Happy New Year from Soapy Dollar!

Hear the Bible Live on http://www.kslr.com/ Mon-Fri 8pm-9pm cst Soapy's site is http://www.thebiblelive.com/
Newman "Soapy" Dollar is a full-blooded Apache Indian, born out of wedlock to a 19-year-old girl who left the Mescalero Reservation in southern New Mexico to give birth to the child in Albuquerque on June 14, 1949. The infant was abandoned at birth (or possible sold) and taken in by a woman named Princess Babe Hawk, a fortune-teller and magician's assistant. She named the child after her third husband, Leon Frank Dollar, from whom she was already separated. The child never knew Leon or his real father. A doctor signed a birth certificate naming Babe and Leon as the parents. Most of the other information on the certificate was also false.Newman was passed to about sixteen families before he was six years old. On June 1, 1955, he was sent to Cal Farley's Boys Ranch, a home for homeless and delinquent boys on the site of Old Tascosa, a cowboy ghost town near Amarillo, Texas. It was also on that day that Newman became "Soapy". Arriving shortly before lunch, the youngster was told to wash his face and hands before eating, but in his nervousness and haste, he left soap suds in his ears and on his neck. The staff and other children called him "Soapy", and the nickname stuck to this day.
Babe Hawk died in an auto accident in 1958, and Boys Ranch became Soapy's only home. By that time, though, he had adapted well to the security, the stability, and the many opportunities that Ranch life offered. Just a few months before Babe Hawk's death, Ranch Chaplain Wayne Rohrs presented the simple Gospel message to the boys, and Soapy had responded with faith, praying and surrendering his life to Jesus Christ. The child's newfound relationship with God comforted him in the loss of his mother (he only learned years later that Babe Hawk had not been his real birth mother), and it became the primary relationship of his life. Through his years at Boys Ranch, Soapy shared his faith with hundreds of other troubled, disadvantaged young men and led many to trust Christ as their Saviour, too. From his perilous birth circumstances and troubled childhood, God honored the name first chosen for that baby born on the streets of Albuquerque. He had grown up to become a New Man in ChristIn 1958, the Boys Ranch Chapel program allowed boys to enroll in an annual course offered by the Bible Memory Association. Soapy completed both the youth and adult plans by the time he graduated from Boys Ranch in 1967. Along with the rest of the Chapel ministries (choirs, Bible games, camps, etc.), memorizing and reciting scripture had perhaps the most profound, long-term effect on his life. Soapy preached his first sermon around age 12 (a special shelf in the pulpit allowed youngsters to reach the microphone and pray, read scripture, sing, and preach during the worship services) and was often asked to sing solos as well as with choirs and ensembles. At the same time, though, the young Indian boy excelled in both school and athletics. He was valedictorian of his graduating class, three-time All-Around Rodeo Champion (bulls, bare-back broncs, trick riding and clowning), and 1967 Athlete of the Year (football, basketball, and baseball). Popular among the other 350 boys and the ranch staff, Soapy served two years as President of the Student Council.During college at West Texas State University, Soapy worked for a large wholesale company and served as a youth evangelist with area churches. After graduating from college with a degree in mathematics, Soapy met Suzanne Ward at a church pot luck lunch. Following an 18-month courtship, they were married in September of 1972. Suzanne had graduated with honors from Texas Tech with a B.A. degree in Speech and Drama, then she had joined the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ as a single woman. The couple decided to continue with Campus Crusade after marriage. For 35 years now, they have invested their lives in helping people across America and around the world find and experience God's love and forgiveness in Jesus Christ. They lived eight years in Europe and continue to travel widely - ministering in over 30 countries of the world, most recently in Ukraine, India, China, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan. Both speak Spanish, and both sing. Suzanne studied and plays the piano, and Soapy has learned to play the piano, guitar, drums, and bass.
For fifteen years, Soapy has been a popular radio talk show host on station KSLR (AM-630) in America's ninth largest city, San Antonio, TX.
Two weeks after "9/11" in 2001, he launched a new program called "The Bible Live", dedicated to reading the scriptures into hearts and homes across America. At 8p.m.-9p.m. each weeknight, listeners hear a 15 to 20-minute dramatic reading from the Bible. All 66 books, from Genesis to Revelation, are heard every year.

Me on the air at 63amKSLR-Happy New Year!

You can now leave me a voice message!

My Live Video Link

Happy New Year and other stuff!

Our Next Radio Show

Our "Coping With Cancer" show for Dec. 2, 2007. Our special guests are Angie Alaniz and Gylon Jackson. Click here for Gylon's great blog! Angie also has a great BLOG! We talk about how cancer patients can have their own blog to encourage others! Go to http://www.copingwithcancer.org/ and click on Dec 2007 Shows!

Out Of Sight Living!

My Audio Blog for Today

Click here for my audio blog for both radio shows! This one recorded on Nov. 12, 2007

A message from our Friend Jay Himelfarb!

Have Clippers Will Travel!!!!!

Our online support group

The Bible Live now in it's 7th Year!

Man's Best Friend! or Women's Best Friend!

A Special Prayer Request & The Bible on cd

Go to http://thebiblelive.com/contrib.html to order the Bible on cd!

The Way Of The Master!

I care about you!

The Bible Live

Hear the Bible Live on http://www.kslr.com/ Mon-Fri 8pm-9pm cst Soapy's site is http://www.thebiblelive.com/
Newman "Soapy" Dollar is a full-blooded Apache Indian, born out of wedlock to a 19-year-old girl who left the Mescalero Reservation in southern New Mexico to give birth to the child in Albuquerque on June 14, 1949. The infant was abandoned at birth (or possible sold) and taken in by a woman named Princess Babe Hawk, a fortune-teller and magician's assistant. She named the child after her third husband, Leon Frank Dollar, from whom she was already separated. The child never knew Leon or his real father. A doctor signed a birth certificate naming Babe and Leon as the parents. Most of the other information on the certificate was also false.Newman was passed to about sixteen families before he was six years old. On June 1, 1955, he was sent to Cal Farley's Boys Ranch, a home for homeless and delinquent boys on the site of Old Tascosa, a cowboy ghost town near Amarillo, Texas. It was also on that day that Newman became "Soapy". Arriving shortly before lunch, the youngster was told to wash his face and hands before eating, but in his nervousness and haste, he left soap suds in his ears and on his neck. The staff and other children called him "Soapy", and the nickname stuck to this day.
Babe Hawk died in an auto accident in 1958, and Boys Ranch became Soapy's only home. By that time, though, he had adapted well to the security, the stability, and the many opportunities that Ranch life offered. Just a few months before Babe Hawk's death, Ranch Chaplain Wayne Rohrs presented the simple Gospel message to the boys, and Soapy had responded with faith, praying and surrendering his life to Jesus Christ. The child's newfound relationship with God comforted him in the loss of his mother (he only learned years later that Babe Hawk had not been his real birth mother), and it became the primary relationship of his life. Through his years at Boys Ranch, Soapy shared his faith with hundreds of other troubled, disadvantaged young men and led many to trust Christ as their Saviour, too. From his perilous birth circumstances and troubled childhood, God honored the name first chosen for that baby born on the streets of Albuquerque. He had grown up to become a New Man in ChristIn 1958, the Boys Ranch Chapel program allowed boys to enroll in an annual course offered by the Bible Memory Association. Soapy completed both the youth and adult plans by the time he graduated from Boys Ranch in 1967. Along with the rest of the Chapel ministries (choirs, Bible games, camps, etc.), memorizing and reciting scripture had perhaps the most profound, long-term effect on his life. Soapy preached his first sermon around age 12 (a special shelf in the pulpit allowed youngsters to reach the microphone and pray, read scripture, sing, and preach during the worship services) and was often asked to sing solos as well as with choirs and ensembles. At the same time, though, the young Indian boy excelled in both school and athletics. He was valedictorian of his graduating class, three-time All-Around Rodeo Champion (bulls, bare-back broncs, trick riding and clowning), and 1967 Athlete of the Year (football, basketball, and baseball). Popular among the other 350 boys and the ranch staff, Soapy served two years as President of the Student Council.During college at West Texas State University, Soapy worked for a large wholesale company and served as a youth evangelist with area churches. After graduating from college with a degree in mathematics, Soapy met Suzanne Ward at a church pot luck lunch. Following an 18-month courtship, they were married in September of 1972. Suzanne had graduated with honors from Texas Tech with a B.A. degree in Speech and Drama, then she had joined the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ as a single woman. The couple decided to continue with Campus Crusade after marriage. For 35 years now, they have invested their lives in helping people across America and around the world find and experience God's love and forgiveness in Jesus Christ. They lived eight years in Europe and continue to travel widely - ministering in over 30 countries of the world, most recently in Ukraine, India, China, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan. Both speak Spanish, and both sing. Suzanne studied and plays the piano, and Soapy has learned to play the piano, guitar, drums, and bass.
For fifteen years, Soapy has been a popular radio talk show host on station KSLR (AM-630) in America's ninth largest city, San Antonio, TX.
Two weeks after "9/11" in 2001, he launched a new program called "The Bible Live", dedicated to reading the scriptures into hearts and homes across America. At 8p.m.-9p.m. each weeknight, listeners hear a 15 to 20-minute dramatic reading from the Bible. All 66 books, from Genesis to Revelation, are heard every year.

