I had it easy.

Yes, the diagnosis in 2005 was a shock and after 4 chemo treatments (into the planned 6) if my Oncologist asked me if I wanted to stop I would have raised the white flag. My doctor wanted to get aggressive with treatment and we did. It was brutal. Yet by comparison to what others have gone through with treatments I had it easy.

But the end result is 20 years after the diagnosis, here we are, healthy as can be. Healthy enough to want to do something about advancing the research that will save lives.

Thus, I'm humbly asking for your support in sponsoring my ride around Lake Tahoe for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) on June 1.  "America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride" is certainly a fitting description for a lap around the lake. I'm sure there's going to be some suffering involved in finishing the 72 miles but it's nothing compared to the suffering people go through when battling any form of cancer and the suffering their friends and families endure watching it and trying to support their loved ones.

But progress is being made. In my last meeting with my Oncologist he said if I were diagnosed with the same condition today my treatment would be to simply  "take a pill."  Which says the research, supported by organizations like LLS, has progressed exponentially. 

LLS's continued advancements over the years are responsible for the blood cancer survival rate doubling and tripling; in some cases, the survival rate has even quadrupled.

And many LLS supported therapies not only help blood cancer patients but are now used to treat patients with rare forms of stomach and skin cancers. They're even being tested in clinical trials for patients with a range of cancers including lung, brain, breast, pancreatic and prostate cancers. LLS funded drugs are now being tested for patients with other non-cancerous diseases like Diabetes, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Multiple Sclerosis.

We need to keep the momentum going. 

All donations are greatly appreciated and are tax deductible. They'll not only support LLS research but patient services, advocacy, public and professional education, and community services as well.

Please visit my Web site often and bring friends who would also like to donate!

For more information about LLS, please visit lls.org

On behalf of cancer patients and their loved ones everywhere I thank you for your support!

Bob