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Jun 24, 2014 Contact : Maureen Gillespie, Public Relations Manager (732) 776-4166 mgillespie@meridianhealth.com Jersey Shore launches free Lung Cancer screening process LungAware screening program addresses leading cause of cancer death Neptune, NJ - Jersey Shore University Medical Center is set to launch LungAware, a new free and confidential online lung cancer risk assessment to help assess and identify a person’s potential risk of lung disease and other respiratory conditions. According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is the second most common cancer in both men and women. Lung cancer accounts for about 14% of all new cancers, and is by far the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women. Each year, more people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined. “Lung cancer can be a devastating and deadly form of cancer, but catching lung cancer early can improve survival rates. Meridian’s LungAware provides a convenient and private way for people to assess their risk level and if necessary, obtain free screening and seek early and effective treatment” explains Mark Krasna, M.D., corporate medical director of Meridian Cancer Care. People who smoke, or who have a family history of lung cancer, are encouraged to participate in LungAware. The online assessment includes questions that focus on risk factors such as smoking/second-hand smoke; difficulty breathing; age/gender; weight; chronic cough; environmental hazards; and family history. LungAware helps people recognize any potential problems so they can speak with their physicians, get the treatment they need, and stay active and healthy for years to come. The screening takes just seven minutes, and provides a risk factor report and recommendations for improving and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Participants falling in the high risk category of the self-risk assessment will be prompted to obtain a prescription for a free low dose CT scan from their primary care physician or Nurse practitioner and can schedule the quick scan at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. Recent studies prove that patients who receive CT scans have a 20% lower risk of dying from lung cancer than those who receive standard chest X-rays. Participants in the lower risk categories will receive a combination of educational material, an invitation to attend an upcoming class or event, and be encouraged to discuss their results with their physician. A number of leading organizations concur on guidelines for lung cancer screening. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), the American College of Chest Physicians, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, The American Association for Thoracic Surgery and the American Cancer Society have recommended screening for high-risk individuals ages 55 to 74 who have smoked a pack or more of cigarettes a day for 30 years or more, and who are still smoking or who quit less than 15 years ago. To sign up online for the LungAware online risk assessment, please visit www.JerseyShoreUniversityMedicalCenter.com/LungAware. https://www.meridianhealth.com/mh/About ... 021=665738

Six months to live. Mary Jo Grand sat in the sterile exam room. The tumors spat out by her undiagnosed lung cancer had lit up the PET scan — dense black splotches throughout her lungs and arms and abdomen and neck and chest. The doctor was talking. Grim, horrible statistics. Treatment. Experimental medicine. Grand hadn’t heard much after “six” and “months.” She interrupted. Do you know of anyone else who has survived this cancer? She cringed at the sound of her own desperation. Dr. Greg Kalemkerian looked at her. One other person, he said. Grand extended her hand: “Let me introduce you to No. 2.” That was 2008. Not only is Grand of Garden City still around, but she has spent the intervening time since her cancer diagnosis raising funds and awareness for the single deadliest cancer. This year, lung cancer is expected to kill about the same number of women as breast, colon and ovarian cancer combined. Just 17% of lung cancer patients are alive five years after diagnosis. And within the realm of cancer, lung cancer is the one that carries a huge stigma because of its association with smoking. About 80% of cases are in smokers or former smokers. “It’s the first question every time: ‘Are you a smoker?’ It’s almost accusatory. It made me cry in the beginning. It’s hard enough to get the diagnosis, let alone facing those who give you that ‘I’ll-take-my-compassion-elsewhere’ look.” Sharing her story By the time Grand was diagnosed she hadn’t smoked regularly for 15 years. She had never smoked heavily; rather she grew up in a time that — she laughs now — when kids played around a knot of moms in “beehive hairdos and a cloud of cigarette smoke.” Grand is a patient advocate for the Houston-based MD Anderson Cancer Center, talking newly diagnosed patients through their panic. She has twice organized fund-raisers for patients with lung cancer at the University of Michigan, bringing in more than $42,000 for U-M’s work with lung cancer patients — among the largest donations to date. She is now starting to plan for another fund-raiser in spring 2015. And she has shared her story at events sponsored by the American Cancer Society and Lungevity, a Chicago-based nonprofit that raises funds for lung cancer research. But the more proximate reasons for her continued fight for others? That’s Tom Grand. He’s the man she fell in love with when she first saw him in bell-bottom jeans and leather moccasins in a friend’s basement. It was the 1970s. He was the lead singer and harmonica player in a local band. Daughter, Amber, now 32, and her son, Travis, 29 — they’re the other reasons. In the family’s Garden City living room in 2008, Tom and Mary Jo leaned on each other as they faced loved ones who had gathered to hear what they hoped would be good news after initial lab tests. Instead: Lung cancer. Late stage. Six months. It didn’t seem possible for a woman who biked and hiked. A former PTA president who more recently had been working 60 hours a week. Travis, a student at Wayne State University, stared at the carpet. “I just remember ‘I have cancer.’ I just couldn’t process it,” said Travis Grand, now an advertising copy editor. Amber Grand collapsed to her knees, sobbing. “You think that getting the diagnosis is bad,” said Grand. “Try telling the news to your kids. Then, that’s when it’s really, really bad. It was the hardest thing I’ve done my entire life.” Learning her diagnosis The nightmare began when — as she hurriedly showered on the way to meet friends and watch her daughter sing the national anthem for a Tigers game — Grand’s soapy fingertips found a small knot on the right side of her neck. Her coworkers urged her to check it out. At the time, Grand was an event planner for the University of Michigan’s Comprehensive Cancer Center. In fact, she’d just wrapped up its signature fund-raising event, Women’s Football Academy, which supports patients at the center and their families. She chalked up the recent exhaustion and unexplained sores on her arm to stress and long hours. But then again... “It was the kind of fatigue where you know that you have to stop at the grocery store on the way home, but .... You. Just. Can’t,” she said. She was sitting at her desk in early September when the doctor called after a series of tests. “She said, ‘Mary Jo, you have cancer,’ ” Grand said. She did the only thing she knew to do that that moment — “put my head between my knees because I honestly thought I was going to pass out.” “I thought, ‘This is how it works? This isn’t how it happens in the movies. I’m supposed to be in the office with my husband holding my hands.’ ” Days later, Tom and Mary Jo Grand, in fact, were in the doctor’s office, the results of a biopsy confirming the worst. Dr. Kalemkerian was talking about a clinical trial, led by Detroit’s Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, in which patients received a novel combination of three chemo drugs. Days later, after hours of computer research, phone calls and prayers, the Grands decided they had little to lose. Lung cancer is notoriously resistant to standard treatment, so the trial was a sliver of hope. Plus, even if it didn’t work, perhaps she could help build the research that would help others to survive after her. “I thought ‘If I’m going to die and die quickly, then maybe here’s the purpose to this. Maybe I can help the people behind me,’ ” she said, recently from the bright, neat kitchen of her Garden City home. There were 11 rounds of experimental chemo and radiation — the sort of grueling treatment and deep fatigue that forced her to leave her U-M job. Tom began juicing kale and beets and bok choy and carrots — setting the glass in front of her as often as she would allow him. “It was like drinking dirt,” she said. Surprising the Grands as well as her doctors — it seemed to have worked. The cancer disappears Less than a year later, PET scans could find no trace of the cancer. In 2013, when a single tumor reappeared in her lung, she chose to undergo surgery — something that wasn’t an option 4½ years earlier with metastasized cancer. Grand’s doctors, who have seen thousands of lung cancer patients are clear about this case: Grand is an anomaly among lung cancer patients. Few late-stage lung cancer patients have the same outcome — one of the reasons that lung cancer is considered the “invisible” cancer. Grand plans to change that. These days, she has begun plans to revive her fund-raisers in 2015 and to continue her work with MD Anderson and Lungevity. She knows the cancer may one day come back. “I don’t fail if I die from this cancer. I don’t win if I survive. We all will die,” she said. “It’s what we do until then.” Contact Robin Erb: rerb@freepress.com or at 313-222-2708. Follow her on Twitter https://twitter.com/FreepHealth. http://www.freep.com/article/20140622/F ... al-section

