DonnaB

Michael, I too am missing Fay's presence here. She was a source of inspiration and strength to many. She has done her work here on earth through great struggle. I come here often to read her contributions and support shared. So sorry for your loss. May you treasure all your memories and find support through all who knew her. May you and your family be at peace knowing how much love she shared. God Bless. DonnaB

My sincere condolences to your family. I have been inspired by Pammie Fay's strength, courage and teaching to all who travel through here. May you all have her love and blessings to see you through this most difficult time. DonnaB

My heartfelt deepest sympathy and prayers are sent to Gay, Dean's family and to all his LCSC family. His love, words and wisdom will forever be remembered by those in this world that he touched. I am but one of those many. Thank you Dean for sharing your strength, insight and kindness. Donna B

Signed, again! FYI, you can also download their membership form. A $75 membership gives you voting privileges and the free membership entitles you to an affiliate status. My husband paid the $75 membership at their annual meeting in Orlando this past May and I joined as an affiliate and Patient Advocate.

Lisa, Thanks again for all your activism . I also sent some feedback on this article. Donna B

Peggy and Family, Sincerest sympathy to you. May you have the comfort of family and friends to see you through this most difficult time. Prayers for strength sent your way.

Fay, I am sure the doc will know how self-educated you are. Prayers and good thoughts for all to go your way on Tuesday. Will be looking for your posts. Let me know if there is anything i can ever do.

Awesome, Wonderful, Terrific, Fabulosa. Hope they will air this soon. Also, hope the press will seek more first-hand views from others. Thank you so much for sharing your personal story this way.

Just want to add my heartfelt thoughts for comfort, serenity and healing to be given to Dean and Gay.

Congratulations on 46 memory-filled years. You both are an inspiration to many!

Joyce and all: I missed your post, but I am bumping it up. I agree with the additional comments Joyce has made. Here is the Text of an email I received today from www.4walc.org urging a letter writing campaign: Dear Women Against Lung Cancer supporters, As some of you may know, Congressman Clay Shaw has had a reoccurrence of his lung cancer, and has taken it upon himself to write a letter to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Michael Leavitt, noting how few federal resources have been devoted to lung cancer research. He is asking all members of the House to sign this letter as individuals, that is, he is not bringing this to the floor – he’s making it more personal. Attached to this email is the text of the letter, as well as a letter from a survivor, Lori Monroe, who is asking everyone to write their own representatives BY THE END OF THE DAY FRIDAY, JUNE 24 to talk about how lung cancer has touched their lives and ask them to sign Rep. Shaw’s letter to Secretary Leavitt. Should you choose to write to your Congressional representative (and we hope you do!), know that postal mail is not readily accepted. Faxes are best, emails are second best. To find your representative’s contact information, go to www.house.gov [/b]Please feel free to use Lori’s letter as a template, and insert your own statement about how lung cancer has impacted you. There is power in numbers! Best wishes, Regina Vidaver, Ph.D. Executive Director Women Against Lung Cancer P.O. Box 5589 Madison, WI 53705 (608)233-7905 Fax: (608)233-7893 regina@womenagainstlungcancer.org www.womenagainstlungcancer.org •I do not know how to make attachments on this forum, so I am just cutting and pasting the documents. Joyce provided the link to Rep. Shaw's letter in her post. Here is a format letter you can use should you choose to write your representatives: The Honorable (full name) ___rm # of ___ House Office Building United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 Dear Representative _________, Recently House Members Clay Shaw, Jr. and Collin Peterson, sent you a proposed letter to be sent to Michael O. Leavitt, Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services calling for a substantial increase in federal funding for, and commitment by, the Department of Health and Human Services for lung cancer research. I have attached a copy of the proposed letter to be sent to Secretary Leavitt and strongly encourage you to endorse Representative’s Shaw’s and Representative Peterson’s letter to Secretary Leavitt. Please contact Christine Pollack at Representative Shaw’s office or Robin Goracke at Representative Peterson’s office for further information and to convey your support. The initiative proposed by Representative Shaw is an important one and one with which I am intimately associated. Approximately three and one-half years ago, I was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer at age 42 and given a very poor prognosis; the chances for my long-term survival are not very promising. I have endured 4 lung surgeries, and chemotherapy and nearly a year of an experimental drug made possible through lung cancer research. Nonetheless, though, I am one of the lucky ones, most diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer do not survive even 12 months. Unfortunately, the statistics for lung cancer survival remain grim. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women comprising 30% of all cancer deaths – causing more deaths than breast, prostate, colon, liver, melanoma and kidney cancer combined. The overall survival rate for lung cancer is 15%; and, for people whose lung cancer is diagnosed and treated in an early stage, the average five-year survival year increases to 49%. Counterbalanced against that encouraging statistic, though, is the fact that only 15% of those people ultimately diagnosed with lung cancer are diagnosed at an early stage. The National Cancer Institute has set 2015 as a goal to eliminate suffering and death from cancer. Clearly, I, together with other cancer survivors as well as those at risk for lung cancer share in that goal. Nonetheless, in order to reverse these bleak statistics which have come to define lung cancer, substantial efforts need to be undertaken for lung cancer research, which research efforts remain poorly funded, especially when viewed against the backdrop of other research monies available for other cancers. To reach our 2015 goal we need to: (1) continue and expand existing multi-disciplinary translational lung cancer research programs leading to early diagnostic tools to detect lung cancer at an early stage, (2) continue and expand existing multi-disciplinary translational lung cancer research programs leading to innovative and effective treatment methodologies, and (3) provide lung cancer – specific education and training to physicians, the public, caregivers, patients and family on lung cancer issues and progress. Please join all of us in realizing this goal. An important start can be undertaken by endorsing Representative Shaw’s and Representative Peterson’s letter to Secretary Leavitt. Thank you, Yours truly, Change this to your own info: Lori Monroe 660 Crossings Court Bowling Green, KY 42104 270-746-593

