DaveGr

Shelly: I finally figured it out, you are a major stockholder in the company that manufactures Tums.

I considered myself a survivor when I went through my first surgery. As you read over my signsture, you will see that I am now a multiple survivor. I like to refer to us as a patient/survivor. As Don says, it is all with the beholder. Definitely walk in the survivor's lap at your Relay for Life event. You have earned that right.

The following website is loaded with pro-smoking information. I suggest that all read what is there and then set this guy straight on what he says are facts. By all means reference your remarks by website. I referenced all the websites dealing with lung cancer and smoking issues that I could, when I emailed him. If anyone is interested, contact me and I will forward a copy of my email. http://www.davehitt.com/facts/badforbiz.html

It has just come to the attention, of this writer, that DavidA has changed his loyalties and is now a Milwaukee Bucks Fan, wears a Milwaukee Brewers baseball cap, and prominently displays, on his car, a large Green Bay Packers bumper sticker. The rumor is that he has ordered "cheeseheads" for his entire family, to include the family dog. On behalf of the people of Wisconsin, I would like to welcome David and, with much gladnest in my heart, tell him that the State of Wisconsin is tremendously gratified of this sudden change in loyalty. It is understood that David has cancelled his season tickets for the Detroit Lions, and had a public burning of his Detroit Tigers hat. He also called a special news conference, at which he shredded his Detroit Pistons shirt that he has treasured for years. On the other side of his rear bumper he has displayed another bumper sticker that reads "Redwings Eat Cow Pies". David, this sudden shift of loyalty has raised interest with several real estate agents, who are anxious to help you sell your house in Michigan and assist you with the purchase of a new house in Wisconsin. We look forward to this move with great anticipation.

11,522,000 hits for a wedding dress on E-Bay, unbelieveable. Too bad he didn't charge a penney a hit, he would have had $115,220, plus the $3000 for the wedding dress.

Peg: It is difficult to find the words. God Bless you and your family.

I just don't understand how some Ostrich can get a medical degree. When are these doctors going to get their collective heads out the sand and recognize that non and never smokers now outnumber smokers with lung cancer. De-stigmatize the damn disease, please

I have been asked many times, since people know I have lung cancer, if I am on any special diet, and if so what diet. My answer has always been, "I eat whatever I want to eat". To include french fries, Big Mac's, and my favorite, a Dairy Queen large hot fudge sundae. I still am about 15 pounds below my pre-surgery weight of 150 pounds, but am gradually gaining that back. I was about 5 pounds short of that goal, one year ago, right before I started chemo. Of course, I lost some weight while on chemo. I definitely do not recommend chemo, or thoracic surgery, as a weight reduction program.

My Oncologist is the same way. She never has talked about time with me, only that if as long as there is a way, she will treat me. She stressed that she cannot cure me, as I know the cure has yet to be discovered. So far I have nothing to complain about. I was originally dx'd a Stage I in September 2001. I had surgery in October 2001 and again in September 2002. In April 2003, following a CT Scan I was told that I had mets to severallymph nodes in my chest. A PET Scan, however, revealed that the mets was systemic throughout my lymphatic system with tumors in my diaphragm, neck, and both groins. I was restaged to Stage IV. I entered a Phase II trial which was 6 cycles of Carboplatin/Taxol, each 3 weeks apart, along with an injectable drug called ABT-510. I had to how to self administer shots, as I was, at first, required to give myself a shot of ABT-510 twice each day. The shots were soon cut back to once each day and my wife began giving me the shots as when I did them myself, I was limited to my legs, however my wife could rotate between my arms and legs. I completed the chemo on September 2, 2003. A CT Scan, late September revealed that the neck, groin, and diaphragm tumors had disappeared and the chest tumors had either shrunk or had stabilized. I was again scanned, 6 weeks later, in November, and it was discovered that I had developed mets to my liver. On December 9 I started a Phase II double blind study to determine the efficacy of a new drug (ZD6474) against Iressa. I knew, going in, that I would be getting one of the two drugs, in pill form, plus a placebo. once each day. Being a double blind I was not informed which of the drugs I was taking. In January 2004, I had a change in my EKG, at which point I figured out that I was getting the new drug ZD6474. After a few weeks, of 3 times per week EKG's, I was informed that the study had been opened and, in fact was receiving ZD6474. In order to prevent future occurence of problems with EKG's in patients taking ZD6474, the dosage has been adjusted and reduced. Out of all this good did come. The liver tumor stabilized and has shown no growth since the original scan in November. So for the past 4-5 months I have been stable. With cancer, "stable" is a good word. As of September I will be a 3 year survivor, now of Stage IV NSCLC, adenocarcinoma. What I am stressing her is, Lung Cancer can be survived and we do have many long term survivors visiting this site on a regular basis. We're not cured, but we are either stable or show "no evidence of disease" (NED). This what you need to pray for with your father. By the way I was just short of my 58th birthday when I was diagnosed and am now 60. I play golf almost daily, and last summer, while going through chemo, I tried to play golf as often as my body would allow. I did not play a great game, as my strength was greatlyy reduced, but I still tried to play. Staying active and having a positive attitude are the keys to my survival, plus a trendously great faith in God.

