Do you trust your doctor? I do--with a bit of hestitation though. After my dad's death, we realized that his doctor had been grossly negligent in treating him--my dad had dozens of appointments where he complained of his failing health and asked his doctor to put him through tests to figure out what was wrong with him. His doctor's solution was to not screen him for anything and instead telling him it was just age catching up with him and prescribing him 600 heavy-duty painkillers to mask the pain he experienced while he was slowly dying. My dad trusted his doctor to look out for him and paid for it with his life.

Though I'm wary, most people do trust their doctors--more than any other professional they deal with in fact, a study shows. Not surprisingly, lawyers and politicians are the least-trusted. What do you think about these results? Are we right to trust out doctors? Or should we be taking more responsibility for our health and not relying on a virtual stranger to look out for our best interests?

Lance Armstrong, champion of both cycling and cancer, wrote a commentary recently for CNN. His message was loud and clear -- he is losing patience with Washington politicians set on cutting funds for cancer research -- and while his words have not yet spurred positive change for cancer initiatives, they have inspired cancer survivors from all over the world who are responding with their own commentaries on sickness and survival.

The outpouring of sentiment inspired by Armstrong's commentary is overwhelming. Today, I offer just a glimpse into what survivors -- seven of them -- are expressing in the spirited e-mails they are sending to CNN.

Jerry Kelly of Birmingham, Alabama
My dad died of cancer 10 years ago, almost the same time Lance was diagnosed and subsequently founded the Lance Armstrong Foundation. My wife and I met Lance a few years later after I was diagnosed and we went to Austin for the LAF Ride for the Roses (fundraising bike ride). Lance's story had been very inspirational when I found it just minutes after my diagnosis with testicular cancer. What we didn't realize was how much inspiration we would get from other survivors and caregivers as we shared stories. Lance also spoke of something his doctor told him about, the Obligation of the Cured. The important thing to remember is that we can all make a difference if we are willing to give the effort. You don't have to win the Tour de France to join the LiveStrong Army!

Brian D. of Austin, Texas
The costs of this disease even for folks that have good insurance are well beyond reach. Depending on when you discover the cancer and what type of cancer you have, the out-of-pocket costs are far beyond the average person's ability to pay. This is of course assuming that you want to extend your quality of life and you want access to the latest advancements in cancer treatment. We are called society's "catastrophic cases." I am a 4½-year survivor of primary brain cancer. The technical name for my disease is anaplastic astrocytoma grade III. It is basically a slow-growing glioblastoma multiforme -- a death sentence. But I am young and up to the challenge. I am a card-carrying member of the LAF organization. I think what Lance is doing is great ... I think this article is great and I think our Congress should give more tax credits to those of us trying to live a normal life. Shame on them for not acting!

Anne Hawkins of Douglasville, Georgia
I was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 36. I am now 42½ and I have been diagnosed with breast cancer again -- a different type than the first time. I caught it in time thanks to my diligence in screening. However I am going through chemo for a second time in my life since it was an aggressive cancer and I'm so young. I am appalled that none of our politicians consider this a running topic! And the funding has been cut? That's unbelievable.

Marianna Costa, Melbourne, Australia
While I am writing from Australia, unfortunately the experiences of others sound all too familiar in our world. My wonderful father died in 2005 from cancer. The devastation to lives infested by cancer could never be measured in dollars. My conclusion is that cancer treatment is a global business. While I have faith in people of science to rid us from this world catastrophe, there is a global lack of resolve in governments, the corporate sector and medical institutions.

Casey Cronin of Austin, Texas
I'm 19 years old and I was diagnosed with cancer on December 3. I had my first surgery on December 7 and the second surgery on December 22. The pain I experienced was beyond belief. I had to accept the fact that I had cancer, go through with these surgeries, and sit in a hospital on Christmas. The second surgery was to remove my lymph nodes on my back and the nodes came back negative. Without cancer research I might not have been so lucky. I'm outraged that Congress has cut funding towards cancer research but continue to spend an arm and a leg on defense spending. I have a friend with Hodgkins lymphoma and unfortunately he doesn't have insurance. He's 23 and scraping by trying to make sure he might live past his 30s. Cancer is real threat to our health.

Betty Hoffmeister of Taylorville, Illinois
A year ago, October 2005, my daughter was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer of colon and liver. Not given much hope, but she is a fighter and a real sweet person. She takes chemo every other week on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and then is so sick she has to stay in bed for a day or two. But then she gets up and does what ever her little body will let her do. They just say keep doing what you are doing, but we are really worried. I would like for her to hear some real encouraging news soon before she loses the will to keep fighting. God is very good. But we need help.

Scott Joy of Portsmouth, New Hampshire
I'm a 3½-year testicular cancer survivor, and an administrator for an Internet support forum for other survivors. As the Lance Armstrong Foundation sagely notes, "Cancer may leave your body, but it never leaves your life." Dealing with cancer is life-changing. I was blind to it before it hit me, but now I see cancer -- and its effect on individuals, families, and society -- every day. I am forever grateful for the LIVESTRONG movement, and the passion and power of the community of cancer survivors.

Breast cancer is personal for Nicole Kidman. At 17, her mother Janelle was diagnosed with breast cancer. As a celebrity spokesperson for Cancer Research UK Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Kidman helped launched this October's All Join Together campaign by unveiling a giant pink ribbon on the Stardome at Madame Tussauds.

Kidman shares, "As someone whose family has personally been affected by the disease, I can't stress enough how important it is that women get to know and understand what is normal for their body. I hope that this Cancer Research UK campaign will raise awareness of breast cancer amongst women of all ages and encourage them to report any unusual changes and go for screening if they're over 50. Together we will beat cancer."

