Father Knows Best

Dear Blogger Family and Friends,

The Pink Crusader extends a warm welcome, big hugs and special salutations to the men in our lives, especially my husband Tony, and my dad (a.k.a. Papa Bear). Happy Father's Day 2007! Hope it is as wonderful as you are.

"Good parents give their children Roots and Wings. Roots to know where home is, wings to fly away and exercise what's been taught them."

-Jonas Salk

From time to time it's not uncommon for me to make reference to my beloved father, a psychiatrist and distinguished lifetime fellow, who has always been (and continues to remain) a good source of knowledge, support and guidance. I respect his advice and generally "go the mountain" several times a week. However, this wasn't always the case.

Growing up a free-spirited child of the 60's in rural Ohio, I was influenced by society's changing landscape which redefined everything from relationships to music to politics to religion to social norms. My views were idealistic and I sincerely believed that all change (moral, social, and political) would lead to the betterment of mankind. In other words, I was young, impresionable and my rose colored glasses were doing their job.

The drunken politician leaps
Upon the street where mothers weep
And the saviors who are fast asleep,
They wait for you.
Music & Lyrics by Bob Dylan - I Want You

Behind the scenes, my Christian parents were also doing their job to provide the stability, education and religious foundation needed to raise five children within a world that appeared to be crashing down around them. So there we were: a typical teenager bucking the establishment, sorting through anti-war propaganda, questioning the existence of God and trying to establish my place in the cultural revolution; and, in the other corner, my bewildered parents were patiently watching, praying and working to hold things together for me, my brother and three sisters.

Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don't criticize
What you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin'.
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'
Music & Lyrics by Bob Dylan - The Times They are A-Changing

Eventually, something had to give....and it did on May 4, 1970 at Kent State University, when the Ohio National Guard opened fire on unarmed students peacefully protesting the Viet Nam war, resulting in eight shootings with four fatalities.(Joe Lewis, the brother of a fellow classmate was among the wounded survivors.) Along with the tragic deaths, my idealistic glass bubble was shattered in the process. I grew up fast that day...and threw away the rose-colored glasses in the process. The "real world" was what it was, and not what I wanted it to be. It was time to stop irritating my elders and become a productive member of society.

It ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babe
It don't matter, anyhow
An' it ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babe
If you don't know by now
When your rooster crows at the break of dawn
Look out your window and I'll be gone
You're the reason I'm trav'lin' on
Don't think twice, it's all right
Music & Lyrics by Bob Dylan - Don't Think Twice, It's Alright

As I continued to mature, things didn't slip through the emotional radar as often as before. I began to notice (in subtle ways), that my opinions, responses and reference points were taking on overtones of my parents. Best part, I recognized it as a good thing and embraced the values that had been lovingly and patiently instilled in me. I realized that I liked being a responsible, compassionate and spiritual young-minded adult. In the end, my parents' love, guidance and support had prevailed, teaching me that it is possible to bring about change as an independent thinker rather than conform to empty rhetoric and building castles in the air.

May you grow up to be righteous,
May you grow up to be true,
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you.
May you always be courageous,
Stand upright and be strong,
May you stay forever young,
Music & Lyrics by Bob Dylan - Forever Young

So today, if you have the good fortune to talk with your dad, give him the spotlight and don't be in a hurry. Take the time to say all those things you have wanted to say, including "Thank-you" and "I'm sorry." And for those of you who have lost your father or remain at odds, look to your heart for closure and don't waste any more time feeling sad, bitter or resentful. You may only go through this life once, but you have many chances to get it right in the process. Don't let time slip away.

How many years can a mountain exist
Before it's washed to the sea?
Yes, 'n' how many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free?
Yes, 'n' how many times can a man turn his head,
Pretending he just doesn't see?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.
Music & Lyrics by Bob Dylan - Blowin' in the Wind

Personal Note:
I'm happy to announce that the new web site is up and running, compliments of my son, Dalip. Please log onto www.pinkcrusader.org for the latest updates on "The Faces behind Breast Cancer," and to pre-order copies of the book. We will also provide details on the Launch Party, media coverage and book-signing events at this web location in the near future. As always, thank you for your ongoing support.

FYI:

From Judy Bloss - MASTECTOMY HOSPITAL BILL in Congress

A mastectomy is when a woman's breast is removed in order to remove cancerous breast cells/tissue. If you know anyone who has had a mastectomy, you may know that there is a lot of discomfort and pain afterwards. Insurance companies are trying to make mastectomies an outpatient procedure. Let's give women the chance to recover properly in the hospital for 2 days after surgery.

There's a bill called the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act which will require insurance companies to cover a minimum 48-hour hospital stay for patients undergoing a mastectomy. It's about eliminating the "drive-through mastectomy" where women are forced to go home just a few hours after surgery, against the wishes of their doctor, still groggy from anesthesia and sometimes with drainage tubes still attached.

Lifetime Television has put this bill on their web page with a petition drive to show your support. Last year over half the House signed on. PLEASE!! Sign the petition by clicking on the web site below. You need only give your NAME, ZIP CODE and EMAIL.

http://www.lifetimetv.com/health/breast_mastectomy_pledge.html

This takes about 2 seconds. PLEASE PASS THIS ON to your friends and family and, on behalf of all women...THANKS!!

From Cheryl Donlin - Audience Support "Open Journal"

The June 12 KPFT Open Journal that Pink Ribbons Project did on inflammatory breast cancer was a big success. A lot of great information on the topic was shared among the guests and with the listeners. Just a reminder, too, that if people were not able to tune in for the live show, they can still hear the program by going to www.pinkribbons.org, clicking on "Calendar of Events" and scrolling down to the KPFT logo. The logo is a hotlink to the KPFT "Audio Archive" page. Once there, just scroll down to June 12 and look for Open Journal and Pink Ribbons Project, listed on the left. Then you can either listen to the program, or download it for later. Three cheers for technology!

We would really appreciate it if those who listen to the show would go to www.kpft.org, click on "Program Evaluation form" and give the station feedback on our program. That is one of the things that will help ensure that Pink Ribbons Project will have the chance to do other shows in the future. We are counting on our listeners! Thanks much

DAILY REMINDER:
"Fund Free Mammograms"
Go to The Breast Cancer Site at http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/tpc/EEB_0115_BCSm
and help fund free mammograms for the homeless, working-poor, and un-insured women. It costs nothing to you, except one daily click on the pink "Fund Free Mammograms" button. You can even request automatic reminders via e-mail. Please make your free click now, and thanks for your continuing support! The Breast Cancer Site, One Union Square, 600 University Street, Suite 1000, Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: 1-888-811-5271

UPCOMING EVENTS: Mark Your Calendars and Save the Dates!

Rosebuds Meetings
Open to all Breast Cancer Patients/Survivors
1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month
5:45 - 7:30 p.m.
JUNE 19

Rosebuds II Meetings
(For those who have had or are at high risk
for recurrence and/or metastasis)
2nd and 4th Thursday of each month 5:45 - 7:30 p.m.
JUNE 28
www.RosebudsSupport.org

The Alice Thomsen Lymphedema Awareness Group of Houston
Meetings are scheduled on the 3rd Tuesday of every other month at the American cancer Society Building,6301 Richmond (between Hillcroft and Fountainview) at 7:00pm. The 2007 dates are July 17th, September 18 and November 20th.
For further information call 281-546-6438.

2007 Komen Houston Race for the Cure Survivor Party
Wednesday, August 22 at the Houstonian from 6-8 p.m.
Anyone who has participated in the “Race for the Cure” and indicated that they are a survivor automatically gets an invitation.
Details to be announced in future posts.

"The Faces behind Breast Cancer" Launch Party
Sunday August 26, at 1:00 pm.
Marriott Westchase, Houston
Details posted in May 27th blog and web site www.pinkcrusader.org

Living Fully with and Beyond Cancer
M.D. Anderson Network's 19th Annual Patient and Caregiver Conference
September 6-8 2007 Registration begins June 11
Marriott Westchase - Houston, Texas
For more info call 1-800-345-6324 or visit www.mdanderson.org/patientconference

Tour De Pink 2007
Pink Ribbons Project
September 9, 2007
at Prairie View A&M University
www.tourdepink.org

2007 KOMEN HOUSTON RACE FOR THE CURE®
Saturday, October, 6, 2007
Sam Houston Park - Downtown
2007 Race Registration Now Open!
Race Fees

$25 Survivors (packet mailed for FREE)
$30 Adults (packet mailed for FREE)
$15 Children under the age of 15 (packet mailed for FREE)
$50 Sleep in for the Cure® (packet mailed for FREE)

Race Day Schedule Time & Event
7:45 a.m. Opening Ceremonies & Memorial Birds
8:00 a.m. Family Walk and Kids K by ConocoPhillips
8:15 a.m. 5K Coed Timed Competitive Run
8:25 a.m. 5K Coed Non-Competitive Run
8:35 a.m. 5K Coed Walk
9:15 a.m. Runners' Awards Ceremony
10:00 a.m. Awards Ceremony and Survivor Celebration
For additional information: www.komen-houston.org 713-783-9188

2007 Breast Health Summit
"SAVE THE DATE" for the 2007 Breast Health Summit to be held on October 18, 2007 at the United Way in Houston. Please pass this information on to others who may be interested. Additional information will be sent out later by both e-mail and postal mail. And of course, if your mailing address has changed, please be sure to forward the updated information to me. I look forward to seeing you in October!
Pat Dames
The Rose-
12700 North Featherwood
Houston, TX 77034
281-464-5150
Fax 281-484-7083
pdames@the-rose.org
www.the-rose.org

"Sharing is Caring"
As always, The Pink Crusader welcomes your comments, stories, poems, and events. Posts are updated every Sunday. Please send your written contributions to thepinkcrusader1@aol.com.