Published: 2:00 AM - 06/24/14 TOWN OF WALLKILL — Orange Regional Medical Center will begin offering a lung cancer support from 4-5:30 p.m. Thursday, and continuing on the fourth Thursday of every month, at the hospital's Outpatient Conference Room, 707 E. Main St., Town of Wallkill. This support group is for patients, friends and families whose lives have been affected by lung cancer. For more information, call 1-888-321-6762. http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.d ... -1/SITEMAP

• Beauty of Caring Philadelphia o When: 06/23/2014 o Where: Hotel Palomar Philadelphia 117 South 17th Street at Sansom Philadelphia, PA 19103 o Join us for a night of beauty, wellness and career coaching! o Learn More » http://www.cancerandcareers.org/en/comm ... iladelphia • Job Search Calls: Tips, Tricks, and Tools o When: 06/26/2014 o Where: teleconference/webinar o Save the date for our first Job Search Call: Tips, Tricks, and Tools webinar of 2014! o Learn More » http://www.cancerandcareers.org/en/comm ... calls-june • Ask The Experts: Legal and Career Advice Teleconferences o When: 07/24/2014 o Where: Teleconference o A teleconference series for cancer patients and survivors to ask any and all questions they may have for a career coach or legal expert. o Learn More » http://www.cancerandcareers.org/en/comm ... -july-2014 • Teleconferences for Healthcare Professionals: Balancing Work & Cancer: Where to Start o When: 09/04/2014 o Where: Teleconference/webinar o The first session of our three part Fall Educational Series for Healthcare Professionals covering practical & legal issues, CEUs available. o Learn More » http://www.cancerandcareers.org/en/comm ... -fall-2014 • FREE Resume Review Service: http://www.cancerandcareers.org/resume_reviews/new

A bold new way to test cancer drugs started Monday in hundreds of hospitals around the U.S. In a medical version of speed dating, doctors will sort through multiple experimental drugs and match patients to the one most likely to succeed based on each person's unique tumor gene profile. It's a first-of-a-kind experiment that brings together five drug companies, the government, private foundations and advocacy groups. The idea came from the federal Food and Drug Administration, which has agreed to consider approving new medicines based on results from the study. Its goal is to speed new treatments to market and give seriously ill patients more chances to find something that will help. Instead of being tested for individual genes and trying to qualify for separate clinical trials testing single drugs, patients can enroll in this umbrella study, get full gene testing and have access to many options at once. The study, called Lung-MAP, is for advanced cases of a common, hard-to-treat form of lung cancer — squamous cell. Plans for similar studies for breast and colon cancer are in the works. "For patients, it gives them their best chance for treatment of a deadly disease," because everyone gets some type of therapy, said Ellen Sigal, chairwoman and founder of Friends of Cancer Research, a Washington-based research and advocacy group that helped plan and launch the study. "There's something for everyone, and we'll get answers faster" on whether experimental drugs work, she said. Cancer medicines increasingly target specific gene mutations that are carried by smaller groups of patients. But researchers sometimes have to screen hundreds of patients to find a few with the right mutation, making drug development inefficient, expensive and slow. One of the leaders of the Lung-MAP study — Dr. Roy Herbst, chief of medical oncology at the Yale Cancer Center — said he once screened 100 patients to find five that might be eligible for a study, and ultimately was able to enroll two. "It's just going to be impossible, in rare subgroups, for companies to find enough" people to try out a new medicine, said Dr. Richard Pazdur, cancer drugs chief at the FDA. He and others at the FDA suggested the Lung-MAP trial design to speed new treatments to market and "minimize the number of patients exposed to ineffective therapies," he said. Everyone in the study will be screened for mutations in more than 200 cancer-related genes, rather than a single mutation as in conventional studies. Then they will be assigned to one of five groups based on what these tumor biomarkers show. Each group will test a particular experimental medicine. Drugs can be added or subtracted from the study as it goes on, based on how each performs. The initial round of testing involves Amgen, Genentech, Pfizer, AstraZeneca PLC, and AstraZeneca's global biologics partner, MedImmune. Up to 1,000 patients a year can be enrolled in the study. It will cost about $150 million. The National Cancer Institute is paying $25 million, and the rest will come from foundations, charities and others in the public-private partnership. About 500 hospitals that are part of a large cancer treatment consortium around the country will take part, and some private groups want to join as well, Herbst said. "Nothing like this has ever been done before," where such comprehensive testing will be done to match patients to experimental drugs, he said. Breyan Harris, a 33-year-old nurse from Sacramento, hopes to enroll. She's a lifelong non-smoker who was diagnosed with lung cancer on June 3. "Since then I've pretty much been on the phone, seeing doctors, trying to figure out how do I get rid of this," she said. Harris expects to have one lung with a large tumor removed, "but if it comes back in my other lung I'm in real trouble," so finding a drug to attack any remaining, hidden cancer is crucial, she said. ———Online: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/ ... s-24160393 Study sites and info: http://tinyurl.com/ovv4cnl and http://www.Lung-MAP.org

