I apologize if this has already been posted somewhere. A friend of mine who is a medical writer pointed me to the CaringBridge organization on the web where you can create a web page (with no more skills--maybe less--than it takes to read and post here) that allows you to post pictures, keep a "blog" journaling your progress, and allows family and friends to post messages. It is a free service available to anyone, at least any US resident I'm not sure about overseas.

http://www3.caringbridge.org/newuser.htm

Here's the link to set up a page. It's very easy (I know time is at a premium for anyone undergoing treatment) and a great way to keep loved ones who are at a distance informed without having to speak on the phone or write each one an email!

Just an addendum: looking at that newuser page again I see there is an option to sign up from any country in the world.

I used to broadcast emails to all of my concerned friends. Don't be surprised if some of them ask to be removed - it's a little too "real" for some folks. I only broadcast twice a year now. Sometimes I would compose in MSWord and incorporate photos (my wife and I wanted everything photographed) and that had a little more impact.

Hi Gary, Actually, I have been doing the thing where I broadcast email to a list I created through the two surgeries. Lately I have not been sure if there are maybe some people on the list that might not really want to know about the radiation and chemo in detail. So I think I'm going to send shorter email list broadcasts and give any gory details on the caringbridge page.

I use caringbridge everyday. I am just too tired to even pick through my address book. I have journal entries from day 1 of treatment to now.

It is weird sometimes to go back and read the old entries. But it has been a blessing for our family and friends.

Cindy

Would anyone be interested if OCF had a blog section to our web site. I can tell you that the postings of Larry Sharp ( daily chronicles in the people section of the site) were read by thousands of people with regularity. I know because I can tell how often a particular page or item is hit by viewers. If there is interest in a blog on OCF for patients and caregivers to post to...Chester could make it happen. If enough of you say yes, we will add it to the site, in the people section of the site. All you have to do is ask...... The software to make it work is not that expensive.

yes yes yes

Add away!

Cindy

Sounds good to me Brian.

Danny Boy

Yes Please.
Marica

definitely interested!

Being one of the thousand that followed Larry's story and having corresponded with him offline, I agree that there is value in an outlet to fill this need. For those who haven't read Larry's journal entries, I highly recommend it. He did a great job of capturing the high's and low's of his struggles with cancer.

Just so you know, this is not a cheap thing to do. Once you create a part of a site that people can up-load themselves to on your server that contains the main web site, there are ways to hack into the site and screw everything up, copy all the email addresses etc. It becomes vulnerable to those with ill intent. So this means that like our store, it would be held in another server and another (hidden) site name, though no one actually realizes they are leaving the main server at OCF and going to a different one that is more encrypted and protected in another physical location (3000 miles away) when they enter our store. This means that we actually run two separate sites. A blog site would add a third, invisible to all of you, but non-the-less separate server and software for safety reasons. It is an expense to buy the software (or have Chester write the extensive code) that makes a blog site work. The reason I say all this, is that given what OCF would put into it financially, I want you to know a few things. 1. A blog where you keep a running journal of your musings, perspectives, and experiences, etc. takes a lot of time to create. Most bloggers post significant additions 3 to 5 times a week if not daily. Take a look at some blog sites around the web (there are thousands) and you will find a new medium that is challenging even mainstream news broadcasting, and requires no degree in reporting, journalism, or even for that matter honesty. This is definitely a way to keep friends and family up to date on your situation so you do not have to email each of them individually, and the running narrative is interesting to others having similar experiences, frustrations, fears, joys etc. But it is only of value if you intend to keep it up. You know it all sounds good in the beginning, but then when the urge isn't there to continue your dialog with the world.... or loose interest in it altogether, it comes to an end... either abruptly or tapering off into something that no one follows any more. So you have to be the kind of a person who really wants to express themselves to the world in a continuing and engaging way. Now having said all that, I want you to consider this - What a blog does isn't that much different from our message board. You can start a thread here, and add to it continuously for as long as that thread stays open. I don't close threads unless they get nasty and the topic needs to quit being added to. So posting a continuing daily blog on these boards is quite possible, you can add small pictures like most blog sites, and you can talk forever and a day... there is no limit to the size of a post that is within the realm of anyone's desires. You can title your posting -your blog- and ask others not to respond to it, or as in some blog sites, you can let others put, at the end of the running narrative, each posting, their comments. (Think about it

Hi Brian
As a newcomer to blog, and invited to be a reader on one site only, and although they have a place, this forum is so special, deep friendships are forged, and total unconditional support is given freely I would hate to see ANYTHING spoil this.
This is where I post my deepest feelings in the confidence that anything I have to say will be respected by my peers.
Sorry if my view disagrees with the general concensus...
Sunshine... love and hugs
Helen

Hi Brian,

After reading your post, I don't know anything about "blogs" but it doesn't seem worth the money for OCF to put out. If it basically does the same thing as the message board, why bother? The OCF message board is GREAT the way it is, and I agree with Helen, I would hate for anything to spoil it. Just adding my 2 cents....

Thanks Brian,

Shelley

Ok, I rescind my earlier comment. Now that I know all that is involved it seems that the cost benefit would not balance.

Honestly after more thought.....

Caring Bridge is a great place and I use it everyday. It serves the function for which it was intended and I donate to them as well as here. I think that I would prefer OCF to be a place for information, support, friendship, assistance, and all of the other support roles that it currently fills.

Somtimes, it is best to stick what you do best! And Brian, you do this best for sure!

Thanks,
Cindy

Yup, I agree. I didn't realize about the expense or added difficulty of having it on another site, and I agree that a thread on the message board here is in many ways very similar. I did get a lot out of reading Larry's log but, given the expense, I don't think it's worth it either.

Also, as a relative newcomer to the site, it actually took me some time to even find Larry's journal--there were so many other threads on this board that also contained the information I come here for--what other people have experienced getting through treatment, and after treatment, for this disease.

Take a look at the forums. We have a new forum at the bottom named blogs. You can start your running journal there. You can keep posting to it and your blogs will be in chronological order. Give it a title, and afterwords you can name the subsequest additions or just date them. Someone try it out and let's see how it feels. It's a place to talk about what you are feeling, going through, your smallest musings....without anyone posting back to you about them. Just express yourself and let's see how it goes..