Cancer Awareness

Authors who fight cancer, support organizations to eradicate the disease, or have family and/or friends with it.

  • Cancer Awareness

    And then stuff happened #CancerAwareness by Vicki Batman @VickiBatman author of Temporarily Employed #RLFblog

    And then stuff happened #CancerAwareness by Vicki Batman @VickiBatman author of Temporarily Employed #RLFblog

    Welcome to day three of Cancer Awareness posts for 2021 on RLFblog. Today's guest is Vicki Batman.

    It's been a while...

    I haven't written about Handsome and the trials and tribulations due to throat cancer and his treatment over the past fifteen years. Mostly, we thought all was good.

    Turned out, stuff happened.

    Here's the story: Handsome cut himself, shaving over the plate area of his left jaw, right where the radiation hit him hardest, causing poor blood circulation. The area spread to the size of an eraser and then grew to a half inch. Then bigger. We knew what that meant-a visit to the reconstructive plastic surgeon.

    Handsome went to the doctor, who determined tissue from his back would be used, mainly because arteries were larger. The vessel feeding the "flap" would cross under his chin to connect with his right carotid. All sounded good, and surgery was scheduled for July 20.

    On the Sunday before the surgery, we took off for Houston, staying at a hotel suite five minutes from the medical district. The following day, we navigated to the hospital. Covid protocols dictated no valet parking, clean hands before entering, wear the mask they provided. Tests were done. At our plastic surgeon's visit, we discussed the surgery again. All decided a "go" for the next morning.

    At 5:30 A.M., we arrived for admission. Handsome went to pre-op, and staff readied him for the operation. By 7, the nurses wheeled him to surgery, and I went to the waiting area.

    Before noon, the volunteer called my name and said the doctor wanted to meet with me. The doctor? We settled in a consultation room, where he explained surgery did not proceed as planned. The right carotid artery (probably brittle from radiation) sprung a leak. The doctor went into lifesaving mode, called a vascular surgeon who used a stent, who then called a neurosurgeon to make sure Handsome didn't stroke. The doctor took Handsome's right pectoral and laid it along his neck. A graft from his left leg covered this. The doctor said there would be no more surgeries unless needed for lifesaving measures.

    We were disappointed but understood. The risk was too high.

    Handsome stayed in the hospital until the Sunday after surgery. He looked great. Lost some weight. Wanted to rest and get back to normal. A week after surgery, we went to the reconstructive plastic surgeon's office for a checkup. A drain was removed. We stayed for two more days. After another check on Friday, we loaded up and began the drive home.

    Only we didn't get far.

    Handsome asked me to pull over, saying he lost vision in his right eye. I did, and we sat for a long while; so long, the police came by. We returned to the hospital's emergency room, where I dropped him at the entry and turned to navigate through the creepy parking garage.

    That's when I lost it.

    I called #2son and cried. I wanted to go home. I wanted to be with my family and the Adora-poos. I wanted my life.

    I found my way back to the emergency room, and a kind security guard guided me inside where Handsome sat, waiting to be called. After an hour, we talked with an emergency room doctor. She and another doctor decided because of the possible stroke risk, Handsome had to be admitted.

    Over two days, Handsome saw ten doctors, did a lot of neurological tests, repeated for every doctor his vision loss story, had a CT scan and an MRI done, and ophthalmology testing.

    Late Sunday night, the neuro doctor came to his room to review the MRI. He flipped through the images, saying, "nothing. Nothing. Good."

    No one knew what had happened. A TIA? Maybe. A vascular spasm? Maybe. No one knew for sure.

    We stayed one more night. I loaded us in the car Monday morning and headed out. The drive exhausted Handsome. Once home, I sent him upstairs and unpacked.

    So since?

    Recovery was challenging. The surgical site looked darn good, except for the area under the chin, which improved slowly. Fatigue swamped him. Handsome lost thirteen pounds, and because he drinks his nutrition, he had a hard time gaining weight and maintaining a higher blood pressure.

    Five weeks later, I saw how the surgical site improved greatly. We had few answers for the fatigue. He scheduled a six-week checkup. All determined he looked great. The one-minute vision loss was probably because of low blood pressure.

    So what is his future? All we know is we will continue with our plans for trips and living.

