No Longer Dancing with NED

Well, NED my dance partner for over two and half years has decided to find a new dance partner for a while.
My recent CT scan shows new growth on my liver ( confirmed by the PET) so I will be having that removed sometime in November and will begin chemotherapy again after that. Physically, I feel great and am still trying to walk every day. I know I will need to curtail some advocacy activities over the next few months which has me a bit bummed but I will be back out there with everyone as soon as possible.

I am positive NED will see what he is missing and will be back on my dance card very soon.

Thanks to all my friends in advance for their support and prayers.

I will continue to LIVESTRONG

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing.

2009 Challenge Dates

Save the Dates for next year's LIVESTRONG Challenges. I am particularly fond of the Philly weekend. See you next year.

LIVESTRONG
Dee

Every Day is a Blessing.

Delayed Smoking Restrictions in Atlantic City

Last night, I received this information from the ACS NJ advocacy team.

"....despite our best efforts, tonight's vote was 5-4 in favor of delaying the smoking restrictions for a year. The mayor signed the legislation and the suspension will go into effect 20 days from now.

This means that casinos may again be filled with secondhand smoke beginning on November 16.

Atlantic City leaders need to know they did the wrong thing. And we need your help once again.

Please help us send a strong message to Mayor Scott Evans that he made the wrong decision for the health of Atlantic City casino workers and patrons. "

The council cited that a ban on smoking would hurt the casinos economically in an already tough time.

I have spent every President's weekend for the past 20 years at a resort in the Poconos called Woodloch Pines. A few years ago they banned smoking in their night club because of the concerns of their employees and guests. I can't tell you how happy we all were to be in a smoke-free resort. Now if only the casinos in AC would show the same concern!

LIVESTRONG
Dee
Every Day is a Blessing.

Only One Spot

I saw my doctor today to discuss my PET scan. It turns out that there is only one spot that shows unusual activity on my scan. ( One spot is pretty good news. Multiple spots would have been bad news.) This spot matches what was seen on my CT scan and is small (less then 1 cm) in size.

The plan is for me to see a surgeon who specializes in liver surgery, remove the lesion and then move forward based on the pathology of the spot.

I like having a plan to investigate what is happening and am relieved that I didn't "glow" in more places. I am ready to LIVESTRONG through whatever tests or chemo that lies ahead because I have way too much living to do.

I am looking forward to Beckie and Morgan's wedding. And have been having a blast with Theresa and my grandpuppy Silvio and am looking forward to Andy's arrival.

LIVESTRONG

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing!

The Half-life of F-18 FDG is 110 Minutes

Just figured I would throw out that random piece of information from my PET scan experience today.

I had the second PET/CT of my life today at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. I arrived to admitting around 8:30 am , at 9 am Margaret started an IV , then Samir administered the radioactive isotope and I laid there listening to my i-pod for an hour. Then it took about 35 minutes to complete the actual PET of my chest,abdomen and pelvis. They sent me to eat and drink and I returned in an hour to have the last scan which took about 10 minutes.

The hardest part of this scan is having to be still with your arms over your head for 35 minutes. I had a hard time bringing my arms back down. Ok it really wasn't that bad since I admit that I actually fell asleep and Samir had to wake me to move my head back in position.

Now I have to patiently wait until Friday for my next appointment and the results.

Terry and Silvio and Andy are coming to visit so I will be busy.

LIVESTRONG
Dee
Every Day is a Blessing.

A New Book- What Helped Get Me Through

Dr. Julie Silver,a breast cancer survivor and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School wanted to write a book to "provide hope and reassurance for those who are struggling with the cancer experience". She approached the American Cancer Society,set up an online survey and contacted cancer organizations and their members to share how they got through their cancer diagnosis and treatment. She enlisted quotes from leaders in the oncology field and well-known cancer advocates like Lance Armstrong and Carly Simon. Hundreds of survivors filled out the survey which lead to the newly released book
What Helped Get Me Through- Cancer Survivors Share Wisdom and Hope

Since I filled out the survey my copy of the book came in the mail the other day with a nice thank you from Dr. Silver. She chose five of my quotes to include in the book.

I've just started reading the book and appreciate reading all the survivors quotes.

Thanks Dr Silver and ACS for publishing this book.

LIVESTRONG

Dee
Every Day is A Blessing!

OCNA Video on my blog

Just wanted to let you know that on the left hand side of my blog you can watch video from OCNA.
Check out the video of Kathy Bates discussing her OC diagnosis.
Thank you Kathy for helping make women aware of this not so silent disease!


Plan to post a few more interesting items tomorrow.

LIVESTRONG

Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!

Thanks Panera Bread for Supporting CINJ

For Breast Cancer awareness month, Panera Bread is featuring the Pink Ribbon Bagel. This bagel is baked with cherry chips,dried cherries and cranberries, vanila ,honey and brown sugar and is shaped like an awareness ribbon.