By Therese Nadler Warm weather brings BBQ’s, picnics, cookouts, and other outdoor events involving alfresco dining. It also brings bacteria, which tends to multiply faster as the mercury rises, which presents a food safety challenge. Bacteria in food multiplies fastest between the temperatures of 40F and 140F and when bacteria overwhelms food, it can cause food-borne illness. In order to keep bacteria at bay, here’s a quick rundown of some food safety tips to keep in mind this summer. 1. Wash Your Hands Wash your hands well and often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the restroom and before handling food (either cooking or eating!) If you’re in an outdoor setting with limited restroom facilities, consider bringing disposable towelettes and/or hand sanitizer with you. 2. Defrost Safely Do not leave food out on a counter for multiple hours to thaw. Use one of the four following methods to properly defrost frozen foods: Thaw food in the refrigerator at a temperature at or below 40F. Note: The quantity and thickness of food will dictate how long something takes to thaw. Chicken breasts may take 1 day while a large turkey may take several days. Thaw food under running, drinkable water that is 70F or below. Thaw food in microwave only if it is going to be cooked immediately afterward. Thaw food as part of the cooking process. This applies to items such as frozen chicken nuggets, pizza, french fries, etc. 3. Separate Raw Food and Cooked Food It is important to keep raw food separate from cooked food. Keep raw items in separate coolers and/or wrapped tightly at the bottom of coolers so that any juice that leaks doesn’t contaminate ready-to-eat foods and/or raw produce. Also be careful not to re-use platters, utensils, spatulas, or tongs that have previously touched raw meat, poultry, or seafood. Plan to have clean platters and utensils ready at grill-side for serving once items come off the grill. 4. Marinate Safely Always marinate food in the refrigerator, never on the counter. If you want to use some marinade as a sauce for cooked food, set aside a separate portion and store it in the refrigerator. Do not reuse marinade that has had contact with raw meat, poultry, or seafood. 5. Cook Food Thoroughly Invest in a food thermometer to ensure that food is cooked thoroughly and completely and that harmful bacteria has been destroyed by the cooking process. Don’t rely on “eye-balling” it. The Safe Minimum Cooking Temperatures chart in this link provides handy information about what foods need to be cooked to which temperatures and for how long. It is a great reference to print out and put up on your fridge! 6. Keep Hot Food Hot It’s important to keep hot food at 140F and higher until it is served. If you are bringing in take out food that’s hot such as fried chicken, parmesan spinach dip, baked beans, etc., be sure to consume whatever hot food you purchase within 2 hours. 7. Keep Cold Food Cold Cold food should be held at or below 40F until served. Cold foods can also be placed on ice, out of direct sunlight in a shallow container to keep the temperature down. When transporting food, store it in the passenger compartment of the car vs. the trunk because it is typically significantly cooler. 8. Refrigerate and Freeze Promptly While it can be hard to remember, especially when a party is in full swing, food should not be left sitting out for more than 2 hours. Never leave food out for more than 1 hour when it’s 90F or warmer. Be sure keep these food safety tips in mind the next time you fire up the grill or head out to a BBQ! References: http://www.foodsafety.gov/blog/bbq.html http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/Consume ... 094562.htm http://nfsmi-web01.nfsmi.olemiss.edu/do ... 115939.pdf http://blog.lungevity.org/2014/06/12/8- ... mer-foods/

That's great news DaddysGirl78! Please come back and let us know how it goes. YOu both will be in my thoughts.

EVENT DETAILS Join with others living with lung cancer, for sharing, encouragement and positive growth. The group welcomes those with cancer as well as friends and family WHERE: The University Presbyterian Church 15th Ave NE & NE 45th St Seattle, WA 98105 WHEN: 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month, room 350 TIME: 7 - 8:30pm For more information call Cecilia at 206-817-6691 or Ronit at 206 979-7497 Call in participants: If you are unable to participate in person, you can join the group live by dialing: Number: (661) 673-8600 Code: 471554# http://events.seattle.cbslocal.com/seat ... 2014071019

Read about Molly's #lungcancer journey http://www.nbcbayarea.com/brchannel/Mol ... 83441.html

Orioles to host 5k walk benefiting LUNGevity Foundation in memory of Monica Pence Barlow at Oriole Park September 20 http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/news/a ... l&c_id=bal

Angela Scott had always considered joining a support group when she was diagnosed with lung cancer five years ago, but she never found one. “Sometimes you feel alone when you’re going through cancer,” said Scott, a wife and mother from Northville. “Sure, friends can be there for you. But someone who has gone through it knows exactly how you feel. “It’s nice to have a group you can go to, to talk about your emotions and someone who can lift you up when you are first diagnosed.” That’s one of the reasons David Sternberg, M.D., a thoracic surgeon at Botsford Hospital, Farmington Hills, founded a support group for lung cancer patients. Sternberg, a New York native, was recruited to Michigan four years ago to assist with lung transplants at Henry Ford Hospital. He started the lung cancer support group there and brought it with him to Botsford when he joined its staff last year. Group members, including Scott, followed him to Farmington Hills. “I love going, the camaraderie, the people,” said Scott, whose late brother also had lung cancer. “Dr. Sternberg says people who go to support groups do better. I was glad when he started this group. I can’t thank him enough.” The lung cancer support group meets 6-7:30 p.m. the third Monday of the month in Suite 230 at the Botsford Cancer Center, 27900 Grand River Ave., Farmington Hills. The free sessions are open to anyone living with lung cancer. Caregivers, family members and friends may attend the meetings, which feature guest speakers and discussion. The next meeting is June 16. Sternberg said he founded the group after realizing that many cancer patients were depressed or anxious even after their surgeries had removed the disease from their lungs. “My focus as a cancer surgeon was to get them through the surgery,” Sternberg said. “The problem was, then what? After I did the surgery and told them everything would be OK, the cancer was completely removed, they still had a lot of concerns. Medically there wasn’t anything left to do. “If you’re scared, nervous, anxious and not sure what to do, you can call your physician, but you’re not going to get a call back on how to handle your feelings about lung cancer. You can make an appointment with a psychiatrist but if you don’t have a diagnosable psychiatric illness, the most they’re going to do is put you on Prozac, which is what happened a lot. “What these patients really needed was to talk to another lung cancer patient.” A bad rap Sternberg discovered that although lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S., it receives fewer research dollars than other cancers. He said patients also often draw criticism and blame for their illness, rather than support. “The concept is that if you have lung cancer it’s because you smoked and if you smoked you really did this to yourself and you really deserve it,” he said. “My feeling was, why are these people getting such a bad rap? Eleven percent of patients who get lung cancer have never smoked.” Sternberg said thousands of cases are attributed to radon gas found in some home basements. Genetics also play a role in developing the disease. He said many older patients with a history of smoking used tobacco during an era when even doctors smoked. “It’s tricky to blame these patients and I think, unfair.” He said the Botsford lung cancer support group draws patients from a variety of hospitals and medical practices. Some patients are undergoing treatment and some are in remission. They are diagnosed at various cancer stages. “It’s a mixed bag. I never ask the patients what they get out of it. That’s none of my business,” he said. “I do the best I can to provide something I hope they’ll appreciate and come back for.” Sternberg, who is board-certified in general surgery and thoracic surgery, uses minimally-invasive techniques and specializes in the treatment of lung and esophageal cancers. He received his medical degree with honors from New York University School of Medicine, completed a general surgery residency and a National Institute of Health-sponsored research fellowship in thoracic surgery and lung transplantation at Columbia University Medical Center. He trained in cardiothoracic surgery at Weil-Cornell University Medical Center and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. For more information about the lung cancer support group, call the Botsford Cancer Center at 248-473-4828. http://www.hometownlife.com/article/201 ... rie-advice

Washington—Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) and 42 Senate colleagues have asked Marilyn Tavenner, administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), to expand coverage of an advanced lung cancer screening procedure under Medicare. www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.c ... 76143a6c17

