Cancer Patients

bonnieb@herald-mail.com CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - On June 30, Donna Nordin of Fayetteville, Pa., was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her course of treatment, called neo-adjuvant, is fairly new, and involves taking chemotherapy before having surgery, she said. "Some women have it to help them avoid surgery," Nordin said, although she already knows she will need a mastectomy. But doing the chemo first still has its advantages. "It makes it less likely that the surgery will cause the cancer to spread," she said.

History Day winners The countywide National History Day competition was held at Springfield Middle School on Saturday, March 29. Several of our Clear Spring students entered exhibits and papers. Out of those, Hannah Brumbaugh, a sixth-grader, won first place in the individual exhibit category for her exhibit, "After the War Should Rosie Return to the Home. " Trey Weaver, Zach Kees, and Lendon Paul came in second place for their group exhibit, "The Ransom of Two Cities.

Health briefs Quit smoking program starts tonight FREDERICK, Md. - American Cancer Society's Freshstart Quit Smoking Program will be offered tonight, Wednesday, March 11, Monday, March 16, and Wednesday, March 18, from 6 to 7 p.m. at Frederick Memorial Hospital Wellness Center, Fitness Room Francis Scott Key Mall, 5500 Buckeystown Pike in Frederick. Call 1-301-662-2357 to register for this program. Osteoporosis screening offered in Chambersburg CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - Cumberland Valley Medical Services will offer a screening for osteoporosis today through Friday, March 13, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday, March 14, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. Paul's Church in Chambersburg.

What you need to know about donating blood By MEG H. PARTINGTON / Staff Writer In about an hour, you could save three or four lives. All it takes is less than a pint of your blood. continued The whole process of giving blood, from filling out paperwork through having a snack afterward, takes about an hour. The process of drawing blood takes about 15 minutes. When you donate blood, it is given to those being treated after accidents, people having surgery and those battling serious diseases, including leukemia, lymphoma and other cancers, heart disease, sickle cell anemia and hemophilia, according to the American Red Cross.

The Washington County Unit of the American Cancer Society will honor Frank Turner when it holds its 11th annual Grand Sunday Brunch Nov. 7. Feasting, fun and fund-raising are on the menu for the event at the Ramada Inn Grand Ballroom. Last year's brunch raised $19,652 for the cancer society, which provides services to cancer patients and their families throughout the county. Turner, a businessman and longtime resident, has donated the use of the Ramada Inn's convention center to the cancer society several times.

Pool, golf course rates to increase WAYNESBORO, Pa. - Rates at Waynesboro Municipal Golf Course and Northside Pool will increase in 2007 to keep up with competition and accommodate wage increases in the new year, a representative of the parks and recreation committee said. Mike Forney of the parks and recreation committee said daily rates for golf will increase 10 percent, but membership rates will stay the same. Raising only the daily rate for golf, he said, will keep the course competitive with neighboring clubs, including Conocodell Golf Club and Monterey Country Club.

The Grand Chapter of West Virginia, Order of the Eastern Star, recently donated $25,530 to the new outpatient cancer center at West Virginia University Hospitals-East's City Hospital. The money represents a major portion of the $30,000 raised statewide for cancer projects. Past Grand Matron Cynthia Strakal, a resident of Berkeley County, is a 30-month breast cancer survivor. Her sister, Carolyn Siviero, a registered nurse at City Hospital, served as chairman of the fundraising committee for the project.

Boonsboro resident Selena Doyle reflected Monday night on her successful battle against breast cancer. Doyle said she underwent chemotherapy, radiation and surgery in Baltimore to turn the tide against the disease. Doyle feels that if she had been diagnosed 10 years ago, cancer research would not have been advanced enough to help her. “It feels great,” said Doyle, who has been cancer free since last February. Doyle was one of about 100 cancer survivors and caregivers who attended a Valentine's survivors dinner sponsored by Relay for Life of Washington County.

Thumbs up to Donna Brightman, Jacqueline Fischer, Gary Nally, Robin Schneider and Russell Williams, for their willingness to serve out the term of W. Edward Forrest, who resigned from the Washington County Board of Education after a promotion required more out-of-town travel. The position pays far less than many elected posts, but requires as much or more time and effort to manage a multi-million-dollar budget. Thumbs up to Dr. Dave Solberg and others who organized "Just for Us Girls!"

Group pushes for legal medical marijuana use Frederick, Md. By LAURA ERNDE laurae@herald-mail.com Should her cancer return, Del. Louise V. Snodgrass said she would want the option of using marijuana to help ease her suffering. continued Snodgrass, R-Frederick/Washington, was diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago. Her treatments weren't as debilitating as the treatments she watched other cancer patients endure. But it was enough to convince the conservative Republican to fight for a change in Maryland law. Undaunted by a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling, Snodgrass and other medical marijuana supporters rallied in downtown Frederick Wednesday morning.