American Cancer Society

When Elizabeth Edwards told the world last week that the cancer that had attacked her body two years ago had returned and then added, with some conviction, that she and her husband planned to go forward with his presidential campaign, the news was greeted with a mixture of admiration and doubt. Should someone with cancer and two small children be making plans for an enterprise likely to demand significant investments of time and energy over the next two years? What was she thinking? Katie Couric asked on national television.

Only five months after a major study recommended routine use of CT scans to detect lung cancer, a second study recommends the opposite, concluding that the scans do not save lives. Both studies found an estimated 10-year survival rate as high as 90 percent among patients whose cancers were detected early. But the new study, reported Wednesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found no difference in the number of lung cancer deaths between the screened group and a control group.

LIVING IN an area where the word "cancer" is heard much too often, it is good to know there are people doing something about it -- namely, participating in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life.The overnight event is designed to promote cancer awareness while raising funds to fight the disease. Relay for Life -- to be held Friday and Saturday on the grounds of Lindale-Brooklyn Park Middle School, 415 Andover Road -- is for cancer survivors and anyone who has been touched by the disease.

ALICIA PETERSEN, 58, remembers her fear and confusion when her doctor told her she had breast cancer two years ago."I was by myself and didn't know what to do or what to think," she says. "The problem is that it's so overwhelming. You're going through this traumatic experience, but you have to maintain a sound, rational mind to find a good doctor and make decisions."Petersen's cancer was found during a routine mammogram. When she heard her diagnosis, Petersen says, she remembers thinking, "This could mean that I could die."

GUIDED BY the light of 3,500 candles, hundreds of people walked the track at Howard Community College from Friday night until noon Saturday.The event was part of Relay for Life, a national program of local events organized by the American Cancer Society.Relay for Life urges communities to come together to fight cancer. For the local event, 80 teams of eight to 15 people each registered to take turns running or walking the college track through the night and morning.At least one representative from each team had to be on the track at all times.

William Ritchie Semans Jr., 79, auto dealer sales managerWilliam Ritchie Semans Jr., a former sales manager of a Towson automobile dealership and a descendant of several Maryland governors, died of cancer Monday at Gilchrist Center for Hospice Care. He was 79.After many years as a sales manager at Towson Ford, he retired in the early 1980s.The lifelong Roland Park resident, who also maintained a home in St. Mary's County, was a descendant of several Maryland governors, including Leonard Calvert (1634-1645 and 1646-1647)

WASHINGTON -- While undergoing chemotherapy for leukemia at age 3, Morgan Clark could not get her 4-year-old brother to play with her. He couldn't understand why she had no hair. Youthfully naive, he was scared he might lose his if he came too close.The pain of witnessing this strained interaction between her children inspired their mother, Tracey Clark of Columbia, to join the national war against cancer.Rallying on the National Mall in Washington yesterday, Clark and her daughter, who is in remission, joined an estimated 80,000 cancer patients, loved ones, activists, celebrities and politicians who united behind a single message: It's time for a cure.

The rate of new cancers among Americans has declined for the first time since the 1930s, a historic change that experts attribute largely to the nation's shift away from tobacco.News of the downturn came yesterday in a "report card" from the American Cancer Society and government health agencies. The report confirmed a similar downturn in cancer death rates -- a trend reported two years ago on the basis of preliminary evidence.With the good news came a warning: Higher rates of smoking among today's teen-agers will cause cancer rates to soar a generation from now unless teens kick the tobacco habit and younger children never start.

NEW YORK -- A new book by NBC medical correspondent Dr. Bob Arnot, "The Breast Cancer Prevention Diet," is a No. 1 best seller that purports to let women in on "the great untold secret" that proper nutrition can "prevent" breast cancer."

Confused about the mammogram guidelines for women in their 40s? Consider yourself in the majority.Last week, two of the nation's most influential cancer policy-making groups changed their recommendations yet again. You'd need a scorecard to keep track of it all.So here it is:The American Cancer Society, the nation's largest private cancer organization, recommends annual screening mammograms for women in their 40s. Previously, it recommended screening every one to two years.The National Cancer Institute, the government's principal agency for cancer research and public education, now recommends screening mammograms every one to two years beginning at age 40. Women whose risk for breast cancer is higher should consider getting mammograms earlier.