    I say this every time I blog for RLF Cancer Week. Do Not Smoke. The Number One reason for throat cancer is smoking. But no one knows for sure how Handsome got it as he wasn't a smoker. Our sincere hope by sharing his story is we help someone. Be healthy. Maintain a good weight and eat right. Exercise. Socialize.

    Cancer is a booger bear.

    And then stuff happened #CancerAwareness by Vicki Batman @VickiBatman author of Temporarily Employed #RLFblogWhen your dream job disappears, your new SUV gets wiped out, and you're desperate for cash, what do you do? Hattie Cook becomes temporarily employed...

    Temporarily Employed: A Humorous Romantic Mystery

    Hattie Cooks Mystery Book 1

    Genre Cozy mystery

    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): G

    Hattie Cook's dream job is down the toilet and her new SUV violated. Desperate for cash to cover the basic necessities of rent and food, she takes a temporary job at Buy-Rite insurance company where she uncovers an embezzling scam tied to the death of a former employee—the very one she replaced. The last thing she wants is to clash with By-the-Book Detective Wellborn, no matter how much he makes her heart pound.

    Allan Charles Wellborn has secretly adored Hattie all his life. He evolved from a pocket protector-wearing geek to a handsome police detective. When the police determine there's more to the death of a former Buy Rite employee, he steps in to lead the investigation. Overly dedicated, always perfect, he puts his job first, even if doing so ultimately hurts the one he loves.

    Can the killer be found before Hattie's time is up?

    Where to buy Temporarily Out of Luck

    Publisher The Wild Rose Press
    Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00N4J5FDQ

    Vicki Batman Social Media

    Vicki Batman has sold many romantic comedy works to magazines, several publishers, and most recently, two humorous romantic mysteries. Along the way, she has picked up awards and bestsellers. Avid Jazzerciser. Handbag lover. Mahjong player. Yoga practitioner. Movie fan. Book devourer. Chocaholic. Best Mom ever. And adores Handsome Hubby. Most days begin with her hands set to the keyboard and thinking "What if??"

    Website http://vickibatman.blogspot.com/ 

    Blog http://www.vickibatman.blogspot.com/ 

    Twitter https://twitter.com/VickiBatman/ 

    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Vicki-Batman-sassy-writer-of-sexy-and-funny-fiction-133506590074451/ 

    Pinterest http://pinterest.com/vickibatman/ 

    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4814608.Vicki_Batman/ 

    Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/author/vickibatman/ 

    Newsletter http://vickibatman.blogspot.com/p/more-about-me.html/ 

    Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/vicki-batman/

  • Cancer Awareness

    Mom delivered the news – “stage four” #CancerAwareness by Sadira Stone @SadiraStone #RLFblog

    Welcome to day two of Cancer Awareness posts for 2021 on RLFblog. Today’s guest is Sadira Stone.

    Mom delivered the news - "stage four" #CancerAwareness by Sadira Stone @SadiraStone #RLFblogThanks so much, Kayelle, for welcoming me to your blog.

    Cancer research is a cause very near to my heart, because my mama is a breast cancer patient. By the time the cancer was discovered, it had already metastasized to her bones. I’ll never forget the day she called to deliver the terrible news: “It’s stage four. Please come.”

    Thank goodness, she lives near an excellent cancer treatment center, Kaiser Permanente of South San Francisco, and is getting good care. The side effects of her treatment are rough at times, but she was diagnosed at age 79, and at 81 she’s still with us and enjoying life. In fact, we gathered in August to celebrate her 81st birthday in the California Redwoods near Santa Cruz—our first in-person gathering of the whole family since the pandemic began. Since we’d just moved to Las Vegas, I brough Mom a cap covered in Vegas bling. She loved it! Here she is enjoying her birthday cake.

    Cancer has taken so many friends over the years, and now my siblings and I plan each family holiday gathering with special care, building memories while we still can. I pray for the day when science finally erases this awful disease, saving lives that would otherwise be lost too soon.

    The heroine of Christmas Rekindled: Bangers Tavern Romance One, lost her mother to cancer when she was only thirteen, and that loss damaged her relationship with her father, a wound she tries to heal in the course of the story. Though humorous and steamy, this holiday story delves into family reconciliation and the importance of found family. I hope you’ll take a look!

    Christmas Rekindled: Bangers Tavern Romance One by Sadira Stone

    Genre: Contemporary Romance Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R

    When two Scrooges unite to save a bar in trouble, a kiss under the mistletoe sparks the sexiest Christmas miracle ever.

