Let's Cure Cancer by Brian Trent of the Dallas Examiner

Obama’s historic election was sandwiched between two cancer deaths – that of his grandmother the day before, and of bestselling author Michael Crichton the day after.
Why don’t we cure the damnable disease?

Roughly one in four American deaths are from cancer; approximately 1,500 every day. Globally, this sickle reaches 10 million people annually and is expected to sharply increase. Indeed, in a political climate marked by fanatical divisiveness, cancer is something of a wake-up call. It is not a disease of specific demographics (as AIDS was originally thought of as a “gay disease” due to its prevalence among homosexual communities) of social classes (Crichton led a blessed life of literary success and all the money that went with it, and yet was fundamentally powerless to defeat the disease.)

Just a few days after the election, Washington University published their discovery of “cancer genes” responsible for the 5-10 percent of cancers considered to be hereditary. That study cost $1 million dollars; by contrast, the monthly bill for the Iraq War is $10 billion. Over the past several years, the U.S. government has spent a mere $100 million dollars on genome studies of brain, lung, and ovarian cancers. Again, just a fraction of our military spending.

Just where are our priorities? Imagine what we could be accomplishing if we diverted the cash flow, from war into cure.

To use a historical perspective, the human race managed to claw its way to the top of the food chain despite all odds. Without natural armor, poison sacs, or terrible fangs, we used social skills and intellect to survive and prosper. We defeated the perils of the prehistoric world.
Yeah, we fought her off too.

Transitioning from villages to cities, we devised ways of dealing with the scarcity of water and food. We irrigated the land, domesticated livestock, and perfected tool-making. We pioneered surgical techniques, and can now repair paralysis in lab rats. We have mapped the human genome, landed on the moon, split the atom, and sent probes into deep space.

Is anyone still willing to say that we can’t defeat cancer?

The bubonic plague which decimated Europe and Asia can be cured with a pill today. In 1665, a renewed outbreak of that plague led London’s newspapers to declare it was divine punishment. Being divine, all one could do was pray for deliverance. Yet more than a millennium earlier, the Greek physician Hippocrates addressed the subject of epilepsy (also considered a heavenly curse) and wrote,

“People think epilepsy is divine because they don’t understand it. But I propose that one day we will understand what causes it, and in that moment it will cease being divine.”

Cancer is a breakdown of cellular division, resulting in out-of-control replication. New discoveries have linked viruses like HPV to the cause of many cancers, while others owe to environmental contagions and genetic factors. There are numerous kinds, and it is doubtful that a single approach (barring some nanotechnological miracle) that will work for all. And yet it is still a mechanical process, and humans have a neat way of mastering the mechanics of the universe. We're really just getting warmed up.

It is too late to help Obama’s grandmother, Michael Crichton, or those in our own families who have died from this terrible disease. But it needn’t be too late for ourselves, our children, and our tomorrow.

First Christmas with Cancer

Jingle Bell Rock’ and ‘Little Drummer Boy’ reverberating through shopping centres are a given this time of the year. Joyous Father Christmases with gleeful faces are surrounding us like a halo. If this is your first Christmas with cancer, you might want to run up to them and scream: “Shush!! There are serious things happening in my life!!” But you can’t, and you shouldn’t. Christmas is there for a reason, and will remain as such. There are lots you can do to make this one especially unique.

Remember that you CAN beat cancer. Once you get your trail of thought focused on that fact, your attitude will surely follow. There are many reasons to get out of bed. The nearest-and-dearest people in your life might feel awkward at this time, and are most definitely concerned about your well-being. Start with them. Do something particularly special for their Christmas stockings. Write a poem, make a painting, award someone with a certificate of excellence, knit a scarf, make a family collage, or dedicate a song – anything that is a personal gift from you to them. Some loved-ones that seem to have ‘pulled away’ since your diagnosis can be pulled right back in, with your help. They are just as shocked, worried and bewildered as you with the news of your illness. Not all people know how to deal with these feelings, and are at a loss for words. Show them that you understand, care for them, need them and feel the same. Think of something that will particularly charm each of those people closest to your heart. Become Father Christmas!!

