Note: The contents of this blog are for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice or substitute for professional care. For medical emergencies, dial 911!
Posts with tag John
Posted Aug 1st 2007 7:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Breast Cancer, Politics, Daily news

It seems Elizabeth Edwards has a good amount of energy, despite her diagnosis of incurable cancer in March, following a previous battle with breast cancer. Perhaps her energy stems from the fact that she is asymptomatic and feeling quite well.
About her health and her husband's campaign, Edwards says, "I feel good and honestly, the campaign is more helpful. I don't sit at home and worry about what's going to happen to me a year from now, two years from now, 10 years from now. I take a pill in the morning and that's when I think about cancer. No other time of the day do I think about my cancer."
While she does admit she doesn't want to push herself too hard, she doesn't worry about the accompanying her husband, Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, on his busy campaign trail. And she doesn't worry about what others might think of her decision to press forward.
Continue reading Elizabeth Edwards: asymptomatic and doing fine
Posted Jul 29th 2007 10:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Politics, Exercise, Celebrity news, Cancer Survivors

It was all about the bike for Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards this past Wednesday. Decked out in spandex bike shorts, he pedaled with champion cyclist and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong on the Register's Annual Great Bike Race Across Iowa (RAGBRAI). Riding at an easy pace of 10 to 12 mph from Hampton to Cedar Falls, Edwards chatted with riders about their pressing issues, including their concern for his wife Elizabeth who was diagnosed with a recurrence of breast cancer this year.
About his bike trek, Edwards commented, "This is an accident waiting to happen."
Why did he take on the challenge? "Lance has become a friend," Edwards said. " Proud of what he's doing, particularly on the cancer issue. It's obviously very important to us personally. And I've heard about this race -- err, race -- this ride, ever since I'd been coming to Iowa so I wanted to see what it looked like."
Continue reading John Edwards, Lance Armstong bike across Iowa
Posted Jun 19th 2007 6:00AM by Kristina Collins
Filed under: Thought for the Day
Today is my dad's 65th birthday. He always loved visiting Arizona over the years, he finally made his dream come true by moving to Tucson. My dad has always lived a very healthy lifestyle -- I believe that is why is he in such good physical and mental shape today.
One year before I was diagnosed with breast cancer we ran the 5k at the Susan G. Koman Race for the Cure in Philadelphia. That was back in 2000, however my dad has been running in races for over thirty years. We also tackled the Avon 2 Day walk in New York City in the fall of 2003.
Jack is a non-smoker, a jogger, hiker, a golfer, and a chess player -- it is important to not only exercise the body -- but also the mind.
Keep it up dad. Happy birthday!! I love you!
Posted Apr 18th 2007 9:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Breast Cancer, Fundraisers, Thought for the Day

John Ondrasik, the man and musician behind the band
Five for Fighting, has released a new album and a new website that just happens to benefit the
Breast Cancer 3-Day, a 3-day, 60-mile walk sponsored by Susan G. Komen
For the Cure.
Think about this:
Ondrasik's new album, "Two Lights," features a song called "World" which is in heavy rotation on pop radio stations across the country. This single is the inspiration for Ondrasik's new website, What Kind of World Do You Want -- the first video community that gives back by allowing visitors a chance to make a difference.This is how it works: reveal what kind of world you want and help raise money for charity by watching videos or creating and uploading a video of yourself, your friends, or your family. In your video, answer the question What Kind of World Do You Want? and then choose which charity you wish to help fund.
In addition to the Breast Cancer 3-Day, selected charities include the Fisher House, Save the Children, Autism Speaks, VH1 Save the Music Foundation, and NY Police and Fire Widows & Children. Video clips describing each charity, a message from Ondrasik, and a video of the song "World," are all featured on the site.Posted Mar 29th 2007 10:30AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Cancer events, All Cancers, Fundraisers, Daily news, Celebrity news

