If you can learn to seperate the fear from the way you approach life in general that's when the battle is won......in my opinion anyways.

I am facing surgery for a new tumor under my tongue. It's going to be tough and no guarantees that it will work, although in my heart I know it will. Even with this facing me, I'm still making my plans for a trip to New Orleans in November for Thanksgiving, New York for Christmas, and a huge trip to Europe with my girls midmay/June timeframe. I refuse to do any differently. I learned that lesson four years ago with my first battle. I just finished looking at motels in New York...........GEEZ, can we say expensive??? But, I want to skate in Central Park, see the tree at Rockerfeller, and see Times Square.........and I'm going to. I want to see the Eiffel Tower, see Spain, Rome, Italy..........I want to see ALL of it. And I will. At least that's how I'm planning it and that's how I'm living it for the moment. Half the excitement is in the planning............so THERE cancer, you can't steal it all!

Live, Love, Laugh.......it's the decor of my home now, I have that saying all over the place and it's how my house stays centered and focused.

Minnie

SCC Left Mandible. Jaw replaced with bone from leg. Neck disection, 37 radiation treatments. Recurrence 8-28-07, stage 2, tongue. One third of tongue removed 10-4-07. 5-23-08 chemo started for tumor behind swallowing passage, Our good friend and much loved OCF member Minnie has been lost to the disease (RIP 10-29-08). We will all miss her greatly.