Take a moment to sign up to receive our Foundation e-newsletter. It's a great way to get connected into everything that's newsworthy about lung cancer and LUNGevity http://events.lungevity.org/site/PageSe ... Newsletter

“In some cases the disease is very, very aggressive and you don’t have the time to do trial and error, because the patient will progress rapidly,” said Jose Baselga, physician-in-chief at Memorial Sloan Kettering. Source: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center via Bloomberg Pinpointing the genetic changes that cause cancer has been a focus of researchers for more than a decade. Now, top cancer hospitals are making genetic testing a new standard of care in the field. When patients leave Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York after a biopsy, a sample of their tumor takes a different path. It travels across the street to a new laboratory, opened last month, where it will be tested for 341 genetic mutations, so-called biomarkers that will help doctors determine which drug may best help each patient, based more on their genetic profile than where the tumor appears. As researchers meeting at the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago offer new data from dozens of studies on cancer genetics, clinicians in hospitals including Sloan Kettering, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston and others are moving quickly to translate study findings into everyday care based on the biomarkers. “It’s going to fast-forward progress,” said Kenneth Anderson, director of the Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center at Dana-Farber, in a telephone interview. “We can select patient populations for more selective therapy, fewer side effects and faster drug development.” Sloan Kettering yesterday announced it was joining with Quest Diagnostics Inc. (DGX:US), the world’s largest provider of medical testing services, to screen patients’ cancer genes, with an eventual goal of being able to test for 341 genes next year. It will cost $4,000, though Quest said patients will pay less. “It’s the whole idea of precision medicine -- we’ve been talking about this for 15 or 20 years,” said Jon Cohen, chief medical officer for Madison, New Jersey-based Quest, in a telephone interview. “All of what everybody talked about is finally coming to fruition.” Drug development based on biomarkers grew from the success scientists found in their research on breast cancer, a disease where tumors often depend on hormones to drive their growth. Researchers determined that they got a better response to therapy by pinpointing the unique biology behind that connection. “The whole field then blew up when the genome efforts were published,” said José Baselga, Sloan Kettering’s physician in chief, referring to the $2.7 billion Human Genome Project, in which scientists announced in 2003 that they completed sequencing the human genetic code. Sloan Kettering plans to sequence 10,000 patient tumors a year in what it describes as the biggest such effort in the nation. From that work, it is developing what the center’s researchers refer to as “basket” trials. Genetic Groupings Once a tumor’s genes are analyzed, patients will be grouped with others who have the same mutations, with less regard for whether they have colon cancer, lung cancer or melanoma. The drugs they get will be based on that data. Sloan Kettering has 15 basket trials finished or ongoing, three of which will be presented at the oncology meeting this week, Baselga said. At the Sloan Kettering lab last month, Marc Ladanyi, the hospital’s head of molecular diagnostics, looked over data from a lung tumor just spit out of one of the gene sequencers. “For people who’ve spent their whole career doing this, it’s like being a kid in a candy shop,” Ladanyi said. “Every batch, you’re seeing stuff that just a few years ago would have been an amazing discovery. Now it’s routine.” Company Efforts Companies have joined in as well. Pfizer Inc. and AstraZeneca Plc, are running a joint trial in the U.K. with 200 lung patients to sequence their tumors and try them on 14 different drugs. That’s a change in philosophy from even the very recent past, when researchers were often unable to say why some cancer drugs worked well in some patients but not others. Amgen (AMGN:US) Inc. started a final-stage trial for its melanoma drug talimogen laherparepvec, or T-Vec, in 2009. The company didn’t look for genetic biomarkers when it picked patients for the experiment. In the 400-patient trial reported last year, 16 percent of patients had their tumors shrink and stay that way for at least six months. It was a success, though a modest one. Yet of that 16 percent, about two thirds had responses lasting at least a year -- and some longer. Without knowing the genetics of the patients’ tumors, though, Amgen couldn’t understand why. “That was started some time ago, in a little earlier era,” said David Reese, Amgen’s vice president of translational sciences. Now, the company’s researchers start looking for biomarkers two years before a drug ever gets tested in humans. It’s also going back to do the same for T-Vec. “Every study we do now has a biomarker component,” Reese said in a telephone interview. “We want to be able to determine which patients are likely to benefit from these therapies.” FDA Advice The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has started encouraging companies to look for biomarkers well before they go into human trials, said Richard Pazdur, head of the FDA’s cancer drug unit. He cited Pfizer’s lung cancer drug Xalkori, which has been tied by researchers to a mutation of the ALK gene, which shows up in a tiny percentage of the cancers. “That’s an example of a drug that never would have been developed,” if researchers hadn’t seen that link, Pazdur said in an interview in Chicago. It’s a treatment that “would have gotten lost in the noise.” However promising, researchers admit that the field is still in its beginning days. There may be dozens of mutations to individual cancers, and it could take years to understand them all. So even if hospitals identify certain mutations with new testing programs, they may not be treatable. Also, the same mutation may react differently to treatment, depending on where the tumor is located. ‘Still Early’ “It’s very exciting, but we’re still very early” in figuring how best to take advantage of biomarkers and where the weaknesses may lie, said Dana-Farber’s Anderson. Biomarker-based drug development grew out of breast cancer, where drugs that targeted a tumor’s dependence on hormones. With the 1977 approval of the estrogen-blocker tamoxifen researchers realized knew that if they could figure out the tumor’s unique biology, they could get a better response to therapy. Gene-mutation-based trials have taken that specificity to the next level. Sloan Kettering’s experiments could help solve what in the past were often referred to as “miracle” patients from failed trials. For example, in one trial of bladder cancer patients who took Afinitor, researchers gave patients a kidney cancer drug from Novartis AG. (NOVN) Five years later, all but one patient was dead. The living patient, though, was doing well. ‘Perfect Patient’ The researchers couldn’t understand why until they sequenced her tumor and found a mutation called TSC1 that made it particularly sensitive to the medicine. “She was the perfect patient for that drug, we just didn’t know it,” said David Solit, director of Memorial’s Henry R. Kravis Center for Molecular Oncology, in a telephone interview. “In retrospect, it was obvious.” The eventual goal is to get drugs to patients faster, said Sloan Kettering’s Baselga. To do that, they’re working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to include biomarker research as a key element in drug approvals. As genetic screening becomes more routine and researchers get access to data, the goal will be to refine old targets and find new ones, said Sloan Kettering’s Charles Sawyers, a researcher looking at what drives tumor growth. “The ability of the genetics to predict how it might play out if you have the right molecule is amazing,” he said. “We finally understand what we’re doing.” http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-0 ... or-care#p1