Patrick Wayne, son of late actor John Wayne, says Larry King has true grit. And that's why the CNN talk show host will receive the True Grit Award next month, an honor that hails from the John Wayne Cancer Institute.
King, 73, will receive his honor at the annual Odyssey Ball on April 14 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Jamie Lee Curtis will host the event that will commemorate the centennial of John Wayne's birth.
The Odyssey Ball began 22 years ago and has helped raise more the $14 million to support the John Wayne Cancer Institute's research and treatment programs.
"Larry King epitomizes the strengths and qualities that characterized my father, and for which the True Grit Award was created," said Wayne, who serves as chairman of the board at the institute, located at the Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica.
Founded by the Wayne family in 1981, the institute honors John Wayne who died of stomach cancer in 1979.
Posted Mar 27th 2007 11:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: All Cancers, Politics

These days, politics and cancer seem to go hand in hand. In February, United States Representative
Charles Norwood, from Augusta, Georgia, died of lung cancer. In March, Virginia Congresswoman
Jo Ann Davis revealed the breast cancer she fought in 2005 had recurred. A few days ago
Elizabeth Edwards, wife of presidential candidate John Edwards, shared that her own breast cancer, originally diagnosed in 2004, has relocated to her bones.
United States Press secretary
Tony Snow is a colon cancer survivor. Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani is a prostate cancer survivor. Candidate John McCain has had three bouts with melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer. Bob Dole, now 83, was a cancer survivor at age 73 when he ran for the White House as the 1996 Republican presidential nominee against President Clinton. And the 2004 Democratic nominee, John Kerry, had prostate cancer surgery in 2003.
If I did more research, I bet I'd turn up a whole slew of other politicians who have received a direct hit from cancer. But that's not necessary. I think what I'm trying to demonstrate is already clear.
Take any sector of society and cancer will somehow be woven into the lives of those who define the population. Athletes and cancer. Celebrities and cancer. Musicians and cancer. Kids and cancer. Young moms and cancer. Men and cancer. Politicians and cancer.
This brings me to my next point -- cancer is widespread, so widespread it surfaces over and over again within any given group of people. This makes me sad. But this infiltration of the disease also means none of us is alone. And as a woman with cancer; a young mom with cancer; a wife, a daughter, a sister with cancer; and a writer with cancer, this makes me feel comforted, supported, and utterly strong.
Posted Mar 25th 2007 4:45PM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Breast Cancer, Celebrity cancer diagnosis, Bone Cancer, Politics, Television, Daily news

Presidential candidate John Edwards and his wife Elizabeth will appear tonight on
60 Minutes where they will publicly discuss with Katie Couric Elizabeth's newest cancer diagnosis and their decision to continue on in the presidential race.
Elizabeth, 57 and first diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2004, shared Thursday that her cancer has returned, this time in her bones. Considered stage four and treatable -- but not curable -- her cancer has generated much discussion and awareness about the workings of this life-threatening disease.
To view a clip from tonight's news program, airing at 7:00 PM ET/PT, click
here.
Posted Mar 23rd 2007 11:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Breast Cancer, Politics, Daily news, Cancer Survivors

Elizabeth Edwards, wife of Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, has had many routine medical follow-ups since her 2004 breast cancer diagnosis. And all of them -- until just a few days ago -- resulted in what is generally termed a
clean bill of health.
The term doesn't always come with a sense of relief for those of us surviving breast cancer -- or any cancer for that matter -- because it only really defines what our bodies are telling us at one specific moment. There are no magic blood tests, no special body scans, no conclusive ways of determining whether or not cancerous cells have gone astray and will one day surface again.
I asked my oncologist after my first six-month follow-up how he would know if my cancer returns. He told me it's really up to me to determine whether it comes back. It's up to me to get mammograms and ultrasounds and MRIs. It's up to me to report any symptoms and suspicions. It's up to me to track my general well-being so that it will be clear when something feels not-so-right. If I have a persistent cough or headaches that won't subside, my doctor will take action with X-rays and scans and tests. But as long as I feel fine and nothing troubling presents itself, then I remain in the
clean-bill-of-health club.
Edwards no longer has a clean bill of health. But she is determined to use her newest diagnosis -- stage four metastatic cancer of the bones, considered treatable but not curable -- to work toward the best health she can acquire for as long as she can hold onto it. And that is about as good as any of us can do.
Posted Mar 22nd 2007 1:06PM by Kristina Collins
Filed under: Breast Cancer, Celebrity cancer diagnosis, Daily news
I just finished watching the press conference held by John Edwards and Elizabeth Edwards. Elizabeth stated that she had some tests earlier in the week that confirmed her breast cancer has metastasized to the bone.
John and Elizabeth said they will continue on with their campaign -- they seemed to have a very positive attitude. They are happy that the cancer is confined to the bone and has not spread to other organs in her body.
Being a breast cancer survivor, I know women who have been diagnosed with advanced disease. Many are living fulfilling lives even though they must always be on some form of treatment. At this day and age advanced breast cancer cannot be cured but can be successfully treated. There are many therapies available for Elizabeth.
I applaud her courage -- Elizabeth said "she wants to live next week the same way she lived last week." Its easy to crawl up in a ball, getting a Stage IV diagnosis is hard to take. Her husband said that no matter where he is or what he is doing he will be there for Elizabeth whenever she needs him.
Posted Mar 22nd 2007 11:30AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Breast Cancer, Politics, Daily news, Celebrity news, Cancer Survivors