    Bartender River Lundqvist has a damn good reason for hating Christmas. Bangers Tavern is the perfect place to lay low over the holidays—until Charlie walks in. His first encounter with the saucy server nine years ago was utter humiliation. Her reappearance stirs up powerful desires and hopes for a new start. But the timing is all wrong.

    Back in Tacoma to care for her estranged dad over the holidays, freelance web designer Charlie Khoury braces herself for the suckiest Christmas ever. A temporary job at Bangers Tavern gives her a chance to escape Dad’s criticism and blow off some steam. But why does the hunky bartender seem to hate her?

    A pretend girlfriend is just what River needs to keep his family off his back—until a kiss under the mistletoe flares hot enough to melt the North Pole. When greedy developers threaten Bangers Tavern, River and Charlie must team up to save it. Their sizzling chemistry feels like the real thing—but everyone knows rebound relationships don’t last.

    Come to Bangers Tavern for an enemies-to-lovers tale of reconciliation, found family, holiday cocktails, and the steamiest Christmas miracle ever.

    Available from your favorite online bookseller: https://books2read.com/b/3JjPxP

    Mom delivered the news - "stage four" #CancerAwareness by Sadira Stone @SadiraStone #RLFblog

    Sadira Stone Social Media

    Ever since her first kiss, Sadira’s been spinning steamy tales in her head. After leaving her teaching career in Germany, she finally tried her hand at writing one. Now she’s a happy citizen of Romancelandia, penning contemporary romance and cozy mysteries from her home in Washington State. When not writing, which is seldom, she explores the Pacific Northwest with her charming husband, enjoys the local music scene, belly dances, plays guitar badly, and gobbles all the books.
    Website http://sadirastone.com
    Blog http://sadirastone.com
    Twitter https://twitter.com/SadiraStone
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/sadirastone/
    Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/sadira0641/
    Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sadirastone/
    Amazon author page https://www.amazon.com/Sadira-Stone/e/B07KWK5FBX
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18568049.Sadira_Stone
    Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/sadira-stone
    Get to know Sadira Stone better by signing up for their email newsletter. http://eepurl.com/dKLMP2

     

  • Cancer Awareness

    “Blah blah CANCER blah blah” by Pia Manning, author of Finding Home @PiaManning #RLFblog #CancerAwareness

    Welcome to day one of Cancer Awareness posts for 2021 on RLFblog. Today’s guest is Pia Manning.


    "Blah blah CANCER blah blah" by  Pia Manning, author of Finding Home @PiaManning #RLFblog #CancerAwarenessIn 2007 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. A routine mammogram found my tumor in the early stages of its development – well before I knew the little bastard had taken up residence in my breast.

    My experience with cancer is not as gut wrenching and difficult as many other women’s. I was lucky. That said, ‘You have cancer’ ranks right up there on the list of horrible things one can hear. I hope none of you have to sit in a cold, white room and listen to those words…

    ####

    His thumb drew circles on the back of my hand. He squeezed my cold fingers. “Whatever it is, we’ll deal with it,” he reassured me.

    I nodded, not really listening.

    Two soft knocks announced the arrival of the man in the white coat. Let the show begin.

    He leaned against the door and shuffled his feet. His hands clutched a clipboard fat with paperwork. My biopsy and lab results, I presumed. His gaze swept the room, and he made no move to come any closer. I wondered why he stayed beside the door -maybe so he could duck out in a hurry. Not the kind of behavior I expected from someone who delivered the results of life changing pathology reports every day. You’d think he’d be used to tears by now.

    “I have some very bad news, and then some very good news.” The surgeon pushed away from the door and sat down. “You have breast cancer.”

    My husband’s grip tightened and he shifted towards me.

    I stared at a point in space, not focused on anything. Air molecules maybe.

    The doctor then explained the good news. My prognosis: merry and bright. The mammogram had detected my tumor before it had a chance to spread. I was one of the fortunate ones; I’d need a minimal amount of medical intervention.

    I didn’t hear any of it. I never got past, “You have breast cancer.” They tell me that’s a very normal response. They told me a lot of things.

    There are things they didn’t tell me about. Like the tidal wave of anger that swamped me. Not simply a passing emotion, my anger burned brightly for a long time-the kind of fury that keeps one warm at night. This was especially true when, two years later, the man holding my hand that awful day received a cancer diagnosis of his own.