Teachable Moments June 2nd, 2014 - by Katie Brown Melissa Crouse is an educator who teaches orchestra and chorus in a middle school and she is always looking for those “teachable” moments. Diagnosed in 2005 with non-small cell lung cancer, people are always asking her if she smoked. Melissa explains that anyone with lungs, even never smokers like herself, can get lung cancer too. In fact, over 60% of people diagnosed with lung cancer are never smokers or ex-smokers who quit decades before they were ever diagnosed. One in fourteen people will be diagnosed with lung cancer and it’s the deadliest form of cancer, claiming more lives than breast cancer, prostate and colon cancers combined. Because lung cancer research receives the least in federal funding dollars, we need educators and advocates like Melissa to share their stories and raise awareness about the disease. “I realize that the majority of people just don’t know much about lung cancer, so as a teacher, I explain the facts to them. I spread the word through my facebook page, news stories, and as a speaker at local events. I also have an opportunity to spread the word through my students when they ask why I have to go to Boston for treatment. The word then spreads to their parents.” Melissa also believes in the importance of being your own advocate, asking questions, researching your disease and the treatment options that are available. Being an empowered and informed patient has helped her in the eight years since she was diagnosed. Melissa has had four recurrences which have resulted in four different treatments and credits a clinical trial for saving her life after her first recurrence. She highly recommends that people ask their doctors about clinical trials. Being informed and having good communication with your doctors also helps when experiencing side effects from treatment. Melissa deals with fatigue, severe neuropathy in her right hand and has been hospitalized due to her treatments, yet she continues to work and keep herself active. She credits her family, friends and colleagues for being such a big support to her. “Survivorship means living my life as ‘normally’ as possible. I regard cancer as a nuisance and my attitude is that I may have cancer, but it doesn’t have me. I’ve had to slow down some and ration my energy to get through some days, but I get up (reluctantly most days), and know that once I get to school, I’ll be ok. I truly believe that my students have kept me going!” When asked what advice she would give to someone who’s been newly diagnosed with lung cancer, Melissa says, “Seek out an oncologist who specializes in your specific type of lung cancer. Find a “mentor” who has had the same experience. Take things a day at a time…sometimes a minute at a time.” “As strange as it may sound, cancer has made me a better person. I’m more patient and I appreciate the little things…well EVERYTHING more than I used to. I have such a different perspective now. Melissa’s mantra: “Just keep swimming!” http://blog.lungevity.org/2014/06/02/teachable-moments/

ARLINGTON, Texas – With two on and two out in the sixth inning of a tied ballgame Wednesday, the Texas Rangers went to left-hander Aaron Poreda to face left-handed hitting Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis, hoping that playing matchups would yield an important out. Their plan backfired as Markakis slapped a ball the other way past the left side of the infield to drive in the game-winning run in the Orioles' 6-5 victory. It capped an impressive day for Markakis, who was 2-for-3 with a homer, two RBIs and two walks. Markakis has always hit well against left-handed pitching – he boasts a career .290 average against lefties – but this season, he’s had incredible success against them. Markakis’ .333 average against left-handed pitchers (he is 23-for-69) is the fourth-highest among left-handed hitters (minimum 40 at-bats) in the American League. He trails only Boston’s Brock Holt (17-for-44, .386), Kansas City’s Nori Aoki (22-for-62, .355) and Texas’ Shin-Soo Choo (21-for-62, .339). "That's the thing about left-right,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. “You're thinking about bunting him, and then you see the left-hander in the bullpen. It doesn't really matter with Nick. There's so few left-handed hitters that can do that. He's one of three or four in baseball that left-right doesn't matter." ** Most uniformed personnel around the majors found out about the passing of former major league player coach and manager Don Zimmer during their games Wednesday night. That was the case for Showalter, who was told about Zimmer’s death while in the dugout. "The interaction I had with Don -- and everybody who had it -- [was that] he always had time for you,” Showalter said. “The thing a lot of people miss because he was such a character in the game was what a great baseball man he was. Very open to people about sharing his knowledge, always had time for you, smile on his face. But boy, what a competitor. What a competitor. It's sad. I didn't know about it until they came up and told me." I had the opportunity to get to know Zimmer when I covered the Tampa Bay Rays, for whom he was a special adviser. Zimmer wasn’t at the ballpark every day, but when he was, everyone was drawn to him. He had a magnetic personality and was an amazing storyteller and one of our greatest living links to baseball’s glory days. He will be greatly missed around the game. ** Also, today would have been former Orioles PR director Monica Barlow’s 37th birthday. It’s been just more than three months since Barlow passed away after a 4 1/2–year battle with lung cancer. Since it is her birthday, it’s a fitting time to mention that many Orioles players wear black and orange “K Cancer” T-shirts around the clubhouse. They’ve been doing it since the beginning of the season, and it is to not only keep her in their memory, but to extend Barlow’s mission for improved lung cancer awareness and research. The shirts are made by a company named 108 Stitches and were the idea of St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Jason Motte, who has created his own foundation to provide comfort and care where there is a need for those affected by all kinds of cancer. Motte began selling the T-shirts and has partnered with one player from every major league team. Five dollars from the sale of each shirt will go to the Jason Motte Foundation and five dollars will go to the charity of the partner player’s choice. Motte teamed up with Markakis, and five dollars from every “K Cancer” Markakis shirt – which is in the Orioles' team colors – goes to Lungevity, an organization Barlow worked with closely after her diagnosis to spread awareness about lung cancer and raise money for lung cancer research. The shirts can be purchased at 108stitches.com. Also, you can learn more about Lungevity at lungevity.org. Read more: http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orio ... z33sIJ4HGR

Living with Lung Cancer Sherry Guarneri suffered a multitude of physical effects from her lung cancer treatments including hoarseness in her voice from the chemo, losing her balance, losing her hair, migraines, nausea, dizziness, suffering from anticipatory sickness, losing thirty lbs., thrush and the list goes on and on of the things that she lost; except for her sense of humor and her love for her family. Sherry was diagnosed with stage IV Adenocarcinoma with metastasis to the brain, on February 9, 2013. She was an Emergency Room Technician at a local hospital and had hurt her back helping a patient. The pain in her cervical bones would not subside and finally an emergency room doctor encouraged her to have an MRI. She was stunned by the diagnosis. Sherry was under forty-five with a 1 and a half year old and two older children and was thought to be in great health. How could this happen? She learned that lung cancer can happen to anyone with lungs, whether or not they had a smoking history. She remembers feeling ashamed at first after her diagnosis. At first she cried, then she got angry at the prognosis she was given. Eventually, she became empowered. “I wished there were people like me I could talk to. There wasn’t anyone like me; I was in great health; I was young. The Sociologist said the only support group was for breast cancer, which was clearly ‘a different cancer than mine.’ But I could call someone. That wasn’t a help. I needed more – a book, perhaps. So, I wrote my own. For people like me, who were young, never thought this would happen. It changed the course of my life.” She wants to encourage other survivors to become advocates to help raise awareness about this disease. “Write a book about your experience (I had SHuzie published regarding my lung cancer experience for free on Amazon and a portion of Amazon Smiles will be targeted for LUNGevity); write an article for your local newspaper; run marathons; share information about lung cancer via Facebook or run a lung cancer support group.” Sherry is also trying to get legislation passed to approve lung cancer awareness license plates in her state. When asked what advice she would give to someone newly diagnosed, Sherry says to be an empowered and educated patient. Ask questions about your treatments and your care. Confide in your doctors and nurses and have a loved one advocate on your behalf. “I want people to know that having any kind of cancer is not an automatic death sentence. The best thing about this cancer is I get to take care of me for a change. I get to literally slow down and smell the roses. I could die tomorrow; but so could my neighbor or my husband. We should appreciate the moment. I am LIVING with lung cancer.” Feeling supported is also very important in the lung cancer journey. Sherry didn’t find a support group in her local community but she did find a national lung cancer community this May at the LUNGevity HOPE Summit in Washington DC. “When I left the 2014 LUNGevity HOPE Summit my thought process had changed. I was happier and I was mesmerized. I felt accepted. I felt loved. The HOPE Summit is a room of my people. They are my people. I have never felt so understood by patients and my husband never felt so understood by caretakers of the LUNGevity HOPE Summit.” For more information about LUNGevity, please visit www.lungevity.org

What are you happy about today?

