The current national conversation about cancer is very helpful but one topic which is rarely discussed is breast cancer in men. I am 52 years old now and retired on disibilitiy so naturally I am concerned about health issues. I had noticed a lump in my left breast for some time when I recently decided to have a mamography (which I jokingly called a sirography) at my local hospital. Thankfully, the scans proved negative but if I had been shy about this subject I would never have had the test. I have a history of cancer (melanoma) so I know that anything can happen and regular exams are necessary.

I am so very sorry about the return of Tony Snow's Colon Cancer. Five years ago, my first Cousin died of Stage four Colon Cancer. He was 51. He had a lot to look forward too. However the other viewer was right, cancer does feed off of stress. I feel that the main reason for his death was that he was going through a divorce at the time. Again I feel for both Mrs. Edwards and Mr. Snow. Godspeed to both of you, you will need it as the last stages of cancer are the worst. I will have both of you in my prayers each and every night.

I disagree completely Linda! We need to wipe out all courtesy for the sake of being efficient? Would you suggest this for all aspects of daily living? Surely, we could get more things done...at what cost?

My mother died of breast cancer. If I know one thing for certain, it is that cancer thrives on stress. Why did Tony Snow ever take that job at the White House? He was in short-time remission and then he jumped into the most stressed job in Washington.

Bob,

Frankly the news I see with Brian is brand-new and then it is shown the next day on the Today show, if I even catch that. In the day in age that it takes 45 min to get to work, I miss the Today Show. In fact, in my old job in Seattle, I would leave at 6:30 a.m. for work and barely make it home to catch Brian at 6:30. I don't know what I would do if Brian's newscast was earlier. I guess I would have to give up my gym time! :-)

Tony, I disagree with just about everything you say but I really do wish for you a speedy recovery.

I would like to weigh in on the politeness issue. It seems that civil discourse has vanished from the political landscape. I, for one, am grateful that it is alive and well on your broadcast. I vote for audible appreciation - and thank you for it.

Bob Calabro some of us are at work during the day and the evening news gives us the up dated information. I wish I could be home to see the Today Show. Only on Monday holidays do I get to see it. I'm glad Brian remembers those of us who just get home to watch the Nightly News as he gives as much news as possible in the half hour.

Stale News---I have been reading about the ratings issue between your show and that of Charlie Gibson. Let me say I am a long, long time viewer of the Today Show and NBC Nightly News. I have noticed a recent trend that may be one cause to the drop...Stale News. I believe that in an effort to cut costs news articles are showing up on numerous broadcasts during the day. Take tonight, Tuesday March 27, you had a story on identity theft and the dangers on planes taxing on runways. Both stories were covered on the Today show..virtually the same report. The news to someone in my case becomes stale. Forces me to turn the station to seee what else is being covered. There needs to be a rule...Nothing shown on the Today show be shown again on your evening news.

I'd like to weigh in in favor of politeness on newscasts, as well as reiterating the location at the end of a story.

On the latter point, I've noticed exactly what the other viewer noticed, except I thought it was a good thing. I guess my attention span is shorter, but I often miss the location at the beginning of stories (that aren't already obvious, such as big White House in background), especially the "Making a Difference" segments. A few times, I've caught myself saying "thank you" aloud when Brian repeated the location at the end. Maybe it's an organization somewhere that I want to research further online; maybe it's a place I'd be interested in applying for a job. If we're taking a vote, I vote the repetition stays.

And as to politeness, by my watch, "Thank you, Campbell" takes two seconds, and for what it's worth, Brian sounds like he means it. I'd much rather hear thank you than see a reporter cut off and the anchor move on, as if he couldn't care less about the topic just reported.

I'm sorry the other viewer is annoyed. At least one person doesn't agree.

Thanks.

Best wishes to both sides of the aisle, to Mr. Snow, and Mrs. Edwards. No matter who you are or what you do, cancer can, unfortunately, get you.

The Iran situation has the potential to turn real ugly in these next few weeks. Hopefully the nations can negotiate something diplomatically as we have learned from Iraq. Hopefully a similar result back in 2003 of Brit troops.

I think I'll check out this Medal of Honor DVD. I'm curious to know if you haves seen Band of Brothers series while it is fictional in some ways it still is the best TV series I have seen period.

1. So very sorry to hear about the return of Tony's cancer. My prayers are with him.

2. If only there was a way to get a copy of Lt. Col. Trebilcock's "The Modern Seven Pillars of Iraq" into the hands of every congressman and every senator, maybe there would be hope for us yet!