"Fatherhood is pretending the present you love the most is soap-on-a-rope."

- Bill Cosby

Until next week, stay well, stay strong, and keep on dancing to your Father's golden oldies!

Love, Josie
The Pink Crusader
thepinkcrusader1@aol.com

Of Lures and Men

Dear Blogger Family & Friends,

The Pink Crusader sends big hugs and warm greetings via the friendly skies. While I am cruising at a different altitude than most of you, my thoughts are deeply grounded with one and all.

"I wouldn't be surprised if someday some fisherman caught a big shark and cut it open, and there inside was a whole person. Then they cut the person open, and in him is a little baby shark. And in the baby shark there isn't a person, because it would be too small. But there's a little doll or something, like a Johnny Combat little toy guy - something like that."

-Jack Handy

Special treat this week! While the Pink Crusader takes a mini-getaway, my long-standing high school buddy Peter R. Violand, published author and poet, family man, organic gardener and fishing enthusiast, kindly agreed to step in and share an excerpt from his collection of essays entitled "A Fisherman's Journal." Copyright 2007. Cast away and enjoy!

Peter Writes:
Of Lures and Men

It is always my hope that I might tempt a nice speckled trout to attack a top water lure. There is really nothing quite comparable to it in saltwater fishing. That sudden explosion at the waterline. Your lure disappearing beneath the froth. The jolt of electricity up the line, down the rod and into your solar plexus. The release of adrenalin. Then a strategic tug of war as you finesse a pissed off, head-thrashing yellow mouth. And you still might lose him before he’s safely in the net.

I have invested a small fortune in these top waters and multitudes of other artificial lures. For those who are not initiates of this obsessive sport, it’s hard to relate just how addictive these pretty little lures with single, treble, double treble, and sometimes triple treble, hooks, can be. You can't say enough about artificial lures; but that won't stop me.

It has been said by some sarcastic fishing pundit that fishing lures have caught many more fishermen than have caught fish. Mir-O-lures, she-dogs, he-dogs, bone super spooks, Sheldon lures—I've seen big portions of my paycheck invested in them all: these glittering, gaudy, pretty, bedazzling, mass produced miniature works of art. You can see more exotic colors in these top water lures than on a low rider car in Southeast Austin.

Truth is, sometimes I'm reluctant to use them. Because I just know I'm going to scratch it on the jetty, or a big, inconsiderate, toothy trout is going to mar the simonize shine as it attempts to deep six it into its yellow maw. Not to mention what the salt water does to those sharp, shiny treble hooks over time. Okay, I'll mention it: it renders those hooks into a rusty mush in no time. No, better to leave these dazzling $6 gewgaws in your box and tie on an expendable 1/16 oz. wide-gap leadhead jig and a red and white shrimp tail. Who cares if it gets shredded in the million and one ways of the inconsiderate Gulf or bay—snagged on rocks, shells, dragged over sand and scratched by trout tooth.

So just put those top waters back in the box for now. Observe them from time to time, like a collection of rare and precious wine purchased dearly by a covetous connoisseur—not ever to be drunk (Oh God, no!) but to be admired in their pretty bottles, their artsy estate labels a guarantee of snob quality, never to really be experienced or, perhaps, to be used…only…not quite yet. Not today. Maybe tomorrow. Oh God, the agony of indecision!—and so many to choose from!

And to think that it was years after I began fishing at the coast before I began to use artificial's. Used to just put a dead shrimp on a hook. As fate would have it, I ran out of dead shrimp on the Bob Hall pier one day. There was this guy fishing next to me who kept hauling ‘em up. His name was Scooter, lived in Rockport, was 20 but looked 70, worked the head boats when he could, cleaned fish at the Dolphin Docks occasionally. Scooter had greasy blond hair, several front teeth missing, smoked camel filter-less and ALWAYS had a can of Busch beer in hand. He gave me an ugly little lure, what I now know to be a root beer flake Kelly wiggler shrimp tail on a leadheaded jig. I caught three trout in a row, not a hardhead catfish among ‘em. The lure hooked the fish and the lure hooked me. My wallet has never really recovered from that initial exposure.

This whole thing about lures can drive one to utter distraction. After all, which is the right lure to use? At last count there were approximately 326 quadrillion fishing lures from which the serious angler could choose. And those are just saltwater lures at Cabela’s! Among this confusing cornucopia of jigs and plugs, one needs to be able to distinguish between slabs and spoons, sinkers and floaters, hard and soft bodies…you get the point. The list is endless, man. And it is at this point, I offer a little maxim I once heard a Bass Master utter in complete seriousness. It may be of some help: If it ain’t chartreuse, it ain’t no use

Simple. Catchy. Poetic even. But I’ve added to it, in my own way, via Jerry Lee Lewis: If it ain’t chartreuse, it ain’t no use
Be-bop-a-doo-wop
And a long neck goose

Nonetheless, given as I am to that peculiar trait that afflicts most fishermen—superstition and a high degree of suggestibility—my tackle box turned chartreuse over night. And just a day before, I had no idea what a chartreuse was. I thought it might be lumped in with the other fruity colors, such as mauve, or fuchsia.

But seriously, chartreuse does work. And so do red and plum-treuse and fire-tiger and motor-oil with gold flake and, last but not least, New Penny and Nuclear Chicken. Hell, they all work. I know this to be so, because I have purchased every single one of them, these Kelly wigglers, bass assassins, Texas trout factory soft plastics, DOA shrimp, ad infinitum. Just don’t tell my wife. I’ve been getting down on her about obsessions with shoes and house projects. I may be a hypocrite but I don’t see any reason to inform her of that fact.

My point is: All lures work sooner or later. Given an infinite time horizon, sooner or later every lure will catch a fish in any given water and weather condition. This is only dimly understood by the novice fisherman. The problem is, we mere mortals do not have an infinite time horizon.

In summation, let us seek to simplify the situation, cut the fishing Gordian knot of trying to decide which lure(s) — Oh God, the indecision! — to buy before our next trip to the coast. But even here we have two choices.Hey, can I help it if this is America, land of limitless choices! If you simply cannot stand the idea of attempting to pick the perfect lure from a galaxy of possible wrong choices, then I suggest you do your fishing in backwater places like Albania, or Bulgaria or Chechnya. A bloody worm and a rusty old hook for you, comrade!But for those of us who fish in real first world countries like Port Arkansas, Sea Drift or Port O’Connor, here are your two choices:

1)A gold, or silver, or copper Johnson sprite, hopefully weedless, single hook, possibly with a buck tail. How could you even begin to argue the wisdom of this choice, given the likes of Rudy Grigar and Russell Tinsley, both of whom weighed in on this choice as their go-to lure in most conditions. You want to argue with the fishing Jeddi masters?

Or,

2)Buy all the lures you can get your hands on! If you are rich, buy all at once, take them home, dump them on the carpet and dive in and out of them like a porpoise (like Scrooge McDuck did with his money). Note: watch out for those hooks. If not rich, just go to Cabela’s or Academy every couple days and buy a few. Sometimes there will be sales and they will be cheaper. It’s been known to happen. Think of it this way, you’re investing in a Fishing Lure Mutual Fund: dollar cost averaging in lures. Sometimes the cost of lures will be up, sometimes down — so that over time, you can actually make money by purchasing them. It’s like magic, and there are no hidden management fees.
Pete Violand, June ‘07

Personal Note:
So that's how men spend their money! Many, many thanks to "Pete" for sharing his humorous take on fishing as well as life. You will also be able to read Pete's written contribution to, "The Faces behind Breast Cancer," and meet him in person at the Launch Party and fund raising event on Sunday, August 26, 2007.

FYI:

From Marika Rafte: Pink De Tour 2007
Hello, It’s that time of year again…I am getting ready for Tour de Pink 2007.

My name is Marika Rafte. I am the daughter of Susan (Weiner) and Alan Rafte.
Like I have done the past two years, I am again raising funds for my involvement in Tour de Pink 2007.

At the first ride in 2005, I raised over $7,500 and rode 23 miles with my dad. Last year, I met my goal of $10,000 by raising $10,307 and riding again 23 miles with both my mom and dad. This year I decided to make 13 the number of the year: I am 13 years old, my mom will celebrate 13 years as a survivor and I have set my goal to raise $13,000! Although not at all related to 13, I am going to ride the 47 mile course this year.

I hope you will join me in helping me reach my goal or join me on your bike and set your own goals for Tour de Pink 2007. If you would like to read more or make a contribution on line go to my personal page, click this address: http://www.tourdepink.org/site/TR?px=1005501&pg=personal&fr_id=1060

If you would like to get more information about the ride or join our team – Pink Panthers - , go to www.tourdepink.org . To join our team, start your own team, join another team, volunteer or find me as a participant, go to the upper right hand corner of the home page click on your choice and follow the instructions.

