Hebbie

I had surgery in February of 2003. In September/October of 2003 I started getting all kinds of zinging pains in my right breast/right side. (9 months out of surgery) Turned out to be some nerve endings rejenerating. Of course, I confirmed this with a CT Scan and a visit to the surgeon. I would recommend a call to the doc as well, but hope it turns out to be nothing but some pesky nerves doing their thing in there, trying to heal themselves!!!

Piermarie, This is such a sad, sad day. I met you and your mom through the Wellness Community group -- she was such a sweet and caring woman and I know this loss is so difficult for you. Please know that my thoughts are with you and your family as you move forward. Warmly, Heather

I received the saddest news today that Peggy passed away this weekend. She was one of the strongest women I have ever met and her passing is an unbelievably great loss. I am so proud to call her my friend. Margaret (Peggy) Mary Seng O’Donnell Lumberton, NJ Resident After heroically battling cancer for almost two years, Peggy O’Donnell died on January 23, 2005. Peggy was born in Mt. Holly, NJ and lived several places throughout her life before returning to New Jersey a few years ago. Peggy was most recently employed in the information technology field. A music lover with eclectic taste, she was known for introducing different kinds of music to those that she loved. Peggy was quick- witted and had a delightful sense of humor, which she sustained through the toughest of times. She enthusiastically assumed the role of family historian, chronicling the lives of the Seng clan through her love of scrap booking. In short, Peggy could be understood as an admirable blend of intelligence and creativity bonded by the adhesive of love – for she was primarily a lover- a person with an incredible ability to achieve a sense of harmony among those who had the privilege to inhabit her life. Peggy is survived by her life partner Todd Regn, her mother Theresa O. Seng, her siblings, Marianne (Taffy) Kelly, Kathy Gurland, Tom Seng, Theresa Agnetti, Robert Seng, and Jeffrey Seng, her nieces Betsy Cooper and Bailey Seng, and her nephews Matthew Smith, Denver Smith, Michael Seng, Kevin Seng, and Evan Seng. Friends are invited to visit with the family on Saturday February 5th from 4-5PM at the Perinchief Chapels, 438 High St., Mt. Holly. An informal memorial service will be held at 5PM where friends and family are invited to share their remembrances of Peggy. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be sent to the American Cancer Society, 1851 Old Cuthbert Rd., Cherry Hill, NJ 08034; or the Alliance for Lung Cancer Advocacy, Support, and Education (ALCASE), Unit 78, PO Box 4800, Portland, OR 97208. In addition, Peggy would have enjoyed knowing that you donated an audio book to your local library in her name.

Yes, I subscribe to Alternative Medicine Magazine, which has some great articles and references for Alternative treatments/ways of living. (You can also pick it up at Whole Foods Market) I also went to an Integrative Medical Center at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. They have all sorts of alternative docs there -- you can search your area and see if you have any type of facility near you. A nutritionist would be a good place to start. I first went to the nutritionist provided by my cancer hospital, but her advice seemed "tame" and mirrored what the American Cancer Society suggested (pretty basic stuff). I found a great nutritionist at the Integrative Medical Center and he pointed me in the right direction with supplements, dietary changes, etc. Try scanning through all of the post in the Alternative Forum and see if you can pull some information that way -- there are lots of links to various sites in there and that should be a good start!

States Most Likely to Go Smokefree in 2005 Minnesota, Maryland, and Utah most likely to go smokefree In the U.S., seven entire states-- CA, DE, NY, CT, ME, MA, and RI-- have enacted smokefree workplace legislation for ALL workers, including restaurant and bar workers. The following states are likely to join them in 2005-- Minnesota, Maryland, Utah, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, New Jersey, Vermont, and possibly Pennsylvania. Government officials are quickly realizing that smokefree laws are about workers (who sometimes spend 8-10 hours a day breathing smoke). Pregnant workers and asthmatic workers are particularly penalized as the danger of breathing smoke often prevents them from applying for many jobs or continuing in jobs they currently hold. "Smokefree workplace legislation is a matter of respect and dignity for workers," says Joe Cherner, founder of BREATHE (Bar and Restaurant Employees Advocating Together for a Healthy Environment). "No one should have to risk getting cancer to hold a job." To win smokefree air where YOU live, go to http://www.smokefree.net/alerts.php

