On the Other Side of Sick: The Journey of a Cancer Survivor/Thriver

April 6, 2011

This week (April 3-9) is Young Adult Cancer Awareness Week and we’ve invited guest blogger Michelle Malavet to share her thoughts  on Copelink. Michelle, who is a writer and visual artist in New York City, came to CancerCare for support after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009.

Michelle has just published her first book, Cancerland and The Other Side of Sick, a quick and inspiring read about the journey from “diagnosis to empowerment.” Michelle has donated copies of the book for free distribution to CancerCare clients as a way of giving back for the help she received from our specialized services for young adults.

Read Michelle’s post below, and check out her book at www.othersideofsick.org. 

Want to be a guest blogger on Copelink? Please email jbarnett@cancercare.org.

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My Little Red Dictionary

by Michelle Malavet

Living on The Other Side of Sick, my life is full of wonderment. I carry a little red dictionary most everywhere I go. I love words, especially words that rhyme, like “ignite” and “light,”  or “cancer” and “answer.”

Whenever I have a question in my life, my pocket-sized companion offers clarity and distinction. It has provided answers to many questions along my cancer survivor/thriver journey, including, “Why me? Why did I get cancer?”

My little red dictionary defines these words as:

why, adv. for what cause.

me, pron. objective case of I.

get, v., acquire; capture; achieve power over.

cancer, n. potentially unlimited growth that expands.

So whenever you ask, “Why me? Why did I get cancer?” consider that you are actually asking:

“For what cause am I? For what cause did I acquire potentially unlimited growth that expands?” 

These are very powerful questions.

Continually answering them has helped me express who I am as a cancer survivor/thriver. One can say that these questions are my journey.

Everyday, I am on a mission to inspire anyone living with cancer to fully express themselves. That is my “why.” That is my cause.

Today I woke up wondering, “What is a miracle?” What to know the definition in my little red dictionary? Please write to me, and share what you discover: mm@othersideofsick.org.

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Posted by Kyle Hornyak

Art Exhibit, Book Reinterprets the Bra to Support Women Affected by Breast Cancer

March 18, 2011

CancerCare oncology social worker Allison Carney is a featured designer in a new book, Creative Cups, a compilation of artworks from an exhibit on the brassiere that is helping raise funds for a New York State referral hotline for anyone affected by breast cancer.

The exhibition, in support of the Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline and Support Program, showcases bras that have been transformed into works of art.  

Alison's artwork, "Embrace Your Inner Beauty." Photo credit: Jim Lennon

Allison’s artist statement reads:

Embrace Your Natural Beauty

As an oncology social worker, I meet hundreds of women who have been affected by a breast cancer diagnosis. Cancer turns their world upside-down. Women of all ages come through our office doors, ranging from their thirties to their eighties. But regardless of age, race, and all the myriad ways they differ, what they have in common is struggling to cope with the changes in their bodies. After breast lumpectomy or mastectomy, women often feel a sense of loss. The loss of a breast can feel like their femininity has been stolen. These changes can be unwelcome and unsettling, so we find solutions to work with them, and even embrace them. Together we explore how to feel whole, womanly, beautiful and confident again. We find ways to live through, and with, breast cancer.

 I was inspired by my vibrant clients and my love of nature to create this bra. It symbolizes the natural, inherent beauty in every woman.

Purchase Creative Cups from amazon.com.

Residents of New York State can reach the hotline at (800) 877-9077.

CancerCare also operates several helplines for people anywhere in the U.S. affected by breast cancer:

  •  Komen for the Cure and CancerCare provide a counseling and referral helpline (1-877-GO-KOMEN)
  • The Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation and CancerCare provide assistance to women with triple-negative breast cancer (1-877-880-TNBC)

CancerCare offers a wealth of other free support services for women affected by breast cancer, including up to $10,000 per year in co-payment assistance through the CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation.

