Support for LateToSchool

churchmusicmom · April 6, 2008, 12:51pm

LTS, I am so glad to read in your previous post that you now characterize yourself among the survivors. We all felt that all along. Bravo!!!

epistrophy · April 6, 2008, 1:35pm

and another

Beating the odds
A family’s struggle with cancer proves hope was not lost

There have been many scientific breakthroughs in the medical field in the past years. Treatments and cures have been found for many debilitating diseases like diabetes and heart disease, and giant strides are currently being made through cutting edge research for afflictions like AIDS and spinal cord injuries.

But, even with today’s technology and treatments, there are still a few words that one never wants to hear from your doctor. Those words include “you have cancer.”

Those words had been spoken before to Lois Brossoit. Already a survivor of breast cancer, Lois heard those words a second time when she was diagnosed with a different type of cancer in each lung in February of 2007.

“It was total shock,” Lois stated, about learning of her latest diagnosis.

But, if that wasn’t difficult enough, Marv Brossoit, Lois’ husband of 38 years, was diagnosed with malignant thymoma - a tumor originating from the thymus - about a month after her diagnosis. Then the couples’ daughter, Dawn Bohren, was diagnosed with breast cancer eight months later.

The three diagnosis’ left the family reeling. They knew they had a tough road ahead of them.

That journey for the Chesterfield Township family has been a tough one, but they’ve beaten the odds and all three are currently in remission. Recently they were surprised by family and friends with a celebration, where they were feted at a dinner.

A family struggles

**Lois’ situation looked grim from the initial diagnosis. The information the family had garnered regarding her type of cancer led them to believe the outcome would not be good.

“When you hear lung cancer, you immediately think bad news,” their son Steve Brossoit said.

Marv said even support groups that were supposed to help during tough times didn’t have many positive thoughts to offer.

“The support group for this type of cancer was preparing her for death, so I told her not to go,” Marv said.

Ironically, it was a change in the couple’s health insurance that led to Lois’ diagnosis. The change required her to have an X-ray six months earlier than originally scheduled. As a result, doctors found the cancer in its early stages.

She credits this early detection as one of the main reasons for her survival.**

While Lois was struggling through her treatment, Marv was beginning a struggle himself. Always a hardworking man, the tumor that was growing in Marv’s chest was making it harder and harder for him to carry out his daily routine. When the pressure on his heart and lungs got too unbearable, he went to the hospital where they finally found the cause of his discomfort.

Accompanying Marv’s diagnosis of thymoma was a psychological drain that was almost as bad, if not worse, than the physical, he said.

“It was very hard for me to not be able to take care of Lois like I wanted to,” Marv said.

Longtime family friend Rick Merrelli also saw the toll the struggle with Marv’s sickness was taking on him while Lois went through her treatments.

“It was devastating to him to be in the hospital and not taking care of Lois,” Merrelli said.

A successful surgery to remove the tumor, along with radiation treatments, left the family thinking they could go back to focusing on Lois’ treatment and recovery.

They did, until Dawn received the same news her mother had heard a handful of years before. In November 2007, Dawn was diagnosed with breast cancer.

It was during a routine breast exam that Dawn noticed something unusual. She immediately scheduled an appoinment with her doctor, who confirmed that she had breast cancer. But, after receiving the worst possible news, the family was blessed with some good news: It had been caught in the early stages and the outcome seemed positive.

Throughout the early stages of her parents struggles with illness, Dawn was a fixture at her parents house, along with her brother Steve, constantly cooking meals, shopping for groceries, and helping out with whatever needed to be done.

“Dawn is so strong and is sort of the caregiver of our family, so when we got her diagnosis, that’s when emotion overtook me,” Steve said.

Hope for the future

Most families have trouble coping with one member fighting an illness, let alone nearly an entire family fighting cancer at the same time.

Lois said because everybody in her family was struggling at the same time, the importance of having strong friendships was magnified.

“You definitely find out who your friends are. They’re the ones coming to see you when you have no hair. They’re the ones who bring meals to you. They would just do anything,” Lois said.

