking immunotherapy and he's answering your questions starting at 3pm eastern www.twitter.com/lungevity keep in mind he's brand new to Twitter (@DCarboneMD) so your patience is appreciated. Spread the word !

Hi Debbie, WELCOME to the LCSC message boards, You will find a lot of support here. I hope you will keep posting and letting us know how you are doing and how your family is. I have small children as well and my heart goes out to you.

Hi Snowflake. Your words make me feel like you are a very strong person filled with courage! I am sorry about your re-occurrence. How many fur babies do you have?

Hi Katie, welcome to the LCSC message boards. As Katie mentioned above Matt's video is very inspiring. I hope you were able to watch it. Please keep us posted on how you and your mother are doing.

Hi Michele, WELCOME! I am glad you found this message board. I too am sorry that you are not receiving the parental support. You have US though. Also,I am not sure if you have heard of http://www.cancerandcareers.org/en but they are a great resource. They have monthly webinars and provide guidance on job hunting. I look forward to getting to know you better.

Way to go Eric!

http://www.lungevity.org/support-survivorship/get-connected/blog/excuse-me Kenneth Lourie Early on during my indoctrination/assimilation into the cancer-patient world in which I now reside, I remember asking a fellow cancer patient/friend if I could use cancer as an excuse for whatever it was needed excusing (directly or indirectly related), and she said: absolutely, “blame the cancer.” Years later, after a chemotherapy infusion, I saw my oncologist walking through the Infusion Center and asked him if my thinning hair might be a result of this most recent chemotherapy drug (not all chemotherapy results in hair loss). His response was similar to what my friend had advised me in 2009. He said: “You can blame me,” (which of course, I understood to mean, cancer/the treatment of cancer) “for anything.” Now, I have to tell you, having such an acceptable, ready-made, beyond-reproach kind of excuse such as cancer as the reason for anything you want to do/don’t want to do/can’t do, etc., is incredibly tempting. It’s almost like having a super power, a power which cannot be questioned or compromised in any way. And quite frankly, conjures a wide range of emotions/reactions; from one perspective, it places the cancer patient in a position of strength, and on the other, creates a kind dependence that is hard to resist. My fear has always been that relying on cancer too much as an excuse somehow weakens the immune system and so I have been hesitant to use its power. Can you say slippery slope? As an example: if “the dog ate my homework” became an acceptable excuse, one would use it as such until it no longer passed muster; and as we all know, eventually it doesn’t pass anything. However, cancer as an excuse – in my experience, will always pass muster and then some. Moreover, the seriousness of it will likely prevent the patient from ever having to answer any show-proof type questions: “Show me your port.” “Name your most recent chemotherapy cocktail.” “How long does a typical infusion last?” As a consequence, the potential for use and abuse is almost overwhelming. Nevertheless, in spite of the temptation, I have rarely used my disease as an excuse for anything, other than when it was obvious by my appearance – during heavy duty chemotherapy – that I was unavailable, shall we say. It always felt as if I might be manipulating situations if I were to start using “cancer” as an excuse; as believable and understandable an excuse as it was/is. It’s so easy. So unquestioned. No one is going to ask: “Really?” “Are you throwing up that much?” “Are you sure you can’t get out of bed?” Besides, I haven’t wanted to give in to my cancer whereby it begins to control my life more than the regular medical appointments, lab work, diagnostic scans, infusions and the 40+ pills I ingest and restricted diet already do. I’ve wanted to maintain some control and try not to become a victim of my own circumstances. Easier said than done, I assure you. But I have persevered and survived five years and nearly nine months. Through a combination of good genes, a healthier lifestyle and diet, a variety of non-traditional alternatives/supplements and a bit of blind luck, not to mention a super-positive attitude which I inherited from my father, life goes on. However, if anything goes wrong, I know who/what to blame: “cancer.” It wasn’t anything I said or did. In a way, there’s comfort in having such a good excuse. Unfortunate, certainly, but very convenient. _______________________________________________ “This column is my life as one of the fortunate few; a lung cancer anomaly: a stage IV lung cancer patient who has outlived his doctor’s original prognosis; and I’m glad to share it. It seems to help me cope writing about it. Perhaps it will help you relate reading about it.” Mr. Lourie’s columns can be found at www.connectionnewspapers.com(link is external). (key word, Lourie) Read Kenneth Lourie’s 1st LUNGevity blog post & bio.

