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.
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Thursday, November 21, 2013
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.
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.
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.
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Another Good Check Up
Hi there,
Had my check up today and all remains normal and well. I'm good for another eight weeks!
Next check up is December 4.
Had my check up today and all remains normal and well. I'm good for another eight weeks!
Next check up is December 4.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
I'm in a video promoting Imerman Angels...and other updates
A couple of months ago, I was asked to participate in a promotional video for Imerman Angels, the organization that matches newly diagnosed cancer patients with survivors of the same cancer so that nobody goes through cancer alone. Some of you may know that I have been matched with over forty different fighters since I went into remission. This organization serves such an important role in providing comfort and support to people when they need it most.
Additionally, I was invited to attend their first annual Tuxes and Tees Gala this past weekend where they debuted the promotional video. Doug and I had a wonderful time and I felt like a mini-celebrity!
Click here to see the video. It takes awhile to load and it is about 15 minutes in length. I think you will find it inspiring.
On another note for those of you keeping track, my check-up that was scheduled for tomorrow has been postponed until Wednesday, Oct. 9. I will post my update on the results as usual on or after that date.
Finally, I failed to post anything about the results of the Lung Run this year until now. A huge THANK YOU to all that participated and donated to Team DL - we raised almost $4000 and had a team of fourteen at the event. This kind of support keeps me going and energizes me to continue to advocate for more cancer treatments and support others going through cancer.
Additionally, I was invited to attend their first annual Tuxes and Tees Gala this past weekend where they debuted the promotional video. Doug and I had a wonderful time and I felt like a mini-celebrity!
Click here to see the video. It takes awhile to load and it is about 15 minutes in length. I think you will find it inspiring.
On another note for those of you keeping track, my check-up that was scheduled for tomorrow has been postponed until Wednesday, Oct. 9. I will post my update on the results as usual on or after that date.
Finally, I failed to post anything about the results of the Lung Run this year until now. A huge THANK YOU to all that participated and donated to Team DL - we raised almost $4000 and had a team of fourteen at the event. This kind of support keeps me going and energizes me to continue to advocate for more cancer treatments and support others going through cancer.
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Still Standing after Almost 3 Years!
This is just a quick post to share that I had my semi-monthly hospital check-up
today and continue to have a clean bill of health. Today's MRI showed no
changes. My blood work was all in the normal ranges. Dr. Bonomi is pleased and so are we.
A great lead-in to my three year cancerversary on August 20.
A great lead-in to my three year cancerversary on August 20.
Next check up is Oct. 2.
Sunday, August 4, 2013
My StoryCorps Experience
Yesterday, I was at the Chicago Cultural Center in the StoryCorps recording booth to join Janelle, a fellow Imerman Angel cancer survivor, in a recorded conversation about our experiences with cancer and survivorship.
StoryCorps' mission is to provide people of all backgrounds and beliefs with the opportunity to record, share, and preserve the stories of our lives. Since 2003, StoryCorps has collected and archived more than 45,000 interviews with nearly 90,000 participants. Each conversation is recorded on a free CD to share, and is preserved at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. StoryCorps is one of the largest oral history projects of its kind, and millions listen to their broadcasts on their Listen page and on public radio.
Through Imerman Angels, the organization that matches individuals recently diagnosed with cancer to a survivor with the same diagnosis, StoryCorps has invited survivors to come in and record about 45 minutes of talking with one another and telling our stories.
Janelle is a lovely woman who was only seventeen when she was diagnosed with germ cell ovarian cancer. She is now a healthy 23-year-old who is on the Imerman Angels' professional board for organizing running events to support the organization.
Part of our conversation may or may not be aired on NPR (91.5 on the radio in Chicago), as they feature StoryCorps interviews every Friday on NPR’s Morning Edition. They will notify us if our conversation will be on the air. If so, I will post when that will happen.
You should also be able to find the conversation on the StoryCorps' website under Listen to Stories, once it gets uploaded to the site.
StoryCorps' mission is to provide people of all backgrounds and beliefs with the opportunity to record, share, and preserve the stories of our lives. Since 2003, StoryCorps has collected and archived more than 45,000 interviews with nearly 90,000 participants. Each conversation is recorded on a free CD to share, and is preserved at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. StoryCorps is one of the largest oral history projects of its kind, and millions listen to their broadcasts on their Listen page and on public radio.
Through Imerman Angels, the organization that matches individuals recently diagnosed with cancer to a survivor with the same diagnosis, StoryCorps has invited survivors to come in and record about 45 minutes of talking with one another and telling our stories.
Janelle is a lovely woman who was only seventeen when she was diagnosed with germ cell ovarian cancer. She is now a healthy 23-year-old who is on the Imerman Angels' professional board for organizing running events to support the organization.
Part of our conversation may or may not be aired on NPR (91.5 on the radio in Chicago), as they feature StoryCorps interviews every Friday on NPR’s Morning Edition. They will notify us if our conversation will be on the air. If so, I will post when that will happen.
You should also be able to find the conversation on the StoryCorps' website under Listen to Stories, once it gets uploaded to the site.
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