Lance Armstrong says his immediate goal in launching the LIVESTRONG Presidential Cancer Forum is to make sure whatever candidates we have now and then the two who ultimately fight for the presidency discuss the number one killer in this country. Just like they'd talk about war and terror and taxes, Armstrong says they should address the issue of cancer.

Armstrong has an army people behind him -- 65 million to be exact -- who say they care about this topic. Take a small percentage of those people, he says, and you've got a movement.

The movement begins on Monday, August 27 when the Democratic presidential candidates answer the cancer question from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM on MSNBC. On Tuesday, August 28, Republican candidates will tackle the cancer question at the same time, in the same place.

Wednesday, May 16 is this year's LIVESTRONG Day. Spearheaded by the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF), this day is a grassroots initiative intended to unify people affected by cancer and to raise awareness about the disease on a national level and in local communities.

Want to LIVE STRONG on Wednesday?

Think about this:

• Wear yellow. Encourage co-workers, friends, family members, and neighbors to do the same.
• Hold a candlelight vigil in honor of those affected by cancer.
• Say something special at church, a work meeting, a luncheon, a playgroup.
• Volunteer at your local hospital.
• Plant flowers or a garden in honor of cancer survivors.
• Visit this search tool and find official LIVESTRONG Day events in your area. Check here for a listing of all planned events in all cities.
  
• Get to work on next year's LIVESTRONG Day. Stop by the LAF website for more information.

This week, CBS News, the Washington Post, NY Times and USA Today shed a glaring light on people living with cancer. And Newsweek put the Livestrong wristband on its cover.

Pick up the April 9, 2007 issue of Newsweek to read the story How I live with Cancer.

Jonathan took the call on his cell phone at the Starbucks in New York's Penn Station...It was from a doctor I barely knew telling me that a CT scan-ordered after three weeks of worsening stomach pain-showed a large mass in my abdomen, with what she said was "considerable lymph node involvement." I rubbed my eyes and sensed the truth instantly: cancer, and not one that had been detected early. I was 46 years old and had not spent a night in the hospital since I was born. Nonsmoker. No junk food beyond the occasional barbecue potato chips. Jogged a couple of times a week. I was not remotely ready for this.

Later on in the article Johnathan tells his readers:

I have cancer, it's going to be bad, but I'll live until I'm 90. Probably not, but I turn 50 this year and, full of hope, recall that great line from "The Shawshank Redemption": "You can get busy living, or get busy dying." For me, it's no contest.

I used a written journal and then a blog to record the stops along my cancer journey. I kept a file for financial paperwork, and I made lists of questions in anticipation of medical appointments. I saved all prescription instructions to track the abundance of drugs entering my body, and I earmarked a large white cardboard box as my cancer treasure chest. The contents of this box include cards, gifts, newspaper clippings, books, literature, and more. It's practically spilling over with stuff -- the stuff of cancer.

My system -- which may seem a bit unorganized and splintered -- worked well for me as I tried to keep my head above water following my cancer diagnosis. For others, a more central system may work -- a system that incorporates all pertinent information in one convenient location.

The LIVESTRONG™ Survivorship Notebook, offered by the Lance Armstrong Foundation, is one option for those seeking a clean, concise way to manage the details of cancer. It's designed to organize and guide. It's portable. It's available for the cost of shipping and handling only. And it includes the following:

Survivorship Tools -- this section includes a personal health journal, an appointment diary, a list for medications, a summary section for health and financial information, and a medical history and treatment area.

Survivorship Stories -- this section features stories of cancer survivors that will inspire and empower.

Survivorship Topics -- this section offers readings, answers to questions, and resources about physical, emotional, and practical issues related to cancer.

This yellow notebook -- a symbol of one man's fight and victory against a mighty disease -- could be the perfect accessory for someone facing the unknown. Sometimes all it takes is a bit of organization to calm nerves, minimize anxieties, soothe fears, and instill a sense of control over an otherwise uncontrollable journey.

We have heard it all. Performance enhancing drugs. The cancer drug treatment effect. Now it's having only one testicle that separates the winners from the losers. All possible reasons why Lance Armstrong became the seven-time Tour de France champion he became, according to the skeptics who keep throwing spurious suggestions to the media that the wins could not have been legitimately won.

I say, give Armstrong his due, as he is quite simply, the seven-time Tour de France champion, for no other reason that he is a supreme athlete who single-mindedly focused on his sport and ultimately gave what it took to win.

In Lance Armstrong: can cancer be performance-enhancing?, Robin Parisotto cites a recently published article that suggests Armstrong's ability to accomplish what most mere mortals only dream of, is due to the fact the man raced with only one testicle -- that the surgical removal of a testicle is performance-enhancing enough to make you an athletic champion. Parisotto goes into the long version of why the authors believe one testicle could give an athlete an advantage -- red blood cells, hormone ratios, and testosterone levels.

Parisotto ends with, "You can just see it now; some sick-minded male athletes now thinking that with only one testicle they can up their performance. Sorry, but I believe that two balls are still better than one."