If you would rather make a donation by check you can make it payable to Pink Ribbons Project and mail it to: Marika Rafte, c/o Pink Ribbons Project, 1210 W. Clay #26, Houston, Texas 77019. Thanks for your help! Marika Rafte

From Cheryl Donlin: "Drive-through Mastectomies"
As I was researching inflammatory breast cancer for our radio show on June 12, I came across this site: http://www.lifetimetv.com/breastcancer/petition/signpetition.php. If you click on "more information" you'll get the full story. Needless to say, I was deeply disturbed by the concept of "drive-through" mastectomies and felt moved to sign the petition. The bill (H.R. 119) was introduced on Jan. 4, 2007. I checked on govtrack.us and didn't find that it had been either passed or killed. It was first introduced in 2005 (the year of my mastectomy) and then reintroduced in 2007, so I'm assuming it's still alive. I thought your readers might be interested in this.

From Donna Fong: CancerWise cancerwise@mdanderson.org
I always find this to be very informative and keeps me up-to-date on the state-of-the art treatments at M. D. Anderson Cancer Clinic. If you have not previously subscribed to this publication from MDA, you can do so by going to:
https://www2.mdanderson.org/sapp/cancerwise/new_cancerwise/subscribe.cfm

DAILY REMINDER:
"Fund Free Mammograms"
Go to The Breast Cancer Site at http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/tpc/EEB_0115_BCSm
and help fund free mammograms for the homeless, working-poor, and un-insured women. It costs nothing to you, except one daily click on the pink "Fund Free Mammograms" button. You can even request automatic reminders via e-mail. Please make your free click now, and thanks for your continuing support! The Breast Cancer Site, One Union Square, 600 University Street, Suite 1000, Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: 1-888-811-5271

UPCOMING EVENTS: Mark Your Calendars and Save the Dates!

Pink Ribbons Project Hosts Radio Show
Pink Ribbons Project will host an Open Journal show on Inflammatory Breast Cancer
on KPFT 90.1 FM on Tuesday, June 12, from noon to 1:00 pm.
The show will be hosted by Executive Director Susan Rafte, along with
co‐host and Board Member Cheryl P. Donlin.

Guests on the show will include Dr. Tom Buchholz, M.D., a professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at M. D. Andersonʹs Nellie B. Connally Breast Center and an integral member of the IBC Clinic medical team at MD Anderson; Jenee Bobbora, a thirty‐six year old, 4‐year survivor of inflammatory breast cancer,
and a mother and wife who has devoted many volunteer hours to creating the
newly‐developed IBC clinic at MDACC;and Patty Jennings, a 2‐1/2 year breast cancer survivor, mother of five children,executive director of the New Mexico medical insurance pool,and advocate for adults with mental disabilities,
mandating mammogram coverage for women with insurance. Most recently she worked to get the New Mexico legislature to approve $3.3 million for IBC research,in collaboration with MDACC. For more information, visit www.pinkribbons.org,or call 713‐524‐PINK (7465).

SOS No-Host Summer Luncheon
We are trying a new place called "Johnny Rocket," @12:30 on Wednesday, June 13. This fun, juke box jumping, rockin' to the oldies restaurant is located in Town Center, Sugar Land. Turn off of Highway 6 on to Town Center. We have reservations for our group If you are interested in attending, please call or email Marsha (281.431.0700 or marshayeager@yahoo.com).Deadline for RSVP is Monday, June 11.

Rosebuds II Meetings
(For those who have had or are at high risk
for recurrence and/or metastasis)
2nd and 4th Thursday of each month 5:45 - 7:30 p.m.
JUNE 14 & 28
www.RosebudsSupport.org

The Memorial Hermann Cancer Center Seminar
Memorial City will host a free seminar on women's cancer on June 16. The program, on early diagnosis and treatment, will include interactive discussions with specialists on staff at the center.

The seminar will be from 8:30 am to 2:00 pm at the Marriott Houston Westchase, 2900 Briarpark. A continental breakfast and box lunch will be provided. To register, call 713.222.2273.

Rosebuds Meetings
Open to all Breast Cancer Patients/Survivors
1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month 5:45 - 7:30 p.m.
JUNE 19

The Alice Thomsen Lymphedema Awareness Group of Houston
Meetings are scheduled on the 3rd Tuesday of every other month at the American cancer Society Building,6301 Richmond (between Hillcroft and Fountainview) at 7:00pm. The 2007 dates are July 17th, September 18 and November 20th.
For further information call 281-546-6438.

2007 Komen Survivor Party
August 22, at The Houstonian
Details to be announced in future posts.

"The Faces behind Breast Cancer" Launch Party
Sunday August 26, at 1:00 pm.
Marriott Westchase, Houston
Details posted in May 27th Blog. See Archive.

Living Fully
M.D. Anderson Annual Conference
September 6-8 2007
Marriott Westchase - Houston, Texas

Tour De Pink 2007
Pink Ribbons Project
September 9, 2007
at Prairie View A&M University
www.tourdepink.org

2007 Breast Health Summit
"SAVE THE DATE" for the 2007 Breast Health Summit to be held on October 18, 2007 at the United Way in Houston. Please pass this information on to others who may be interested. Additional information will be sent out later by both e-mail and postal mail. And of course, if your mailing address has changed, please be sure to forward the updated information to me. I look forward to seeing you in October!
Pat Dames
The Rose-
12700 North Featherwood
Houston, TX 77034
281-464-5150
Fax 281-484-7083
pdames@the-rose.org
www.the-rose.org

"Sharing is Caring"
As always, The Pink Crusader welcomes your comments, stories, poems, and events. Posts are updated every Sunday. Please send your written contributions to thepinkcrusader1@aol.com.

"The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore."

-Vincent van Gogh

Until next week, stay well, stay strong, and keep on dancing, but don't rock the boat!

Love, Josie
The Pink Crusader
thepinkcrusader1@aol.com

I Plead Insanity

Dear Blogger Family and Friends,

The Pink Crusader welcomes you with a bright smile, beckoning arms, and a BIG bottle of sunscreen lotion. Come on in and leave your cares and worries at the front door. School's out for the summer, and it's time to play!

"Insanity is my only means of relaxation."

-Unknown

It's officially June, the kick-off month to summer. As the weather becomes warm and sunny, we become wild and crazy. The sizzling temperatures are the perfect remedy for brain overload as well as the perfect excuse to escape the mundane routine. It's time for self reward before the ice-man cometh again. Trust me, a change in scenery will do wonders for your mind, body and soul, not to mention that killer smile!

Whether you travel outside the city limits or enjoy the comfort of your own backyard, everything is within your grasp to have the ultimate summer experience. The choice is yours...Hop a plane, row a boat, hike a trail, or take a swim. You've got a free pass to go insane...so run my babies and don't look back. Send me a postcard! Remember, run + sun = fun.

Warning:Too much rest and relaxation could become habit forming while excessive happiness is found to be contagious.

Personal Note:
Thanks to everyone who volunteered their assistance for the Launch Party of "The Faces behind Breast Cancer," on Sunday, August 26th. The Pink Crusader was overwhelmed by your generous response to last week's blog posting and looks forward to a very successful celebration and fund-raising event.

FYI:
Friend and fellow Rosebud II member,Mary Rodriguez, was interviewed in April's edition of MAMM Magazine. Log onto www.mamm.com to read the complete article which is entitled, "Living Longer and Stronger:Women with metastatic breast cancer are bringing new hope and energy to their cause" By Charlene Koski

DAILY REMINDER:
"Fund Free Mammograms"
Go to The Breast Cancer Site at http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/tpc/EEB_0115_BCSm
and help fund free mammograms for the homeless, working-poor, and un-insured women. It costs nothing to you, except one daily click on the pink "Fund Free Mammograms" button. You can even request automatic reminders via e-mail. Please make your free click now, and thanks for your continuing support! The Breast Cancer Site, One Union Square, 600 University Street, Suite 1000, Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: 1-888-811-5271

UPCOMING EVENTS: Mark Your Calendars and Save the Dates!

Rosebuds Meetings
Open to all Breast Cancer Patients/Survivors
1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month 5:45 - 7:30 p.m.
JUNE 5 & 19

Pink Ribbons Project Hosts Radio Show
Pink Ribbons Project will host an Open Journal show on Inflammatory Breast Cancer
on KPFT 90.1 FM on Tuesday, June 12, from noon to 1:00 pm.
The show will be hosted by Executive Director Susan Rafte, along with
co‐host and Board Member Cheryl P. Donlin.

Guests on the show will include Dr. Tom Buchholz, M.D., a professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at M. D. Andersonʹs Nellie B. Connally Breast Center and an integral member of the IBC Clinic medical team at MD Anderson; Jenee Bobbora, a thirty‐six year old, 4‐year survivor of inflammatory breast cancer,
and a mother and wife who has devoted many volunteer hours to creating the
newly‐developed IBC clinic at MDACC;and Patty Jennings, a 2‐1/2 year breast cancer survivor, mother of five children,executive director of the New Mexico medical insurance pool,and advocate for adults with mental disabilities,
mandating mammogram coverage for women with insurance. Most recently she worked to get the New Mexico legislature to approve $3.3 million for IBC research,in collaboration with MDACC. For more information, visit www.pinkribbons.org,or call 713‐524‐PINK (7465).

SOS No-Host Summer Luncheon
We are trying a new place called "Johnny Rocket," @12:30 on Wednesday, June 13. This fun, juke box jumping, rockin' to the oldies restaurant is located in Town Center, Sugar Land. Turn off of Highway 6 on to Town Center. We have reservations for our group If you are interested in attending, please call or email Marsha (281.431.0700 or marshayeager@yahoo.com).Deadline for RSVP is Monday, June 11.

