Like my blogger friend Kristina Collins, I too just attended a Making Strides Against Breast Cancer kick-off. Kristina's New Jersey event was a breakfast. My Florida event was a dinner. It wasn't the meal that mattered, though. What matters is the enthusiasm, the spirit, the inspiration that flows through the rooms where these gatherings take place.

My kick-off celebration featured a delicious and healthy meal, a slide show of the pink-shirted crowds that assembled for last year's 5K event, a mini lesson on the topic of breast cancer, a presentation from a 27-year old wife and mother of three who has survived breast cancer for one year, and a reminder that now is the time to start raising funds for the big day -- October 20, here in Gainesville.

I went to this dinner with my husband, sat with two oncology nurses who form a fundraising and walking team each year, and choked back the emotion that wells up in me when I'm part of such a powerful group.

I told my six-year-old son today that on Friday, we will attend a University of Florida gymnastics meet. Not such a big deal in and of itself but the fact that the entire meet is dedicated to the battle against breast cancer is what makes my announcement to Joey so important. You see, Joey has been my faithful companion ever since I was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago. He has been my link to all things simple. He has been my rock, my inspiration, my motivation to fight for my life.

I told Joey this sports event is a celebration of people with breast cancer, like me. And I told him everyone must wear pink, a color he knows well when it's twisted in ribbon formation. I eagerly awaited Joey's reaction to the whole pink thing, not because he has an aversion to pink but because his absolute favorite color is orange and he tends to choose this fabric selection whenever possible. But without hesitation, Joey was completely accepting of making a pink fashion statement.

I told Joey we would make shirts so we could be as pink as possible on Friday. So we bought white t-shirts and two shades of pink dye, and we will soon tie-dye our shirts for the festive occasion where both University of Florida and University of Kentucky gymnasts will wear pink leotards -- in different shades -- and where the fans will make donations to the local American Cancer Society.

Joey asked me while we shopped for our t-shirt supplies if lots of people have cancer.

"Yes," I told him, recalling a fact I had just learned -- 8.9 million Americans alive today have a history of cancer. "Lots of people have cancer."

I am not sure what this means to Joey. But I suspect his comprehension of the disease is limited to pink ribbons, bald heads, and periodic celebrations. If only cancer were that simple.

Cancer is not simple. But Joey helps me face each day with simplicity. And I can't wait to simply make a few t-shirts with him and then pack the place pink in honor of all the women who every day face the complexities of a fierce opponent.

Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, MD, is the deputy chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society. He is also a blogger and authors his very own blog -- called Dr. Len's Cancer Blog.

Dr. Len writes on his blog about all sorts of topics related to cancer. He shares his opinion on the recent drop in breast cancer cases (December 15, 2006), he promotes the Great American Smokeout (November 14, 2006), he sounds off on lung cancer screenings (October 25, 2006), and he urges parents to always slather sunscreen on their children (October 5, 2006). He has so much more to say -- and his blog is a great stop for those wishing for more information on hot cancer topics.

As this year comes to a close, Dr. Len offers a review of what he believes were the hottest cancer topics of 2006.

Dr. Len reflects in his blog about decreased cancer death rates that represent real progress in the fight against cancer. He calls the HPV vaccine a breakthrough and he recaps the STAR trial -- a comparison of raloxifene to tamoxifen to reduce the risk of recurrent breast cancer in post-menopausal women -- with emphasis on how raloxifene proved just as effective as tamoxifen, but with a better safety profile. He calls new targeted therapies a dream -- with a hefty price tag -- sure to garner debate and discussion in 2007.

Dr. Len reviews the Surgeon General's report on second-hand smoke -- it's harmful to non-smokers, the report says -- and he marvels at the capability of science to approach an understanding of what makes a cancer cell a cancer cell. He also remarks on how remarkable it is that chronic myelogenous leukemia is in fact chronic and no longer fatal, thanks to the drug Gleevec.

