Today is the last day of October. Hard to believe the summer is over and we're faced with welcoming winter.

Tom gets blood work on Tuesday. Thursday's Chemo treatments will be dependent on what his blood count is. Otherwise things are going as well as I suppose they can.

I will continue to report on Tom's progress as he receives upcoming treatments. I wish I had more to report but this is a waiting game.

I told you, in the last Blog, that I would try put things in the Blog that might promote discussion and comments, maybe even just self reflection. For this week I actually wrote a poem -

If we could see the future

Would we change the path we chose

Or would we be just as content

To travel the same road

Would we be kinder to strangers

Would we be a better friend

Would we spend more time with family

Would we take the time to spend

Would we do the things we long to do

Or wait another day

Would we travel more, or read the book

That we have stored away

Would we take more risks, take more chances

Find another way

To be a different person

Than the one we are today

So as I write this poem I think

Life is such a precious gift

And if we could see the future

Would we change the way we live

A long time ago I read this question "If something were to happen to you tomorrow, would you be happy with the life you lived?" I ask myself this question every so often because I think it's a good one. Ask yourselves this question.

If there is something you should change, change it. If there is something you should do, do it. Sure, there may be some planning involved but make a plan, get it done.

Regarding work, I have always felt that if you have a job that you hate, if you get up every morning and hate the thought of going to work - if you dread walking through those office doors, or going to wherever it is you go - change it. Life is too short to be unhappy every day. That said, this economy isn't exactly ripe for job searches but keep your eyes open, get an education take the steps to help yourself. It doesn't have to happen tomorrow but nothing will ever change if you don't take steps to change it.

For me to answer this question I would have to say I've made some mistakes in my life that I wished I never made and given a second chance would not make again. If we learn from our mistakes they make us stronger. If we don't learn from them they are wasted. As for the rest of my life I feel I am incredibly blessed. I could not have asked for a better husband or children, including the grandchildren. Tom and I are blessed with wonderful family and friends.

I hope you can answer the question the same way.

I checked the Lungevity site. Congratulations Jeanne on the contribution. Good job.

If you read the prior Blogs you know we are walking to benefit lung cancer on Saturday. If any of you can, or want to contribute please refer to the October 19 post for the link. If you have trouble accessing the link please e-mail or call.

Thank you again for reading the Blog. I feel like we are all extended family and I am so glad you're all there.

This was Tom's week off from Chemo. We did have a checkup today. His blood pressure is good, he gained a little weight back (he had lost a little last time). His blood count is low so he has to go back on Tuesday for blood work before the Dr. can determine if he will have Chemo next week.

Thank you Jeanne and Sharon for registering to join us in the walk next week. Thank you Brenda for your donation. Your generosity is very much appreciated (all of you). I couldn't find a walk closer to home but I'm going to work on something for next year.

In my quest to continue with organic foods I ordered a turkey for Thanksgiving, from a local farm who raises organic turkeys. I'm not sure it will be any better than those at the supermarket but I will know that it hasn't been "pumped" with something to make it grow faster. It seems that the best way to go would be to become a complete vegetarian and forget the meat all together. However, any of you who know Tom know it would definitely be work to get there, assuming it could ever happen!!

I haven't said anything in the Blog recently about those of you who were/are trying to quit smoking. I hope you are continuing the fight to quit and that it's working for you. Keep going, I know you can do it!!!

For any of you who want to walk with us next Saturday, please register, we would be happy to have you! Any of you who can afford, or want, to contribute to the cause we would appreciate that as well.

We are very grateful for all of you reading the Blog and being with us throughout this whole journey, and it has been a long one. We realize you have given your time to read the Blog, call, e-mail and we continue to be very thankful for that. Please know the Blog was not set up, and will not be, for soliciting donations. We are doing the walk net week to raise money to help fund research for lung cancer. This is an annual event, thus my request for donations.

Thanks so much for reading the Blog. I'll try to be more consistent in posting so you can plan on certain days of the week to read it. I am hoping to add something to each up-coming Blog that will prompt discussion and comments from those of you reading it so please stay tuned...