Rosebuds II Meetings
(For those who have had or are at high risk
for recurrence and/or metastasis)
2nd and 4th Thursday of each month 5:45 - 7:30 p.m.
JUNE 14 & 28
www.RosebudsSupport.org

The Alice Thomsen Lymphedema Awareness Group of Houston
Meetings are scheduled on the 3rd Tuesday of every other month at the American cancer Society Building,6301 Richmond (between Hillcroft and Fountainview) at 7:00pm. The 2007 dates are July 17th, September 18 and November 20th.
For further information call 281-546-6438.

2007 Komen Survivor Party
August 22, at The Houstonian
Details to be announced in future posts.

"The Faces behind Breast Cancer" Launch Party
Sunday August 26, at 1:00 pm.
Marriott Westchase, Houston
Details posted in last week's blog.

Living Fully
M.D. Anderson Annual Conference
September 6-8 2007
Marriott Westchase - Houston, Texas

Tour De Pink 2007
Pink Ribbons Project
September 9, 2007
at Prairie View A&M University
www.tourdepink.org

2007 Breast Health Summit
"SAVE THE DATE" for the 2007 Breast Health Summit to be held on October 18, 2007 at the United Way in Houston. Please pass this information on to others who may be interested. Additional information will be sent out later by both e-mail and postal mail. And of course, if your mailing address has changed, please be sure to forward the updated information to me. I look forward to seeing you in October!
Pat Dames
The Rose-
12700 North Featherwood
Houston, TX 77034
281-464-5150
Fax 281-484-7083
pdames@the-rose.org
www.the-rose.org

"Sharing is Caring"
As always, The Pink Crusader welcomes your comments, stories, poems, and events. Posts are updated every Sunday. Please send your written contributions to thepinkcrusader1@aol.com.

"The insane, on occasion, are not without their charms."

-Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

Until next week, stay strong, stay well and keep on dancing to the sounds of summer.

Love, Josie
The Pink Crusader
thepinkcrusader1@aol.com

"The Faces behind Breast Cancer " Update

Dear Blogger Family & Friends,

The Pink Crusader warmly welcomes you with big smiles, hugs and kisses on this beautiful Memorial weekend. We send special thoughts to members of our armed forces and remain grateful for their dedication and self-sacrifice as they serve to protect our country and our many freedoms. We can sleep better at night, knowing that these brave men and women are keeping a watchful eye.

"What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight - it's the size of the fight in the dog."

-General Dwight D. Eisenhower

Book Update: "The Faces behind Breast Cancer" (FBBC)
After a year in the making, and with great anticipation, I am thrilled to announce that the "The Faces behind Breast Cancer" is finally going to print. And, what's more, Dr. John Mendelsohn, President of The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, has given us his blessing in the form of the book's introduction. We are honored and humbled by Dr. Mendelsohn's touching words of encouragement and thank him with the deepest appreciation for his time and written contribution.

From its inception, this pictorial project has always been a labor of love. However, it could never have gone from a vision to reality without the commitment, dedication and participation of all of you, especially the amazing photography of Jack Opatrany. It has been nothing less than a team effort all the way and I sincerely thank you for your individual contributions and support.

Media Blitz
"The Faces behind Breast Cancer" will be represented on a national level by a public relations firm based in New York city. We are currently working on a media blitz to include magazines, talk shows and book signing events. If you would like to be interviewed on your participation in the book and/or the specifics of your personal cancer journey, please provide the following information (in writing) to JoSeth@aol.com:

1) Your willingness and availability to be interviewed
2) Your contact information and any change in home address, e-mail address, etc.
3) The name of your alma mater
4) Name of press/media contact at your alma mater
5) Phone number and/or e-mail address for media contact at your alma mater
6) A list of publications affiliated with your alma mater, line of work,
health care, hobbies, interests, etc.

Party Update
As stated in previous blog posts, the Launch Party for the book's debut is scheduled for Sunday, August 26th, 1:00 - 4:00pm, at the Marriott Westchase in Houston. (Early birds are invited to come at 12:30 to visit the sponsor booths and book-signing tables.)

All participants (free) and guests ($25) will be treated to a delicious sit-down brunch. We will also have a featured speaker, tribute video, and individual swag bags. (Participants will receive a complimentary book, along with a cd of their individual photo shoot.)

Books will be available for purchase ($30 each) at the book signing table. We will also have a Silent Auction as well as a variety of items to browse and purchase from our Sponsor tables. Proceeds to benefit
M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. Invitations to go out in June.

Hotel Accommodations
We have reserved a block of rooms at the Marriott Westchase, 2900 Briarpark Drive, Houston, TX 77042, for the evenings of Friday, August 24th thru Monday, August 27th). The room rate is $69.00 for Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, and $149.00 on Monday evening. You can book your reservation by calling 1-800-228-9290 (or 713-978-7400 in the Houston area). Refer to the special rate code FBBC. Cut-off dates for this rate is August 10th.

For our out-of-town visitors, please note that there is a shuttle service (Super Shuttle) available from George Bush (IAH) Airport to the Marriott Hotel at a cost of $28. We are still gathering information regarding shuttle service from Hobby Airport. Note: The Marriott Hotel provides free shuttle service from its premises to the beautiful Galleria area of the city.

Sponsors
In addition to the Marriott Westchase, we are delighted to have the support of our main sponsor, Cellcosmet. Not only will they be providing the swag bags filled with fabulous skin-care products for men and women, but they will also have a booth to sample and purchase their amazing, all natural, body creams and lotions. (Cellcosmet products are exclusive to Sak's Fifth Avenue in Houston and in several other major U.S. cities.)

Donations & Pre-Orders
Now that the book has gained national attention, we must print additional copies to meet the growing demand. If you think you may miss the opportunity to purchase a book, we strongly encourage you to pre-order. By pre-ordering your copies, it will also help us to raise additional funding to underwrite increased publishing costs.
Send a check or money order in the amount of $30 per book (plus $6.00 shipping & handling if applicable), to:

Josephine Sethi
803 Skimmer Ct.
Sugar Land, TX 77478

Include your name, phone number and e-mail address (or mailing address is applicable)

Note: I also accept credit card payments via Paypal. Log onto www.paypal.com My paypal account name is JoSeth@aol.com

Wish List
We also need funding to cover the cost of items associated with the party. If anyone can help us out with the following, we would be most grateful:
Invitations
Sound system
Audio/visual equipment
Items for silent auction
Name-tags
Decorations

For those of you available to volunteer your time, we need a crew to
1) Help set-up tables
2) Meet & greet the participants and guests as they arrive
3) Work the book sales table

That's the latest and the greatest for now. I look forward to your response and will continue to update this information on a regular basis. Stay tuned.....our new web site is almost finished, and the best is yet to come!

Personal Note:
It is with great sadness that I announce the recent passing of
Juli Gardner, a participant in "The Faces behind Breast Cancer," and dear member of our extended survivor community. Juli and her six-year-old daughter Jessica, were both undergoing treatment for cancer-related issues at the same time. This dynamic mother-daughter duo were not only a great support system for one another, but were a source of strength and courage to those that knew their story. Our deepest condolences to Juli's family, with ongoing prayers for Jessica's full recovery.

Special thoughts and prayers to Rosemary Barr and Penny Andrea as they concurrently undergo chemotherapy treatment. Rosemary, in true form, remains an exemplary role model (as well as moderator of the Rosebuds meetings) while Penny maintains her sense of humor in spite of major discomfort. Hang in there, ladies......we're cheering you to victory!

On a happier note, the Rosebuds II welcomed the return of Janice Duplessis following recent brain surgery to remove a metastatic lesion. She is still on the mend, but moving forward after her ordeal and still flashing that million-dollar smile.

FYI:
From Cheryl P. Donlin

Just wanted to update you on the lobbying item I sent you. The good news out of Austin today, as reported in the Houston Chronicle, is that lawmakers approved the $3 billion bond to go on the November ballot. Now it really will be up to Texas voters to agree to the constitutional amendment to float $300 million/ry in general obligation bonds to establish the Cancer Research and Prevention Institute.

From the NCCS (National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship)
(www.canceradvocacy.org)
Take action to improve post-treatment cancer care...
You can support a national effort that would improve cancer care at all points of treatment, including post-treatment. The Comprehensive Cancer Care Improvement Act (CCCIA), H.R. 1078 in the U.S. House of Representatives, would provide care planning services for all Medicare cancer patients. This bill would help give patients a full view of their medical needs during and after cancer treatment and would provide plans for obtaining the care they need. Send a letter to your Representative asking for support of the CCCIA by going to the following link: https://secure2.convio.net/nccs/site/Advocacy?JServSessionIdr009=utbsjdo7d1.app2a&cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=109

DAILY REMINDER:
"Fund Free Mammograms"
Go to The Breast Cancer Site at http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/tpc/EEB_0115_BCSm
and help fund free mammograms for the homeless, working-poor, and un-insured women. It costs nothing to you, except one daily click on the pink "Fund Free Mammograms" button. You can even request automatic reminders via e-mail. Please make your free click now, and thanks for your continuing support! The Breast Cancer Site, One Union Square, 600 University Street, Suite 1000, Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: 1-888-811-5271

UPCOMING EVENTS: Mark Your Calendars and Save the Dates!

