Barb,

I have said this before: I do not have to suffer the question of why me? Many here who did nothing to deserve this terrible disease ask themselves that every day. As a smoker for years I knew I was playing Russian roulette. I did this to me.

My doctor told me he wanted me to be a non-smoker BEFORE treatment started, so I worked my way down and then went on the patch.

Funny thing about kids, they will imagine what they know. I was treated at a Cancer Center, not a CCC (Comprehensive Cancer Center), but I had two opinions from CCC�s that concurred with the treatment I was getting. The center was only 6 months old so everything was state of the art. It was very nice and my son liked it. When we left I asked him what he had imagined it looked like before our visit and he said the emergency room, which was a scary place for him but the only hospital he had ever been in. He was impressed with the IMRT machine and my center had a waiting area with wood paneling and a fireplace. Looked more like a Hilton then a hospital.

By the way; As much as you like your physician, you need to get second opinion. Someone here can post a list of the CCC�s available nationally. The University of Colorado in Aurora is your regional CCC so I hope that is close.

Kelly