I thought treatments would be so much easier. Not so much. Tom is pretty tired, which is consistent with the Chemo treatments. His appetite isn't as good as it's been recently or as bad as it was during the aggressive treatments so I guess that's a good thing. I'm not sure why I thought this would be easier given what Chemo does to ones system.

Thanks for your comments on the last Blog Kel, Jeanne, Kristi and Kerry. Comments are always so appreciated. And Kerry, you're right, at least about the chicken soup. He still eats eggs but my guess is when he gets better chicken soup will be off the menu!

November is Lung Cancer Awareness month.


I have some statistics on lung cancer to share with you -

Over 60% of new lung cancer cases are never smokers or former smokers
One in five women and one in twelve men diagnosed with lung cancer have never smoked
Only 16% of lung cancer is diagnosed at it's early stages


Generally lung cancer is found when looking for something else.


Lung cancer continues to be the least funded of any of the cancers which is surprising given the statistics above.


When we think about how far breast cancer research has come it seems the same could be done for lung cancer. It also seems that there could be some type of pre-screening. Wouldn't that be nice? Lung cancer could then be found in the early stages rather than finding it when looking for something else.


I know, I was quite surprised after reading the above statistics since I think most people think of lung cancer as the smokers disease and I guess I did too.


We're in treatment now, the chairs are all full. How cancer effects so many. How far treatments have come although we have a way to go.


I have started a team - "The Lungest Yard" - for a 5k walk in Boston on November 6th to benefit lung cancer. Kelly, Jo, Tami, Ben and Amanda will be walking with me. If any of you, reading the Blog, would like to join the team and walk with us we would be privileged to have you. The link to register is below. It is $25 for adults and $10 for children. If you choose to join the team please let me know and we can make plans to go together, or meet there.


It's not often that I solicit contributions, but for obvious reasons, finding a cure for lung cancer is important to our family. If you feel you can, or want to contribute please use the link below to do so.


Please let me know if you can't access the link and I'll have Kelly help me with it. Once you access the site you can register to join the team or you can access the team (under the registration section) to donate to a team member, if you choose.

http://events.lungevity.org/goto/TheLungestYard

I thank you every time I post the Blog. I'll continue to thank you every time. Thank you so much for reading the Blog and keeping informed as to what is going on. We appreciate the time you give to us by reading the Blog, responding, and being there. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

As it turned out Tom didn't have to go to the hospital for hydration today. He isn't feeling as good as he did last week but not as bad as he did on Thursday either. Chemo makes him very tired.

He's back on a scrambled eggs, toast, and chicken noodle soup diet. At least for the time being until we're sure he won't get sick again.

If this makes him better it's worth it. Of course, that's easy for me to say because I'm not dealing with the same things he's dealing with.

Kelly, Jozie and I did the breast cancer walk today. Actually half of it. We weren't sure if Jozie could do the complete five miles so we opted for the short course. It was amazing to see so many people there. I must say it was very emotional for me to see all of the breast cancer survivors walking to the stage.

Jeanne, we saw you and Jeni doing the walk as well. A very worthy cause.

I think it's great that breast cancer gets so much press and ultimately lots of donations. It may sound selfish but I would like to see lung cancer get the same sort of press, along with donations and research. I haven't done the research to know what percentage of those with cancer have lung cancer but given my experience, at Tom's Chemo treatments, there are significantly more people than I thought.

One of the guys I work with sent me an article from Men's Health on the benefits of organic foods and organic products. The article talked about getting rid of things like "Raid" and other chemical laden products. There was a recipe for making your own "Raid" type bug killer. Articles related to going organic seem to be increasing. I'm still convinced the more people interested in buying organic, the more economical it will get, making it more affordable for everyone.

I know I've told you the stories about the $30 watermelon and yes, I'm a slow learner, I bought a $9 organic cabbage a couple of weeks ago. Yes, I need to look at prices. Fortunately, I've purchased a very limited number of what I would call extravagant buys.

The following are two lists of foods. The first list is the highest in pesticides and should be purchased organic. The second, the lowest in pesticides and can be purchased conventionally.

See the full list at foodnews.org.

