Note: The contents of this blog are for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice or substitute for professional care. For medical emergencies, dial 911!
Experience Project is launching a new online cancer support network , The Cancer Support Project, on October 1st, 2007.
Experience Project is built around dynamic groups of users who come onto the platform, share narratives and personal stories about their life experiences, and then connect with others who are going through the same experiences. Experience Project will never ask for your name; you can keep your identity completely private while meeting new friends who can understand you.
The central goal of The Cancer Support Project is to provide a hub for emotional and psychological support for all experiences involving cancer, including experiences as a survivor or a caregiver, something that is not currently widely addressed as many sites focus on sharing information regarding therapies. The Experience Project will also be launching a Facebook application within The Cancer Support Project to enable people to show their support and raise cancer awareness via Facebook, MySpace, blogs and web pages.
The Cancer Support Projectwill be launching on October 1st, but you can check it out now. I know I will be checking it out for sure!The Cancer Support Project is located here.
Rise to Action, a conference series that aims to help young adult survivors of childhood cancer explore topics relevant to their long-term health care and survivorship, is coming to New York City on October 6 - 7. The conference series is hosted by the Children's Cause for Cancer Advocacy (CCCA).
The Rise to Action conference will be held at the Harvard Club is is free for young adult survivors, age 18-25, and their families. The conference will feature sessions on issues such as health insurance, fertility concerns, employment challenges and education transitions, in addition to other topics.
For more information and to register see the Children's Cause website or email RTA-NY@childrenscause.org.
The Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation's mission is to grant wishes, including memory-making events, for metastatic breast cancer patients, while continuing to support, educate and increase resource awareness.
One of the Making Memories fundraisers is Brides Against Breast Cancer. It can give brides-to-be, an opportunity to find the wedding gown of their dreams (at an incredible savings) while making wishes and dreams come true. Click here if you wish to donate your gown.
The Drexelbrook Wedding and Banquet Facility is hosting Nationwide Tour of Gowns on October 10th and 11th. If you live near Drexel Hill, PA you can attend this event and browse over 40 racks of exquisite, named brand and designer wedding gowns costing from $89 to $799.
Event Details:
Drexelbrook Wedding & Banquet Facility. Drexelbrook Drive & Valley road
Attention Thyroid cancer survivors and patients: the Thyroid Cancer Survivors Conference is happening this fall in San Francisco on October 19-21. The conference will be an invaluable resource for those affected by the disease, and features many experts on the disease among its panel of speakers. The sessions won't just be about the science behind the disease -- there will be talks on coping skills, healing and general well-being. Past conference attendees have lots of good things to say about the experience, which you can read for yourself here.
On July 23, a milestone in presidential campaign history was delivered when Democratic presidential candidates fielded questions sent in via YouTube, a popular video sharing website where users can upload, view, and share video clips. On September 17, Republican candidates will take part in the second CNN-YouTube debate.
Aired live on CNN, this unusual debate featured 39 serious questions -- about immigration, climate change, the voting system, even cancer.
Thirty-six-year-old Kim of Long Island, who pulls off her wig mid-question, asks in her video clip about the millions of uninsured Americans who don't have access to preventative medical care.
Though the prom is mostly a distant memory for me, I can recall with vivid detail the feeling that it was the crowning achievement of my life and though I've since had much more definitive moments, at that time it was everything. As someone who had a pretty typical upbringing, I can't imagine what it would be like going through that stage of teenage angst with cancer. My biggest problem was finding a dress, while others are wondering how they will get through the night after a round of chemo.
I find this story of a group of teens with cancer and their opportunity to attend the prom inspiring and simultaneuosly heartwarming and heartbreaking. Armed with wheelchairs and life-saving machines, they posed for pictures, danced and mingled with fellow cancer survivors, and for one night at least they had a chance at normalcy, a chance to worry about finding a dance partner and keeping their make-up fresh instead of worrying about the fight for their life.
If all else fails, why not hold a competition with a million dollar prize for the best cancer cure idea? This is exactly what a group of Harvard researchers and hedge fund managers are doing. Due to a recent lack of adequate federal funding, the Gotham Prize for Cancer Research has been formed to bring out the most creative ideas to help further cancer research.
While more traditional folks might balk at an idea that focuses on creativity rather than concrete proof, the founders of the organization are expecting good things to come of the contest. The competitors will be invited to write an essay outlining their idea. Over the course of a year the entries will be evaluated and judged on their feasibility. This sounds like a most interesting approach.
Join Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC) on Wednesday, May 30, 2007, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Philadelphia Marriott West in West Conschohocken, PA.
Featured speaker Kara Nakisbendi, MD will provide a candid and caring discussion about intimacy after a breast cancer diagnosis and how to reclaim sexuality to improve quality of life.
