December 29, 2011
New treatment therapies and promising results from a variety of clinical trials over this year are giving new hope to people affected by cancer. Showcased at the 2011 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), held this past June in Chicago, these advances and breakthroughs in cancer treatments were especially encouraging for people with melanoma, breast cancer, lung cancer and numerous other diagnoses which have been difficult to treat.
CancerCare has compiled these most promising findings in its new booklet, Your Guide to the Latest Cancer Research and Treatments: Highlights from ASCO 2011, available online now. You can also order your free copies from our publications page.
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Clinical Trials, Coping with Cancer, Learn More About Your Diagnosis, Treatment Guidelines, Treatment Side Effects, Women's Cancers | Tagged: ASCO, breast cancer, cancer patients, cancer research, cancer survivors, chemotherapy, Clinical Trials, leukemia, lung cancer, melanoma, Men's Cancers, multiple myeloma, Women's Cancers | 
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Posted by Jeanie M. Barnett
April 1, 2011
Experts in the treatment of melanoma answered listeners’ questions this week during CancerCare’s free Connect Education Workshop, Metastatic Melanoma Treatment Update. Melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer, is one of the fastest growing cancers worldwide.
The workshop coincided with the FDA’s approval of “breakthrough” drug Yervoy, the first drug shown to prolong the lives of people with metastatic melanoma. Listen to the workshop.
Yervoy’s manufacturer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, is expected to present studies on its effectiveness at the 2011 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, to be held June 4-8 in Chicago, IL.
Yervoy is an immunotherapy drug that harnesses the body’s own immune system to fight tumors. A recent New York Times article about the development of Yervoy described how it works by “essentially disabling a break on the immune system.”
CancerCare’s offers free, professional services for people affected by melanoma. The Melanoma Helpline, a partnership between CancerCare and the Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF), is staffed by professional oncology social workers who provide free telephone counseling and reliable information about resources and ways to cope with melanoma. Call The Melanoma Helpline at 877-MRF-6460 (877-673-6460).
Teb’s Troops, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds and awareness for people affected by melanoma, will hold its annual 5K in Chicago, IL on Sunday, July 24. Teb’s Troops provides a generous grant from funds raised at this event to support CancerCare’s free, professional services for anyone facing melanoma. Visit Teb’s Troops’ Facebook page to learn more.
Leave a Comment » | Coping with Cancer, Learn More About Your Diagnosis, Treatment Guidelines | Tagged: ASCO, cancer information, cancer research, melanoma | Permalink
Posted by Kyle Hornyak
August 31, 2010
More than 500 people in the New York tri-state area were screened for melanoma by professional dermatologists this summer as part of CancerCare of Connecticut’s melanoma awareness campaign. The free screenings were conducted at popular local beaches, and over 100 people were referred for follow-up care.
Screenings were sponsored by OSI Foundation and implemented in partnership with the Colette Coyne Melanoma Awareness Campaign (CCMAC).
CCMAC was established in 1998 in memory of Colette Marie Brigid Coyne, who died at the age of 30 after being diagnosed with melanoma. Visit CCMAC’s Facebook page to stay posted about the group’s upcoming events.
CancerCare‘s fact sheet, Risk Factors and Screening for Melanoma, explains the importance of melanoma screening and details how to perform a skin self-exam.
CancerCare is also a partner with the Melanoma Research Foundation on the Melanoma Helpline, staffed by professional oncology social workers who can answer your questions and concerns about melanoma. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with melanoma, call the toll-free helpline at 1-877-MRF-6460 (673-6460).
Leave a Comment » | Coping with Cancer, Learn More About Your Diagnosis | Tagged: melanoma, New York City, screening | Permalink
Posted by Kyle Hornyak
June 21, 2010
Today, June 21, marks the official the start of summer!
Spending time in the sun can be relaxing and enjoyable, but it’s important to always practice sun safety. A few tips for staying safe in the sun include:
- Wearing waterproof sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher
- Donning lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that covers your whole body
- Seeking shade or avoiding the sun during its peak hours of 10am-4pm
- Reapplying sunscreen often
- Wearing a hat and sunglasses
Our free publications on sun safety and melanoma prevention and screening offer more great tips on how to protect yourself from skin cancer. All of our publications can be ordered free of charge through our online order form.
