You've got a friend in me

I have a large extended family, but none of these family members are genetically linked to me. Instead we are linked by our hearts.

When I attended Sacramento State in the fall of 2004 as a transferring junior, I had no idea that the people working at the State Hornet newspaper would become so close to me.

Over the years, relationships strengthened, some developed and some even re-emerged. We would have family dinners on Monday nights, help each other through impossible college essays and talk about topics that we could not discuss with our actual families.

Those days were the one of the best days of my life and I know the sentiment is mutual across the board.

But I never really knew how close we were until I first let my friend (and fellow Citizen writer) Linda know about my condition. Within hours, she sent a MySpace bulletin informing everyone on our friends list about the cancer.

That Sunday my hospital room was so full of supporting friends that people coming to see me would only have to follow the noise and laughter to find my room.

Ever since March, my friends have really been my crutch, particularly since there has been some family drama. When some family members either could not handle the emotional situation or simply gave up on my chances of survival, my friends have been there with a hug and a smile.

Every month since I was diagnosed, we have once again brought around the family dinners, only at restaurants instead at the press office. Those who can not make it either send me text messages or e-mails just to check up on me.

While they do not express vocally that they know I will survive this disease, they say it with their eyes and huge, long hugs.

Some friends and I have even resolved old issues. My friend Andrew came to my house after a trip to Argentina and we talked for more than four hours. This was the longest conversation we ever had since the fall of 2004. During our talk, we apologized for the way we acted when I was Photo Editor and he was Assistant Photo Editor. We blamed all the fights on bad medication and no experience in teamwork.

Some friends even take time away from work to help drive me to and from Kaiser South Sacramento on chemotherapy days. My friend Nika drove all the way from Manteca to help me out and to also tease me with promises of her mother’s Filipino cooking.

Another friend (and fellow Citizen writer), Gama, takes time from work and basketball practice to drive me. He also suffers through my Peter Brady voice every other Tuesday (a result of chemotherapy).

Some friends also feed me, like Holly, a teacher from Sac State. Only her food comes in the form of frozen, dead animals, like salmon, elk and deer. Full of protein and calories, this food (once I get a smoker) will definitely get my weight back up.

Some friends even make me cry, although they do not mean it. When I first went into the hospital, Josh, a friend since high school, sent me one of the sweetest notes I ever read. Essentially, he said I am like a sister to him and that he will always be my friend. He also gave me a rubber dart gun to use against any annoying nurse.

But I have to say my fiancé has been my best friend during these months. Besides the fact that he did not run when he heard the word “cancer,” he has been my rock to lean on. He has always been there with a hug, a kiss and a smile. He even proposed to me after I got out of the hospital and we bought a house together last month. I do not need any more evidence that we are serious and that he is truly my best friend.

I know that without any of my friends, I would not have made it this far in my treatment. But I do not have to worry about what might have been, because I have been blessed with the best friends anyone could ever have.

Olympian inspires cancer victims

Even though I can't stand the Olympics and would rather paint the rest of my house than to watch the Olympics, there is an Olympic athlete with testicular cancer who still competes. He's not doing this to raise money for cancer - he actually is putting off treatment to compete, despite the fatigue and pain from the growing cancer.
While I don't agree with Eric Shanteau's decision since he's 24 years old and the quicker he gets treatment, the better his chances of survival are, you have to admire what he's doing.
Check out the story at http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/swimming/news?slug=ap-swm-shanteausjourney&prov=ap&type=lgns.

The Truth about Rumors

Last week a friend sent me a forwarded e-mail telling about a connection between plastics and cancer. The e-mail sourced Dr. Edward Fujimoto, the Wellness Program Manager at Castle Hospital, as saying by either freezing water in plastic bottles, microwaving fatty food in plastic containers or microwaving food covered by saran wrap, dioxins within the plastics are released. These dioxins would then increase the risk of cancer, particularly breast cancer.

Now when I read this, I immediately became skeptical. I have been freezing water in plastic bottles and microwaving food in plastic containers ever since I have had a microwave, along with millions of Americans. If this story was true, then millions of Americans and people around the world would have cancer.

So I googled the good doctor – lo and behold, the story is a bust.

According to TruthorFiction.com, there is a Dr. Edward Fujimoto who is the manager of the Wellness and Lifestyle Medicine Department at Castle Medical Center in Hawaii. However, when I look on the hospital's web site, there is no Dr. Edward Fujimoto there.

He claimed he has researched and observed that dioxins are released when fatty foods are heated in a microwave in plastic containers. However, his research has never been published, according to the web site.