It is hard to imagine how a family could stay positive through so much adversity. Lois summed up her positve attitude saying, "I have too much to live for. I’ve got my kids and grandkids.

“You can’t dwell on the negative,” she said. “You control what you can and there is nothing I can do but fight.”

Merrelli credits the Brossoit family’s deep faith in God for giving them strength to overcome this challenge.

And now, there is light at the end of the tunnel for the family. All three are currently in remission.

Lois will continue to get a PET scan every three months for a few years. If the scans continue to come back negative, there is a very good chance she will remain cancer free. Marv will continue to get a CT scan every year. His odds to remain cancer free are very high as well. Dawn will have annual X-rays and remains very optimistic about staying cancer free.

“You have to focus on hope,” Dawn said. “Don’t take anything for granted. God has really looked out for us.”

[TheVoiceNews.com:</a> Beating the odds 03/26/08](<a href=“http://www.voicenews.com/stories/032608/loc_20080326003.shtml]TheVoiceNews.com:”>http://www.voicenews.com/stories/032608/loc_20080326003.shtml)

SouthJerseyChessMom · April 6, 2008, 1:56pm

From Epistrophy’ post, for those who missed it-
Vote for this candidate who will increase Lung Cancer Awareness-you can vote every day.

"Although playing the Torrey Pines course would be a dream come true for Atkinson, he hopes winning the contest would allow his journey of survival to reach others living with cancer.

“The golf pales in comparison to raising awareness about lung cancer,” Atkinson said.

Atkinson has lived with stage four lung cancer for more than a year. He said, “I’m the guy next door just like everybody else, took care of myself, worked out, didn’t smoke, did all the things you’re supposed to do, and still without warning, lung cancer hit me.”

The contest winner will be chosen through an online vote. The last day to vote is April 30."

Link to Golf Digest Contest Page : <a href=“http://www.gdopencontest.com%5B/url%5D”>http://www.gdopencontest.com</a>

momof2inca · April 6, 2008, 2:51pm

LTS, you are amazing. When I read about a day of yours like yesterday, where you walked all over --20 miles!!-- and took in a bunch of museums and shops and restaurants, it reminds me of my favorite lines by Thoreau:

“I went to the woods because I wanted to live deliberately, to suck the marrow from the bones of life; to put to rout all that was not life, and not to come to the end of life, and discover that I had not lived.”

You continually inspire me to do more with the time and resources that I have. Thank you.

epistrophy · April 6, 2008, 8:20pm

In today’s Parade

“The Lessons I’m Leaving Behind”
By Randy Pausch

At many colleges, professors are asked to give a last lecture. In this talk, they ruminate on what matters most to them. As they speak, audiences mull the same question: What wisdom would you impart to the world if you knew it was your last chance?

Last year, I agreed to give a last lecture at Carnegie Mellon University, where Im a professor in the computer science department. A few weeks later, I learned that I had only months to liveI was dying of pancreatic cancer.

I knew I could cancel. I have three young children, Im married to Jai, the woman of my dreams, and there were so many things to be done. But by speaking, I knew I could put myself in a bottle that would one day wash up on the beach for my children, Dylan, Logan and Chloe. Heres what I want to share . . . .

[My</a> Last Lecture | PARADE Magazine](<a href=“http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2008/edition_04-06-2008/1My_Last_Lecture]My”>http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2008/edition_04-06-2008/1My_Last_Lecture)

NYMomof2 · April 7, 2008, 10:32pm

LTS, I hope you decided to take that trip.

epistrophy · April 8, 2008, 7:54am

Lung cancer - living with it, “surviving” it - seems to be very much on the radar in various communities.

Here are just two examples of upcoming meetings:

[Laurel</a> Hill Connection - The Connection Newspapers](<a href=“http://beta.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=312624&paper=80&cat=180]Laurel”>http://beta.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=312624&paper=80&cat=180)

[Winston-Salem</a> Journal | Health Calendar](<a href=“http://www.journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSJ%2FMGArticle%2FWSJ_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173355220775]Winston-Salem”>http://www.journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSJ%2FMGArticle%2FWSJ_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173355220775)

epistrophy · April 9, 2008, 9:33am

another (small cell) lung cancer survivor

“Cancer survivor defies the odds”

Noma Duboises garden is looking better these days. Her husband, Tom, admitted quite easily that he isnt one for outdoor work. He enjoys working with his hands mostly with wood and metal but has never developed a green thumb. That has always been his wifes area of expertise. Same goes for all the housework.

