Lisa O

Dear Elaine, I am sending prayers for your family. Nothing is harder than worrying about our children. Take it easy. Lisa

Dean is in my thoughts and prayers. I truly hope the anti-anxiety meds work quickly and that he enjoys the birds and really gets to appreciate his daughter's visit. Thanks so much for the update. Dean is such a special man and such an icon on this board.

I buy them frozen and throw them into protein shakes. I sweetens them and serves as "ice" without watering them down! Thanks for the article.

AOL is now running the accurate MSNBC story. Good for them!

We had better be careful about using lung cancer as a tool to get people to quit smoking. All we will accomplish with that approach is to make more people think that lung cancer is entirely preventable, is the fault of the patient is is not worthy of research funding, talent or time. AGAIN, many smokers (the GREAT majority) do not get lung cancer. There is more at play. I have a horrible feeling that if tobacco were to disappear from the world we would not be rid of lung cancer. We have no way of knowing because the research has not been done and won't be while we let the bullies of the world blame the patient. I am sure it would be reduced.... but how many lives are acceptable - and whose?

This is what I wrote in the feedback section: I am totally disgusted by your portrayal of Lung Cancer as a 100% preventable disease. It was inaccurate and completely irresponsible. Within the article itself lies a contradiction that 15% of lung cancers occur in never smokers! Further the article implies that if one were to quit today that the risk of lung cancer would vanish! That is simply WRONG! Perhaps the author should do some research. A good start would be the far better article, which is backed by actual research. It was found on MSNBC this morning. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8893051/ This so called "article" was awful. Please don't take this lightly. This kind of rubbish only serves to inhibit research and funding so terribly needed for what you admit is the number one cancer killer. Please don't contribute to the tragedy. There are many people suffering from lung cancer and this ridiculous portrayal of the "stupid smoker" doesn't help anyone. Lung cancer is a cruel disease and your article made a mockery of the whole horrible truth that has been unfolding in the media this week. Lisa Roffman

Perhaps we should refer them to the great and well researched MSNBC article.

Dee, I have an oncologist who is a wonderful champion of lung cancer issues and who has been interviewed regarding Jennings and now Reeves. He was interviewed by ABC and then asked if he had any younger female patients who had lung cancer that was not caused by tobacco. He asked me if I would speak to them. I was very clear with ABC at the beginning of the interview that I was NOT a "never" smoker, but that I did smoke while I was in college. (Of course I had non-smoking room mates, and couldn't smoke in classes... so at times it was quite limited...) Because my doctors deemed my smoking to be insignificant to my cancer (BAC), ABC felt I was appropriate for the story which was to point out that there were other causes of cancer than tobacco. I am uncomfortable with the story because I did not expect the smoking v. nonsmoking issue to be as prominent as it became. It happened as a matter of timing between Jennings and Reeves. I watch my friends, smokers and nonsmokers alike suffer day in and out from this horrid dreadful disease and I don't believe that any one of them should be made to feel responsible for their fate. The fact remains that less than 20% of smokers get lung cancer and genetics and other factors play a role -- probably more than smoking and we don't have the answers because we are too busy blaming the patients. Sorry for the tirade. It has been a long week and I lost a dear friend due to lung cancer this week. It doesn't matter whether she smoked or not.

THAT MSNBS ARTICLE IS AWESOME AND FANTASTIC AND INCREDIBLE!!! I love the attitude on blame the tobacco companies not the smoker. I also love the doctors giving so much credit to the people who work so hard to give up smoking. GO MSNBC!!! Thanks for sharing that article. That is the exact article we want to convey. I wish everyone would interview those doctors. I know that is how MY doctor feels too!

Hurry back Becky!!

States lung cancer is 100% preventable by quitting smoking... then states that 85% of lung cancers are related to smoking. ??? http://articles.health.msn.com/id/10010 ... 100000000/

Donna, They called me.

I just hung up from People Magazine. Apparently they are also doing a story on Lung Cancer. I don't know what angle they are taking but I did tell them that I felt this was not a smoker v. nonsmoker issue and that it is no different than blaming cheeseburger eating for heart disease or candybar eating for diabetes and that the disparity in funding due to the stigma of smoking was reprehensible. I don't know if anything I said will be in the article or if it gets used how much anger it will create but I felt I needed to say it after so much has been said about smoking of late.

I am heartbroken for their family. They have been through so much.

You are very special Karen. I am glad you and Faith are settling in that you both have a lot of support. Thanks for checking in.

I understand. Prayers coming your way.

We tivo'd it and are trying to figure out how to get it on tape and then DVD. When we do that we can copy many DVDs and help end the chain. I will keep you advised of the progress. Thanks.

I am feeling so very sad right now.

Thank you all so much for the support. I did mention the website and funding... but a LOT was cut. My oldest daughter didn't even make the show. (She didn't mind) There was supposed to be another lady interviewed also, I am not sure what happened. I really appreciate all of the encouragement. It was very difficult to do. P.S. My entire family wears the breathe deep bracelet at all times.

The ABC News Show will air TONIGHT INSTEAD OF TOMORROW NIGHT. They just called me with the update. I am so sorry for the last minute notice!

Dear Beth, I really do know how hard this is. I can't imagine having a chemical depression on top of it all. Please don't put too much pressure on yourself to snap out of it alone. Your body has been through so many changes lately with surgery and medications.... You probably have the World's biggest imbalance on top of some really legitimate reasons to be upset. You may need to get some real chemical help to get your body back in whack and you may need to be really really easy on yourself. Pretend for a certain amount of time every day that it is your birthday and do only what you love to do. For example, for me it is : 1. a cup of starbucks 2. snuggling with my daughter and my cat 3. hot bath and/or shower as long as I want (no guilt) 4. watching movies under the covers with my coffee and if appropriate my daughter and cat.... Whatever it takes to make you happy for 5 minutes, then 10, 20... give it to yourself. You have been through a lot and you deserve it.

I am so sad to learn of Francine's passing. She has been missed on the board I am sure will be missed in this world. The message posted is one of the most beautiful and inspiring accounts of courage and faith I have ever heard and I am so very grateful for the posting. It brings me tremendous comfort to hear that she was feeling such peace, love and happiness in her transition to heaven. I am thankful to her family for the unselfish act of sharing the account of her last weeks with us.

The show is scheduled to air on Sunday night during the ABC World News tonight. I am very nervous about which footage they will use, but I guess I will find out with the rest of the Country. I really hope they put a positive slant on it!

More prayers to you. I am thrilled Dean enjoyed his day. You are both so strong!