Dear Leroy,

Blessings, blessings on your big day ahead. I am so thrilled to see that you are doing so well and keeping your thoughts focused on progress! May you have a wonderful day! My prayers are with you and your family and all your many friends and fans. Keep on keeping on! The only way to climb a mountain is one step at a time.

Your Fan —

Sent by Melissa | 9:03 AM ET | 03-13-2007

Leroy, what a special day for you! Focus on the positive because that is what you will get. The visual for today is perfect ... your tumors didn't know that they checked into the Bates Motel.

Sent by Pat Z. | 9:05 AM ET | 03-13-2007

Leroy:

GODSPEED... We are PRAYING for you, holding you up. Many, Many BLESSINGS My Friend!!!

Sent by Joan | 9:06 AM ET | 03-13-2007

Hello! Thank you for creating this blog. I have followed it closely and have prayed for you every day. I am so glad that things are going well!

I lost my best friend, Katie, to cancer one year ago today. She was a vibrant, 31 year old, mother of two young daughters. Your blog has been a big part of my healing process this past year. I love to hear stories about people who have been able to keep the beast at bay. God bless you!

Sent by Dori | 9:07 AM ET | 03-13-2007

Last July 06 when I was first diagnosed, I remember reading from one of lillie schockneys books. One of the messages from this book of true cancer stories dealt with the issue that there is always another family with a worse scenario than yours! In the beginning of my cancer I was the usual angry, in denial, why me patient. Throughout the past 8 months I have learned so very very much about myself. Not that I was a "bad" person before cancer and now I am a completely changed person, no not that at all! I have learned to be a better listener, I have learned patience, even more than what I had 8 months ago! I have learned to take one day at a time and I consider each day for what it is not looking back. I have learned that positive thinking and strong faith can carry you a very long way. I have learned that there are so many truly important things in life that are far far more important than worrying about the "little" things! I could go on and on about all that I have learned in a few short months but I don't wish to bore anyone!

I can only think about what our fellow blogger, patti, addresses on Monday. There was a reason for her meeting the couple she met during her chemo session.... a very specific reason from a much higher power! I choose to believe that my cancer has a reason that I choose to learn from everyday! And with that thought Leroy, I wish you well once again. I truly believe that you will not have a collapsed lung issue today..once was enough of a learning process!

Sent by Marianne Dalton | 9:16 AM ET | 03-13-2007

Go get 'em Tiger!!

You are in my thoughts and prayers — mine and so many others...

Sent by Jane Smigocki | 9:17 AM ET | 03-13-2007

Good luck today... I think you will have it. I haven't read your stuff for several weeks... I was worried about bad news. So it was great to check in and see good news. You have been so good for so many of us. Sharing your feelings gave me the feeling that I had a friend... very important for me because at the moment I have no one with whom I can share my feelings. Somehow what you wrote expressed my feelings and made it easier. I think of you most days and I hope many good things come your way. Thank you.

Sent by Tara | 9:18 AM ET | 03-13-2007

Wishing all the best for the procedure. My hopes are that they kill it good, and that you have a quicker and less painful recovery.

This afternoon, you will be cancer-free.

Congratulations !!!

Sent by JJ | 9:19 AM ET | 03-13-2007

You go Leroy! Kill that sucker dead!

Sent by Jordis | 9:21 AM ET | 03-13-2007

I'm sending you my white hot healing thoughts. You keep reminding me that there is so much more to life than cancer. It seems to have taken over my life and I need to reclaim what is left. It is part of my life, not my whole life. And while it may get me in the end, there is a whole lot of life to live — up to the very end. So I need to go and live it, as you are doing. The best of everything to you.

Sent by Stephanie Dornbrook | 9:23 AM ET | 03-13-2007

Dear Leroy,

I am SO happy to hear your good news. I'm relieved, I'm moved to tears, I am full of hope.

You thank us, your faithful readers, but you have to know how much you've given us and how we are so grateful to you.

Warmly —

Sent by Grace | 9:24 AM ET | 03-13-2007

Kick 'em where it hurts, Leroy. We'll be here with ice and a spit bucket should it come to another round.

Sent by Chris | 9:26 AM ET | 03-13-2007

Leroy — Thinking of you and wishing the hours fly by for you and you will back on line, among your friends quickly. No, no, that lung will not collapse! I heard last night that my sister in law found out that her lung & Pancrea tumers have grown these past few months without her Tarceva. Wonder if that needle would work for her? What would she have to lose?