I found this info on the website that seems to answer your question. (if you do a google search on "enviro-log.net", their website comes up. Not sure why the link doesn't work directly.... How They Are Used Our products are clean to the touch and light directly with a match thus making them great for camping, picnics and outdoor gatherings. Because we used WOCC, we have minimal smoke, no offensive smoke odor, and provide large flames to enhance the fire-side experience. Unlike the other manufactured logs on the market, Enviro-Log Firelogs are not only an effective starter for wood fires, but can be added to a wood fire to boost the fire. Adding an Enviro-Log Firelog to a green wood fire changes the burn and create a wonder fire experience.

I was actually informed AFTER radiation had ended that I had something along the lines of a "degenerative spine" (or something like that). I asked what the heck that was and was told it was damage to my spine from radiation. It is apparently the gift that keeps on giving...

In response to the question regarding lighting a fire in the fireplace.... I read about a fire log in this month's issue of Alternative Medicine Magazine. It recommends "Enviro-Log", for an "earth friendly fire". It produces more heat and less carbon monoxide and particulate emissions than regular firewood. Unlike other fire logs, they are free of petroleum additives. The burn bright and hot, and relatively smoke-free for several hours. Basically, the decrease air pollution and release less carbon monoxide. Sounds good to me! You can read more about them at www.enviro-log.net, or contact 866-343-6847. The website also mentions that they sell their logs at Whole Foods Market, so I'll probably check that out! The January issue of Prevention Magazine also discusses this subject, with an article entitled "Build a Better Fire". It mentions "Java Log", which I found info on below: Declared one of the “Coolest Inventions of the Year” by Time Magazine, the Java-Log is taking the United States by storm. The Java-Log is the world’s first and only fire-log made from recycled coffee grounds. Throw a Java-Log into the fire place and light it on the first try! Then sit back, relax, and enjoy up to 3 hours of long lasting beautiful flames that emit more heat, a slightly sweet aroma but no coffee aroma, no chemical smell, and less carbon dioxide than a traditional fire! Comes in a Case of 6 Logs. (You can do a Google Search on "Java Log", several sites pop up) Since we are buried in over a foot of snow here in Jersey, I'll probably be enjoying one of these log fires myself! ps -- E-A-G-L-E-S -- we're SUPERBOWL bound, baby!!!

Shelley Morrison, who plays "Rosario" (Karen's maid) on Will & Grace is a lung cancer survivor. I read her story in the March/April 2003 issue of Coping magazine. (She was on the cover) She had breast cancer in 1988, and then another bout of breast cancer in 1998. A year later, her docs discovered lung cancer that was completely unrelated to her breast cancer. She had a lobectomy of her upper right lung and was considered Stage I. She did not have any further treatment and is doing well!

In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth and populated the Earth with broccoli, cauliflower and spinach, green and yellow and red vegetables of all kinds, so Man and Woman would live long and healthy lives. Then using God's great gifts, Satan created Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream and Krispy Kreme Donuts. And Satan said, "You want chocolate with that" And Man said, "Yes!" and Woman said, "and as long as you're at it, add sprinkles." And they gained 10 pounds. And Satan smiled. And God created the healthful yogurt that Woman might keep the figure that Man found so fair. And Satan brought forth white flour from the wheat, and sugar from the cane and combined them. And Woman went from size 6 to size 14. So God said, "Try my fresh green salad." And Satan presented Thousand-Island Dressing, buttery croutons and garlic toast on the side. And Man and Woman unfastened their belts following the repast. God then said, "I have sent you heart healthy vegetables and olive oil in which to cook them." And Satan brought forth deep fried fish and chicken-fried steak so big it needed its own platter. And Man gained more weight and his cholesterol went through the roof. God then created a light, fluffy white cake, named it "Angel Food Cake," and said, "It is good." Satan then created chocolate cake and named it "Devil's Food." God then brought forth running shoes so that His children might lose those extra pounds. And Satan gave cable TV with a remote control so Man would not have to toil changing the channels. And Man and Woman laughed and cried before the flickering blue light and gained pounds. Then God brought forth the potato, naturally low in fat and brimming with nutrition. And Satan peeled off the healthful skin and sliced the starchy center into chips and deep-fried them And Man gained pounds. God then gave lean beef so that Man might consume fewer calories and still satisfy his appetite. And Satan created McDonald's and its 99- cent double cheeseburger. Then said, "You want fries with that?" And Man replied, "Yes! And super size them!" And Satan said, "It is good." And Man went into cardiac arrest. God sighed and created quadruple bypass surgery. Then Satan created HMOs.

