Alan,

My best wishes to your friend, Jim, for the most gentle of passings.

I, too, am a cancer survivor, feeling very fortunate to be here. Like Jim, I am 52 years of age. I was trying very hard to stay alive about this time last year, after having been diagnosed earlier in May with Stage IV non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. I could just as readily have died as survived this long, but the chemotherapy and adjunct therapies did the job. I am happy to say that my oncologist just gave me another "See you in three more months," send-off a couple of weeks back. I am grateful to have survived, but reading your account about Jim, and that by Graham about his friend with bone marrow cancer really, really affect me strongly. Cancer just plain sucks, and there's no other way for me to express myself on that account (on these boards) that speaks to my feelings so directly.

My prayers go out to all cancer patients, and their families on a ongoing basis. These men are now included in a more personal and specific manner in those heartfelt requests. As are you and Graham.

Mac