CindyA

Our friend Chip, a lung cancer survivor, is testifying! Tune into the senate hearings today. The Fight Against Cancer: Challenges, Progress, and Promise Date: Wednesday, May 7, 2014 Add to my Calendar Time: 02:15 PM Location: Dirksen Building 562 http://www.aging.senate.gov/hearings/th ... nd-promise

May is Lung Cancer Hope Month! There is so much to be hopeful about. Never before have we seen so much positive activity in the world of lung cancer research, treatments, and advocacy—new therapies are coming to market faster than ever before and the pipelines are deep with many more; clinical trials are being reformed to bring promising drugs to patients faster; the lung cancer community is growing and our voice is getting louder; and most importantly, lung cancer survivors are leading longer, healthier lives. At LUNGevity we had a really hard time condensing all of the things that give us hope into only 10. But in honor of retiring David Letterman, here we go! TOP TEN REASONS TO BE HOPEFUL IN LUNG CANCER HOPE MONTH 1. Growth and strengthening of lung cancer communities and support systems, with record number of lung cancer survivors attending LUNGevity HOPE Summit 2. Unprecedented number of promising lung cancer drugs in development 3. Continuing approval and release of new lung cancer therapeutics to help patients live longer and healthier lives 4. Definitive proof that early detection with low dose CT saves lives for those at high risk of developing lung cancer 5. Progress in multiple areas of treatment, from surgery and radiation to chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy 6. New collaborative, innovative approaches to clinical trials means drugs are reaching patients faster 7. First new drug in 25 years being developed to treat small cell lung cancer 8. Mutation profiling of squamous cell lung cancer yielding new treatment approaches 9. Increased media attention to progress in lung cancer detection and treatment 10. Expanding advocacy by the public for progress in detection and treatment What gives you hope? Let us know—we’ll be posting blogs from survivors, caregivers, and friends throughout Lung Cancer Hope Month. Send us yours, and if we can we’ll include it! Submit your Lung Cancer Hope Month blog to hopeblog@lungevity.org. http://ow.ly/wzPIO

Whew April 28th, 2014 - by Kenneth Lourie Originally, this column was to be a discussion about the communication process between my doctor and this patient. Specifically, the time lag between when tests are performed/completed and when those results are communicated to the doctor who in turn – per this patient’s request, e-mails them to me. In the olden days, results were most likely offered up in person; in the post-olden days, more likely a phone call was made; presently, at least in my experience, results most likely will be e-mailed. I imagine an enduring problem for the patient – during all three “days,” has been the time waiting for test results and hearing about them from your doctor. Excruciating is one of the most accurate characterizations of that delay, combined with an unhealthy dose of helplessness. Eventually, if you live long enough, you sort of become accustomed to the process and learn to roll with the punches, both figuratively and literally. Nevertheless, the patience and experience you learn can’t totally stop the rampant speculation that keeps you up at night and sleepy during the day. All of this being said and mostly internalized and assimilated into my terminal-patient brain, unfortunately doesn’t prevent the process from negatively impacting your waiting-for-test-results-from-your-doctor compartment where you’ve (at least where I have) attempted to compartmentalize this process so that it doesn’t adversely impact every other psychological compartment I’ve previously constructed. But I may have learned my lesson this time. The reason being that even though I received an e-mail from my oncologist two days after my CT Scan was completed, it turned out to be sort of an incomplete/inaccurate assessment: “Some better, some worse. I’ll explain more on Friday,” (the date of my next infusion and coincidentally, the date of our next face-to-face appointment, a week later). It seems the Radiologist had compared this recent scan to one I had taken nine months ago and consequently, made some incorrect assumptions – but of course, we didn’t know any of this until we saw my doctor; as such, we stressed about the content of the e-mail. Friday arrived and we went to The Infusion Center where I was hooked up as usual. Within a few minutes, my oncologist walked over to my Barcalounger. Dina immediately whispers: “He’s not smiling.” (Reading the facial expressions and body language of your doctor has no doubt become the bane of every patient’s existence, especially when dealing with oncologists.) Soon enough though, after my doctor began talking (and explaining the radiologist’s mistake), it became clear that my results were quite the opposite of what the original e-mail had indicated. It was not “some better, some worse,” it was Tony-the-Tiger GREAT! news with which I could most definitely live – and for many years, too, he said. To say were pleasantly surprised might be the understatement of the universe. To say we were over the moon might be a bit more realistic, hyperbole notwithstanding. So what did I learn? What did my oncologist advise me going forward? To not interpret the delay in the communication process as indicating anything other than the nature of the process; nothing to be taken personally or interpreted in any meaningful way. And even though the news we received was extremely encouraging this time, the process, such as it is, likely continues, and anticipating that news – good, bad or indifferent – is to be delivered in any other way is unrealistic. As difficult as it is for this patient to be patient, in some cases, as I learned this past week, your patience can sometimes be rewarded _____________________________________________________________________________ How do you communicate with your doctor? http://ow.ly/wy1WT