We at CancerCare hope you’ll keep these tips in mind this summer, whether you’re sunbathing at the beach, lounging in the backyard, or taking a relaxing walk outside. We encourage all of you to spend some time ourdoors, and to safely enjoy the summer sunshine!
Leave a Comment » | Learn More About Your Diagnosis | Tagged: cancer information, coping, melanoma, sun safety | Permalink
Posted by Kyle Hornyak
April 27, 2010
It’s a bright, sunny day. Do you run for the beach, or run for cover?
Today’s issue of The Wall Street Journal explores the risks and benefits of both sun-lovers and shade-seekers. On the plus side, the sun’s UV rays stimulate endorphins that can boost your mood and reduce pain. Unfortunately, exposure to UV rays also causes up to 95% of melanoma diagnoses.
With summer approaching, it’s important to know how to prevent and detect melanoma, the most serious of skin cancers. Risk factors include:
- A history of blistering sunburns
- Light hair and eyes
- A large number of freckles and/or moles
- Family history of melanoma
You can decrease your risk by:
- Avoiding tanning beds
- Wearing sunscreen with an SPF 30 or higher
- Seeking shade during the sun’s peak hours of 10am-4pm
- Covering your body when exposed to the sun’s rays
You can still enjoy outdoor activities in the sunshine, just remember to take precautions and enjoy the sun in moderation.
Two new CancerCare fact sheets about melanoma, made possible through an educational grant from Teb’s Troops, will be available soon. Find Teb’s Troops on Facebook to learn more about its Fourth Annual March on Melanoma 5K race, to be held July 25 in Chicago.
CancerCare’s melanoma resources include The Melanoma Helpline. Launched in partnership with The Melanoma Research Foundation, the helpline is staffed by professional oncology social workers who provide free telephone counseling and information about coping with melanoma. Call 877-MRF-6460 (877-673-6460).
Read The Wall Street Journal article here.
CancerCare offers counseling, support groups, community programs, publications and financial assistance all free of charge to anyone affected by melanoma.
Leave a Comment » | Coping with Cancer, Learn More About Your Diagnosis, Young Adults | Tagged: coping, melanoma, Teb's Troops, Young Adults | Permalink
Posted by Kyle Hornyak
March 15, 2010
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with melanoma, call 877-MRF-6460 (877-673-6460) to receive free telephone counseling and reliable information about resources and ways to cope.
The Melanoma Helpline is the result of a partnership between CancerCare and The Melanoma Research Foundation. It is staffed by CancerCare’s professional oncology social workers and operates Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern Time, and on Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Eastern Time.
Melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer, is one of the fastest growing cancers worldwide, and the incidence of people under 30 developing melanoma is increasing faster than any other demographic group. Melanoma can be an aggressive and deadly cancer but people who are diagnosed in its earliest stage have a survival rate of over 90%.
Call The Melanoma Helpline at 877-MRF-6460 (877-673-6460).
To learn more about melanoma, visit The Melanoma Research Foundation’s website.
Leave a Comment » | Coping with Cancer, Learn More About Your Diagnosis | Tagged: cancer information, coping, counseling, helpline, melanoma, melanoma research foundation | Permalink
Posted by Kyle Hornyak
August 3, 2009
Miss Illinois 2009 Erin O’Connor (pictured above, left, with CancerCare Director of Communications Jeanie M. Barnett) came out to support the “troops” for Teb’s Troops’ third annual 5K fundraiser on July 26 at Soldier Field in Chicago.
Teb’s Troops is a non-profit dedicated to finding a cure for melanoma and supporting people affected by the disease. CancerCare is a Teb’s Troops beneficiary; its generous contribution helps us to continue providing education and counseling to people facing melanoma.
Ms. O’Connor spoke movingly to the 200+ runners about losing her own mother to melanoma, and about her dedication to raising awareness and research funds for a cure to this often aggressive form of skin cancer. She will carry her message of prevention and early testing across the state and to Las Vegas in January 2010, where she will compete for the Miss America title. Best of luck to you, Erin!
Find out more about Teb’s Troops at www.tebstroops.org.
Leave a Comment » | Coping with Cancer, Learn More About Your Diagnosis | Tagged: melanoma, Teb's Troops | Permalink
Posted by Jeanie M. Barnett
