Chava Raphaela

Today I changed my name to Chava Raphaela (I thought I was going to keep the Rivka, but apparently that was dropped). A huge thank you to all of my wonderful friends who came to witness this very meaningful step in my healing process. I am confident that I will not have any potential evil fate that was destined for Chava Rivka. The guy next to me at the pulpit also reminded me that if there were any winning lottery tickets slated for Chava Rivka, I would be out of luck. I told him it was worth the trade…

So – from now on, when you say prayers for me, please make them for either Eve Raphaela or Chava (basically means “Eve” in Hebrew) Raphaela. I want to make sure that all of those wonderful healing prayers come to me!

This afternoon my dear friend Brent came over and removed my staples (it’s good to have a doctor friend who will make house calls). I am healing quickly from my surgery and plan to complete my recovery by January 1st (heck – it’s an aggressive goal – but I feel up to the challenge).

Prior to the diagnosis, our family planned to travel to Lake Isabella (near Bakersfield) to spend the upcoming week with my sister and her family. Apparently, there’s a small ski area (perfect for kids) and lots of snow fun to be had. We were going to cancel that trip due to my surgery (we weren’t so sure that a 5-6 hour car ride would be all that much fun). However, since I am healing well and we have renewed our desire to make the most out of every day, we have decided to make the trek down there. I will plan to rest down there while the kids enjoy playing with their cousins. Still dreading that car ride, but I’ll get through it!

Thank you again for all of your prayers, positive thoughts and love. I can’t express how much that has meant to me and my family. I wish you and yours a wonderful end of 2009 and a happy and healthy 2010.

Tricking the Angel of Death

Prior to my going into surgery, one of my Jewish colleagues came to me to ask me if I had considered changing my Hebrew name. When I asked what he was referring to, he informed me that when Jews are faced with severe medical issues like I was, there were 3 things that can be done:

1) Pray
2) Give to Charity
3) Change/Augment Your Hebrew Name

So, I’ve been fairly good at numbers 1 & 2 (although I continue to work on those), but I had never heard about the name change/augmentation. Apparently, this tradition is based in the belief that if you change your name, then the angel of death or the spirits who have determined your bad fate will be confused and will not bring this bad fate to the person who is ill. So I’ve decided to trick the spirits and add to my Hebrew Name.

I have spoken with our Rabbi at Temple Beth Abraham and we have arranged for me to be called to the Torah under my new Hebrew name this Thursday, December 24th. The Rabbi has asked me to be at our synagogue no later than 8:30 am, since the Torah service lasts from 8-9 am. I want to invite anyone who wants to come to do so and bear witness to my new name. The synagogue is located at 327 Macarthur Blvd in Oakland. You should arrive between 8 :15 and 8:30 am.

If you were wondering, my new Hebrew name will be Chava Raphaela Rivka. The "Raphaela" is the name that I’m adding. Its derivative is the word rafuah which means healing. Raphael is the Angel of Healing and my new name basically means “God heals.” I think that’s exactly the message that I want to send to the universe – since I am planning to heal - quickly.

As a quick update on me, Stanford released me yesterday to go home and so I now am being taken care of by some amazing 6 year old nurses (plus my mom and husband – but they really can’t compare to the love being showered upon me by the girls). Ellie created a call system for me so that I don’t have to yell – it’s composed of a frying pan and a large kitchen spoon. When I tested it out this morning I heard both girls bounding up the stairs yelling “Ellie and Ari to the rescue!”

On January 12th, I will be meeting with Dr. Fisher to go over his recommendation for my chemo protocol. I spoke with him on Friday and it doesn’t sound like Round 2 will be as tough as Round 1. However, I told him, let’s do whatever we need to do to ensure that I won’t be seeing a Round 3.

I want to thank Wendy Spander, Jill Lindenbaum and Stacia Levenfeld for working on getting a food program up and running and for keeping you all abreast on my progress. I understand there were a few technical difficulties with the food plan. Wendy told me that the best way to navigate the system is for you to send her an e-mail at wspander@yahoo.com and then she’ll go ahead and “invite” you for the mealbaby program which will give you access to the site.

Thank you all for your beautiful notes, e-mail messages and phone calls. I am so blessed to have such an amazing support system. I will write more soon about the last few days, but I wanted to send a quick e-mail out right away to let you know about Thursday’s ceremony. I hope to see you there.

