Former Green Bay, New England, and Cleveland football player Joe Andruzzi has just completed the first of a 12-step series of chemotherapy treatments for Burkitt's lymphoma, a form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

Andruzzi, married and dad to four children, was released by the Browns on May 2 so he and his family could move to New Jersey. Then last week, Andruzzi began experiencing abdominal pain and other symptoms. He consulted with the Browns' medical staff, underwent a colonoscopy, learned an abnormality was found, and then headed to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston where he was diagnosed with Burkitt's.

The cure rate for Burkitt's -- a rapidly growing, rare form of cancer that strikes only 100 people in the United States each year -- is about 80 percent if patients receive intensive therapy, according to the National Cancer Institute. The other patient survival factor is the stage of the disease. Andruzzi's stage has not been publicly reported.

Elizabeth Edwards has been told the metastatic cancer found in her bones is considered stage four. And it's treatable. But not curable.

Tricky stuff -- all this cancer terminology -- and a little hard to fully comprehend.

I saw Sheryl Crow talking with Maria Shriver and Dr. Susan Love on Larry's King's CNN program the other night. Crow says her breast cancer was curable -- it was teeny tiny and had not spread and required a lumpectomy and radiation, but not chemotherapy. "I'm the walking poster child for early detection," she said. Her cancer was caught and treated swiftly. She is cured. Theoretically.

Can Crow's cancer still return? Yep.

We just aren't sure at the time of one cancer discovery if these deadly cells have drifted away from the main site and will later show up elsewhere, explained Dr. Love. All predictions would have Crow living a long life free of cancer. But they may have had Edwards in the same boat just two years ago when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer.

So now Edwards' cancer is not curable. It is treatable. And this is a bit easier to understand. Her cancer will never go away. But doctors can keep it at bay. And Love says they can even make it better. But there is no cure for what Edwards has. So she will live with cancer for the rest of her life.

I guess curable means: the cancer is gone and we hope it never comes back. And treatable means: the cancer is not gone and will never be gone but we will treat it for as long as we can.

I think I get it.

Scallops contain a variety of nutrients that can promote your cardiovascular health, plus provide protection against colon cancer. Scallops are a good source of vitamin B12. A high intake of vitamin B12 has been shown to be protective against colon cancer.In addition to their B12, scallops are a very good source of omega-3 fatty acids and a good source of magnesium and potassium, three other nutrients that provide significant benefits for the cardiovascular system.

Scallops are classified in two broad groups. The larger sea scallops, which can be 1 1/4 to 2 inches in diameter, and bay scallops which are usually about 1/2 to 1 inch in size. When buying scallops look for those with a pearly, off white or pale golden color. Bright white scallops may have been treated with phosphates to keep them fresher longer and should be avoided. Scallops should also have a sweet fresh smell. A spoiled scallop smells sulfurous. Don't overcook scallops or they will become rubbery. Cooking time for scallops should only be about 3 minutes.

Vicki's Scallops with Orange Caper Sauce
16 medium scallops cleaned
1 tablespoon of coconut oil
salt & black pepper
3 tablespoons of capers
1 orange squeezed
1/2 lemon squeezed
1 tablespoon of butter
 
Wash and pat dry the scallops. Heat a medium sized pan and brush with the oil. When pan begins to smoke add the scallops and turn heat back to medium. Season with a little salt and pepper and cook for 1 minute on one side and then turn the scallops over and cook for one minute giving them a light brown sear on each side. Add the capers and butter along with the orange and lemon juice and cook for two more minutes shaking the pan constantly so not to stick. Serves 2

Serve with brown rice and a fresh veggie of your choice for a low fat, nutritional meal good for the heart and health.

In 2002, Pamela Anderson publicly announced she had been diagnosed with Hepatitis C, a disease that can lead to liver cancer. She indicated she had contracted the Hepatitis C virus from sharing tattoo needles with her husband Tommy Lee. At the time, she decided to forego conventional medical treatments, relying instead on a healthy vegetarian diet. She credits avocados for her improved liver health.

I am going to venture out on a limb and guess that it has more to do with her overall diet, lifestyle and other factors -- not simply avocados. But there you go, that's what she said.

Anderson is probably best known for her activist activities on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, PETA, but she has also acted as the celebrity spokesperson for the American Liver Foundation and the Canadian Liver Foundation. Hepatitis C is an inflammation of the liver that can lead to liver cancer. Hepatitis C is usually spread by blood transfusion, hemodialysis, and needles. There is no cure.