Missing everything of value today.  Among the loss - the news.
Have a busy week ahead and will be working late preparing for my vacation.
Brian, Congratulations.
Well deserved.
Enjoy the rest of the week, Nightly Bloggers, and I will miss blogging.

I had a mammogram in April of 2007 at the age of 61.  Everything was fine.  I performed my own breast exam as I had been doing since I was 40 and discovered a lump on my right breast - 3 centimeters, stage 2 cancer.  Ultimately another was found on my left breast and underwent double mastectomy.  They can say what they want about mammagrams but don't tell women not to examine themselves or listen to their bodies.  That is the true medical science.

I think that Dr. Nancy stating individual anecdotes are emotional was atrocious... these are people who are alive today because they had a mammogram and her insinuating that only the younger doctors will follow these guidelines only convinces me she has no understanding of this disease.. the "older" doctors have experience with this disease!!

I can't believe the press hasn't keyed on the timing of the release of this "expert panel" with the health care issue.  This is obviously a push by someone to cut back on essential screenings ahead of the push by the government to cut back our health care.  And the professionals experts hired by the networks are able to comment in favor with a straight face.  Amazing.
Beware America, more to follow.

Good Evening Mr.Williams. Another fine broadcast this evening from Phoenix. Last year I visited Arizona and saw Camelback Mountain so it was nice to see you doing your broadcast with Camelback Mountain in the background. Arizona has some excellent scenery! Nice to knwo you had a great time with journalism students at Arizona State University. It must be very moving to be at an institution bearing the name of Walter Cronkite. Such a great honor for you to receive the Walter Cronkite Award! CONGRATULATIONS Mr.Williams!
Very Deserving!
Now on to the broadcast. First of all the report by Savannah Guthrie about President Obama's trip to China and his meeting with the President of China. The two leaders have differences on the issue if Iran and North Korea regarding nuclear arms. But there is some common ground on economic issues since China is extremey important to the United States in terms of the economy. Much sightseeing is being done too which is nice like touring the Forbidden City and tomorrow the Great Wall.

The "Our Planet" series report by Anne Thompson from Flagstaff showed how even with the 15year drought the city is really trying to conserve. Seeing hpw low the lakes is troubling maybe not for right now, but for the future and the city has to manage conservation. Water being scarce the people living in the city are doing everything they can to conserve water.

It was nice to hear the two library books were finally returned to CamelBack High School with a money order for the estimated coverage of fees.

The "Making A Difference" segment by Mr.Tibbles about the football team in Nebraska the Boystown Cowboys showed how these boys are now able to find belonging and purpose at this High School playing football, but also preparing for a better future. They all feel wanted and needed which is so important and leads to higher education. Very Inspirational.

Thank You for the broadcast from Phoenix,Arizona Mr.Williams. Peace to You and to All!

Lots of Love to Laurel,Jackie,Stephanie,Claudia,Celine,Anna,Lori,Cary and Matt!
Be Well Always!
Stay Extra,Extra Safe and Well Richard!
XOXO

I missed part of the news regarding which stomach medicines can be taken with Plavix.  Please let me know which ones are compatible with it if nexium if not.  I am presently on Plavix.

Hi Brian,

Thank you for letting us know about your sister. She would be extremely proud of you. I'm sorry that you lost her. As for the new federal guidelines, I wonder why the American Cancer Society isn't backing it up? I know the insur. co. are vey pleased. The officials we elected should step in on our behalf and get things back to the way they were. And it's not just a matter of women or anyone being afraid of change per se. It has an enormous effect on our lives. BTW, men get breast cancer too. A co worker did a few yrs. ago.

Seeing you in Phoenix reminded me of when I lived in Sierra Vista, Az. for 6 mo. I had never seen such natural beauty. Having come from the South, it seemed even then that Az. was short on water. Hopefully the steps that people are taken will make a huge difference. It would be great if "Our Planet" could be at least a once weekly segment, even if it had to take the place of one "Making a Difference segment.

Wow! Talking about an honest person sending a $1,000 check to the library after all these yrs. That is highly commendable. I remember that when my Jr. High school burnt down,(long time ago) I had a copy of "Gone With the Wind" in my locker. I keep thinking of how much that book would be worth today. If I knew then what I know now, I would have told them, it went with the fire. I'm being honest here...


I hate to admit this, but I didn't know that Boys Town still existed. I remember seeing Spencer Tracy in the movie, and thought,"nice little movie" but the real story is always better than the movie. The guys are learning a lot of lessons. It must be very tough for them, so I applaude them for sticking with football and anything else that will work for them. It always helps to be able to have a team of some kind, rather than be part of some gang. That's the very thing that kids of all ages are looking for, a place to belong.

I just want to mention this. I'm not a big fan of Sarah Palin's for quite a few reasons. And it has nothing to do with being a dem and being "afraid of her." In my opinion, Newsweek showed poor taste when they took her photo from Runner's Guide and used it as their(Newsweek)cover. Her book is bringing out the pettiness in her and everybody, myself included. But the media has a lot of influence over the mass and they need to have some integrity on how they turn a buck.

