Carcinoid tumours are a rare form of neuroendocrine cancer with some peculiar properties. Being related to the neuroendocrine system, they can emit hormones that cause problems (infections, high blood pressure, allergies, blood sugar fluctuations, etc. etc.) in other organs not even close to the tumour site.
My daughter came through her difficult surgery with flying colours and is living her life as normally as possible, albeit with frequent visits to a variety of specialists and with frequent tests. She has benefitted greatly from her involvement with the Carcinoid NeuroEndocrine Tumour Society of Canada, and is currently helping organize their Montreal 2009 Conference. Doctors from all over the world will be in attendance as will many neuro-endocrine cancer patients.
There will be a silent auction at the conference to raise money for research into this insidious form of cancer.
I have donated two of my paintings and two of my photographs - published with this post. Unfortunately, the photographs of the paintings are not the best - they do look good 'in person'. I hope they attract bidders at the conference who will be generous with their funds for this worthy cause.
Carcinoid NeuroEndocrine Tumour Society Canada
Montreal 2009 Conference on NeuroEndocrine Cancers
November 14 & 15, 2009
The Montreal Conference for our NET Patient and Medical community
Our theme for this conference is:
The Case for Research, Education, and the Expert Team.
Conference Learning Objectives:
•Explore diagnosis and treatment options, medically, surgically, and through targeted nuclear and radiotherapeutic options, for patients suspected of having neuroendocrine tumours.
•Examine fundamental and clinical research aimed at understanding the causes of, and possible therapies for, neuroendocrine malignancies.
•Recognize the benefits of a team model approach to health care and the collaborative interaction between health care professionals and patients in the assessment and treatment of NeuroEndocrine malignancies.
Such a lovely thing to do, Bonnie, and many prayers and blessings for your daughter and for such a vital cause.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful artwork!
They are beautiful and I'm sure they will bring in needed funding. Wouldn't it be wonderful if my lovely country would put just one day's worth of funding a war into funding a cure for cancer?
ReplyDeleteI didn't know about your daughter. My thoughts and prayers are with her, and I'm right there with you in the fight for a cure. I still believe that we will see the cure for all forms of cancer within the next 30 years. There are too many smart people working on it, and too many advances in science and technology for that not to happen.
ReplyDeleteThe art and photography are absolutely gorgeous! Best wishes for a successful fund-raiser. I wish your daughter continued good health, and a long and happy life.
ReplyDeleteCalli: Thank you!
ReplyDeleteCathy: What an inspiring idea! If only . . .
ReplyDeleteJeff: I hope you are right. It seems like such an epidemic right now, with so many of the 'victims' being younger and younger. When I accompanied my daughter to her many pre-op tests, invariably medical staff assumed I was the patient and not my gorgeous, healthy-looking, young daughter.
ReplyDeleteAngela: Thank you so much on every level.
ReplyDeleteBonnie thank God your daughter is well. Thank you God.
ReplyDeleteThis is such an important post and the paintings and pictures are wonderful. I look forward to hearing more about the conference as you get closer to the date.
Love Renee xoxo
I am so glad she is doing well hon!! What a wonderful way to give..your work is wonderful hon!! I love everyone!! You are amazing!!
ReplyDeleteHugs, Sarah
so glad your daughter is doing well. i hope all goes well with the sale and lots of money is made for this cause. cancer has touched my family greatly...
ReplyDeletenice art as well. smiles.
I ma hoping they will be able to raise a good amount towards this important cause. I love the work you have donated. Thankfully your daughter is doing well and came out of it as well as anyone could have hoped for.
ReplyDeleteAll my best wishes for you in this endeavor and for your daughters future health and happiness.
Bonnie, as a relative newcomer to your blog, I didn't know about your daughter. I'm so glad her treatment has been successful and applaud her willingness to turn around and help those who have helped her. She sounds like a fine person.
ReplyDeleteI hope your generosity translates into much-needed funds for this organization and have to say I really like your art. That's not just empty flattery, either. Best of luck to you both!
I am a cancer survivor too and involved with raising funds here for research.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that your daughter is one of the lucky ones, there are more and more of us now. We must all do what we can to make this unwelcome visitor leave us in peace.
The very best of luck for the event. I am sure your generous gesture will be much appreciated.
Beautiful paintings, Bonnie, and for a very worthy cause - any illness involving the endocrine system causes such havoc in the body.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter in law had Cushings Syndrome, which meant the removal of her pituitary gland. Although she is recovered she has so many related things to cope with and so many drugs to take.
I sincerely hope your daughter is fully recovered. I am sure your pictures will be highly desirable - they are so beautiful.
Your art is so beautiful. They will draw a high price.
ReplyDeleteHow was your daughter diagnosed? From your description it seems very tricky to find.
much love
Renee: Your sweet thoughts are very much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteSarah: One of your outstanding qualities is your love for all. It is felt here and appreciated.