I think that the supplements you are taking are good -- I take many of the same. The only advice I would give is not to cut out carbs TOTALLY. While it is true that "bad carbs" (white flour, refined carbs) are not good for us, WHOLE GRAIN carbs ARE very good for us, and necessary for our bodies as well. The carbs you are getting from fruits/veggies are perfectly fine and will not add any weight to your system. We need those veggies/fruits for their antioxidant properties!!!

Thanks Donna, That gives me the incentive I need to keep up with my daily treadmill workout (2 miles a day!)

Fay! I have tears in my eyes and a smile on my face!!! I am so unbelievably thrilled for you!!!!!! It truly is a Happy New Year for you!!!!!!!!!

Not surprised to see that NJ scored a big fat "F". Thanks -- I've already sent a letter!

For the past two years, I have been seeing my surgeon every 6 months, and my medical oncoligist and radiation oncologist every 3 months (with CT Scans). Somewhere along the way, I picked up a pulminologist (due to radiation fibrosis damage) and once that initial problem was dealt with (with steroids), I usually check in with him every 6 months as well. Just this past visit w/ my surgeon, he told me I no longer need to see him, since I am regulary seen by my two oncologist. The one doc I do NOT see regulary is my Primary Care Physician. As it was put by my oncologist -- I have probably "outgrown" him, so to speak, for most things. Even a few weeks ago, when I had a cold that seemed to be going into my chest, I called my onc. nurse practicitioner to ask her what she thought, and she called in an antibiotic for me. I've got so much lung damage from radiation -- what is the PCP going to do? If he were to do an x-ray, what would he really be able to tell me? I am concerned though, that your Onc. doesn't seem to spend any time with you. I do agree that I spent a LOT of time in the waiting room, and I do meet w/ my nurse practitioner first, but then my medical onc. joins us and spends anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes with me, and lingers to make sure I have no further questions. He asks how things are going in my life, and get's "personal"......which I like -- because then I know I am no longer just a CHART, but an actual HUMAN BEING in his eyes. And you deserve the same treatment!

It seems that quite a few of us have these thyroid issues, although, mine came 10 years before LC diagnoses. Here is a link to a former post that I thought you might find interesting! http://lchelp.com/community/viewtopic.p ... ht=thyroid

Hi Beth, Knowing from first hand experience what a hot button the subject of smoking can be around here, I will only say this. I am a non-smoker with lung cancer. No one in my family ever smoked. Where did my cancer come from? I don't know. But I too worry that I have passed along the "lung cancer gene" to my son. This fear is not smoker or non-smoker related. It's a fear that we all have......I don't know how to alleviate that fear. The only thing that has eased my fears SLIGHTLY is that all the research I have done seems to point towards the fact that a healthy diet can have prevent over half of all cancer cases that occur. I completely changed my diet after diagnoses, and changed the rest of my family's diet along with me. Will this change prevent my son's possible lung cancer gene from "triggering" into action? I don't know....but I have to believe it's worth a shot. As a side note......you mentioned that if you had any other type of cancer, you wouldn't feel that you "caused" it, and therefore would not blame yourself. I read recently that white flour/"bad" carbs increase your risk of breast cancer. I've read that alcohol increases your risk of breast cancer. I've read that red meat increases your risk of colon cancer. Chronic acid reflux increases your chances of esophogial cancer. It seems that every cancer has a "blame" of it's own these days...... PLEASE don't beat yourself up! Thinking of you, Heather

