Melinda

Sorry we missed you--we were out of town...

Bunny, Thank you so much for all the work you have done (and, I am sure, are still doing). If Geoff and I are in town, please count us in!!! Best, Melinda

Heebie-- Congratulations and thank you!!! That is amazing. I can't wait to tell Geoff. As always, all the best, Melinda

Please e-mail The Wall Street Journal.

Dear all: Ms. Tara Parker-Pope, the Wall Street Journal's regular columnist who addresses readers' questions in the "Health Mailbox" section of the newspaper has recently responded to questions about "persistent coughs". She stated that a persistent cough could be a sign of several more serious illnesses--but did not list lung cancer among them. I'm sure that she simply does not know (as we did not, prior to my late mother-in-law's dx), so I sent off an e-mail (the text of which I have included below). Please feel free to do the same. The e-mail address is: healthjournal@wsj.com Best, Melinda My e-mail: Dear Ms. Parker-Pope, Your article on persistent coughs caught my eye--but I was sorry to see that you did not mention that this is often one of the only symptoms of the leading cause of cancer deaths in this country--lung cancer. *(Please see footnote below--especially the last paragraph.) A persistent cough is frequently one of the ONLY early symptoms that smokers, formers smokers, and never-smokers display. All too often it is misdiagnosed and ignored. As the public is not educated that a persistent cough is frequently a symptom of lung cancer, the odds of diagnosis in the early stages are extremely low. The WSJ has had articles in the past year or so highlighting the alarming increase of lung cancer. I applaud this. Without knowing that a persistent cough is a symptom that needs to be thoroughly investigated, though, countless individuals will only learn that they have the disease AFTER it has progressed to stages III or IV. My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer shortly before my late mother-in-law was diagnosed with lung cancer. While caring for two very sick individuals, I did a great deal of research. I could not help but be struck at how much information there was about breast cancer and how little there was about lung cancer--even though lung cancer affects and kills so many more people each year. In sum, like most of the country (and a great portion of the medical community)--we were completely unaware that a persistent cough (even in a never-smoker) is sometimes a sign of lung cancer. The reason that lung cancer is the leading cause of all cancer deaths in the country is because diagnosis usually occurs once the disease is already in its later stages. A tiny, little bit of education could save countless lives. Please, please alert your readers so that some of them may catch the disease earlier. Thank you so much for your help. Sincerely, Melinda Carley * More people die each year from lung cancer than from breast, prostate, and colon cancer combined. Lung cancer kills more men each year than prostate cancer. Lung cancer kills more women each year than breast cancer. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. among both women and men. In the average more than 170,000 Americans die from lung cancer. Approximately 85% of lung cancer diagnoses are not found until in late stage. If diagnosed early, research estimates that as many as 80% could achieve 5-year survival or longer. -Sources: American Cancer Society

Paddy, Your story made me smile and think of something that Geoff experienced. Geoff and I are celebrating our one-year wedding anniversary tomorrow. The day of our wedding was roughly four months after his mom died--it was a wonderful but bittersweet event, as all of you can all too readily understand. Geoff had been a tad late (actually, so much so that his friends were forced to hurriedly shove him into his tuxedo in the hallway outside the room where I was getting dressed). During the reception I learned why. He had been on schedule, and was gathering all the items he needed to take to the club where we were getting married. He was rooting around for the studs and cufflinks for his tuxedo, but was seemingly unable to find them. They weren't where he usually kept them. Then he noticed a funny little flowered box on the bureau where he keeps his belongings. He opened it--and found them on top of a note, written in his mom's handwriting that read: "The Holy Spirit is the gift you receive when you turn your will over to God." He sat down and cried. His mom was an extremely devout Christian. In his mind, at the time, this was his mom's way of speaking to him on his wedding day. Needless to say, the box is still on his bureau--and his studs and cufflinks for his tuxedo have a new, permanent home on top of the note.

Ginny, Thank you very much for the update. Although Geoff and I have not been on the board as much as we used to be--you all (including Cheryl and Jack) are in our thoughts every day. I am truly sorry to hear that Cheryl was just dx'd with brain mets. Cheryl, you are in our thoughts and prayers. Love, Melinda and Geoff

Our thoughts are with you TAnn! Love, Melinda and Geoff

Fay, Although we aren't on the board much these days--you are always in our thoughts and prayers. I'm glad you are home (and away from Nurse Ratchett!). Love, Melinda and Geoff

Beth, Our thoughts and prayers are headed your way. Melinda and Geoff Cindi, Thanks for posting the update.

Thanks! We'll check it out. Melind and Geoff

Great letter, Amy!

Very interesting...

Thank you for bringing such sub-standard journalism to our attention. I just spent the last half-hour crafting and sending my 2 cents' worth. ARGGHHH!

Andrea and Eileen, Great posts; thanks. Melinda

As always, great information! Glad to see you haven't changed while I've been away! Melinda

Becky, Loggin' on for the first time in a while here--and glad to hear three words: "home", "benign", and "cake"! Sending long-overdue thoughts your way. Melinda

Thank you, Ry. Dean and Gay, I has been months since I have have logged on--but not a day went by when I didn't wonder how y'all (and the rest of the lchelp family) were doing. Dean, you have been an inspiration for us from the moment we first met you on lchelp (back in spring of 2004). We continue to be one now. Geoff is now taking pictures of birds--we think of you often as we review them of the computer. He's got some really nifty tropical ones! He has a gallery posted on the web--I'll get the link and PM you. Until then--all our love to you both, Melinda and Geoff

Elaine, This is the first time I have logged on in months--I am so sorry to see all that you have been going through! If it helps, one of my best friends from high school was diagnosed with a huge brain tumor while she was in college. Long story short: they removed it and she is perfectly fine (she has lost a little feeling on the left side of her face--like if she has a tiny crumb on her cheek, she won't feel it--but that's it!). Our thoughts and prayers are headed to both you and your daughter. Melinda (& Geoff)

Addie, I am afriad that I am no expert. However, I do know that while Geoff's mom had brain mets (and the sound of them scarded the stuffing out of us), they were one of the easier parts of her treatment. She did not experience any real symptoms from the brain mets, and the treatment was quick and painless. For her, the only drawback was that she lost her hair from the whole brain radiation (WBR) (which she had managed to miraculouly keep through all the rounds chest radition and chemo). She was a beautiful woman--and that was hard for her. But--all in all--her brain mets did not phase her, much to our collective surprise. She was not a candidate for the Gamma knife--or stereotactic--but there have been a number of people on the board who have had goo to great results with them. I also know someone who developed brain mets from a different cancer, had WBR, and is still merrily rolling along 10+ years later. A big (((HUG))) is coming your way. All the best, Melinda

Mary Ann, Forgive my lack of couth, but your NED simply ROCKS. May he continue to do so for many a decade. I second others both in my congratulations and in my thanks for being part of this board. Geoff and I may have taken a hiatus from LChelp, but we have not forgotten your wisdom, kindness, and support while our respective mothers fought their battles. Best, Melinda

Cindi, I have been using Ry's hall-pas for months now, so I am not at all up to date -- but I do know enought to know that a)yes, you are much loved here (some things have not changed a whit since I last logged on many, many moons ago) and you are a fighter. Keep us posted. We, too, in New York are rooting for you. Love, Melinda (& Geoff)

Good thoughts and prayers are heading your way. Melinda & Geoff

Good thoughts are headed to both you and your mom!

Curtis, This is the first time I have logged on in a long, long time... (as you well know). Fittingly, this is my first post. I, too, will be following your blog. My thoughts will be with you and Katie on Monday. Love, Melinda