Democratic presidential candidate and former North Carolina senator John Edwards missed an Iowa campaign event on Tuesday so he could be with his wife as she prepared for a medical appointment the following morning.
Elizabeth Edwards, diagnosed with breast cancer just before the 2004 election, when her husband ran for vice president, has survived chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation and has written a book --
Saving Graces -- about her entire journey.
Edwards' campaign crew has insisted Wednesday's appointment was a routine follow-up to a medical visit his wife had the day before and that Elizabeth Edwards, 57, has been living cancer-free.
Today at noon, Edwards will hold a
press conference about his wife's health and how it may -- or may not -- affect his candidacy.
Posted Feb 27th 2007 9:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Colon and Rectal Cancer, Research, Daily news

One in 18 men and women will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer during their lifetimes -- that translates into more than 150,000 people diagnosed and more than 52,000 colorectal cancer deaths each year, securing the disease as the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States.
Fortunately, mortality rates for this disease have been declining due to earlier screenings, awareness of symptoms, removal of polyps, and improved treatments through advances in research discoveries -- like today's genetic breakthroughs.
In a recent study, researchers identified a cell pathway critical in the development of colon cancer and also lung and stomach cancers.
STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 3) is the newest discovery and is a target regulated by PRPRT (receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase T), already identified to be mutated in these cancers.
"The role of protein tyrosine phosphatase in cancer is still an under-explored area," says Zhenghe John Wang, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Genetics at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and Case Comprehensive Cancer Center.
"Our study shows that receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase T regulates an important signaling pathway that is critical in cancer development. This identification will allow new approaches to pharmacological designs and facilitate alternative approaches for cancer treatment."
This study, published in the
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS Online Edition Feb. 20-23, 2007), provides new hope for the development of drugs that will target this potentially deadly disease.
Posted Feb 1st 2007 10:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: All Cancers, Research, Politics, Daily news

