We all know how much it means to receive good wishes and thoughts from loved ones and friends. But someone facing cancer may feel overwhelmed by the need to respond to other's gestures of caring. Offer to keep a journal or log of cards, meals, flowers and gifts. Buy a box of note-cards or post cards, and have them preprinted with a word of thanks. Allow the patient to add a few words of their own. Then stamp, address and take them to the Post Office. The patient will feel relieved that they are responding to other's friendship and you will provide a very valuable service to all.

To cancer patients:

Ask a close friend or family member to help you with your thank-yous when needed. Let them know what kind of stationary you like (flowers, animals, cartoons, sports, etc.), and send them to the drugstore for cards and stamps. Let them update your holiday mailing list while they address envelopes for you. You'll feel satisfied that you are responding to people's gestures of love, and your "helper" will feel great knowing they've helped YOU!

"The head thinks, the hands labor, but it is the heart that laughs!"

Liz Curtis-Higgs

It's NOT just an Old Wive's Tale: an apple a day DOES keep the doctor away! According to a University of Hawaii study, high apple consumption cuts the risk of lung cancer by 40% and as much as 60% in a recent Finnish study. Finns who consumed the most "flavonoids," a type of antioxidant concentrated in apples, were 20% less likely to develop any cancer. Researchers suggest that such antioxidants inhibit enzymes that activate carcinogens. Antioxidants are more concentrated in the skin of the apple than the pulp, so remember-- eat the whole thing!

Dear Cancer Club,

I was diagnosed with breast cancer and was trying to make a decision whether to have a mastectomy or lumpectomy. Explaining the differences to my grown son (50 years old at the time), he turned to me and said, "Mom, I'd go with the mastectomy. After all, I don't need it anymore!"

Juanita C. Fabula, Kansas City, MO

Dear Cancer Club,

When I arrived at St. John in the room where they have the big circular Polaroid, the technician asked if I had done this before. I told her that this was #13, and if she wanted to take a coffee break, I could handle it myself.

She thought that was a good idea. However, after we talked it over, we decided it might be too difficult for me to jump off the sliding table, run into the next room, pull the switch, run and jump back on the table in time for the ride through the big ring, and all this with my pants down around my knees! It did conjure up a heck of an active picture in my mind, though!

Edward J. Beckwell, St. Clair Shores, MI

Dear Cancer Club,

I learned that I couldn't rely on my memory, which is a side effect of chemotherapy. During a conversation, I would ask many times if I was repeating myself, because I couldn't remember if I had said my thought out loud.

I never got lost or couldn't find my way home, thank goodness. But one night, as I put dinner in the oven, I had to reopen the oven to see what I was cooking for dinner. I was very relieved to find chicken, and not the kitchen sponge.

Kris Silverman, Glendora, CA

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ABOUT...HAZFORHOPE? By two-time breast cancer survivor Amy Hayes. Beautiful hand-made cancer awareness note cards. Visit www.hazforhope.com or email amy@hazforhope.com.

The Cancer Club has always been a company that markets "humorous and helpful" products for people with cancer. Most of you are familiar with our humorous side, but we don't often focus on the "helpful" side. I'd like to take a moment to share an extraordinary experience with all of you.

Fourteen weeks ago, I helped launch a brand new Network Marketing company called LifeVantage, that offers a supplement called Protandim. The product was created in 2003 by scientist Dr. Joe McCord, the co-discoverer of free radical biology, a four-time Noble Prize nominee, who is featured in Sanjay Gupta's book, Chasing Life: New Discoveries in the Search for Immortality.

In 2005, ABC Prime Time did an eight minute special on Protandim. But in 2008, six clinical trials on Protandim were completed. All peer-reviewed, three of the studies have now been published, with the other three waiting for publication. One of those trials, from Louisiana State University, was published on Protandim, a fundamentally new antioxidant approach in Chemoprevention, on April 24th. I am providing a link to that study here.

What does Protandim do? It lowers oxidative stress by 40% by stimulating two enzymes (SOD and CAT) in our bodies to start our body's own production of antioxidants. A high level of oxidative stress plays a role in over 100 diseases, including cancer, heart disease, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, depression and arthritis, to name a few.

It stimulates Glutathione production up to 300%, and a lack of Glutathione plays a role in those same 100 diseases. And finally, two of its natural ingredients have a high anti-inflammatory component to them.

The most amazing thing, however, has been the results that people, including me, have experienced by taking Protandim. With the only change in their lives being the consumption of one Protandim supplement per day, people have experienced lower levels of cholesterol, hair growth for alopecia, dissipation of chronic migraine headaches, clearance of skin conditions such as Grover's Disease and shingles, elevated levels of energy and increased focus and clarity, to name a few. While Protandim makes no claims to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, due to its all natural ingredients, it does not require FDA approval.

I would personally like to encourage all of you to visit www.LifeVantage.com/LiveYoung, watch the ABC Prime Time video, and call me personally to tell you how you can improve your health starting today.

In fourteen years of being a survivor, I have researched every vitamin and supplement and been devoted toward improving my health. I have never endorsed a product before Protandim, but I am 100% behind this one. Why? Because it works. Here's to YOUR good health!

The Cancer Club™, based in Minneapolis, MN, was created by Christine Clifford in 1995 in response to her diagnosis of Stage III metastatic breast cancer at the age of 40 in 1994. Christine, whose mother died of breast cancer at 42, found during her own treatments that while family and friends were supportive, noone ever gave her anything to make her laugh.

Needing a lift, Christine began to search for signs of humor in herself and her predicament. She found them daily. The more she laughed, the stronger she grew, and The Cancer Club™ was born.

The critically acclaimed Cancer Club™ is the first organization to offer hope and support to cancer patients, their families and friends through the healing power of humor. A dynamic speaker, Christine has traveled the globe with her keynote presentations and seminars on using humor to get through life's adversities.

Christine is married to speaker/author Harry Beckwith (co-authors of You, Inc. The Art of Selling Yourself) and is the mother of five boys: Harry, Jr., Tim, Walter, Brooks & Cole; a daughter Cooper, a cat Simone and grandmother to a Siberian Husky named Skylar. Call The Cancer Club™ today or email us to book Christine for your next event. Don't forget to laugh! ™

We hope you've enjoyed this edition of The Cancer Club™ eNewsletter. We'd like to thank our FABulous illustrator Jack Lindstrom of FAB Artists!

If you have a humorous or interesting story about cancer, send it to us at: P.O. Box 24747 Edina, MN 55424-0747 or email us at: Christine@cancerclub.com

Visit us online at www.cancerclub.com

Have a marvelous May, and don't forget to laugh!™