Armstrong will be the first to tell you that cancer changed his life, by making him stronger in attitude and mental focus. This might be what those who are not familiar with the inner landscape of cancer are missing. It is a huge point to make, as surviving cancer often strengthens the resolve, focus and determination of many cancer patients in priorities of life important to them. It becomes you against cancer, a formidable obstacle to overcome, and it is all about winning. If anything enhanced an already outstanding natural talent, perhaps this is what gave Armstrong the added advantage that earns him the place of elite champion in his sport.

That cancer did change him by making him stronger in mind and spirit, and that he has gone on to create the LiveStrong Lance Armstrong Foundation for cancer survivors on the same extraordinary level of success as winning the Tour de France might be compared to, seems far more likely the logical explanation for why he has been able to accomplish both athletic and altruistic feats of excellence.

On October 23, seven-time Tour de France winner and testicular cancer survivor Lance Armstrong, with attend a day-long meeting in Lexington, Kentucky as a member of the President's Cancer Panel to discuss the promotion of healthy lifestyles in reducing cancer risks. The President's Cancer Panel was created by the National Cancer Act over thirty years ago to monitor and evaluate all aspects of the National Cancer Program. The Panel identifies and conducts inquiry into concerns and emerging issues in cancer-related science and cancer care. Members of the Panel include Armstrong; Dr. LaSalle Leffall; Margaret L. Kripke, Ph.D.; and Abby B. Sandler, Ph.D.

Dr. LaSalle Leffall is the Charles R. Drew Professor of Surgery, Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, DC, and Chairman of the Board of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Margaret L. Kripke, Ph.D., is Professor of Immunology and Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer of The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Abby B. Sandler, Ph.D., Chief, Institute Review Office (IRO), National Cancer Institute (NCI), became Executive Secretary of the President's Cancer Panel in January of 2005.

The meeting in Kentucky will focus on recommendations related to tobacco and exposure to indoor smoke. Researchers and experts will attend the meeting to join the discussions.

To learn more, Assessing Progress, Advancing Change 2005-2006 Annual Report President's Cancer Panel is a 133-page report available as a PDF document.

Today marks ten years since Lance was diagnosed with testicular cancer. As all of us affected by cancer know, cancer may leave your body, but it never leaves your life. Lance has done many things over the last ten year since his diagnoses. You can read some of his accomplishments here.

I read both of Lance Armstrong's books, Its Not About the Bike and Every Second Counts. I really loved the first one and I actually learned that his sport is much more interesting than a group of guys racing on their bikes.

I'm coming up on my five year cancer anniversary in December. Me and my friend Deb, who was diagnosed with breast cancer at the same time, plan on celebrating this milestone together! We know it doesn't mean we are definitely cured but I remember the way we looked at each other when we first met...will we be here in five years? We were both in our early 30's and scared. Today we see ourselves as strong women who will keep going no matter what!

Thanks to Deb Kirkland who gave me the tip about Lance's cancer anniversary

Five years ago, Mimi Barker, a young woman in her 20s, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her younger sister Lela, intent on understanding how her young sister could develop breast cancer, began researching possible breast cancer causes. What she found prompted her into reading ingredient labels of all the beauty and bath care products in her bathroom, and she was stunned to find most had the paraben ingredient researchers were suggesting increased breast cancer risks for women.

Lela advised Mimi to get rid of everything that contained paraben, and she did the same. Faced with the reality that the market did not offer many appealing natural and organic personal beauty care products, Lela began making her own in her kitchen. She shared what she made with her sister and her friends. Lela found she enjoyed creating soaps, bath salts and lotions that rivaled the commercial products in aroma and texture.

My brother-in-law came up to me tonight with his iPod and handed me his headsets. A cue to put them on, I guessed -- and so I did. A song played and right away I liked what I heard. It was the exact type of music I like -- with a grungy, rock kind of sound. I figured Jack knows what I like and was sharing a new song with me. Which he was -- but there was something more to it. It wasn't just a good song -- it was a good song about cancer, with a message of hope and strength and living through the struggles of a life that has been shaken. Written by Scott Leger of the Austin-based band wideawake, Maybe Tonight, Maybe Tomorrow is dedicated to the millions of people affected by cancer -- those who have lost, those who have survived, those who fight and volunteer and support and research and raise awareness and give and inspire. And for those without cancer too really. For anyone who is faced with forces that threaten the most precious of assets -- time.

It's about time. More than 50 percent of all cancer patients and survivors and more than 75 percent of those cancer patients in an advanced stage of cancer suffer unrelenting, sometimes debilitating, and always quality of life-limiting chronic pain. For various reasons, cancer patients and survivors are left on their own to find a solution to the pain that never leaves them. I have been fairly vocal about my position regarding chronic pain and the sheer and absolute lack of very many physicians in the medical community willing to do what they have the ability to do, but won't, when it comes to providing pain relief.

There are more issues to being alive than being alive if you cannot enjoy the life you are living because you are in some way profoundly diminished by pain. The American Cancer Society, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and the Lance Armstrong Foundation have come together to form a coalition to provide funding of a three-year grant that allows the University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Center Pain & Policy Studies Group to evaluate federal and state laws, regulations and agency guidelines that can impact patient access for effective pain relief. With a keen interest in how well this evolves, I will keep you updated on the progress the group makes in changing the current and sad state of patient care in this country when it comes to pain management. 