Sadly, Mrs. Duboise just cant get out in the garden like she used to so her husband has tried to pick up the slack, working on the plant and flower beds she can see through her kitchens windows. Shes doing quite a bit better herself although she has her good days and bad days, neither of which her doctors believed she should be having at all.

Its been three years since Mrs. Duboise was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer; three years of fighting, hardship, tears and hope that she could be strong enough to fight off and survive the deadly disease.

They only gave her six weeks to live.

Dr. [Christopher] Croot told us that theres one just one in a very high percentage [of cases] in which it doesnt come back, Mr. Duboise said, referencing his wifes doctor at the oncology clinic in Tupelo following her more than three months of chemotherapy treatment. After a long time, she looked at him and said, Im going to be one. Shes proving that.

It was heartbreaking for the Duboises when Mrs. Duboise was diagnosed as having lung cancer. She was in her early 70s, and the couple had been married for more than 50 years. The shock was absolutely devastating.

It wasnt one of the good ones, Mr. Duboise said with melancholic humour. Hes a loquacious man, who handles his familys struggles with a touch of laughter. When asked if any cancer is a good one, he elaborated.

No, but some are much, much better than others, he admitted. Thats the thing that people need to be more aware of, I think. People hear cancer, and thats all they ever hear. There are so, so many types of cancer, and some arent so bad.

Thats what we thought, too. We didnt know. We thought that cancer was cancer.

Mrs. Duboise had one of the bad kinds: Small cell lung cancer. According to the American Cancer Association, there will be an estimated 161,840 deaths from lung cancer in 2008, 90,810 among men and 71,030 among women. These deaths will account for around 29 percent of all cancer deaths, making Mrs. Duboises cancer one of the deadliest.

She was diagnosed after a routine doctor visit with Dr. Tara Enlow. Three days after that visit, she was undergoing chemotherapy

It was a spot that big, Mr. Duboise said, holding his thumb and index finger about an inch-and-a-half apart in demonstration. I was crying like a baby. I knew she had cancer; knew her daddy died of cancer; knew her brother died of cancer; and I just knew I was going to lose my wife of 57 years, and theres nothing I could do about it I cried myself absolutely dry, and Im not ashamed of it. I did it, and I still do it.

Mrs. Duboise wasnt going down without a fight, however. Her husband described her as strong very strong. Although these days shes a quiet woman, one can sense in her an air of friendly defiance. Her eyes are those of a fighter they sparkle with a determination that undoubtedly have kept her alive throughout her ordeal. Dr. Croot, who administered her treatments, recognized this spark when they first met.

When she started, Dr. Croot said, Lady, you look strong to me Were going to get that cancer. Im going to treat you like youre 30 years old. Im going to pour it on you and were going to get that cancer. She just said, Do it and by God, he treated her with chemotherapy like she was 30 years old, Mr. Duboise said.

He added that his wife weighed 187 pounds when she began therapy and didnt drop an ounce of weight in all 28 of her three-day treatments.

I gained weight, Mrs. Duboise said with a proud nod. Still, the treatments weakened her body considerably, and following the chemotherapy Mrs. Duboise suffered several accidents, including two falls which resulted in the breaking of both her femurs. She is now wheelchair bound.

I told her shed do a lot better if she stayed on her feet and off her [butt], Mr. Duboise said, teasing his wife. She cracked a smile and said, I guess I would.

His chuckles drifted through the house, and he explained, We have to joke about things every now and then. Im always keeping up some mess, just to keep our spirits up.

Sometimes thats difficult, he added, when considering the struggles the couple has been through and the struggles ahead. Their greatest sadness, he said, is being unable to visit their mentally disabled grandson, who resides in a facility in Oxford.

