Battling Cancer

Sun Smart Campaigns are taking place from Australia to the U.S.

Take a peek at a few videos from all over the world:

• Australia
• Canada
• New Zealand
• Israel
• United States
• United States

Did you know that Australia has the highest incidence of skin cancer in the world? According the Cancer Council of Victoria, over 1,600 Australians die from skin cancer each year.

Summer began in February for this country and the Cancer Council of Australia kicked off summer with marie claire magazine’s launch of the SunSmart campaign together with 17 Aussie designers as part of their 150th issue to raise awareness of sun safety. All profits from the sale go to the Cancer Council. “17 designers created limited edition items like sunnies, hats, beach towels and even Swarovski-studded wedges for Australians to get the message: stay in the shade, slop on some sunscreen, and slap on a hat.”

Back in the U.S., Major League Baseball, the Major League Baseball Players Association and the American Academy of Dermatology are kicking off the Play Sun Smart Campaign to Strike Out Skin Cancer by raising awareness about skin cancer and offer detection and prevention tips for baseball player, team staff and fans.

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States according to the Center for Disease Control, (CDC) who gives risk factors for skin cancer:

• Lighter natural skin color.
• Family history of skin cancer.
• Personal history of skin cancer.
• Exposure to the sun through work and play.
• A history of sunburns early in life.
• Skin that burns, freckles, reddens easily, or becomes painful in the sun.
• Blue or green eyes.
• Blond or red hair.
• Certain types and a large number of moles.

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CURE: The Infinite Power of One.

Your $1 has the infinite power to change the face of cancer.

“What if you had the power to make a difference for someone facing cancer? What if you could help speed progress on life-saving treatments and protocols? What if you could help prevent millions from ever experiencing cancer in the first place?

By donating just $1, you can help accelerate cures for cancer. The Cancer Research Alliance brings 12 of the best cancer centers in the world together to raise much needed funding for research that can change the face of cancer forever. We will give your donation infinite power by adding it to all the other dollars we generate. This money will then be used to speed progress on treatments that are less invasive, more targeted and more powerful.”

Help us make this time of year, between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, a time of hope for families everywhere. Because change starts right here with the infinite power of you.”

The ACS CAN Fight Back Express! ” In 2008, the ACS CAN Bus will travel across the country, stopping in hundreds of communities to build the movement to make cancer issues a national priority. ACS CAN will bring the stories of cancer patients, survivors and friends to the presidential candidates to make cancer a priority issue in their administration. The ACS CAN, is the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy partner of the American Cancer Society. Join the fight, by purchasing miles!

In May 2008, leading right up to the presidential election, The ACS CAN Fight Back Express will hit the road to highlight cancer issues for candidates.

Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea. May 22, 2008

“Thursday 22 May is the official date of Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea 2008, but you can host a morning tea anytime in May in your office, home, school or community centre to raise money for cancer research, education and support services.” This even is sponsored by The Cancer Council Australia. More →

I’ve been vaguely reading the hype regarding water bottles and a potential cancer link. Recently I decided to do some digging into the topic.

Here’s what I found:

BPA is the chemical causing the concern.

Bisphenol A is used to make hard clear water bottles (not the opaque ones), baby bottles, five-gallon water bottles and it is used to line the inside of some food cans.

Identifying BPA plastic containers:

If you pick up a plastic container it will have a triangle with a number in it. This identifies the type of plastic.

The Green Guide lists all plastics and their correlating recycling numbers (1-7), including those which may cause or are listed as potential carcinogens through the leaching out of chemicals.

By the way, those listed to avoid are:

#3 PVC Polyvinyl chloride. Used for clear cling wraps.
#6 PS Extruded polystyrene. Used to make Styrofoam.

and

#7 PC Polycarbonate which contains BPA.

Recent concerns regarding BPA:

• “National Toxicology Program, an office within the National Institutes of Health, acknowledged in a draft report that the chemical might cause cancer and other serious disorders. The chemical mimics estrogen in the human body, scientists say.” Source: The Washington Post.The report also indicates the chemical BPA may have effects on fetuses, infants and children at current exposure levels.

• Per the May 2008 issue of Consumer Reports: In 2005, 109 of 119 recent research studies showed harmful effects from low level exposure of BPA. The 11 studies which found no harm were conducted by chemical companies. The FDA response was to claim no indication of safety concerns and was based on two chemical company research results.
• Degradation of the plastic increases leaching of BPA. Degradation is caused by heat, and chemicals, and acidic materials (like apple juice). Avoid sun exposure, and utilizing the dishwashers.

