aurora06

What do you consider a mature news service? CNN tried but could do better-much better (they may even get an MD who doesn't spew platitudes). The other news programs will follow them and hopefully each special will be better. I think feedback from the audience will be effective and let them know we are ready to move on to high school.

At the most, I was glad that CNN at least did a special on cancer to re-direct public awareness (at least it was something other than the war in Iraq). When I heard the MD was going to be Gupta I was disappointed b/c the man refuses to stick his neck out. Once again they talked about only the cancers that have screening available (plus metastasis) I've heard him talk on other health matters and with him it's always the SOS. His first 3 preventions don't smoke. WOW or what a waste. Who wouldn't know that by now. If CNN gets enough feedback maybe they will do more specials and really sink their teeth into it.

Thanks for posting this info. I think Armstrong will be on CNN Sat and Sun at 8P ET.

I hope that those of us in this forum find the peace that we need through the holiday season without a loved one. Mom will be with us and I will light a candle.

Absolutley think about it but in a much different way than before. I'm not worried about illness being in the genes or feeling marked though. It's more like the sudden awareness that any illness can come at any time and sometimes with a swiftness that will stun you. No outward signs of illness except at the very end, no risk factors then hit with a terminal dx made us feel blindsided b/c we were. I think much the same as Connie22 and wonder how I would take the same news mom had to. She never complained or seemed sad.

my feelings are very similar to yours. Mom didn't get to see any of 2006 so I think that's what is so hard now that the year is almost done. First full year without mom. I understand what you mean by your mom passing feeling more and more distant yet, the funny thing is, at least for me, is that everything feels like it happened just yesterday. Trick of the mind, I guess. Thankfully, a relative reminded me that mom wouldn't want me to feel bad and that is so true. So I'm trying to not feel bad but I still do. I know that doesn't make much sense but that's human emotion. I know it's not the same as having your mom physically but you can still talk to her and tell her what you've been doing and the changes in your life. Kind of "update" her.

Katie, thanks for weighing in. As the site admin you do have the final say and do a great job at keeping everything in balance. Balance can be so difficult to maintain as some mentioned everyone here is at a different phase in their lives. I have never come to this board with the intention of venting but sometimes it just happens. And I noticed with other posts as well a post turns into a vent then the person ends up apologizing when there isn't a need to. I just noticed that most other forums have a Lounge where, I guess, anything goes (within reason ) Again, it was just a suggestion. Moving on.............

You said it very well, that you'll look at the world for both of you.

Randy vent all you want. From reading the posts here your shoulders have been big for others. I don't know what trha means? Yes, it feels like a funky week.

Breath test of course would be the easiest. But, and playing the advocate here, how is that more accurate than the existing sputum test, mammogram-geez no, use of radiation when not at risk, colonoscopy, and risk infection and finding nodes, PSA, and risk a false positive, heck no. Get my drift. There is a down side to each of these screening procedures yet they are in full use. Should someone get these test who are not at risk, just because they're there and be denied screening for early detection for a disease that they are at risk for?

Thanks for your responses. The entire message that I just wrote was erased or in computer limbo and I don't want to rewrite it. But there really isn't a place to vent here and I don't feel like venting too often but every now and then when a topic comes up such as the controversy about early screening I become rather frustrated but don't want to vent on ya all. cynical, thanks for your offer to be a moderator in the proposed vent section, a daunting task, connie, I disagree. I posted in the News section, well half post and half vent and was PMd from someone who thought I was "preaching to the choir", connie-my definition of vent is the same as yours, Randy-not sure what you mean by "be careful". The last place I would vent would be in the caregiver section. If they are current caregivers they are in a confusing and frightening situation themselves. So really the only place to vent is in General. Keep up the good work.