Brian, I hope you have a nice time at the awards ceremony. I've given you a hard time every now and then but it doesn't mean that I don't appreciate you. I try to watch you every night for a reason. And it's not just because you're beautiful.

See you tomorrow night.

Brian,

I was diagnosed with breast cancer only one month after my 41st birthday. The tumor was discovered 3 months prior (during a routine gynecological exam). In my case, we discovered I also needed an ultrasound. Since the mammogram barely showed the mass, even though I was sent for testing after it was detected. A combo of suspicious cells (during an initial biopsy) and the danger of a bad recommendation - by the radiologist, who said I should "wait 6 months and have the biopsy redone". At the time, I was regularly producing estrogen. So, both healthy & diseased cells were growing at the exact same rate. (I'm convinced if I'd waited as initially recommended would have pushed me to a higher stage of cancer. Thankfully, having grown up with a nurse for a mother, I ask questions. Now, I can proudly say, at 10 years & 4 months after the official diagnosis, I too am a survivor). In response to Nancy's comment on the risk factors that sometimes prompt extra concern, I'm fairly sure there's research that gives less weight to the family history in the grand scheme of things. In my case, having only one grandmother who was diagnosed might not have necessarily prompted a recommendation for a mammogram. [I personally feel the medical community should be very careful about adopting this particular recommendation until there's a large volume of research that supports it from other sources]. ** I apologize for the length of this post. I was trying to locate the source for sending Brian an actual email vs. a blog response. **

@ Cary: I read your comment about Brian being on Ellen's show tomorrow (Wed.). I would have to miss it and have a dr. app.(damn!) But I'm glad you and the others share this kind of info with everybody else.

@ Michelle: have a good vacation. I always enjoy reading your posts. I think it's great that we all have different perspectives and ways of posting. Don't I know, that I came ungluded about Chris Rock...lesson learned.

@Madeline Williams: I posted on yesterday's post, thanking you for the link. I don't know if the moderator's are going to post it. They seemed to have skipped it. But I went to the link and am disgusted and disturbed that people who would do that are walking around among us.

@Jackie: I don't if I've written yet to say that I'm glad you're back. I agree with you about Sarah Palin. She keeps playing that sexist card. She could learn a lot from Hillary, but I doubt that she would really take notes. And I doubt that Hillary has time to educate Sarah. It's too bad that Sarah had the perfect opportunity to give some real insight into politics. She might really have something there if she didn't play so many school girl games. Since we does a 40 something woman write a memoir anyway? And no, "justbfair:, it's not that we're afraid of her. What's there to be afraid of? I'm more concerned that she's the best that Republicans have to offer in 2012. I would go for any party if it was the right person...well, if there was absolutely no one in the Dem party to chose from. Thankfully, we had two great candidates.

Brian, congratulations on the well deserved award. If I had know you guys were going to be in Arizona, I would have encouraged you to come to Mohave County where the use of water is a major issue. Especially with two large concentrated solar plants moving in.

Good evening, Brian.

I first want to say that I'm sorry for the loss of your sister to breast cancer. I remember you talking to Bonnie Hunt about it on one of your visits to her show not long ago. The fact that this disease has touched your own life, like it has so many of us, gives you this special  motivation to get the answers to the questions and concerns we're all having. While it's been discussed for two days now, I still don't understand these recommendations. I see the new guidelines as something we'd truly regret.

The students at ASU and ASU's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism must be so excited and happy to have you with them! Very lucky students! In fact, I'm not sure how, but I ran into a few of the journalism students on their Twitter accounts today, and one has been telling me about the school. I also visited their website and looked around a bit – what an incredible college! A very special school dedicated to the life and legacy of Walter Cronkite. Nothing but great journalists should come out of that school.

And since the time is getting closer and closer, another warm congratulations to you straight from the heart. I'm only so sorry that Walter Cronkite isn't here with us to hand his namesake award into your hands. But for you, I can imagine just how much it means to you to receive this reward, and to read/hear this:

“I am overjoyed that Brian Williams will accept the 2009 Cronkite Award from ASU,” Cronkite said. “It’s no secret that I am one of his most ardent admirers. A fastidious newsman, Brian brings distinct credit to our profession, adding not only his brilliance but grace and elegance as well. He does me great honor by accepting this award.”  

This made me smile.

Also: I loved your visit to the Ellen Show that aired today. You said some wonderful things, and the people at remind.org were watching and listening– and they were proud. I loved that you showed Ellen and the viewers how our soldiers are eating three times a day. Very interesting, and pretty darn sad. I've heard of these crazy meals they eat every day, but what every happened to “The Navy gets the gravy, and the Army gets the beans.”? It's hard to imagine them living off of this, and I wish there was something we could do about it.

Thank you for the wonderful broadcast from the gorgeous city of Phoenix this evening.