CanCare Survivors Day Luncheon
Date: Thursday, May 31, 2007
For More Info: patwh@cancare.org
As most of you know our Survivors Day Luncheon will be held on Thursday, May 31 at the Intercontinental Hotel. Our luncheon event is a wonderful way to honor friends, family and employees who are cancer survivors and the medical communities who treat them. Our keynote speaker is Scott Hamilton, who is considered to be the world's most celebrated figure skater. In addition to being a role model and humanitarian, Mr. Hamilton is also a ten-year testicular cancer survivor.

Rosebuds Meetings
Open to all Breast Cancer Patients/Survivors
1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month 5:45 - 7:30 p.m.
JUNE 5 & 19

Pink Ribbons Project
Be sure to tune in to KPFT 90.1 FM at noon on June 12,
when Pink Ribbons Project hosts an Open Journal show on
Inflammatory Breast Cancer."

Rosebuds II Meetings
(For those who have had or are at high risk
for recurrence and/or metastasis)
2nd and 4th Thursday of each month 5:45 - 7:30 p.m.
JUNE 14 & 28
www.RosebudsSupport.org

The Alice Thomsen Lymphedema Awareness Group of Houston
Meetings are scheduled on the 3rd Tuesday of every other month at the American cancer Society Building,6301 Richmond (between Hillcroft and Fountainview) at 7:00pm. The 2007 dates are July 17th, September 18 and November 20th.
For further information call 281-546-6438.

2007 Komen Survivor Party
August 22, at The Houstonian
Details to be announced in future posts.

"The Faces behind Breast Cancer" Launch Party
Sunday August 26, at 1:00 pm.
Marriott Westchase, Houston
Details posted above.

Living Fully
M.D. Anderson Annual Conference
September 6-8 2007
Marriott Westchase - Houston, Texas
Additional information to be announced.

Tour De Pink 2007
Pink Ribbons Project
September 9, 2007
at Prairie View A&M University
www.tourdepink.org
Additional info in future posts.

2007 Breast Health Summit
"SAVE THE DATE" for the 2007 Breast Health Summit to be held on October 18, 2007 at the United Way in Houston. Please pass this information on to others who may be interested. Additional information will be sent out later by both e-mail and postal mail. And of course, if your mailing address has changed, please be sure to forward the updated information to me. I look forward to seeing you in October!
Pat Dames
The Rose-
12700 North Featherwood
Houston, TX 77034
281-464-5150
Fax 281-484-7083
pdames@the-rose.org
www.the-rose.org

"Sharing is Caring"
As always, The Pink Crusader welcomes your comments, stories, poems, and events. Posts are updated every Sunday. Please send your written contributions to thepinkcrusader1@aol.com.

Thought of the Week (Courtesy of my friend Tracy)
This is slightly off-color...but worth the laugh! Thanks, Tracy!
There is more money being spent on breast implants and Viagra today than on Alzheimer's research. This means that by 2040, there should be a large elderly population with perky boobs and huge erections and absolutely no recollection of what to do with them.

Never give in--never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense.

-Winston Churchill

Until next week, stay strong, stay well and keep on dancing to the beat of the drum.

Love, Josie
The Pink Crusader
thepinkcrusader1@aol.com

Dancing with a Gorilla

Dear Blogger Family & Friends,

Welcome one and all! As always, it is a joy to have you visit the Pink Crusader on a weekly basis. Unfortunately I'm still on the mend from Friday's procedure and will have to go a little easy on the hugs this week.

“When you dance with a gorilla it is the gorilla who decides when to stop."

-Unknown

Thanks to all of you for the positive thoughts, prayers, e-mails and calls. Don't worry, it's just a little flesh wound and nothing that can't be fixed with a spoonful of sugar and some extra-strength Tylenol! The only thing worse than the discomfort is the boredom and restlessness! Quick....Someone throw me a distraction!

Next week, I'll have the latest update on "The Faces behind Breast Cancer" as well as the details regarding the Launch Party on August 26th. In the meantime, enjoy this bit of humor, compliments of my cousin Frank:

A wife invited some people to dinner.

At the table, she turned to their six-year-old daughter and said,

"Would you like to say the blessing?"

"I wouldn't know what to say," the girl replied .

"Just say what you hear Mommy say," the wife answered.

The daughter bowed her head and said,

"Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?"

Personal Note:
Good Luck to Brenda (a.k.a. B. Kaye) as she returns to her ministry in the skies (as a flight attendent)following the successful completion of reconstructive surgery. She wanted to pass on the following: Hi All! Wow!! It's been about 4 months and a week since I've flown and I have to admit I'm a little anxious heading up!! LOL!! Sounds crazy, I know, but there have been some changes since I've been gone and I'm trying to wrap my brain around it all... not to mention I'm REALLY out of my routine and out of SHAPE!! LOL!! This walking across America is not for sissies!!... So, with that said, keep me in your prayers... it's Springtime and turbulent, and bumper guards are not yet a part of our uniform... we need helmets sometimes!! LOL!! To protect us against turbulence, AND some of the passengers!! LOL! As always, if you're out there bumping around in the friendly skies, keep an eye out for me, and if we're going to end up in the same little spot... give me a call. I'm on e-mail and cell... so KEEP IN TOUCH!! Thanks again for all of your much needed support in every way throughout my "Project". Love and Hugs!! Brenda K.

FYI:

Ask the Expert, Anderson Network's online message board, allows cancer patients and caregivers to submit questions to M. D. Anderson experts on specific topics. Log on to the board at www.mdanderson.org/asktheexpert to submit questions or to view past topics archived on the site. These include nutrition, lymphedema, clinical trials, fatigue, cancer prevention, patient safety, exercise and bone health, as well as site-specific questions and answers.

From Donna Fong:

Aromatherapy Helps Heal Cancer Patients by Cheri Perez, R.N.

Like so many New Age practices and beliefs, aromatherapy has ancient roots. The use of essential oils to affect mood and well-being can be found far back in Egyptian, Greek and Roman history. In fact, when the three kings of biblical fame brought gifts, including gold, to baby Jesus, their other highly prized offerings were frankincense and myrrh... resins from these herbs are still in use today. While scientific evidence about aromatherapy is scant, its long-standing role in spirituality and healing, along with strong anecdotal support of its benefits, gives essential oils an important role as a complementary alternative medicine therapy.
Cherie Perez, RN, quality assurance specialist in the department of GU Medical Oncology at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, is a strong proponent of aromatherapy, including as an adjunct for cancer treatment. She teaches monthly classes for patients on the topic. I recently asked Perez to tell me about how aromatherapy can be useful for people who are healthy, as well as those with chronic illnesses. Used properly, Perez says essential oils can indirectly help bolster immune function in cancer patients, strengthening their ability to fight back against the disease by helping to ease pain, depression, sleeplessness and stress. The oils can also help relieve anxiety and improve memory, both frequent problems for people in cancer treatment. Furthermore, aromatherapy offers patients an opportunity to take time for themselves and enjoy a mental and emotional break from their world of medicines and doctors.
ESSENTIALS ABOUT ESSENTIAL OILS
These essential oils have various scents such as floral, minty, citrus and masculine -- and Perez advises using the ones you like best among the choices indicated for a specific treatment, since more than one oil may address the same problem. She explains that the limbic system, which the sense of smell triggers, is the emotional seat of the brain, which is the reason why people often respond strongly to certain scents -- positively or negatively. Lavender, for example, might bring back warm memories of a trip to Provence, or sour thoughts about a dour relative who wore it as a fragrance.
All oils are highly concentrated distillations of plant parts, including the flowers, leaves, branches and roots. Because they are so potent (hundreds of times more concentrated than the culinary fresh or dried herb or herbal teas, and therefore easy to overdose on) they should be used only under the supervision of a knowledgeable practitioner, such as a naturopathic physician, registered nurse, massage therapist, clinical herbalist or aromatherapist. Some of the most popular oils include rosemary, eucalyptus, lavender and chamomile. Essential oils can be inhaled (safest with a simple diffuser), enjoyed in your bath or massaged onto your skin (but never directly in their undiluted form... because they can cause a rash or burning sensation). Oils may come already diluted, and will say so on the ingredient label, but you can also dilute a pure oil yourself. Add three drops of an essential oil to a half tablespoon of scentless organic vegetable oil (such as sunflower or safflower) or to an unscented body lotion. People with sensitive skin should do a skin test before topical use. How much to dilute an oil depends on the type of oil and your skin's sensitivity. Thyme, for example, is quite irritating to some people, so it should be used more sparingly and with caution, whereas lavender is non-irritating to nearly everyone, says Perez. Citrus oils may cause sensitivity to sunlight, so avoid skin application if you are going to be in the sun. Because they're so pretty and fragrant and highly toxic if ingested, they should be kept where children cannot reach them.
MENU OF OPTIONS
Here's a list of popular oils that address some common problems, as well as those common among people in treatment for cancer...
Lavender. Great as a general relaxant, it also treats migraines and relieves stress. It is excellent for insomnia resulting from cancer treatment.
Rosemary. For muscle pain, low blood pressure (do not use if you have uncontrolled or high blood pressure) and cold feet and hands. Rosemary aids a loss of appetite.
Spearmint. Used to ease nausea and to help digestion. Also can help ease gas and other treatment-related digestive problems.
Eucalyptus or peppermint. For rubbing on sore muscles. Eucalyptus may also help joints, including arthritic ones. Eucalyptus may increase the absorption of certain cancer drugs that are applied topically, so use caution and try a patch test first, avoiding application to the same area as the cancer drug.
Pink grapefruit or juniper berry. Used with massage to encourage lymphatic drainage of toxins and waste. Pink grapefruit is one of Perez's favorites for cancer patients, as she believes it helps energize them and raise their spirits. This and all citrus-type oils should be avoided during chemo and radiation -- and should not be used until speaking with your doctor.
Lemongrass, tea tree and orange. Mix together into two cups of Epsom salts. Use five drops of each oil -- a total of 15 drops -- for a soothing bath (use one-half cup per bath).
Aromatherapy has become so popular that essential oils are now widely available, including in health food stores and supermarkets. However, Perez advises that it is far better to purchase them from a shop with a staff knowledgeable in aromatherapy. Oils should come in dark blue or brown glass containers, which prevent light or heat damage. Avoid bottles with rubber droppers -- the rubber breaks down and contaminates the oil. Finally, the label should feature both the common and the botanical name of the oil (for example, Peppermint/Mentha piperita).
If you would like to learn more about how to incorporate aromatherapy in your life, Perez recommends The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy, by Valerie Ann Worwood (New World Library), which she says is both thorough and easily understood. Again, as in the case with skin sensitivities, people with asthma or allergies need to avoid things that might trigger an attack -- for example, chamomile is in the ragweed family. People who want to try inhalation aromatherapy should use only a few drops (two to three) of essential oils in a basin of water or diffuser, or on a napkin. And -- always consult with your doctor before using aromatherapy or any complementary therapy.
Source(s): Article printed in Bottom Line's Daily Health News on May 8th. Add our address, DailyHealthNews@dhn.bottomlinesecrets.com,to your Address Book.