News on Chemo & Opportunities to Deliver Dinner

Eve got out of bed today to stretch her legs and is hoping to get around even more tomorrow. She hopes to be out of the hospital and home by Monday.

We learned today that she will begin another course of chemo in approximately 6 weeks. The chemo will be given every three weeks for a couple of months, beginning in early February.

During her surgery this week, a port was inserted into her abdomen. This will allow the chemo to reach the targeted areas without going through her entire bloodstream. This, in turn, allows the doctors to use a stronger dose of the medication.

Jill and Wendy are organizing meals for Eve and her family. If you would like to sign up to bring over a hot meal, please email Wendy Spander at WSpander@ea.com.

Eve's doing well after surgery

Eve came through today's surgery very well and she’s in good spirits tonight.

The tumor was colon cancer in her ovary, so they proceeded with the complete hysterectomy. Two other small growths were identified on her pelvic wall and those were also removed. A port was placed in her abdomen to be used for her next round of chemo, which will begin after she has healed from this surgery.

Eve is expected to leave the hospital as early as Sunday. She is at Stanford Hospital in room F336.

A team is arranging meals for Eve and her family beginning this weekend. Our next blog post will include a link to sign up for the meal deliveries. If you would like to deliver a meal this weekend or next week, please email jlindenbaum@comcast.net.

Don't Cry For Me, Eve's Blog Readers

I am so very blessed. I have so many wonderful, amazing, dedicated friends. Over the last several days, I have been overwhelmed with all of the love and well wishes of so many of you. It has meant so much to me to know how much you care.

… but, c’mon people, stop all the crying! It’s enough to get a girl depressed!

Yep, I said it – some of you are getting downright depressed about my cancer.

I know this is sad, awful news, and your tears have been out of love, but let’s all stop the crying.

No, really, I mean it –
We’ve got to start beating this thing, people!

Please don’t take this as any kind of criticism. I just need your strength around me right now.

When I told you all to ”send positive thoughts” in my previous blog, I meant it.

Here’s how we’re going to help beat this cancer together: knowing that we can beat it, embracing life, our families and our friends with zest and a positive outlook everyday, being here for each other, and never letting self-doubts, self-pity, or self-consciousness get in the way of being supportive of those you love.

So, I just want to say – everyone’s sentiments so far have been wonderful outpourings of love and affection, and I have appreciated them all. But from here on out, it’s all Johnson & Johnson: No More Tears!

We are going to fight my cancer.

We are going to beat my cancer.

Then we are going to work together to find a cure harder than ever before.

The only way we can do all this is by keeping focused on the positives in life – and we can do it together.

I’m ready to go to battle to get this out of my body. Stand with me, share your strength and courage. There is NO DOUBT in my mind that I will be victorious.

Some Sad News

How do I begin? Where do I begin? It’s back. It’s really back. I’m stunned and devastated. How could this happen? It’s not even two years.

The long and short of it is, I woke up the Friday morning after Thanksgiving with severe stomach pain and having trouble breathing. As I was in Palm Desert, I really didn't want to make a big fuss. I waited for 6 hours for the sensation to wear off – hoping that it was just gas in my stomach, only it wasn’t going away. I became seriously concerned that I was having a heart attack.

I finally got to the ER. When I arrived, I had flashbacks to my ER experience in Iowa which made breathing all that more difficult.

The hospital immediately gave me 2 EKGs to make sure I wasn’t having a heart attack and then did CT scans to make sure that I didn’t have a blood clot in my lung. Fortunately, they didn’t see any problems in my chest area. However, something was seen on my CT scan that they weren’t expecting – a 10 cm mass in my pelvic region.

I knew that I had a cyst in my pelvis from the last CT scan in June. So, although the doctors seemed very concerned about this mass, I was sure it was just a large complex ovarian cyst. Women get ovarian cysts all the time. This was just a big one. I was sure it was nothing to be concerned about.

On Tuesday, I went down to see Dr. Fisher to show him the CT scan from Eisenhower Hospital. His face clearly told me that he believed that it wasn’t just a cyst. His eyes were distressed as he told me that I needed to come back on Friday to meet with an ob/gyn oncologist. His diagnosis was that this was one of 3 things: 1) it was a huge complex ovarian cyst 2) it was ovarian cancer or 3) it was a recurrence of my colon cancer.