October 28, 2007 Show

The R.A. Bloch Cancer Foundation Inc.

Go to www.blochcancer.org

How are you? Our radio shows

BlogTalkRadio

Here on first show now on BlogTalkRadio!
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/askthedj2007

Our Next Guest on Coping With Cancer for Oct. 21, 2007

Go hear to listen http://copingwithcancer.siteproplus.com/94189.html

Our October 14, 2007 Show

Please Pray For Bill!
October 14, 2007 our special guest is Mr. Bill Preston and his family! Bill was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1999 and was treated with hormone therapy with great results. Bill's psa count is now elevated, and he talks about his medical options. Bill and his family have a strong faith in God and will encourage you!
Click here to listen to our time together!

Blog Radio

Coming Soon!

October 7, 2007 Show

October 7, 2007 Our special guest is singer songwriter, Wayne Watson! This is from his MySpace page: "WAYNE WATSON is wearing this season of his creative life with the ease of a favorite well-worn leather jacketrelaxed and comfortable. The man whose voice and songs helped define an entire genre of Christian music throughout the 80s and 90s is re-connecting with his music with a new passion seemingly born at the intersection of age and wisdom.""The songwriter known for his remarkable depth and relevancy has just brushed past the milestone marker of half a centurymost of it shared intimately on the trail with God and his music. Much of the journey has been chronicled within the library of songs contained on more than two dozen album projects since his memorable breakthrough album Working In The Final Hour caught the imagination of an entire generation of Christian music listeners and radio with its release in 1980. To say his vocal styling and lyrics of open, honest communication of Gods presence in every day life circumstances helped lay the foundation on which todays contemporary Christian music is built would in no way be an overstatement."
Wayne share with us from the heart about his Father's battle with cancer, you will be encouraged!
Click here to listen to our time together!
Visit our site at http://copingwithcancer.siteproplus.com/index.html
God Bless you always!

Sept. 30, 2007 Radio

Our special guest is Dr. Mary Adkins!
September 30, 2007 Dr. Mary Adkins, our good friend is our special guest! Click here to visit Dr. Adkins web site! Dr. Adkins has been a blessing to us over the years and she will encourage you! Click here to listen to our time together.
Visit our site at http://copingwithcancer.siteproplus.com/index.html
God Bless You!

Be my Special Guest on our Radio Shows!

If you have a blog about cancer, maybe you are a cancer patient, and would like to encourage others, than I want to talk to you! If you have Dystonia, and do a dystonia blog, we want to hear from you as well! You don't have to do a blog to be a guest on our radio shows, my only criteria is that you would like to encourage others, who have cancer or dystonia.
All I need is a contact phone # and we can pre-record a radio show with you! This will take about 3o minutes of your time!

Also please leave me a message here on our blog! You can leave us a audio message!
God Bless you!

firefly wings: september 19: today in time

firefly wings: september 19: today in time

Changing People's Live's Radio!

Recorded Sept. 23, 2007

Click here to listen to Changing People's Live's, with our special guest, Mr. Joe Heitzberg, CEO of www.snapvine.com Click here to get your FREE Snapvine account!

Tonite's Show is ready!

Hear our show now at http://copingwithcancer.siteproplus.com/72824.html
or you can hear it live 11:30pm-11:56pm cst on http://www.kslr.com/ Sept. 23, 2007 Our special guest is Sonny Melendrez! Click here for Sonny's site!

Sonny Melendrez was Born to Broadcast!
Making people happy has always been an important element in the life of this dynamic radio and television personality. Sonny travels across the country and around the globe to entertain both on and off the air, but chooses to live in San Antonio, where he grew up.
He is San Antonio's first multi-media personality. SonnyRadio.com is San Antonio's first all-Internet commercial radio station. The station gives listeners a family-friendly Internet radio alternative with features designed to amuse, amaze, inform and inspire all who visit the site.
Twice named Billboard Magazine's "Radio Personality of the Year," his enthusiasm for life is evident as host of various radio and television programs. He has the honor of being included in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as one of the Top 100 Radio Personalities Of All Time.
Radio being his first love, Melendrez has hosted drive time shows at some of America's greatest radio stations, including KIIS, KMPC, KFI, KMGG AND KRLA in Los Angeles.
Blessed with multiple talents, Sonny is equally at home serving as TV host, actor, radio personality, writer, commercial spokesman, comedian, motivational speaker, or cartoon voice artist. His inventiveness and energetic style make him a much-sought-after performer.
A high level of credibility has made him a popular TV and radio spokesperson for companies like Disney, Pepsi, McDonald's, Sears and Sprint PCS, to name a few.
Sonny is comfortable in front of any audience. He has hosted or been featured speaker at such prestigious events as the White House Hispanic Heritage Awards; the National "Just Say No To Drugs" Rally at the Washington Monument; and the USO 50th Anniversary Gala at the Ambassador's Palace in Paris, France with guest of honor, the late Princess Grace of Monaco.
As host of the award winning children's series, ‘You And Me, Kid,” on the Disney Channel, Sonny displayed his natural talent for working with children.
Sonny's ability and willingness to rally people behind a cause is one reason he is involved in so many charities, both locally and nationally. He was named Inc. Magazine's "Socially Responsible Entrepreneur of the Year” and awarded the “2000 Marketing Philanthropist Lifetime Achievement Award” by the Sales and Marketing Executives of San Antonio.
President Reagan commended Sonny for his efforts in the war on drugs. In 1990, in recognition for raising tens of thousands of dollars for youth scholarships, he was named "El Rey Feo" (The People's King) and reigned over San Antonio's annual weeklong Fiesta celebration.
The City of San Antonio named the Sonny Melendrez Community Center located on the city's West Side in his honor as way to say “thank you” for his community involvement.
Programs that benefit children have always been a priority for Sonny Melendrez.One of the projects of which he is most proud is the children's version of "We Are The World" he created in Los Angeles in 1985. Over 1500 children participated in the recording and video, and proceeds from record sales benefited USA For Africa. Sonny received a Grammy nomination for "Best Children's Recording."
The Sonny Melendrez Children's Foundation was created in 1998 to help disabled and disadvantaged youth in San Antonio. It is estimated that he has helped to raise over 100 million dollars in cash, goods and services for local and national charities during the last 25 years!
Sonny is truly the man of a thousand voices. As a teenager he discovered an uncanny ability to imitate and create character voices. He has provided the voices of several characters in Hanna-Barbera's "Jetsons" cartoon series; created many of the sounds heard in the Gremlins movie; was the bug who yelled "Oh, no! It's RAAAAAID!" in the popular TV commercial; played opposite Walter Mathau as the voice of Bob Cratchet in the animated TV classic, "The Stingiest Man in Town"; and was even the voice of the infamous Fred the Cockatoo in the 70s TV series starring Robert Blake. Recently he was chosen from a field of over 140,000 as the new voice of the Parkay Margarine Talking Tub!
Colleges, universities, and corporate groups of all types have found Sonny to be a very effective motivational speaker. His topics are designed to inspire students and companies and to use their resources and make a difference in our quality of life.
No matter what the technology, you're sure to find all the talent and enthusiasm that has become a Sonny Melendrez trademark.