From Cheryl P. Donlin:

We've come too far to stop now!
Last week, advocates just like you flooded the Texas Senate with emails and demanded change in the way our state deals with cancer. I'm proud to say that they heard you, and the bills passed out of the Senate Finance Committee Friday night with a unanimous vote! Thank you for your help, but we're not done yet. I need you to do it again. Please send one last message to your State Senator to make sure the Senate passes this bill with equal support this week.

This critical legislation will allow Texas to invest three billion dollars over the next ten years for cutting edge cancer research and programs. The bills are now on their way to the floor of the Senate and you have one more opportunity to tell your elected officials how you feel about this legislation. Most importantly, share your story with them; tell them why investing in cancer prevention and research means so much to you. Send a message to your State Senator TODAY.

I was at the Senate Finance Committee meeting late Friday night to testify to make sure that the voices of survivors were heard. You can find a link to my testimony at the May 19 Senate Finance Committee here. (The committee meeting was an hour and a half, if you fast forward to 40 minutes you'll see my testimony)

I talked about how we're not doing enough to battle cancer, we've come a long way, but we're not there yet. The system is broken, and we have a unique opportunity to fix it here in our own state. We have a chance to make Texas a global leader in fighting cancer.

I really feel that the fight against cancer is at a tipping point in Texas. The first step is to get this passed out of the Senate and signed by the Governor. Then we have to make our case to the people of Texas. I'm in this for the long haul, I'm ready for the fight and I hope you'll join me. If you haven't yet, send a message to your State Senator.

LIVESTRONG, Lance Armstrong

LIVESTRONG Army
PS. Please pass this message on to anyone you know in Texas. If there was ever a time to act, it's now – the Senate vote is scheduled for early this week.

Mammogram rate falls for first timeBy ROB STEIN

WASHINGTON — After rising steadily for decades, the proportion of U.S.
women getting mammograms to screen for breast cancer has dropped for
the first time, federal researchers are reporting today.

The overall rate at which women are undergoing regular mammograms fell
4 percent between 2000 and 2005, marking the first significant decline
since use of the breast X-rays started expanding rapidly in 1987, the
study by the National Cancer Institute and Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention found.

The reasons remain unclear, but researchers speculated that it could be
due to factors such as increasingly long waiting times to get
appointments, waning fears about breast cancer, the drop in hormone use
after menopause, and the ongoing debate over the benefits and risks of
the breast exams.

Regardless of the cause, the trend is worrying breast cancer experts,
who credit mammograms with playing a crucial role in reducing the death
toll from breast cancer, the second leading cause of cancer and cancer
death among U.S. women.

"This is very troubling," said Nancy Breen, who led the analysis
published online Monday by the American Cancer Society's journal
Cancer. "If women are not getting mammograms, then their cancer may not
be diagnosed until later stages, which could translate into higher
mortality from breast cancer."

Breast cancer strikes more than 200,000 women each year and kills more
than 40,000. But the odds of surviving have been rising, in part
because more women are being diagnosed by mammograms at the earliest,
most treatable stages. Breast cancer experts have been growing
increasingly concerned, however, by reports that mammography rates had
plateaued and perhaps started to fall. The new research is the first to
document the trend nationally.

"We've been anxious to look at a national sample," Breen said. "This is
the first time we had a data set to examine that represents the entire
United States."

Breen and her colleagues analyzed data collected by the National Health
Interview Survey, an ongoing survey of about 40,000 adults conducted by
the National Center for Health Statistics to track health trends.

Data from about 10,000 women surveyed showed that the mammogram rate
plateaued in 2000, began to fall in 2003 and continued to decline
through 2005, the survey's most recent year. Overall, the proportion of
women who said they had gotten a mammogram in the last two years
declined from 70 percent in 2000 to 66 percent in 2005, according to
the paper that will be published in the June 15 issue of the journal.

Most alarming, the drop was greatest — 6.8 percent — among women ages
50 to 64, the age group most likely to benefit.

This is also the group most likely to take hormones after the onset of
menopause, a practice that fell dramatically in 2002 after a federal
study found that hormone therapy raised the risk of breast cancer,
heart attack and stroke.

Breen and her colleagues were also surprised that the drop was
especially steep — 6.3 percent — among more affluent women.

"One possibility is women who stop using HRT (hormone replacement
therapy) believe their risk of breast cancer has declined and so they
don't feel the need for mammography," Breen said. "Another possibility
is they may not be going to their doctors as often for their hormones
and so are not being told it's time for a mammogram. That's a concern
because just because they are not taking HRT does not mean they are not
at risk."

Another possible explanation is that a worsening shortage of
mammography facilities is making it more frustrating to get an
appointment.

Breen and others speculated that some of the drop might be due to the
ongoing debate over the benefits of mammography. Some experts question
the blanket recommendation that all women routinely undergo mammograms
starting at age 40, saying the risks of unnecessary treatment and
anxiety from false alarms might outweigh the benefits for some women at
low risk.

"Some women are beginning to balance the risks and the benefits," said
Carolina Hinestrosa of the National Breast Cancer Coalition, an
advocacy group. "If women are making a careful determination and an
informed decision after weighing the risks and benefits, I don't
necessarily think that's a bad thing."

But others argued that the benefits have been well-established,
particularly for women over age 50. Even though other methods, such as
MRIs, are showing promise, mammograms remain the only widespread
screening method proven to pay off.

"Too many women and clinicians are misunderstanding the 'controversy'
about mammography," said Constance Lehman, a professor of radiology at
the University of Washington. "A mammogram is the best thing a woman
can do to reduce her chances of dying from breast cancer."

Another possible explanation is that rising survival rates among breast
cancer patients are making women more complacent.

"Women may also be feeling, 'Well, the death rates are dropping in the
population so I don't need to get screened,' " Breen said. "That's kind
of missing the point. One reason death rates are dropping is because
screening rates were so high." Brought to you by the HoustonChronicle.com
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/nation/4800639.html

DAILY REMINDER:
"Fund Free Mammograms"
Go to The Breast Cancer Site at http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/tpc/EEB_0115_BCSm
and help fund free mammograms for the homeless, working-poor, and un-insured women. It costs nothing to you, except one daily click on the pink "Fund Free Mammograms" button. You can even request automatic reminders via e-mail. Please make your free click now, and thanks for your continuing support! The Breast Cancer Site, One Union Square, 600 University Street, Suite 1000, Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: 1-888-811-5271

UPCOMING EVENTS: Mark Your Calendars and Save the Dates!

Anderson Network Telephone Support Line Workshop & Recognition
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
Cancer Prevention Center, 8th Floor, Room 5
10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Self parking in Mays/ACB garage will be validated, valet will not be validated)
Guest Speaker: Tena Gardiner, LCSW Social Work
Appreciation Buffet Lunch Roundtable Scenarios
*Workshop materials will be sent to those volunteers unable to attend*
Please RSVP to Laura Hearn if you are able to attend at 713-745-9204 or lhearn@mdanderson.org

Rosebuds II Meetings
(For those who have had or are at high risk
for recurrence and/or metastasis)
2nd and 4th Thursday of each month 5:45 - 7:30 p.m.
MAY 24, JUNE 14 & 28
www.RosebudsSupport.org

CanCare Survivors Day Luncheon
Date: Thursday, May 31, 2007
For More Info: patwh@cancare.org
As most of you know our Survivors Day Luncheon will be held on Thursday, May 31 at the Intercontinental Hotel. Our luncheon event is a wonderful way to honor friends, family and employees who are cancer survivors and the medical communities who treat them. Our keynote speaker is Scott Hamilton, who is considered to be the world's most celebrated figure skater. In addition to being a role model and humanitarian, Mr. Hamilton is also a ten-year testicular cancer survivor.