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Posted by Kyle Hornyak

Join CancerCare’s Team for EIF Revlon Run/Walk for Women in NYC, Apr. 30

February 8, 2011

CancerCare is now recruiting team members to participate in the 14th Annual EIF Revlon Run/Walk for Women, to be held  Saturday, April 30 in New York City.

Last year, our team of dedicated runners and walkers raised more than $50,000 for CancerCare’s free, professional support services for women diagnosed with breast and gynecological cancers. 

Register to join our team before Feb. 28 and save $5 by using the limited-time promotion code NYTEAM5. Early bird registration is $30;  regular registration is $35.

Don’t live in New York? You can still support the CancerCare EIF Revlon Run/Walk team by making a donation on the CancerCare team page.

For more information about the walk, and how to join our team, contact team co-captain Deborah Sussman at dsussman@cancercare.org.

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Posted by Kyle Hornyak

Breast Cancer Survivors Share Their Stories in New Online Video

November 12, 2010

The All4One Alliance, a partnership of four nonprofits including CancerCare, has launched a new video of breast cancer survivors sharing their stories. The alliance’s partner organizations and supporters provide underserved women recovering from breast cancer with access to free breast prostheses and bras, along with professional support and information.

Watch the video.

Support the All4One Alliance by purchasing the 2011 Show Us Your BRA!tm Calendar featuring original “bra-art” designed by celebrities like India.Arie and Emme. All proceeds from sales of the calendar support women recovering from breast cancer.

Visit www.all4onealliance.org to learn more and to purchase a calendar.

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Posted by Kyle Hornyak

New Online Video About Women Living with Metastatic Breast Cancer

October 14, 2010

Living Beyond Breast Cancer, Metastatic Breast Cancer Network and Genentech have launched a video called “Faces of Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC).”  More than 150,000 people in the United States are currently living with metastatic breast cancer.

“Faces of MBC” features the emotional journey of four women diagnosed with MBC, as well as sentiments from a recent online survey of more than 700 people living with MBC.

Watch the video.

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Posted by Kyle Hornyak

Free Support Available for Ovarian Cancer and Prostate Cancer Patients

September 2, 2010

September is both Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.

CancerCare partnered with L’Oreal Paris and Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (OCRF) to create a free telephone counseling and referral service for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer. 

Launched one year ago, The L’Oreal Paris OCRF Hopeline has proven to be a great source of support for many women facing an ovarian cancer diagnosis. The Hopeline is staffed by professional oncology social workers and operates Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time.

Call the L’Oréal Paris OCRF Hope Line at 877-OV-HOPE-1 (877-684-6731).

CancerCare responded to the needs of men facing prostate cancer by publishing two new fact sheets: Caring for Your Bones When You Have Prostate Cancer and Prostate Cancer: What You Should Know About Screening and Diagnosis. 

For more resources on these cancers, including additional publications, support groups and archived connect education workshops, visit the diagnoses pages on our website.

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Posted by Kyle Hornyak

New Survey Seeks Patients’ Insights About Living with Metastatic Breast Cancer

July 20, 2010

Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC) and the Metastatic Breast Cancer Network (MBCN) have partnered with Genentech to conduct a 10-question survey to better understand how people diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer identify with and feel about living with the illness.

Genentech will donate $5 for each survey completed to programs and services designed specifically for metastatic breast cancer patients.  Survey results will be used to produce video and media materials that will be distributed on Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day (October 13).

The survey is open and available online until August 31. Please visit facesofmbc.org or text MBC to 74471 to share your story.

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Posted by Kyle Hornyak

Three New Studies Seek Men, Women Diagnosed with Breast or Prostate Cancer

June 7, 2010

Researchers at the University of Colorado, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and UCLA have joined with the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service to investigate how to better provide information about the best treatments possible for patients affected by breast cancer and prostate cancer. 

Each of the three studies are seeking participants, who will receive a variety of  types of  educational information about their diagnosis, and will then be asked to participate in two brief telephone interviews with researchers over a period of nine months.  All information is completely confidential.