But the days move on, the clock ticks around, and Mrs. Duboise is doing relatively well. The stress has been difficult on both of them, and their lives have changed in innumerable ways. But Mrs. Duboise is a fighter and survivor, defying the odds and proving that she is that one.

She held up a single finger. Its because of that man up yonder, she said, pointing skyward. Between me and him, were going to make it all the way.

She cant do as much as she used to, and she misses her garden, but shell keep on fighting. Mr. Duboise has taken to his role of supporter well.

We were married here, 57 years ago, and you know what I said to her on that day, he said. He wasnt asking a question. I meant it when I said it, too, and it wont change.

Hes picked up where shes left off.

I aint no gardener she did all the outdoor work and all the indoor work but I have no problem doing housework I have no problem going out into the garden, although thats why it looks like its in a mess, he said with a tearful smile, staring out the window. Ive been puttering out there a little bit.

Just outside, the plants under Mr. Duboises newfound care stretched upward, green and healthy in the warming April weather.

[url=<a href=“http://www.djournal.com/pages/story.asp?ID=271317&pub=4&div=Lifestyles]djournal.com[/url”>http://www.djournal.com/pages/story.asp?ID=271317&pub=4&div=Lifestyles]djournal.com[/url</a>]

epistrophy · April 9, 2008, 8:07pm

another lung cancer “survivor”

“A lung cancer survivor’s story”

When Bobbie Palmer of Yardley turned 50 last year, she went for a routine physical exam, expecting to learn that she had high cholesterol. Instead, she found out that she had advanced lung cancer.

Because she had no symptoms, Palmer was shocked to hear this news. After months of treatment at a local hospital, she transferred to the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania, where she received both chemotherapy and radiation. Palmer, who’s now in remission, spoke with Kirstin Lindermayer for the Daily News.

The moment she found out

"When I went, [for my physical]I spoke to my doctor: ‘Oh, something’s going to go wrong. Everything’s always good.’ "And he was like, ‘Why are you always waiting for the shoe to drop?’ So, when I went back the following week, he said, ‘The shoe dropped.’ And I said, ‘What?’ And he said that I had Stage 3 lung cancer and that it had went up into my lymph nodes and windpipe. I had no signs. No symptoms at all.

A grim prognosis

"I went to a local hospital. And I went through chemo, and I had surgery…and they said it grew back. And I said to them, ‘Am I going to die?’

"They didn’t say, ‘Go home and die in three months.’ They said, ‘Statistics say you have 3-12 months.’ "

Not so fast

"I went to see Dr. Tracey Evans, an oncologist, and Dr. Ramesh Rengan, a radiation oncolgist, [at Penn]. And they’re like, ‘You know, even if we can’t cure you, we can treat you. This is not a death sentence.’

“So, with that, I started. They had to get a new pathology test, and then I went for chest radiation and for chemo all over again. And then I had to go for brain radiation.”

Why me?

"I never said, ‘Well, why me?’ I always thought, Well, something good will come of it. And if I help one person …

"And, actually, toward the end, I think I did help one person. There was a lady crying the day I left, when they told me I was cancer-free. I said, ‘I’m sorry. Are you OK?’

“And she said she just found out her husband had lung cancer. And I said: ‘Then I’m just the person you want to meet. I came here with Stage 3b lung cancer, and I’m leaving today cancer-free, so, you know, there’s hope.’ And she cried and hugged me. And I don’t know if I helped her, but I think I did.”

But, really, why her?

"They didn’t know [how I got lung cancer]. I did smoke, but I quit years ago. And that’s the first thing, ‘Oh, you smoked.’

"I grew up in Trenton by where the factories are. We didn’t have a lot of fun, so when the bug sprayer trucks went by, we all got on our bikes and rode through the insecticide. So that was probably real good for us, too.

“So, it could have been anything. Or everything. I got real bad family history, too. My father died of lung cancer. My sister’s a breast cancer survivor, and my mother is on her fifth [bout of] ovarian cancer, which they call chronic. So, we don’t know if we have bad genes because we get it or good genes because we survive it.”

Treating cancer with kindness

"Dr. Rengan said that I would have to go through a brick wall. And he said, ‘But don’t go alone. I’ll go with you.’ And he did. My doctors were the kindest.

