Excellent article & video on the scourge of lung cancer

On November 26, 2013, the Chicago Tribune ran this article about 31-year-old Meghan O'Brien, who has stage 4 lung cancer, and her battle against the stigma of lung cancer as a smoker's disease.  This stigma hurts lung cancer research and affects the type of support lung cancer fighters receive from others.  The money raised for research of lung cancer doesn't hold a candle to breast cancer.  Lung cancer is the top cancer killer and most people don't even recognize that November is lung cancer month - there are no ribbons, sports teams or merchandise calling for lung cancer support.  Meghan's story is further detailed in this video.

Please take a look at these materials and share them with others.  And one last favor, when you come across a person who has lung cancer, don't ask them if they smoked.  More and more, the answer is no, but either way it doesn't matter.  Nobody deserves this wretched disease.

What I Have Learned Recently about Mesothelioma

A fellow blogger recently contacted me to share information about another type of under- publicized serious lung disease, mesothelioma. 

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer in the lining of the lungs caused solely by asbestos so it is entirely preventable if we can avoid exposure to asbestos. 

Asbestos is naturally occurring and invisible to the eye.   Although U.S. federal law requires that newly manufactured products contain no more than 1% asbestos, any amount of asbestos can ultimately cause mesothelioma.  Roughly 30 million pounds are still being used each year.

For more information on mesothelioma and asbestos, click here for 8 Things You Should Know About Asbestos.

Our Awesome Trip to Africa

We just came home from a 16-day trip to South Africa this past Saturday.  It was amazing.  We had great weather.  I got to pet a giraffe, a lion cub, a cheetah and several other wild cats and feed an elephant.  During game drives we saw hippos, zebra, impala, nyala (a local animal similar to antelope), lots of giraffes and assorted other wild creatures.  The highlight was horseback riding on the Indian Ocean shores in St. Lucia and then riding the horse into a game reserve and having up close encounters with baboons, zebra and impala.  Cape Town was also great, with its beautiful shorelines, wine country and diverse cultures. 

An African photo safari was at the top of my "bucket list" of things I wanted to do in my life.  I am very grateful to my sister and brother-in-law for helping to make this happen by bidding on the game reserve visit at a charity auction.  It was the trip of a lifetime.  I am so grateful that my recovery from cancer has allowed me this great adventure.

Click here to link to some photo highlights of our trip.