Call Me Larry, that is his name. This remarkable young racehorse came in first in the sixth race at Aqueduct Raceway. His owner Suzie O'Cain, will donate ten percent of his earnings to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
The horse is named after Dr. Larry Norton, Breast Cancer Research Foundation Scientific Director and Chairman of the Medical Advisory board, in a cute story. Suzie felt obligated not to use Dr. Norton's first name when addressing him. However, he kept urging her to 'Call me Larry'!
So the horse was named Call Me Larry in honor of Dr. Norton and to raise funds for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
We cannot be silent is one slogan printed on specialty clothing offered by a company called Privacy. Other slogans include United We Cure and Mission. Purpose. Cure.
The slogans say a lot -- but the accomplishments of Carolyn Jones, Founder and President/CEO of Privacy, say a whole lot more.
Think about this:
Jones lost her mother to breast cancer on November 16, 2000 during a time when too many questions about the disease were left unanswered and not enough options were available for women fighting for their lives.
Times have changed, in part due to outspoken pioneers like Jones, who are spreading the word and funding the cause.
Part of the Privacy corporate goal is to support medical research and to educate women about early detection and treatment. "It is very clear that more information and research is needed due to the yearly increase in new cases nationally," says Jones who cites statistics such as this: every 12 minutes a woman in America will die from complications associated with breast cancer. And this: more than 1,500 new cases of male breast cancer will be diagnosed this year.
Privacy, a California-based company with a social conscious, offers for both women and men an assortment of t-shirts, sweatshirts, jeans, hats, recommended books, accessories, breast cancer facts, and even a contest or two. A portion of all profits are donated to breast cancer initiatives with an emphasis on low-income and uninsured populations.
Toby Keith has been touched by childhood cancer. One of his original band mates lost his daughter Allison in August of 2003 to a form of kidney cancer called Wilm's tumor.
The country singer is sponsoring the fourth annual charity golf tournament that will once again benefit the families of children fighting cancer. The event will begin with an auction and party in downtown Oklahoma City on April 27, and continue with the golf tournament the following morning.
The proceeds will benefit Ally's house, which Keith helped establish in memory of his friend's daughter. The charity helps pay for medical bills, prescriptions, housing, transportation, toys, food, clothing and other expenses for families that have children with cancer.
Some of the items to be auctioned off are:
Trip to see Keith in concert in Las Vegas
Memorabilia from Garth Brooks, Sammy Hagar and Bob Seger
Sports memorabilia autographed by Tiger Woods and baseball Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle
Toby Keith comments about Ally's House -- "This is a special charity to me. I saw firsthand how a child's cancer diagnosis can devastate a family. Please join me in supporting these kids through Ally's House."
The Colorectal Cancer Coalition will visit the New York Stock Exchange tomorrow -- Monday, March 5, 2007 -- and will ring in the start of the business day.
Executive director Carlea Bauman will ring the NYSE Opening Bell in honor of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and you don't have to be in New York to witness the wonder of it all. Just click here and follow instructions for viewing a live webcast of The Opening Bell. It all begins at 9:25 AM Eastern Standard Time. You can also tune it to CNBC for coverage of the event.
The Colorectal Cancer Coalition, also known as C3 and headquartered in Washington DC,pushes for research to improve screening, diagnosis, and treatment of colorectal cancer; for policy decisions that make the most effective colon and rectal cancer prevention and treatment available to all; and for increased awareness that colorectal cancer is preventable, treatable, and beatable.
It's March. And that means it's the national month for Brain Injury Awareness, Endometriosis Awareness, Nutrition Awareness, Eye Health and Safety Awareness, Multiple Sclerosis Awareness, Sleep Awareness, Problem Gambling Awareness and my favorite, for the purposes of The Cancer Blog -- Colorectal Cancer Awareness.
Colorectal cancer -- cancer of the colon or rectum -- is a disease that affects both men and women and is preventable nearly 90 percent of the time.
Starting at age 50, men at women at average risk for the disease should get screened. Those with increased risk, like African-Americans who typically develop colorectal cancer at younger ages, should be screened even earlier.
Screening -- by way of fecal occult blood test (FOBT), flexible sigmoidoscopy, and colonoscopy -- is critical because colorectal cancer often occurs with no symptoms. Symptoms do sometimes present themselves in the later stages of the disease and include rectal bleeding, bright red blood in or on the stool, change in bowel habits, stools that are narrower than usual, general stomach discomfort, diarrhea, constipation, frequent gas pains, unexplained weight loss, constant fatigue, and vomiting. Persistence of any of these symptoms for more than two weeks warrant an immediate visit with a health professional.
Treatment for this disease, which strikes about 153,000 people and causes about 52,000 deaths each year, includes surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
In the spirit of this National Colorectal Awareness Month, experts recommend remembering these important points:
Colorectal cancer can be prevented.
Screening for the disease can identify polyps -- grape-sized growths in the colon and/or rectum -- that can be removed to prevent cancer from developing.
The magic age for screening is 50 -- unless you have an increased risk for the disease.
Colorectal cancer is treatable.