So Friday, I headed down to Stanford to meet with the ob/gyn oncologist-surgeon. She didn’t mince words – it was cancer. She and Dr. Fisher had met and they believed that they had not gotten all of the colon cancer the first time. They strongly believe that the tumor is colon cancer contained in my ovary. Therefore, the most prudent approach is to remove everything and blast the hell out of the area with chemo.

Oh my God. I keep asking myself "What did I do to deserve this? Why am I possibly going to be taken away from my precious girls?" I vascillate between anger and sadness.

So – I have to fight. Again. This time I don’t feel as strong. I’m so damn scared. I was so sure that I was done.

On December 17th I will be going to Stanford Hospital and putting my life in the hands of Dr. Husein. I’ve got to believe that she will save me. I will be getting a full hysterectomy and she will be putting a port directly into my abdomen for chemo. I will remain in the hospital for 4-6 days and then will come home to recover. They will determine during my surgery whether it’s ovarian cancer or colon cancer and then we’ll determine what type of chemo I’ll begin in January. Fortunately, we arranged the surgery so that I could participate in most of the nights of Chanukah and so that I could go to the girls’ holiday recitals and parties.

I will get through this again. It is my duty to be there for my children and damn it, I’m going to be there.

So – I thought that I was done with this blog. That my cancer story had ended. That the only reason that I was going to use the blog was to fundraise for colon cancer research. I was seriously considering never writing on this again. It had such a nice ending. But it’s not over. I’m going back to my battle.

I need you all to be there for me once again. Please please pray for (or send positive thoughts to) me and my family. And send an extra little prayer upstairs on December 17th. I so want Dr. Husein to confirm that the cancer is contained in my ovary and that she’ll get it all out.

And, the most important thing that you can do today is to spend a little extra time hugging your loved ones. Life is so precious.

Thank You Smartasses!!

It just occurred to me that I never updated everyone on the October 4 Get Your Rear in Gear event. I am thrilled to inform you that not only was Eve’s Smartasses the second highest fundraising team, but thanks to all of your support, I was also the second highest fundraiser for the event! I am so proud of our collective efforts.

I want to thank those of you who came and ran (or walked) the course. It was an early morning and quite a shlep for many of you (especially my amazing mother who flew in from Spokane to support the effort). Fortunately, it was a spectacular day in San Francisco. I am also incredibly grateful to all of you who gave to the cause. Your donations will help to fund research and education surrounding this terrible disease.

Next year, I hope to sign many more of you up to join us. It was a really fun event and the mood was joyous as everyone was there with a purpose - to prevent and cure colon cancer. (And you can’t beat the names of some of the teams – that’s what happens when the colon is your inspiration.)

Thanks again for your phenomenal support. We will fight this disease together and, someday, I just know we will win!

Living On Through Memories

In Judaism, it is said that a person lives on through others’ memories. I want to tell you a little bit about someone who passed away on Monday of colon cancer, so that he can live on by taking a little spot in your collective memories.

Mark Wittenberg, the man who I referenced in my last blog, quietly lost his valiant battle with colon cancer at his home this week. He just turned 36 years old and is survived by his wife and two children (2 and 4 years old). He was an avid rock climber, mountain biker, golfer and fisherman as well as a talented public affairs strategist. An e-mail that was sent yesterday by one of his colleagues said “He could light up a room just by walking past it, most often with some kind of smart ass remark. He had so much energy and life and he pushed us all to savor life as he did.”

Of course I found the wording in her e-mail curious. Of all of the things to note about him – she chose to state that he was a “smart ass.” Well, I’ve decided that Mark’s memory needs to be a part of our Get Your Rear in Gear team: Eve’s Smartasses. Therefore, I plan to dedicate my run (ok – my walk) to Mark’s memory.

Mark’s passing hit me hard. I realized that his story could so easily have been mine. The last that I heard from him, he told me that he was going to be ok. He was going to fight the cancer and win. Although he has lost his physical battle with cancer, his fight will continue on through me and all of you who join me either by participating on my team on October 4 or donating to my efforts.

To make life easy for you, the following is the information on how to register and donate.

To sign up to be on our terrific team, just do the following:

Go to: http://www.getyourrearingear.com/events/get-your-rear-in-gear-events/san-francisco-october-2009

If you are going to run/walk with our team, click on “Register Today” Please note that it is a little bit of work signing up, but just plow through it and you WILL get to the end. I promise.

