David P

I suppose I should be posting in the "Just for Laughs" forum. I'm still feeling rather silly for being such a CLUTZ and falling off the ladder last week to what could have very well have been my swan song -- larger punture from the broken rib...??? Thank you all for your well wishes and advice over the past week. I should be back to work by Wednesday. And yes, I will stay off ladders for a while. Lessons learned from this: don't get too comfortable and familiar with things that can still pose life threatening dangers; take things a bit slower; think before you step; and don't wear your cell phone directly on your hip, because if you fall from a ladder and land on it, you'll smash it and get a huge bruise on your hip. Thanks again. David

Alisa. Good news is always GREAT to hear!!! Take care. David P.

Alisa. Good news is always GREAT to hear!!! Take care. David P.

Congratulations on the clean results Kathy!! Time to breathe easy and relax for a while. Take care. David P.

Kim. My sympathies to you and your family on the passing of your mother. Take care. David P.

Angie. Please accept my condolences on the passing of your father. Take care. David P.

Hi Joni. Welcome, and staying positive and hopeful are two very important ingredients in the survival mix. Connie was right - everyone reacts differently, so it's real important to stay in close communication with your doctor like the Grumpy guy says; some subtle suggestions from you and your husband, and some willingness on the doctor's part to listen... and poof!! On the road to remission. Take care. David P.

Hey Sandy. I must have missed some stuff. Are you talking about the "Livestrong" bracelets? How many are you getting? I heard they were over a billion back ordered!! And I can hardly wait to see the American Chopper episode with the buliding of a bike for Lance. I love that show - a little dramatic at times with Sr. always comlpaining, but it's fun. Take care. David P.

Thanks for the feel good shot in the arm Don. So, any holes in the lids? Take care. David P.

Hi Elaine. I imagine productive coughing is when something is coughed up. If that is so, I had productive coughing day and night a week before my surgery that produced blood in the product of my productive coughing. But as they didn't seem to have classifications figured out way back when, I don't know what type of cancer I had -- all I know is I had a carcinoid polyp. Take care. David P.

Nell, she's so cute I almost wish I still had young ones around the house. Ahh... no, I don't think so -- but I'm probably closer to having another youngster around the house than I think. My daughter turned 19 last month . Take care, and have fun with your grand daughter. David P.

Hi Rachel. I too am glad to hear your father is doing well after such an invasive surgery. Watch your step on that boat of yours. Take care. David P.

Have a good time at the conference Dr. Joe. But what I want to hear about is what goes on AWAY from the conferencing -- if you know what I mean -- nudge, nudge...wink, wink. Take Care. David P.

Hey there young Stephanie -- who you callin' old anyway?? It's good to hear from you. I've got three words for you: Lawyer, Lawyer, Lawyer. Or if that doesn't work... maybe me and some of da boys here on da board could go pays him a visit... if ya knows wot I means...

Hey Deb. I'm glad your mother is home and doing better. Hope all continues to go well. I don't know if they had the various classifications for the types of cancer way back when, but they didn't give me one. All I know was I had a carcinoid polyp. A tip on how you might research diagnosis dates from members of this board; go to the SCLC forum, click on a person's name so it takes you to their profile, then click on "show all posts", and go to their very first few posts in which they introduce themselves and tell a little obout their circumstances - what type of cancer, and when they were diagnosed. Might help. Take care. David P.

Hey Dean. Thinking about you Buddy. Hang in there -- we need you. Take care. David P.