    They didn’t prepare me for the isolation cancer imposes. Other people’s reactions proved to be an interesting study in human behavior. Some simply didn’t know what to say. Uncomfortable, they avoided me. For others, I represented their worst nightmare. Oh! She has cancer! Run! ‘It’s not contagious!’ I wanted to yell. But it didn’t matter.

    My husband and our offspring struggled to support me. Desperate to help me carry the emotional load, they asked, “What can we do? What do you need?” The truth? I didn’t know. While contemplating your own mortality the realization hits that you might lose everything: sunsets, macaroni and cheese and everyone you love. Priorities shift and change. Your world spins on a different axis. That’s a hell of a lot to work through. Lost, I didn’t know how to help them, help me. I will never fully understand how hard they fought to strengthen our bonds and keep our connections alive. I’m just grateful they did.

    My mom, also a cancer survivor, told me that in time I wouldn’t think about cancer every day. She also told me that day would be a long time coming.

    EPILOGUE

    My mom proved correct. I no longer check myself for lumps at stop signs and red lights. I’ve celebrated fourteen cancer free years, and I am grateful for each and every one. During those fourteen years our daughters and son have found their soul mates, and four grandchildren have entered the world. Finding my tumor early gave me those years.

    I worry about my daughters and this awful family legacy they’ve inherited. My mother-in-law, their other grandmother, is also a breast cancer survivor. While it’s true no one can predict with certainty whether they’ll become breast cancer patients too, their odds are certainly higher. At least they’re aware of the risk and have discussed their situations with their doctors.

    There are new treatments, drug and guidelines announced every few years. Also new in the field are better methods of early detection. Figuring out who needs what, when, gets confusing. Talk to your doctor.

    Mammograms save lives. I know. Mine was one of them.

    A mammogram only works if you get one! So, pick up the phone and make that appointment. Know someone else who also should pick up that phone? Hold their hand, nag, whatever you need to do…


    Can new vet Elizabeth Faulkner love two men? In Pia Manning’s new small town menage romance, Finding Home, she must decide if her heart will allow both Brent and Luke Callahan in.

    Pia, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! We support all furbabies, real life or fictional. We want to know all about your Fiction Furbaby, but first, please tell us about Finding Home: Caveman Creek Bk 1.

    Finding Home: Caveman Creek Book 1 by Pia Manning

    Genre Contemporary, Small Town, Menage Romance

    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): NC 17-X

    Newly licensed vet Elizabeth Faulkner only needs two things: New clients for her practice and a decent place to live for herself and her disabled little sister. When her sister inherits an old farmhouse in Pinecone Creek, Wisconsin, Elizabeth thinks at least one wish has been granted. But a greedy land developer will stop at nothing to get her land, and her new clients Brent and Luke Callahan, are more interested in a relationship than her vet skills. Brent and Luke have waited years for their forever woman. They know their wait is over once they see Elizabeth. But can she love two men? Can Elizabeth provide a home for her sister before the little girl becomes lost in the foster system? Welcome to Caveman Creek where the men behave a little like Neanderthals when it comes to their women

    Where to buy Finding Home: Caveman Creek Book 1

    Publisher SirenBookstrand https://www.bookstrand.com/book/finding-home-mfm

    Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Caveman-Creek-Publishing-Menage-ebook/dp/B096L94M5V

    Pia Manning Social Media

    I live in the northwoods territory of Wisconsin with my spousal unit, Blondie girl, and three spoiled felines. When not writing, I can be found dog walking, reading, playing Clash of Clans or crocheting.
    Twitter https://twitter.com/piamanning3
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pia.manning.71

     

  • Cancer Awareness

    Miserable Isn’t in Our Vocabulary by Vicki Batman @VickiBatman #CancerAwareness #RLFblog

    Miserable Isn't in Our Vocabulary by Vicki Batman @VickiBatman #CancerAwareness #RLFblogOver the years on Romance Lives Forever, I have shared Handsome’s battle with throat cancer and the treatment/surgeries which followed.

    A year and a half passed since Handsome’s last surgery, the one to repair the thin skin tear along his left jaw. (In actuality, the first one failed after five days, and he had to have a second go.) With a new graft taken from his left wrist and vessels from his leg, the doctor declared the second surgery a success. Handsome went home with a feeding tube in his stomach, which the doctor removed after a few months. Because his swallowing was compromised, he could only drink his food. He consulted with the nutritionist and found a full-power formula to consume. Ten surgeries zapped his energy. His daily routine included long naps.