If you are unable to join our team, but would like to donate, click on “Donate Today” I recognize that many of you may not be able to be on the team, but you still can participate in a very meaningful way. You would just input my name and it will give you an opportunity to pledge.

I almost forgot one of the most important points – I saw Dr. Fisher last week for my checkup and he said that my body continues to show no evidence of disease. As we head into the new Jewish Year, I wish all of you much health and happiness and urge you all to take a few extra moments to hug your family. L'Shana Tova.

We’re Racing to beat Cancer!

Last weekend, I was honored to be able to join my oncologist, Dr. Fisher, and his fabulous right-hand person, Margreet Love, at the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life event. Of course, our team was a little on the pathetic side, since we didn’t actually DO the relay all night (or really during much of the day). We walked a few laps here and there, but for the most part we sat around talking. Most of the members of the team were going through chemo, so they had a good excuse for not being super energetic. Unfortunately, since I haven’t been on chemo for a year, I don’t think that I can use that excuse anymore.

Dr. Fisher was one of the featured speakers at the event with the keynote being given by a one of his other patients, Gary, who was told he had just months to live seven years ago. Every major cancer center in the country told him that they could not do anything for him. However, Dr. Fisher said he would try to help. And here we are, seven years later, with Gary proudly proclaiming that he is cancer-free. It was incredibly inspirational.

Which brings me to my next source of inspiration – the Get Your Rear in Gear walk/run on October 4 in San Francisco. (By the way, the event in SF is actually 4 miles, rather than 5K – not sure why, but in the interest of full disclosure, I wanted to bring this to your attention.) I am truly hoping that we can put together a great team to do this walk/run around Lake Merced. To sign up to be on our terrific team, just do the following:

Go to: http://www.getyourrearingear.com/events/get-your-rear-in-gear-events/san-francisco-october-2009

If you are going to run/walk with our team, click on “Register Today”

Please note that it is a little bit of work signing up, but just plow through it and you WILL get to the end. I promise.

If you are unable to join our team, but would like to donate, click on “Donate Today”

I recognize that many of you may not be able to be on the team, but you still can participate in a very meaningful way. Please consider donating to my run (ok – truthfully most likely it will be a walk, but it still counts). You just input my name and it will give you an opportunity to pledge.

So what is the name of our team? Well – our placeholder is “Eve’s Smartasses.” Since I’m not so sure that the name is “family friendly” enough for this race, we may either change the name of the team before the race (anyone have any cute ideas?) or we’ll add a tag line something like this “A smart ass is one that gets checked.” Obviously, this is still a work in progress….

So - we’ve got a little over a month before show time. I really really really hope that I’ll have a nice big team of friends to participate with me.

One last note - when I originally found out about this race – I was very enthusiastic. To be honest, my enthusiasm waned in the last couple of months when my life and all of my responsibilities overwhelmed me. However, I have become friends with a young colon cancer patient over the past several weeks. This past week he had to tell his young children that the doctors have given him less than 6 months to live. He is in the hospital fighting valiantly every single day to prove those doctors wrong. I am now walking/running for him and every other colon cancer patient who desperately needs the medical community to find a cure. I pray that it will be a very very long time before I have the conversation that Mark had last week with his children. And therefore, I am officially rededicating myself to do everything possible to raise not only funds but also public awareness to beat this destructive disease.

Please join me in my fight.

Thank You, I'm Clear & Gear Up!

Today, I have many things to write about: the American Cancer Society breakfast last Friday, last week's colonoscopy and gearing up for October 4th!

First, the good news. For those of you who were wondering, the American Cancer Society event was a tremendous success. I was so amazed by the number of my friends and colleagues (who are also my dear friends) who came out to support this phenomenal organization. Not only did they hear a dynamic speaker, Dr. Nina Bissell, talk about her incredible work to understand cancer, but they also got to meet the famous Dr. George Fisher. Together we contributed more than a third of the profits for the entire event! A huge thank you to those of you who came and also to those of you who were unable to come, but sent checks anyway. I want to especially thank my friends at the Union Pacific Railroad, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad and Webcor for sponsoring this wonderful event.