LUNGevity Foundation Applauds FDA Approval of Zykadia (ceritinib) as Additional Tool in Arsenal for Locally Advanced or Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Aliza Bran abran@susandavis.com (202) 414-0798 Ceritinib (brand name Zykadia™) will be used for the treatment of patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive (ALK+) metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have progressed on or are intolerant to crizotinib (brand name Xalkori™) WASHINGTON (May 1, 2014) – LUNGevity Foundation applauds the FDA approval of Zykadia™ for the subset of anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive (ALK+) patients with advanced cases of non-small cell lung cancer who have progressed on or are intolerant to crizotinib. Zykadia™ was given breakthrough therapy designation in March 2013 and received FDA approval under the agency’s accelerated approval program. Having a range of ALK inhibitors provides important options for these patients. Zykadia™ approval helps address an unmet medical need. Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common form of lung cancer, representing 85% of lung cancer cases, and in the majority of patients it is diagnosed in locally advanced or metastatic stages when it is more difficult to treat. “The approval of Zykadia™ is an important milestone in the treatment of lung cancer as it offers the opportunity for patients who are ALK+ to continue to do well once they have progressed on crizotinib,” said LUNGevity Foundation President Andrea Stern Ferris. “Several of our constituents participated in the pivotal clinical trial for Zykadia™ and continue to do well today. We applaud the FDA and Novartis for successfully bringing this product to the patients so quickly.” LUNGevity Foundation, as the largest private funder of lung cancer research in the United States, places a high priority on lung cancer research that can directly improve patients’ lives. Zykadia™ is an oral, selective inhibitor of ALK, an important therapeutic target in lung cancer. Zykadia™ is one of the first medicines to be approved following FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation, which was received in March 2013 due to the significance of results observed in the pivotal trial and the serious and life-threatening nature of ALK+ NSCLC. “It is exciting to see advancements come to market for this group of patients who respond so well to ALK inhibitors but are in need of follow-on therapies,” said Ferris. For more information on LUNGevity Foundation, please visit www.LUNGevity.org. http://ow.ly/wxXtC