Beth, I am SO sorry that you are going through all of this! You have had such unfortunate luck with every treatment that has been done and it really breaks my heart! I had a brain MRI done in August of 2003 due to some pretty severe headaches I was having. I also had a full back MRI done about a year ago, and I would opt for the brain MRI ANY day over the other one. They only have to put HALF your body in the "tube" and I could hear them talking to me, the back of the tube was open, and I had a reflector on my head so that I could SEE the people in the booth. It really wasn't that bad! I know that some people here have taken Adavan or various other drugs to relax them during MRI's -- maybe you can discuss that with your doc? In any event, I pray that the results show you have absolutely NOTHING in your head.....(except your brain of course ) Thinking of you, Heather fyi -- it was determined that my headaches were due to all the stress I was dealing with after treatment ended and I freaking out about not being closely monitored anymore!

Sputum cytology can identify lung carcinoma risk Reuters Health Posting Date: January 10, 2005 Last Updated: 2005-01-10 15:00:18 -0400 (Reuters Health) NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The degree of anthracosis and abnormal DNA methylation detected in sputum contents can be helpful in identifying those at risk of lung cancer, Japanese researchers report in the December 25th issue of Cancer Cytopathology. As senior investigator Dr. Masayuki Noguchi told Reuters Health, "calculation of anthracotic index (AI) and detection of abnormal methylation cannot be used to definitely find cancer, but provide very useful additional information to screen a population at risk of lung carcinoma." Dr. Noguchi of the University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, and colleagues studied 356 sputum specimens from 210 patients. Eight-seven of the patients had lung cancer. AI was significantly higher in patients with lung cancer. In addition, abnormal methylation of the p16 gene was seen in 21.7% of specimens from cancer patients. Abnormal methylation of the adenomatous polyposis coli and retinoic acid receptor-beta genes was seen in 28.2% and 26.9% of cancer patients, respectively. These ratios were significantly higher than those in samples from subjects without lung cancer. For these subjects, no abnormal methylation was seen in the p16 gene. In the other genes, abnormalities ranged from 3.9% to 7.6%. The investigators conclude that AI and abnormal methylation in sputum cytology provide "reliable, independent markers for identifying persons at high risk of lung carcinoma." Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2004;102:348-354.

Jen, I developed a small pleural effusion after chemo/radiation, which is still there. No change after 18 months..... The docs have told me that is pretty common and it will eventually reabsorb.....I'm still waiting! Congrats on your buddy NED!!!