    In January, he researched his condition and found something which might be of benefit—steroids in high doses to reduce inflammation. He consulted with his ENT specialist and the oncology doctor. Both read the studies and, seeing no complications, decided to go ahead.

    Within two days of taking the steroids, Handsome said he felt a tingling sensation in his throat. His mouth and jaw moved better. He spoke distinctly. He had the urge to swallow. However, in the midst of treatment, he immersed in stressful negotiations to sell his company, and his mother passed from lung cancer. Quickly, the benefits of the steroid treatment dissipated. Disheartening, to say the least.

    After the sale of the company was completed, his life wound down some. He talked with the oncologist about what had happened—the tingling, the better movement—when on the higher dosage steroids. The doctor decided to try a second round. This time, next to nothing occurred.

    The scars, grafts, and jaw healed. His energy level returned. He worked out regularly. Recently, we traveled to Europe and faced challenges with the Italian customs to clear his food (formula) to our hotel. Eventually, all resolved in a nail-biting last minute. Now, we had better knowledge of how to operate when traveling.

    What does Handsome’s future entail? Pretty much, he won’t be eating a steak, just drinking the liquid diet. I’ve asked him to consult with a speech therapist. I believe one could help him speak better and correct his bad habits. Maybe, maybe, maybe he might swallow a teensy weensy bit better, too. We don’t know for sure, but he must try. And there is a possibility of another kind of steroid treatment.

    Cancer IS a booger-bear. I implore all of you to take care of your body. Because of what I know about throat cancer, my heart bleeds when I see someone smoking even though Handsome didn’t get cancer this way.

    I always end these posts by saying how positive he is. Miserable isn’t part of his vocabulary. He doesn’t dwell on being miserable. Truly, he thinks of others’ suffering first. We embrace life fully. Of course, we wish for the old norm, but that’s life. It takes on new life adventures—good and bad.Miserable Isn't in Our Vocabulary by Vicki Batman @VickiBatman #CancerAwareness #RLFblog

    ~ Vicki Batman

    Sommerville Days

    Love blossoms in the small town of Sommerville in these heartwarming tales, filled with fun and forever possibilities.

    Raving Beauty: What if the love of your life was in front of you all along?

    Store Wars: The competition is heating up when Janie’s old flame returns to town and is running his family’s store. Could following dreams break her heart?

    San Diego or Bust: When a young woman plans a romantic getaway with her boyfriend, disaster strikes. Is her Mr. Right the right Mr. Right?

    Where to buy Sommerville Days

    Publisher: VLMBatman
    Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07V4NPYFP/

    Vicki Batman Social Media

    Vicki Batman has sold many romantic comedy works to magazines, several publishers, and most recently, two humorous romantic mysteries. Along the way, she has picked up awards and bestsellers. Avid Jazzerciser. Handbag lover. Mahjong player. Yoga practitioner. Movie fan. Book devourer. Chocaholic. Best Mom ever. And adores Handsome Hubby. Most days begin with her hands set to the keyboard and thinking “What if??”
    Website: http://vickibatman.blogspot.com/p/more-about-me.html/
    Blog: http://www.vickibatman.blogspot.com/
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/VickiBatman/
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Vicki-Batman-sassy-writer-of-sexy-and-funny-fiction-133506590074451/
    Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/vickibatman/
    Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4814608.Vicki_Batman/
    Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/vickibatman/
    Newsletter: http://vickibatman.blogspot.com/p/more-about-me.html/
    Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/vicki-batman/

     

  • Cancer Awareness

    Prostate Cancer Saved My Life by Lloyd A Meeker @LloydAMeeker #CancerAwareness #RLFblog

    Prostate Cancer Saved My Life by Lloyd A Meeker @LloydAMeeker #CancerAwareness #RLFblogAuthor Lloyd A Meeker shares how finding out the worst news turned out to be great.

    Prostate Cancer Saved My Life by Lloyd A Meeker

    Last November I received my third cancer diagnosis. This time it was my prostate, and in January I had a biopsy which revealed I had two different kinds, one slow, the other very aggressive. There was no time to lose, so surgery was scheduled for February 7th.

