Help Joanne With Her Medical Expenses

Hi, We are a group of friends of Joanne Garnett. The following explains in her own words what her medical situation is at the present time. We are raising funds to help her defray travel expenses, food, lodging etc. as she fights her fifth go-round with cancer caused by Lynch Syndrome.

"And then there were five....

Last Friday I got the word that cancer has reappeared for the fifth time, this time due to a small problem site in the upper stomach. However, now I have Mayo/Jacksonville and its extensive medical team just 83 miles away. Things are starting to roll with appointments (chemo and radiation therapy) and surgery will be in a month or so.

I feel good, very positive and upbeat, and plan to kick it in its butt! What I do want to say is if you have a history of cancer in your family - particularly colorectal, uterine, breast - get a genetic test done to figure out whether you have Lynch Syndrome like I do. One in less than 300 Americans (let that number sink in) have this genetic defect that greatly increases the likelihood of developing certain cancers that are also fast moving. I had three cancer bouts before I learned about Lynch Syndrome. As an adoptee, I also had very limited family history. But knowing you have it can SAVE YOUR LIFE, because you'll be much more agressively screened and be able to stop cancer in its tracks if it dares to show up. That's now the case for me."

Please help us support Joanne in this latest fight with Lynch Syndrome by donating what you can. Every cent will be much appreciated. Any funds left over after supporting Joanne will be donated to the Mayo Clinic Foundation and the American Cancer Society.

Mary Kay Peck, Sarah More, Teree Bergman, Anna Breinich, Chris McGetrick