For many months, I have been telling that story this way (with absolutely no eloquence!). A long time ago, this guy goes out and kills another guy. The guy that got killed was Mohammad's grandson. The guy who did the killing was either a Shiite or a Sunni and the grandson was from the other side of the tracks.

We've heard of the Hatfield's and the McCoys and their feud. It, however, pales in comparison to that between the Shiites and the Sunnis. You see the murder took place 1700 years ago. And we think for even a moment that we can resolve that feud with more troops?

Colonel Trebilcock, I raise my glass to you. You really wrote a wonderful piece!!

3. One of the beauties of growing old is that sometimes you remember something many people have forgotten or never knew in the first place. The piece this evening on ITT is an example. First of all, I honestly didn't know ITT was still around. Over the many years they have been in business, they've done some interesting things in the name of generating profit for their share holders. I will limit my comments to what I feel is the best story of all.

Seems, so the story goes, that at the end of World War II, ITT sued the United States of America in an effort to recover from damages suffered to at least one factory owned by ITT; if not more than one. No, I don't know if they won their suit. Not much of a story there, right? Well let me put the icing on the cake for you.

The factory made Folk Wulf aircraft for Nazi Germany. The sole purpose of those aircraft was to kill American soldiers and those of her allies. We bombed it and ITT wanted to be paid for it! My, my, after all these years they haven't changed a bit! I refer to the book, "The Sovereign State of ITT".

Cancer may or may not be a chronic disease.

The elephant in the room is that of mortality. And this past week, our nation has been treated to national patient advocacy on the parts of the Edwards and Snow in making it an acceptable topic of discussion, and one that is welcomed in the light of day. All good wishes to Elizabeth Edwards, Tony Snow, their spouses, their children and their fmailies and friends.

The true values of marriage are in evidence with the Edwards' stance: a partnership of equals with love and respect for one another, who are committed to each other and who are in it for the long haul.

That is a polar opposite to the false sanctity of marriage values espoused by the dominionists and by the anti-gay rights opiners. No wonder the left wing folks are worried. Their phony house of cards just got blown away by one built on a solid foundation.

Brian, I wonder how many seconds - and they are precious - you use up during your broadcasts when you introduce a correspondent and then say good evening to them, and then they must in turn say good evening to you. Then at the end of their report you say thank you, and give their name and repeat that they are reporting from such and such a place. Surely I am not alone in being irritated by this. Like I say, the seconds on your oh-too-short newscasts are precious, and it seems to me you are wasting them by all the excess and unecessary wordage. We are really only interested in the news. Not you and your correspondents being polite to each other.

Brian it's a little early here on the West coast. But I've heard of the problem in Iran. Let's hope Iran doesn't use the Bush policy of law for the Brits. I knew this would happen. Bush broke the Geneva Conference rules and made his own. No prisoner has rights and is tortured. Now other countries can take up that policy. America seems ok with the rules of how we treat prisoner let's pray none of our soldiers get that same treatment done to them. David Hicks had to plead guilty after being held for 5 years now he's going home a hero and wont do jail time. Hicks is a true example of the new Bush policy.
As to the Pat Tillman case I agree with his family. To say things were done wrong but no one will be held responsible is just like all of the Administrations crimes committed. Pat Tillman and all of our brave soldiers deserve medals of honor for giving of themselves. Our leaders didn't do the same during Vietnam but recklessly sent our soldiers to Iraq based on fixed information and lies. We owe our troops more then we have to give. The Bush Administration has brought shame on both our Military and our country.

Mr. Williams, I surely hope that Mr.Snow will be alright. Too many people and far too many younger age people are dealing with this disease. It is just not fair at all. On another note, it makes one nervous as to what Iran plans to do with the captured British troops. Anytime these countries do something like this it makes me less and less trustworthy of their actions and promises. Also, thank you very much for the link to the book about the Medal of Honor recipients. I will certainly try to get it. Thank you.

Does anyone know if Iran has those Mach 2 supersonic anti-ship missiles our navy has always been so afraid of? Our navy may be ten times the strength of the entire world combined but those ships are certainly not meant for close-quarter engagements with fast, heavily armed, soviet-era gunboats. If I remember right, A US Ageis cruiser once tried to engage a couple gunboats and almost lost when it’s one gun jammed. US fleets do not have very much gun armament anymore and jet fighters may have limited effect depending on the situation. Be rest assured that if the US ever does go after the enrichment facilities that Iran’s navy will be a primary target too.