"He said he was a hugger, and, if I gained weight, he would just hug me twice. I gained a lot of weight because I was on steroids, and I would laugh and say, ‘Aren’t you glad you didn’t say you would hug me by the pound? We’d be here for a week.’

On losing her hair

"The radiation itself wasn’t that bad, except that I don’t have my hair. I work in a hair salon, so, you know, hair is sort of, kind of, a big part of my business and my life.

"I’ve always had nice hair. Nice, thick, I’d say blond, but not natural. Now, it’s coming back black. It’s growing back in patches, and it’s really hysterical. It’s like I have a ball field on the back of my head. First, second, third, fourth base.

"And I look like my father. I have that horseshoe ring around it and nothing on the top. So you do have to laugh, and I do think it’s my sense of humor and my attitude that got me through this, you know.

“If you can find any humor in it, find the humor. You do have to keep laughing. You can’t just crawl into a hole. You just can’t. It’s scary, but it’s true. You just can’t, or the hole’s going to get you.”

On chemo and goulash

"You can only eat what you can tolerate. One day, my mom called me and asked if I wanted soup. And I told her I’d already ordered a hoagie and french fries from down the street because really that was all I could tolerate. That’s all I wanted.

"It was like the funniest things that people bring you, like goulash, and it’s like, I’m sick here. When you’re laying in bed, everything you look and see and smell makes you sick thanks, but no thanks.

Why Charlie Brown needs Lucy

"Tom [her boyfriend, Tom Moran] never missed an appointment. He wrote everything down for me in case I couldn’t remember. Because a lot of times, when you have the cancer, it’s sort of like Charlie Brown’s teacher that you just hear, ‘Wah, wah. Wah, wah.’

“So, he wrote a lot of things down, made sure I had everything I needed.”

Trash-talking cancer

"Tom’s a boxing manager. He gave me a pair of boxing gloves and a sweatshirt that said Everlast on it. And I went [to chemo] every week with that Everlast boxing sweatshirt on because I was fighting that cancer.

“We named my cancer: Funny Jim. And we were taking him down. [He] was our opponent, and he’s gone. We took care of him.”

[A</a> lung cancer survivor’s story | Philadelphia Daily News | 04/09/2008](<a href=“http://www.philly.com/dailynews/features/A_lung_cancer_survivors_story.html]A”>http://www.philly.com/dailynews/features/A_lung_cancer_survivors_story.html)

epistrophy · April 10, 2008, 7:26am

“The Negative Stigma” (by another lung cancer “survivor”)

Ive read many articles and opinions written about lung cancer and how its victims caused their own cancer. One such article sticks in my head the writers intent was to bring attention to the lack of funding for lung cancer compared to other much less deadly forms of cancer which receive far greater sums of research money. The responses to her well intended article were shocking and hurtful, however, sadly representative of the general populations view of lung cancer.

Many readers who posted comments suggested that those who develop lung cancer caused their illness by smoking and therefore were undeserving of precious research money. Some rationalized the disparities of research money citing the decision-makers probably looked at things such as total length of life saved. The theory being that breast cancer affects young women and lung cancer only affects 70 year old smokers. Obviously, the readers knew nothing about what they were willing to write about.

Some quotes:

“How many of those lung cancer cases are caused by smoking? Id rather not have my money spent on researching a cure to a disease that people choose to get.”

“Instead of looking at incidence of cancers and deaths, how about looking at quality of life years lost? Most fatal breast cancers occur in premenopausal women. These women may have careers, contribute to household income, have children that look up to them.”

“As a doctor, I would just like to remind everyone that the #1 cure for lung cancer is simply not smoking.”

“It appears that weve researched lung cancer into the ground: we know how the vast majority of cases are caused (and therefore how to prevent or reduce that vast majority of cases); we know what it looks like from the very early stages to the very end stages; we know how it progresses; and we know the rates of success of several different treatment routes. Breast cancer, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer and other deadly cancers are sneakier. We have less data on the causes, progression and so forth.”

And then there was this one.

