Four Years

We had great news yesterday. My dad, who was diagnosed with lung cancer four years ago and underwent two operations (one on each lung), is still cancer-free. YIPPEE! If his CT scan next year is clear he will not have to see the oncologist anymore.

Thank you to all of you who have prayed for Dad's recovery over the years, your prayers are being answered and we couldn't be happier.

Just so everyone understands what a miracle this is let me include a few lung cancer facts...

- Only 16 percent of lung cancer patients are diagnosed before their disease has spread to other parts of their bodies, (e.g., regional lymph nodes and beyond), compared to more than 50 percent of breast cancer patients, and 90 percent of prostate cancer patients.<sup>1, 8

-</sup> Roughly 84 percent of people diagnosed with lung cancer die within five years of their diagnosis, compared to 11 percent of breast cancer and less than 1 percent of prostate cancer patients.<sup>1

-</sup> Less money is spent on lung cancer research than on research on other cancers. In 2007, the National Cancer Institute estimated it spent only it spent only $1,415 per lung cancer death compared to $13,991 per breast cancer death, $10,945 per prostate cancer death, and $4,952 per colorectal cancer.<sup>1, 11

-</sup> Lung cancer kills more than 160,000 people annually – more people than breast, colon and prostate cancers combined.¹

Probably more info than you cared to read, but it is a reminder to all of us what a gift from God it is to have Dad remain cancer-free!

Love you, Dad!