Today was WonderFul

So today I want to cut my blog short.I plan to post more blogs that are shorter. Mom made me breakfast and lunch (don't tell her but i didn't eat lunch) See I am in San Diego this week for moms 54th bday. We took family pics on Saturday and went to Sea World San Diego, it was a blast. Mom is looking good but she is swollen. I am grateful she has made it to today. You can tell the cancer (or drugs) have taken a toll on her but she still has an AMAZING spirit to fight. She is working so hard for her kids and grand kids. I know she will beat this battle. In just a few days she will be 54 years old, I am 36yo do the math and KNOW she raised a great family.

I hate seeing that mom can barely make it up the stairs, or she forgets what she just told you (chemo brain). However I love to make her laugh and I enjoy watching her shows, Rachel Ray and the barefoot-contessa. I am so grateful to spend these days with her in person.

Love Always,

Dan

WOW WOW WOW

So today my mom, a stage IV lung cancer survivor, went to see her DR, Dr. Bazhenova, to get the result of her recent CT scan, the news has me floating in the clouds. The tumors in mom’s lungs, once the size of lemons are now the size of a pea. Dr Bazhenova said if mom were admitted to the ER right now a typical chest x-ray would not show signs of cancer.

The cancer in her colon is undetectable and the cancer that spread to her breast is also the size of a pea. The cancer that has spread to her liver has grown by about 20% however Dr Bazhenova does not see reason for concern. Surgery is possible but Dr Bazhenova wants to try another drug rather than cutting mom up.

I am so happy and grateful to have my mom for the last year. I know cancer takes people fast, as we have scene with Farrah, however it was what you get each day from the person living with cancer that keeps you going.

To MOMS SUCESSS and ALL OF THOSE DEALING WITH ANY TYPE OF CANCER!!!

Dan Hart

So today is no Different than recent days

So today is simply Tuesday. While it might not mean a lot to many as they think they still have 3 days of work, it means a lot to me!

You see my mom has lung cancer, and she just passed the 1 year mark. If you have read anything about stage IV lung cancer, you know the one year mark is HUGE, it’s a CELEBATATION, given current terms it’s a blessing. The statistics say I should have buried my mom by now, yet my mom has fought hard to be here today. I know that fight has not been easy, yet nothing worthwhile is.

My mom is amazing! She has fought this fight so hard. I live in Phoenix and she lives in San Diego so I don’t see her daily. For the most part I only get to know of her fight via her voice. While I have visited mom every month this year, you know you can’t get everything from a voice.

Lung Cancer is a horrible disease. 80-85 percent of it brought on by smoking. Yet kids still smoke. Why? I is a horrible addiction to lose, some experts say harder than heroin. I wish my mom, and I knew what smoking would do to us years ago. The warnings on the pack of cigarettes say “smoking may cause lung cancer”. WTF? Until you are faced with lung cancer you honestly have no idea what it does to a person.

Ok so enough about the bad and on to some good. We HAVE to change the smoking laws to make more and more smokers QUIT and QUIT FOR GOOD. Why are we, as a country bailing out GM, yet so few are fighting for lung cancer, or it’s prevention?
I close this with how PROUD I AM OF MY MOM and everyone fighting lung cancer. Lung cancer, as all cancers SUCK!!!!!!!!!
With Many Blessings,
Dan
http://www.lmlcf.org

Farrah special tonight

Hello Everyone and Thank you for your Support,

If you saw the Farrah special tonight you have an idea of what cancer does to a person. Cancer affects the patient as a person, I often wonder what must go through their mind as they lay their head on their pillow each night. For me personally the Farrah special gave me a new perspective on what those dealing with any kind of cancer must feel. I only know it from a sons perspective. Farrah shed new light for me, and for that I thank her for her courage.

You see I only know it as a son. My mom is fighting, and fighting hard, stage IV lung cancer. It has been almost a year since she has started on her courageous fight. Next week will make the "X-ray" saying she needed more testing. It was not until July when she found out her stage, stage IV, the second to the last stage of cancer.

I want to share something with you that you may already know. In honor of my mom we started a foundation to help those that get that "X-Ray" get the tests they need as fast as possible. We NEED your help. We recent;y became a 501c3, thus you donations are tax free. I understand how tight money is, However if everyone donated just $1 and forwarded this email to everyone they know will be able to help those dealing with this horrible disease
Join us with a dollar ot two. But please pass this email along.

Liz Martocci Lung Cancer Foundation Announces Tax Exempt Status as Official 501 C3 Organization



Phoenix, AZ (PressExposure) April 22, 2009 -- We are pleased to announce that the Liz Martocci Lung Cancer Foundation is now an approved 501(c)(3) tax-deductible charity under US tax law. The IRS grants this coveted status upon organizations who meet specific legal requirements and operate under strict conditions with the goal of providing a public benefit. 501(c)3 status makes the Liz Martocci Lung Cancer Foundation exempt from paying federal taxes and allows any donations to be a tax deduction for the donor. This status is also a requirement by all foundations and government agencies when applying for grants. We started the process in July of 2008 when the Liz Martocci Lung Cancer Foundation was formally organized as a public charity non-profit corporation. After many forms and paperwork, legal fees, government fees, and a lot of effort we were able to surpass this milestone and be granted exempt status.

President Dan Hart was excited about the organization getting the news. “We are pleased to say our dream is finally coming true now that we are tax exempt. We look forward to making a difference in the lives of those faced with lung cancer.” Many people find out that they may have lung cancer through a chest x-ray. Often a CT scan and biopsy are requested to confirm. “Our goal is to help those people without insurance get the tests and treatments they need as quickly as possible” says Hart. One only needs to search the phrase “lung cancer” on the internet to find hundreds of heart-wrenching articles and stories relating to the struggles of those faced with lung cancer and their families.

