Thursday, November 20, 2008

Thursday...November 20th...2008

Today is our 28th wedding anniversary...on the way to 50....

Today we also head out on our 4 day cruise......to Key West and Cozumel.....

Linda has been to the acupuncturist once a week now for 6 weeks..it has been helping her...I am still worried about her persistent cough...which she insists is allergies with a lot of phlegm....

We went to the Moffet Cancer Institute again this year as it is lung cancer month...and they do a forum each year at this time on lung cancer. It was quite interesting....we learned some new stuff...

"Cured" and "remission" (words Linda and I have debated many times) are blurred in their meaning. With lung cancer, after 2-3 years, a lung cancer patient can be said to be cured...as opposed to breast cancer and others which are 5 years or longer. But if the cancer reappears in that time, it is them treated for remission. Lung cancer patients can get new lung cancer..they may be "predisposed".

$120,000 is spent in research for each HIV patient...$22,000 for each breast cancer patient...and $2,000 in research for each lung cancer patient. Incredible!

Pink is the color for breast cancer...clear is for lung cancer...as it is the invisible cancer.

The most common symptom for lung cancer is the hacky cough.....just like Linda's....that's why it is not detected in early stages.

4% of lung cancer patients are said to be genetic..hence not feasable or practical to do genetic tests.

I was struck by thinking of my stepbrother who smokes and says he has been tested and his lungs are clear.....the problem is..if it is not clear.....it's too late to quit...he has lung cancer...there is no gray area. In the forum, they described how smoking changes the cells in the lining of the lung and how long it takes to reverse those genetic changes.

10% of lung cancer is by non smokers with no second hand smoke......we knew that...Linda is in that 10%

We have been working on our floral garden...Linda got her first flower the other day.....

Two hockey games in the past two weeks..both losses..but we enjoy them anyway.

That's about it..it's been below 70 every day with nights in the 40's..today it starts to warm back up...





8 comments:

Cheryl Jones said...

Hooray!! I can view your blog from work again!!

Have fun on your cruise. Be sure to visit the Pirate Soul museum in Key West. I'd so love to go there! Someday...

Love to you both, as always.

Anonymous said...

Happy Anniversary!
Enjoy your cruise. In Nebraska today it was a cold wind and tonight is to get down to near single digits. I'm wishing I was in Florida.
I read with interest the lung cancer facts. Most were news to me.
Love,
Ruth Ann

Wendy Soethe said...

Happy Anniversary from Seattle! I've been thinking of you all day and also I knew you were going on your cruise and was thinking what a great way to celebrate.

Been watching the flight prices for spring break and there are some good prices, just not during the week we want to visit you. : )

Have a great Anniversary cruise and we'll talk to you around turkey day. Lots to be thankful for this year!!!

Love, Wendy

Anonymous said...

Happy Anniversary!!! Hope you have a lovely time on your cruise...and Happy Thanksgiving!! :)

Love,
Jim and Swee

Anonymous said...

Happy Anniversary! I am hoping you have a great time on the cruise and know that you will have. The question is how many NEW friends will you make while you are there! Hope to see you when you get back to Oregon..

Anonymous said...

Glad to read that the two of you are doing so well. We just returned from Aruba. The people there were so happy about the results of our election. I read "Dreams from my Father" by Barrack while we were on our trip. As I was reading, I kept on thinking "Wow, the author is going to be our new president. Cooooool!"
So happy that the acupuncture is working. Happy Anniversary!
Marilyn

Anonymous said...

Hi guys,

Congrats on your Anniversary. You are both so lucky to have each other. Enjoy the cruise as well.

Glad you are getting some information on lung cancer. It causes me pause because my Dad died from lung cancer at 73. He too had a cough that wouldn't go away. Unfortunately he was a smoker and smoked around my Mom and us kids.

Hold each other tight and enjoy the lovely sunsets!

We read the blog often and have enjoyed your love of life!!!
Kay Garcia

Anonymous said...

Great comments!!!!!!

Linda was very excited!!!!!!

You "lurkers"...leave comments.... it's easy....just check "anonymous but put your name in the message....

We need a new record for comments for linda!!!!!