Of course, there is ample attention given to the declining incidence of breast cancer, reportedly due to less women using hormone replacement therapy, and the risks weighing on those who are overweight and obese, and survivors and supporters who gathered for Celebration on the Hill -- the site of one incredible American Cancer Society event.

Dr. Len closes his review of 2006 with recognition of three celebrities who lost their lives this year to cancer -- Dana Reeve, Ann Richards, and Ed Bradley. And while he recognizes there are other lives and other stories that deserve mention, there is simply not enough time or space for him to do justice to every noteworthy item.

"What we have seen over the past year is an incredible leap forward in cancer research, diagnosis and treatment, and I suspect there are going to be even more exciting developments in the coming year," says Dr. Len who looks forward to 2007 -- a year that is sure to deliver more hope and more progress in the fight against cancer.

Ah, the festive holiday parties and dinners were fun, but now we notice a few extra unwanted pounds. No surprise that diet and exercise top the list of traditional New Year's resolutions, and with good reason. Not only do we feel better when our clothes fit easily, but staying active, exercising and keeping fit are known lifestyle choices each of us can make that will offer an added measure of cancer prevention.

But, before we finish making our list of resolutions to a slimmer waistline and better health, the inner naysayer voice pipes up to point out all the reasons why we should not even bother. The Entrepreneur Diet comes to the rescue as it busts the more common myths standing in our way to getting and staying fit, and offers a reality check to the misconceptions.

As we read the reality checks to the following top ten myths -- I'm not athletic, so even if I wanted to become more active, I can't do it; it's too late for me to exercise; exercise isn't enjoyable; a woman will get too bulky if she lifts weights; exercise is dangerous; it takes too much time to eat right and exercise; I won't be able to enjoy my favorite foods; no pain, no gain; it's inevitable that I'll gain weight as I age, so it's not worth fighting it; and I have to join a gym or buy expensive equipment to get in shape -- we realize that keeping the resolutions we are about to make are more than doable.

To read the reality checks to these top ten fitness and diet myths, visit the Entrepreneur's Work & Life column here.

I feel like I'm spreading a little hope when I wear my Brighton breast cancer bracelet. It catches others' attention and allows me to explain what all the dangling charms represent. That's hopeful. The dollars I spent on the bracelet help fund breast cancer research. That's hopeful. And the bracelet inspires me personally. It reminds me of my journey, of my path ahead. That's hopeful.

So this hopeful piece of jewelry turns out to be a perfect accessory. And so does the Color of Hope ovarian cancer bracelet -- a new, exclusive, charming piece created as just one of many items in a fundraising campaign for The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. Presented by L'Oreal Paris, the bracelet features an "O" toggle clasp -- a symbol of love, endurance, life, and "O"varian cancer.

The Color of Hope bracelet, available in sterling silver with cubic zirconia or 14K white gold with diamonds, is available online for a limited time.

Other L'Oreal Paris fundraising products -- sporting the ovarian cancer color teal -- include make-up items for the eyes, face, and lips, a body lotion, and a teal RAZR phone program.

Because You're Worth It has been the L'Oreal Paris slogan for more than 30 years. It represents a celebration of women and was created as part of a mission to give back to women and to empower them as they make educated choices about their well-being. And so in the spirit of well-being, the company strives to help women fully understand a disease that strikes about 20,000 women each year in United States -- and kills nearly 15,000 of them.

L'Oreal Paris honors women and the pursuit of their health through The Color of Hope initiative. Because they're worth it.

Monday night is Courage Night, hosted by the Young Survival Coalition (YSC), national sorority Zeta Tau Alpha (ZTA), and Lifetime television. It's a night when Lifetime's Original Movie Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy will air, when crowds will gather in communities and on college campuses across the nation for special screenings and viewing parties of the movie that brings glaring attention to the issue of breast cancer.

Courage Night was created in 2004 by Geralyn Lucas, author of the book Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy, as an evening of celebration in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It was also a celebration of the publication of her then-new book.