"To answer some questions - about 85% of lung cancers are caused by smoking. But to say people choose to get the disease is ludicrous. Choosing to smoke does NOT equal choosing to get lung cancer, just like choosing to drives does not equal choosing to die in a car accident.

Also, as a former NCI employee, I can say with certainty that the main reason lung cancer research is so underfunded is because there is no survivor consitutency. The mortality rate is so high theres no one left to advocate. In contrast, breast cancer survivors are the most vocal and most organized - and yes, they have successfully pushed federal and private funding toward that disease."

 Posted by Brian

I was thankful for the last post by Brian. he said it all in a nutshell. We have to become organized and more vocal if we are to change the statistics for lung cancer just as the advocates for breast cancer have been able so successfully accomplish.

For whatever reason, this article, and other similar articles, have stuck with me. I find myself going back to them and reading and re-reading. I want to understand why lung cancer has been given such a negative stigma while other diseases have avoided the same label even if caused by life style choices. (heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and even other cancers). I still dont understand it.

What I do know, for sure, is I am not ashamed. I am not ashamed I have lung cancer. I want to talk about it. I want to tell whoever will listen about the disparities surrounding this disease. I will put myself in uncomfortable positions, (something I would never do before cancer) like being on TV, or magazine articles or public speaking. I will talk with young people, and politicians, and doctors, and womens groups and anybody I can to try to change perceptions about this disease. I will be a new face and voice for lung cancer.

I know I didnt deserve lung cancer. It just happened. I was exposed to a carcinogen that settled in my lungs and stayed. And stayed, and stayed. I might have exposed myself to a carcinogen or I might have inadvertently been exposed to it. I dont know. And at this point, it doesnt matter. All I truthfully know is I have lung cancer now. And I live in a country where we have excess to leading medical care and I deserve treatment and the hope of a cure. Whether my cancer is in my breast or my lungs or anywhere in my body, I deserve similar care, attention, treatment and hope.

[Living</a> with Lung CancerThrough My Eyes by Lori Monroe - Presented by National Lung Cancer Partnership Blog Archive The Negative Stigma](<a href=“http://www.nationallungcancerpartnership.org/blog/?p=66]Living”>http://www.nationallungcancerpartnership.org/blog/?p=66)

DeniseC · April 10, 2008, 9:56am

Hoping you had a positive, productive week.

epistrophy · April 10, 2008, 7:16pm

another haiku by Issa (1763-1872)

(From The Essential Haiku: Versions of Basho, Buson & Issa [ed. Robert Hass].)

[Amazon.com:</a> Essential Haiku (Essential Poets): Hass: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Haiku-Poets-Hass/dp/0880013516]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Haiku-Poets-Hass/dp/0880013516)

MaryTN · April 10, 2008, 8:52pm

LTS – The little CC square says you’re online now. I hope you are composing an update for us. I look for you every time I check my email. :)

latetoschool · April 10, 2008, 10:01pm

Yes, I am here, and my apologies - the abridged version is that our little cat - the one I brought home to my daughter as a lost little kitten 13 years ago and that we have loved so much - now also has cancer. Soft cell carcinoma, and we do not yet know if it has metastacized. The biopsy results came back today and it’s kinda not good. We have been referred to a veterinary oncologist, and meanwhile our pet had surgery Monday; they removed a portion of his ear, clean margins, so, we’re going through this process. He is doing well now, but it has taken some work for us to get him eating etc. following his surgery. My daughter has made the decision that she will not allow him to suffer, should this take a bad turn. His vets are doing an outstanding job and I am satisfied I have committed every available and logical resource to his care.

On top of that, I upgraded my office computers this week; I now have a brand new laptop in my office, and, I cannot figure out how to retrieve my CC password, so, I have not been able to come here to post during the business day. If someone can tell me what to do (???) - it’s probably something simple…

I am doing - well - lol, I am not sure. Never, ever have I felt so bad. Am now done with 11 of 14 wbr treatments; chemotherapy again tomorrow. I could not have believed it was possible to feel this bad. No nausea, nothing hurts - I just feel horrible in a way that I cannot explain. Today, in leaving my office, it took every ounce of will power I had to complete the simple tasks of packing my briefcase with the work I will complete while in chemotherapy tomorrow. It was so very hard, and it seemed to require all of my strength.