    I was deeply discouraged. My first two diagnoses had been over fifteen years earlier, and I had become certain cancer had long ago slipped from my rear-view mirror, although my takeaways from that experience had stayed with me: seize the moment, make time for the important stuff, focus on the people and work I love, make space for my own needs, be fierce and unapologetic about it.

    Still, it was a shock to anticipate yet another round of treatment, and I was despondent about what having my prostate removed might mean in my intimate life with my husband. And for the first time in a long, long time, I began to wonder whether I had other cancer time bombs ticking away inside my body. It was stressful, having that strain between me and my wonderful old body. It had stuck with me through so much over my rather checkered 70 years.

    As my surgery date approached, I went in for the standard array of pre-op screening. Everything came back fine, except the EKG showed a slight anomaly. We opted for a second opinion. The new EKG wasn’t any better. We did a CT scan, and it looked like there were some arterial blockage that caused concern. We agreed with the cardiologist to have a catheterization performed as precaution before the surgery.

    So the next day I was lying on the table while the cardiologist started the catheterization, and I’m listening to him mumble medicalese to an assistant, when he asked someone to bring the cardiac surgeon on duty into the room. I remember thinking, “I don’t think that happens every time,” and then I don’t remember much of anything so I must have got another dose of good drugs.

    I woke up en route to somewhere, lying on a gurney, looking at the ceiling. It’s a visual cliche from countless movies to have the camera focus on the fluorescent ceiling lights as they slide by in endless procession. It was vaguely humorous to see it again in real life.

    Anyway, I was wheeled from the OR to intensive care, with about a million tubes stuck in me. The cardiologist and the surgeon came by later to tell me why I wasn’t going to be going home right away. My main heart artery, so subtly called “the widow-maker,” was 99% blocked, and the other three weren’t much better. Apparently although my heart itself was still perfectly healthy, the slightest heart incident would have killed me, and a heart incident would occur without warning eventually, likely sooner than later. So I was having quadruple bypass surgery in the morning.

    I have to admit that was a major surprise, since I’d never had any heart concerns. Bob and I had a few tears of fear and despair, and gradually realized that as shocking as it was, this was extremely good news, as neither of us had any clue I was carrying a different kind of time bomb in my body.

    So now I have a foot-long beauty mark running down the middle of my chest, along with the smaller, more recent trophies acquired during prostate removal. And I really do consider it a beauty mark. It’s a daily reminder of how lucky I have been, how lucky I am, and how much more life and love I can know because of it.

    And that’s how aggressive prostate cancer saved my life. Sometimes, if we’re especially lucky, we get help from astonishingly unusual places.

    Stone and Shell by Lloyd A Meeker

    Genre Holiday family romance

    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): G

    Eight-year-old Howie Evinger is convinced that his dad would be happier if he found a new husband. Howie would be happier, too. And somewhere out there in the city of Vancouver, there’s the right man for his dad to love. But how to find him? That’s a problem, especially if you’re just a kid and your dad says he doesn’t want another husband.

    With the help of his quirky aunt Shanna, who calls herself a Buddhist Wiccan, Howie builds his very own solstice altar with cool symbols to support his search. It has a candle, a feather, and a twisty stick, plus an agate for his dad, and a scallop shell for his new husband. Share Howie’s solstice adventure as he learns how real magic requires courage and patience as well as symbols.

    Where to buy Stone and Shell

    Publisher https://ninestarpress.com/product/stone-and-shell/

    Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Stone-Shell-Lloyd-Meeker-ebook/dp/B01NA7DS81/

    Lloyd A Meeker Social Media

    Born on a farm in the Colorado foothills and having led what can only be described as a checkered life, Lloyd Meeker can honestly say he’s grateful for all of it. He’s been a minister, an office worker, a janitor, a drinker, and a software developer on his way to finishing his first novel in 2004. He is a three-time cancer survivor.
    A number of his stories have been published, including Traveling Light (DSP Publications), Enigma (Wilde City Press), Blood and Dirt (Wilde City Press), Blood Royal, (Wild Rose Press) and Stone and Shell (NineStar Press). His novel The Companion (Dreamspinner Press) was a finalist in the 2015 Lambda Literary Awards.
    Meeker and his husband have been together since 2002. Between them they have four children and five grandchildren. They live in south Florida, and work hard to keep up with the astonishing life they’ve created.
    Twitter https://twitter.com/LloydAMeeker
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lloyd.a.meeker
    Amazon Author page https://www.amazon.com/Lloyd-A.-Meeker/e/B008FC5VF4

     

  • Cancer Awareness

    What cancer means to us #CancerAwareness #RLFblog #PMInc

    What cancer means to us #CancerAwareness #RLFblog #PMIncCancer does not discriminate, it does not care if you are a mother, father, grandparent, child, what color your skin is, nor whether you have money. Cancer is an invasive, pervasive disease that is only out to destroy.