Fujimoto also said Japanese residents are aware of the dioxin danger and mostly cook with glass cookware.

Now Fujimoto never addressed the issue of frozen water bottles. This eRumor has been linked to singer Sheryl Crow (who had been diagnosed with breast cancer) talking with either Ellen DeGeneres or Oprah Winfrey. Again no truth can be found.

While dioxins are real and natural (practically everyone is exposed to a small amount of dioxins every day), the effect can be disastrous.

While most tech-savvy people usually discard these new-age chain letters as just trash, some people may actually take these rumors seriously.

If everyone believed these rumors, people would be afraid to breathe because the ozone layer could cause lung cancer or the dust from Fido or Fluffy could cause prostate cancer.

The oncology nurses at Kaiser South Sacramento have told me one in three people will contract cancer by age 70. There may be environmental factors that cause cancer, such as cigarettes or local factories.

But there are other factors to consider: genetics by heritage, freak genetic mutations (in my case) or what I like to call the luck of the draw. Some people are dealt good cards and others are dealt garbage. It just happens to be chance.

So should we avoid cooking food in microwaves? If that is all that you have available, then go ahead and cook with plastic.

Should we avoid tobacco products? This is a personal choice. Check your family background to see if lung cancer is a family factor. Then decide on your own if you wish to smoke or chew. My grandmother smoked for 40 years until the California public school system brainwashed me into believing that by smoking one cigarette, she was going to die.

However, the cancer only attacked her colon. Despite having asthma, living through the Mount St. Helens disaster and living in Sacramento pollution, she really did miss smoking. But by quitting, she probably lived an additional five years.

Am I regretful of living in a small town with a paper mill that may (not proven) have released dioxins into the ground and ground water?

No way. I love Fort Bragg and always will. Many happy memories were created there and that small town will always hold a special place in my heart.

What is my point? Do not be afraid of living the good life. Go travel, eat your favorite foods in either plastic or glass cookware and breathe the good air. Do not let the media scare you into living in a plastic bubble. We only have one life each and we should make the most of it.

• The American Plastics Society's take on the plastics rumors
• The U.S. FDA's take on plastics and microwaves
• The U.S. FDA's research on dioxins
  

Stand Up To Cancer

I found this out on Yahoo! Stand Up To Cancer is having a benefit show to raise money for cancer research. Set your TiVos and DVRs for 8 p.m. EDT/PDT on Sept. 5 on NBC, ABC and CBS. The shows will also be simulcast in HD. To view the entire story, visit http://www.standup2cancer.org.

Stars from film, television, sports, journalism and music
come together for September 5th prime time television event
to raise funds for cancer research

May 28, 2008 – NEW YORK, NY/LOS ANGELES, CA: Stand Up To Cancer www.standup2cancer.org), a new initiative to raise philanthropic dollars for accelerating ground-breaking research, launches today through an unprecedented collaboration uniting the major television networks, entertainment industry executives, celebrities and prominent leaders in cancer research and patient advocacy. ABC, CBS and NBC will donate one hour of simultaneous commercial-free primetime for a nationally televised fundraising event to air on September 5, 2008 (8 pm EDT and PDT), aimed at rallying the public around the goal of ending cancer's reign as a leading cause of death.

Network evening news anchors Charles Gibson, Katie Couric and Brian Williams will announce the initiative together during live appearances today on ABC's "Good Morning America," CBS's "The Early Show," and NBC's "TODAY show."

"For people struggling with this disease, or those who will be diagnosed, scientific breakthroughs can be a matter of life or death -- literally. We want everyone to know that they can make a difference in this fight," said Couric. "Television is a notoriously competitive business. For the three major broadcast networks to join forces is a wonderful example of the power of working together, and we're very grateful to have the opportunity to reach people all over the country through this show."

"As a motion picture and television producer, I've learned how incredibly powerful these mediums can be in generating public discourse, sometimes almost overnight. Our goal with this initiative and TV show is to ‘tip' the conversation in this country about cancer – to get people riled up, so they want to do something about the fact that it still takes so many lives," said Laura Ziskin, who will produce the September 5th broadcast. Ziskin is a cancer survivor. Her film credits include the Spider-Man trilogy, As Good As It Gets, and Pretty Woman, and she also produced the 74th and 79th Annual Academy Awards.

