Ovarian Cancer

Evolving thought To the editor: Down in Cobb County, Ga., the five-member elected school board has ignited a firestorm in the evolutionary community by requiring that the public-school biology textbooks - which teach evolution as an incontrovertible fact - be required to carry the following sticker: "This textbook contains material on evolution. Evolution is a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of living things. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully and critically considered.

Editor's note: Each Sunday, The Herald-Mail publishes "A Life Remembered. " This continuing series takes a look back - through the eyes of family, friends, co-workers and others - at a member of the community who died recently. Today's "A Life Remembered" is about Carrie Michele Bishop, who died Nov. 19 at the age of 46. Her obituary was published in The Herald-Mail on Nov. 21. Carrie Michele Bishop didn't miss holding her first grandchild in her arms. "She was in the delivery room when he arrived," said her mother, Joan Crum.

Al-Anon/Alateen family groups Hagerstown and Frederick, Md., area. This is an anonymous, confidential support group for anyone affected by a family member or friend's drinking. There are no fees. Call 1-301-663-6626 for a list of meetings in the area. Breast Cancer Awareness of Cumberland Valley Today, 7 p.m., John R. Marsh Cancer Center, 11110 Medical Campus Road, Hagerstown. The support group for breast cancer patients and their families meets the second Monday of each month.

HAGERSTOWN Before undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment for breast cancer, Trena McNair's hair reached well below her shoulders. The 40-year-old Berkeley Springs, W.Va., resident said her hair fell out following the cancer treatment, and when it grew back it was a mess of "freaky curls. " On Sunday, she had it cut and styled for the first time since it began to grow back. McNair was at Sagittarius Salon & Spa's sixth annual Life is a Gift day of beauty.

HAGERSTOWN - Before undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment for breast cancer, Trena McNair's hair reached well below her shoulders. The 40-year-old Berkeley Springs, W.Va., resident said her hair fell out following the cancer treatment, and when it grew back it was a mess of "freaky curls. " On Sunday, she had it cut and styled for the first time since it began to grow back. McNair was at Sagittarius Salon & Sanctuary Spa's sixth annual Life is a Gift day of beauty.

FALLING WATERS, W.VA. anthonyb@herald-mail.com Lana Spence, 43, was visiting Oprah Winfrey's Web site, Oprah.com, in early April and sent what she describes as a "venting e-mail" about her desire to lose weight. "I saw a picture of myself on stage singing in Los Angeles with Janis Joplin's band and really didn't like what I saw," she said. Spence, of Falling Waters, said she forgot about the e-mail until she got a reply from a representative requesting a picture of her. A week later, on her birthday, April 14, she got a present: a phone call asking her to be on Oprah's show.

Doris “Doey” Glessner was known for her spunk and style. Her zest for life was contagious, and she shared her life lessons with others by example. Youngest son Neal Glessner of Hagerstown said an appropriate epitaph for his mother would be, “She left a little sparkle wherever she went.” Even Doris' name changed over time. It started when older sister Evelyn's daughter took to calling her Doey because she couldn't pronounce Doris. That side of the family began using the nickname, then a few more special people, then over time, more and more, Neal said.

While the statistics are skewed against them, women are not the only ones who get breast cancer. For every 100 women diagnosed with breast cancer - about 220,000 women are diagnosed annually - one man is given the same news, said Dr. Frederic H. Kass III, medical director of the John R. Marsh Cancer Center in Hagerstown. Rarer still is finding the disease in teens. But still, breast cancer finds its way into the bodies of both sexes and affects a wide range of ages. The average age for male breast cancer patients is the mid-60s to 70s, Kass said, while for women, the disease typically strikes those who have gone through menopause and peaks at about age 65. Kass said he has been in practice since 1979 and has never had a female breast cancer patient younger than 25. He sees a new male breast cancer patient in his practice every year or two. It's hard to pinpoint a cause of breast cancer in men, Kass said, but there are a few risk factors.

A hectic lifestyle makes it easy to skip a meal or to grab less-than-nutritious food on the run; however, a busy day doesn't have to keep you from good health. Choosing powerhouse foods as part of your healthy diet will keep your energy up and your immune system strong. Powerhouse foods are high in phytonutrients, chemicals that occur naturally in food. They protect against diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease and hypertension. When you choose these foods more often, you are doing your body a favor.