Lucas, diagnosed with breast cancer at age 27, recounts in her memoir every step of her cancer journey, including her bold application of red lipstick just before her mastectomy. She knew from the day she was diagnosed she would speak out to help others, to raise awareness, to make a difference. Now 39, a mother of two, and an executive for Lifetime, Lucas is still making waves. And Courage Night lives on.

Courage Night has grown into a national grassroots event that honors breast cancer survivors and those lost to the disease. Event fundraising will benefit YSC -- the only organization dedicated to the special issues of young breast cancer survivors.

Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy, starring actress Sarah Chalke, will air Monday, October 23 at 9:00 PM.

Health care coverage for working Americans is like a brittle tree in a hard wind -- and the larger limbs are beginning to snap. Between the years 2000 to 2005, 6.8 million more people became uninsured according to the latest report from the U.S. Census Bureau's Housing and Household Economic Statistics Division. Current data estimates 46.6 million people are without health insurance coverage. As employer-based health insurance continues to fade, government programs are taking up the slack -- up to a point. But given the lack of funding, there is only so much that can be offered.

In a statement issued by the Center for American Progress, "These problems did not just happen: they resulted from flawed economic and health policies which force Americans to work more for less. When it returns after Labor Day, this Congress should act to mitigate these problems by passing a straightforward minimum wage increase and extend health funding for programs like the State Children's Health Insurance Program. Moreover, policy makers should recognize the need for major change, such as providing affordable health care to all Americans and taking action to address growing income inequality."

Some are calling for a government-based universal health care system that guarantees health care coverage for all Americans. Others are suggesting a mix of private and public health care coverage. What ever the solution, there certainly needs to be one.

We can start with a shift in perspective and change in expectation. If you are working full-time for a company, presumably your efforts are helping that company make a profit. Health insurance coverage should not be viewed as a luxury benefit, nor should the largest burden of health insurance premiums be shouldered by the employee whose earnings just meet living expenses. Yet, this is happening every day in this country. The hard wind continues to batter the brittle tree.

Personally, I am not sold on a government-run, government-backed universal health plan simply because I have covered too many horror stories about rationed care in other industrialized countries. It seems a combination of programs might be the solution but the government and our elected officials certainly need to be held accountable for implementing programs that insure all Americans.

American Public Health Association Georges Benjamin is quoted by United Press International as saying, ""This is the worst news we've had all year. Our nation is not secure if we're not healthy."

I have committed myself to only one breast cancer fitness event at the moment. I hope to one day branch out a bit and walk and run in different festivities, in different cities, for different purposes. But for now, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer -- sponsored by the American Cancer Society -- is my cause. Last year was my first time participating in Making Strides. I raised about $3,500 to help fund research, education, advocacy, and patient services -- and I walked the average five mile course that wound me through a quaint neighborhood in my city of Gainesville, Florida. This year, I plan to raise even more money and to run the same course. But not yet. The walk does not take place until October 14 -- which leaves me plenty of time to work on my fundraising goal and my running goal and plenty of time to help kick off this year's Making Strides.

I received my official Making Strides Kickoff invitation in the mail today -- an invitation to attend a dinner celebration where I can learn about the latest in breast cancer news from leaders in my medical community, listen to an inspirational personal story from a breast cancer survivor, and learn more about early breast cancer detection. So my calendar is marked for August 22 when I will attend this party-of-sorts that will jump start a major event in the major fight against breast cancer -- the disease that will one day touch the life of everyone is some way. Like it has already touched mine.

Someone raced for the cure -- in celebration of me. I am honored and flattered and so thrilled to have received in the mail today a t-shirt and the crumpled piece of pink paper than hung from my aunt's back -- with my name on it -- as she ran this 5K race in Aspen, Colorado on July 15. It was the 16th annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Aspen, and my aunt has run for me for two years now. I have a t-shirt and pink piece of paper from last year too. Maybe one day I will run it for myself. First, I have to master the whole running thing.