Whenever someone dies of cancer, any type of cancer, it usually means that person is passing before their time. The surviving family members become very special people because, many times, the husband, or wife, is uusually left with a family to maintain and love, special love that is usually spread over two people, but now falls on the shoulders of one. Curtis, you are but one of many, and this is always unfortunate. When you marry, at a young age, you should expect that you will live out your life with that person. You will share many things throughout this relationship, but, most importantly, you will share love. When this expectation of a long life together, is cut short because of the early death of one, it becomes special because now the survivor must step in and raise children in the name of both mother and father. For a young child, this, indeed, can be, and will be scary. The younger the child, the less understanding there is. All that they know is that mama or papa is gone and they will never see that person again. In this situation , I have always asked, "Just who has the greater courage?" Also, Curtis, for those of us who continue to live as survivors of lung cancer, we always hurt when we lose another. But the hurt is always worse, when the one we lose is so young, as Becky was. Cancer is so unfair and I always ask, "why not me?" We will never know the answer to that question. I hope you will continue to be a part of our community. You have much to offer.

A friend just told me about a new instructional Golf Book by Bobby Rusher. I haven't seen a copy yet, however I did see a flyer, and from the list of Chapters, it looks like it might be one in which you might have some interest. The title is "How to Line up Your 4th Putt" by BOBBY RUSHER. Here are some of the more notable chapters: A. How to hit a Top Flite from the rough when you hit a Titleist from the tee. B. How to avoid the water when you lie 8 in the bunker. C. How to get more distance out of a shank. D. Using your shadow on the greens to maximize earnings. E. Proper etiquette when you are playing with a complete jerk. F. Crying and how to handle it. G. How to rationalize a 7 hour round. H. How to find the ball that everyone else saw go in the water. I. Why your wife no longer cares that you birdied the 4th. J. How to let a foursome play through your twosome without getting embarrassed. K. How to relax when you're hitting five off the tee. L. When to suggest swing corrections to your opponent. M. God and the meaning of the double bogey. BOBBY is now working on the book's sequel, "When to Re-grip Your Ball Retriever"

My Oncology appointment today went well, again. The scans still show stability. My oncologist says that I won't have to come back for 2 months this time.

The local Walmart allows smoking outside the entrances and every time I enter the store I have to go through a cloud of smoke. My wife, who works there, says don't bother to complain because management does not want to upset the customers. "Hello", just who am I, an employee's spouse, or a customer. I buy things there too. I will not give up, the manager is a friend of mine, and I will continue to request that the smoking area be moved away from the entrances.

I could also use this for the 3rd Annual Lung Cancer Memorial Golf Outing, July 16, 2004. The proceeds from this outing will benefit Lung Cancer Research, under the direction of Joan Schiller MD, at the University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer. Also, anyone who may be interested in playing, or working as a volunteer, please email me at dgrant@merr.com

Actually you may find that the insurance is quite low and very reasonable. At the golf outing last year, the insurance for the three Hole-In-One events only cost $150 and we were offering a car, a one week cruise, and a home entertainment center with a 57 inch TV. Talk to an independant insurance agent. PS: If it is reasonable, ask the insurance agent if he will donate the insurance, in return for an ad in your event program.