Rosebuds Meetings
Open to all Breast Cancer Patients/Survivors
1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month 5:45 - 7:30 p.m.
JUNE 5 & 19

The Alice Thomsen Lymphedema Awareness Group of Houston
Meetings are scheduled on the 3rd Tuesday of every other month at the American cancer Society Building,6301 Richmond (between Hillcroft and Fountainview) at 7:00pm. The 2007 dates are July 17th, September 18 and November 20th.
For further information call 281-546-6438.

2007 Komen Survivor Party
August 22, at The Houstonian
Details to be announced in future posts.

"The Faces behind Breast Cancer" Launch Party
Save the date, Sunday August 26, at 1:00 pm.
Details will be announced in next week's post.

Living Fully
M.D. Anderson Annual Conference
September 6-8 2007
Marriott Westchase - Houston, Texas
Additional information to be announced.

Tour De Pink 2007
Pink Ribbons Project
September 9, 2007
at Prairie View A&M University
www.tourdepink.org
Additional info in future posts.

2007 Breast Health Summit
"SAVE THE DATE" for the 2007 Breast Health Summit to be held on October 18, 2007 at the United Way in Houston. Please pass this information on to others who may be interested. Additional information will be sent out later by both e-mail and postal mail. And of course, if your mailing address has changed, please be sure to forward the updated information to me. I look forward to seeing you in October!
Pat Dames
The Rose-
12700 North Featherwood
Houston, TX 77034
281-464-5150
Fax 281-484-7083
pdames@the-rose.org
www.the-rose.org

"Sharing is Caring"
As always, The Pink Crusader welcomes your comments, stories, poems, and events. Posts are updated every Sunday. Please send your written contributions to thepinkcrusader1@aol.com.

Coming next week: Update on "The Faces behind Breast Cancer" and details on the Launch Party.

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."

-Winston Churchill

Until then, stay strong, stay well and keep on dancing in your dreams.
Love, Josie
The Pink Crusader
thepinkcrusader1@aol.com

Mother and Child Reunion

Dear Blogger Family & Friends,

Heartfelt greetings and warm wishes to one and all. Extra hugs to all our mothers as we sing their praises on this special Mothers Day edition of The Pink Crusader.

Oh the mother and child reunion
Is only a motion away
Oh the mother and child reunion
Is only a moment away

-Words & Music by Paul Simon

As most of you know, the Pink Crusader has been MIA for nearly two weeks after joining my son, Dalip, in a marathon road trip which we had been planning over the course of my treatment this past year. It was somewhat of an early Mother's Day present in addition to an opportunity to spend quality time with my only child who lives on the east coast.

So, with my husband's blessing, and the help of map quest, the two of us embarked on an ambitious journey, visiting nearly 30 friends and relatives, in four states, within nine days! Not too shabby. It really was the "Great Race" of all road trips clocking memories by the minute. I thank everyone who welcomed us with open arms along the way.

Road trips are nothing new to us. My son is a born roadie like his mom. He cut his teeth on the car upholstery and grew up thinking that all families used their cars as a second home. Flying was reserved for people like my husband Tony, who travels for a living......or for celebrities, or people who live in foreign countries.

As a baby, Dalip (his name means "he who loves"), was always a good little traveler. He was very compact and portable and could make the 6-hour drive from Chicago to my family home in Ohio with one feeding and two diaper changes. Most of the time he would sleep contently in his car seat, however, if he got cranky I would pop in a Disney sing-along cassette and belt out an Ethel Merman version of "Zip-a-dee-do-da." That was enough to stop an infant's sniffle, mid-tear.....although it might also have been enough to make a grown man cry.

If Dalip needed a feeding before I needed to refuel, I would steer with my left hand and prop the bottle in his mouth with my right (in the days before infants were banished to the back seat), and we would continue on our merry way without further incident.

As my son became a little older, (and years before the inception of Game-Boy), we would create our own travel games to help pass the time. Once, during a drive from Boston to Ohio, and after he had learned to read, write and spell, we stopped at every exit in the state of Connecticut, creating a journal of each gas station, food stop and shopping center along the way. Don't laugh.....it came in handy on many future trips after that......and I still get a kick out of seeing his childish scrawlings and doodles scattered throughout the pages.

On another occasion, while driving for 8 hours through the mountains of Pennsylvania and upstate New York, we kept a running count of all the identifiable roadkill on the highway. Deer placed high on the list, followed by raccoons, possum, fox and black bear. Yep....nothing like rotting, mangled roadkill to keep the attention of an 8 year old.

For years, depending on where we lived (Chicago, Boston, Cleveland, Providence, etc.) my boy and I could easily spend up to 16 hours in the car driving from one destination to the next. Good thing we liked each other.....up to a point. When his interests turned to sports and music, the Sony walk-man (with a mega supply of extra batteries) became his new travel companion. Looking back, I missed the two-way conversation and often felt like I was driving solo. "Sh-h-h-h-h Mom, I can't hear my song."

I think I should just skip over the teenage years and jump ahead to the day the music died. We were living in Cleveland, when Dalip received his driver's license. He had his official ticket to freedom and independence and no longer needed me to be at the helm. "C'mon Mom, let me drive.....I'm getting bored....this is stupid.....blah, blah, blah." I reluctantly relinquished the keys and the wheel to my son. I passed on the torch to a new generation of road royalty and he claimed his rightful place on the throne of the driver's seat. The tables had turned and I was now the sidekick in the passenger seat. I became his "Gilligan" and he became the "Skipper." I sulked at the role reversal. The shoe was on the other foot and it was not a good fit.

Once in college, Dalip would frequently make the 4-hour drive from Cincinnati to Cleveland without blinking an eye. It was in his blood. He had been pre-conditioned that 4 hours behind the wheel was as casual as a stroll around he block. What's more, his car resembled a sound stage on wheels. He had worked all summer to customize his "ride" with a multiple cd player, elevated sound system, and satellite radio. "Zip-a-dee-do-da" had been replaced with "I'm too sexy for my shirt." His car was a pleasure palace.......and he was king of the road.

Meanwhile, I had become a frequent flyer and was learning to enjoy the view from a higher altitude until grounded by cancer in 2003. And, ironically in 2007, it was my frequent flyer miles that carried me from Houston to Philadelphia for our emotional reunion, following my recent relapse. But, as previously noted, the joy and success of this trip did not happen over night. It took careful thought and planning along with a lifetime of vivid memories to make things feel right again.

Looking back, I fully acknowledge that I had the time of my life, regardless of where I sat or who was at the wheel. This time, it wasn't the adventures of Gilligan and the Skipper, but rather the irrepressible joy of a mother and child reunion. Thank you, Dalip. Once again, you have lived up to your name and continue to make me proud to be your mom. Love you, baby boy!

FYI:

From Martha Aziz:

Dear Lord: So far today I've done all right, I haven't gossiped, I haven't lost my temper, I haven't been greedy, grumpy, nasty,selfish, or very indulgent. I'm very grateful for that. But in a few minutes, Lord, I'm going to get out of bed, and from then on, I'm going to need a lot more help. Amen. - by Trish Kuffner

From Rosemary Herron and Dorothy Slater Paterson:

Here's an easy way to help Komen win $5,000 and secure a mention of the
organization in Prevention Magazine, potentially reaching more than 3
million readers. It's simple, just cast your vote for breast cancer survivor
Dr. Janet Vittone. Voters can only vote once so please pass this along to
friends and family. The polls close May 18 at midnight.

Dr. Janet Vittone is a breast cancer survivor and is now one of the five
finalists for Prevention Magazine's and "Good Morning America's, Picture of
Health" contest. If Janet wins the contest, she will receive $5,000 as well
as $5,000 donated to the charity of her choice, which is Komen for the Cure.
Janet will be featured in the June issue of Prevention and possibly on the
cover of Prevention in October. To place your vote for Dr. Janet Vittone, go to:
http://communication.komen.org/site/R?i=dh9T3Fq--r-YGI5wB_x1jg.

From Beth Irvine:

This week, bloggers across the country are writing about Healthy Mother, Healthy Child. You can follow the tour at MotherTalk, where links will be posted to the bloggers who are talking about the book each day. Follow the links to read what they have to say, and be sure to join in the discussion and share your thoughts as well! Please send this on to anyone who might appreciate it. Watch Beth's TV segments on www.healthymotherhealthychild.com
Log on and have some fun:http://www.mother-talk.com

DAILY REMINDER:
"Fund Free Mammograms"
Go to The Breast Cancer Site at http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/tpc/EEB_0115_BCSm
and help fund free mammograms for the homeless, working-poor, and un-insured women. It costs nothing to you, except one daily click on the pink "Fund Free Mammograms" button. You can even request automatic reminders via e-mail. Please make your free click now, and thanks for your continuing support! The Breast Cancer Site, One Union Square, 600 University Street, Suite 1000, Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: 1-888-811-5271

UPCOMING EVENTS: Mark Your Calendars and Save the Dates!

