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Posts with tag ABC
Posted Sep 6th 2007 7:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Breast Cancer, Politics, Television, Celebrity news
Despite her recent breast cancer diagnosis,
Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts is already speaking out about the cancer cause. In fact, she just recently spoke to a group of cancer survivors and activists at a fundraiser in Biloxi, Mississippi.
Roberts is also speaking about the relief she feels now that her diagnosis has been made public -- "It was like the weight of the world was lifted," she said.
Talking about cancer invites support. Roberts, 46, got some comforting words of support from Elizabeth Edwards just after her announcement. Edwards, wife of Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, is also fighting breast cancer.
Continue reading ABC's Robin Roberts enlightened by Elizabeth Edwards
Posted Aug 15th 2007 7:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Breast Cancer, Television, Celebrity news
Good Morning America coanchor Robin Roberts returned to work on Monday, a little more than one week after her breast cancer surgery. Some think her return was a bit hasty. Some think it was the absolute right thing to do. I'm of this camp -- the jump-back-into-life approach. It's exactly what I did after my surgery and throughout every step of my treatment. And while there were surely days I could have cut myself some slack, I tried to keep on my toes. It was the only way I knew how to manage the chaos of cancer.
In the spirit of helping women cope with their breast cancer diagnoses, Roberts' very own doctor offers some insightful words of wisdom.
Click here for guidance about returning to work, managing through surgery and radiation, maintaining emotional health, and the importance of mammograms and self-exams.
What is your take on how Roberts is handling cancer and how her doctor is handling the topics that become critical in the fight against this disease?
Posted Aug 10th 2007 7:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Breast Cancer, Television, Celebrity news, Surgery
If you plan to tune in to
Good Morning America on Monday, you'll see Robin Roberts looking back at you. The co-anchor, 46, expects to back at work on August 13, just 10 days after surgery for breast cancer.
Roberts, who was just recently diagnosed with breast cancer after finding a lump during a self-exam, is still waiting for the test results that will determine her course of therapy. Right now, though, she feels great and looks forward to returning to work alongside Diane Sawyer.
Posted Aug 6th 2007 1:30PM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Breast Cancer, Celebrity cancer diagnosis, Television, Daily news, Surgery
ABC's
Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts is at home resting after a successful surgery for breast cancer. Pathology reports will take some time to pocess, but when more information is available, the public will be updated, says a
Good Morning America spokesperson.
Roberts, 46, told her story recently in an e-mail.
I never thought I'd be writing this. ... I have breast cancer," writes Roberts.
Continue reading Breast cancer surgery a success for ABC's Robin Roberts
Posted Aug 5th 2007 9:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Breast Cancer, Celebrity cancer diagnosis, Books, Television
ABCs
Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts has heart. You can read all about it in her article titled
A Heart in the Right Place in the July 2007 issue of
Ladies' Home Journal -- and her book
From the Heart. She writes about her job, about how she was never the most brilliant person to work alongside Charles Gibson and Diane Sawyer but how she tends to put herself in the position for things to happen.
"Often, the person who catches the break is the one standing there with her arms outstretched at the right moment," she says. There she was, arms outstretched. And here she is, high atop her career ladder.
Roberts also writes about her strong military family, her athletic nature -- she played basketball in high school and college -- and about facing her fears.
Continue reading ABC news anchor Robin Roberts has heart in the right place
Posted Jul 12th 2007 3:15PM by Martha Edwards
Filed under: Colon and Rectal Cancer, Celebrity in memoriam
Patricia reported earlier this week that movie critic Joel Siegel had died of colon cancer at the age of 63. Unlike almost everyone in North America, I'm not that into movies and though I had heard Siegel's name, I didn't really know much about him. But I wish I did, after watching
this video on Siegel's life, his fight with cancer and his undying support for a cause he so firmly believed in; Cancer awareness.
After Siegel's first wife died of brain cancer at a young age, the critic began to talk publicly about cancer, and it's with tragic irony that he passed away from the disease that worked so hard to fight. Siegel's final days were marked with deep regret that he didn't get screened for cancer sooner, as his doctors told him that if he had been tested a mere 3 years earlier, he would have had a much better chance at seeing his young son grow up.
Cancer's lost a brave and powerful spokesperson, and I hope his message and memory lives on for a long time.
Posted Mar 30th 2007 11:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Television, Celebrity news
His name is not really Brian -- that's just the character actor Barry Watson plays on the ABC TV show
What About Brian that just ended its season on March 26.
I really like this show. The network calls it a
contemporary, heartwarming ensemble drama that continues to tell the stories of a group of close-knit friends in various stages of romantic relationships and friendships living in Los Angeles. This is exactly why I like it. But there's an underlying story not written into the script that has compelled me to watch -- and truly enjoy -- this show.
Barry Watson, best known for his role as Matt Camden on the long-running WB series
7th Heaven, is surviving cancer. Diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma in May 2002, he received treatment and reported in April 2003 that he was in remission. And he's been working hard ever since.