Our Next Guest on Coping With Cancer

On our next show on Sunday Sept. 23, 2007 our special guest will be my good friend, Sonny Melendrez!

http://www.sonnyradio.com/index.htm You will LOVE his site!!!!






Sonny Melendrez was Born to Broadcast!

Today's Video Message

Help us to find a cure for Dystonia!

Our show for August 26, 2007

You can hear hear this show at http://copingwithcancer.siteproplus.com/117825.html
God Bless You

You can hear our Sunday show now, if you missed it

August 19, 2007 I did a show about DYSTONIA. You can visit my sweet Wife's site at www.copingwithdystonia.org Click here to listen to our show!

Tonight's show

You can hear our show at http://copingwithcancer.siteproplus.com/117825.html

My Sweet Wife Has Dystonia

Click here to watch a new Dystonia awareness video! Help us to find a cure!
Her Web site is http://www.copingwithdystonia.org/
God Bless You!

My Social Network

Our Radio show

Bad Migraines

The last 3 Sundays we have aired repeat shows. I'm praying that the Migraine I had today for almost 8 hours is not long range side affects of my car accident from June 28, 2007. A friend of mine has a great blog at http://www.theseedsofgrace.blogspot.com/
God Bless You!

Bob Hall & Roy Butler Video # 1

Still recovering from my car accident-July 24, 2007

We have been airing some "Best of Shows" because I'm still recovering from my car wreck from June 28, 2007. I will try starting today to start sharing more on this blog. My goal as always is to encourage you and to let you know, I know exactly what your are facing when you are diagnosed with cancer. I believe God spared my life on june 28, 2007 to continue to encourage
you and your loved ones who are coping with cancer. I praise God in all things that I experience in my life good or bad. The longer that I live I'm am convinced that I'm still here to encourage you and oothers who are hurting and seeking for the real meaning of life....I found my real menaing in life through Jesus Christ my Saviour and Lord, he will never leave you or foresake you!
God Bless you Always!

Tonight's Show July 8, 2007

July 8, 2007 show-Four years ago Jennifer Hunt from Houston Texas was hit from behind, in her car. Her life would be change forever, when she was diagnosed with Dystonia. Her story will touch your heart. We are also joined by our good friends, Mark and Alma LaCroix from San Antonio Texas. Click here to listen the show.

God Bless You!

Getting over this car accident!

Well it's been 1 week ago today since this guy pulled out in front of me and cause me some serious injury to my neck and lower back...but I'm not complaining., I'm just glad to be alive!

God Bless you!

Automobile accident

Happy 4th of July!
July 1, 2007 show. I was in a car accident last Thursday, I'm ok Praise God! I do have some soft tissue injury in my neck and my Doctors are going to do a ct scan on my neck in the very near future I have been on pain meds and taking it easy at our home so we did not have a chance to line up a new guest for our July 1, 2007 show. We re-aired a broadcast from Feb. of this year.
Feb. 11, 2007 our special guest is our good friend, Mr. Manuel Diotte! Click here for his website! "Manny" was on our very first shows! We pre-recorded this interview on Feb. 9, 2007 so click here and listen to the show now! Wow!!! You will get "fired up!"

Tonight's Show June 24, 2007

June 24, 2007 we are joined with my co-host Jimmy Stewart, and special guest Cissy Gonzalez from Floresvilee Texas. Click here to listen to this show!
God Bless you!

Our Temporary web site

We have been in the process for the past several weeks in giving our Coping With Cancer site a "facelift" so until we are done our temporary site is at http://copingwithcancer.siteproplus.com/

Jimmy Stewart On our show tonight!

June 17, 2007 Our Guest is Jimmy Stewart from San Antonio Texas! Jim's web site is http://www.voicesabookofhope.com/ click here to listen to our show!
Hear it live now on http://www.kslr.com/ airs now until 12am cst
God Bless you!

Tonight's Show June 10, 2007

I'm having bad dental pain tonight from my dental plate I have to wear, so we are doing a best of show tonite. Please pray for our good friends LaDonna & Alan Chapman from DeSoto Missouri. I went to High School with the Chapmans! LaDonna needs your prayers, they found a mass in one of her lungs and she will have a CT Scan on June 26, 2007 to see what's going on...Please pray for both Alan and LaDonna! Because of LaDonna's love for Jesus and her strong witness of his love to me when we were teen-agers I trusted the Lord as my Saviour!
God Bless You!

Late night radio just for you!

You can also Instant message me during the show!
Here are our IM's For Yahoo- askthedj2004 MSN-askthedj AIM-AOL- royatkslr

I'm also setting up a voip room for you as well! http://www.hotconference.com/software/conference.php?id=99579616
if you have any questions on how to downoad it please contact me!

Dystonia Question

A video message about our June 3 show

Watch a video from Roy Butler Personal Message: our June 3, 2007 Coping With Cancer Show

Hear Coping With Cancer Live Sunday evenings 11:30pm-11:54pm cst on http://www.kslr.com/

When Someone In Your Family Has Cancer - Part 2

This is our 2nd Posting from this book on our msn community at http://groups.msn.com/CopingWithCancer/general.msnw?action=get_message&mview=0&ID_Message=346

From: Rev_Daniel_Thrower (Original Message)


Cancer Treatment

There are four main kinds of treatment for cancer-surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and biological therapy. These are used to destroy cancer cells and bring about a remission. Depending on what type of cancer people have, they could have one kind of treatment or a combination of treatments.
Treatments for cancer sometimes cause unwanted side effects such as hair loss, nausea, and weakness. Side effects are problems caused by the treatment. This happens because cancer treatment that destroys cancer cells also can hurt some normal cells.
Sometimes, people with cancer are treated in studies that test different types of cancer treatment. You may hear someone in your family talk about "clinical trials"; these are carefully designed studies that test new and promising treatments.

Words Used When Talking About Cancer Treatment
Biological therapy: Treatment to improve the ability of immune cells to fight infection and disease.
Chemotherapy (kee-mo-THER-a-pee): Treatment with anticancer drugs.
Clinical trials: Research studies that involve patients.
Intravenous (in-tra-VEE-nus): Into the vein. Also called IV. A common way of getting medicines into the bloodstream is by having them drip down from a container through a tube and needle and into a vein. Medicine also can be injected into the vein through a syringe (veins are tubes that carry blood back to the heart from all parts of a person's body). After surgery, blood or fluids to help a patient recover can be given through IVs.
Protocol (PRO-to-kol): A detailed plan that doctors follow when treating cancer patients.
Radiation therapy (ray-dee-AY-shun THER-a-pee): Treatment of cancer with high-energy rays to kill or damage cancer cells. This treatment can come from a machine or from materials put in or near the cancer. Radiation therapy does not make the patient radioactive.
Side effects: Problems caused when cancer treatment affects healthy cells in the body. The most common side effects are hair loss, being tired, and having nausea, vomiting, and mouth sores.
Surgery (SUR-ja-ree): An operation. Cancer surgery is done to remove cancerous tissue from the body.
Vein (vayne): Tubes that carry blood back to the heart from all parts of the body.

