Melinda

Our family cat, whom I inherited because my mom is sick, guards me when I am upset and/or sick. She puts her own "needs" ("I want to be fed!", "I want to be petted!", "I want to be played with!", "I want to watch birds out the window!") on hold--and just makes sure she is right next to me in "guard" pose (and gives me a kiss or a loving nudge with her head every now and then if I look in her direction). She is also one of the best stress releases Geoff has--they play and play together. They are absolutely adorable (and neither one of them thinks about cancer when they are consumed in "playtime"!). Melinda

Hebbie-- Thanks for your post. Geoff has been researching copper reduction, too, recently--AND is going to, um, ask (demand?) that his mom get Celebrex along with her new chemo regimen tomorrow. I will see if I can get him to post in greater detail. Melinda

Karen-- SOOOOOOOOOOO glad you are home! Get rest and let those antibiotics do their work. Thank you, Andrea and Bob, for keeping us updated. Melinda

Jane, Mayos makes a great point. Our thoughts and prayers are with both you and your brother. Melinda

Heck, yes! It blew my immune system to shreds, so that not only did I manage to catch Strep Throat from my kids--but my then even more compromised immune system succummed to bacterial pneumonia. Yippee!!! And the stress from not being able to be with/tend to family members, do housework, go to the grocery store, and missing work on top of everything else, well... Shall we say that it is just a spiral? You are FAR from being alone, Andrea. Melinda

Judy, I have no insight to share--only joy at your good news. May it keep on coming! Melinda

I second Don's welcome. Tammy, I am, too, of the opinion that a second opinion is something you want to get rather than wish you had gotten. Doctors, too, are only human, after all... Best of luck to both of you. Please keep us posted. Melinda

TBone, So glad to hear some good news from your neck of the woods---Lord knows you're due! Geoff's mom was on Carbo/Taxol concurrent with her chest radiation, she stopped for the WBR, and starts it again tomorrow. So, I'm afraid I don't have much to add to the comments above rearding Taxotere. Just wanted you to know that you are in our thoughts. Melinda

Dear Debbie, I am so sorry to read about Chris' death. He certainly did show great courage over the past year--as have you. Our thoughts are with you. Melinda

Bruce-- Glad to hear you are feeling so well!!! Melinda

What wonderful, wonderful news. Melinda

Thanks, Gail. Melinda

Thanks, TBone. Melinda

Thank you for the post! Melinda

Don and Lucie-- Geoff and I are truly THRILLED for both of you. Melinda

So glad to hear it, Carla! Melinda

I posted this on the LC in the news forum--sorry. Dear all, Of course LC does not only affect women, but there has been so much press re: LC and women's health recently--does this give us an opportunity to raise LC awareness (and have ALL benefit from it, as a result)? National Women's Health Week is May 9-15--as organized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health. Also: Event: Capitol Hill Day -- June 7, 2004 The Women's Health Research Coalition is holding the 5th Annual Capitol Hill Day on Monday, June 7. Each year Coalition members from around the country come to Washington, D.C. to visit their congressional offices to advocate for support for women's health. For additional information go to the web site: http://www.womens-health.org/ Also: www.hercancer.com is now focusing on the fact that LC is the #1 cause of cancer-related deaths among women Just a few thoughts. Melinda

I posted this in LC in the News, by mistake. Sorry. OK-- My antibiotics must be kicking in (or affecting my judegment, for the worse--one or the other. Geoff isn't here to tell me). With the recent smattering of LC affecting women's health in the news--I began wondering who are all the corporate donors supporting BREAST cancer research. So I did a quick Google to find the extremely influential Susan G. Komen Foundation site to see who their top donors are. Below is a clip from their web site: The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation is dedicated to setting new standards for creative collaboration in the fight against breast cancer. The Foundation develops outreach, awareness and fundraising initiatives with the dedication, commitment and support of blue-chip corporate partners. The partnerships with these companies provide an opportunity for individuals to join in the fight against breast cancer and help spread the life-saving message of early detection to millions of women and men around the world -- in a way that is meaningful to them. To learn more about the innovative programs, promotions and initiatives created with our corporate partners, please click on a name listed below. Komen Million Dollar Council American Airlines BMW of North America, Inc. The Carlisle Collection, Ltd. Ford Credit Ford Division Hallmark Gold Crown® Stores Johnson & Johnson Kellogg Company KitchenAid Lee Jeans New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc. Occidental Chemical Corporation Pier 1 Imports Rally for a Cure® RE/MAX Titleist, Cobra & FootJoy Worldwide Women’s International Bowling Congress Women's Motorcyclist Foundation Pony Express Tour 2003 Yoplait USA Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity Corporate Partners Breeder’s Choice Brinker International, Inc. ConAgra Foods Danskin Deluxe Corporation DSW Shoe Warehouse Home Interiors & Gifts, Inc. Interiors by Decorating Den Keebler Lean Cuisine The LIFE Event – The Val Skinner Foundation Loews Cineplex Entertainment LPGA Master Foods Mohawk Industries, Inc. - Specify for a Cure® Mohawk Residential Flooring – Decorate for the Cure™ Napa Valley Trading Company Parade Shoe Stores Proflowers.com Quilted Northern Ultra® Republic of Tea Silk Soymilk by White Wave, Inc. Ty - Cure™ Beanie Babies Wacoal America WNBA Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Is there an influential LUNG CANCER foundation? As you all know, I'm relatively new to this--so I'm just trying to see how we can help to raise more money for awareness and research. I don't want this recent rash of media publicity to remain just that. I want it to be the snowball that starts an avalanche. Maybe my temperature has gone back up and I need to return to bed... Melinda