Diet and Genes It isn't just what you eat that can kill you, and it isn't just your DNA that can save you—it's how they interact By Anne Underwood and Jerry Adler Newsweek - Jan. 17 issue - Jose Ordovas has glimpsed the future of medicine, and there's good news for anyone who has just paid $4 for a pint of pomegranate juice. Ordovas, director of the Nutrition and Genomics Laboratory at Tufts University, believes the era of sweeping dietary recommendations for the whole population—also sometimes known as fads—may be coming to an end. Red wine may be better for your arteries than ice cream, but you can't create a diet that's optimal for everyone, Ordovas says—or, to put it another way, even Frenchmen get heart attacks sometimes. Within a decade, though, doctors will be able to take genetic profiles of their patients, identify specific diseases for which they are at risk and create customized nutrition plans accordingly. Some people will be advised to eat broccoli, while others will be told to eat ... even more broccoli. Maybe you have to be a nutritionist to appreciate the beauty of that scheme. The promise of nutritional genomics—a field that barely existed five years ago—is not to overturn a century's worth of dietary advice but to understand on the most basic level how health is determined by the interplay of nutrients and genes. The old paradigm was of a one-way process, in which "bad" foods gave you heart disease or cancer unless "good" genes intervened to protect you. New research suggests a continual interaction, in which certain foods enhance the action of protective (or harmful) genes, while others tend to suppress them. This supports what we know from observation, that some individuals are better adapted than others to survive a morning commute past a dozen doughnut shops. Pima Indians in the Southwest get type 2 diabetes at eight times the rate of white Americans. Individuals have widely varying responses to high- or low-fat diets, wine, salt, even exercise. Overwhelmingly, though, researchers expect that conventional dietary wisdom will hold for most people. So keep that vegetable steamer handy. The model for nutritional genomics is the work that has already been done on drug-gene interactions. Researchers are starting to unravel the mystery of why a drug may be a lifesaver for one person while causing a fatal reaction in another, and in a third has no effect at all. Why do a third of patients fail to respond to the antidepressants known as SSRIs, including Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft? The drugs are meant to increase levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin by blocking its "reuptake," or clearance from the brain. Obviously, they can work only if serotonin is being produced in the first place. Last month researchers at Duke University discovered that some people have a variant gene which reduces the production of serotonin by 80 percent—making them both susceptible to major depression and resistant to treatment with SSRIs. Vegetables and Genes • Green Tea • Broccoli • Soybeans • Turmeric Green tea helps silence genes that fuel breast cancer in some women. one example: Name of gene: HER-2 Function of gene: Triggers growth signals in cells Long-term effect: Slows HER-2 signaling in aggressive breast tumors Broccoli boosts genes that protect against heart disease. one example: Name of gene: GST Function of gene: Produces the body’s master antioxidant, glutathione Long-term effect: The additional glutathione helps keep arteries healthy Soybeans affect 123 genes involved in prostate cancer. one example: Name of gene: p53 Function of gene: Kills mutant cells Long-term effect: A compound in soy increases activity of the p53 gene, helping to block tumor formation Turmeric suppresses genes that ratchet up inflammation. one example: Name of gene: Cox-2 Function of gene: Makes inflammatory compounds Long-term effect: Could help ward off colon cancer and Alzheimer’s But food interactions are usually far more complicated. "Normally, you take one drug at a time and for a limited amount of time," says Dr. Muin Khoury, director of the Office of Genomics and Disease Prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "If you have a certain genetic variant, you stay away from a particular drug or take a different dose." But nutrients come in bulk, you consume them for a lifetime and you can get them without a prescription, even the Trucker's Pancake Special. Metabolism involves huge numbers of genes interacting in uncountable ways. There are at least 150 gene variants that can give rise to type 2 diabetes, 300 or more that are associated with obesity. Ordovas at Tufts compares the situation to an electrical panel: "We know about certain switches and how to turn them on and off. But in some people, you turn the switch but the light doesn't come on, because there are other switches upstream and downstream that we don't know about yet." It will be years before researchers have a good diagram of the circuit. That hasn't prevented the growth of a fledgling industry in personalized nutritional supplements to treat everything from osteoporosis to obsessive-compulsive disorder. At least one company will even profile your genes to take the guesswork out of choosing makeup. But pieces of the diagram are beginning to emerge. Green tea contains potent antioxidants known to help prevent heart disease and certain cancers, but only some women seem to show a reduction in breast cancer from drinking it. A study at the University of Southern California suggests that part of the reason lies in a gene that produces an enzyme called COMT that inactivates the cancer-suppressing compounds; women with the gene variant that produces a less active form of COMT showed the most benefit from tea. One interaction that has been studied in detail involves two categories of enzymes known as phase 1 and phase 2. These work in sequence to eliminate certain toxins from the body, such as heterocyclic amines—potent carcinogens that form, infuriatingly, in the tasty crust on broiled meat. Actually, the amines are not inherently harmful; they are dangerous only after the phase 1 enzymes have begun metabolizing them, and before the phase 2s can finish the job. So, obviously, it is desirable to have a balance of the two enzymes. But some people have a variant gene that speeds up the phase 