Them's pretty juicy apples Don and Lucie!! Savour them; you and the docs have certainly made some very good choices over the past two years. Those 24 months stand as a testament to all those newly diagnosed cancer patients wondering what their futures may hold -- especially when told of the grim expectancies of life. Way to go Lucie and Don. David

Hi everyone. From color to chrome again. We had our big head shave in support of our local police members riding bicycles for 13 days raising money for cancer research. We managed to pull together $10,900 in just three weeks. I'm so proud of the students we have at my school. Having never been through chemo or radiation, I've always been a little in the dark when you all are talking specifics, and could only imagine how you feel when in the depths of treatment. I have just finished Lance Armstrong's first book, "It's not about the bike", where he describes in detail how chemo treated him, and how he dealt with it. So I think I now have a better understanding about the effects of treatment, and I wouldn't mind talking to someone who has gone through chemo AND read Lance's book. Anyway, myself, 12 other teachers, and 35 students stand beside you today in the fight we are all fighting. My hat (and my hair) are off to you all. Take care, David P.

Fay. You sure can bring out the BEST in people. I don't think I've ever seen so many utterly moving replies posted in a single thread before. After I read your post, I thought, "oh boy, Fay's having a bad day," and I started to formulate a response in my head, until I started reading the replies. After about the third or fourth one, I developed a huge lump in my throat and tears started to well up in my eyes. (good thing I have my back turned) If you didn't know it before, my friend, you've got to know it now -- you are one very special, very respected, and well liked person, who has helped ease pain and suffering and brought hope to so many people around the world. I'm sorry to hear of all your current troubles. And I can see how all of the crap you are dealing with can bring a person down, but you have to find a way to break that big pile into smaller, bite size pieces you can begin to tackle one by one. From what I know of you, Fay A, you are a tough "let me at 'em" type of person. I have faith in you. As you begin to face these challenges, look for the positive stuff to balance out the negative -- sometimes the positive is much harder to find, which of course is part of the challenge. Take care Fay, and remember -- you make a big difference to people on this message board. Luv ya. David P.

Becky. What a wonderful feeling must have come over you when you heard the word "clear". Johnny Nash's song is going through my head as I type this... "I can see clearly now, the rain is gone..." Congratulations, now go have some fun. Take care. David P.

Charlotte. Please accept my sincere condolences on the passing of your Rich. I hope your brother is doing well. Take care, Charlotte. David P.

Yes Nina, we have three brave girls at our middle school raising money to have their head completely shaved. Two of them have hair long enough to donate to the wig making program, and there are a number of girls just donating long hair for wigs, who will end up with a "bob" cut. The colors in the teacher's hair are all very bright, but most people these days don't even give you a second look when they pass by; those who do say they like it, get a look at my pledge form real quick -- and many end up pledging at least $5.00. Thanks for asking. David

Hey everyone. Well, whadayathink? The students had a blast this year with the teacher's heads in the lead up to our big head shave cancer fundraiser this Thursday. Nine teachers at my school bleached their hair last week so the nine classes who had raised the most amount of money for the Cops for Cancer fundraiser could pick a teacher's name from a hat, then decide as a class what colors to dye that teacher's hair. Our hair was then colored during an assembly last Thursday. As you can see, I could be readily employed at any circus in the country with this head. I even managed to get our school principal and vice principal to partake in the colourful event. But don't worry, it'll all be gone in a couple days... so I'll post another photo next week. Twelve teachers in all, and 29 students will have no hair by noon Thursday in support of all those who are fighting this d.a.m.n disease. Last year our small, inner city school of 430 students raised $17,500, and are trying to beat that this year. The police cycling team rides from the north end of Vancouver Island to the south, stopping in over 20 communities along the way attending fundraising events for cancer research -- they're trying to beat the $1.1 million raised last year. They will be stopping by our school during the head shave event -- last year the team said our school was a highlight of their 13 day ride; we had them burst through welcoming banners to cheerleaders, and "We are the Champions" music blaring. It was spine tingling to say the least. I'll keep you posted -- I have to go make some banners. Take care. David P.

Hi Sharon Sorry to hear about all the latest troubles your father has to deal with. Hopefully, the doctors have a good handle on everything. It's good your father's appetite is returning. Take care. David P.

Hey Ray. Sure is good to see your smilin' mug again. Sounds like you had a good crew looking after you. Hope all goes well with the chemo (as well as can be expected). Don't work too hard. Take care Ray. David