The Liz Martocci Lung Cancer Foundation had some bold goals in mind as they set to launch this foundation in July 2008. Lung cancer is the NUMBER ONE cancer killer in American men and women of all ethnicities. In 2008, more than 215,000 American men and women will be newly diagnosed with lung cancer. Tragically, approximately 162,000 people will lose their lives to the disease. Lung cancer kills more people in the United States every year than breast, colon, and prostate cancer combined. While lung cancer takes the lives of more people each year it is the most underfunded.

Since our beginning, we have witnessed, first hand, the hopeless need for support in living expenses, doctor referrals, and genuine love. We have devoted ourselves to addressing these issues and are dedicated to helping people living with lung cancer overcome these issues. “We want to help comfort people in the one of the most difficult situation anyone can be faced with” says Hart

Every 2 minutes, worldwide, someone is diagnosed with lung cancer. “We want to help those people and change the statistics” says Hart.

About Liz Martocci Lung Cancer Foundation

The Liz Martocci Lung Cancer Foundation began on July 9, 2008 with one purpose in mind to help those faced with this horrible disease, living without insurance, find and receive the medical treatment they so deserve. Often the middle class hard working are often the ones that can not get the help and support needed during such a tough time. The Liz Martocci Lung Cancer Foundation is here to help those faced with the challenges of the “system” while offering support, resources and compassion. For more information about the Liz Martocci Lung Cancer Foundation or to make a tax deductible donation please visit http://www.LizMartocciLungCancerFoundation.org

Press Release Source: http://PressExposure.com/PR/Liz_Martocci_Lung_Cancer_Foundation.html

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Dan Hart
www.LizMartocciLungCancerFoundation.org
Every 2 minutes someone is diagnosed with lung cancer
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Living with Lung Cancer through a Patients Eyes

Lately – late at night I awake – not startled by anything – just my mind going back to places that used to be safe and secure for me. Remembering how stress free my life had been (even though my job was very stressful) somehow I was able to turn it off when I got into bed and I would sleep like a baby. Those days are gone – forever.

I have a new life – it began on October 9th, 2007 when I received a call (which went into my voice mail) from my Primary Care Physician telling me that she “had left her afternoon open for me to come over and discuss the results of my CT scan” – which – by the way – I had to force them to approve. I was home by then – getting off the bus from a normal day at work. I knew – in that very second what the “discussion” would be. She was going to tell me I had Lung Cancer. Something I had known in my gut for a while – but had to really face in order to go and take that CT scan. I could have remained amongst the “worried well” – you know – people who know in their heart that something is wrong – or at least could be- and make a choice to ignore the nagging pull of their gut feeling. I tried that. It did not work. So I faced my worst fear – took the CT and had my worst nightmare realized in Technicolor. I was sitting on a bench across the street from my apartment building – a beautiful area in Bay Ridge Brooklyn – along the water with tree lined parks – a place where I have sat many times for hours alone, with a book, with my dog or a good friend But this day I was alone and I was sitting with my world spinning and crashing around me. My Dr. called me back - and I told her what I had – she said “yes” – she referred me to a Pulmonologist at NYU and the flood gates opened. So what do you do when you know you are sick – very sick – and could die? I called my sister – MY ROCK – and we cried together. She called my parents – I think- I don’t remember. I don’t really remember much of the first month once I was dx’d. Lots of tests, lots of blood work, lots of panic attacks and a lot of crying. I had more than my fair share of pity-party’s – but when the dust had settled somewhat, and I had a “plan” I went into auto-drive and did what I needed to do. When you have “things to do” you don’t have time to think – you just go thru the motions. I remember telling my sister that sometimes it felt like someone else was taking all these tests – sort of like an “outer-body” experience. But I knew It was me – of course I did. Lung Cancer – OMG – did I do this to myself? Who do I blame – who do I direct this massive anger I feel at? Myself? The tobacco company’s? God? No surely NOT GOD! Of that much I was clear. But the rest – well – it took a long time to come to terms with what I had done to myself – and to realize that I was not to blame.

Bad things happen to good people. So there I was – looking on-line – finding all the misinformation one could possibly find and having massive panic attacks – but I found a web site that saved my sanity – and helped me gain some sense of what I was dealing with – and most importantly that I WAS NOT ALONE! The Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA) web site was the first place to ground me – and I was – and remain – a loyal member of that community – but then one day – stumbling along the internet after I had completed my surgery and my chemo treatments (another long story of it’s own) I found the Liz Martocci Lung Cancer Foundation – a foundation that was fighting for Lung Cancer patients who could not pay their medical bills. The LMLCF is a place where we (LC patients) could turn to for help – and direction. While I am still fortunate to have my job and my health benefits – in a flash that could be gone – and with a “pre-existing condition” I could be in huge trouble. I know that if I ever needed help I have a place to go. Whew! But still the stigma of LC prevails – we need more – we need money for research and development of “markers” that can tell patients they are at risk for LC. We need people to discard the “stigma” that smokers inevitably have and help us help ourselves. Lung Cancer kills more people than all other cancers combined annually – 20% of which are never-or-non smokers. We need help. I need help to stay healthy. The more we educate the public the more we will be seen and no longer remain invisible and stigmatized into the shadows (or smoke). We all need to fight and be heard. I am just one person – but I am willing and ready to stand beside anyone who will fight with me.

Karen Peyser

15 Months Cancer Free and counting!