Surgery
Surgery (SUR-ja-ree) is an operation. In cancer surgery, all or part of the tumor may be cut out. Sometimes healthy tissue around the tumor also is taken out. When people have surgery, they often have to stay in the hospital until they are strong enough to come home. When they do come home, they may still be weak from the surgery. There may be some things they should not do for a while, like lifting heavy things or climbing stairs, because the body needs time to heal after surgery.

Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy (kee-mo-THER-a-pee) is the treatment of cancer with drugs that destroy cancer cells. These drugs go into the blood stream and are carried to cancer cells anywhere in the body. Chemotherapy is usually given many times for several months or years.
Chemotherapy is most often taken through a needle inserted into a vein, called an intravenous (in-tra-VEE-nus) or IV for short, or into a muscle (a shot), or by mouth (liquid or pills). Many different drugs are used in chemotherapy. Doctors decide which drug or groups of drugs to use depending on what type of cancer the person has.

Side Effects of Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy works mainly on the cancer cells. But healthy cells, especially those that also divide quickly, can be harmed as well. This can cause unwanted side effects, and almost all people taking chemotherapy will have side effects. Most side effects don't last long and will gradually go away after treatment is stopped. The doctor can tell your parents (or the person with cancer) which side effects are most likely.
When chemotherapy acts on normal cells in the stomach and the rest of the digestive tract, from the mouth on down, it can cause nausea and vomiting. Sometimes people lose their appetite. If they have sores on the tongue, gums, or inside the cheeks, it is hard to eat, especially if the food is too hot, cold, or spicy. People often lose some weight because of these side effects.
Nausea and vomiting usually stop within 1 or 2 days after the drug is taken. Mouth sores may last longer and may not even start until 1 or 2 weeks after taking certain drugs. Many people with mouth sores use special mouth rinses to ease the pain.
Temporary hair loss is another common side effect of chemotherapy. Sometimes the hair falls out all at once, and other times it slowly thins out. There's no way to know whether all the hair will come out or if some parts of the body will lose more hair than others. Even if hair is lost, it usually grows back after treatment has stopped. Some people wear a wig, cap, or scarf until their hair grows back.
The bone marrow, the innermost part of the bone, makes new blood cells. If chemotherapy affects the bone marrow, it cannot produce as many blood cells as usual. For a while, the person may have fewer red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets (PLAYT-lets), which are different kinds of cells in the blood.
Red blood cells carry needed oxygen to the tissues. When red blood cells are low, the person may be tired, pale, or cranky.
White blood cells fight infection. When they are low, the person is more likely to get sick and may need to stay out of crowded places or away from people who have something they could catch-like a cold, the flu, or chicken pox. Because of this, you may need to stay away from them if you get sick. Tell your parents when you have been around anyone who is sick, including anyone who has a cold, so they can watch for signs that you might be getting sick.
Platelets help stop bleeding. People who don't have enough platelets may bruise or bleed easily. They may have to stay away from rough play. If they get a nosebleed while their platelets are low, don't panic. They may bleed a little more than someone else would, but it will stop.
You may notice changes in how the person who is getting chemotherapy acts sometimes. Everyone has ups and downs, but these may be more extreme in people taking some kinds of chemotherapy. They may feel depressed, nervous, very hungry, or not hungry at all. Of course, every change like this is not due to chemotherapy. The person with cancer may be sad or worried.
The side effects people have depend on the drugs they take. They may have some or none of the side effects mentioned here, or they may have others. Young people who have had a parent or brother or sister with cancer have found that it is best to find out what to expect by talking to their parents or the person with cancer.
Side effects of chemotherapy are not pleasant, but they don't last forever. The drugs do not destroy all of the normal cells. Once chemotherapy is over, the hair usually grows back, and the bone marrow produces the normal amount of new blood cells. People with cancer begin to feel and act like themselves again.

Radiation Therapy
In radiation therapy (ray-dee-AY-shun THER-a-pee), high-energy rays from radioactive substances are aimed at a malignant tumor. This damages the cancer cells. They die because they can not divide. Some normal cells close to the tumor also will be damaged. But most healthy cells are protected by special lead shields that cover the parts of the body not being treated.
To be sure the radiation is aimed right at the cancer, dye or felt-tip markers are used to mark the target area on the skin. These marks are needed until treatments are finished.
If you've ever had an x-ray, you know something about what radiation therapy is like and that it does not hurt. Radiation treatments for cancer take only a few minutes and often are given over a period of several weeks.
In some cases, radiation is not beamed through a machine but instead comes from radioactive material placed in or near the tumor. Surgery is used to insert radiation implants in the tumor. Then cancer cells will be destroyed from inside the body.
The person who gets radiation therapy is not radioactive during or after radiation therapy. When people have an implant in place, however, you will not be allowed to get too close to them until it is removed. They will be in the hospital during this short period of time.

Side Effects of Radiation Therapy
Although radiation therapy is not painful, it can cause unwanted side effects. The person may be more tired than usual. The skin where radiation is aimed may feel like it has been sunburned and will need to be protected from the sun. Hair may fall out but only in the area receiving radiation. If the radiation therapy aims at the stomach, the person may have nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, or a loss of appetite. People who have radiation treatments to the head or neck may have a sore throat, headaches, difficulty swallowing, loss of appetite, loss of taste, or a changed sense of smell.

Biological Therapy
The body's natural defense system is known as the immune system. Biological therapy uses substances to try to improve the ability of immune cells to fight infection and disease, including cancer. Some of the words you may hear when the doctor, nurse, or your family talks about biological therapy are interleukin (in-ter-LOO-kin), interferon (in-ter-FEAR-on), growth factors, or colony-stimulating factors.

Side Effects of Biological Therapy
Biological therapy may cause a person to have nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite, chills, fever, and/or a rash. During treatment, the person may feel weak or tired. These side effects go away when the treatment stops.

Side Effects: What You Can Do to Help
There's nothing you can do to prevent side effects from cancer treatment, but you can help make them a little easier. Just understanding that side effects can make your parent or brother or sister feel tired or sick may help you be more patient. And if the person with cancer is tired or sick but wants company, you can spend time with them doing quiet things such as talking, reading, watching TV, or playing games.

Doctors Who Work With Cancer Patients Hematologist (hee-ma-tol-o-jist): A doctor who is a specialist in the study and treatment of blood diseases.
Oncologist (on-KOL-o-jist): A doctor who is a specialist in treating people with cancer.
Pathologist (pa-THOL-o-jist): A doctor who is a specialist in the study of cells and tissues removed from the body as well as in making a diagnosis based on changes in these cells.
Radiation oncologist (ray-dee-AY-shun): A doctor who is a specialist in using radiation to treat cancer.
Radiologist (ray-dee-OL-o-jist): A doctor who is a specialist in making and explaining pictures of areas inside the body. These pictures are made with x-rays, sound waves, or other types of energy.
Surgeon (SUR-jun): A doctor who is a specialist in doing operations
Learning More on Your Own
Now you know something about cancer in general, how it is treated, and about side effects from treatment. You may want to know more about your family member's cancer-like what kind it is, its treatment, and what that means for all of you. If you want to know more, ask someone who can answer questions such as:
What kind of cancer is it?
Where is the cancer?
Will my family member get better?
What is the best kind of treatment for this type of cancer? Will more than one kind of treatment be used?
How do people feel when they receive this treatment? Does the treatment hurt?
How often is this treatment given? How long will the treatment last?
Does the treatment change how people look, feel, or act? If so, how?
How long do treatments last-a morning, a week? Can I visit?
Where are treatments given? What is it like? Can I come along?
What will happen to me during these treatments?
Can people receiving this treatment go back to school or work right away? Is it better for them to stay at home?
Can my family member eat the same foods as everyone else? If not, what special foods or diets are needed?
What can I do to help?
You may have questions of your own. Sometimes people who have a parent or brother or sister with cancer can visit the cancer treatment center instead of just imagining what it's like. You can see the building and equipment and meet the people who work there. Sometimes, you can meet other cancer patients.
If the hospital is too far away or has rules against your visiting, you could ask other people who have gone to the hospital to tell you what it's like. They can tell you about the people they know such as the doctors, nurses, social workers, and patients, and describe a typical day. They can bring home booklets, draw you pictures, and take photographs. This way they can share their experiences with you, and you can learn a little about the hospital.

