Today is November 1st.. the start of Lung Cancer Awareness month.

As you know already, I lost my dad to lung cancer, on April 16th, 2004. He was 49 years old, and had only been diagnosed about 8 months before that. He had a slow-growing tumor, that could have been detected a lot sooner, had he been seeing a doctor who actually cared about treating people.

My dad went to his primary care physician because of some chronic back pain. Although some minor tests were done- xrays, etc.. - it was assumed that my dad hurt himself on the job. (This "doctor" even told my dad he did not have cancer!) At some point, despite physical therapy, the pain became unbearable. My dad went to the ER, and after more tests, was told by a (very caring) doctor that he had lung cancer. It was a shock to this oncologist that the PCP didn't make the diagnosis. Just looking at his hands, the doctor could see what they were dealing with- apparently clubbing of the fingers is a tell-tale sign. By this point, it was inoperable. He did chemo, with one doctor giving him hope beyond hope that it would work.. even when he knew it wouldn't. (Sadly, there is only a 5 year survival rate for lung cancer. But how much longer would my dad have lived if he were diagnosed sooner?)

I was not there when my father died, but I did speak to him on the phone just hours before. I called my sister, and she put the phone up to his ear so I could tell him I loved him. I waited by the phone, knowing that shortly, I'd be receiving that dreaded call.

Near the top left side of the page, you can see a "Lung Cancer Awareness" image. I made that- obviously to match the colors of my site. Something small to honor my dad. I did borrow the ribbon itself from many places which have it free online, but the text in purple (if you call it that color?) are my addition. I saw this evening that a friend of mine on MySpace has it on her site right now, to honor her mother- who died about 2 years before my dad. The image itself is nothing special, but it represents something (a HUGE something) that has really hit home for us. And I know it hits home for Sylvia (and others), too.