Spotlight: Survivor Pat Dunn May 2nd, 2014 - by admin When Pat Dunn was diagnosed with lung cancer in October of 2003, she found no outside support for herself or her family. “My husband supported me every step of the way and my youngest son came home to help too. If it wasn’t for that, I would have given up and just chosen to die.” Pat said. Pat was diagnosed with Stage 3b NSCLC. At the time, a thoracic surgeon in St. Augustine, Florida told her she should get her affairs in order and that she would probably live only 6 months. After a second opinion in Boston, she had surgery to remove 2 lobes of her right lung and some lymph nodes. She had grueling chemotherapy for six months and says she spent the majority of that time sleeping or being nauseous. There wasn’t a lot for Pat to be hopeful for. In fact, Pat reached out to large cancer organizations for support in her area and received none. One well-known organization told her that no one lives after a lung cancer diagnosis so they didn’t have programs specific to lung cancer patients. She didn’t receive a lot of sympathy either. The stigma that lung cancer is self-inflicted was something she battled regularly. People always asked her if she had smoked, as if insinuating that Pat deserved her cancer. “Everyone asked if I smoked. And I had. I would get this look like, well you did this to yourself, what do you expect?” Pat expected support. The same support that people diagnosed with other cancers received. “No one asks patients of other cancers what they did to “deserve” their cancer. No one is perfect. People who have never smoked get lung cancer too. No one deserves cancer. No one deserves to die from cancer.” Pat chose to advocate for her survivorship and for others with lung cancer. Unfortunately, her biggest support and love of her life, her husband, passed away suddenly of a heart attack two years after Pat’s diagnosis. Her grief helped to fuel her passion to advocate for those diagnosed with lung cancer and to end the stigma surrounded by the disease. In 2009 Pat found refuge at a local lung cancer advocacy group. She organized a 5K to help raise funds for lung cancer research and has organized a yearly vigil to raise awareness about the disease. For the past two years, Pat has come to Washington, DC to the LUNGevity HOPE Summit to celebrate lung cancer survivorship. “I found great support and friends here. While its a great thing to do, I do not feel like I need to raise money for LUNGevity for them to care. They support me no matter what.” Recently Pat received a new cancer diagnosis. This time, 12 years after her stage 3b lung cancer diagnosis, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Pat has had a lumpectomy and will begin radiation later this month. Her prognosis is a good one. The first thing Pat did after talking with her loved ones was come to the HOPE Summit Alumni Facebook page and tell her LUNGevity friends about her new diagnosis. It wasn’t “lung cancer” related, but she knew her friends could relate. “The support I have received from LUNGevity is something I do not think I could live without ever again.” Pat says the difference in getting a lung cancer diagnosis and a breast cancer diagnosis is vast. There is still much work to be done to ensure that people with lung cancer get the care and support they deserve so that there will be more survivors of this disease. “When someone asks me about lung cancer I tell them that anyone with lungs can get it. We need to concentrate on better treatments and early detection and not condemnation for people who did smoke. I would tell them that we have so many more treatment options than when I was diagnosed. Many people seem to be living longer and living a better quality of life. I would tell them about HOPE Summit and that there IS much to be hopeful for! http://ow.ly/wxDbE

Hello friends. I must say the weather here in Texas has been delightful. We wake up to cool morning temperatures in the lower 50's. The beginning of this week the temperatures have topped out in the high 70's. Next week we are expected to have highs in the 90's. I'm getting ready for the HOPE Summit today. I am really excited. I've heard beautiful things about it and can only imagine what is in store for everyone. I've got my 80's playlist loaded on my phone for the flight, and I had my toes painted blue yesterday. I'm ready. Will I see you there?

Importance of Lung Cancer Support Groups As I get ready to board my flight to Washington DC for the annual HOPE Summit, I'm again reminded of the importance of support from peers among lung cancer patients. I wish I could use one of those Star Trek thingies and send all of you back to previous summits. Only the most hardened person could avoid the spine tingling and wet eyes that arise from seeing people with lung cancer - many of whom have never met another lung cancer survivor - gather in the largest face-to-face community ever. And if that wish of mine could come true, I'd beam you up (are you listening, Scotty?) first to be hugged in a mass hug that spontaneously occurred out of nowhere last year, like a miracle. I'm still wondering (Katie Brown, are you also wondering?) what happened. Was it some kind of time warp? I guess I don't need to know because I know the effect. It was like taking all of the kind words ever said to all of these people combined, and converting the words into something living and breathing. As you can probably tell, it's an incredibly emotional experience to be part of the Summit. This morning I heard there will be around 150 people present, with 75% of these people having stage 4 lung cancer. Wow... I'm speechless. I'd better finish my packing. I'll write from DC about a healing ceremony I have planned, cleverly disguised within a talk on what you can do to keep cancer at bay. As a quick hint: I'm loading my suitcase with shells the kids and I have collected over the years on Sanibel Island. More about that later. For those of you who will have to wait until next year's HOPE Summit (please mark the date - and note that travel scholarships are making it possible for many if not most,) here are a few articles that talk about how to find Lung Cancer Support Groups - both in-person groups, and online groups. http://lungcancer.about.com/b/