The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Race for the Cure began in 1983 with 800 participants. Today the Komen Race for the Cure is the largest 5K event in the world. And in 2005, more than one million people participated in more than 100 races designed not only to raise funds but to also educate the public about early detection -- about how it is the most effective method of surviving this life-threatening disease. The five-year survival rate is 95 percent when the disease is discovered while still confined to the breast. I'm proud to have found my own lump early, before it had spread outside my breast. And I am proud to have been a part of a race -- even in name only -- that might make this early discovery possible for many more women to come.

When NC State basketball coach and ESPN broadcaster Jim Valvano was diagnosed with metastatic adenocarcinoma, he was told he had a year to live. During that last year of his life he became an advocate in raising cancer awareness by sharing his personal experience as someone facing life and death with cancer.

According to The V Foundation for Cancer Research website, which Valvano and ESPN founded in 1993, "He was not afraid to let others witness his weakening body or the tears that he shed when he spoke of his certain death during interviews and public appearances. He knew that his body would lose the battle against cancer, but his vibrant spirit was the gift that he would leave behind."

Valvano's message in the fight against cancer was "Don't Give Up ... Don't Ever Give Up!" The V Foundation for Cancer Research continues on in honor of his memory. The V Foundation has raised more than $50 million dollars and awarded research grants in 36 states and the District of Columbia. The foundation's major endeavor is the funding of grants and research, called V Scholars, for promising young scientists from the finest research facilities across the country who need early financial support.

The Jimmy V Foundation hosts a number of fundraising events throughout the year including the Jimmy V Celebrity Junior Golf Classic, V Foundation Wine Celebration and the Jimmy V Celebrity Golf Classic. In addition, there are V Foundation License Plates, and Don't Give Up...Don't Ever Give Up!® wristbands.

Recently, the 2006 ESPY Celebrity Golf Classic, held at Lost Canyons Golf Club in Simi Valley, California, raised $1.1 million dollars for The V Foundation.

During the warmer months, it's all about the barbeque. Of course, we have been known to barbeque during winter in the snow, but for the purpose and timing of this discussion, when it's summer in the northern hemisphere, almost everyone fires up the barbeque. Because research has suggested that barbequing meats can increase cancer risks associated with charred food, the Dana Farber Cancer Institute offers these tips to grilling red meats, poultry and fish safely:

• Choose lean cuts of meat. Trim excess fat and remove the skin.
• Avoid thick marinades, as they increase charring. Use thin marinades that have vinegar or lemon as one of the ingredients.
• Flip burgers once every minute.
• Place food at least six inches away from the heat source.
• Line the grill with perforated aluminum foil to prevent drippings from creating smoke.
• Cook on cedar planks. 
• Consider kabobs. They take less grilling time.
• Consider grilling your favorite vegetables instead of just meat.
  

These tips are followed with some common sense advice. If you avoid charring all the red meat, poultry and fish you barbeque, the expert nutritionists at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute state that your risk of getting cancer from grilling food is extremely low. According to the information, not eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is a bigger risk factor for cancer than eating the occasional barbequed meats. I like common sense perspective.

In an earlier post, I mentioned that the Major League Baseball's Prostate Cancer Foundation's Home Run Challenge will be using Father's Day as a way to raise awareness about prostate cancer at the games played on Sunday. I said I thought it was a clever way solution for daughters who might feel awkward beginning a conversation about prostate health with their dad. I wondered if Hallmark made a card for the occasion, or how realistic it would be that many daughters would say, "Happy Father's Day and have you thought about your prostate lately."

I might have been alone in my opinion of a daughter's reluctance to speak about prostate cancer with her dad on Father's Day as a way to make him aware of his prostate and prostate cancer risks, but it appears the Prostate Cancer Foundation anticipated this awkwardness as common enough a situation they have developed a Father's Day Kit that offers women tips on how to start a prostate health conversation with their father. The kit includes conversation tips, an introduction to cancer, and frequently asked questions about prostate cancer.

You can download the Father's Day Kit here. I recommend downloading it, however, I am going to make an independent suggestion that I am certain will be frowned upon by all the organizations using Father's Day as a way to raise awareness for prostate cancer.

