Need some help with keeping the house clean during cancer treatment?
Sometimes trying to clean the kitchen or vacuum the living room is just too darn much . . . especially during chemo or after surgery. Things get cluttered and grimy, and you get exhausted and discouraged.
There are organizations that can help. Read the rest of this entry »
On Saturday, November 5, 2011, Get Your Rear in Gear will hold its annual 5k Run/Walk for colon cancer awareness and the Tony Snow Mile for a Miracle at Fort Hunt Park in Alexandria, Virginia. The event will begin with the Mile for a Miracle at 8:30 a.m. followed by the 5K Run at 8:45 a.m. and the 5K Walk at 8:50 a.m. Funds raised from the event will benefit Fight Colorectal Cancer.
Get Your Rear in Gear events are produced by the Colon Cancer Coalition, a national organization dedicated to furthering the advancement of colon cancer awareness and screening. Get Your Rear in Gear events are planned and run by dedicated volunteers who are passionate about putting an end to this preventable disease by increasing screening rates and encouraging people to take charge of their own health.
The Tony Snow Mile for a Miracle is in memory of Tony Snow who passed away due to colon cancer on July 12, 2008. A husband, father, friend, neighbor, journalist, commentator and musician, Tony was an inspiration for millions as he bravely fought this disease.
To register for the race, form a team or make a donation you can visit the 2011 Alexandria Get Your Rear in Gear 5K Run/Walk event page. For additional information about this event, contact Jay McConville at mccfamily@cox.net or (703) 624-6702 or Ben Basloe at ben@fightcolorectalcancer.org.
A small study has found ginger supplements reduce markers of inflammation in the colon tissue of 30 healthy volunteers..
There is a lot we don’t know. Yet, ginger is being touted by the media as preventing or fighting colon cancer. True, many headlines are hedging bets with words like “may” but the implication is still there.
A group of experts in cancer advocacy have identified Fight Colorectal Cancer as a top 10 high-impact nonprofit working in the field of cancer in the United States.
The report of experts was gathered by Philanthropedia (at GuideStar), a nonprofit organization working to help donors make smarter donations by connecting them with some of the highest impact nonprofits in a cause. They are different from other online rating sites or donation sites because they use experts to identify high-impact nonprofits.
Here is a sample of what the experts said about us:
“In the 6 years since Fight Colorectal Cancer was founded, they have had an impact in areas where nothing had been done before.”
“They are able to impact federal funding for colorectal cancer and have succeeded in seeing legislation introduced and funding increased.”
“This organization is far better than most at blending compassionate assistance to individual patients and family members with a sophisticated technical understanding of the disease, treatment options, and technically complex policy issues.”
“Fight Colorectal Cancer was responsible for securing millions of dollars for new research through their work on Capitol Hill. They were instrumental in getting colorectal cancer screenings included in health care reform. Currently they are leading the way in keeping patients informed about cancer drug shortages. They also directly fund research. In the six years of their existence, they have provided four research grants totaling $150,000.”
There was frost on the grass this morning when I let the little dog out. A hard freeze is predicted for the next few nights, a sign that winter and its ice and snow isn’t far off.
Cold is a special problem for people who are getting Eloxatin® (oxaliplatin) for colon and rectal cancer. Almost all patients on FOLFOX will experience acute neuropathy within a few hours of each oxaliplatin infusion. This is acute, short-term, and ends within few days.
About a third will go on to a chronic peripheral neuropathy that begins as oxaliplatin doses accumulate. Most patients will experience some tingling and numbness in their hands and feet. A very few will have pain and difficulty walking.
Chronic neuropathy usually fades in the months after treatment ends, but may linger as long as a year or 18 months. It remains a long-term problem for a small percentage of patients.
As cold weather approaches, you need to take care if you are on FOLFOX treatment or have peripheral neuropathy left over from previous treatment. Read the rest of this entry »
