Greetings from Iowa!

I am lucky enough to be one of the working press at the first ever Presidential Forum in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. This morning, Lance Armstrong welcomed the Democratic candidates that came to explain their views on two very important issues, namely cancer research and health care. The event is televised on MSNBC, and hosted by Lance and Chris Matthews, host of MSNBC’s “Hard Ball with Chris Matthews”. I was up close and personal with Hilary Clinton, John Edwards, Bill Richardson and Dennis Kucinich, all of whom explained what they would do if they were elected President. There were about 2700 people in the audience, and when the question was asked “how many of you have been touched by cancer?”, there was a sea of arms waving in the air. Questions included everything from “would you make cancer a top priority?” and “do you take contributions from insurance companies?” to “do you support stem cell research?” and “what would you do first in the Oval Office?” Tomorrow will feature the Republican candidates. The point of all this? To make sure that the promises these candidates make about cancer research (and other diseases that ravage our citizens) and health care in an effort to get elected are recorded, and that the candidate that wins is held accountable. Cancer is the number one killer of Americans under the age of 85. It deserves to be a national priority.

Mail Bag

Shuffling through the mail the other day, I came across a letter with the return address “The White House, Washington D.C.” I was skeptical at first, but upon opening it, I found a note from the United States Press Secretary Tony Snow. To me! Hand-addressed and an actual signature! He and I have something in common–we both are colon cancer survivors. Here’s part of what he said “Thank you for taking the time to pull together literature about beating cancer. That’s one of the great things about being an American: people in this country just want to do the right thing for others. And having been the recipient of your kindness, I can assure you that I’m doing everything in my power to learn from and emulate your example.” Isn’t that cool?

You want Cabbage with your order? YES!

“Eat your vegetables!” We’ve all heard it throughout our lives, but here’s a gentle reminder. Did you know that the top three cancer-preventing vegetables are eggplant, broccoli and cabbage? Eggplant has chlorogenic acid (helps prevent cancer), broccoli has sulforaphane (which disarms cancer-causing substances) and cabbage has high levels of isothiocyanates(especially good to cut the risk of breast, lung and colon cancers). Put down that cheeseburger!

Don’t be a sheep

I recently read an article in the New York Times about a woman diagnosed with cancer. The first doctor gave her six months to live. The second and third said chemotherapy might buy her a little time, but that was her only option, A fourth offered to operate. The patient’s name is Karen Pasqualetto, and in her support group, she talks about “being saddened to hear how other patients with advanced disease take the word of a single oncologist. She says if she had done that, she would already be dead. Unfortunately, this scenario is all too common, and is yet another example showing that in order to survive cancer you MUST have money, access to hospitals, personal drive and motivation, an education, the ability to sort through the medical world and the insurance maze. Time and time again, “Type A” people are conquering cancer, due to their own determination and tenacity. It shouldn’t have to be that way, but the more I talk to patients across the country, the more I find that the successful ones (and that has MANY different definitions) share that same characteristic. Think about this: there is no one exactly the same as you are. So why would we assume that the standard protocol given to the guy/gal next to you in the waiting room would be exactly what you need? We need to recognize two concepts—that each of us is indeed different and our approaches to how we fight cancer will be different, and (and this is the most important one!) that it’s okay to look out for yourself. Yesterday I talked to a another long-term survivor, who’s mantra is ” Don’t be a sheep. Question everything and be your own best advocate!”