1 enzymes, so they form carcinogens faster than the phase 2s can get rid of them. This gene is found in 28 percent of white Americans, but roughly 40 percent of African-Americans and Hispanics and nearly 70 percent of Japanese-Americans (who, as it happens, have a high rate of stomach cancer). But there are ways to tweak the system: garlic contains nutrients that slow down the phase 1 enzymes, and a substance known as sulforaphane boosts levels of the phase 2s. And sulforaphane is easy to obtain. You get it from broccoli. "You can see where we're headed. We're starting to take the guesswork out of the things we eat," says Raymond Rodriguez, who heads the Center of Excellence in Nutritional Genomics at the University of California, Davis. One notable case is the gene for a protein known as Apo E, which plays a major role in regulating cholesterol. It has three major variants (or "alleles"), designated E2, E3 and E4, of which E3 is the most common. People with one or two copies of the E2 allele generally have lower-than-average cholesterol, but the E4 variety—an estimated 15 to 30 percent of the population has at least one copy of the allele—is potentially lethal. It increases the risk of diabetes, it raises total cholesterol and it reverses the usual protective effects of moderate drinking. And it vastly increases the risks of smoking. "Smoking is bad for everybody," says Ordovas, "but in a person with E4 it's a total killer. We're not talking about probabilities. It's almost certain you'll get heart disease." But, he adds, E4 is extremely susceptible to environment. The increased diabetes risk is found only in people who are overweight. If you stop smoking, give up alcohol, exercise and eat a diet low in saturated fat, "you can remove all the genetic predisposition for heart disease that comes with E4"—not just some, but all of it. On the face of it, you could make a case for universal screening for the Apo E gene. But we don't do it, and the reasons shed light on the ethical complexities of the field. One reason is peculiar to the Apo E4 allele, which also doubles the risk of developing Alzheimer's. Since there's not much that can be done to prevent it, many doctors are reluctant to give patients this news, and many patients don't want to know it themselves. More generally, there is the danger that insurance companies will discriminate against people with risk factors in their genome. Ruth DeBusk, author of "Genetics: The Nutrition Connection," thinks this concern is overblown, because by and large the risks are spread across the population. "We all have some susceptibilities," she says. "It's not as if one group has all the bad genes and the rest of us are perfect." Susceptibilities, moreover, don't necessarily amount to destiny; perhaps we can figure out what people with the E4 gene should eat to forestall dementia. But Jim Kaput, who founded a genomics-research company, wonders about people who get the correct nutritional advice for their genotype and then refuse to follow it. "Should the insurance company be obliged to pay for their health care, too?" And—one might ask—what's the point of testing for something if the inevitable advice that comes out of it is to exercise and eat a healthy diet? Didn't we know that already? The answer lies in the "Churchill effect," people's natural inclination to believe that if Winston Churchill lived to 90 on a diet of marrow bones, champagne and cigars, why not them? "People always think the warnings don't apply to them," DeBusk says. "We hope if we can tell them 'Here's what you're at risk for,' it will hit home." Conversely, cardiologists now routinely put people on a low-salt diet to control high blood pressure, knowing it doesn't work for as much as half the population. Even if it doesn't work, it can't hurt, and the doctor, after all, isn't the one giving up hot dogs. But, as Dr. Victoria Herrera of Boston University says, telling patients to do something that doesn't work "makes liars out of doctors. We need to make a diagnosis based on genotype, so we can go beyond trial and error." Not all research in the field is aimed at identifying alleles that differ among individuals. The broader purpose is to understand the interplay of nutrition and genetics. What protects Asians (at least the ones who still live in Asia and eat a traditional soy-based diet) from hormone-sensitive breast and prostate tumors? The most common explanation is that soy contains compounds that bind to estrogen receptors on cells, making them unavailable to more potent hormones. But Rodriguez has identified a soy constituent called lunasin that increases, by his count, the activity of 123 different genes in prostate cells. Among them are genes that suppress tumor growth, initiate the repair of damaged DNA and promote apoptosis, the programmed "suicide" of damaged cells before they begin to multiply. He hasn't been looking for different alleles of these genes, although it's likely they exist and may subtly affect how individuals respond to lunasin. The genetic factors predisposing men to prostate cancer can, in principle, eventually be identified and calculated for each individual. When all is said and done, though, the recommendation will probably stay the same: eat more soy. (And more fresh fruits and vegetables, and less saturated fat ... and so on.) Another compound getting a lot of study is curcumin, the yellow pigment in turmeric, an ingredient in curry spice. Curcumin reduces the action of a number of genes that promote inflammation, which is linked to heart disease, colon cancer and Alzheimer's. "It's probably no coincidence that India has the lowest incidence of Alzheimer's in the world," says Sally Frautschy, a professor of neurology at UCLA, who studies turmeric together with her husband and colleague, Greg Cole. "What I hear from the pharmaceutical industry," says Cole, "is 'What are you trying to do, ruin us?' " There's not much chance of that, of course. More likely, nutritional genomics will create opportunities for drug companies to isolate, concentrate, synthesize and improve on the compounds in nature, which they've been doing for a hundred years. What Cole and his colleagues seek is to shed light on the mystery of how the human body has evolved the miraculous ability to overcome, once in a while, the threat posed by the consequences of its own appetites.