In the meantime, it is recommended that consumers utilize a stainless steel water bottle, not unlike this one that supports breast cancer, that is available on Amazon.com for less than six dollars.

If you use a stainless steel bottle, check to be sure the stainless steel bottle doesn’t have a plastic epoxy coating inside.

Or per recommendations from Consumer Reports, use plastic bottles that are considered safe: those without the #7 PC markings or those with the ” recycling codes 1 (PET) or 2 (HDPE), and polypropylene, 5 (PP). ”

Or stick to glass containers.

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Lots of fun and interesting things to share today. Like…

Pink Bats!!

Hillerich & Bradsby Co. Inc., the company behind the Louisville Slugger, is making pink bats for the third consecutive year. Not only does a portion of the purchase of the bats go to fund breast cancer research, but over 350 Major League Baseball players will be using the bats. The MLB bats will be autographed and auctioned for Susan G. Komen For the Cure. You can purchase your own at www.slugger.com

Bald Lady Coffee

Created after her own battle with breast cancer two years ago, Denver’s Cafe Cartago co-owner,

Lynda Larsen created Bald Lady Coffee to raise cancer awareness and funds to assist breast cancer patients going through treatment.

For more information on Bald Lady Coffee see the Cafe Cartago website.

AND…

Battling Cancer will be giving away a free pound of Bald Lady Coffee to someone who posts between today and next Friday, May 9.

Leave a comment and your name is entered.

One entry per person.

One random name will be drawn!

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An interesting array of new cancer information and news found its way to my in box this week.

Are you familiar with The American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge? Check out this amazing facility that offers not only free temporary lodging for cancer patients undergoing treatment but also provides support and information when patients and their families need it most.

There are 26 Hope Lodge facilities across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. The newest Hope Lodge, located in NYC was recently featured in the local New York City television news. A great story, available on YouTube.

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Spring is in the air!

Many cancer support organizations are gearing up for warm weather events.

Consider participating, donating dollars or volunteering your time to support these activities.

Cancer events have many purposes including:

• fundraising for research
• awareness and information dissemination
• inspiration
• remembering those who have and are still fighting the battle
• an avenue for loved ones and caregivers to offer support

What’s Going On…

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Male Breast Cancer comprises 1% of all diagnosed cases of breast cancer.

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He can be any man.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men after lung cancer, affecting one in six men in the U.S.

He is rarely under the age of 40, usually over 50 and in fact two-thirds of all cases are diagnosed in men over 65.

60 to 61% of the time he is an African American male.

He is twice as likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer if he has/had a father or brother with the disease. There is also an inherited gene for prostate cancer, affecting 5 to 10 % of all diagnosed cases. While research into genetic testing is promising, it is not yet available.

For more information on who is prostate cancer see the Prostate Cancer Foundation site.

The Prostate Cancer Research Foundation of Canada offers a risk assessment quiz on their website.

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Friday I’ll be giving away three books donated to the site by gracious authors, publicists and/or donors. All that is necessary for a chance to win, is to post a comment with a way to reach you. Winners will be chosen by random.

1. If Only In My Dreams by Wendy Markham. Best selling author, Wendy Markham a.k.a. New York Times best selling author, Wendy Corsi Staub is a busy writer, not only does she write women’s fiction as Wendy Markham, but she writes bestselling mystery/thrillers as Wendy Corsi Staub. Along with her young adult books she is releasing a new young adult paranormal series set in the Lily Dale spiritualist community of southern Western New York.

From Booklist. “Clara McCallum finally gets her big break as an actress when she’s cast as the romantic lead in a World War II-era epic, but the good news is accompanied by a frightening diagnosis of breast cancer. Though her doctor tells her it’s treatable, Clara can’t bring herself to tell those close to her and instead opts to go forth with filming. Her decision has unforeseen consequences when she boards a train for the set and ends up in New York in 1941 and meets the real-life Jed Landry, the soldier her character falls in love with in the movie. When Clara finds herself falling for Jed in the past, she’s torn between saving his life and returning to the future to undergo treatments to save her own. ”

From Publisher’s Weekly. “The fantastic setup is balanced with convincing period details and strong characters, and the story’s conclusion is unexpectedly real and refreshing. ”

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Battling Cancer isn’t just about the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. It’s also about education and prevention for everyone.

Why?

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