Finally, book winner announced.. and other hopeful news

Exciting new developments offer hope for survivors.

Sorry everyone; I know I promised I’d announce the winner of a signed copy of From Incurable to Incredible yesterday. Well, as they say, better late than never.

Just so you know, the process of drawing names is very scientific. My daughter wrote the names down, cut them out and mix them up in my handy dandy Susan G. Komen tote. I had her reach in and grab a name.

And the winner  is…Krista Torphy!

Thanks to everyone who left their comments about what brings them hope. It’s really great to hear others share from their experiences.

So what brings me hope? Lots of things actually. Yesterday for instance, I was volunteering at my 11-year-old daughter’s field day event at her school. All of a sudden, she comes up to me and gives me a big hug and kiss, right in front of all of her peers.  She actually did this several times throughout the event and invited me to hang with her friends. Will she always be this way? Who knows? But for now, I’m grateful.

Speaking of being scientific, another thing that gives me hope is how many new cancer treatments are becoming available. When I went to see my oncologist last week, he told me about a new drug called Provenge, a prostate cancer vaccine recently cleared by the FDA. He just found out about it and is using it now for his prostate patients. He seemed really optimistic about this and told me, “Who knows what will be out five years from now?”

According to an article in the latest issue of BusinessWeek magazine, pharmaceutical companies will present data on a new brain, breast, skin and kidney cancer at the June 4 American Society of Clinical Oncology conference.  How exciting is that?

Could cancer be wiped out by a vaccine? Well in my hometown, a doctor named Jonas Salk developed a vaccine for the deadly disease polio. Ever hear of anyone contracting polio recently? Possibilities my friends! Imagine the possibilities!