Ed Steger is a head and neck cancer survivor. He was diagnosed in 2005 and after rough patches in 2006 and 2007 has been in remission. He writes a blog about his cancer experience at www.hncancer.blogspot.com.

As part of my volunteer activities as a patient research advocate in MD Anderson's head and neck SPORE (Specialized Programs of Research Excellence) program, I've observed multiple patients going through the tumor tissue...