Reading About Cancer

Reading about cancer also may be useful. If you decide to read about cancer, be sure that what you read is up-to-date. Cancer treatment is getting better so fast that information may be out of date in a few years.
And remember, just as you're an individual, so is the person in your family who has cancer. Your family's experiences may not be exactly like those you read about. If you read something or see something on TV or in the movies, do not assume that what happens to the cancer patient in the story will happen to the person in your family.
If you read something or see something on TV or in the movies that you don't understand or you want to talk about, you may want to share it with your parents or another adult you trust. Pick someone who knows you and what you are experiencing. Give them the book or article to read or tell them about what you saw. Sometimes, when you are worried, it is hard to concentrate on what you have seen or read. It may help to talk it over and share how you feel.
. God Bless You!

Our Support Group at MSN

WE ARE BUILDING OUR SUPPORT GROUP FOR YOU!
Coping With Cancer
Here you will find information about Cancer, Male & Female Breast Cancer, Encourage others. and you will find that faith and healing go hand in hand Giving positive encouragement to cancer patients & their families.

Here is a recent post by my good friend Rev. Daniel Thrower> His sweet wife is a cancer survivor!

When Someone in Your Family Has Cancer Part One
Cancer Changes Things
When someone in your family has cancer, things can change for everyone. These changes can be large or small. What it is like to have a parent or a brother or sister with cancer depends on a lot of things such as:
Who in your family has cancer.
What kind of cancer the person has and how it's treated.
How old you are.
If you have other people in your family or close friends nearby who can help.
Whether you live with two parents or with one.
If you have brothers and sisters at home and how old they are.
How far the person with cancer goes for treatment-across town or to another city or state-and if you can visit or call them.
How long the person has to stay in the hospital.
How well or sick the person with cancer feels.
Whether you can get the answers to your questions about cancer.
How easy it is for your family or friends to talk with you about cancer.
How easy it is for you to talk about cancer.
Whether your friends know what is happening to your family.
How your friends treat you.
Any of these can make a difference, and only you know how cancer has changed your life. One piece of information can't answer all your questions. This information was written to help you understand more about cancer and how it is treated. It may help you to understand the changes that may happen in your life. It also may help you understand and deal with feelings you have about cancer and about the person in your family who has it.
Cancer: Can It Be Cured?
Some people think that because a person has cancer he or she is going to die. Although some people do die from cancer, many do not. More people are living with cancer today than ever before. In many cases, cancer treatment can cause a remission (ree-MISH-un).* Remission means that there are no more signs of the cancer. A remission can last for months or years and sometimes lasts so long that the person is considered cured. But sometimes the cancer comes back. If this happens, it is called a relapse (REE-laps) or recurrence (re-KUR-unce). When that happens, treatment usually starts again.
Whether the person in your family can be cured of cancer depends on many things, and no booklet can tell you exactly what to expect. If you wonder how your parent or brother or sister is doing, ask an adult who you think will know. Ask someone in your family or someone who works with people who have cancer. If your parents agree, you may want to talk to the doctor, nurse, or social worker at the hospital where your family member goes for treatment. Nobody can tell you what will happen in the future, but they can help you understand what is happening.
It may help to know that a lot of cancer research is being done, and ways of treating cancer are getting better.
Learning about the type of cancer the person in your family has and the treatment being used will help you understand what is happening to your family member. Both of these are important to know about because there are more than 100 different types of cancer, and the treatment for each type is different. Also, there may be more than one way of treating a type of cancer, so people who have the same kind of cancer may not even get the same treatment. Treatment will depend on how old the patient is, whether the cancer has spread to other places in the body, and what the doctors think is best for each patient.
Treatment will usually follow a protocol (PRO-to-kol), which is a plan for treating cancer. However, even if two people have the same type of cancer and the same treatment, the treatment may not work the same way for both of them. So, if you know or hear of someone who has had the same type of cancer and treatment as your family member, and that person did not do well, it doesn't mean that your family member isn't going to get well. It is important to remember that each person is different and can react to treatment differently.
Words Used When Talking About Cancer
Benign (be-NINE): Not cancer.
Biopsy (BY-op-see): A test where a piece of tissue (a group of cells) is taken from a person's body and looked at through a microscope to see if the cells are normal. This is one way to see if a person has cancer. A biopsy also can tell what type of cancer a person has.
Cancer (KAN-ser): Over 100 diseases where cells that are not normal grow and divide rapidly. They crowd out and destroy normal cells the body needs. Cancer can also spread to other parts of the body.
Diagnosis (dy-ag-NO-sis): Identifying a disease. A diagnosis is based on tests and doctors' experience and knowledge.
Hematology (hee-ma-TOL-o-jee): The study of the blood, the parts of the body where blood is formed, and blood diseases.
Immune cells: Cells in the body that protect a person from infection and disease.
Lump: A thickness or bump under the skin that can be felt by the fingers, either by the person who has it or by a doctor. Lumps can be a sign of cancer, but most lumps are not cancerous.
Lymphatic system (lim-FAT-ik): Certain tissues and organs of the body that make and store cells that fight infection and disease (immune cells). These cells are carried throughout the body in an almost colorless fluid called lymph (limf). Lymph and the vessels that carry lymph fluid also are part of this system.
Malignant (ma-LIG-nant): Cancer.
Metastasis (ma-TAS-ta-sis): The spread of cancer from one part of the body to another. Metastasis also is the word used for a new tumor caused by the spread of cancer cells.
Oncology (on-KOL-o-jee): The study and treatment of cancer.
Prognosis (prog-NO-sis): What might happen to a person who has a disease.
Recurrence (re-KUR-unce): The return of cancer cells and signs of cancer after a remission.
Relapse (REE-laps): Recurrence.
Remission (ree-MISH-un): The disappearance of cancer symptoms and cells. When this happens, the disease is said to be "in remission."
Tissue (TISH-u): A group of cells that performs a specific function.
Tumor (TOO-mur): An abnormal mass of tissue.
What Is Cancer?
Cancer is a group of more than 100 diseases. Each type of cancer has its own name (such as lung cancer, breast cancer, leukemia), its own treatment, and its own chances of being cured. Each type of cancer is different from the others in many ways, but every cancer is the same in this way: Certain cells become abnormal and grow without control.
The millions of tiny cells that make up the human body are so small that they can be seen only by looking through a microscope. Although there are different kinds of cells, such as hair cells, skin cells, and blood cells, each type of cell makes new cells by dividing into two. This is how worn out, old cells are replaced with new ones.
What happens when someone has cancer is that a cell changes and doesn't do the job it should do for the body. When a cancer cell divides, it makes more cells like itself-cells that are not normal. These cells keep dividing into more cells. Eventually, they crowd out and destroy the normal, healthy cells and tissues the body needs.
A group of cells that keeps growing and crowding out normal cells is called a tumor (TOO-mur). There are two kinds of tumors. A benign (bee-NINE) tumor is not cancer. The cells of a benign tumor can crowd out healthy cells, but they cannot spread to other parts of the body. A malignant (ma-LIG-nant) tumor is cancer. Like a benign tumor, it can crowd out healthy cells around it. Unlike a benign tumor, however, a malignant tumor also can spread to other parts of the body. To do this, a cell or group of cells breaks away and moves, usually through the blood or lymphatic system, to other parts of the body. There they divide and grow and form tumors made up of cancer cells like the cells they came from. When this happens, it is called metastasis (me-TAS-ta-sis).
Cancer: It's Not Contagious
Scientists know that you can't "catch" cancer from someone who has it. It does not spread like chicken pox or the flu. You can't catch it from being with a person who has cancer or by drinking from the same glass as that person. You may know that you can't "catch" cancer, but you may wonder if having someone in your family who has cancer means that you also are going to get cancer. Instead of worrying, it is best to talk with your parents and the doctor about this. They can tell you that cancer usually doesn't run in families, and you can talk about what scares you.