Preventing Side Effects From Radiation Therapy When most people think about side effects from cancer treatment, they probably think first about chemotherapy. With more thought, recovery from surgery may come to mind. Perhaps last on the list of culprits would be radiation therapy. That was my thought anyway until I faced the "C" beast myself. Radiation therapy would head up my list of treatments that caused agony. Thankfully, as with chemotherapy, many of the side effects of radiation therapy are preventable, but instead of a drug or drugs (anti-nausea medicines,) methods of lessening side effects are spoken of less often. What can you do yourself during radiation therapy to reduce symptoms? Wear loose clothing over the region receiving radiation. Accept help from others to combat fatigue. Use gentle detergents to wash your clothes. Ask your radiation oncologist for lotions or creams if you are experiencing dry skin or a rash. Don't use over-the-counter lotions unless recommended by your doctor. Eat frequent small meals. Avoid using Band-Aids, ice packs, or heat packs unless instructed by your radiation oncologist. Here are articles that cover both common side effects, as well further ideas on what you can do yourself (or help a loved one do) to minimize your symptoms during radiation therapy. http://lungcancer.about.com/b/2014/04/2 ... herapy.htm

The US Food and Drug Administration granted accelerated approval to ceritinib (Zykadia) for the treatment of patients with metastatic ALK-positive non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). About 2% to 7% percent of NSCLC patients have ALK-positive disease. - See more at: http://www.cancernetwork.com/news/fda-a ... LIVmQ.dpuf

Non-Smokers Not Immune to Lung Cancer Can't you just hear it? Upon learning that someone has lung cancer, what are the first thoughts and words in the average American's mind? Questions about smoking status? If you said yes, you're probably correct. And given what we know today, smoking may very well have something to do with it. That said, why do we feel we need to evaluate causation - especially when that evaluation can be painful to the one we've just learned has cancer? We aren't so cruel to those who have breast cancer. We don't first inquire about the number of years a woman with breast cancer nursed her children, and then offer our support. But talking about the stigma of lung cancer is a different issue than the aim of this blog post. Instead, it's important to note that while everyone with lung cancer deserves our care and support regardless of smoking history, there are many people with lung cancer who have never smoked. Let's start with women. A full 20% of women who develop lung cancer have never smoked. One in five. And adding together never smokers and former smokers, we learn that the majority of women diagnosed with lung cancer today aren't current smokers. Looking at statistics another way, the number of never smoking women who die from lung cancer each year is fairly close to the number of women (smokers or non-smokers) who die from breast cancer each year. I'm sure many people quickly wonder about second-hand smoke. Yes, secondhand smoke causes around 3,000 lung cancer deaths per year in the United States. But that only accounts for a minority of non-smoking women who develop lung cancer. Causes such as radon exposure are important, as are causes we are likely unaware of. Unaware of... Yes. At the same time that lung cancer deaths in men are decreasing, and those in women have leveled off, a form of lung cancer often found in young, female non-smokers, bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC), is actually increasing. Why do I share these statistics? The first reason I already alluded to. When you run into someone with lung cancer, try to offer your unconditional caring and support rather than asking about smoking status. Yes, smoking status is important, but do we really need more evidence that smoking causes lung cancer - and in this way which can be painful for someone recently diagnosed? The second reason is funding. The five-year survival rate for breast cancer is 89%. For lung cancer it hovers around 16%. For every 24 federal dollars spent to combat breast cancer, only a single dollar bill is spent on lung cancer research. I've said it before, but think of it this way. We keep hearing tear-jerking propaganda about our mothers, sisters, daughters, and friends with breast cancer. But we have a lot more mothers, sisters, daughters, and friends left to cope with lung cancer with less support. Don't take me wrong. I have nothing against breast cancer research. I'm alive because of it. But it's time we stand up - especially those of us in pink who have benefitted so greatly - and take notice of the lack of funding and deficit of love and caring for those with lung cancer. http://ow.ly/wfMQm