March Food of the Month – The Mighty Mango! By Liv Scheinbaum One does not typically think of mangos while in the wintery throws of March. But one should! They have enough nutritional value to warrant this tropical indulgence and, lucky for us, they are available year round. Plus, they add a nice splash of color to the mid-winter blues, or grays, if you live in a cold, snowy climate. One cup of diced mango is around 100 calories, 25 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 1 gram of protein and less than 1 gram of fat. It is an excellent source of vitamins A and C with 25% DV and 76% DV, respectively, and a good source of vitamin B6. Nutrients of interest: Vitamins A and C are both powerful anti-oxidants that help to neutralize free radicals. In addition to aiding our night vision, vitamin A assists with cellular differentiation, keeps our skin and mucous membranes healthy and plays a key role in our immune system function. Vitamin C also keeps our skin healthy through its effects on collagen production, which promotes wound healing, and is similarly immune enhancing. Vitamin B6—well, it is involved in over 100 enzyme reactions! Most of them are related to protein metabolism, but it also plays a role in cognitive development, promote immune function and hemoglobin formation. Anticancer ability: Special interest is being paid to this exotic fruit for its potential cancer fighting properties. In studies with cancer cells in the laboratory, polyphenolic nutrients from the fruits demonstrate an ability to stop cancer cells from spreading and promote programmed cell death (apoptosis) within them. Interestingly, these polyphenols seem to target cancer cells, while leaving non-cancerous cells unaffected. Such specificity is a much sought after feature in any anticancer agent. So although mangos are not touted for their antioxidant properties, they seemingly can hold their own in anticancer activity. It will be exciting to see how this plays out in future research. The Ins and Outs of Mangos There are a variety of mangos and most are available in the U.S. They range in color so do not use your eyes as a ripeness indicator. Instead, go by touch. The fruit should give a little when you squeeze it gently. Like with a peach or avocado, you can ripen mangos by leaving them out on the counter for a few days or put them in a paper bag if you want to speed up the ripening process. Whole, ripe mangos can be stored in the refrigerator for up to five days and cut mangos for two to three days or in the freezer up to six months. If you have never peeled or cut a mango before, the National Mango Board has provided a helpful short video with time saving tricks for cutting them. The site is also filled with recipes and mango fun facts—did you know that the paisley pattern developed in India was based upon the shape of a mango? Mangos are wonderful in a variety of recipes from curries to salsas, to summer rolls and grain salads. Or use them in a marinade; the natural acid in the fruit is a great tenderizer and works well for any meat. The following recipe makes for a great dinner side dish or lunch main option. Quinoa Salad with Mango, Snap Peas, Ginger & Lime 1 cup quinoa, dry 1 cup snap peas, stem removed 1/2 cup cashews, roasted and unsalted 4 to 5 scallions or spring onions, rinsed and trimmed 2 mangos, peeled 1-2 serrano chilies (or Thai bird chilies or jalapenos — whatever hot chilies you like best, or leave them out if you do not want the spice right now) 1 tbs finely chopped or grated ginger (about one inch-long or slightly bigger) kosher salt and pepper to taste 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1 to 2 limes, juiced 1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Meanwhile, place quinoa in a fine-meshed sieve and rinse under cold water. When the water comes to a boil, add the quinoa and simmer for 9 minutes. Drain in a fine-meshed sieve and run under cold water until cool. Set aside to dry. 2. Meanwhile, prepare the remaining ingredients: Slice the snap peas on a bias and set aside. Roughly chop the cashews. Thinly slice the scallions (white and light green portions). Slice down around the pit of the mango to remove, then dice the flesh. Remove the seeds from the chilies, then finely dice. Grate the ginger on a box grater or finely dice with a knife or purée in a food processor. You need about a tablespoon (or more or less to taste) of minced ginger flesh/juice. 3. Place the drained and dried quinoa into a large mixing bowl. Season all over with salt (I used one teaspoon kosher salt to start) and pepper to taste. Add the snap peas, cashews, scallions, chilies, mangos (or not if you have time to let the salad marinate in the fridge for a bit). 4. In a smaller bowl, mix together the minced ginger, olive oil and about two tablespoons of lime juice. Taste and adjust as needed. Add the dressing to the bowl with everything else. Toss and taste, adjust seasoning as necessary. You may need to add two more tablespoons of lime juice and a pinch more salt. Let salad marinate in the fridge for an hour (if you have the time). Fold in mangos just before serving. Liv Scheinbaum is completing her dietetic internship and MS degree in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology at Teachers College, Columbia University to become a Registered Dietitian. References: NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin A fact sheet for health professionals. Accessed on Feb. 16, 2015 from http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-HealthProfessional/. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin C fact sheet for consumers. Accessed on Feb. 16, 2015 from http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminC-Consumer/. Noratto GD, Bertoldi MC, Krenek K, Talcott ST, Stringheta PC, and Mertens-Talcott SU. Anticarcinogenic effects of polyphenolics from mango (Mangifera indica) varieties. J Agric Food Chem. 2010; 58(7): 4104-4112. DOI: 10.1021/jf903161g Texas A&M AgriLife Communications. “Mango effective in preventing, stopping certain colon, breast cancer cells, food scientists find.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 12 January 2010 (published). Accessed on Feb. 16, 2015. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100111154926.htm>. The National Mango Board. Accessed on Feb. 16, 2015 from www.mango.org/mango-fun-facts. Alexandra’s Kitchen. Quinoa salad with mango lime, lime & ginger. Accessed on Feb. 17, 2015 from http://www.alexandracooks.com/2013/07/18/cucumber-green-grape-gazpacho-quinoa-salad-with-mango-lime-ginger/.

Hi Kayb, I hope it is just scar tissue as well. Please keep us posted. Wishing you strength, and healing.

Hi Pixie, Welcome to the LCSC board! I grew up in Fort Worth and most of my family still lives there. I live about 30 miles away in the mid-cities area. You are right knowledge is power. LUNGevity has a lot of information to help you during this journey. Here is a good starting point. http://lungevity.org/support-survivorship/survivor-resource-center Please don't hesitate to email me if you have any questions. calmendarez@lungevity.org Wishing you strength & healing!