“Never underestimate the power of love, and the power of your own thoughts.”

Genevieve displaying a small sample of her healing art

In honor of Lung Cancer Awareness Month, a group of lung cancer bloggers have gotten together to show the many faces of lung cancer, one for each day of the month. Today we highlight a caregiver. In a completely scientific and unbiased selection process, I chose my wife Genevieve de Renne to interview.

Genevieve’s role as a caregiver have been broad-reaching. Her efforts have ranged from the completely practical, such as her pit bull diplomacy with my oncologist, to creating several series of artwork that rotate in our home which are designed to “give subtle healing messages.” She employs countless methods that are more esoteric in order to influence the healing process, but in the end, I translate all of them to mean that she is sending me her love.

Here is my interview with her…read more on Dann Wonser’s Blog Dann’s Cancer Chronicles

Love story

Dr. Alice Shaw (thank you MGH The One Hundred)

Day 28: for my final post devoted to Lung Cancer Awareness in the month of November I am going to talk about my superhero: Dr. Alice Shaw.

As you all know, November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. A bunch of us bloggers have gotten together and are profiling a cancer survivor, caregiver, advocate, or health care professional each day this month. Today, with my second profile, it is my honor to introduce you to Dave Bjork, a fellow blogger (http://davebjork.blogspot.com/) and lung cancer survivor. Here is his story in his own words.

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Who is Dave?
I am a lung cancer survivor, and I am a passionate advocate for cancer research and education. Professionally I’m the Vice President of Development for the National Foundation for Cancer Research in Bethesda, Maryland.  In my role I advocate for funding important research projects led by scientists at places like Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), MD Anderson, Dana Farber and so many others.  Among the researchers that I am very vocal about, and that are supported by my organization in the area of lung cancer, are Drs. Daniel Haber and Alice Shaw at MGH, and Dr. Jin Jen at Mayo Clinic.

What is your connection to lung cancer?
In 1998 I was diagnosed with lung cancer. I was 34 years old, married with 3 young boys age 5, 3 and 1, and I had never smoked. I received amazing treatment at Mass. General Hospital by thoracic surgeon Dr. Doug Mathisen among others. I had a lobectomy to remove my lower left lobe, and was fortunate that there was no spread of disease. I have been forever grateful and am committed to advocating for more research for lung cancer.

Describe a typical day
I continually try to educate people that only about 11% of oncology grants are funded by the NIH, and that lung cancer remains one of the most under funded areas of research. There are amazing and committed scientists … read more on Craig Blower’s blog “Get Fuzzy!“