April 9, 2010
Through April, The Cutting Edge Concert Series, presented by Symphony Space in New York City, explores the role that music can play in a patient’s treatment.
On Monday, April 12, CancerCare Director of Education and Training Carolyn Messner will join host Victoria Bond and composers Harold Meltzer, Sebastian Currier, Laurie San Martin, Sean Shepherd, Kristin Kuster, Jeremy Thurlow and Anna Weesner in a discussion about the therapeutic value of music during treatment.
The event, held at Symphony Space’s Leonard Nimoy Thalia theater (Broadway at 95th St.) begins at 6:30 p.m. with the panel discussion, followed by the concert at 7:30 p.m.
“As a recent breast cancer survivor, I learned from a fellow patient the benefit of having music played when undergoing radiation treatments,” says Messner. “I requested my favorite classical music to be played. It was transformative for me, the time went quickly and the music enabled me to tolerate the treatments.”
“Many people find music to be a fabulous distraction from what is happening around them during treatment,” adds Messner, noting that most treatment centers offer patients the option of listening to music during treatment. “Patients can certainly find it soothing and relaxing, and some even prefer to dial the volume as loud as it can go in order to feel energized. Having the ability to select what they listen to and how loud they listen to it brings a sense of control, and really can completely change a person’s mood.”
Tickets are $20 ($18 for Symphony Space members); students and seniors, $15. Purchase tickets online at www.symphonyspace.org.
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Coping with Cancer, Mind-Body-Spirit, Support CancerCare | Tagged: cancer patients, cancer treatment, coping, New York City | 
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Posted by Kyle Hornyak
April 5, 2010
Be a Survivor—Lung Cancer Treatment Guide is an optimistic, encouraging treatment guide that details the lung cancer experience from diagnosis to recovery.
The guidebook was written by Vladimir Lange, M.D. to empower patients to seek a cure, rather than to accept defeat. “New treatments, new drugs, and earlier diagnosis make survival much more likely than it was just a few years ago,” he notes.
CancerCare Lung Cancer Program Coordinator Win Boerkel calls Be a Survivor “one of the best lung cancer patient guides I’ve seen in my 13 years of working with lung cancer patients.”
In 2009, CancerCare collaborated with leading patient advocacy groups to launch The Lung Cancer Clinical Trial Call to Action campaign, designed to help patients and their families navigate the complicated landscape of researching and identifying clinical trials. Patients can call 1-800-698-0931 to be matched with a Clinical Trial Specialist who will guide them through the entire process.
The CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation offers up to $10,000 per year in co-payment assistance for lung cancer patients in their families.
To order the guide, call 1-888-LANGE-88 (888-526-4388), or print out and fax back the order form.
Learn more about our free services for lung cancer patients and visit our sister website, www.lungcancer.org.
Leave a Comment » | Clinical Trials, Coping with Cancer, Learn More About Your Diagnosis, Mind-Body-Spirit | Tagged: cancer information, cancer patients, cancer survivors, Clinical Trials, coping, financial resources, lung cancer | Permalink
Posted by Kyle Hornyak
March 4, 2010
March is both Kidney Cancer Awareness Month and National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.
The CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation provides up to $10,000 per year in co-payment assistance to eligible individuals facing renal cell carcinoma or colorectal cancer.
CancerCare has also responded to the needs of people facing kidney cancer by hosting Connect Education Workshops that offer information about research and treatment in kidney cancer and offering informative kidney cancer publications in our ever-expanding online reading room.
To learn about treatment updates for colorectal cancer, listen to our most recent Connect Education Workshop, Emerging Treatments for Colorectal Cancer: What’s New? Other Connect Education Workshops have explored colorectal cancer topics such as improved treatment options through clinical trials and updates on genetic testing for recurrence.
Additionally, this month’s Ask CancerCare column gives you an opportunity to ask any questions you may have about coping with colorectal cancer.
For more resources on these cancers, visit the diagnoses pages on our website.
Leave a Comment » | Coping with Cancer, Financial Assistance, Learn More About Your Diagnosis, Mind-Body-Spirit, Support CancerCare | Tagged: cancer information, colorectal cancer, copayment assistance, coping, financial resources, kidney cancer | Permalink
Posted by Kyle Hornyak
March 3, 2010
Our friend Johnny Cathcart stopped by our offices last week to share his story with us. Johnny, a two-time brain cancer survivor, details his story in the touching and hilarious Hotpants: A Memoir.