Walk to Empower
3-Mile walk, Sunday, May 13, 2007
MacGregor Park, Houston, Tx 9:00am
Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization
No Fee Register online at www.y-me.org

The Alice Thomsen Lymphedema Awareness Group of Houston
Meetings are scheduled on the 3rd Tuesday of every other month at the American cancer Society Building,6301 Richmond (between Hillcroft and Fountainview) at 7:00pm. The 2007 dates are May 15th, July 17th, September 18 and November 20th.
For further information call 281-546-6438.

Rosebuds Meetings
Open to all Breast Cancer Patients/Survivors
1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month 5:45 - 7:30 p.m.
MAY 15 JUNE 5 & 19

Rosebuds II Meetings
(For those who have had or are at high risk
for recurrence and/or metastasis)
2nd and 4th Thursday of each month 5:45 - 7:30 p.m.
MAY 24, JUNE 14 & 28
www.RosebudsSupport.org

CanCare Survivors Day Luncheon
Date: Thursday, May 31, 2007
For More Info: patwh@cancare.org
As most of you know our Survivors Day Luncheon will be held on Thursday, May 31 at the Intercontinental Hotel. Our luncheon event is a wonderful way to honor friends, family and employees who are cancer survivors and the medical communities who treat them. Our keynote speaker is Scott Hamilton, who is considered to be the world's most celebrated figure skater. In addition to being a role model and humanitarian, Mr. Hamilton is also a ten-year testicular cancer survivor.

2007 Komen Survivor Party
August 22, at The Houstonian
Details to be announced in future posts.

"The Faces behind Breast Cancer" Launch Party
Save the date, Sunday August 26, at 1:00 pm.
Details will be announced in next week's post.

Living Fully
M.D. Anderson Annual Conference
September 6-8 2007
Marriott Westchase - Houston, Texas
Additional information to be announced.

Tour De Pink 2007
Pink Ribbons Project
September 9, 2007
at Prairie View A&M University
www.tourdepink.org
Additional info in future posts.

2007 Breast Health Summit
"SAVE THE DATE" for the 2007 Breast Health Summit to be held on October 18, 2007 at the United Way in Houston. Please pass this information on to others who may be interested. Additional information will be sent out later by both e-mail and postal mail. And of course, if your mailing address has changed, please be sure to forward the updated information to me. I look forward to seeing you in October!
Pat Dames
The Rose-
12700 North Featherwood
Houston, TX 77034
281-464-5150
Fax 281-484-7083
pdames@the-rose.org
www.the-rose.org

"Sharing is Caring"
As always, The Pink Crusader welcomes your comments, stories, poems, and events. Posts are updated every Sunday. Please send your written contributions to thepinkcrusader1@aol.com.

Coming next week: Update on "The Faces behind Breast Cancer" and details on the Launch Party.

"Love the whole world as a mother loves her only child"

-Hindu Prince Gautama Siddharta

Until then, stay strong, stay well and keep on dancing in celebration of your mom.

Love, Josie
The Pink Crusader
thepinkcrusader1@aol.com

Cruise Control

Dear Blogger Family and Friends,

The Pink Crusader sends warm greetings and postcards of love from the East Coast. My son and I have embarked on the road trip of our lives, visiting nearly 30 friends and relatives, in four states, within nine days! I look forward to sharing highlights from my trip with all of you next week. Until then, I'll continue to rack on the miles, enjoy the view and let the wind rush through my barely-there hair for as long as my husband will let me.

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step."

-Lao Tzu

PERSONAL NOTE: Best Wishes and Happy Birthday to Papa Bear! Another year younger but all the more wiser. Love you, Dad!

Congratulations to Judy Bloss on completing her Radiation Therapy. As Judy says, "The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter."

Condolences to Elizabeth Camp on the loss of her mother to metastatic disease. She was a great inspiration to "Betsy" and her family and we celebrate her courage while extending our deepest sympathy.

FYI:

From Rosemary Barr and Cheryl Donlin:

Have you ever bought a Breast Cancer Research Stamp? I bet you
have - 700 million of them have been sold since the stamp was
introduced in 1998. The net proceeds go to federal breast cancer
research, and it's raised over $53 million for critical research
work. It's the top-selling stamp in U.S. history!

Right now, two bills in Congress could reauthorize the stamp -
or make it permanent! - but only if they pass. If the stamp
isn't reauthorized or made permanent by December 31, 2007, it
will be lost - along with its millions of dollars for breast
cancer research. Please join me in sending a message to Congress today!
http://komenpolicy.org/campaign/kl_stamp?rk=PpwTuDs1Yn6ZW

From Marsha Yeager: Komen Survivor Party

Rosemary Herron has some great news about this party which is to be held Wednesday, August 22 at the Houstonian from 6-8 p.m. Anyone who has participated in the “Race for the Cure” and indicated that they are a survivor automatically gets an invitation. Those in the SOS group who would like to go and have never received an invitation need to email Rosemary with their current home address so she can add them to the invitee list. Also, anyone who would like to serve on the planning committee can contact her (greatwhitetheron@alltel.net or 281. 242. 0351.) The committees are all formed and just need “worker bees” (welcome/name tags, decorating, etc.) This is wonderful evening event which is free.

DAILY REMINDER:
"Fund Free Mammograms"
Go to The Breast Cancer Site at http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/tpc/EEB_0115_BCSm
and help fund free mammograms for the homeless, working-poor, and un-insured women. It costs nothing to you, except one daily click on the pink "Fund Free Mammograms" button. You can even request automatic reminders via e-mail. Please make your free click now, and thanks for your continuing support! The Breast Cancer Site, One Union Square, 600 University Street, Suite 1000, Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: 1-888-811-5271

UPCOMING EVENTS: Mark Your Calendars and Save the Dates!

SOS (Survivors Offering Support)Meeting
We will be meeting at the church on Tuesday, May 8 at 7 p.m. This meeting will be our last meeting until fall. Our guest speaker is Pilates teacher, Amy Stanley. Amy currently teaches Pilates to her clients at the Fitness Retreat. She is passionate about this form of exercise and imbues enthusiasm to everyone she “touches.” She will give us some new exercises to practice, so please bring a large bath or beach towel to join in the fun and the opportunity to feel better. Finally and most importantly, any 5, 10, or 15 year breast cancer survivors will be specially honored. Please bring something to eat or drink that can be shared by all. However, bringing something is not a requirement for attending. Utensils, cups, and plates will be provided.

CORRECTION: Rosebuds II Meetings
(For those who have had or are at high risk
for recurrence and/or metastasis)
2nd and 4th Thursday of each month 5:45 - 7:30 p.m.
MAY 10 & 24 JUNE 14 & 28
www.RosebudsSupport.org

Walk to Empower
3-Mile walk, Sunday, May 13, 2007
MacGregor Park, Houston, Tx 9:00am
Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization
No Fee Register online at www.y-me.org

The Alice Thomsen Lymphedema Awareness Group of Houston
Meetings are scheduled on the 3rd Tuesday of every other month at the American cancer Society Building,6301 Richmond (between Hillcroft and Fountainview) at 7:00pm. The 2007 dates are May 15th, July 17th, September 18 and November 20th.
For further information call 281-546-6438.

Rosebuds Meetings
Open to all Breast Cancer Patients/Survivors
1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month 5:45 - 7:30 p.m.
MAY 15 JUNE 5 & 19

Rosebuds II Meetings
(For those who have had or are at high risk
for recurrence and/or metastasis)
2nd and 4th Thursday of each month 5:45 - 7:30 p.m.
MAY 24, JUNE 14 & 28
www.RosebudsSupport.org

CanCare Survivors Day Luncheon
Date: Thursday, May 31, 2007
For More Info: patwh@cancare.org
As most of you know our Survivors Day Luncheon will be held on Thursday, May 31 at the Intercontinental Hotel. Our luncheon event is a wonderful way to honor friends, family and employees who are cancer survivors and the medical communities who treat them. Our keynote speaker is Scott Hamilton, who is considered to be the world's most celebrated figure skater. In addition to being a role model and humanitarian, Mr. Hamilton is also a ten-year testicular cancer survivor.

2007 Komen Survivor Party
August 22, at The Houstonian
Details to be announced in future posts.

"The Faces behind Breast Cancer" Launch Party
Save the date, Sunday August 26, at 1:00 pm.
Details will be announced in future posts.

Living Fully
M.D. Anderson Annual Conference
September 6-8 2007
Marriott Westchase - Houston, Texas
Additional information is not available at this time.

Tour De Pink 2007
Pink Ribbons Project
September 9, 2007
at Prairie View A&M University
www.tourdepink.org
Additional info in future posts.

2007 Breast Health Summit
"SAVE THE DATE" for the 2007 Breast Health Summit to be held on October 18, 2007 at the United Way in Houston. Please pass this information on to others who may be interested. Additional information will be sent out later by both e-mail and postal mail. And of course, if your mailing address has changed, please be sure to forward the updated information to me. I look forward to seeing you in October!
Pat Dames
The Rose-
12700 North Featherwood
Houston, TX 77034
281-464-5150
Fax 281-484-7083
pdames@the-rose.org
www.the-rose.org

"Sharing is Caring"
As always, The Pink Crusader welcomes your comments, stories, poems, and events. Posts are updated every Sunday. Please send your written contributions to thepinkcrusader1@aol.com.

This concludes our weekly edition of the Pink Crusader. See you next week!

"No matter where you go, there you are."

–unknown

Until next week, stay strong, stay well, and keep on dancing down life's highway!

Love, Josie
The Pink Crusader
thepinkcrusader1@aol.com