With November being Cancer Survivor's Awareness Month, I think about all of the wonderful survival stories I've heard - from people on talk shows and awareness programs to the stories I have heard people discuss about their battle with cancer here at the newspaper office.

These people are a real inspiration to me. The fact that they can get through something as difficult as that just amazes me. I don't know how they do it.

I have known many people that have had cancer of some kind. There have been many people in my family who have had the disease. I also know many people who are going through this painful time with family members of their own.

I sit by, and wish there was something, anything I could do to help someone who is going through this himself or with a family member. You can just see the misery these people are going through when you look in their eyes. No matter how hard they try to hide it, you can still see it.

I found some cancer survival statistics on the internet. These are survival rates for five years. It may surprise you which cancers you can survive with and which ones you can't.

Brain and other nervous system cancers have a 27.3 percent survival rate.

Female breast cancer has a 80.4 percent survival rate due to earlier detection.

Cervical cancer has a 67.4 percent survival rate.

Colon and rectum cancer has a 59.2 percent survival rate.

Uterus cancer has an 83.2 percent survival rate.

Esophagus cancer has a 9.2 percent survival rate.

Kidney and renal pelvic cancer has a 56.3 percent survival rate.

Larynx cancer has a 67 percent survival rate.

Leukemias have a 38.3 percent survival rate.

Liver cancer has a 6 percent survival rate.

Melanoma skin cancer has an 85.1 percent survival rate.

Multiple myeloma has a 27.7 percent survival rate.

Oral cavity cancers and pharynx cancers have a 52.3 percent survival rate.

Ovarian cancer has a 41.8 percent survival rate.

Pancreas cancer has a 3.2 percent survival rate.

Prostate cancer has a 79.6 percent survival rate.

Stomach cancer has a 18.5 percent survival rate.

Thyroid cancer has 94.6 percent survival rate.

Early detection is the main key to surviving longer. If you have any suspicion something could be wrong, go to the doctor and let them check. It is better to be safe rather than sorry.

I will be praying for those who are going through this painful ordeal.