The Stand Up To Cancer special will feature live performances by legendary recording artists and stars from film and television who will perform as well as present filmed content giving viewers insight into cancer. Various screening tests will be demonstrated in novel and entertaining ways. "Katie, Charlie and Brian will report on potentially life-saving research, speaking with both patients and scientists. We hope to entertain you, educate you, move and inspire you," Ziskin said.

Fort Bragg G-P mill update

As you all know, I'm from Fort Bragg, Calif., and was surprised to hear that the Georgia-Pacific mill was being searched for dioxin, a known cancer-causing chemical. I have stated in an earlier blog that perhaps this is leading to residents getting cancer (my grandmother, her second husband, a family friend and I all have the same type of cancer).
Well here is an update on the situation. I'm keeping an eye on this case and hopefully raising awareness in the town about getting screened for cancer.

What's up on the G-P mill site

By TONY REED

Article Last Updated: 07/24/2008 08:01:06 AM PDT

Click photo to enlarge

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Of the Advocate

Activity on the former Georgia Pacific mill site has definitely picked up this summer, since the city's Redevelopment Agency approved an interim remedial action plan that will allow bioremediation of petroleum contaminated soil. That sounds complicated, but it's not.

Essentially, by adding water and air to soil, Mother Nature has the ability to eat oil, grease and diesel fuel in dirt, releasing more microbes, water and carbon dioxide back into the soil and water.

Several people have asked me what has been taking place on the site in recent weeks, and I had the opportunity to tour the site and talk with Judy Nedoff, senior scientist with Arcadis, G-P's environmental consulting agency.

Those who worked at the mill likely remember the mobile equipment shop, fueling area and compressor house, where trucks and other equipment were repaired and refueled there. Over the years, a significant amount of petroleum products leaked or spilled from trucks, equipment and underground pipes and soaked into the surrounding dirt. According to Nedoff, the mobile equipment shop also featured a bay, like an in-ground swimming pool, that allowed mechanics to stand while working on the underside of trucks and equipment. That also leaked a lot of oil, grease and diesel fuel into the soil.

Subcontracted crews, overseen by Arcadis staff, removed the foundations of the building in June and began digging below. The level of diesel and oil in the soil was obvious to nearby businesses as wind carried the smell over the city. I could smell it myself in some areas, especially where excavated dirt was being prepared for bioremediation.

Nedoff said crews dug downward and outward from the building until they reached clean dirt. The process left a rather large "puddle" as groundwater flowed into the hole.

Landfarming made easy

The landfarm, as officials are calling the area being used for bioremediation, covers most of the paved area east of the planer building. Nedoff said that the bottom foot of the landfarm is sand, dredged from the Noyo Harbor, which prevents equipment from scraping the pavement as it tills the dirt.

I asked her if Arcadis had tested the sand for pollutants. She said Arcadis had not, but the sand came with a clean bill of health from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers. For the next four months, a large tiller will be turning the 18-inch-thick layer of dirt and adding water.

"Throughout the summer, the population of microbes will grow quite a bit, and breakdown the hydrocarbons," said Nedoff.

She said the soils will be tested repeatedly and it is expected that the process should fully clean the soil of petroleum pollutants by October. The dirt will then go back in the holes it came from.

The landfarm contains about half of the petroleum-impacted dirt on the site. The rest will be dug up and placed on the landfarm next year.

Air monitors

At almost all times when I was on the site, I could see a tanker truck spraying water on all roads used by the dump trucks and other equipment. Nedoff said that keeps the dust down. Tilling the soil also created some dust. Nedoff said moveable air monitoring stations are placed downwind of the work site. If the monitors pick up a certain level of dust, work is stopped. Work is resumed after additional dust control measures are taken and levels drop, she said later by phone.

Groundwater treatment

Biosparging is a scientific term for something that looks very similar to the bubbler in a fish aquarium. Since petroleum hydrocarbons soaked down far enough to reach groundwater, it was determined they needed to be removed as soon as possible.

She said it was necessary to clean those areas first, because petroleum contamination threatened to infect groundwater below the site. The most "upstream" underground water is being treated first, to cut off the spread of contamination as it slowly moves west toward the ocean. It also ensures that previously-treated areas won't be re-contaminated.

The process will not use purified oxygen or filtered air, but just the same coastal air we all breathe, pushed into the water with a compressor.

The bubbling will both add oxygen to the groundwater and mix added nutrients to allow microbes that are already there to thrive, said Nedoff. When soils are put back into the holes, an oxygen-releasing compound will be added, so that underground bioremediation will continue after the project is done.

According to Arcadis reports, the process should take about three months. Several groundwater wells have been placed between the excavation area and the ocean, and scientists will continue to test water samples to ensure the treatment is successful.