National Cancer Institute director John Neiderhuber worries the NCI 2007 budget could be slashed by five to 10 percent. And he worries that key cancer research will inevitably come to a halt as a result.
Worries stem from budget cuts proposed by President Bush. Cuts would cost the NCI between $36 million and $4.7 billion -- but Bush reports that NCI funding has doubled in the past 10 years and would still remain relatively high. And due to the recent American Cancer Society announcement that cancer deaths dropped for the second straight year, White House spokesman Tony Fratto says, "We're proud of the significant investment that we have made in cancer research. We're also proud of the results showing that researchers are delivering on that investment."
But researchers still worry. They worry cuts will undermine their successes. They feel like the rug is being pulled out from under them, just as they are making significant progress. They suspect 95 clinical trials could be postponed or cancelled, 3,000 patients could miss the opportunity of joining a trial, and some cancers will be completely eliminated from studies.
"There is a real cost in human life," says Allen Lichter, executive vice president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, of the more-than-monetary toll budget cuts will take on NCI research efforts.
One study already on hold, pending funding decisions, is the next phase of a study evaluating whether a class of drugs called aromatase inhibitors, can prevent breast cancer. Another research group has opted to stop studying brain tumors. This is a huge loss to patients with this type of cancer, says Lichter.
It's a huge loss to all of us really -- because cancer will affect each of us in some way, some day. And so with cut budgets come cut hopes, cut dreams, and sadly -- cut survival.
Posted Jan 10th 2007 1:00PM by Kristina Collins
Filed under: Childhood Cancers, Leukemia, Research, Fundraisers
The primary recipient of the 2006 grants for Curing Kid's Cancer is the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins. Curing Kid's Cancer is a charity that raises money for leading edge pediatric cancer research. The organization was inspired by nine year old Killian Owen's battle with leukemia. The $100,000 grant was given to Johns Hopkins for research into new targeted therapies for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Curing Kid's Cancer has two national grassroots programs -- Coaches Curing Kid's Cancer and Teachers Curing Kid's Cancer.
The programs fund the development of cutting edge therapies which will revolutionize childhood cancer treatment by replacing traditional chemotherapy.
Curing Kid's Cancer aims to raise both awareness and money to find cures for all types of childhood cancers. Their objective is to turn this killer disease into a curable one in our lifetime.
Posted Dec 21st 2006 10:44PM by Dalene Entenmann
Filed under: Breast Cancer, Prevention, Celebrity news, Cancer Survivors
Try Not To Remember for the movie Home of the Brave, the process of songwriting and how cancer changes your priorities, were the main topics of discussion during a recent interview with Sheryl Crow. When asked what inspired her to write the song
Try Not To Remember for Home of the Brave, Crow explained that it came in part from her own experience with breast cancer.
"I think the pivotal experience -- when you realize your life is never gonna be the same, and you are going to have to integrate back into your life I saw the movie and I think the thing that really struck me is that everybody gets dealt these pivotal moments in their lives, whether it is a war or breast cancer or losing your home in Katrina, or whatever. It is how you integrate. It determines what you do with the rest of your life."
Crow calls this year her year of transformation. Because of her breast cancer diagnosis, she feels she met herself in a way she had not done before, and as a result, she spent time redefining who she was and how she would live her life. She has learned to say no, rather than being a people pleaser. "I changed the way I look at my life, my body, my health, my family, my friends, and the way I treat myself." Crow learned to make herself a priority in her own life.
Visit
Sheryl Crow On Overcoming Cancer, and The Soundtrack for Home of the Brave by Christina Radish to read much more about what Crow shared during the interview published in Media Blvd. Magazine.
From the moment of Sheryl Crow's breast cancer diagnosis, we have been sharing the introspection and insight of a creative and spiritual woman whose vulnerably honest perspectives as a cancer survivor continue to inspire. Here are some of the previous posts we have published:
Posted Dec 16th 2006 6:36PM by Dalene Entenmann
Filed under: Colon and Rectal Cancer, Television, Celebrity news, Movies, Cancer Survivors

Mid-October, we shared that actor
John Forsythe, whose portrayal of Dynasty's Blake Carrington garnered him two Golden Globe Awards and several Emmy nominations, and who was the persuasive voice of Charlie on the television and film versions of Charlie's Angels, had entered Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles for colon cancer treatment.
More often than not, when we write a post concerning a celebrity, public figure or well-known blogger in the cancer community and cancer, it is in memorium, each one as painful to compose as the last.
Happily, this time, I am sharing more hopeful news. In mid-November, Forsythe, who is 88 years young, was released from the hospital and entered a rehab facility in Northern California. His family expects him home for Christmas.
According to
reports, the Forsythe family has expressed gratitude for the outpouring of love and concern from the community. Charlie's Angel Cheryl Ladd, who replaced
Farrah Fawcett in the television series -- is said to have sent her well wishes to Forsythe by saying, "He is my dear friend. I can't wait until he comes home so we can all gather around the dinner table. We have been praying for him."
About.com Colon Cancer Guide Donna Myers
provides an address for anyone who wishes to send well wishes to John Forsythe and his family. You can write to:
John Forsythe
P.O. Box 1739
Santa Ynez, CA 93460
We send our best wishes to the family as well -- and a most Merry Christmas.
Next Page >