ReplyDeleteBrian. Thank you. This scourge called cancer has left few families untouched. I never went looking for blogs where people were dealing with cancer - and yet I run across them ALL THE TIME. What is going on?
ReplyDeleteGary: How kind. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteDeborah: Thank you for the comments about my art, but most particularly thank you for your well wishes for my daughter. She is an amazing young woman. She has done a huge amount of research about this disease on medical sites of universities and researchers. She can converse with ease about all facets of diagnosis, treatment, research, testing and grading of tumours, etc. etc. Tomorrow she has the privilege of picking up the leading world expert on carcinoid tumours (from Sweden) and I know they will have a lively conversation!
ReplyDeleteFriko: I am sorry to hear you had to deal with cancer - but oh so pleased to know you came through and are able to know fight the good fight. Stay well, dear Friko.
ReplyDeleteWeaver: Thank you. I am sorry to hear about your D.I.Law - what are the effects of living without a pituitary gland?
ReplyDeleteMy daughter never suffered greatly from the cancer - all she noticed was a wheeze and being short of breath if she tried to run. The tumour was blocking 90% of her bronchial tube. The surgery was big - and it took a long time to recover from it. She has some strange symptoms which are being watched and we try not to worry about too much. But cancer's threat hovers like a dark shadow . . . She is amazing at stepping out of the shadow, however.
Stacey: Thank you. You are right, they are tricky to discover. They are slow growing and most people have had them for years without being aware. My daughter had a wheeze, and thought she had developed a touch of asthma. It was a shock to find out she had what they classified broadly as lung cancer, though she was not a smoker. She went into surgery not know if she would have her right lung when she emerged. She was recently separated and has 2 beautiful little girls (see previous posts)- it was a tough time. I have a long post about it from back in June entitled "My Daughter, Cancer? What?"
ReplyDeleteOf course I'm biased, but I think this is an extremely worthy cause and an act of wonderful generosity on your behalf.
ReplyDeleteYour painting and photographs are excellent and should fetch an equally excellent figure.
Thank you Bonnie, for everything.
Barry: Ahhh, thank you friend. Would that I had a magic wand to take away all the pain and suffering this disease has caused.
ReplyDeleteBonnie, You are a wonderful lady!!! I love that you have given so generously of yourself in this way!!! And I'm so glad to hear that your daughter is doing well...Wow! Has it been one year!!! That's fantastic!!! Congratulate her for me!!! She's a survivor!!! Much love to you, Bonnie!!! ~Janine XO
ReplyDeleteHi Bonnie~ I love this proactive approach to someday finding a cure. Your daughter has been very proactive in her own life, too, and my prayers go out for her. Your paintings and photographs are absolutely beautiful. (I love the textured, chakra-colored one!) Keep up your positive, light-filled energy, Bonnie; it is such a gift. xxox
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures & art work...they will do well...especially with the good cause they are raising funds for. I'm so glad to hear that your daughter is doing well with no hiccups to date ;)
ReplyDeleteHow kind and thoughtful of you to give so much to what sounds like a very worthy organization. With the symptoms being as you described them I would guess diagnosis is not easy. Those symptoms could relate to a host of other diagnoses. Glad to hear your daughter continues to do well! Hope you raise tons for a very worthy cause!!
ReplyDeleteYou have donated such beautiful pieces of your artwork Bonnie, hope the fund-raiser does extremely well...I wish your daughter all the best with her health. My husband has been cancer free for two years this Christmas.
ReplyDeleteJanine: Thank you. This is why your situation touched me so deeply.
ReplyDeleteMargaret: Thank you so much. Yes, my daughter is very pro-active and refuses to hide her head in the sand. She is an amazing young woman who has become my teacher. I am so proud of her.
ReplyDeleteThanks Alicia.
ReplyDeleteVicky: Thank you. Yes, my daughter was fortunate to discover the cancer. Mind you she was in danger of her lung collapsing with a 95% blockage in her bronchial tube - so if it had gone that far, I guess they would have discovered it then.
ReplyDeleteWanda: I didn't know your husband is a cancer survivor. So it will be a 2 year celebration soon! Did you talk about this on your blog before I became a follower? It must have been very difficult for you.
ReplyDeleteThank you - I'm sure the conference and the auction will be a grand success.
Beautiful, Bonnie. Love your paintings and your flowers. That queen anne's lace (?) is gorgeous. I hope you raise lots of money for the foundation. Good luck! xoxox
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful donation Bonnie. I especially love the first one. Here's hoping they bring lot of $$ during the auction and that you beautiful daughter remains healthy and happy. :c)
ReplyDeleteThat's a wonderful thing you are doing. The paintings are beautiful. Hope and pray some day they will find a cure for cancer. I've personally lost too many people to that horrible disease.
ReplyDeleteHope everything will be okay with your daughter.