As part of Livestrong Day, Lance Armstrong and 100 cancer survivors and caregivers went to Washington, D.C. to lobby their congressional representatives for more cancer research funds. Armstrong criticized the Bush administration for cutting taxes while cutting the budget for the National Cancer Institute. "Taking from the poor and giving to the rich has never been a good policy," he told the audience at a Tuesday night reception at the Dirksen Senate Office Building. While visiting congressional representatives, Armstrong and cancer advocates were asking that Congress make cancer a national priority and to financially support the National Cancer Institute programs that result in early diagnosis and treatment and the Center for Disease Control programs that target cancer prevention, detection and treatment needs of each local community.

There are over 10 million cancer survivors alive today. Surviving cancer in such great numbers is a fairly recent phenomenon in the history of this country, as cancer was once considered a death sentence. The U.S. government, under President Bush's leadership has set back cancer research by cutting funding, and if more awareness is not raised about the budget for cancer research, further cuts will be made. Armstrong, and 10 million cancer survivors are becoming a visible and vocal force to be reckoned with, as these are serious issues. Cancer and cancer survivorship cannot be put on a financial back burner of lesser priority. One in three people will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their life. For more information, visit the Lance Armstrong Foundation's Livestrong.

The Lance Armstrong Foundation, LAF, is launching a campaign to raise awareness of cancer issues and advocate for supportive positive change in the lives of cancer survivors by making May 17 LIVESTRONG Day. Armstrong is asking everyone who is interested to take part in the day's events to bring a sharp focus and attention to cancer. According to the LIVESTRONG webpage regarding observance of the day, two participants from each state have been selected to go to Washington, D.C. where they will meet with their elected officials, participate in interactive advocacy presentations and listen to guest speakers discuss how to make an impact on Capitol Hill and in their own communities.

For local activities, LAF has published a list of event ideas, and welcomes you to submit an event idea of your own. "It's time for our nation to address our issues. Together, we can help change things for the better.  As a team, we can make a difference for survivors," states Lance Armstrong. Check it out.

Do you need to tell a prospective employer you had cancer? Simply put, if it does not affect your job performance, you are not required to tell a prospective employer about your cancer when applying for employment. At Livestrong's SurvivorCare, some common reasons cancer survivors experience employment discrimination include:

• Employers sometimes have incorrect assumptions about what cancer survivors can or cannot do.
• Survivors sometimes need to leave town for treatment.
• Employers are often uncertain about the time requirements needed for cancer treatment or follow-up appointments.
• Employers sometimes fear their insurance costs will go up.
• Survivors may need to change how they perform their job.
• Employers sometimes incorrectly view cancer as a death sentence and are worried that survivors may not be able to perform their job duties.

Two federal laws, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act, protect cancer survivors from employment discrimination. Livestrong's SurvivorCare offers an excellent overview of the issues of employment for cancer survivors. For detailed information and technical assistance about the Americans with Disabilities Act, please visit the ADA website. Cancer survivors have enough concerns without the additional worry they will be discriminated against, or prevented from, earning a living because of cancer.

Paige Kearin is currently interviewing people who have risen to the top of their professions, asking them to discuss what worked for them and their advice on how to be highly successful, for an upcoming book. Kearin blogs Real People. Really Remarkable Lives, chronicling her own success in securing interviews with America's top achievers. In Unbelievable! My Personal Interview with Lance Armstrong Live for My Book!, she shares her "very magical and he is really cool" experience of interviewing Armstrong, and even gives the blog readers a few insider bits of personal information Armstrong shared with her.

Kearin met up with Armstrong during a speaking engagement he was attending in Canada. She offers a link to the video of his speech. Armstrong is inspirational. He says he does not wish the experience of cancer on anyone, but it changed his life, so much so, he does not celebrate the day of his birth each year, but the date of his cancer survivorship. He feels that is when his life began. Armstrong talks about passion, about the necessity of having passion, in order to survive and succeed in all areas of life. He compares the passion of cancer survivorship to the passion a top athlete has when excelling at his sport. Armstrong carries the message of what it means to live strong.

Lance Armstrong, a testicular cancer survivor, has pledged his support to ex-fiancé Sheryl Crow, recently diagnosed with breast cancer. On Friday night, Armstrong issued a public statement reporting to have been in touch with Crow regarding her breast cancer surgery. "Once again I'm reminded of just how pervasive this illness is, as it has now touched someone I love deeply. Based on my contact in recent days with Sheryl, her doctor and her family, I am confident that she will have a full and complete recovery and the world will be a better place for it."
At the beginning of February, seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong and Grammy-winning pop star Sheryl Crow, who had been dating for two years, broke off their engagement to be married. Armstrong, founder of Livestrong, has been a highly visible advocate for cancer survivors. Recently, Armstrong agreed to become American Century Investments spokesperson for the company's newest  series of mutual funds, Livestrong Portfolios.