The Goal of this Website:

This site has been established to celebrate Regina O'Grady, to make available research that she had commenced into a wide variety of both conventional and alternative cancer treatments, and, eventually, to act as a forum for those who have been touched by cancer to collaborate in making their own research available to others. Regina was passionate about cancer education and the causes of prevention and early detection.

Regina, like many of us, was largely unaware of the dangers of this disease and lack of early detection, which is often fundamental to successful treatment, made the fight she faced a difficult one. We wish to bring light to as many questions about cancer as possible. What is it? How do I prevent it? How can I get it? How can I detect it? Who should I contact for information or treatment?

Regina quickly had to learn the answers to such questions. Regina, in recent years, had done extensive research into various forms of treatment for the disease, both traditional and alternative. We wish to have all her research available to this site in the near future so all of us can readily benefit from a better understanding of the disease and choices available to us should we contract it. As important as early detection is in treating this disease, equally so are knowledgeable, informed decisions on treatment types and the risks attached to each.

If you wish to be informed of future developments to this site, promotional events, please feel free to enter your email address.

Fund Raisers:

The Ship and Anchor pub, where Regina was both an employee and a patron have taken it upon themselves to begin an annual Celtic society cancer fundraiser. The first such event takes place January 7th 2 - 6 pm. Entertainment for this event is kindly provided by Fairhaven and Claymore.

Obituary of Regina O'Grady

After a courageous battle against Melanoma cancer, Regina O'Grady passed away peacefully at the Foothills Medical Center in Calgary, Canada on Saturday, November 5th, 2005 at the age of thirty-two.

Beloved daughter of Michael and Regina Sr., cherished sister of Michael Jr., Martin (Christina), Darren (Jennifer), and Claire; Aunt to Brendan, Peter, Paul, Sarah, and Roisin. Dearly loved spouse, companion, and best friend to Jamie Howell. Precious friend to countless others.

Regina was born at Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland on February 2nd, 1973 and lived in her native town of Ballina, County Mayo, Ireland until the O'Grady family immigrated to Canada in October of 1988. Regina met Jamie in Calgary and they made their home here, but Reggie maintained strong ties to Ireland through visits home and frequent late night, long distance phone calls.

Reggie's charisma, loyalty, feistiness, and sense of fun and adventure won her a large circle of friends and her penchant for impromptu, highly-enthusiastic performances of Irish dance often found her encircled by cheering and clapping crowds. Reggie loved her family, traveling, dogs, shopping, chocolate, the phone, the ocean, her hair, her friends, Jamie, and nights out at the pub. She loved life, lived well, and fought hard and bravely for every moment she could get. Her moments were fewer than they should have been, but fewer still are those who fill their moments as well as she did. Though Regina's time with us was brief, she leaves a legacy of friendship, laughter, devotion, dignity, poise, fun, and good-natured mischief worthy of several lifetimes.

Regina O'Grady shone brightly while she was with us. She still shines in the hearts of those who knew her.

It was Regina's desire to rest beside the ocean in her native land and so, following ceremonies in Calgary, Regina was taken home to Ireland and buried in Inniscrone, Co. Sligo.

The Lake Isle of Innisfree

I WILL arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;
Nine bean rows will I have there, a hive for the honey bee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight 's all a-glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet's wings.

I will arise and go now, for always night and day,
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements gray,
I hear it in the deep heart's core.

What is Melanoma?

Melanoma is a very serious form of skin cancer. It begins in melanocytes - cells that make the skin pigment called melanin. Although melanoma accounts for only about 4% of all skin cancer cases, it causes most skin cancer-related deaths. The good news is that melanoma is often curable if it is detected and treated in its early stages. For more information, see skin cancer section.

In men, melanoma is found most often on the area between the shoulders and hips or on the head and neck. In women, melanoma often develops on the lower legs. It may also appear under the fingernails or toenails or on the palms or soles. The chance of developing melanoma increases with age, but it affects all age groups and is one of the most common cancers in young adults.

How Common Is Melanoma?
The number of new melanomas diagnosed in the United States is increasing. Since 1973, the incidence rate for melanoma (the number of new melanomas diagnosed per 100,000 people each year) has more than doubled from 5.7 to 14.3.

The American Cancer Society estimates that about 55,100 new melanomas will be diagnosed in 2004. About 7,910 people are expected to die in 2004.

How Does Melanoma Develop?
When melanoma starts in the skin, it is called cutaneous melanoma. Melanoma may also occur in the eye (ocular melanoma or intraocular melanoma) and, rarely, in other areas where melanocytes are found, such as the digestive tract, meninges, or lymph nodes. When melanoma spreads (metastasis), cancer cells are also found in the lymph nodes and possibly also other parts of the body, such as the liver, lungs, or brain. In these cases, the cancer cells are still melanoma cells, and the disease is called metastatic melanoma.

To understand melanoma, it is helpful to know about the skin and melanocytes — and what happens when they become cancerous.

Related Sections — Diagnosing Melanoma