Have a great evening. And all of my best wishes to you in receiving the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism tomorrow. It's an honor every evening to watch a recipient of this highly regarded awarded, bearing the name of the great Walter Cronkite. Way to go, Brian!

-Cary

How can Dr. Nancy Snyderman advocate for these new mammogram guidelines? She agrees that women with no history of breast cancer wait until they are 50. Here's a news flash, Dr. Snyderman: Breast cancer can strike any woman at any time! You don't need to have a history of it in your family for it to do so.

I was 47, a vegetarian, exercised 6 days a week,NO FAMILY HISTORY OF ANY KIND OF CANCER,  non-smoker, non-drinker and lived in a pristine mountain town when a mammogram showed something suspicious. Yes, it was a tumor and it ONLY showed up on the mammogram. I underwent a lumpectomy, radiation and chemotherapy.

Three years later my annual mammogram again showed something suspicious. This time it was a 5 centimeter tumor and I underwent 9 1/2 months of chemo and radiation.

I firmly believe I am alive today because of those screening mammograms which I started getting at age 40.

I would be most interested in knowing who is on the panel that decreed these new guidelines.

On another note, congratulations on receiving the journalism award. It's a well-deserved honor. Also I love the last story in your nightly broadcast. The stories are always uplifting and make us want to do better and to be better human beings. Thanks!

Hi Brian
As for the major topic of Breast Cancer well let's say I have to trust in God because this report and recommandation is to give profit to the Insurance Companies and of couse the famous Pre Condition. President Obama's Health Care Plan is scaring the Health Care Companies. So look for more suggestions on denial to woman for services. Don't look for any male problem to be objected as it's the men making decisions. Yes I head the female spoke person in support of the new study, but remember everyone has a price and the Insurance Company is willing to pay to spread the lies.  

I heard on PBS Nightly Business news that Comcast brought NBC Universial.  

For the regular bloggers I called Google about the disrespectfull picture of our First Lady. Thanks to Madeline Williams who posted the information. This would have never happen with Laura Bush. I don't know what has gotten into people showing so much disrespect. I worry what kids are learning from these adults.

Sarah is out there selling her book as she hopes their are enough stupid people to buy that garbage. Well let's see if Sarah really can make fools of Americans by getting them to give her money as she needs it for her legal bills and her life style. How many stories will Sarah give about first not knowing her teenage daughter who had her boyfriend Levi living in their home while having sex. Sarah just might be laughing all the way to the bank.

The experts say the new guidelines are in line with other countries; what is a reliable source to learn what other countries detection and survival rates are? I would like to know what percentage of breast cancers are late stage vs early stage. I think we should expose this information and look carefully at it.

For women age 40-49 screening mammograms have not required a physician order. We know insurance companies will stop paying for this age group unless considered high-risk; therefore, these women will most likely be required to have a physician order. This introduces new protocol for providers and a barrier for women. I would like to hear some discussion about this.

Brian,
You said we were skeptical about insurance companies when speaking of the new guideline for mammograms. However this a government task force that produced them.
What are we really afraid of?

Nancy Snyderman is one arrogant doctor!

To profess that it's not worth the discomfort (combined with peace of mind) of a group of women to save the life of one woman is not in keeping with the Hippocratic Oath.

Snyderman is acting more like a member of a death panel (which deals in numbers) than a caring doctor who does no harm to any patient (including the ones who will die without mammograms in their 40s).

Snyderman's describing her cold calculations as "smart science" is making her look like a fool.

The public is smart enough to see that the science she pursues is "political science"!

Brian,

I have a December 5, 2004 Louisville
Courier-Journal article about anchors
and thought this sentence might be of
interest to you now that you have received
T he Walter Cronkite Award:

...."a newscast in which Brian Williams
was subbing for Brokaw and handled it
in exemplary fashion."

Which may be said for all your broadcasts.

CONGRATULAIONS!!!!!

Phyllis

Congratulations on the Cronkite Award, Brian.

Brian,

Yes, congratulations, and thanks for telling us things.  I could bet (not really) the desert was peach cobbler (not again), but it could've been apple then.  This is the first time I've written to you on a laptop.

Jenniofer

CONGRATS ON THE GREAT AWARD WELL DESERVED
YOU ARE THE ONLY NEW THAT IWATCH i love LESTER HOLT
     

Is the healthcare bill being proposed going to have an adverse affect on the Masons / Shriners since their biggest fund raiser is raising moneys to care for children without insurance?

They have several hospitals that help keep the doors open with donations the Shriners raise to help sick children.  What will happen to their operations if all children in the USA now have health coverage?

I am 54 years old. I've never had a mammogram. My mamma has always told us girls to never wear a bra too tight, in other works, never put pressure on your breast. How do you think they do a mammogram. They put your breast in a waffle iron and take pictures. that's putting pressure on your breat. Mammograms SHOULD be a womans decision and not anyone elses.

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