God Bless you!

Why I was healed of cancer twice!

I want you to know, that I really care about how cancer has affected your life or someone you know...I'm 53 years old, and consider myself to be the most "blessed man" alive! I have other serious health issues that I currently cope with on a daily basis, like type 2 diabetes, chf (congestive heart failure) high blood sugar, and I'm insullin dependent as well. No probllem! I share with you from the depths of my soul! I feel that God has truly entrusted me to encourage as many cancer patients and their families for the rest of my days on this earth! This is why we do our radio show called "Coping With Cancer" Our site is at http://copingwithcancer.siteproplus.com/ Currently I'm working my "old shift" 5pm-1am (cst) at http://www.kslr.com/ where I have been employed since March 1986. I believe God "gives us the desire of our Hearts"! Actually I prayed in Jesus name to get a job with KSLR back in 1986 and that prayer was answered in 2 weeks! Amazing! I had no previous background in radio just a desire on be on the air! I have been healed twice of cancer is to share with you how a baisc faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will give you the peace that surpasses all understanding! I know that others have had this same faith in Jesus and that they are not here to love us and to comfort us because they may had died from cancer. I'm humbled to know that God sitll has me here to tell you how much he loves you and really cares about every area of your life! I was healed the 2nd time from cancer because God sent me great encouragement from a man who is know my Pastor. His name is John Payne. Rev. Payne prayed for me back in 1988 when I was diagnosed with Hodgekins Disease for the 2nd time. I was so depressed I just wanted to just give up and die...he told me that in some cases God uses Doctors, and medicines to heal people who have cancer, and that I need to do everything possible to fight my recurrent Hodgekins Disease! Prasise God I'm glad God sent Rev. John Payne to encourage me! Have you ever had a situation or family or friend who was there for you? To encourage you? Exactly when you needed it? Wow!!! I was healed twice of cancer to tell you how much I love you. We don't know each other but we really do....I know what it means to Cope with Cancer. I want to encourage you now and always, to pray and fight for your life! As my friend "Manny" Diotte says "You were born to win!" Manny is a cancer survivor his site is http://www.manueldiotte.com/ Share your heart, so that you can encourage others. I would love to hear from you soon. God Bless You!

Our New Shows are ready!/Happy Mom's Day!!

First off, we want to wish all the "Moms" A Blessed Mother's Day! I now have the rest ouf our shows through May 20, 2007 at http://copingwithcancer.siteproplus.com/140705.html

Hug Your Mom Today!!!!!!!!!!
God Bless You!

You can now hear our April 29, 2007 Show!

Just go to http://copingwithcancer.siteproplus.com/137461.html

If you would like to be a guest on our radio show please email me at copingwithcancer@msn.com

God Bless You!

Please forward this video promo to your friends! http://app.sightspeed.com/vm/89gxx2w7428zmu4wt7brkmnprhgvrhpi/547p/en_US/1/

Video Message

Click here for my video message http://app.sightspeed.com/vm/b1jc16ib5ga32sbawwmuy9c4e18hjmx9/e47p/en_US/1/

God Bless You!

Happy Easter!

You can access our next show at http://copingwithcancer.siteproplus.com/65678.html

I want you to know that because of my Pastor, Rev. John Payne, that I did not just give up and die.....When I found out that I had cancer for a 2nd time and that was in 1988, this was a very depressing time in my life...I believe that God sent Rev. John Payne to pray for me and to encourage me to have a 2nd cancer surgery. I praise God on this Easter, that I know that "Christ has died, Christ has risen, and that (Jesus) Christ will come again!
I hope to be able to blog more once I start back on my old shift at www.kslr.com
God Bless You on this Easter Day!!

Prayer Request!

Judy said...
I need prays I found out last week that I have Stomach Cancer.
Thank You
Judy From Mississippi

March 31, 2007 4:26 AM Please pray for Judy!
God Bless You Judy!

You can hear tonite's show now!

Just go to http://copingwithcancer.siteproplus.com/110194.html

God Bless You!

Tonite's Coping With Cancer

Our special guest will be my good friend Blake Lindsay! Blake's is a blind guy with more "sight" than most people I know!! His website is http://www.blakelindsay.com/
He is the Author of "Out of Sight Living" Quoting Blake "Out of Sight Living, is a book I wrote to inspire everyone, and especially for anyone who has a unique challenge, or knows some one, who they would like to encourage with my book Out of Sight Living. I really try to get people to love life to the fullest in this book.

This will be the 3rd time that we have asked Blake to share his story with our listeners! Blake is a man of God and he will encourage you with his special "Sight"!

Blake is working with Mr. Zig Ziglar, in sales, and has his host for the Ziglar Weekly Inspire Podcast. All of their shows stay up for several weeks, for those who want to get caught up, or to re-visit one they enjoyed and received lots of great food for thought on. He simply introduces Zig, and at the end, Blake ties his points together. Eight to ten minutes, on each Podcast, at http://www.ziglar.com

Blake's email address is blake@blakelindsay.com

Blake will have an appearance on KABB-FOX-29 (San Antonio affliate) Wednesday Morning April Eleventh, at 7:40. He will have a interview to talk about specifics on Out of Sight Living.
Here's Chaper 9 of his book as posted on his website:

Chapter Nine: Navigating Through Darkness

People often ask me which of my four senses is the most valuable. With no reservation, I always reply that my hearing is the most important because of the superior expanded sense of echo, which helps me avoid running into people or things. I assume that this is the type of mechanism bats use to hear. I am able to use the echoes to guide me on when to make a turn in a building and when I need to walk around something in my direct path. I cannot hear when there is a flight of stairs going down, but I can usually feel a draft.
The only downside is that an object needs to be at least waist high before my ears can pick up an echo. At times this has caused me pain—literally. Take for example, a dog’s favorite thing to mark his spot on…yes, a fire hydrant. Fire hydrants hurt. I can’t for the life of me figure out why dogs like them so much. I don’t particularly care for their height or lack thereof.
Being around sighted people all my life, I think that one of the questions that I am asked most often is how I am able to navigate into unfamiliar areas. I have had quite the journey of navigating, which all started with my mobility instructor, Pat Soja. Pat Soja taught me the importance of using hearing to assist in my independence. Part of the training I received involved complete concentration on my keen sense of hearing in order to line up with traffic and confidently cross busy intersections with stoplights.
The summer following my freshman year in high school, it was time to experience self-navigation. At the time my family lived in the small suburb of Westfield, just north of Indianapolis. Mr. Soja patiently and effectively guided me through town.
He first taught me how to get to my favorite hot spots, otherwise known as places to eat. The bakery was the first place we journeyed. After the bakery we strolled to other restaurants. Besides restaurants, I was also shown how to get to the post office and a few other key businesses. There were occasional mishaps, forgetting where to make a turn or going too far or not far enough. But when I had it down, being able to walk about freely throughout my hometown gave me a great sense of independence. I could tell people were impressed watching me without a guide. Prior to learning self-navigation, I would often find myself with nothing to do. At times I was restless. Suddenly, everything had changed.
The Christmas break following my working with Mr. Soja, I decided to take a walk. The only difference about this walk as to previous walks was the fact that there was eight inches of snow on the ground. Snow is a bit of a hindrance for blind people who rely on sound to help them navigate. Snow resembles carpet, which is known for muting sound waves. For me and others who are blind, snow causes the surroundings to be silenced. If an inch of snow can mute sound, can you imagine what snowdrifts do? Snowdrifts create significant barriers, as I found out one cold winter day.
As I was coming home from a solo walk, I became disoriented and missed my turn. Luckily my mother knew my expected arrival time and when I did make it home, she went out to search for her aggressively independent son. She found me, took me home and thawed me out! I definitely learned a great lesson about navigating after a snowstorm. Today, I do not have to worry too much about navigating in the snow. Dallas, Texas, does not get wintry weather like Indiana. I am grateful for southern weather patterns. I occasionally get disoriented, but if I learn the route I am taking with the help of a good traveler, I am able to memorize poles, shrubs and other markings, which helps me to get back on track. When it comes to navigation, a number of my blind friends have chosen to use seeing-eye dogs. I have never felt a true need to have one, but I enjoy being around them. For me, using a cane was the way to go. I just tell people that I have a stick dog that requires no food or water. I was introduced to the cane at age 11, when I took a mini-mobility course at the Indiana School for the Blind. At age 15, I understood the importance of using the cane for my independence and began to train quite intensely on mobility movements.
One of the most phenomenal things I have learned about blind people is their ability to develop and sharpen their hearing rather quickly. Through working with mobility instructors and by being around people who have recently lost their sight, I have witnessed first hand the development of this “radar hearing” in only a few days. I believe all people, including sighted people, can further develop any one of their senses and use the development to their advantage.
People are always in amazement when they observe me turning at all the right places by hearing the sounds change around me. I can hear a turn coming and very accurately make the turn, just as if I could see. Mobility instructors are required to perform while being blindfolded several times before they get their certificate or license to teach. In just a few short attempts, they develop the same radar sense that guides them in the same situations. It has always made me wonder what additional senses we can develop when we are required to use them for survival. I think we would all be very surprised.