Next, I had my one year colonoscopy check-up last Tuesday. This time it wasn't nearly as traumatic as last year, since I knew that it was not going to be a big deal. Unfortunately, during my colonocopy, they did find a polyp. It was spliced off and I just received word today that it wasn't cancerous. However, it would have become cancerous had it not been removed. The doctor was concerned with how quickly my body produces polyps and therefore, I will be returning in one year for another colonoscopy. For those of you who are putting off that colonoscopy - call the doctor NOW! Trust me - the colonocopy is a breeze...and chemo isn't.

Finally, the Get Your Rear in Gear 5K walk/run for colon cancer is coming up on October 4. And - Dr. Fisher just confirmed that he'll be on the team (I really didn't give him a choice). It will be a fabulous day. Right after the run, there will be breakfast, kids activities and all sorts of fun. We still have to come up with a name for our team...any ideas? For more information about the event go to:
www.getyourrearingear.com/events/get-your-rear-in-gear-events/san-francisco-october-2009.

I feel so fortunate to have such an incredible support network. You are making a difference in the battle against cancer. I am confident that together we will win this fight.

Please Join Me

The big event is almost here: The American Cancer Society Action Network breakfast. Its purpose is to ensure that cancer research is a national priority.

The breakfast will take place on July 10 from 7-8:30 am at the Oracle Conference Center in Redwood Shores. I am coming to you, my friends, to ask for your help. I am hosting a table at this important event (which is chaired by my amazing oncologist Dr. George Fisher) and would deeply appreciate it if you would join me at my table. The contribution request is small ($100 is a suggestion) but means so much.

Please let me know by this Friday, July 3rd if you will join me. For those of you who have already committed to participating - thank you. I hope that the rest of you will join me next week and make a strong statement that we want to beat this deadly disease.

Cancer Research Meets Politics

When the man who is keeping you cancer-free asks for help, the response requires no hesitation. My amazing oncologist Dr. George Fisher is that man. And the help he’s asking for combines two of my favorite things: raising money for cancer research and of course, politics.

To that end, I have joined the Host Committee and am a Table Captain for the 2009 “Bay Area Research Breakfast.” It’s a benefit for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). ACS CAN is the non-profit, non-partisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society. We’re dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem, working to support policies that will make cancer research a top national priority.

Cancer research is the engine behind our ongoing progress in the fight to defeat cancer. Research offers hope to millions of people who face cancer – both for better treatments, enhanced opportunities to prevent and detect the disease early and improve quality of life for people touched by cancer. But like those experiencing cancer, those who conduct lifesaving cancer research need an advocate to fight on their behalf. ACS CAN is that voice!

To forward the goals of ACS CAN, the ACS CAN “2009 Bay Area Research Breakfast” will take place on July 10 from 7:00 – 8:30 a.m. at the Oracle Conference Center in Redwood Shores. World-renowned cancer researcher Dr. Mina Bissell, from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, will be our keynote speaker. Dr. Bissell is the 2008 American Cancer Society National Medal of Honor recipient. But the best part about coming is that you’ll get to meet Dr. Fisher!!!

Please support and attend this wonderful event as a guest at my table. Of course if you live outside of the area, I’m sure that they would still be happy to take your donation. During the event, all guests will be asked to support ACS CAN at the highest level possible with a suggested minimum of $100.

In addition, they are also looking for sponsors and several of my dear friends have stepped up to the plate. (Thank you Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroads!) If that is of interest to you or your company, I would love to talk with you about it.

Please let me know if you will be able to support this magnificent effort and join me at my table. I am very concerned about filling my table – so please please please come!

I know that a breakfast meeting is hard, but isn’t it worth it to wake up to cure cancer?!

Father's Day Fund - The Perfect Gift!

Now that it’s June, I’m sure that you are all wondering what the heck to give your father for Father’s Day. Fortunately, I have the perfect answer to your troubles. I am thrilled to announce that my friends at the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association have done it again. They are moving forward with the Father's Day Fund for the second year in a row. Thanks to your support last year, the Father’s Day Fund is now a well established charitable effort.

As you may recall from last year, it was around this time they were talking about how many people they knew who were either cancer patients or survivors and came up with a brilliant idea. They would encourage people to give the gift of a cure for cancer for Father’s Day, rather than another tie or other useless gift.