Nedoff said this type of bioremediation is a common way to treat petroleum-impacted areas and that petroleum levels have been "about what we expected."

"We're just taking advantage of what happens naturally," she said.

She said about four truckloads of dirt and hazardous metals were taken from the site's electrical shop to Kettleman Hills waste facility in Kings County in early June. Mixed with dirt were shavings of lead and copper, Nedoff said, which are considered hazardous and have to be disposed of at a licensed handling facility.

More information can be found on the state Department of Toxic Control Website by clicking the envirostor link on the left and entering Fort Bragg in the search field. More specific information about current projects can be found online at fortbraggmillsite.com and the City of Fort Bragg's Website also has a link to mill site-related information on its Website, ci.fort-bragg.com.ca.us/.

More photos of the site can be seen by clicking the DotPhoto link on our Website, www.advocate-news.com.

Change of habit

Anyone who has seen me between Christmas 2007 and now have noticed that I lost a lot of weight. To be exact, about 45 pounds since then. And trust me, there wasn't much weight to begin with. My uncle used to tease me, calling me the "Anorexic Poster Child."
For months, people keep telling me to eat more. I know everyone is meaning well, but that's like telling me to breathe. I know I need to eat, but one of the downfalls of cancer is loss of appetite. It's kind of like the cancer wants to kill you faster - it takes 2,000 calories a day and some days you just can't eat 2,500 calories to make up the difference.
And what hurts cancer patients even more is America's new obsession to stop obesity by making many food products "low-calorie." I watch my calories, but the opposite of about 75 percent of Americans.
I want and need that high-calorie, fatty food. Send me donuts, hamburgers, mash potatoes and lasagna.
However, another downfall of cancer is changing of taste. Some foods just don't have that wonderful taste that they used to. One particular food for me that really makes me want to cry is chocolate. Any woman will tell you that chocolate is a staple or life source. However, M&Ms taste weird and heavy. Chocolate syrup still tastes OK, but in moderation. Even cookies with chocolate chips don't excite me anymore. Unfortunately, I bought Keebler cookies and S'mores poptarts and they're just taking up space in my pantry.
Another type of food that I recently have become scared of (yes, I said scared) is fast food. I love Del Taco, Taco Bell, Jack in the Box, Jasper's Hamburgers (BTW, Elk Grove needs to reopen Jasper's so my fiance and I can eat), Round Table and Wendy's. However, last week I went to Arby's and got the advertised Cheese and Roast Beef Sandwich for $4 for two. Ever since then, I've been sucking down Dissolveable Tums to battle the heartburn.
Fast food is full of calories, but this recent development is making me scared to try drive-thru again. I even stopped going to Burger King because I threw up my entire lunch in the Oncology Department of Kaiser in front of about 10 other cancer patients.
So what can I do?
I can always make my own meals, though due to lack of energy, I cannot stand up long enough to cook a three-course meal. I'd love to make my own pudding so I have four snacks, but standing for 30 minutes will probably kill me. And unfortunately, I don't have a stool for my kitchen. I just bought some eggs, so I'll see if I can stand for 10 minutes to prepare those. But I can prepare meals where I can let the food soak or boil and then come back to either prepare quickly or pour into a bowl, like macaroni and cheese or rice.
I can also switch to more mild and bland meals. Spicy enchiladas or chili probably isn't a good idea unless I want to throw it back up. But rice, mac and cheese, potatoes (with a splash of garlic) or even sandwiches go down easily and have plenty of calories. Eggs with ketchup and some sausage links are a great breakfast. I'd have pancakes, but Denny's always makes them so huge, I can't finish one.
So to wrap up this post, I guess I'll just say that I'm trying to eat, folks. But it's taking some time to figure out what I can eat, what to avoid and which foods are the quickest to prepare so I can sit back down.

In memory of another victim of colon cancer

I'm adding this memorial to Tony Snow, not only because he was a good reporter whom I respected over the years, but also to once again raise the question of early screening for colon cancer.
Tony Snow was only 53 when he died on Saturday. Perhaps if he had been diagnosed sooner, then perhaps he could have gotten treatment and survived into his 70s. But alas, once again we lose one of the good guys to that evil known as cancer.
Remember, you don't have to have a particular cancer (or fear of inheriting it) to get screened. If there is any concern or question in your mind, go to your physician and request a screening. While the insurance companies are passive and recommend getting screened at a later age, you can be proactive.
Rest in peace, Tony. You will sincerely be missed.