Skip  the conversation until Monday. Some days were meant for all the joy that can possibly be had, and I don't care how well you bring the subject up, reminding your dad of a disease he should be worried about seems more of a buzz kill than a help. Just enjoy your dad on the one day of the year designated to honor him for being a great dad, and allow him an opportunity to enjoy everything that Father's Day means in family gatherings and celebration. The conversation about prostate health can wait one more day.

In celebration of today -- National Cancer Survivors Day -- I attended a BBQ event at the American Cancer Society's Hope Lodge. The Hope Lodge, here in Gainesville, Florida, houses out-of-town cancer patients and their families so they can live in town temporarily while undergoing treatment at Shands Hospital at the University of Florida. So these patients were able to easily attend the festivities today -- which included a BBQ lunch, gift bags, a keynote speaker, and a tour of the Lodge. Survivors from the community attended too for an uplifting afternoon of camaraderie.

My time at the event was limited. My boys, ages five and three, were with me and while they were entertained for a while by cookies and a fish tank and the box of mints that came in my gift bag, I knew their energy was best spent in the outdoors where they are always peaceful and content. And so goes my story with cancer -- I don't have much time to focus on this disease because of these two little men who distract me and keep me on my toes and redirect me with not a moment's notice. It's a blessing really -- the distraction -- because I get to spend more time on the joyous moments of my life and not on the worrisome ones. I get to watch my boys pick up sticks and turn them into fishing poles and watch turtles swim in lakes and dig in the dirt in search of shells. The official survivor celebration today was great -- while it lasted -- and I feel honored to be a part of a community of cancer survivors that in the United Stated is 10 million strong. But I must say that the best celebration for me today was the chance to really watch my boys, to really play with them, and to feel truly thankful for these two little angels who allow me to happily survive.

I have been invited to a celebration. A celebration of cancer survivorship. I received my invitation the other day for a picnic of sorts sponsored by my local American Cancer Society office, and I have since learned that in communities all over the map, similar celebrations will happen. June 4 is National Cancer Survivors Day and that is surely cause for a party. 

National Cancer Survivors Day is recognized annually, on the first Sunday in June. This year marks the 19th year of this special occasion that will feature in more than 700 communities an array of carnivals, parades, art exhibits, races, dances, workshops and more. The idea for this day began 21 years ago when a lung cancer survivor and his wife sponsored a rally in Kansas City, Missouri and the idea caught on. Now the non-profit National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation supports hundreds of hospitals, support groups, and other organizations that host events on this day. 

It's nice to know that the hospital and clinics and organizations that are stops on my breast cancer journey may be recipients of the festivities that take place in my city on June 4. And it's nice to know that I have a celebration to attend in honor of all those, like me, who have been victorious in the war against cancer.

Here is a charming way to spend a summer afternoon. As part of Wyevale Garden Centres commitment to raising money for Breast Cancer Care, the garden center will be hosting the Strawberry Tea Fortnight. The tea is timed to take place during the Wimbledon tennis tournament. If you live in Britain, and would like to attend or host a Strawberry Tea, Breast Cancer Care will provide you with a packet of information containing recipes, fundraising tips, stickers and more to make your tea a success.

But what if you live half-way around the world and think an afternoon tea shared with friends, family, co-workers or classmates to raise money for breast cancer is a very lovely idea? The Breast Cancer Care offers some ideas to help you get started planning a Strawberry Tea of your own.

• Plan an afternoon tea party with strawberry cakes and tea.
• Get together after work to enjoy strawberries and cream and a glass of champagne.
• Throw a Wimbledon-themed party in the garden for your friends and family.
• Get your friends together for a picnic and fun tennis tournament.
  

Not into tennis but love tea? Create a theme of your own built around an event that is normally celebrated by family, friends and co-workers. In the United States, tea time is not a mainstream activity, but I think we could all use a little more time to stop and enjoy the company of the people in our lives -- and an afternoon tea seems a splendid way to do it.