Watson is not only an actor. He is a husband -- his wife is Tracy Hutson of ABC's
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition -- and he is a father. But most important in my book, Watson is a cancer survivor. And more than anything, this is what inspires me every time I watch
What About Brian.Posted Feb 8th 2007 10:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Prevention, All Cancers, Daily news, Celebrity news
When she asked her teenage daughters whether or not she should accept the American Cancer Society's
Mother of the Year award, the response was a resounding, "Mom, of course." So Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, accepted the anti-cancer honor this week and told ABC's George Stephanopolous on Sunday why she is a good mom and a healthy role model.
"They see that I go running, I get on my bicycle, I do yoga, pilates, whatever else I do," Ferguson said. "Do you know what they do? Get up off the sofa, turn the television off, walk to work, walk around the block, more vegetables, more fruits at school, less soda pops, less fast food."
Ferguson, 47, says cancer prevention starts with good role modeling -- which is exactly what she has done as mom to princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.
"I can safely say one of the best things I've done is be a good mother," Ferguson said.
Ferguson, author of memoir
My Story and spokeswoman for Weight Watchers, first became known as the wife of Britain's Prince Andrew, the Duke of York. The pair divorced in 1996, but Ferguson's positive public persona has remained untarnished.
Posted Jan 7th 2007 11:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Breast Cancer, Research, Environment, Daily news
The ABC building in the Brisbane suburb of Toowong -- subject of a December 2006
post -- has been officially vacated following an investigation that turned up a cancer cluster among female employees.
Over the past 11 years, 10 women from this one building have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Eight of the women worked in the ABC newsroom, and most had been there for more than five years. The breast cancer risk for these women was six times higher than for the general population of women in the area. And while the investigation continues and clues are beginning to connect, the big question --
Why? -- has still not been answered.
It has been determined it is highly unlikely the increase in breast cancer was caused by exposure to radio frequency, low frequency electromagnetic radiation, or chemical contamination. According to experts, had any of these factors been at play, there would have been a rise in cancer among male employees as well as female employees. Therefore, it appears something specific to women has caused this cluster.
Perhaps clues will emerge from an analysis of lifestyle influences -- like smoking, diet, and alcohol and medication use -- and already women have answered questions pertaining to body weight, height, level of physical activity, and reproductive history.
One common theme among women is the use of oral contraceptives for periods varying from two to 18 years. Other interesting findings include the average number of babies born to the women -- 1.6 -- and the breastfeeding practices of the women -- each woman with a child breastfed for an average of 2.3 to 12 months -- and the educational background of the group -- of the 10 women, six have college degrees.
Experts says these are important factors. Early puberty, late menopause, lack of breastfeeding, use of oral contraceptives, and the trend of older mothers having fewer babies all can influence breast cancer risk. And so can level of education. Research shows increased rates of breast cancer in women with white collar jobs -- which is related to socioeconomic status and late childbearing.
Everything is important really -- because as breast cancer rates continue to skyrocket, all possible reasons need to be considered.
One in eight women in Australia will be diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 85. About 13,261 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006. And it is predicted that 14,818 will be diagnosed in 2011.
Posted Dec 21st 2006 9:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Breast Cancer, Research, Environment, Daily news
An ABC news team in Australia abandoned its Brisbane radio studio yesterday after an investigation revealed there is something about the workplace causing breast cancer.
It's not clear what the cause may be, but the five-month-long investigation concluded a breast cancer cluster is related to the office environment.
Twelve women who worked at the Brisbane Toowong office had been diagnosed with breast cancer over the past 11 years. Eight of these women worked in the newsroom. Most had been there for more than five years.
ABC managing editor Mark Scott would not move his staff earlier this year when 100 staff members walked off the job in July, demanding relocation. He said it would take evidence -- not just suspicion -- of a breast cancer cluster for him to agree to relocation. Now he has evidence.
The investigation report shows women who worked at this office reported breast cancer at a rate 11 times higher than the general working community.
In addition to the relocation, all female staff at Toowong office were offered free mammograms and free counseling services during the investigation. Yesterday, Scott extended the offer to women at other ABC sites in Australia.
Posted Dec 17th 2006 5:18PM by Dalene Entenmann
Filed under: Breast Cancer, Prevention, Events, Politics
Because no one likes a group who misrepresents the truth to promote a private agenda, The National Breast Cancer Coalition, NBCC, announced they were hosting the first annual Golden Boob Awards to expose the biggest boobs in the fight to stop breast cancer. The nominees in this year's Golden Boob Awards were the Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer (ABC) for threatening the integrity of serious efforts to find ways to prevent, treat, cure, and ultimately end breast cancer; and Mark For Life for trying to make money from a product with no impact in the fight against breast cancer.
By popular vote, the winner as this year's biggest boob is, as announced on the Golden Boobs Award website: "The Abortion/Breast Cancer Coalition (ABC) for asserting that abortion leads to an increased risk of breast cancer, despite lacking one shred of relevant proof to back up this claim. ABC's stock in trade - pseudo-science, fear mongering, and flat-out lies - has threatened the integrity of serious efforts to find ways to prevent, treat, cure, and ultimately end breast cancer."