RALPH G. Daniel, Friends may call at McComas Funeral Home, P.A., Bel Air, MD on Wednesday, November 11, 2009 from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 P.M. Services will be held at the funeral home in Bel Air on Thursday, November 12, 2009 at 11 A.M. with Dr. James Ditto officiating. Interment will be in Highview Memorial Gardens, Fallston, MD. Those who desire may make a contribution to the Disabled American Veterans, 1300 East North Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21213 or the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 572, Bel Air, MD. Memory tributes may be sent to the family at mccomasfuneralhome.

George L. Gruebel, The family will receive friends in the Lemmon Funeral Home of Dulaney Valley, Inc., 10 West Padonia Road (at York Road) Timonium, Maryland 21093 on Sunday from 7 to 8 P.M. with Masonic rites service at 8:00 P.M. by the Mt. Moriah Lodge #116 with a funeral service to follow. Graveside services will be held on Monday, November 2nd, in the Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens at 11 A.M. In lieu of flowers, the family requests for memorial contributions to be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 43025, Baltimore, MD, 21236.

J A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11 A.M. Saturday at St. Lukes Catholic Church at 100th Street and Coastal Highway in Ocean City. Reverend Richard Smith will be the celebrant. Friends may call from 10 to 11 A.M. before the service, and on Friday evening from 6 to 8 P.M. at Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin. Letters of Condolence may be sent to the family at burbage burbagefuneralhome.com In lieu of flowers donations may be made in his honor to the American Cancer Society c/o Gerri Harrison, 337 Winter Quarters Drive, Pocomoke City, Md 21851, or to Doctors Without Borders, 333 7th Avenue, 2nd floor, New York, N.Y. 10001.

It was typical Brooks. He might be the greatest third baseman who ever lived - and certainly one of Baltimore's most beloved figures - but he just about had to be dragged to Meyerhoff Symphony Hall on Monday night for "An Evening with Brooks" - a night of testimonials for the benefit of the Legends Sports Museum and the American Cancer Society. "They had to twist my arm for about a month," he said. Everybody knows the story by now. It took some special arm-twisting by Sandy Unitas to get Brooks to show up. It didn't take much persuasion at all for anybody else, and just about everyone who is anyone in Baltimore sports was on hand to honor "Mr. Oriole."

On September 25, 2009, John "Jack" R. Gray, A Memorial Mass will be held on Saturday, October 31, 2009 at 11:00 A.M. at The Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Towson, 8501 Loch Raven Boulevard, Towson, MD 21286. Internment following at Parkwood Cemetery, 3310 Taylor Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21234. Contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.

On October 21, 2009, William F. Barton Services will be held at the family owned McComas Funeral Home, P.A., Abingdon, MD on Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at 10 A.M. Interment will be in Salem United Methodist Cemetery, Upper Falls, MD. Friends may call at the funeral home in Abingdon on Monday, October 26, 2009 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 P.M. Those who desire may contribute to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 572, Bel Air, MD 21014. Memory tributes may be sent to the family at mccomasfuneralhome.

On October 4, 2009, HIAWATHA P. WATKINS; beloved husband of India; loving father of Hiawatha D., Kelvin D., and Melissa; cherished grandfather of Alex and Breanna; loving brother of Linda and the late Bettie and a host of other relatives and friends. Memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be sent to the American Cancer Society.

Sadly on September 1, 2009, Sharon L. Gutkoska A Memorial service will be held at the Arbutus Town Hall, 1347 Stevens Avenue, Arbutus on Sunday at 4 P.M. with a celebration of her life following. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 8219 Town Center Drive, Baltimore, MD 21236. www.ambrosefuneralhomes.com

John Theodore Subock, a sheet metal mechanic who was active in helping those suffering from cancer, died of stomach cancer July 11 at Carroll Hospital Center. The Finksburg resident was 48. Mr. Subock was diagnosed with stomach cancer 3 1/2 years ago. "He endured 88 chemotherapy and 16 radiation treatments," said his wife of 24 years, the former Lisa Ann Kennedy, a Defense Department programmer. Mr. Subock was active in cancer support groups and was a speaker for the American Cancer Society.

HERBERT F. TSCHEULIN, JR., age 76, died Wednesday, June 10, 2009, at Singing River Hospital in Pascagoula, MS. He was born June 19, 1932 In Annapolis, MD, the son of the late Ola M. Tscheulin and Herbert F. Tscheulin, Sr. Herbert served in the United States Army during the Korean conflict. After returning to Maryland, he worked as a police officer for the city of Baltimore until he retired in 1983. After retirement he worked as a bus driver for the Baltimore Public Schools. Herbert enjoyed traveling and playing cards.