Love & Prayers!

Sent by Jeanne C. Rakowski | 10:10 AM ET | 03-13-2007

Good luck today, Leroy! My thoughts and prayers are with you. Go and kick the hell out of this thing.

Sent by Lisa | 10:12 AM ET | 03-13-2007

I am praying for you today Leroy. It's a big day! I am praying for the Lord to guide the hands of the doctor and for you this procedure to work. Get well! Continue to keep us all informed of your progress.

Sent by Debbie | 11:18 AM ET | 03-13-2007

I got such a chuckle from this blog because of your picture from Psycho. It is funny to think of a tumor screaming as the RFA needle comes at it. I hope that image helps you get through the procedure (or helped — I imagine you are done by the time I am writing this).

Thanks!

Sent by Kelley E. | 11:20 AM ET | 03-13-2007

Dear Leroy,

My husband was diagnosed a year ago with lung cancer, they removed his right top lobe. 4 weeks ago they found a spot on his right lung and a spot on his esophagus. PETscan showed that neither at this point is cancerous, one in lung is still too small to tell. Doctors are saying as of right now he is still cancer free. It has been a long hard, stressful battle and your story helped me know that we are not alone in this. We have 5 children and 5 grandchildren, none understand the strain or stress related to living with not knowing when it will show up again, they say the doctor says its gone so its gone, but then they didn't want to accept he had it when he was diagnosed either. Thank you for your story.

I am wishing you the best for your procedure today and praying that you come through it with flying colors.

Sent by Darlene | 11:22 AM ET | 03-13-2007

Leroy,

I love the sense of humor of the psycho photo. Go kill that last tumor.

I continue to pray for you.

Sent by Geoff | 12:27 PM ET | 03-13-2007

Little does the tumor know - sounds like a great mantra - thanks for this inspiration and your focus to keep writing Leroy. You've reminded me who is in charge here...I can dumb-down, diminish cancers power. I can focus on all of the things I'm doing to keep it at bay. Today, I celebrate that we live, with greater knowing and huge hearts, to hold each other along the way.

Sent by Joan Schatz | 12:28 PM ET | 03-13-2007

I am sure that your optimism and attitude will go a long way in ablating the cancer....Many good wishes for many NED years!!!

Sent by Aggie | 1:14 PM ET | 03-13-2007

Go, go, go!

Sent by Judy | 1:57 PM ET | 03-13-2007

SCREEE, SCREEE, SCREEE, SCREEE! Bye-bye tumor. Let us know you fared better than Janet Leigh, please. I was very glad to see you still have your sense of humor.

Sent by Diana Kitch | 2:15 PM ET | 03-13-2007

I LOVE THE PHOTO! (though most days I envision either the cockroaches in Raid commercials, or the Mucinex globulees). Good luck today, and may your lungs stay inflated...

Sent by Teri | 2:17 PM ET | 03-13-2007

Good Luck - I'm pullin' for you.

vaya con Dios.

Sent by Hank W. Plag | 4:01 PM ET | 03-13-2007

I have a strong image in my mind of your last tumor leaving for good. Finally shrunk into nothingness! AWESOME image!!!

Sent by Steph Garber | 4:02 PM ET | 03-13-2007

Leroy, Let us know ASAP that you are cancer free. I am thinking of you and praying for your successful procedure!

Sent by Ruth White | 4:59 PM ET | 03-13-2007

Leroy,

I hope that by this time you are in recovery and resting peacefully. You have been in my thoughts and prayers off and on all day. I know that this procedure will be a great success and you are going to feel great someday SOON! Take care and be not afraid. When you close your eyes at the end of day, smile. GOD IS AWAKE! You are never alone. Your friend you haven't met yet ?

Sent by Rosemary | 5:01 PM ET | 03-13-2007

I keep checking your post to see if there are any results yet. Please let us know how you are and that, indeed, you are CANCER FREE!!! We all are praying for you.

Sent by Patricia Doyle | 7:59 AM ET | 03-14-2007

We are holding you up to the light today, anticipating your highest well-being and ease during and after this RAL session. May you feel peacefully levitated by our collective care!