Dear all, Of course LC does not only affect women, but there has been so much press re: LC and women's health recently--does this give us an opportunity to raise LC awareness (and have ALL benefit from it, as a result)? National Women's Health Week is May 9-15--as organized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health. Also: Event: Capitol Hill Day -- June 7, 2004 The Women's Health Research Coalition is holding the 5th Annual Capitol Hill Day on Monday, June 7. Each year Coalition members from around the country come to Washington, D.C. to visit their congressional offices to advocate for support for women's health. For additional information go to the web site: http://www.womens-health.org/ Also: www.hercancer.com is now focusing on the fact that LC is the #1 cause of cancer-related deaths among women Just a few thoughts. Melinda

OK-- My antibiotics must be kicking in (or affecting my judegment, for the worse--one or the other. Geoff isn't here to tell me). With the recent smattering of LC affecting women's health in the news--I began wondering who are all the corporate donors supporting BREAST cancer research. So I did a quick Google to find the extremely influential Susan G. Komen Foundation site to see who their top donors are. Below is a clip from their web site: The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation is dedicated to setting new standards for creative collaboration in the fight against breast cancer. The Foundation develops outreach, awareness and fundraising initiatives with the dedication, commitment and support of blue-chip corporate partners. The partnerships with these companies provide an opportunity for individuals to join in the fight against breast cancer and help spread the life-saving message of early detection to millions of women and men around the world -- in a way that is meaningful to them. To learn more about the innovative programs, promotions and initiatives created with our corporate partners, please click on a name listed below. Komen Million Dollar Council American Airlines BMW of North America, Inc. The Carlisle Collection, Ltd. Ford Credit Ford Division Hallmark Gold Crown® Stores Johnson & Johnson Kellogg Company KitchenAid Lee Jeans New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc. Occidental Chemical Corporation Pier 1 Imports Rally for a Cure® RE/MAX Titleist, Cobra & FootJoy Worldwide Women’s International Bowling Congress Women's Motorcyclist Foundation Pony Express Tour 2003 Yoplait USA Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity Corporate Partners Breeder’s Choice Brinker International, Inc. ConAgra Foods Danskin Deluxe Corporation DSW Shoe Warehouse Home Interiors & Gifts, Inc. Interiors by Decorating Den Keebler Lean Cuisine The LIFE Event – The Val Skinner Foundation Loews Cineplex Entertainment LPGA Master Foods Mohawk Industries, Inc. - Specify for a Cure® Mohawk Residential Flooring – Decorate for the Cure™ Napa Valley Trading Company Parade Shoe Stores Proflowers.com Quilted Northern Ultra® Republic of Tea Silk Soymilk by White Wave, Inc. Ty - Cure™ Beanie Babies Wacoal America WNBA Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Is there an influential LUNG CANCER foundation? As you all know, I'm relatively new to this--so I'm just trying to see how we can help to raise more money for awareness and research. I don't want this recent rash of media publicity to remain just that. I want it to be the snowball that starts an avalanche. Maybe my temperature has gone back up and I need to return to bed... Melinda

Ginny-- That's just what I was thinking. AND Oprah. Grrrrrrrrr. Melinda Maybe we can have Andrea do a presentation on our behalf?

Dear all, Just curious--has anyone heard from Paddy (or her family) recently? I've been MIA recently--so maybe I just missed her posts... Melinda

Curtis, Thank you for posting an update. It would just "feel wrong" not to know how you and Katie are faring--as you are both on all of our minds so often. I only wish there was something I could say or do... Melinda