I am participating in Relay for Life for my mother. She was diagnosed with lung cancer in June of 2007. She has been on chemo. since July. It is working, but it is working slowly and she feels horrible.

She is currently looking into visiting M D Anderson for a second opinion. She's hoping for a research program that will get rid of the cancer, but allow her to live her life.

Hi Everybody,

Well last night was our 2nd Team Captain's Meeting for Relay in May.  This year my husband and I are actually gonna have our Own Team -- Roseie's Hot Tamales.  I am looking forward to the relay so VERY much!!!

Just wanted to say Hi and see if there is anyone else from Delaware on here?

Hugs,

Melissa Team Captain of Rosie's Hot Tamales  IT WILL NOT RAIN!!!

WELL FIRST OFF THIS IS MY FIRST TIME PUTTING SOMETHING LIKE THIS ON THE INTERNET ONLY BECAUSE IT WAS REALLY HARD TO DEAL WITH THIS...BUT ANYWAYS MY NAME IS DANIELLE AND MY BROTHER WAS DIAGNOSED WHEN HE WAS 14 YEARS OLD.....I WILL TELL YOU ALL THAT IT WAS THE HARDEST THING THAT I HAD TO DEAL WITH IN MY ENTIRE LIFE...TO SEE YOUR LOVED ONE GO THROUGH SOMETHING LIKE THAT WAS THE HARDEST THING EVER...MY BROTHER WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NON-HODGKINS LYMPHOMA.....HE WAS GOING THROUGH A ROUGH TIME AND THAN HE WAS CURED AND HAD NO MORE CANCER.....MY FAMILY AND I WERE SOOOOOOOOOO HAPPY...WE COULD FINALLY GET OUR LIVES BACK TOGETHER...THAN MY BROTHER WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE SAME DISEASE AGAIN...ONLY THIS TIME THE DOCTORS TOLD US HE MAY NOT EVEN MAKE IT BECAUSE GETTING THIS DISEASE AGAIN MADE THINGS EVEN HARDER.....JESSE HAD TO GO THROUGH A BONE-MARROW TRANSPLANT AND TONS, TONS, TONS, AND TONS OF CHEMO.......HE LOST ALL HIS HAIR, LOOKED SICK ALL THE TIME, BUT HE ALWAYS HAD HIGH  SPIRITS ALL THE TIME, YOU WOULD THINK THAT SOMEONE THAT WAS AS SICK AS HE WAS WOULDNT BE LIKE THAT, BUT HE PROVED EVERYONE WRONG THOUGH....ESPECIALLY HIS SISTER...HIS OLDER SISTER....JESSE GOT THAT OPPERUNITY WHEN HE WAS SICK TO GET A GREAT GREAT GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.......SINCE WE ALL GOT A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH OUT LORD AND SAVIOR WE KNOW THAT OUR PRAYERS WERE AWSWERED...AND WE THANK HIM EVERY DAY TO STILL GIVE US THIS OPPERUNITY WITH JESSE......ABOUT A YEAR LATER JESSE WAS FREE OF CANCER AGAIN...AND HAS BEEN FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS OR MORE....HE STILL GOES IN FOR CHECK-UPS..BUT AT HIS LAST ONE THE DOCTORS SAID HE DOESNT NEED TO COME BACK FOR A WHOLE YEAR SINCE HE WAS DOING SO GOOD....I AM SO HAPPY AND GREATFUL FOR MY YOUNG BROTHER TO STILL BE HERE...WE HAVE LOST MANY MANY MANY FAMILY MEMBERS TO THIS HORRIABLE DISEASE....AND NOW HE CAN BE HERE TO HELP TAKE CARE OF HIS NEW NEPHEW, DUE IN JULY, 2008......

WELL NORMALLY I WOULDNT PUT THIS KIND OF STUFF ON THE INTERNET BUT I WANTED TO SAY THAT RELAY FOR LIFE IS AN AMAZING THING....YES IT IS DIFFICULT...EVERY SINGLE YEAR I HAVE A HARD TIME GOING BECAUSE OF WHAT THIS HORRIABLE DISEASE HAS DONE TO MY FAMILY....I REALLY THINK THAT RELAY FOR LIFE SHOULD GO ON FOREVER AND EVER UNTIL THERES NO END....THE PEOPLE THAT ARE FIGHTING THIS DISEASE REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY NEED ALLLLLLL OF OUR HELP....JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW EVERYONE THAT I AM HELPING ANYWAY I CAN...

LOVE YOU ALL

I was working at the Relay workshop and in the middle of a conference call when a new person stopped by.  He had heard of Relay and wanted to "check it out".  I was kinda half - heartedly listen to him, twiddling with a poster, and participating in the call when I realize what he had said:  I WANT TO LIVE, MAY I RELAY?

"EEEEKKKKKKKK REWIND! 

He had found out three days ago that he had cancer of the lungs and a spot on his liver, he was scared, alone, and he had come to Relay!  He had come to find us!   I immediately knew I was over my head. what with the conference call and all.  I rapidly put out a call to my fellow survivors, "Is anyone free to speak with a man who just found out three days ago he has lung cancer and a spot on his liver.  I am on a conference call and not able to give him the attention he deserves? On ACS island Relay workshop." Now here is where I get the goose-bumps! 

I have been involved in Relay since 2005. My husband Bruce was diagnosed with early stage 4 colon cancer in December of 04. He died just over a year ago in March of 07. It is so frustrating to think his cancer may have been prevented by a colonoscopy instead of the sigmoidoscopy he had 2 years prior to diagnosis. Bruce was just 56. Also last year my dad was diagnosed with lung cancer.  He died two weeks later due to complications from the surgery to remove the tumor. So I lost two of the most important men in my life just eight weeks apart. They are my reason to continue to relay. I have several aunts & uncles that have also died of several forms of cancer so it has really impacted my family.

The picture you see is of my mother. Her name is Vickie Meadows. I lost her to her battle with liver and bone cancer December 27, 2006. It seems like it has been a lifetime since I have heard her voice. She was a wonderful person and the greatest mother on this earth. I relay because of her. She would be so proud of us for what we are doing. If we help just one person then we have accomplished something!

OUR THEME FOR THE COUNTY IS.WHERE IN THE WORLD IS THE CURE.....

WE HAD A REALLY GREAT TEAM NAME LAST YEAR, BUT THIS YEAR WE ARE ALL DRAWING BLANKS. WE WANT TO STAND OUT WITH SOMETHING REALLY CLEVER. HELP ME OUT IF YOU CAN!

THANKS,

CANDIE

This is my first time doing a relay. My 20 month old niece has ATRT a rare brain cancer.  She is currently at St. Judes undergoing radiation therapy. This has hit our family very hard. Until she was diagnosed I didn't think about cancer very often. Other than praying for her theres not much we can do. So, to honor my niece and all those fighting or those who have lost their fights we want to get involved in Relay For Life. So, if anyone has any information to newcomers it would be greatly appreciated.