    Too often we hear ‘they are too young’, ‘only women get breast cancer’, or ‘I don’t do anything unhealthy’, then we hear about how a child has leukemia, or a man has gotten breast cancer, or how someone who has never taken junk into their body has developed cancer.

    It does not care if you are 1 month or 90 years old, it does not care what the ‘average age’ is. Staying ahead of it, the best you can, is the only way to truly stand a fighting chance. Knowing the facts, asking about your family’s medical history, understanding your own personal risk are ways to start fighting now and not just for yourself but for your loved ones.

    Below are just some statistics listed concerning cancer taken from the National Cancer Institute. We encourage each of you to not only check out the other statistics but also look for other indicators and BE YOUR OWN ADVOCATE and the ADVOCATE OF YOUR LOVED ONES. No one knows your family history as well as you do. Sure, you can notify your doctor when you fill out those initial forms but your medical record does not necessarily reflect your parents, children, or grandchildren’s records. Just because you have the same provider it does not mean that they will remember your medical history when talking to your loved ones. So, write it out, save the information, share it with other members, and stand up for your own medical care.

    Personalized Marketing Inc Cancer Stories

    From Dee

    My Uncle, Aunt, Grandfather, Stepmother, and other members of my family have all died not only from cancer but also from the treatments involved. Chemo itself can be deadly. When I recently took my son to get a workup done, I told them I wanted him to have a complete workup including being tested for Prostate Cancer. The initial reaction was ‘he’s too young, we don’t check for that until they are older’. Of course, I informed them that my Uncle was diagnosed in his late 30’s and that several other members on my Dad’s side have dealt with or were diagnosed with Prostate Cancer. This did not include the various other types of cancers that have passed through my family tree. If I had not been with him to provide the information again, they may have missed out on certain test needed. When I go with any of my children or my dad to their appointments, I often provide information about medical concerns and history so that the doctor is aware. Some cancers are inherited others are behaviorally passed on, knowing which types are in your genetic pool is important to understand and discuss with your doctor.

    From Cindy

    Cancer does not only effect those who have it but also those around them. My Dad had Lung Cancer and his Dad had Prostate Cancer. My Mom went through Breast, Lung and Colon Cancer in her lifetime. With each one my sisters and I made it imperative to always be checked and ensured other members of our family were aware that our family is at a higher risk to develop Cancer no matter what type. The psychological toll it takes on family, friends and caregivers is very difficult. A strong support system in imperative to everyone.

    So be sure to know your medical history, gather and confide in those around you for support, and most important don’t skip your annual physicals and screenings.

    No One is Excluded. Awareness and Early Detection May Save You.

    According to the National Cancer Institute (n.d.) Statistics at a Glance: The Burden of Cancer in the United States

    • In 2018, an estimated 1,735,350 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the United States and 609,640 people will die from the disease.
    • The most common cancers (listed in descending order according to estimated new cases in 2018) are breast cancer, lung and bronchus cancer, prostate cancer, colon and rectum cancer, melanoma of the skin, bladder cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, kidney and renal pelvis cancer, endometrial cancer, leukemia, pancreatic cancer, thyroid cancer, and liver cancer.
    • The number of new cases of cancer (cancer incidence) is 439.2 per 100,000 men and women per year (based on 2011–2015 cases).
    • The number of cancer deaths (cancer mortality) is 163.5 per 100,000 men and women per year (based on 2011–2015 deaths).
    • Cancer mortality is higher among men than women (196.8 per 100,000 men and 139.6 per 100,000 women). When comparing groups based on race/ethnicity and sex, cancer mortality is highest in African American men (239.9 per 100,000) and lowest in Asian/Pacific Islander women (88.3 per 100,000).

    If you ever need a friend or someone to just listen and not judge, feel free to drop us a line. We do understand and being someone’s pen pal is just one way we can make a difference in other people’s lives.

    ~ Dee and Cindy

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    Resources

    According to the National Cancer Institute (n.d.) Cancer Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/statistics