So, they created this incredible website http://www.fathersdayfund.org/. They’ve updated the website from last year – giving is just as simple, but there are more card designs to choose from and now you can download them yourself. They’ve also linked in commercial e-card services for people to use if they’d like.

They hope to make 2009 even more successful than 2008. As you may recall, they got great TV coverage on ABC News which featured my family (you can click on the link on the upper left hand side of my blog to view the clip).

Just to remind you, they do not handle the money themselves, this site simply directs you to the cancer research institutions (my favorite being Stanford, of course). However, they would love for you to let them know if you participated, so that they can determine the success of their efforts.

Please spread the word to everyone you know - friends, colleagues and all your social networks. Forward the website information and visit them online yourself over the course of the next three weeks.

Oh - and one other piece of news - I went for blood work and my CT scan today at Stanford. Amazingly, they got back my results this afternoon and I was informed that my blood work was normal and that the CT scan showed "no evidence of disease." Hallelujah.

It's Been Awhile

Wow – it’s been a long time since I’ve written on this blog. I’ve thought about writing many times, but I just didn’t take the time. For example – after watching 20 minutes of the Farrah Fawcett TV special that captured her going through chemo, I was going to write about what an idiot I was to watch the program. Going through chemo was perhaps the worst experience of my life (taking the bar exam was a close second) so why would I sit and watch someone else go through it? Some days I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed.

I was also going to blog about my experiences visiting with many other cancer patients and survivors over the past couple of months. The strength, love and compassion that emanates from so many of them is extraordinary. Interestingly – I was just about to write “it’s an honor to be one of them,” but as I started to write this I thought “what the heck am I saying – it stinks to be one of them.” But they are an amazing bunch nonetheless.

Another noteworthy happening occurred over the past couple of weeks – Dawes Eddy, the father of my best friend from high school, summited Mt. Everest. He was the oldest U.S. citizen to hit the peak (unfortunately, his record was broken 3 days later by a guy who was one year older than him…) I was going to write something compelling about his difficult journey and compare it to surviving cancer – but again, I never got around to writing that blog entry. (If you are interested in reading about his climb, go to the Discovery Channel’s site and do a search for Mount Everest then look for Everest 2009. There’s a good blog posted there by Ed Wardle, the summit cameraman who followed Dawes to the top.)

I was trying to figure out why I haven’t written when I’ve had many thoughts that only a year ago, would have warranted a blog entry. I think it’s because I no longer dwell on these moments. I seem to be able to acknowledge them and move on. Cancer no longer defines me. I’ve stopped beginning every conversation with a statement indicating that I’m either a cancer patient or survivor. Although I do think about cancer every day, it is not every minute or even every hour and sometimes it is only a fleeting thought as I go through my day.

You will be hearing from me a little more frequently over the next few weeks, since I already know what my next blog entry will be about. (I know that the suspense is probably killing you…)

In the meantime, on Tuesday I will be returning to Stanford for some tests just to make sure that all is well with me. Once again, please send your positive thoughts my way…

Cover Your Butt!

So, tomorrow is the last day of National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Sadly, it’s time to start taking down the streamers, blow the last horn and put away the banners until next March.

However, I have just learned that you have one last opportunity to celebrate this important month. Tomorrow, March 31st, thousands of people throughout the US will be calling into Congress in support of colorectal cancer screening legislation. This legislation, currently in Congress would create a National Colorectal Cancer Screening Program.

Fortunately, the Colon Cancer Coalition has made it easy for you to call Congress. Tomorrow, simply dial 866-615-3375 and enter your ZIP code at the prompt. You will be directly connected to the offices of your Members of Congress. When your phone call is answered, you simply need to say, "I support the Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment Act." If you’d like a more detailed script, go to the following: http://coveryourbutt.org/c3-butt-in/.

To be honest, you really don’t need a more detailed script, since all that’s going to happen is that a staffer is going to put a check mark in the box that says that someone called in support of the legislation. Although it may seem trivial, Members of Congress do listen to what the people want and are very curious to hear what their constituents are calling about. So – all you really need to do is just say that you support the Act and you’ve done your part.

At the end of your phone call, DO NOT HANG UP. You will be reconnected back to the Butt-In line, where you can direct your call to your remaining Members of Congress. Please be sure to speak with all three of your Members of Congress (your representative and both senators) tomorrow. This will take less than 5 minutes of your time, but it could be tremendously valuable in the fight against colorectal cancer.

