So if you're early in diagnosis, choose your doctors, your friends and your mentors carefully -- and avoid Pollyanna's at all cost.

Getting through diagnosis and treatment, based upon my own experience, has been no joy ride; but in recent columns I've recommended the following: 1) Get to know your guilt, 2) Find an outlet to grieve, 3) See the disease as an opportunity instead of a punishment, 4) Avoid pity at all cost, and 5) Stop to examine your life ---- regardless of the levels of failure or success while trying.

As we well know, treatment for cancer can cause a lot of problems. I can say today I've survived the cut, slash and burn of conventional medicine; and as grateful as I am for all that was in place during my times of trial, I'm left with side effects that no one should have to suffer. Hopefully some day we won't.

One of the side effects was the removal of my voice box because of scar tissue. A laryngectomy may have been written about in small print somewhere in the "risks of radiation" release papers, but I either missed it or didn't want to acknowledge it would ever happen to me. What I heard instead was that the treatment plan offered a 95 percent cure rate. After that, it was "Zap me and let me get back to my life please."

I doubt that any of us will ever experience in our time a pain-free treatment for cancer, or one without its own peculiar set of consequences. I've seen a few people die horrible deaths from throat cancer, mostly from malnutrition, who didn't have the insurance I had, or the loved ones I had, or in the end the ability to quit doing the very things that led them there. I've been blessed with angels.

Well before my diagnosis, I would go for breakfast at this particular restaurant on the water in Key West. Every Tuesday the same group would gather and each week I'd hear this strange buzzing sound coming from one of its attendees. People would stop, things would get still, and I would peer over my paper to see this man talking with something held to his throat. Puffing away on my cigarette, I'd think É poor, poor man.

Time had passed and I was in the last stages of my treatment when my doctor suggested I go see Doris Auble, a Realtor, who had lost her voice years before, and was speaking "electronically" -- a highly functioning example of full recovery. I couldn't imagine such a horror.

I took a train trip around the country to finish my memoirs, and when I returned I spiraled into an asthmatic state of increased breathlessness. In a state of panic, I finally went to see her. The pain from scar tissue had gotten so fierce that no therapy could touch it. She was gracious and supportive and told me that whatever my outcome, she knew I would be fine. She took my phone calls, she articulated well, and she had the brightest eyes I'd ever seen on anyone -- even Paul Newman.

I had that laryngectomy (the possible fine print consequence) at Johns Hopkins in January 1995, and two years later, after 16 surgeries, and still on feeding tubes, I crawled my way back to the island to heal, once again. I took my electronic voice and went to a cancer support group one night, and as I followed directions to the back of the health center where they held weekly meetings, I heard this rhythm of faint but familiar buzzing.

Doris and that poor, poor man were talking.

Tip No. 6: Watch for angels

(Geraldine Lloyd is a local artist and writer and can be reached at golloyd123@aol.com.)

Post your comments » Round 2: Snow expected to fall today, Wednesday Fast on the heels of the largest 24-hour snowfall to hit the Frederick County since 1983, meteorologists are predicting another round of heavy snow and wind to hit today. The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning Monday afternoon for the area, including Frederick County, and said 10 to 20 inches of snow is possible by Wednesday night. Weather-related closings, delays A list follows of weather-related closings and cancellations for this week. Fire and police blotter Police search for robber School closures cause makeup schedule revision Even though Frederick County Public Schools are closed today -- using the sixth snow day this school year -- the school system will not hold school on the Monday Presidents Day holiday as the first scheduled snow makeup day. Crowds pay respect to fallen marine Even U.S. Marines couldn't hold back tears Monday at the viewing of their colleague, Sgt. David Smith. The procession to the Frederick Christian Fellowship Church was led by Frederick County Sheriff's deputies. Dressed in full military regalia, Marines carried Smith's casket into the church followed by family members as more Marines stood at attention.