Las: I am sorry that you are in so much pain in seeing your mother going through this and your feelings of powerlessness. I guess she must have done some things right for you to care enough to try to make her quit smoking. I’m glad to see you are doing some research on statistics. Fortunately, there are many lc survivors that are changing the statistics due to better drug treatments found through clinical trials. I do not post here often, but I am frequently advocating awareness on lc issues whenever the opportunity may arise. I understand your anger. I have a daughter about your age and I know I cannot change the anger she feels toward people or things in her life until she gains understanding and willingness to change her perceptions, because I have learned you cannot change others. I wish she would express some of her feelings as you have. What I am ADVOCATING is the need for EARLY DETECTION, MORE RESEARCH ON FINDING CURES which requires more FUNDING. Please continue on the road to educating yourself on the disease of Lung Cancer and what needs to be done to change the statistics. I also have received much hope and INSIGHT by all the caring people on this board and on other LC related websites. Check out the links to many of the other organizations listed on the LCSC links section. I am 2 years younger than your mother and quit smoking only two years ago, upon my husband’s diagnosis. I have learned from those that have walked this road before me to not blame him or other family members or friends that continue to smoke or may have smoked previously. I DO though suggest that they ask their physicians for chest xrays whenever possible so that IF there may be disease present that is caught EARLY. I myself enrolled in a clinical study for former smokers so that I could receive a chest CT scan. Fortunately, for those who have been diagnosed at an early stage, there are more treatments available, whether it be surgical removal, chemo or maybe some future pill that could be developed to cure the addictions and diseases caused by tobacco or by the genes you have inherited. Sometimes the GENE for lung cancer vulnerability runs in families. Sometimes people that are prone to addictions whether it be alcohol, drugs, or tobacco “are built that wayâ€

There is much wisdom in all the replies here. Please try to see the other viewpoints from those who have walked down this rocky road. One of the biggest impediments to having more government and health agencies put more money into research, early detection and finding a cure is the STIGMA that you and so many others have in the association with lung cancer. There are 45 million ex-smokers that are still in a high at-risk population for being diagnosed with lung cancer within 20-30 years from the time they quit; 10%+ of all lung cancer patients NEVER smoked. This way of thinking has to change in order for the medical community to receive more funding necessary to change the outcomes of this disease. Women have learned to get frequent mammograms which have greatly increased early stage breast cancer detection. HIV patients now can live with their disease because of the vast amount of money invested in finding treatment for their disease. Your mom is not to blame for her disease but attitudes need to change so outcomes will improve for all those affected. We all have had anger issues on this road. I hope your anger will progress into acceptance.

3000 Thank Yous to Becky. Wish you could make house calls! Donna

Thank you for posting today. Your words have inspired my day and reminded me to put some more sugar water in my hummingbird feeder. Love and blessings to you and yours. Donna