The more calls that Congress receives, the better, so urge your friends, family and co-workers to join you in the Congressional Butt-In! Afraid you'll forget to call tomorrow? Then use your cell phone now to text BUTTIN to 30644 and the Colorectal Cancer Coalition will message a reminder to you tomorrow.

Thank you for being a part of an important movement to eradicate colon cancer. We will win this battle. I just know it.

Stories of Hope

I am delighted to announce that the Colon Cancer Coalition has put my story on their website under the heading “Stories of Hope.” Let’s just say that I’d rather be on this list than in the other column entitled “Forget Me Nots,” the list that talks about those who have passed away from colon cancer. What is disturbing is the fact that the “Forget Me Nots” list is longer than the “Stories of Hope” list. I am hoping that we can change that.

While I was going through treatment and even to this day, the stories that I needed to hear were not of those who didn’t make it, but of those who survived and, even better, those who continue to thrive.

The strength and courage of survivor stories breathed hope into me during my treatment – if these people made it, so could I. Now, I get to pass on my story of hope to those who read the Colon Cancer Coalition’s website.

I know that several people who read this blog either are colon cancer survivors or know survivors. I’m asking you to share the survivor stories. Let’s make the “Stories of Hope” list 5 or even 10 times longer than the list about those who have passed away.

To read how to add a story or to read my story, just go to www.getyourrearingear.com/stories.

And – while registration information is still not out for the October 4th Get Your Rear In Gear 5K – there’s no time like the present for beginning your training (it’s only 3 miles, for goodness sake…)

NED (No Evidence of Disease) and Dress In Blue on March 6th!

I am thrilled to tell you that you don’t have to wait until Thursday to find out the results of yesterday’s CT scan and blood tests. I got the call from Dr. Fisher this afternoon informing me that there was no sign of cancer and that I remain in remission. He also said that as a little gift to me, I don’t have to travel to Stanford on Thursday to meet with him, since as far as he was concerned, I was doing just fine. A huge thank you for all of your praying and positive thoughts. They must have really worked for me to get the information 2 days early!

So – now that I can breathe a huge sigh of relief, I am going to launch into my National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month celebration. I have a great first activity – to promote Dress in Blue Day on March 6th. The purpose of Dress in Blue Day is to promote awareness about colorectal cancer and encourage people to get screened.

The following bullet points from the Colon Cancer Coalition outline very clearly why it is so important to raise awareness of Colorectal Cancer:

• Colorectal cancer is the #2 cause of death in the U.S.
• This year in the United States, colorectal cancer will kill as many people as breast cancer and AIDS combined.
• Over 150,000 Americans will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer each year.
• Colorectal cancer often has no symptom at all until it’s at an advanced stage.
• Colorectal cancer is 90% preventable when detected early.
• You can reduce your risk through regular screening.
• Beginning at age 50 (or earlier if you have a family history), everyone should be screened for colorectal cancer.

So – I know that my family will be wearing blue on Friday (the girls are already picking out their outfits) and I encourage you to do so as well. In fact, please encourage everyone you know to wear blue this Friday and then each of us can contribute in our own small way to raise our world’s awareness of this dreaded disease.

If you are interested in reading more about the Dress in Blue Day movement or would like ideas about how to effectively spread the word, please go to http://www.ccalliance.org/news_events_dress-in-blue.html.

Happy National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month!! (I’m so relieved that I’m starting mine cancer-free…)

The 6th Month CT Scan

Today I headed down to Stanford for blood work and the 6th month post-chemo CT scan. It seems both like it was yesterday that I was going through chemo, but it also feels like it’s been a very long time. To be honest, I’ve been on edge for the last several days in anticipation of the scan and, more importantly, finding out the results.

So – off I went to the beautiful Stanford Cancer Center for blood work. I had forgotten both how exquisite and unnerving that place is. While waiting to be called for my blood draw, I tried to guess what kind of cancer the other people in the waiting room were battling. I had this overwhelming urge to walk around the room and ask everyone what they had and how they were doing. Fortunately for the other patients, the phlebotomist called my name and finished my lab work fairly quickly. They then sent me to the brand new Stanford Radiology Center in Palo Alto for my CT scan.

When I arrived I discovered that they were running early so they were able to take me an hour before my scheduled appointment. I have to note that the technicians and nurses were amazingly kind and caring. Really – if you’re going to get cancer – Stanford is a heck of a place to go.

