Donna G

Rick, it is not only President Bush. There are 50 states and none of them are spending the money on victims of tobacco, none of them spend the money on research, a miniscule amount is being spent on helping people quit smoking. In our state a small percent of it ( $ 200,000 a year) is being given to an organization called MPAAT ( Minnesota partnership against tobacco) It is made up of interested parties from other organizations. They have a meeting a pay each other the money!!!!!!!!!!! Connie lead us in a fight in the Minnesota supreme court to get MPATT to spend at least some of the money on helping people quit smoking. Now they must! Minnesota would rather balance the budget with this money, add new roads, collect more taxes etc. They love to raise the taxes!!!!!! Here in my city they have a law that stores loose their license if they are caught selling cigarettes to minors. Well Supra America , a gas station and conveinience store repeatedly was caught, fined and lost their licence to sell cigarettes. They claimed they would go out of business if they could not sell cigarettes,, the city let them pay a "penilty" fine and they got their license back . ( oops my Irish is up again) Donna G

Your Dad is probably having a rough time coping with your Moms illness. If she does everything he really is wondering in new territory also. When I got sick I could not believe my husband who is an inteligent man was having a rough time trying to figure out how the washer and dryer worked! More stress for him. The stress of not knowing if you will have your partner for very long. The stress of not knowing if all the plans and dreams you had together can ever be had back. If he is like most men, he can't express all those fears, and losses and grief that he is going through. Donna G

I hear you!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think I was just discussing that this am on a ribbon that Estrea started. Donna G

The New York Times Buena Vista Television Earl Hindman Earl Hindman, the actor known to millions as the odd neighbor barely seen as he peeks over the backyard fence in the long-running television situation comedy "Home Improvement," died Monday at Stamford Hospital in Connecticut. A Stamford resident, he was 61. The cause was lung cancer, said his wife, the Rev. Molly P. McGreevy. Hindman played Wilson from next door, imparting bits of wisdom about life to Tim Taylor, the embattled main character who knows how to improve other people's houses but not his own home. Viewers heard Wilson's advice but were left to wonder if they would ever get to see more of him. The show, a hit for ABC through the 1990s, continues to be seen nationally in syndication. A lean, lanky character actor, Hindman started his versatile career on stage and appeared in films, television series and specials for more than 30 years. Before "Home Improvement," he was Detective Lt. Bob Reid for 16 years on the ABC daytime drama "Ryan's Hope," until it ended its run in 1989. Earl Hindman was born in Bisbee, Ariz., and started acting in high school. He studied it at the University of Arizona before setting out for New York. He worked both on and off Broadway and in regional theater before breaking through with his Off-Broadway role as Marvin Hudgins in "Dark of the Moon" in 1970. A year later he was in the original production of "The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel" by David Rabe at the Public Theater. He made his first movie in 1969 and continued to mix films, television and the stage. His films included "The Ballad of the Sad Cafe" (1991) and, most recently, "Final" (2001). Besides his wife of 27 years, Hindman is survived by his mother, Eula Hindman, and a brother, Ray, both of Tucson, Ariz.; and a sister, Anna Dean Shields of Payson, Ariz. His wife said he finished shooting his last short feature, "Beautiful Summer," in June. Meant for independent or public television, it showed him as a crabbed old fisherman, hallucinating and in the end drowning, she said.

As I have said before , it is all about money. Movies and TV shows show people smoking because the cigarette industry pays them, not because the character needs to smoke! The federal government will take a harmful product off the market in a snap, do a recall etc if just a few people are hurt especially kids. Why don't they take cigarettes off the market? Why don't they at least force the companys not to add hundreds of carcinogens to the tobacco? Why does the federal government acturally subsidize tobacco farmers? Money is power in this country and the tobacco industry is very rich at the citizens expense. They are tirents, just as bad as Bin Laden. ( Ooh, can you tell my Irish dander is up?)

