Brian,

During the 2 weeks that I was away, I suffered from a lack of internet access. Internet service on cruise ships leaves something to be desired, as it is slower than dial up and disconnects constantly.

One of the few emails that I was able to get to read was from August (Colleen) who forwarded me your original post. She knew how happy I would be to see it and didn't want me to have to wait until I got home. I just barely got to read it before the computer chugged to a stop. I had hoped to be able to get on the forum to post, but that would have been impossible. I know Brian, you told me to take a break from Oral Cancer and just relax. That will never happen as I have made so many dear friends here and missed everyone in my family while I was away. And in fact, I a made a friend that has a cousin who is a dentist and after I told him my story, he asked to me to send him as much information about OC that I could so that he could make sure his cousin was "doing it right".

I am trying to read all that I had missed and over the past 2 days I have been able to steal some time away from all the other things one has to do to "catch up" when returning from a trip. I've just barely made it through the first 2 forums and as always, so many new members, so many questions, so many frightened people. They have come to the right place...the place that you have created to provide information, answers and a shoulder to lean on.

What you have createded here, is beyond anything that could be expected from any one person. What you continue to do and what I am sure you will succeed in doing in the future, one can not even begin to iagine.

The knowledge that I have gained from this website and the mission that I feel has been handed to me as a dentist and an oral cancer survivor, gives me something to look forward to every day. I look forward to being able to spend even more time educating the public and dentists and helping surviviors after I retire.

I don't remember if I asked you if you get copies of Dental Economics and have seen the the wonderful series of articles on OC that they have been doing over the last 4 months. My story was in the July issue and I know you know at least two of the other three people whose stories preceded mine...Barb Boland and Larry Hamburg. I give a lot of credit to the people running this magazine for the effort they are putting into bringing the oral cancer story to the dental profession. Since this is a free magazine, it reaches almost every dentist in the country. I was able to get OCF's name in at least 4 or 5 times as well as the website and phone number. I had a lot more control over this than the TV interviews where I was not successful at all getting in a plug.

So congratulations Brian on your accomplishments. I am proud to be associated with such a caring individual as you and proud to be your friend and a member of your family. I was disappointed that we could not meet in NYC last April and I look forward to the prospect of us meeting in Philadelphia in the fall. Are you ready for some of those famous "Philly Cheesesteaks"?

Jerry