A portion of the sales of Pink Ribbon bagels sold at 36 Panera Bread shops in northern NJ will be donated to the Cancer Institute of New Jersey. I just visited the Panera Bread on Route 1 south in North Brunswick and the pink aprons being worn had "pink ribbon bagel" and "CINJ" embroidered on them. Over $5,000 was raised for CINJ last year.

Thanks Panera Bread!

LIVESTRONG
Dee
Every Day is a Blessing.

2008 Ovarian Cancer Survivors Course NYC 11/1/08

Last year, Nick and I attended this course and found it very informative.( From NJ it is a train ride and relatively easy walk cross town.) I've already registered for this year's course. Dr. Carol Brown, Memorial Sloan Kettering, who I met at the Good Day Street Talk shoot is participating.
Here is the info from the GCF:

The Gynecologic Cancer Foundation is proud to present the
2008 Ovarian Cancer Survivors Course

Saturday, November 1
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
NYU Langone Medical Center
Farkas Auditorium
550 First Avenue at 31st Street
New York, New York

We are pleased to offer this FREE, full-day course for cancer survivors, friends, family members, and others. Leading experts in ovarian cancer will discuss the latest information about ovarian cancer research, treatment, and management. The course will also include panel discussions, questions and answer sessions, and the opportunity to meet, greet, and network with other survivors.

Register online today! Visit www.thegcf.org

LIVESTRONG

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing.

More about Ovasure

From Thursday's ( 10/9/08) Wall Street Journal article by Melinda Beck

The Food and Drug Administration warned clinical test giant Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings that it was marketing an ovarian cancer test in violation of the law, vindicating skeptics of the assay who worried it wasn't ready for prime time.

OvaSure, developed by researchers at Yale School of Medicine, measures six proteins in blood samples and calculates the chances that the woman has ovarian cancer.

LabCorp, as the Burlington N.C., company is known, made the $220 test available in June,
under a provision that exempts tests developed and offered by a single lab from the usual
FDA review. But in a letter dated Sept. 29 and released Tuesday, the FDA determined that because the test was developed at Yale and that parts of it were manufactured elsewhere,
it must meet the agency's usual premarketing approval requirements, which could take
up to a year.

LIVESTRONG
Dee
Every Day is a Blessing.

Asheville Trip

I just returned from a fun trip to Asheville, NC.
We arrived at the Grove Park Inn on Sunday in the dark so we did not see the mountain view until the next morning. The location of our room overlooked the golf course and mountains.

We spent one day at the Biltmore Estate. This is the largest home in the US with 230 rooms. Built in 1895 it had electric lights , elevators and a 9 ft deep pool in the basement. After doing the audio tour of the home we walked around the gardens and then drove over to the winery for a tasting.

The next day we went downtown and walked through many craft shops and galleries. We visited the lovely Asheville Art Museum and had fun at the "Good Eating" exhibit since we saw paintings of 2 NJ diners.

That night we had dinner with friends who moved to Asheville almost 5 years ago.It was great to catch up with them.

On the way home, we stopped in Blacksburg to see Matt. After dinner we met up with his friends Dan, Amy, and Tom at Bourdeux's. What a fun time we had catching up with him and his friends.

LIVESTRONG
Dee

Every Day is a Blessing

Bloomingdale's & Estee Lauder Event to Benefit KOH

Get beautiful and help raise money for Ovarian Cancer research!

Bloomingdale's and Estee Lauder invite you to a special Breakfast and a Master Class to benefit
the Kaleidoscope of Hope Foundation
( The mission of the Kaleidoscope of Hope Foundation is to raise funds for ovarian cancer research and to raise awareness of the disease.)

Saturday October 11,2008

9 am - 11am

La Provence Restaurant

Bloomingdale's , The Mall at Short Hills

Tickets are $50 and are redeemable for product purchase on the day of the event with $5 donated directly to KOH. In addition ,10% of all purchases made during the event will benefit KOH.


LIVESTRONG
Dee
Every Day is a Blessing.

"Carry on ... Breathing" ( With a British Accent)

That is is the recording that I hear when the CT machine at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital(RWJUH) is finished. Today I went for a CT scan ( chest, abdomen, pelvic) . I go every 6 months. I once again had my port accessed at CINJ, my CT scan and then my port flushed at RWJUH in record time . Thanks to Fanina, Victoria and Dennis.

Now comes the tough part waiting to hear the results.

Also over the past few days we have taken down all the Teal Ribbons that we put up in the beginning of September. It was a bit sad seeing them go down but I know we will see even more of them next September.


LIVESTRONG
Dee
Every Day is a Blessing.

DoD Appropriations Bill signed by President Bush

On September 30,2008, President Bush signed the DOD Appropriations Bill that includes $20 million for the Ovarian Cancer Research Program.
Thank you Congress and President Bush.

LIVESTRONG
Dee