Light Bulb Moments and Paying it Forward May 29th, 2014 - by admin “Cry when you need to, laugh at every opportunity and be ready to be stronger than you’ve ever imagined you could be.” Great advice for anyone newly diagnosed with lung cancer. Jeff Ehlers had a lingering cough that just would not go away. At the urging of his wife he finally made it into his doctor who ordered a chest x-ray ‘just to be safe’. The doctor saw something suspicious on the x-ray and ordered a CT scan. The next day Jeff was told he had a mass in the upper right lobe of his lung. Soon after he had surgery to remove a tumor the size of a golf ball and was ordered to have 4 rounds of chemotherapy. Jeff had no risk factors for lung cancer. To this day he isn’t sure how or why he got it. “Early on in the process, I had many people ask me if I had ever smoked. I hadn’t and I really took that question in stride since I would have likely asked the same question of them had our roles been reversed. As I read more and more about lung cancer and realized that the stigma of it being a “smoker’s disease” was really hindering the research funding and awareness, I began to ask people “what difference does it make?” when they asked if I had ever smoked. Most of them, like me, had never considered any other cause for lung cancer and are really shocked when you share the statistics with them.” Jeff believes in the importance of raising awareness and educating people about lung cancer and that anyone who breathes can get it. “I want to get the word out about how lung cancer kills more people than the next four most deadly types of cancer combined. Once you see the light bulb come on in people’s minds the next question they ask is “Why isn’t more being done to stop it?” When that process begins, and lung cancer is seen as a threat to anyone with lungs – the outcry for more research grows and research leads to better treatments and even cures.” Jeff feels lucky that his cancer was caught early. Most people with lung cancer are diagnosed in its latest stages when the disease has spread outside of the lungs to other organ sites, reducing the chances of survival. Because he feels like he’s been more fortunate than others, he gives back to help those who will be impacted by the disease. Jeff recently became a LUNGevity LifeLine Support Partner and volunteers to mentor those who are newly diagnosed. He also is very busy with a new project at work. His company will be doing the glass and glazing on a brand-new $90 million CARTI cancer treatment facility in Little Rock, Arkansas. As project manager for this job, Jeff is having lots of conversations with people about this facility that he not only gets to help build, but will eventually be utilizing as a patient when it’s time for his regular scans. He has a lot of pride to be able to work on a project that will be used to serve so many other people in the future. When asked what advice he would give to someone newly diagnosed; “ When I was diagnosed, a friend of mine told me to, “Fight like a cornered badger!” I think that about sums it up. At the time I was diagnosed, it would have been great to have had a survivor sit me down and tell me what to expect going forward. It’s a scary diagnosis and the statistics are overwhelming if you allow them to be your sole focus. No one plans for a cancer diagnosis and it sweeps into your life like an invading army. Life, summed up, is a series of choices that we make during our time here. You have a choice on how you will respond to your cancer. If you roll over in self-pity, cancer wins. If you make up your mind that you are going to do everything possible to fight this battle and win, you’ve immediately got the upper hand. There are people around you ready to support you and help you through this, some of them you may not have met, but they are there. God loves you and He is in your corner – seek Him out. The statistics are real, but they don’t determine your outcome. Treatments vary and your situation may or may not be like mine, so don’t expect your script to play out like anyone else’s. Cry when you need to, laugh at every opportunity and be ready to be stronger than you’ve ever imagined you could be.” http://blog.lungevity.org/2014/05/29/li ... t-forward/

Too Patient a Patient May 29th, 2014 - by Kenneth Lourie Since I’m in the honesty business (as you regular readers know; and based on many of the e-mails I receive, commended on being so), if I were to admit anything concerning my behavior during these last five-plus years as a lung cancer survivor, it would have to be my continual tendency to minimize new symptoms, and in turn, not contact my oncologist (which from the very beginning is the exact opposite of what we are told to do). Stupid, stubborn, scared, naive, in denial; you pick. I mention this subject/behavior because over the last month or so, I’ve noticed some changes in my breathing. Not characteristic of or similar at all to the symptoms I experienced last July – which led to an eight-day, seven-night stay at a local hospital during which 4.5 liters of fluid were drained from my left lung – still, there have been some challenges/abnormalities of which I have been aware. Challenges which, when they involve your breathing AND YOU HAVE LUNG CANCER, are probably best NOT IGNORED. And certainly I didn’t ignore them. I acknowledged them; I simply neglected to do anything about them (now I have, but that’s not the point of this column). Now before you ask the obvious rhetorical question: “How could you (meaning me) be so stupid?,” let me try to explain, or for those who know me: rationalize my behavior. I am not assigning any blame here whatsoever. This is my doing, or rather not doing; hopefully which won’t lead to my undoing. To invoke and quote Moe Howard from a Three Stooges episode where The Stooges were thought to have kidnapped a baby: “It was my idea and I don’t think much of it.” The decision (or non decision), the responsibility and/or the consequences fall on me. As to the specific reasons how I could be so stupid, considering my circumstances, read on, McDuff. It’s easy when you’re scared. Part of my irrational thinking is (A) these new symptoms are much different from and somewhat less obvious (ergo, easier to dismiss) than those I experienced last August. So maybe it’s not as serious? Maybe it’s the pollen count? Maybe, maybe maybe. Now before you even think it, obviously I know that there are many cancer-related symptoms and not having a recurrence of one certainly doesn’t (shouldn’t) minimize or marginalize the others. But from the date of diagnosis, you’re in a sort of self-preservation mode; this is yet another example. As George Costanza advised Jerry Seinfeld on how to beat a lie detector test: “It’s not a lie, if you don’t believe it.” So I try not to believe the symptoms are relevant. And ( if I don’t tell the oncologist about these new symptoms, then he can’t tell me that my cancer – which has already metastasized and is inoperable (stage IV), has reasserted itself and I really am terminal and really should get my things in order. Similar to what he initially advised Team Lourie back on February 27, 2009. Thinking “(A)” and behaving like “(” has finally brought me to “©.” I am now seeing doctors for an evaluation/assessment, completing lab work and taking diagnostic tests, and waiting for further instructions. And though I may have been late to this party, hopefully, it will have been fashionable, not fatal. _____________________________________________________________________________ “This column is my life as one of the fortunate few; a lung cancer anomaly: a stage IV lung cancer patient who has outlived his doctor’s original prognosis; and I’m glad to share it. It seems to help me cope writing about it. Perhaps it will help you relate reading about it.” Mr. Lourie’s columns can be found at www.connectionnewspapers.com. (key word, Lourie)