I became aware of another mesothelioma site a few months back -- http://www.mesosociety.org/ As far as I am concerned, there will NEVER be too many sites pertaining to lung cancer! The more there are, the more attention the disease will get.....increasing awareness will lead to increasing funding.....until a cure can be found!!!

From Dr. Weil's Weekly Bulletin: Nutrition: Going Organic Throughout January we will feature ways to improve your health through tweaking your diet and lifestyle. Enjoy! Fruits and vegetables should be a large part of your diet. I recommend at least 5 servings per day, if not more. The antioxidants and other vitamins and minerals present in produce help boost the immune system, prevent or lessen disease, and can even help you age gracefully. That said, some fruits and vegetables should only be purchased as organic. The following list (from the Environmental Working Group) has the conventionally grown fruits and vegetables with the highest amounts of pesticide levels. Make sure to only buy the following in organic form - the small cost increase (if any) is worth it. Peaches Strawberries Apples Spinach Nectarines Celery Pears Cherries Potatoes Sweet Bell Peppers Visit www.DrWeil.com for more information on eating healthy. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Science and Supplement News: Vitamin D May Offer Cancer Protection Getting adequate vitamin D may reduce the risk of cancer by 30 percent, according to the results of a forthcoming study from the Harvard School of Public Health. The study, which included 50,000 men, showed that rates of all types of cancer were 30 percent lower among those whose vitamin D intake was adequate. However, recent evidence suggests that more than 40 percent of all Americans have low vitamin D levels and deficiencies are believed to be widespread. Since our bodies can make vitamin D in response to sun exposure, most people maintain adequate levels during warm weather, but the further north you live, the less likely you are to get adequate sun exposure - and produce sufficient vitamin D - during the fall and winter months. Milk is fortified with vitamin D as is some orange juice. Good food sources of vitamin D are eggs, salmon (preferably wild Alaskan), mackerel and sardines. Most multivitamins contain vitamin D but often not enough to give you optimal levels, between 400 and 800 mg per day. The Harvard study has not yet been published but partial results were reported in The Boston Globe on December 30, 2004.

I think Joe B. (who hasn't posted much recently) was doing this. I'll see if I can find his old post on the subject. http://lchelp.com/community/viewtopic.p ... age+cheese http://lchelp.com/community/viewtopic.p ... ght=budwig

I recently came across this and while it is not the "conventional" lung cancer story, I appreciated the concept, as sometimes finding the humor in cancer can be like taking a breath of fresh air! I reached out to the writer and found out that his mom continues to do well. I thanked him for sharing her story and wanted to share it with you all: www.momscancer.com