I started crunching with Grid Org in 2001 just after my brother's Grandson died of Neuroblastoma. Jack was just 5 years old! So what little bit I can do to help is in his memory. Looking at all the nasties in this world of ours, I dont really mind what disease we are working on. I for one will take what comes. Most members of our team (family) can tell similar stories and I am proud to walk in their shadow!

That's very sad, I'm sorry for your loss.
My Grandmother died of cancer when I was fairly young, but I remember the hushed talk and the strange smell of (what I thought were) medicines when we visited her.
My mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and passed within 9 months. That was 6 years ago.
I was born with a hemangioma in my face.
It was removed when I was 4 months old and again when I was about 18 months old. I still have the facial scar & nerve damage caused by the 1950's surgical techniques.
When I was about 35, my face started growing again & I had another surgery. In the 16 years since, it hasn't returned.
I have also had cancer on my tongue. Luckily it was caught very early by my Dentist and removed before it could spread.
Then I was diagnosed with cancer in my thyroid.
The Doctors tell me that was probably caused by my Mother's exposure to nuclear fallout while I was in the womb.
The thyroid cancer was also removed in the early stages and the scans show no spread. I have to take a daily thyroid hormone replacement pill.
I've been really lucky, so far.
That's why I am crunching for cures.

Well for those who can recall some of what I posted over at UD in the "cancer stories "thread I for one would be interested in how
Robin from Dubi and his pal are progressing we got left in limbo land when it all fell about our ears.
My tale for those who didnt post over there
After a couple of years of tests the medics came up with the result
I already knew, I had Prostate Cancer You can guess the progress.
the medics required tests, offered four types of treatment.
Watch and Wait...........not keen on this
Radio therapy............diddnt rule that out
Bracyatherpay...........liked the look of that one
Radical Prostectmy.....Rather drastic

Anyway tests followed that ruled out all but the last as the sensible
option's.
That was back inthe last months of 2006.
2007
Operation done me back at work
Water works functioning perfectly
No sign of Cancer.
Feel great

Along with a couple of other prostate patiants we felt
that we were not altogether upto speed with how things might go.
so an interview on local radio a small bit in local paper
produced a group of 80 interested blokes and their spouses

The ladies have Breast care awareness groups but nothing for the lads.
but we do have now in this area.

As I said at the start of this thread I work Here
www.cancercare.org.uk and
www.sjhospice.org.uk
so see many aspects of cancer

Cargod Wrote
Once you've been through something like that, it gives you a new perspective on getting the word out.
*********************************
True I sometimes feel like a tub thumping evangelist.
But the message I get back from all cancer sufferers is that they dont hear much that the consultant said after ------YOU HAVE CANCER..
for some reason they are reluctant to ask questions or dont even know what questions to ask.
As I see it the aim both here and in my local group is to provide some answers reasure them that it isnt all doom and gloom.
If we havent the answer to hand make damm sure we find the right person to ask .
When visitng a hospital for a check up take a partner/spouse even a freindly nieghbour two heads better than one
"what did he say when I asked Blank????"
one of you will be able to recall
Write down questions prior to visit and ask them. Often a consultant wont wish to overburden the patiant with too many facts.
and so doent offer elabrorate prognosis
but they are there to help YOU.
and if asked will answer as fully as you require

End of sermon hands soap box over to the forum

Hi, I'm interested in the costs of cancer research which i think is a fairly small percentage of health service costs. I raise this in order to help pres for increases in research money; successful therapies against cancer would reduce health service costs, quite apart from humanitarian concern. Such research is also a way of providing employment, and not only of high powered researchers but also of more normal occupations, so reducing unemployment. The World |Community Grid has the potential to play an immense role in all this.

Thats the sort of terms in which we should promote the grid, or so I would argue.

Comments please.
Ian Mordant