Regardless of your age, know the risk factors, know the symptoms, and know your family history.
Talk with your health professional about colorectal cancer and your own risk for the disease.
Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC) is hosting a free educational teleconference for women affected by breast cancer, women at high risk for developing breast cancer and caregivers.
Breast Cancer Genetics: The Role of Genetic Tests and Family Risk Assessment will give the facts about genetic counseling and testing. Learn how the results could impact your health choices and your life.
Topics to be discussed:
When and why to consider genetic testing
Goals of genetic counseling and how it can help you understand your risk and test results
Effectiveness of medical and surgical prevention methods
Strategies for monitoring the health of women at risk for developing a second breast cancer or other cancers
Ways to lessen anxiety about testing and communicate effectively with family members
Laws that protect you from insurance and job discrimination
All LBBC teleconferences begin with brief speaker presentations followed by question and answer sessions with participants.
The teleconference will be held on Thursday, March 29, 2007. 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. EDT
Radioactive cancer patients attending this weekend's Super Bowl in Miami could be in for an alarming experience when they pass through radiation detectors designed to signal the presence of dirty bombs. Such cancer patients -- who have received treatment using radioisotopes and still may have tiny amounts of radioactive material in their bodies -- may want to come armed with letters from their doctors explaining their precarious set of circumstances.
The use of radioisotopes in medicine is growing -- and so is the use of radiation detectors in our security-conscious nation, which means patients are triggering alarms when they are not even aware they are being scanned, doctors and security officials say.
Nearly 60,000 people a day in the United States undergo treatment or tests that leave traces of radioactive material in their bodies, according to the Society of Nuclear Medicine. These traces are not enough to hurt anyone, but they are enough to trigger radiation alarms for up to three months.
Radioisotopes are commonly used to diagnose and treat certain cancers and thyroid disorders, to analyze heart function, and to scan bones and lungs. And many doctors already know to equip their patients with travel cards because of the problems they can encounter in public places.
Nearly 20 million nuclear medical procedures were performed in the United States in 2005 -- up 15 percent from 2001. Clearly, the number of people who could be mistaken for terrorists is quite large. So if you are one of these people -- with the power to create a buzz in a public setting -- get your papers in order so you can quickly confirm your identity as nothing more than a cancer patient.
Experience Project is launching a new online cancer support network , The Cancer Support Project, on October 1st, 2007.
Rise to Action, a conference series that aims to help young adult survivors of childhood cancer explore topics relevant to their long-term health care and survivorship, is coming to New York City on October 6 - 7. The conference series is hosted by the Children's Cause for Cancer Advocacy (CCCA).
The Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation
Attention Thyroid cancer survivors and patients: the Thyroid Cancer Survivors Conference is happening this fall in San Francisco on October 19-21. The conference will be an invaluable resource for those affected by the disease, and features many experts on the disease among its panel of speakers. The sessions won't just be about the science behind the disease -- there will be talks on coping skills, healing and general well-being. Past conference attendees have lots of good things to say about the experience, which
On July 23, a milestone in presidential campaign history was delivered when Democratic presidential candidates fielded questions sent in via 
Though the prom is mostly a distant memory for me, I can recall with vivid detail the feeling that it was the crowning achievement of my life and though I've since had much more definitive moments, at that time it was everything. As someone who had a pretty typical upbringing, I can't imagine what it would be like going through that stage of teenage angst with cancer. My biggest problem was finding a dress, while others are wondering how they will get through the night after a round of chemo.
If all else fails, why not hold a 
This networking event called 
Call Me Larry, that is his name. This remarkable young racehorse came in first in the sixth race at Aqueduct Raceway. His owner Suzie O'Cain, will donate ten percent of his earnings to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
We cannot be silent is one slogan printed on specialty clothing offered by a company called Privacy. Other slogans include United We Cure and Mission. Purpose. Cure. 
Toby Keith has been touched by childhood cancer. One of his original band mates lost his daughter Allison in August of 2003 to a form of kidney cancer called Wilm's tumor.
The Colorectal Cancer Coalition will visit the New York Stock Exchange tomorrow -- Monday, March 5, 2007 -- and will ring in the start of the business day.
It's March. And that means it's the national month for Brain Injury Awareness, Endometriosis Awareness, Nutrition Awareness, Eye Health and Safety Awareness, Multiple Sclerosis Awareness, Sleep Awareness, Problem Gambling Awareness and my favorite, for the purposes of The Cancer Blog -- Colorectal Cancer Awareness.
Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC) is hosting a free educational teleconference for women affected by breast cancer, women at high risk for developing breast cancer and caregivers.
Radioactive cancer patients attending this weekend's Super Bowl in Miami could be in for an alarming experience when they pass through radiation detectors designed to signal the presence of dirty bombs. Such cancer patients -- who have received treatment using radioisotopes and still may have tiny amounts of radioactive material in their bodies -- may want to come armed with letters from their doctors explaining their precarious set of circumstances.