BPA, or bisphenol A, is a chemical used in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins that has come under scrutiny for potential harmful health effects. Developed as a synthetic estrogen in the 1890s and granted GRAS (generally recognized as safe) status by the FDA in 1963, it is widely present in both food packaging, such as aluminum can linings, and nonfood materials, such as medical devices and paper receipts. Concern about BPA lies in its possible action as an endocrine disruptor. This is a category of chemicals that can alter normal hormone-dependent physiology. Small amounts of BPA leach from containers into the foods and beverages that they hold, especially when those contents are acidic, high in fat, or heated. It’s hard to avoid BPA. The CDC has documented its presence in the urine of 93 percent of Americans older than 6 years of age.1 Less clear are the actual health effects of BPA exposure. Until recently, research consisted mostly of animal and in vitro studies. In the past year, the number of epidemiologic studies exploring the effects of BPA exposure in humans has doubled. A recent review of this literature supports associations between BPA exposure with decreased fertility, altered male sexual function, childhood neurobehavioral problems and asthma, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.2 Significant questions remain. Does adult BPA exposure matter, or is childhood and fetal exposure what’s critical? How do we quantify and define “low dose” exposure?3 Some researchers say the “low doses” associated with toxicities are still much greater than humans are exposed to in practical terms, whereas others believe “low doses” may be more harmful than higher amounts and that dose-response isn’t demonstrable.4 As consumer awareness and demand grow, BPA-free food packaging is increasing. Alternative can linings, such as polyester coatings, have been developed, but their safety is not certain either. One promising technology is oleoresins, which are made from natural plant sources, but they can be used only with non-acidic foods. Some brands have eliminated BPA from all or some of their cans. Amy’s Kitchen has eliminated BPA in all cans. Eden Foods canned beans are BPA-free. Whole Foods states that 27 percent of their canned goods are BPA-free, but doesn’t specify which products. Glass jars and Tetra Paks (boxes) are a viable option, particularly for acidic foods. Eden Foods and Bionaturae offer crushed tomatoes and tomato paste, respectively, in glass jars, and Pomi makes chopped tomatoes in Tetra Paks. Many brands of tomato sauces are available in jars, and Hunts now sells tomato sauce boxes. Broths and soups are widely available in Tetra Paks. Pacific Natural and Imagine Foods offer many options, from chicken stock to vegetarian pho base. If you must use canned foods, rinsing the food well with running water may decrease ingestion of BPA. Of course, the surest way to minimize dietary BPA intake would be to avoid all packaged foods. More realistically, work toward limiting canned goods and choosing more fresh, frozen or dried foods. Dried beans can be prepared in large batches and frozen for future use, or use pre-cooked frozen beans such as lentils, garbanzos and soy. Frozen vegetables and fruits are just as nutrient-rich as fresh, and contain less sodium and added sugar than canned. As for canned soda … well, do you really need another reason to avoid it? Cans aside, lessen BPA exposure by using glass or ceramic instead of plastic in the microwave, keeping plastic water bottles away from extremes of temperature (e.g., the dishwasher) and direct prolonged sunlight, and replacing plastic containers that become cracked or chipped. As always, consider the big picture. If your workday lunch options are a quick greens salad with canned artichokes and beans — or fried chicken and Doritos — the choice should still be obvious. Minimize BPA cans where you can, but use your own judgment in making sound, healthy choices. References: 1. Calafat A, Ye X, Wong L, Reidy J, Needham L. Exposure of the US population to bisphenol A and 4-tertiary-octylphenol: 2003-2004. Environ Health Perspect2008;116:39-44. 2. Rochester JR. Bisphenol A and human health: A review of the literature. Reprod Toxicol 2013;42:132-55. 3. Teeguarden J, Hanson-Drury S. A systematic review of Bisphenol A “low dose” studies in the context of human exposure: A case for establishing standards for reporting “low dose” effects of chemicals. Food Chem Toxicol 2013;62:935-48. 4. The National Workgroup for Safe Markets. No silver lining: an investigation into bisphenol A in canned foods, 2010. Cara Anselmo, MS, RDN, is a nutritionist and certified yoga instructor in New York City. Read her blog atCaraAnselmo.com, and follow her on Facebook and Twitter. http://meals-to-heal.com/blog/bpas-in-c ... r-concern/

Congratulations to LUNGevity supporter Baltimore Orioles Chris Davis on his new baby girl! http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/news/a ... l&c_id=bal

We have put a list together. If you know of a celebration happening near you, please post in the comments below. We'd love for you to attend and wear your LUNGevity or HOPE Shirts to let others impacted by lung cancer know that they are not alone! If you do, don't forget to take a picture and share it with us!! Arkansas: 6/4/14 Hot Springs - http://www.arktimes.com/arkansas/st-jos ... oid=866305 Arizona: 6/1/14 Cottonwood - http://www.verdevalleymedicalcenter.com ... Surv_June1 California: Sacramento 5/31/2014 http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/cancer/cal ... .html#NCSD La Jolla 6/8/2014 http://www.scripps.org/news_items/4805- ... ns-in-june San Diego 6/14/2014 http://www.scripps.org/news_items/4805- ... ns-in-june La Jolla 6/18/2014 http://www.scripps.org/news_items/4805- ... ns-in-june Encinitas 6/21/2014 http://www.scripps.org/news_items/4805- ... ns-in-june Chula Vista 6/28/2014 http://www.scripps.org/news_items/4805- ... ns-in-june Danbury 6/1/2014 http://www.danburyhospital.org/Events-C ... vivors-Day Mountain View 6/7/2014 http://www.elcaminohospital.org/Cancer_ ... vivors_Day San Diego 6/10/2014 http://cancer.ucsd.edu/about-us/events/ ... vivor.aspx Connecticut: Danbury 6/1/2014 - http://www.danburyhospital.org/Events-C ... e=6/1/2014 Sharon 6/11/2014 - http://www.healthcareauxiliary.org/Celebration.html Bridgepor 6/22/2014 http://www.bridgeporthospital.org/Publi ... ey=12PCC94 Windsor 6/1/2014 - https://www.echn.org/Calendar/Event-Det ... 60&froms=0 Florida: Lakeland 6/2/2014 - http://lrmc.com/news-events/lakeland-re ... lebration/ Sarasota 6/1/2014- http://www.smh.com/viewEvent.aspx?e=473&date=6/1/2014 Orlando 6/2/2014 - http://www.orlandohealth.com/MediaBank/ ... munity.pdf Georgia: Atlanta 6/21/2014 - https://winshipcancer.emory.edu/events/ ... 1&eid=1052 Illinois: Chicago 6/1/2014 - http://cancer.northwestern.edu/walk/ Maryland: Westminister 6/1/2014 - http://www.carrollhospitalcenter.org/ncsd New York: White Plains 6/1/2014 - http://www.westmedgroup.com/event_detail.aspx?id=2682 Liverpool 6/1/2014 - http://www.upstate.edu/specialevents/ncsd.php Purchase 6/1/2014 - http://www.cancersupportteam.org/pages/events.html Lake Success 6/7/2014 - http://support.northshorelij.com/page.aspx?pid=1041 Stony Brook 6/8/2014 - http://cancer.stonybrookmedicine.edu/community-events New Jersey: Sewell 6/1/2014 - http://www.kennedycancersurvivors.org/ Mercerville 6/1/2014 - http://www.rwjhamilton.org/pages/commSe ... ss=CSD1406 Bedminster 6/7/2014 - http://www.cancersupportcnj.com/wings/ New Brunswick 6/8/2014 - http://www.cinj.org/survivorship North Carolina: Pinehurst 5/29/2014 - http://www.nccancercare.org/blog/nation ... -day-2014/ Raleigh 6/1/2014 - http://www.rexhealth.com/2014-survivors Pennsylvania: Springfield 6/16/2014 - http://www.crozerkeystone.org/classes/e ... 2bcb3b39aa South Carolina: Myrtle Beach 6/1/2014 - http://coastalcancercenter.com/national-survivors-day/ Tennessee: Knoxville 6/1/2014 - http://www.utmedicalcenter.org/event/12 ... ate=113941 Virginia: Fishersville 6/1/2014 - http://www.augustahealth.com/events/cancer-survivor-day Washington, DC: Washington 6/7/2014 - http://www.sibley.org/community/events/ ... 6&F_y=2014

