When we memorialize someone at the time of death, we often refer to the date of birth and the date of death. These numbers tell us something -- like the age of the person -- but they don't say much about the life that fills the gap between start date and end date. They don't tell of the life that was surely full of ups and downs and victories and struggles. And happiness and joy and sadness and sorrow. And family and friends and jobs and hobbies. They don't do justice to the true stuff of life that is so much more important than numbers. But there is something important about these two sets of numbers -- something that when really examined, tells the full story. This important something -- the dash.

The dash that separates these static numbers is what tells the story of life. So consider your own dash when contemplating life, while determining how to spend your time and fill your days. Make your dash matter. Make it worthwhile. Make it something that people will talk about long after your own numbers become a matter of permanent record. And when you memorialize loved ones in the future, think about what their dashes mean. Talk about them, remember them, honor them. And pass on this link -- www.thedashmovie.com -- so others will consider the meaning that flows from each simple dash.

Positron emission tomography (PET) can measure metabolic activity of tissue. Cancer cells tend to have a higher metabolism than normal tissue, which can be determined on PET for more accurate detection of cancer.

Using the PET scan after diagnoses of breast cancer to check lymph nodes for cancer was looked at in a study that was published in the Archives of Surgery. What the study found out is that the PET scan can detect 60 percent of patients with positive nodes. These patients that know they have positive nodes might be able to start therapy and avoid the axillary dissection or the sentinel node biopsy. These surgical procedures can often have side effects. By avoiding these surgeries a patient that knows they have positive lymph nodes won't have to wait for surgery and extra time to heal to start chemotherapy or other treatments.

If a patient has a negative PET scan showing no cancer in the lymph nodes the axillary dissection or the sentinel node biopsy should be performed since the PET can only pick up 60 percent of patients cancer in the lymph nodes. The patients could still have microscopic cancer cells that the PET can't pick up so in this case surgery is needed.

Getting accurate information on whether or not the cancer was confined to the breast has a big impact on the treatment plan.

I have committed myself to only one breast cancer fitness event at the moment. I hope to one day branch out a bit and walk and run in different festivities, in different cities, for different purposes. But for now, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer -- sponsored by the American Cancer Society -- is my cause. Last year was my first time participating in Making Strides. I raised about $3,500 to help fund research, education, advocacy, and patient services -- and I walked the average five mile course that wound me through a quaint neighborhood in my city of Gainesville, Florida. This year, I plan to raise even more money and to run the same course. But not yet. The walk does not take place until October 14 -- which leaves me plenty of time to work on my fundraising goal and my running goal and plenty of time to help kick off this year's Making Strides.

I received my official Making Strides Kickoff invitation in the mail today -- an invitation to attend a dinner celebration where I can learn about the latest in breast cancer news from leaders in my medical community, listen to an inspirational personal story from a breast cancer survivor, and learn more about early breast cancer detection. So my calendar is marked for August 22 when I will attend this party-of-sorts that will jump start a major event in the major fight against breast cancer -- the disease that will one day touch the life of everyone is some way. Like it has already touched mine.