Cancer Blog

UK-based newspaper The Independent recently featured one man's story about finding hope after a difficult cancer prognosis.

The article highlights 49-year-old Bruce Beach's reaction to being diagnosed with rare neuroendocrine cancer known as the "quiet cancer." His doctors predict he has approximately 5 years left to live.

According to Bruce, the diagnosis made him realize he never truly lived until he was dying. In the last two months alone he has completed a source-to-sea quest down the River Thames in a canoe and taken a three-week road trip around Scandinavia and Europe on a vintage motorcycle. He has also raised money for charity, recorded an album with his band and is preparing to play at London's famous 100 Club, and formed a performing arts club for local artists and musicians.

Beach attributes his new lease on life to a change in his mind set. He told The Independent, "After the diagnosis I broke down twice. I didn't want to make a habit of it but that release of emotions really helped ... I decided to make the problem useful and then I started to see all sorts of opportunities."

Have you or someone close to you recently learned of a difficult cancer diagnosis? Share your experiences with cancer patients, survivors and caregivers at our Cancer Diagnosis Message Board.

17 year old Emily White, this year's valedictorian at Lewisville High School in Texas, used her cancer experience as motivation to become a better student.

According to the Dallas Morning News, Emily was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma when she was in 8th grade.  Following a year of chemotherapy and radiation treatments, Emily beat the disease and has now been in remission for nearly 5 years.

In addition to graduating at the top of her senior class this spring, Emily scored a perfect ACT score, was named a Presidential Scholar, and earned a National Merit Scholarship.

According to the Dallas Morning News, Emily was always a good student, but her battle with cancer "became an academic turning point for Emily, who went from being a good student to a stellar one."

How has a battle with cancer changed your life? Share your experiences at the CancerCompass Message Board.

At age 9, Miami Beach resident Lexi Lehrman created a foundation that in two years has helped raise $24,000 for breast cancer research. Lexi was recently featured in the Miami Herald for her continued efforts to raise money for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation.

Lexi, now 11, created the Love Lexi Foundation as a vehicle for her acts of loving kindness. Komen's "Friends asking Friends" program helped get her started. And for the past two birthdays, Lexi has created events to raise money for Komen. On her 10th birthday she hosted an Art for the Cure party that raised $10,000.

The Love Lexi Foundation continues to raise money for Komen by selling "Art for the Cure" posters.

The San Francisco Chronicle recently featured a motivational article on a police officer whose cancer diagnosis has helped him find meaning through teaching.

Sheriff's Lt. Gilbert Aguilar was diagnosed with advanced bladder cancer in 2005. His chances for long-term survival were about 35%.

Aguilar went on to beat the disease through chemotherapy and now teaches a leadership class in the Los Angeles County jail system. According to the article, turning to the Bible throughout his treatment helped Aguilar see how he could help convicts take personal responsibility for bettering their lives.

Share how battling with bladder cancer has changed your life.  Many patients are discussing their experiences with this disease at the Bladder Cancer Message Board.

Completing the Boston Marathon on April 20 marked 59-year-old cancer survivor Win Apel's 50th race, edging him closer to the goal he set for himself when he was first diagnosed.

An Idaho native and New Jersey resident, Apel dropped out of the New York City Marathon after doctors discovered prostate cancer on September 11, 2001, reports the Cranford Chronicle. One year later Apel vowed to complete a marathon in all 50 states and in each of the seven continents.  

Completing the Boston Marathon as a member of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge Team helped Apel satisfy his U.S. running goal, while also raising $22,000 for cancer research, according to the Cranford Chronicle. All that's left is the July race he plans on running in Australia, according to the daily newspaper Metro.

Watch Gene Lavancy from FoxNews', Boston affiliate WXFT, to get Apel's reaction after finishing his 50th marathon.

Outdoors group First Descent recently made the news for providing emotional support through kayaking adventures for adult cancer survivors.

The Dallas Morning News relayed the story of a 25-year-old thyroid cancer survivor who found confidence and the ability to "conquer anything" after her first kayaking trip with the group.

First Descent founder Brad Ludden says this girl's experience is part of the magic of kayaking, which he considers a "life-changing sport."

First Descent is a non-profit organization that provides all expenses paid kayaking trips with on-site medical care for cancer survivors ages 18-39. Summer trips begin in June and are offered in Wisconsin, Montana, Washington, Colorado, Idaho and Wyoming.

Emotional support is important whether you are a cancer survivor, patient or caregiver.  Find support and encouragement from people who are fighting or have fought cancer.  Use the Cancer Compass Emotional Discussions Message Board to connect with others.

What Is Cancer?

I just read a blog post by a practicing internist in the Midwest who writes under the pseudonym PalMD. He did such a fantastic job in explaining the basics of cancer in a few short paragraphs that I though I would use this space to share just a few highlights of the post and provide a link so that those who are interested can read the full post for themselves. Here’s part of what PalMD had to say:

Cancer isn't a single disease----it's over a hundred different diseases with certain commonalities

Most cancers are named for the tissue in which they originated.

If a cell develops a genetic defect which makes it forget to die, it stays where it is instead of making way for new cells. A mass of identical, immortal cells that keep dividing is called a tumor.

A tumor, whether benign or malignant, can cause problems just by taking up space. Still, cancerous tumors have some especially nasty properties. They not only take up space, but they actually invade nearby tissues, growing into them and destroying them.

Different types of cancer behave differently.

If someone tosses you the C-word, after the shock wears off, it's time to get to work. Find out what you're really dealing with. Demystify, gain knowledge, empower yourself.

PalMD’s original post can be found at: http://scienceblogs.com/denialism/2008/09/cancer_101.php

“Demystify, Gain Knowledge, Empower Yourself” … I can’t think of a better message to end on.

The author of this post is Adam Lefton. Adam is Director of Online Development for Cancer Treatment Centers of America and has been advocating on behalf of cancer patients since 1999. Questions and comments for Adam can be posted directly on this blog.

Adam is not a trained medical professional and the information provided in this blog is for information purposes only. Every person has their own unique medical situation and those reading this blog should seek the advice of their own medical professional.