Your wish is my wish Daniel...........I too wish we could pick a central spot for us all to meet and have one huge party. I, for one, would travel anywhere for this to take place. A yearly reunion would make great news I think, maybe get some publicity out of it, put oral cancer out to the public more. We could use it as a fundraiser for the website, just brainstorming here. I can't tell you all how many times I have had someone tell me that they didn't even know you could get cancer in your mouth!
Daniel, Please post on Wednesday as soon as you finish jumping up and down from the good news.
Love, Minnie

Brian,

I second Minnie's suggestion about planning an annual fund raiser, member get together to help get the word out and also meet some of the people who have become more than just cyber buddies. I for one certainly feel a bond to many members that
have helped me through a diffucult time. Won't have to worry about a smokey room, I don't think much alcohol is needed, Plenty of water and Pop and soft foods.

I would be glad to represent the Great state of Wisconsin for any fundraisers for the OCF foundation.
Sometimes I think you under estimate the impact your website has on it's members. I'm sure we could get involment from many members all over the states and beyond.

Something to think about Brian????

Your Friend, Danny Boy!!!

I hope brian will give this idea some thought. I spend TONS of time finding money and heading up fundraisers to get, at times, over 200 kids half way across the country to a competition. I would be thrilled to do something to further the cause of making oral cancer more known to the public. I am a small time celebrity in Va. Beach, please take that lightly, lol. But the success my teams have is in the news quite often. I have not made my cancer a well known fact but would be more then willing to play on it if it would help out this foundation. Our Mayor, who I have met a number of times and have brought teams to some of her ceremonies to add some entertainment, is a breast cancer survivor and I know she would be willing to help. Stop me now or I will have us on Oprah by tomorrow. I love taking something good and running with it!! Plus, I cannot express enough how excited I would be to meet all of you.
Minnie

I love to meet you all one day, and look back on when it was tough for all of us, and see each of you as healthy and happy people. I am talking to some celebrities about doing a fund raiser, the reality of it is getting closer, though I can

I'd love to meet you all one day, and look back on when it was tough for all of us, and see each of you as healthy and happy people. I am talking to some celebrities about doing a fund raiser, the reality of it is getting closer, though I can

I just sent my first email to the Oprah show and will continue to email and communicate with them. I feel this is fate as one of the parents within my organization has a family member that works within the Oprah show. This family member talked to us about doing a show on my youth team that has won not one but two National titles this season. I will be on the phone with this parent tomorrow, she is one of my closest friends. I am like a dog with a bone when it's something important to me and this is something I want badly. Imagine us doing a reunion on the Oprah show?? How cool would that be and what a message it would send out to the public. I will try my best Brian, and then some.

You never know where good fortune will come from. A show with a few survivors, some doctor experts, a celebrity survivor, could be very moving. I appreciate all of your efforts regardless of how it all turns out. I have been banging my head against this wall for two years, but many times it's who you know, not what you know. If you can pull this off and 22 million viewers get the message, and pass it on to just one other person... what a difference it could make in the death rate from this disease. It could be the first step in a national awareness of the disease and the risk factors, leading to an anual exam just like a PAP test etc. That is my dream. the vehilcle to reduce the death rate in my lifetime, through early detection. It worked in cervical cancer, and it can work in oral cancer as well. Attached is a typical letter that I am using (with the address deleated). It may provide you with a few key talking points.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
February 1, 2004

Ms. Blythe Danner
c/o

CA 90035

Dear Ms. Danner,

I would like the opportunity to discuss with you the making of a 30 second Public Service Announcement for TV related to the early detection of oral and throat cancers. An opportunity exists for the extremely high death rate from this disease to be brought down significantly without the introduction of a new miracle drug, treatment, or diagnostic procedure. This PSA is an integral part of the solution. I am contacting you because of your intimate knowledge of how devastating this disease can be, and your significant celebrity status. As a survivor of a late stage throat cancer myself, and someone who works with families daily that face this disease, I know that this communication will likely renew thoughts of an intimate loss in your life, and the pain associated with it. So I start this letter with both a sincere thank you for taking the time to consider its contents, and an apology for bringing to the surface difficult emotions that must still be palpable to you.

Unlike many cancers, awareness and early diagnosis alone can bring the death rate from this disease down significantly. What is needed is a public campaign, instilling in that public consciousness not only the knowledge of the disease, but that a simple, 5 minute, painless, inexpensive, annual screening can save lives. I am asking for your help in making that possible.

While there is much about this disease that you are obviously aware of, to ensure your complete understanding of what I propose, I need to state some facts to make my case for what is needed, and how your personal involvement would make a critical difference. In the US alone, about 40,000 individuals will be newly diagnosed this year with oral and throat cancers. Only 50% of them will survive 5 years. This is because more than 66% of cases are found as late stage, well developed cancers. It has a propensity for recurrence, and long-term survival rates are dismal for those diagnosed in later stages. As a late stage survivor myself, I assure you that this fact weighs on me personally. Approximately one person per hour every day of the year dies from it in the US. This statistic has remained relatively unchanged for over four decades. While this used to be thought of as a disease of older smokers, evidence now indicates that the fastest growing segment of victims are non-smoking individuals in their 30

Hi Danny....

Just wanted to send more positive thoughts your way.

Khaja

Dan, Just want to let you know I'm thinking of you over here, hope things go ok, as I'm sure they will. The "fatalistic" feeling is pretty normal for the first few follow up scans. Only since my last scan was I able to shake that feeling, as you may remember I was just sure I was done for.

As far as the get together, that would be way cool, I'd make the flight back to U.S. for that one for sure.

Brian, I couldn't agree more, oral cancer seems to be an "orphan" disease. Luckily, I was able to find this site, which to me seems to be one of the more comprehensive sites on oral cancer I've seen. And it has a worldwide reach, looking at the "location" sections of personal information.
Bob

Dan,

Anxiously awaiting the results of your scan! Good vibes are zooming your way!

Lots & lots of rainbows & hugs,
Rosie