Yes an exercise program is in order. I went to the Y and took water aerobics. It turned out that I read at the Alcase site about a lung cancer survivor who developed a lung rehab program that stressed how exercise in the water is great. He wrote an article and the docs recommended his idea that worked for him. In the water you exersise your chest muscles without trauma and you avoid the wear and tear on your joints that happens if you exersise on land ( as running or jogging is hard on the knees) Actually the resistants in the water even makes it more beneficial. I wouldn't go to a public pool unless your WBCs are normal. Keep us posted Donna G

Annie keep us posted. I am so sorry . Donna G

Liz, welcome. May I invite you to join the Pancoast Tumor club. I also had a tumor in the apex of my right lung. First symptoms were shoulder and chest pain. I had Cisplatin, VP 16 and concurrent radiation. I also was diagnosed in December but am happy to say it was in 1997! After surgery in Feb 98 I had another round of the above chemo and other than back pain I have been fine since. There are at least 6 of us with a pancoast tumor here. Any questions feel free to discuss. Again welcome. Donna G

Mary Ann you have scoliosis too! We have too much in common! After I had treatment and the pancoast tumor removed, I had a lot of back pain and numbness running around to the front. As has been discussed prior, I hate bras now. Some of the pain was because I developed " trigger points" in the muscle over my scapula. Finally I got sent to a doctor that specialized in back pain. He diagnosed the trigger points, and boy was he and his physical therapists really good at finding them. "Here is one. " and I would answer " Yikes, yes" they had to inject many of them , they are kind of like painful lumps in the muscle. The 2 ribs they broke to do the surgery never healed back either so once in a while they get out of whack, and must pinch the muscle back there. It happened just a couple of weeks ago and scared me to death. One night I rolled over heard a crack and a pop and immediately it was feeling better and by the next day I was OK. As others have mentioned , for me it has now been 6 yrs since I started this journey, I am cancer free, so this is the most important thing. Donna G

Rocky our Border Collie , Aussie mix is running back and forth with glee that your pup is rounded up and back home. He loves every one and every thing herded together.

I certainly would "fit" in with the fat cancer survivors. Unlike many, I went through chemo, radiation and more chemo eating like a horse and lying around because I was tired. Over that 6 month period I gained 60 pounds, some of which I needed but most of which was toooooooo much. I wish it was other than Wed for most of the time I work 3-11:30 on Wed. I'll be thinking of you. Donna G

Laurie, you studied in Boston!!!!!!!!!! My home town. Growing up I played the cello , I never was great but played in the Boston Junior Symphony Orchestra and the Archdiocese Junior Orchestra but I am the "baby" of the family and sort of a ham. Wishing you the best Donna G

Call Dr Phil, I just saw a women on his show, trained to play the grand piano but couldn't do it on stage because of stage freight (?SP) She played the piano on his stage on NATIONAL TV. Seriously, perhaps just thinking of your goal, rather than your fear. Wishing you the best! Donna G

Heather thanks so much for sharing that GOOD news. I am so happy for you. Donna G

Amen

I visited Portsmouth while my husband was working a contract there. Got to see Stonehedge, London, and more it was great.

How wonderful that you could go into the Holiday knowing you have a plan! A great plan! Sounds like he is very optomistic that all will be gone. Have a Merry Christmas , enjoy! Donna G

I also just caught this post. I am so sad you lost your Mom and it is so hard during the holidays. May the child of the manger comfort and bless you during this difficult time. Donna G

More Good News! Stable is very good news. Have a blessed Christmas. Donna G

Teet, Merry Christmas. Let us know if and how you find relief from the arthritis. Boy I didn't even think I could blame chemo for that! Thanks for the wonderful news that your tumor is shrinking! Yeh!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Donna G

Merry Christmas to All

Deb. O am so sorry that you have lost your Dad. He is having a wonderful Christmas now, no pain, and being close to total Love. I know the holidays are really going to be difficult for you and the family . May the little baby come and comfort you through this difficult time. Donna G

Children are blessings from God. I believe he would not have given you this blessing then desert you. Find a good Doctor and trust.

Dean YOU ARE VERY TALENTED! Those are neat and very dramatic.

Oops