You can hear the show live tonite on www.kslr.com 11:30pm-12am cst
I will have the interview up on our website later this eevening and will tell you when you can hear it. We are pre-recording this interview in about 1 hour!

Thank you to my readers who have been praying for us! I'm feeling a little better with this (CHF) congestive heart failure. "The doctors can treat us, but only God can heal us!"
God Bless You!

Our Next Show on March 25, 2007

As always we pre-record our shows. Listen now to our March 25, 2007 show, with our guest Jan Booth, oconology and hematology nurse who works at Willford Hall Hospital in San Antonio Texas. Jan was on our show about 3 years ago, we always enjoy her visits, because she has a great passion for cancer patients! Go to http://copingwithcancer.siteproplus.com/224827.html to listen to this show now!

God Bless You!

Side affects from Congestive Heart Failure

I have not posted anything in several days because of complications and constantly being tired from my congestive heart failure, but all is great! We continue to do our radio shows, in fact I will pre-record a show tonite!
I will post all the info about my next guest later this evening!
God Bless You!

Coping with Dystonia Radio-Happy Birthday Mark Lacroix!

Happy Birthday Mark LaCroix from San Antonio Texas who turned 48 years old Saturday March 17, 2007! The LaCroix's are our best friends! My wife is really blessed by Mark's wife Alma. Mark is indeed a BRAVE man! Mark has Dystonia, and a few years ago had DBS for his Dystonia. From www.dystonia-foundation.org site here is the info they have about DBS...."Deep brain stimulation (DBS) involves implanting stimulating electrodes into selected targets in the brain in order to mimic the effects of lesioning. Surgeons began using DBS in place of lesioning for Parkinson’s disease patients in the mid-1990s. DBS also has applications to tremor and pain. Whereas DBS has been used to treat thousands of persons with Parkinson’s disease, the procedure began being applied to dystonia less than 10 years ago. It is estimated that just under 1,000 dystonia patients have been treated with DBS.

Bilateral pallidal DBS produces significant benefit in dystonia with average improvements of about 50-60% in the Burke-Fahn-Marsden dystonia rating scale. Some primary generalized patients have been reported to have up to 90% improvement. DBS has also been performed on persons with secondary dystonias, cervical dystonia, segmental dystonia, and myoclonic dystonia with encouraging results.

The complete DBS apparatus includes the DBS electrode, a connecting wire, and a pulse generator (a.k.a. “brain pacemaker” or stimulator) that contains a battery. The initial procedure to implant DBS is identical to that of the pallidotomy and thalamotomy. Once the brain target is mapped and identified, instead of creating a lesion, the surgeon places the DBS electrode into the target. The wire and pulse generator may be implanted at the same time as the electrode or at a later date. The generator is implanted under the collarbone, and the wire is tunneled up the neck, behind the ear, and to the site of the electrode (the patient is under general anesthesia for this part of the procedure). The wire is connected to the electrode, and the incisions are closed. Most DBS procedures involve the implantation of two generators and are done in two surgeries. It is possible to implant both generators in a single surgery, and surgical centers vary in their preferred approach. Immediately after the operation, the patient may temporarily resume medications. The patient may be discharged the next day.

Once the generator is implanted, the patient must wait a week or two before the batteries are activated. This waiting period is necessary to allow the swelling that normally occurs with the surgery to diminish. The DBS electrode conveys electrical pulses into the brain using power produced by the battery in the generator. A series of visits to the hospital are required to adjust the voltage settings to the needs of the individual. It may take several weeks or months to achieve the correct settings. The patient can check the status of the generator using a handheld device that resembles a TV remote control. Using this device, the patient can determine if the generator is on or off, and can turn it back on in the event that it shuts down unexpectedly. (Certain phenomenon such as magnetic fields caused by security devices may cause the battery to temporarily stop working.)

The expected life span of a battery at a typical voltage is about four years. At a very high voltage, the battery may need to be replaced after a year; at a very low voltage, perhaps up to seven years. Replacing a battery can be done under general or local anesthesia as an outpatient procedure.

Dystonia does not respond to DBS in the same as other movement disorders do. For example, persons treated for tremor will generally improve within seconds of turning the generator on. In patients with dystonia, improvement may be delayed for days, and weeks or months may pass before the full extent of the benefit is reached. DBS does not necessarily eliminate the possibility of subsequent drug or botulinum toxin treatments.

Side effects are minimal, but no procedure is without risks. The main risk in DBS is a fatal hemorrhage. However 99-99.5% of patients do not have significant bleeding. Despite vigorous efforts to avoid it, infection is a risk in approximately 2% of patients. Infection can be serious and warrant the removal of the hardware. If this happens, it may be possible to re-implant the hardware once the infection is treated. Hardware failure is also a concern, though this is rare and precautions are in place in the event of situations such as a battery failing. It is estimated that in 5% of DBS procedures for dystonia some complication may arise, most of which can be addressed without removing the hardware.

Although no longer considered “investigational” for dystonia by the United States Food & Drug Administration, DBS is in its relatively early stages as a treatment for this disorder. The preliminary results are quite positive, and the procedure is expected to evolve over time as more patients are treated and more data is collected.



Mark has had some problems with his DBS long range but he will tell you that because of this surgery his life is better!!!

Mark LaCroix and my sweet wife Michelle our MY heroes because they are "Coping With Dystonia"
God Bless you!

Our next "Coping With Cancer" Show

Jimmy Stewart is my best friend on this earth, next to Jesus! You would never know that Jim has been coping with leukemia for about 12 years or so. He was the "best man" at our wedding! Jim will be our special guest on the next "Coping With Cancer" broadcast! His site is http://voicesabookofhope.com
Here's some info about our friend!
Angels talk to Jim and he responds. Otherwise, Jim is an ordinary talented person like many others. Jim knows there are both good and evil angels. His discernment and authenticity help readers accept the truth he shares.



Jim is an award winning poet and songwriter. He has had the ability to communicate with his angels since he was a child. He has also has been blessed his whole life by being surrounded by miracles, great and small. He has taken the teaching of the angels and applied them to his everyday life. Jim, still remains puzzled as to why God chose to use him. Jim believes that he is a very poor example for others to look up to spritually.