Strength Tempered With Grace April 23rd, 2014 - by admin Written by Tammy Cleys Young adult Cancer Series: These young adults were asked, how did it feel to learn your friend had been diagnosed with lung cancer? http://aquariusvscancer.com/2013/12/26/from-tammy/ I watched my friend come to work coughing and tired for much too long. Asking questions as to what trips to the doctor were yielding, I was disappointed but not surprised to learn that nothing was determined. Then, my young friend came to work saying she was coughing blood. I comforted myself with the thought that she would now have the attention of the medical profession. But, I never imagined the profession would come back with a something as sinister as lung cancer. Kim was coming into her own as a talented and determined project manager. Lung cancer in someone so vibrant and fresh was not in my story card of how life works. I then watched as she fought through the hell of chemotherapy and radiation and returning to work. I watched her again physically struggle every day at work; so exhausted at the end of every day that I know she had only the energy to go home to rest for the next day of work. This is not the life I wanted or imagined for this wonderful, challenging, intelligent young woman. I was relieved when she determined her fight with cancer meant that she could not meet the demands of full-time work. This meant that I saw less of my young and wondrous friend Kim. But, this was a larger transformation. This was the inspiring transformation of how I viewed the strength of Kim. Kim was always strong of spirit and resolve. She was, however, also soft spoken and gentle of character unless called upon by conflict or “right” to be otherwise. Her physical presence was the more apparent attribute as she was so strong from rock climbing, physical fitness training, and outdoor activities. As the cancer stole her physicality, an inner-strength and rebellion took its place. The most apparent attribute became this young woman’s incredible fortitude to face a scourge that should not be lessening the life of anyone so young and vulnerable. She stood up to cancer in a small but loud voice and roared that cancer would not win today! Yet, this is still not the person you see today. Kim continues with intelligence and tenacity to attack cancer. The strength is now tempered with a grace that comes, I believe, only from facing incredible odds and coming out the other side with a set of values, goals, and beliefs in place. She “attacks” things with a different tenacity…..it is deeper and more powerful than most, including me, realize in our more fortunate circumstances. So, what is it like have a young friend with lung cancer who should not have to deal with this…..it is horrible……….but amazing in watching the person she is becoming. We hope that we might someday become that person, yet most of us know we will not. http://ow.ly/wf2tg

You're very welcome. We all need exercise. I find it easier when I include a friend. Whats your favorite way to work out?

Hi everybody! How are you? Any new news? I have another busy weekend planned. Which I'm looking forward to. My family and I will be attending an event Saturday afternoon, and then Saturday evening is the Dallas Mavericks vs San Antonio Spurs game (Playoffs game 3). They are tied in the Playoffs. If you can't tell, I really like Dallas Mavericks. I'm from San Antonio however I was raised in the Dallas area. My family who still lives there and I really get competitive when these two teams play. However when they play different teams I'm a 50-50 fan. I'm a fan of both teams. When they play each other though, I'm a MAVS girl! Sunday we will have a relax day since the meteorologists have predicted severe storms. What are your plans this weekend?

Exercise and Coping with Cancer Fatigue By Lynne Eldridge MDMarch 31, 2014 Cancer fatigue is something those without cancer can't quite understand. A cup of coffee won't do it. Sleeping in won't take it away. And it seems like you would give up almost anything to be able to stay in bed. Those who have experienced mono, or lived through the first trimester of pregnancy may get an inkling, but otherwise? You can't really understand what cancer fatigue feels like until you've been there. Not surprisingly, several studies have found that exercise can reduce cancer fatigue both during and after cancer treatment. Easily quoted, but harder to put into practice. If you're struggling with cancer fatigue talk to your oncologist. There are some "reversible" causes of fatigue that can accompany cancer treatment. Things such anemia, depression, and uncontrolled pain. This article lists some of those reversible causes: What is Cancer Fatigue? Unfortunately, cancer fatigue isn't usually alleviated with a prescription for iron tablets. Which brings us back to the one thing that consistently seems to make a difference - exercise. What kind of exercise helps the most? Aerobic exercise - such as swimming, running, walking at a good pace, washing windows, or an exercise class. It's important to check with your doctor, however, before beginning to exercise. But how can you motivate yourself to exercise when you're so tired? Here's a few tips. Take it slowly. Even if you begin with a brisk 10 minute walk, it's a start. Connect with a friend. It's much easier to stick with a program to exercise if you are accountable to a friend. Think of activities that involve exercise but don't feel like exercise - things such as a hike in the woods, dancing, walking the dog, or washing windows. Check with your doctor about exercise programs. Some cancer centers offer exercise programs at a minimal charge. Last but not least, don't give up. So you felt too tired to exercise for a few days. Don't chastise yourself, but simply begin again. Do any of you have any tips that have helped you exercise despite cancer fatigue? We would love to hear them. http://ow.ly/waeQf

What do you call 4 rabbits hopping backwards?