Healing Choice for Prostate Cancer is for men who have been recently diagnosed with prostate cancer, but have not yet begun any treatment. The goal is to help men decide on the treatment that’s right for them.

Healing Choices for Women with Breast Cancer is for women who have been recently diagnosed with breast cancer, but who have not yet begun any treatment. The study’s purpose is to determine the best way to provide treatment information to women, and whether the information helped them in making decisions about their treatment.

Pathways to Recovery after Breast Cancer Treatment is for women who are just completing treatment for breast cancer or have completed treatment within the past six months. The goal is to find out the best way to help women get information about life after breast cancer treatment.

To find out if you are eligible to participate in any of these studies, please call 1-866-258-7981.

CancerCare offers free, professional support services to anyone affected by breast cancer or prostate cancer.  People affected by either diagnosis may qualify to receive up to $10,000 per year in co-payment assistance through the CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation.

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Posted by Kyle Hornyak

Avon Foundation Awards $1.125 Million Grant to CancerCare to Help Women with Breast Cancer

October 14, 2009
CancerCare's Jane Levy (center) with Carol Kurzig, president of the Avon Foundation for Women and financial expert and Avon Foundation Special Ambassador Suze Orman.

CancerCare's Jane Levy (center) with Avon's Carol Kurzig and financial expert Suze Orman, accepting a $1.125 million grant award, made possible by participants in Avon's annual Walk for Breast Cancer.

 CancerCare was among 8 non-profit organizations receiving substantial grants this past weekend from the Avon Foundation for Women to support direct services and care for women facing breast cancer.

The grant funds were made possible by the more than 4,000 men and women, including hundreds of breast cancer survivors, who walked in the seventh annual Avon Walk for Breast Cancer on Oct. 10 and 11 in New York City and raised a record $8.7 million to support a variety of health care non-profits that assist women facing breast cancer.

The Walk is a noncompetitive event, in which participants collect pledges for completing either a walking marathon (26.2 miles) or a marathon and a half (39.3 miles), split over 2 days. 

The Avon Foundation is a long-time supporter of CancerCare‘s free counseling, education and financial assistance programs for underserved women with breast cancer who live in New York City and the tri-state area.

CancerCare received nearly $1.13 million — the second largest grant award presented — during the celebratory Closing Ceremony of the Walk. Suze Orman, financial expert and Special Ambassador for the Avon Foundation for Women, and Carol Kurzig, President of the Avon Foundation, were on hand to present the ceremonial check to CancerCare Director of Patient Services Jane Levy.

To date, Avon’s support has allowed CancerCare to provide its free, professional services to more than 39,000 low-income women facing breast cancer.

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Posted by Jeanie M. Barnett

New Toll-Free “Hope Line” Helps Women Facing Ovarian Cancer

September 1, 2009

CALL 1-877-OV-HOPE-1 (877-684-6731)

While any cancer diagnosis is a frightening and stressful experience, when the diagnosis is ovarian cancer, too many women have no place to turn for help in coping with their situation. While five-year survival rates exceed 90 percent in early-stage diagnoses, there is still no effective early-stage test for the disease, which often is not diagnosed until it reaches an advanced stage, when it is far more difficult to treat successfully.

Now CancerCare and its partners, L’Oréal Paris and the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, have launched the L’Oreal Paris OCRF Hope Line, a free telephone counseling and referral service staffed by CancerCare‘s professional oncology social workers, who can help address women’s concerns about an ovarian cancer diagnosis and identify resources to ensure they receive the best care possible. 

Ovarian cancer is the eighth most common cancer among U.S. women. This year, approximately 22,000 women will be diagnosed, and nearly 15,000 will lose their lives to the disease, according to the National Cancer Institute.

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, call the Hope Line at 877-OV-HOPE-1 (877-684-6731). The line operates Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.

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Posted by Jeanie M. Barnett

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