You all do a wonderful job of staying on top of the posts here and your responses I'm sure mean alot to people. You manage to keep the board positive and inspirational which is not an easy task given the nature of the board. But, and maybe you have in the past, ever considered adding a VENT section. With all of the emotion, fear, anger, etc it may be helpful to some poster just to have an area to vent without fear of offending anyone else. Just a thought

I'll stick with my previous post that the argument is so circular that it makes me not even want to read about screening. I really don't comprehend why screening for lung cancer is being treated so much differently than screening for other types. Now the statement "does screening save or merely find cancers earlier". It has been drummed into the public that finding cancer early "saves lives" so why is lung cancer any different. Colonoscopy detects nodes that may or may not be cancerous yet doctors and insurers harp on getting them done all the time whether you are at risk or not (and even PAY for them). Same with mammograms. Now talk about an aggressive approach. Women are having mastectomies to PREVENT breast cancer when they feel at risk. They only study smokers and ex-smokers which right there is enough to bias any study. As we know from the posts here and my own experience with mom NEVER SMOKING non smokers can get lung cancer, too. If all they look for is smoking as a "cause" of lung cancer then that's all they're going to find. I have to agree with PS, it's a no-brainer. With all of the different types of cancer and all of the years and money on research I have to wonder why there is screening for only 3 types of cancer that I know of anyway: breast, prostate, and colon.

There is a Rainbow Bridge for our beloved animals. I lost 2 cats, one mine age 15 and one mom's who I care for age 17 in the last 1 1/2 yrs. So sorry you lost a part of your family.

Interesting then, after the xray detects something THEN a ct scan is done and not the other way around. So to me, that would mean the ct scan may pick up something that the xray does not. They had mom get the ct scan after the chest xray. So maybe critics are sidestepping the real issue which is they wouldn't know what to do if something very small showed up. I guess they could keep an eye on it.

Or does the argument against the use of the spiral ct scan for screening seem circular. I read the paragraph in the study that stated The study did not prove that finding the cancers early saves lives...it cannot conclusively show whether screening saves more lives than doing nothing. It cannot be known whether early screening with the spiral ct scan saves lives unless they start USING them to screen and they won't use them to screen unless it can be shown to save lives. Seems awfully circular to me?

So true! Grief can stop you in your tracks. But since we really can't stop we must figure out some way to keep moving forward no matter how hard it is.

Very touching story. Thanks for posting it.

I think having regrets may be part of the grieving process. I read that there are milestones in grief, such as at 6months, 11/2 yrs, etc. I guess I'm coming to the 1 1/2 yr milestone as there has been more intensity in my thoughts and feelings about mom. I was thinking that mom may have left some things behind thinking that someday we might forget her. Then I say to her how can we ever forget you. She's not getting smaller in fact she's the same as she has always been. In my mind I hear her say I'm here, I'm always here. But it's still such a heavy feeling. Sure I have some regrets like why did I have to spend so much time talking to drs about procedures, etc when I could have been spending more time with her. But we all did the best we could under the circumstances.

The Letter from the Bridge poem has always brought tears, hopes what we will be reunited, sadness, and joy all at the same time. The pictures really add a wonderful touch.

DebsSky When I told my sister that I wished for a sign from mom she told me don't look for her, she will come to you. And it's true. The signs and dreams come when I am not expecting them. But you do have to be open to recognize them when they do come. Your mom is still with you though you may not have seen a sign...yet.

Sometimes there are no outward signs just a very strong feeling of peacefulness which unfortunately is fleeting. But the peacefulnes is very reassuring.

Friends who also had losses told me it gets a little better with time. I knew from the start that that wasn't true. I told one of them that the intense feelings may become less so, but then the dull ache sets in. They agreed. They had been trying to make me feel better and hopeful. But I'm afraid, even after a little over a year that dull ache will never go away. There are still times now when I feel numb. Reading the posts here has helped as well as my own belief that there is something better to come. I agree with some of the other posts that you continue on despite the dull ache. We will be with those we have lost when we are meant to be.

That is wonderful. I'd like to know where you found that.

Sorry to hear about your mom. But your mom like mine is now in paradise.