In addition, NBCC is awarding a
Dishonorable Mention Golden Boob Award to recent high-level presidential appointee as deputy assistant secretary for population affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Dr. Eric Keroack, who is currently the medical director of
A Women's Concern, an organization that also states a connection between abortion and breast cancer.
The NBCC is a grassroots advocacy group that works for increased federal funding for breast cancer research and with the scientific community to implement new models of research. The NBCC seeks to improve access to high-quality health care and breast cancer clinical trials for all women. To learn more about the winners, or to nominate the next biggest boob in the fight against breast cancer, visit
Golden Boob Awards.
Posted Oct 3rd 2006 1:22PM by Dalene Entenmann
Filed under: Breast Cancer, Celebrity cancer diagnosis, Books
Olympic Gold Medallist figure skater and breast cancer survivor Peggy Fleming spoke at a Surviving and Thriving luncheon sharing her breast cancer experience. Fleming told the audience of breast cancer survivors attending the luncheon that the breast cancer diagnosis was a shock considering her identity as an athlete was based on health.
After the shock wore off, she gathered her inner resources and faced breast cancer with the same skills that had taken her to the heights of athletic excellence and accomplishment.
Fleming took on breast cancer as a competition she was intent on winning. "Cancer doesn't care who you are or how well you take care of yourself," she said. "It just happens."
As an eight-year breast cancer survivor, Fleming currently works as an ice skating commentator on ABC and ESPN. She tells her story as a way to inspire and enlighten other women facing a breast cancer diagnosis and breast cancer survivors living beyond breast cancer. To read more about her appearance at the Surviving and Thriving luncheon, read
Former skater describes fight against cancer by Laura Hensley.
One of the ways I have been touched by, and admire, breast cancer survivors is the willingness they have to share their personal breast cancer story in the context of a larger life of self discovery. In 2000, Fleming had her book published,
The Long Program: Skating Toward Life's Victories, in which she tells her story from the time of life as a little girl being raised by a disciplinarian father who drank and domineering mother who controlled those around her, to her marriage, her skating career and her treatment for breast cancer. As a breast cancer survivor, the strength and hope I took from breast cancer survivors as a newly-diagnosed breast cancer patient sustained me and nurtured me during the most difficult point in my life, and will remain an immeasurable gift of healing.
Posted Sep 17th 2006 10:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Breast Cancer, Cancer events, Celebrity spokesperson, Television, Daily news
This past week saw the launch of a first-ever partnership between Ford and ABC's The View. As part of Ford's
Warriors in Pink initiative -- a campaign to get women everywhere to join the battle against breast cancer -- the co-hosts of The View during the month of October will feature Warriors sharing their personal stories of support and commitment in the fight against breast cancer.
On September 12, The View's call out for Warriors began online at
abc.com (keyword: theview) where viewers are asked to submit stories about the breast cancer Warriors in their lives. Then each week in October -- Breast Cancer Awareness Month -- a different Warrior will be selected to appear on the show.
Also part of the show will be an audience give-away, featuring merchandise from Ford's Warrior collection. Beginning October 2, viewers will have the chance to purchase a limited edition The View/Warrior coffee mug -- the same mug The View co-hosts will sip from to remind audience members about the importance of breast cancer awareness and early detection. All proceeds will go directly to the Komen Foundation. And on October 29, co-host Rosie O'Donnell -- who lost her mother to breast cancer and is herself a Warrior -- will attend the
Race for the Cure event in Princeton, New Jersey.
Ford's Warriors in Pink campaign raises funds for the
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation through the sale of clothing and accessories for men, women, and children. One hundred percent of the net proceeds benefit the Komen Foundation. Over the past 12 years, Ford has contributed $87 million in gifts and donations to this life-saving venture.
Warriors in Pink merchandise is available not just during the month of October but year-round at
www.fordcares.com.
Posted Aug 7th 2006 10:00PM by Dalene Entenmann
Filed under: Lung Cancer, Prevention, All Cancers, Television, Smoking
ABC World News Tonight partnered with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Cancer Institute and the North American Quitline Consortium to present a special series
Quit to Live. According to statistics, approximately 440,000 Americans will die from smoking-related illnesses this year. A more encouraging statistic is while there are 46 million smokers, for the first time, there are more ex-smokers than smokers.
The Quit to Live series is a comprehensive resource for the 70 percent of smokers who have indicated they are interested in quitting. At Quit to Live, you can watch the complete special series coverage in
video broadcast reports; watch broadcast plus
exclusive web-only content; view the
videoblogs of Tracy, Jose, Meg and Alyce; how to
quit thinking about quitting and compare different methods and find groups that can help.
You can read ABC medical editor Dr. Tim Johnson and experts from the nation's leading cancer centers answers to questions about smoking at
Ask Tim. In addition to original reports and reviewed resources, they offer community to connect with others. This week, ABC News revisited the Quit to Live special series on the anniversary of Peter Jennings death to lung cancer. Any smoker interested in quitting will find this special series of great value -- you might want to start by watching the video
Expert Interview on How to Quit.
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An independent report revealed recently that women employed at the Toowong site of ABC's former Brisbane studios in Australia were six times more likely to develop breast cancer than other women.