Highest in pesticides - buy organic

Celery

Peaches

Strawberries

Apples

Blueberries

Nectarines

Sweet Bell Peppers

Spinach

Collard Greens/Kale

Cherries

Potatoes

Grapes

Lowest in pesticides-

Onions

Avocados

Sweet Corn

Pineapples

Mangos

Sweet Peas

Asparagus

Kiwi

Cabbage

Eggplant

Cantaloupe (domestic)

Watermelon

Grapefruit

Sweet Potatoes

Honeydew Melon

Thanks for the comments Kelly and Brenda.

Yes, Brenda I've been trying to walk the loop at least a few times a week. My schedule doesn't always allow for that but any time you want company and want to do the "loop" please give me a call. I'm happy for the company and the walk is great.

Thanks to you all for reading the Blog. Your time and caring is appreciated.

Tom didn't do great after this round of Chemo. He was vomiting all night and has had little to eat.

I called the Oncology department today. We spent the afternoon in the hospital while he received saline for hydration. It's important for him to stay hydrated in order to flush the Chemo out of his system.

The Oncology Dept set up another hydration session at the hospital on Sunday just in case he continues to be sick over the weekend. I have to hand it to them they set up the session, just in case he needs it, so we wouldn't have to go to the emergency room and wait all day.

The Oncology nurses told us Tom was sick because he received Chemo that was double the strength of the last Chemo he received. They have prescribed a much stronger anti-nausea medication that he will take next time he gets that particular type of Chemo. Hopefully that will help.

There was a poster in the Oncology waiting room related to discarding un-used medication that you may be interested in. If discarding hard forms of medication (pills) put in a sealable plastic bag with a little water. Seal the bag and throw in the trash. If discarding liquid medications put in sealable plastic bag, add coffee grounds, close bag and throw in the trash. Make sure you remove all labels from any pill bottles before throwing them away to protect your identification.

Thanks Jeanne and Kelly for your comments.

Thanks so much to all of you for reading the Blog

Tom started his rounds of Chemo today. There are several different kinds of Chemo treatments. He received one of the same ones he received last time along with a different one.

I was sure it wouldn't be as bad as last time since he isn't having Chemo every day and there is no radiation. However you look at it though Chemo is no picnic. He wasn't feeling well at all when we got home. He was nauseous and freezing, the same side effects as last time. I'm really hoping tomorrow will be a better day.

I'm so glad Tom put the Chemo off until this week so we could get a nice weekend away.

On the upside he has gained about 24 pounds, his blood pressure was good. He is a little anemic but with Chemo, even though he hasn't had it for a while, that's to be expected, or so I'm told.

Thanks for the Blog comments. You're right Brenda it was a beautiful weekend. Jeanne, the kids were never be too much, they were adorable.

Sharon, I'm so sorry you ran out of propane. Hope you weren't too cold!

Thanks for reading the Blog. I can't tell you all enough how glad I'm am that you're hanging in there with us.

I didn't post last night because we didn't get home until later. For the first time since the beginning of May Tom and I were able to go away for the weekend.

So much that we take for granted, just every day things that people do, until you can't do them.

It was so nice to get away and I am so grateful that Tom was feeling well enough to go.

I know I've said this before but it bears repeating. Don't take things for granted. Enjoy life and appreciate those everyday things that life brings. Don't get hung up on the little things, that in the grand scheme of things will never make any difference in your life. Appreciate your friends and family and tell them so.

Tom starts Chemo again on Thursday. I'll keep you posted as to how that is going.

We received a very nice card last week from one of the folks Tom worked with at the Morton Building. Thank you!

Our son-in-law and grandson came over yesterday and put all of our wood in the cellar so Tom wouldn't have to worry about it. How nice was that? How great is it to have family members who help without being asked? Thanks Brian and Ben. We love you.

Thank you all for reading the Blog. Again, thanks for the cards, e-mails, visits, and keeping us in your thoughts and prayers.

Not much more to report today. I know Tom isn't looking forward to the next round of Chemo. If it makes him better, though, I'm all for it.

You're right Sharon and Jeanne he is feeling better. He's gained some weight and hopefully will be ready for the next round.

Thanks so much to all of you who e-mailed and commented after the last Blog. We still have a way to go. Your support, prayers good wishes and thoughts will help us along the way. Thank you.