We all have to learn to live life to the fullest. Choose two nice things to do for Christmas. Your energy levels might not be what they were before therapy, so more than two will tire you, and lessen the joy of the occasion. Quality, and not quantity, should be your motto this year. If you have the fortitude to host something, ask for help. It will be great fun having a ‘group preparation’ for a fun celebration. For once, have that storybook Christmas you’ve always dreamed about. Your attitude will make it possible, and your loved-ones will be astounded by your positive spirit.

Another point to consider is the foods associated with Christmas. Fact is, it’s seldom – if ever – the organic, nutritious, vegetable laden tables that will await you. Foods with sinful substances, sub-substances, sugars, fat, creams, wines and all sorts of immune system nightmares are a sure thing. It is only Christmas once. Have a taste, and fear not. Just bear in mind that rich foods might make you nauseous, and your appetite might be in reverse gear. Dish for yourself as for a small child. After Christmas you can always go on a ‘binge corrector’ diet, and stick to raw vegetables and fruit for a day or two.

If you feel like portraying that hidden hippy, gypsy, model, princess or eccentric artist in you – go out and search for the outfit. Get attitude and have fun doing so! Whilst planning or shopping, sing to yourself: “I’m not done yet!” Your ‘boots of stance’ regarding your condition will help you climb the highest Christmas tree.
Adelle Ottavini-Editor of BelleOnline

Friend inspires Cap Creation

Joyce's Chemo Cap Project

From an article in Neighborsgo section Dallas Morning News December 15, 2007
After finding out that their friend Joyce Schmitt was diagnosed with cancer, friends Jan Goble, Vivian Denbow and Lena Louter of Allen started the Chemo Cap Project. Joyce had mentioned to her friends that the caps she had to sleep in hurt her head. because of the seams. So, Jan, Vivian and Lena started looking for patterns on the Internet for Chemo Caps. The patterns they found suggested using yarns that were soft to the touch. Jan and Vivian bought yarn and started making Caps. They then asked Joyce to approve the yarn and make sure it was soft.

On August 2, 3007 the friends started making caps at the Allen Senior Center. Several others at the center joined the project. Because many of the women can crochet and knit, they gathered patterns.

Some members such as Lena focus mainly on making children's Chemo Caps. Lena has made more than 100 children's cap and sent them to the Scottish Rite Hospital and St. Jude''s Children's Hospital.

Since the group started, they have grown to more than 20 women who knit and crochet caps. Because members have shared news about the project with family and friends, the idea has spread and groups have formed in Florida, Georgia and Virginia.

They also are now working with the McKinney Cancer Center and the Plano Cancer Center to distribute adult caps. The only stipulation members had was that the caps be given to patients who could use them at no cost.

The group has recently renamed the Chemo Cap Project as "Joyce's Chemo Cap Project".

Without Joyce's friendship and understanding about the need for comfortable caps, her friends would not have known there was such a need. Because of all of the support received members are glad to donate the "caps" .

Seniors Create Caps for Cancer Patients

Joyce's Chemo Cap Project

Article appeared in the Dallas Morning News section Neighborsgo August 2007

Allen Senior Recreaion Center members Vivian Denbow, Jan Goble and Lena Louter recently became invovled with Chemo Caps, a group that donates their time by making caps for cancer patients.

They created the group after a mutual friend of theirs, Joyce Schmitt, was diagonsed with cancer. She remarked that the hats she had to sleep in hurt her head because of the seams. After hearing this Vivian searched the Internet for a pattern to make a more comfortable fitting cap. The site visited suggested using yarns that were soft to the touch. So Jan and Vivian went shopping for yarn and started knitting. Joyce having the final approval on whether the caps were soft enough.

Others at the center who were not able to knit or crochet began donating money or yarn for the project.

In August the group donated 30 Chemo Caps to the McKinney Cancer Center. It was a humbling experience. We met two cancer patients and they were so happe to see and feel the caps that both ladies immediately took off the hats that they had on and put on our Chemo Caps'