The critically-acclaimed memoir traces Johnny’s journey from his unassuming adolescence through the struggle of his life, and ultimately examines the power of optimism, humor and hope. Hotpants: A Memoir is available for purchase through Amazon, and we encourage you to visit Johnny’s website and view his demo reel here.
To learn about the latest in brain tumor research, please register for our upcoming Connect Education Workshop Brain Tumors: Current Treatments and Hope for the Future.
Learn more about CancerCare’s free, professional support services for people with brain cancer and their loved ones.
Leave a Comment » | Coping with Cancer, Mind-Body-Spirit, Survivorship, Young Adults | Tagged: brain cancer, cancer information, cancer survivors, coping | Permalink
Posted by Kyle Hornyak
December 14, 2009
The ancient Japanese tradition of senbazuru promises that a person who folds 1000 origami cranes will be granted a wish, such as long life or recovery from illness.
Boston-based Millennium Pharmaceuticals, owned by the Japanese pharmaceutical, The Takeda Company, recently launched a website honoring the senbazuru tradition, where people facing cancer–patients, caregivers, loved ones–can express their hopes and wishes for the New Year. Each message of hope posted at the site is represented by a bird-shaped paper figurine.
Millennium Pharmaceuticals is a funder of CancerCare’s Door to Door program, which provides financial assistance to cover transportation costs for people undergoing treatment for multiple myeloma.
Leave your wish at 1000 Cranes of Hope.com (the site is free but log-in registration is required). For every wish left at the site, Millennium will make a donation to a healthcare-related charity.
1 Comment | Caregiving, Coping with Cancer, Financial Assistance, Mind-Body-Spirit | Tagged: caregivers, coping, cost of care, Door to Door program, financial resources, multiple myeloma, transportation grants | Permalink
Posted by Jeanie M. Barnett
October 23, 2009
The Young Survival Coalition and the CancerCare Young Adult Program present a special wellness night for young adult cancer survivors between the ages of 20 – 39 years. Dedicate a few hours to focusing on your well-being through yoga, connecting with other survivors, and the creative arts. Walk away from the night with exercises to continue building a healthy mind/body relationship along with the tools you need to envision a life after cancer. Light refreshments will be served!
WHEN:
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
5:30 pm – 8:00 pm
(Yoga begins promptly at 6:00 pm)
Bring your own bath or beach towel
PROGRAM:
Vanessa Watson, RYT
Yoga Instructor, Laughing Lotus
Yoga ~ 6:00-6:45 pm
Julie Larson, LCSW
Program Director, CancerCare Young Adult Program
Reflective Discussion ~ 6:45-7:00 pm
Paisley Stowe
Creativity Counseling, Holistic Wellness & Skin Care Counseling, Licensed Esthetician & Reiki Practitioner
Creative Arts ~ 7:00-8:00 pm
LOCATION:
CancerCare Main Office
275 Seventh Avenue, 22nd Floor
(Between 25th & 26th Streets)
This program is free, but space is limited and reservations are required!
To RSVP:
Melissa Snyder – msnyder@youngsurvival.org or (646) 257-3025
OR
Julie Larson – jlarson@cancercare.org or (212) 712-6173
Leave a Comment » | Coping with Cancer, Mind-Body-Spirit, Survivorship, Young Adults | Permalink
Posted by jzahora
July 17, 2009
In the July 10 issue of Oncology Times, Cynthia Washam discusses the recent National Cancer Institute study Spirituality in Cancer Care, which says that only 1% of cancer outpatients reported that their physician asked about spiritual needs.
“By avoiding discussion of faith, clinicians deny cancer patients a service that not only brings comfort, but may enhance their quality of life,” says Washam, who cites oncology experts encouraging physicians to take the lead in broaching the topic with their patients.
Tools like the “Faith, Importance/Influence, Community and Address Spiritual History” (FICA) can help physicians assess a patients needs in these areas quickly and easily.
Educational materials such as CancerCare’s fact sheet, “Strengthening the Spirit” are available to help patients interested in developing and strengthening their spirituality as a way to cope.
Leave a Comment » | Mind-Body-Spirit | Tagged: coping, spirituality | Permalink
Posted by Jeanie M. Barnett