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



A Word From The Author



By writing this book, I am not trying to make you believe in God, Jesus, angels, or miracles. I am just telling you about a subject that I know best, me. Is God real? Is Jesus real? Are angels Real? Are miracles real? All of these questions can be debated over and over. I am not a debater, so I will leave the debates up to you.



When revealing my stories to people I would meet, they in turn would tell me a story of their own. I have included many of these stories in this book.



I have be ridiculed, ostricized and called a zealot by many people. Some ask me who I think I am? I always answer them by sayin, "Jim." Many people want me to explain why these things happen to me and not them. I always tell them, "They do happen to you, but you wish to ignore them." These days I am a very misunderstood man and I have almost turned into a recluse.



Many times Satan has attacked me while writing this book. There was many a time I wanted to give up but, I knew that if I were to give up, Satan would win. I know that I could have stopped all of his attacks on me and my family, but there was something stronger on my side, God.



I hope you enjoy reading my book. I also hope that by you reading it, the book will give you hope in your own personal struggles.



God Bless



Jim Stewart












Submit a Story



Jim is in the process of collecting stories for his next book. If you have a story that you would like to share, please email us. Voices2006@msn.com

**Here's some short stories Jim has on his website at www.voicesabookofhope.com

Ray of Sunlight




This is story about Ray and Alice Pineda, (actually Alice).



Alice was diagnosed with cancer in it's later stages and was scheduled for major surgery to try and remove the cancer. The doctor told them that the operation would take between 7 and 8 hours. Both Ray and Alice were scared by the unknown outcome of the surgery. They decided to pray. It had been an overcast day outside, but when they started to pray the clouds opened up and a ray of sunlight fell on Alice. After they said amen the clouds closed back up. Alice then tod Ray that the fear had gone away and that she was going to be alright. Alright she was, when she went to surgery the surgeons could not find any signs of cancer




Phone Call of Hope



Over twenty years agao I received a letter from my sister telling me that she did not want me to be a part of her life anymore. She also stated that her daughter felt the same way. I had just been served divorce papers, my mother had just died and now this. All of this occured right before Christmas.



Even though my sister and my niece wanted to disown me, I still kept them in my prayers. My niece developed breast cancer and I knew that it was not going to be easy for her or her family. I prayed for her. She is now 10 years out and cancer free.



One Saturday I was struggling with my spiritual hope. I was talking with a friend of mine, David, when my call waiting chimed in. I normally say, "They will call back if it is important." This time I didn't do that. I took the call. The voice on the other end said, "This is Valerie." I said, "There is no one here by that name." She said, "No this is Valerie." I said, "I'm sorry but I do not know a Valerie. Are you sure you have the right number?" They said, "No this is your great-niece Valerie." I could not believe my ears. All of these years of waiting and not losing hope. I did not know what to say. She said, "Uncle Jimmy, I just called to tell you I loved you." I told her that I loved her too. That was all that was said. I started crying like a baby. The last time I saw her she was a baby.



God gave me a message that day. All is not lost.



She had to know that she might get in trouble for calling me on her grandmother's (my sister's) home phone.








Prayer Works Miss Jeanne



Two times that I know of prayer worked for Miss Jeanne.



The first time was when I received a phone call telling me that Jeanne's son was in intinsive care in Nashville with meningitis. Jeanne was feeling pretty depressed because she was in San Antonio and he was in Nashville. She started losing her faith in prayer. I called her up and told her that I would have a mutual friend of ours, Roy Butler, pray for her son on the radio. Shortly after he offered the prayer, her son called her from Nashville telling her that everything was alright and he was in a private room.



The second time was when Miss Jeanne, Miss Donna and myself were asked to go on a radio show, "Coping With Cancer." Miss Jeanne being a colon cancer survivor an I being a leukenia survivor and Miss Donna (my wife) was there for support. When we arrived on that Saturday night, Miss Jeanne told me that the doctors had discovered some spots on her liver and that they thought that they were cancerous. She said that she was to go in for testing in a couple of days. Well Brother Roy asked for prayers for Jeanne on the show. Later that week Miss Jeanne received her report and the doctors could not find the spots. They had gone away.-God Bless you Miss Jeanne


Hear Coping With Cancer Live Sunday evenings 11:30pm-11:54pm cst on www.kslr.com

Whenever I have the audio I will post it on our website for you to hear, we will actually pre-record this show tomorrow evening!
God Bless You!
***Next week I hope to do a "Coping With Dystonia" show!

Prayer Request for a 11 year old child!

I rec'd the following email from a friend of ours today. If you would like for me to forward you the original email we can do that for you! Email us at copingwithcancer@msn.com Your email will be keep confidental
Here's the email:
From Tammy Boley:

Special Prayer Request. I am starting a signing for my son's best friend who
Has cancer (Hodgkin's Lymphoma). He is 11 years old and is not doing well at
All. He was diagnosed with this cancer 2 weeks ago and the tumor is next to
His juggler vein and entwined in it...it has moved his wind pipe over an
Inch making it hard for him to breathe. The tumor is the size of a large
Eggplant and is sitting right above his heart. This little boy needs all the
Prayer he can get. I would like you to sign this and pass it on to as many
People as you can. Once we get to a thousand people can you please send this
Back to me at: 1volsgirl@bellsouth.net

I am going to print this up for my sons best friend and show him how many
People care and how many people are praying for him to get better. If you
Have a heart at all you will all do this for me. I love this child as though
He is my own and we really need all the prayers! Thank you.



Hit forward - then clean up all the names at the top section by highlighting
Them and deleting them...then add your name to the bottom of this list and
Send it out to as many people as you can and pray for him!

Let's storm the throne with prayer!!

Christian Clipart

Today has been challenging

Even though I have been in remission from cancer for the 2nd time since January 1990
life is still challenging! To be brief I know how to cope with congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, and I'm also a insullin dependent stage 2 diabetic.
But all is good! I share my health issues with you to let you know that no matter what you are experiencing right now at this very moment, that God has promised us in his word, the Holy Bible that he will never leave us or foresake us! The only reason that I have been healed twice of Hodgekins Disease(I believe) is to continue to encourage cancer patients and their families! My sweet wife has had Dystonia for over 40 years, so we really realize the power of prayer and faith in the God of this universe. My wife's website is in the process of being re-built but you can access info about Dystonia in my original post! This is our first time to blog info about our radio shows, please tell others about our mission to encourage cancer and dystonia patients and their families. "We really do care about you!"
God Bless you!

Coping With Cancer/Coping With Dystonia Radio Shows

I really care about you!
Cancer affects all of us in one way or another, a family member, relative or maybe your best friend.What do you say? How do you comfort him or her?I know what you are going through with cancer. By the Grace of God and modern medicine I have survived Hodgekins Disease lymphatic cancer twice since 1984! I have been cancer free since early 1990! Originally we put Coping With Cancer on the air 1992-1994. As a two time survivor it is my personal goal to Give Positive Encouragement To Cancer Patients And Their Families! I'm 53 years old and consider myself to be the "Happiest Guy In Radio!" Hear Coping With Cancer Live Sunday evenings 11:30pm-11:54pm cst on www.kslr.com We are in the process of rebuilding our website at http://copingwithcancer.siteproplus.com/index.html When you visit our site please check out my sweet Wife's info about her radio show called "Coping With Dystonia" Dystonia is a movement disorder that causes the muscles to contract and spasm involuntarily. The neurological mechanism that makes muscles relax when they are not in use does not function properly. Opposing muscles often contract simultaneously as if they are “competing” for control of a body part. The involuntary muscle contractions force the body into repetitive and often twisting movements as well as awkward, irregular postures. Learn more > Just click on the Previous shows tab. I have so much ,I want to share with you about how God gave me the strength and courage to not give up! We have listeners around the world, and we want to hear from you about how you are "Coping With Cancer" I know that our guests will encourage you!
It is our prayer that God will give you the peace that surpassess all understanding!
Listen now to our current show at http://copingwithcancer.siteproplus.com/104490.html

God Bless you!