On October 5th, A Touch of Pink party will be held in the Blush room of Madame Tussauds. Madame Tussauds is famous for its wax figures of celebrities, notable persons and world figures. Many celebrities are expected to attend the A Touch of Pink party. For more information on purchasing tickets to the event, email tickets@atouchofpink.org.

To learn more about Cancer Research UK's mission in cancer prevention and research; and in improving the lives of cancer patients, visit Cancer Research UK.

As John Kerry prepares to ride in the upcoming Pan-Massachusetts Challenge to raise money for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and cancer research, Bella English of the Boston Globe got a chance to have a chat with him about being a prostate cancer survivor.

Kerry was diagnosed with prostate cancer during his presidential primary campaign in 2002.

"It doesn't scare me as much as cancer just pisses me off," said Kerry. "Too many incredible people weren't as lucky as I was, some because they had a cancer we can't yet cure, and others because they didn't get screening or care in time or couldn't afford great health care. Every American should have the same health care that senators and congressmen get."

Cancer has touched Kerry and members of his family, and the issues of cancer have been a priority of his for some time. In addition to his prostate cancer diagnosis, his grandfather died of colon cancer, his father was diagnosed with prostate cancer and died in 2000, and his ex-wife was diagnosed with transitional-cell carcinoma and died earlier this year.

So instead of letting cancer scare him, he has chosen to be pissed off about it and to do what he can both politically and personally to support cancer research towards a cancer cure, to help people diagnosed with cancer and in addressing the healthcare problem in this country. To read the Kerry interview in its entirety, read John Kerry takes fight against cancer personally.

Radio Iowa reports that Lance Armstrong wants to fight the final battles against cancer by forming an army to wage war on cancer. Armstrong is in Iowa this week to participate in RAGBRAI, a cycling tour across the state of Iowa, and while there he is also giving interviews and making speeches about cancer and cancer survivorship.

"What we need is an army. We need an army of people. It starts in Iowa," Lance Armstrong said during an appearance in Newton on Wednesday. "Now's the time to make a difference and knock this thing out forever."

At the heart of the matter is federal funding for cancer research. For the first time in 35 years, the federal budget for cancer research has been cut -- which is essential to cancer research. Without federal funding, the advances made toward a cure for cancer are dramatically slowed. Armstrong is on a mission to ignite the political passions of the voters in this country to become an army against cancer.

"We hear every day how we're in the middle of a war, maybe a war in Iraq. It might be a war on terror. Let me tell you about a war. This is a war that's 35 years old and this is the war that's about time in my opinion that we get done with and that we finish," Armstrong said at a political event in Iowa City two days ago.

Today the RAGBRAI began.

RAGBRAI, an acronym for The Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, is an annual seven-day 472 mile bicycle ride across the state of Iowa. The ride began 33 years ago as a challenge made by one Des Moines Register newspaper journalist to another -- when John Karras, feature writer/copy editor suggested to Don Kaul, Over The Coffee columnist, that he ride his bicycle across Iowa and write columns about what he saw from that perspective.

Today, RAGBRAI has the distinction of being the longest, largest and oldest touring bicycle ride in the world. The ride is so popular that riders who wish to participate are required to enter a lottery for a spot in RAGBRAI.

Lance Armstrong will join RAGBRAI this year. Armstrong is participating in the ride to continue to raise awareness about cancer issues, the need for increased federal funding of cancer research and cancer survivorship. Armstrong sees Iowa as a pivotal place politically, and he is hoping to encourage locals to grill prospective presidential candidates on their positions on cancer research funding when they come to court Iowa voters.

Armstrong is more than concerned that for the first time in 35 years, the federal budget for cancer research has been reduced. He is single-focused about cancer survivorship, and remains consistently determined to fight for the best in cancer care and cancer cure.

When I was going through cancer treatment, I read Armstrong's book, It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life, in which he shared the philosophy of a cancer survivor's obligation of the cured. I was inspired to my own commitment and obligation in cancer survivorship. He has steadfastly lived up to his obligation. RAGBRAI is one more effort made -- and for a seven-time Tour de France champion -- a passion.

On Saturday, June 10, Earl Spencer will host the Russian Midsummer Fantasy at Althorp, a charity event to raise funds in the official launch of a new foundation to help save the lives of Russian children diagnosed with cancer. The Raisa Gorbachev Foundation is named to honor the memory of the former First Lady of Russia's efforts to better life for children in Russia diagnosed with cancer. According to the newspaper reporting, Raisa Gorbachev had been a passionate fundraiser for better cancer treatment for children, using her husband's Nobel Peace Prize money and the royalties she received from the publication of her book to help buy supplies and equipment for the resource-starved hospitals throughout Russia.

It is said that the Russian Midsummer Fantasy will bring together politicians, celebrities and royalty including the former Soviet President Gorbachev, Earl Spencer, Tatler editor Geordie Greig, film mogul Harvey Weinstein, Madonna and the Lebedev family, who are part-owners of the Russian national airline Aeroflot. It's a start.

Raisa Gorbachev gave her time and money to the Children of Chernobyl Relief Fund, patronized the International Association Hematologists of the World for Children -- which helped introduce modern techniques of treating childhood leukemia in Russia -- and acted as a patron to Moscow Central Children's Hospital. After her efforts to improve access to cancer treatments needed for the children of Russia, Raisa lost her own life to leukemia. I was not able to locate a website for the new foundation, but when one becomes available, I will post information for anyone who might be interested in becoming involved or making a contribution.

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.