I made it through the CT scan without anything noteworthy to talk about. Unfortunately, I won’t know the results of the scan until my appointment this Thursday with Dr. Fisher. However, after the scan, I found myself searching the faces of the staff to see if they “knew” something. When the doctor came in to tell me that they had what they needed and I could leave, I had an internal debate as to whether he was being so pleasant because he knew that I was ok or because he knew that they had found something.

After about 10 minutes of overanalyzing everyone that I came into contact with, I finally let it go and decided that there was nothing that I could do until Thursday.

So – please keep me in your prayers this week and on Thursday at 3 pm PST – send a little extra positive thought my way.

Get Your Rear In Gear!

As many of you know, last year I was thinking about putting on a gala to raise money for colon cancer. Fortunately, many friends urged me to discard this notion, since putting on a gala while I was going through chemotherapy was insane. I then told myself that I would do it “next year.” Well – next year has arrived. I have been debating what I should do given the current economic crisis.

Yesterday, my brilliant friend, Gina, figured out a new way for me to raise funds for colon cancer and engage everyone else in the effort as well - without having to wear a ballgown. In fact, this activity is more geared toward t-shirts and running shoes.

What is this exciting opportunity? The Colon Cancer Coalition is holding a 5K Run/Walk on October 4 in San Francisco entitled “Get Your Rear In Gear.” I am planning to form a team to participate in this terrific event. I am telling all of you early so that you have plenty of time to prepare. For those of you not from the Bay Area, October is a beautiful time to come and visit (and get a little exercise while raising money for a great cause).

The sign-up forms aren’t out yet. They will be available next month during National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month (I’m sure you’re already buying your streamers for this year’s celebration). For more information about the race, go to http://www.getyourrearingear.com/events/get-your-rear-in-gear-events/san-francisco-october-2009.

I’m really excited about this. Our team will need to come up with a snazzy name, but I’m sure that we can come up with something since “colorectal” lends itself to so many many options.

Stay tuned for more information and start your training…

Isn't It Done Already?

Over the past month, I’ve written several blog entries, but I haven’t submitted them to my blog. Why? Because I felt like my blog sounded so wrapped up and neat and done. My cancer was done. There was a happy ending. I assumed that people didn’t want to hear from me anymore.

But it’s not done. The fear of recurrence remains. About once a day the fear sweeps through my body, generally catching me off guard. It takes my breath away. Every story that comes out about cancer – most recently the Ruth Bader Ginsburg story - strikes fear in me to my core.

A couple of weeks ago, I met up with an old high school friend (who is also a survivor) and told her about my dilemma about the blog. As a fellow cancer survivor she also struggles with everyone’s need to be done with her cancer. But then she urged me to keep writing. This blog was not just for me to express what was going on as I was going through treatment, but also to educate others who know people with cancer about what a cancer patient and survivor goes through both during and following cancer treatment. It is important that friends and family of cancer survivors know that although it may be done and over with for them, it really isn’t over for the survivor.

So – I’ve decided to keep writing. For those of you who have decided that you’ve had enough of Eve’s life with cancer – I promise I won’t be hurt if you remove yourself from my blog. For those of you who stay with me – I hope that every time you hear from me it reminds you that you need to set up that colonoscopy or urge someone you love to do so. Or maybe it’s just a reminder that life can take unexpected turns and so you should treasure every day.

What a Difference a Year Makes

So today is the anniversary of my surgery and diagnosis. It feels so surreal. When I awoke from surgery in Mercy Hospital in Des Moines one year ago, I had no idea how profoundly my world would change over the next year.

This is the week that everyone begins to act on their New Year’s resolutions. I, too, am focusing on my own 2009 resolutions. Thanks to the timing of my diagnosis, I now have an "anniversary" which will remind me of the most important resolutions I can make - to stay healthy and focused on what truly matters.

One year ago today, I was lying in a hospital facing my own mortality. This year, I started the day with acupuncture and will end it with some exercising. Last year, I was researching chemo treatment options. This year, I’m trying to figure out what vacations I can talk Pat into taking. Last year, I was wondering if I would live to see another winter. Today, I am confident that I will live to see many many New Year’s celebrations.

Yes, it's cliché, but what a difference a year makes.