I am living with a life threatening condition, I have also lost 2 very close and dear friends and my beloved mother to cancer, with some conviction I can also quess that "topspingoggly" has never had to live with the terrible devastation that cancer brings not only to the sufferer but also to all thier friends and family, otherwise, no matter how much he now apologises, he would never have written such a vile thing. I also have a much loved niece who has Down's Syndrome and on more than one occassion has had the word "mong" shouted at her! Perhaps now you understand why I find the word offensive! But I do understand your annoyance I just wished you'd used another word.