In all of the discussion about Elizabeth Edwards’s breast cancer recurrence, I kept waiting to hear what women who’d faced a metastasis of their original cancer, just like Elizabeth, had to say, what they thought of the choices she’s made.

And waited, and waited.

So today my column contains the thoughts of those women, many of whom have faced disease much more advanced than Elizabeth’s. Luane Semos’s story really touched me (that’s Luane on the left in the picture). She had been undergoing fertility treatments when, at 34, she had her first diagnosis …
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I was so sorry to hear yesterday that White House press secretary Tony Snow’s colon cancer has recurred; Snow had surgery Monday, and will be out for “weeks,” he said in a statement.

More interesting was what President Bush said in HIS statement: Snow’s going to whip this thing, and we’ll keep him in our prayers. No discussion of his leaving or quitting his job. In fact, his replacement, Dana Perino, mentions how much the press office looks forward to Snow’s return.

I know they are different people in different situations, but did anyone else notice how totally different the public reactions seem to be? With Elizabeth Edwards, folks, including Katie Couric on “60 Minutes,” seemed to expect she’d call off her husband’s presidential campaign, and go home to die. No such reaction for Snow, who, from what I’ve read, might have a tougher time of his treatment, and whose long-term prospects are much more uncertain.

Be sure to look for my story tomorrow in The CA. I talked to survivors of metastatic cancer — they have LOTS to say about the country’s reaction to Elizabeth Edwards. I’ll look forward to your comments.

OK, so the news for Elizabeth Edwards wasn’t good — she has metastatic breast cancer. But the other news is that her husband’s still running for president, and she’s still planning to help him as much as she was before. “If you’re not able in a focused, thoughtful way to deal with this kind of pressure, you’re not ready to be president,” she said, in answer to a reporter’s question about how this will affect her husband. He said they weren’t going to “cower in a corner.” It’s a big story, with docs and pundits and even other presidential candidates weighing in.

The voices I’ve been looking for in this story, though, are the voices of cancer survivors themselves, who might be the best ones to weigh in about how a cancer diagnosis affects your decisionmaking and shed some light on the Edwardses’ story. I’m not sure, myself, if I knew I were battling a terrible disease, whether I’d fling myself into a grueling national political campaign, especially if I had two small children.

But when I talked this morning to Pat McRee …
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By the time I can post again, John and Elizabeth Edwards will have held their press conference, which comes after a visit to her doctor for a cancer checkup. She’s a breast cancer survivor — her book, Saving Graces, tells nearly all — and this doesn’t sound good this time. Aside from her personal challenges, a recurrence could mean the end of his presidential campaign.

I know many of you are cancer survivors, and aside from prayers, what message would you have for John and Elizabeth Edwards if the news is bad today? Should he quit his (promising) presidential campaign?

Today’s quiz:

My little girl grew up to be:

A) A stay-at-home mom;
B) A doctor; or
C) A rugby player.

Sigh. C is the correct answer. But don’t worry. I’m not alone. There are other rugby moms out there. In fact, did you know there are three Memphis-area high schools — White Station, Cordova and Brighton — with rugby programs? At the college level, women at the University of Memphis are trying to organize for next fall to join clubs at Arkansas State University, Mississippi State University, Vanderbilt and Middle Tennessee State University.

My daughter, who’s grown (and…um…should know better) plays for the Memphis Women’s Rugby Football Club (see action photo above). The women, all accomplished and bright, enjoy knocking the crap out of their opponents on Saturdays at Toby Park, then donning skirts on Monday morning to show off their bruises at work.

As the ladies like to say to prospective recruits, “Rugby is like a sorority, only you get to hit people.”

So, I ask you, should mamas let their babies grow up to be ruggers?

(Posted by Guest Diva Carolyn McAtee Cerbin)