But there’s some wonderful news in this. I had been sitting all day, working behind my desk. I forced myself to take one step, then another. A very, very long time ago, in some other thread on some other matter, CC member Kluge wrote something like “…the hardest part of doing anything is just getting out of the chair…” hence the wonder of CC. Those words were with me today; I just needed to get out of the chair. To pack the briefcase. To walk down the hall. Just make it to the elevator. Then to the lobby. You can DO this: you’re out of the chair, take one step at a time. Then to the street. Go one block - and if you can make it one block, you can make it two blocks. If you can make it two blocks, you can make it three.

I made it even further. I made it to my health club; I ignored the elevator in favor of the four flights of stairs; I did 90 minutes on the treadmill. I even ran some of the way on the treadmill. If you can just get out of the chair, you can walk; if you can walk; you can run; and, perhaps, if you can run, it might even be possible to fly - I’ll let you know tomorrow!

Perhaps life’s challenges are that way too. The key is to get out of the chair, and get moving. I still do not feel anything like myself but I feel a thousand times better than I did when I was still sitting in the chair behind my desk.

NYMomof2 · April 10, 2008, 10:06pm

LTS, Yet again, I’m in awe! Thank you for the update. I’m sorry about the cat, and I hope that he recovers enough to have a few more good years.

mythmom · April 10, 2008, 10:45pm

LTS: How beautiful. So sorry about your kitty, and how sad for your daughter. But how joyful that you keep getting out of that chair. You and kluge are wise.

Faline2 · April 10, 2008, 11:15pm

awesome indeed that you are on the treadmill when you are feeling hit with no doubt some effect of your treatments…

soo sorry about your wonderful kitty, who is such a part of your lives.

I hope you got the sunshine and good weather we had in SW Va today

keep that CC password operational!

mominva · April 10, 2008, 11:25pm

Latetoschool,
The following is copied from the FAQs link:

'I lost my password, what can I do?
If you forget your password, you can click on the ‘Forgotten Your Password’ link on any page that requires you to fill in your password.

This will bring up a page where you should enter your registered email address, and an email will be sent to that address instantly, with instructions for resetting your password.'

The 90 minutes on the treadmill would be the cause, not the cure, of my feeling horrible. You continue to amaze! :)

Best wished for your beloved pet kitty!

Call us if you want to play hooky after your chemo and we’ll oblige ;)

calmom · April 10, 2008, 11:29pm

Here’s the forgot password link:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/login.php?do=lostpw[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/login.php?do=lostpw</a>

The easiest way to get to it is to try to log in with the wrong password – that takes you to a page with the password retrieval link on it.

epistrophy · April 11, 2008, 7:33am

“The Cough Cough Game”

“Rovers’ players join lung cancer awareness campaign”

UK-DONCASTER Rovers [soccer] players Matt Mills and Mark Wilson are encouraging fans to tackle their long running coughs ahead of tonight’s match to help raise awareness of the early symptoms of lung cancer.

The game against Swindon Town has been dubbed the Cough Cough Game, as part of a wider Doncaster Primary Care Trust initiative to increase lung cancer survival rates amongst 50 to 70 year olds.

“It’s really important that people know about the early symptoms of lung cancer and we are urging our fans to tell their mates about the campaign, particularly any persistent coughers in the crowd,” said Matt.

People who have been suffering from a cough for three weeks or more, are coughing up spots of blood or have a cough that has changed should visit their GP at the earliest opportunity.

Doncaster has one of the highest rates of the disease in the country.

It is 16th out of 152 PCTs in the UK, with 39 per cent more new cases of lung cancer every year than the UK average.

[Rovers</a>’ players join lung cancer awareness campaign - The Star](<a href=“http://www.thestar.co.uk/doncaster/Rovers39-players-join-lung-cancer.3973232.jp]Rovers”>http://www.thestar.co.uk/doncaster/Rovers39-players-join-lung-cancer.3973232.jp)

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