If you are looking for a support group in V.A., here is the contact person you should connect with. Name: Connie Bush Email: cwbush@sentara.com Street 1: 3000 Coliseum Drive SUITE 202 City: Hampton State / Province: VA ZIP / Postal Code: 23666-5963 Phone Number: 757-827-2438

Summertime brings sun, heat, and outdoor activities that may present challenging health and lifestyle issues for people living with cancer. To enjoy the summer while staying safe, follow these tips: Limit sun exposure. For people undergoing cancer treatment, too much sun may be unsafe. For example, intense sun exposure may further weaken the immune system in a person receiving chemotherapy. In addition, sun exposure while undergoing chemotherapy with fluorouracil (5-FU, Adrucil) may lead to more intense skin reactions and possible sunburns. People undergoing radiation therapy or just finishing treatment should also avoid the sun because skin exposed to radiation therapy is very sensitive to the sun's rays. Consider the following precautions when outside in the sun: Limit sun exposure from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM, which is when the sun's rays are the most intense. Schedule any outdoor activities for early or late in the day. Spend time in the shade, whenever possible. Use a broad spectrum sunscreen (offers protection against both ultraviolet A [uVA] and ultraviolet B [uVB] rays) with a solar protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher and reapply it often, especially after sweating or swimming. Ask the doctor to recommend a sunscreen for sensitive skin, in case the sunscreen further irritates skin that has been exposed to radiation therapy. Protect the area of skin being treated. Dark, tightly woven fabrics offer better sun protection than light, thin, and loosely woven materials. Protect your head and ears with a broad brimmed hat. If you have lost your hair, the exposed skin will burn easily. Keep surgical scars well-covered. If scars are exposed to the sun, especially newer scars, the sun will eventually darken the scars. Avoid dehydration. Some side effects of cancer treatment, such as vomiting, diarrhea, and nausea, may cause dehydration. Signs of dehydration include: Dry mouth, thirst Fatigue and weakness Weak or cramped muscles Dizziness, headaches, or feeling forgetful or confused Fever Very dark urine or less frequent urination Swollen, cracked, or dried tongue Sunken eyes that don't naturally produce tears Ways to prevent dehydration: Drink before becoming thirsty. Try to drink at least eight glasses of water every day, and drink even more when outside in the heat. Drink iced fluids, such as ice water, or low-sugar juices, sports drinks, or frozen ice pops, to both quench thirst and cool down. Use ice chips for relief from dry mouth. Eat vegetables and fruits with a high fluid content with meals and as snacks. Avoid beverages with alcohol or caffeine (such as coffee, tea, and soda). The heat and humidity of summer may present additional challenges for a person living with cancer, including the following: Hot flashes. Hot flashes may be a side effect of hormone therapy for women and men who have been treated for cancer and can be triggered by hot weather. The following are some suggestions to cool down and manage hot flashes: Wear breathable fabrics that allow sweat to evaporate. Keep iced beverages on hand throughout the day and night. Lower the thermostat, if possible. Turn on a ceiling fan or use a hand-held, battery-operated fan. A less expensive alternative is to use a manual fan. Take a cool shower before bed to manage hot flashes during the hot summer nights. Wear lightweight clothing to bed. Consider swimming (as long as the doctor says it's okay to exercise). The water provides a cooling effect, which keeps your temperature down throughout the workout. Avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine, as they may also trigger hot flashes. Wigs. Wigs often feel hot and itchy in the summer. Cooler options to consider include a cotton head scarf or turban. If you decide to wear a wig in the summer, you may want to cut your hair short or shave your head while your hair is falling out to keep cool and for a better wig fit. Consider a synthetic wig for the hot summer months for the following reasons: Lightweight, synthetic wigs are cooler to wear than natural wigs because their open-cap construction allows the head to breathe and heat to escape. Synthetic wigs don't get flat or frizzy in the summer humidity like human hair wigs. Synthetic wigs hold their style, even if they get wet. The fibers in synthetic wigs don't fade or turn different colors with exposure to the sun. Synthetic wigs may be worn with a mesh wig liner that's similar to a fishnet stocking and helps keep your head cool. Swimming. Swimming is one of the safest and most comfortable ways to begin moderate exercise. Although swimming strengthens the abdomen, back, and shoulders, it can be challenging for women who have had a breast removed to wear a swimsuit that works well with a breast form, or prosthesis. Several bathing suit brands are designed for women with breast cancer that have higher necklines and armholes to conceal scars, and built-in bra pockets for securing breast forms. As an alternative to custom swimsuits, a retailer may be able to add a breast form bra pocket to the inside of a regular bathing suit. Swim forms are also available to fit in a bra pocket. Swim forms are similar to conventional breast forms, but they are much lighter and more comfortable to wear when swimming. Made from clear silicone, swim forms attach into the bathing suit with fabric tabs, have a built-in pocket, or attach directly to the chest wall with adhesive. In addition to custom swimsuits, there are special swim caps designed for people undergoing chemotherapy that provide additional protection for sensitive skin. More Information Protecting Your Skin from the Sun The Importance of Hydration Additional Resources Breastcancer.org: Summer Treatment Issues Breastcancer.org: Summer Skin Care