I cant believe that in the short time it took Rob and i to start and finish his journey another 650 people have joined this site with one thing in common.When is it ever going to end?

Liz
I doubt it ever will. I'm sure that you have read the press reports in the UK this week, that lifestyle changes could eliminate 50% of all cancers, I suppose we should all stop and think. BUT I think it not just lifestyle choice or many more people would suffer, particularly oral cancer when out of the total population in the UK only 4,200 new case were diagnosed during the last year. Until the scientist discover the trigger that set the cells on to wreak havoc with this devastating cancer, I expect that many more will have to travel this well worn path..
Sunshine.. love and hugs..
Helen

Liz,Since I joined in April 2005 there have been 2000 new members. It makes my head swim every time I think about it. Amy in the Ozarks

More numbers. In March of 2002 I joined as no. 41. And I am still here to report that (grin).

Joanna- that's a GREAT BIG GRIN Amy in Oz

I have a formula I worked out and will post tomorrow.

Roughly 3.2 to 3.9 new members come here every day. 560 have joined in my 5 months. (You can calculate someone who has been here for 4 years or 4 months. and the range is the same, with moderate + - tolerances) It is going up slightly, but I beleive it is because more people are learning how to get help and early detection. Not because of an increase. (Theory only)

If we keep getting the "word out" I feel We Will reduce this # tremndously.

Petey

Consider this point...

Brian and crew are doing an EXCELLENT job of getting the word out about the foundation in the media. That to me would indicate that the number of members would increase dramatically, which is a very good thing. I do not think this is a reflection of an increased number of H&N cancer victims. Just more aware ones!

Kevin

My thoughts: Up until 10 weeks ago, I had never known anyone who had Oral Cancer!..didn't even know anyone who KNEW anyone with OC!
Within a few days of Buzz' diagnosis, I found this website and was totally amazed that there are SO many folks with this dread disease...I will say again that this site has truly been a life-saver for us! I can't imagine where we could have turned for answers to our many questions...

Our minds have been awakened to cancer.

It has always been here, just not with us.

We are but oral cancer sufferers. Many here have had other types of cancer before this one.

It makes me think of the old "Neck Bone Song". You know it. The head bone is connected to the neck bone and the neck bone is connected to the shoulder bone etc, etc

How many of us have even given thought to theses cancer patients? They are all well known. Breast, lung, brain, bone, colorectal, and on and on.

Only until it hits "home" do we NOT shun it. Just as people and relatives do.

What do I say? What do I do? This is a world wide disease. I hate to use the word fortunate, but at least we are not in a second or third world nation where there is NO awareness and Help.

How many times do we watch "hunger" donation commercials and say, wow, that's a shame? Yet, few do anything. But when it is you, you jump to your battle station and get ready to roll!

Hunger is just as devastating as cancer when you compare apples to apples, is it not!

And Joanna is correct. More numbers to agonize over when you look at odds and such. But in reality, the "short straws are out there. I got mine last week

Petey i have been aware of cancer as a disease to fear for just about all of my life,but the point i am going to make is this.Every time you open a newspaper you read and hear of all the work being done into cancer research.
Everyone is aware of breast cancer,lung cancer,prostate cancer,testicular cancer,kidney cancer,leukeamia,non hodgkins disease, all terrible afflictions we agree,but if you look at people with these cancers what can you see?

Mouth cancer is a scourge.It strips people of their voice,their ability to eat and drink, their visual image and all too often their life.

Its a visible cancer and yet the public in general dont see it.

Sufferers hide away while the worst of the facial trauma manifests itself and the healing process takes so long that even after surgery and radiotherapy,speech and eating side effects make patients reluctant to join mainstream socialising again and the terrible effects of the disease may only be seen by close family and friends.

I know that not one of the 350 people who attended Robins funeral will ever ignore symptoms in their mouth or throat,for as as many people who saw his face ,were told about it in graphic detail,resulting in many many of his close friends feeling quite unable to visit him out of fear of the unknown.

Oral cancer forums give people who suffer from this terrible illness a safe refuge where they can all interact with each other without fear or favor because everyone is in the same boat,my original post observing that the boat is getting very full.

If i had the courage i would hire a bill board and post a picture of Robin in the week before his death,with the headlines
CAN WE AFFORD TO KEEP ON IGNORING THIS CANCER because that is what is happening,its the unspeakable face of cancer,one that not many people are aware of and yet one of the most devastating in my opinion.