Sent by Sarah | 12:54 PM ET | 03-14-2007

Leroy, my father has just passed away after nearly a year fighting lung cancer and it gives me hope reading how positive you are for the many others left. Good luck for the future, God bless.

Sent by Michelle Clift | 5:50 PM ET | 03-14-2007

I join everyone else with my good wishes and a question, "Where does the tumor go when it dies?" To hell I hope.

Sent by Susan Paprocki | 5:51 PM ET | 03-14-2007

Dear Leroy:

I can only add a "ditto" to all of the loving and moving good wishes expressed by everyone else thus far.

We look forward to your return.

Sent by Harriet H. Liss | 5:52 PM ET | 03-14-2007

Leroy, Today has been a banner day for both of us. I received the good news that I'm also dancing with NED (I love this expression!). This Friday will be exactly one year from the date of my surgery and diagnosis with stage 4 OC. What a ride we're on.

Sent by Sheara | 5:54 PM ET | 03-14-2007

Dear Leroy,

My healing thoughts will be sent to you as you take your journey to cleanse your body of cancer. You are an inspiration of life.

Namaste.

Sent by Katrina | 6:00 PM ET | 03-14-2007

I feel the need to respond to Darlene's post - oh, the wonder and therapeutic value of your blog, Leroy.

My mother died almost four years ago, ovarian cancer. She fought hard and bravely. I happened to be with her when she was diagnosed and went to chemo and consults with her, still have my massive notebook of her records and pathology slides to fax or send to Memorial Sloan Kettering, MD Anderson, Yale Cancer Center, etc. who I researched when I learned of promising clinical trials. She wanted to do everything and did it all to the end. She was seeing a doctor with me two weeks before she died. It was clear she was dying, but one of my six siblings was telling my other sibs that she was constipated and that as soon as that was cleared up she would be fine. I, on the other hand, was trying to prepare them for her dying and death, so guess who everyone screamed at.

Now that I have aired dirty family laundry, let me say that folks have so many different ways of handling this. That said, it is so hard for caretakers like Darlene to know how to interpret the responses of other family members, as you are struggling with your own emotions.

Leroy, you have accomplished great things with this blog.

Love —

Sent by Mary | 6:03 PM ET | 03-14-2007

Good luck!!

Sent by Tammy Carpowich | 6:04 PM ET | 03-14-2007

Love the photo and rooting for you today. How wonderful to kill that last tumor. I appreciate your blog, Leroy, and comments from others. Give me inspiration.

Sent by Maureen | 8:57 PM ET | 03-14-2007

My thoughts are with you Leroy. May you have the best possible outcome. I'm rooting for you!

Sent by Sher | 10:32 AM ET | 03-16-2007

Thanks for sharing it helps.

Sent by Tom L | 12:53 PM ET | 03-16-2007

Dear Leroy,

We are all cheering for you! That little devil better get his booty out of there and fast! My best to you, Leroy, you really are a gem!

Sent by Laurie | 3:18 PM ET | 03-16-2007

Leroy,

I've been following your blog for quite some time now. But I don't have cancer.

At first, I started reading because I found your commentaries on NPR so frank and honest, and I, as a writer myself, appreciated not only what you had to say, but the way you said it. I admit, sometimes I felt like an imposter, peering in on a foreign world that I did not share.

And, then cancer entered my life as well. A friend is battling leukemia. He has no family or spouse to go down that road with him. So I decided to be that person. Despite his rabid independence, I couldn't think of him taking that journey solo.

As we delved further into the fight, messages from this community have been helpful for me as I try to figure out what to do to help my friend. What to say. Questions to ask. Thoughts to think. How to prepare for the next round.

I've never posted here before. Never wanted to bother all of you who are waging your own wars. But do know that you, Leroy, and everyone in this community has helped me help my friend.

And as you embark on your very important day tomorrow, my friend also has his important day. Tomorrow, he will receive a brand-new immune system — one we hope will face his cancer, kick its butt and not bother to take names. Because with any luck, my friend will soon be cancer-free as well.

But even if all goes as we hope, I will still quietly be here, hoping and praying for each of you.

Thank you for all that you never knew you've done for us! :)

Sent by Lisa | 5:16 PM ET | 03-16-2007

Leroy. What are your feeling's concerning the Oregon "death with dignity act" for terminally ill patients.

Sent by Bob Browne | 10:57 AM ET | 03-26-2007