Posted: Monday, April 21, 2014 11:30 pm From Staff Reports | 0 comments The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is offering a series of free, confidential health screenings to coal miners throughout Oklahoma, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Southern Utah and Southern Colorado. The screenings are intended to provide early detection of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP), also known as black lung, a serious but preventable occupational lung disease in coal miners caused by breathing respirable coal mine dust. The health screenings will be provided through the state-of-the-art NIOSH mobile testing unit at convenient community and mine locations. NIOSH will provide the health screening for these coal miners under its Enhanced Coal Workers’ Health Surveillance Program (ECWHSP). A screening will be held at Dellwood Park on Thursday, May 1, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Although walk-ins will be accepted, miners are urged to call 1-888-480-4042 to schedule an appointment. Depending on the number of miners participating, some wait time should be anticipated. This public health outreach is in response to a well-documented increase in serious disease. All coal miners (current, former, underground, and surface) are welcome to participate. “NIOSH’s commitment to prevention includes a dedicated effort towards early detection of black lung in coal miners,” said NIOSH Director John Howard, M.D. “Through a screening program that is free and confidential, workers can be protected from diseases arising from their work as miners.” The screening provided by NIOSH will include a work history questionnaire, a chest x-ray, and spirometry testing. Blood pressure screening will be offered as well. Typically, the process takes about 25 minutes. NIOSH provides the individual miner with the results of their own screening. By law each person’s results are confidential. No individual information is publicly disclosed. The prevalence of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis among long-term underground miners who participated in chest x-ray screening decreased from the 1970s to the 1990s. Although still much less than in the 1970s, the prevalence of CWP among US coal miners has increased since the 1990s. CWP can occur in mines of all sizes. The more serious advanced type of disease called Progressive Massive Fibrosis (PMF) is much more prevalent among miners from underground mines with fewer than 50 workers. Miners who work in particular areas of the country, in certain mining jobs, and in these smaller mines have an increased risk of developing CWP. Participation in this Enhanced Program gives the coal miner: * An easy way of checking on their health; * A confidential report regarding whether or not they have x-ray evidence of CWP; * Detection at an early stage of some chest problems other than "black lung." NIOSH encourages miners and their families to find out additional information about the ECWHSP at the following website: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/surveil ... cwhsp.html. You may also call the toll free number (1-888-480-4042) with questions. http://ow.ly/w5NsB

Happy Wednesday everyone. I just read Tuesday's air, and learned that Eric is doing well. He seems to be having full happy days. Eric, I would love to see pictures of your newly trimmed yard. Diane graduated to seeing her doctor every 6 months instead of every three! What great news, don't you think? Do you have good news to share? Do you have not so good news? Please feel free to share or vent here. We are all ears, or should I say eyes? *Please note: there are new posts in other subject areas. Such as "6 Snacks You Think Are Healthy, But Aren't" in the Healthy Living/Recipes area. viewforum.php?f=67

6 Snacks You Think Are Healthy, But Aren't - Diet and Nutrition Center - Everyday Health http://ow.ly/w4TxS 1. Veggie Chips The word veggie is in its name, so this snack must be healthier than potato chips, right? Wrong. Many of these chips are made of vegetable flour and don't contain any real vegetables at all! They house as much fat and calories as potato varieties — and a lot more sodium. Plus, veggie chips, on average, cost 30 percent more than potato chips. 2. Energy Bars Energy bars were originally developed to give athletes a convenient source of fuel during a long workout, but over time, they have become an on-the-go snack for everyone. Nowadays, these bars are often filled with chocolate, high-fructose corn syrup, and artery-clogging saturated fat. You might as well eat a candy bar. If you can't resist, look for a bar that's no more than 200 calories and 20 grams of sugar per serving — coming from dried fruit, not added sugars. 3. Reduced-Fat Peanut Butter You may think reduced fat means larger portions per serving, but unfortunately, that's not the case. When fat is removed from peanut butter, sugar is usually added to replace the flavor, and the calorie difference is negligible. More important, monounsaturated fat found in peanuts, like in olive oil, is beneficial for your health, so there's no need to remove it from the snack. Try natural peanut butter, which should contain only peanuts and salt, to avoid the sugars and bad fats. Peanuts are high in calories, though, so even when eating natural peanut butter, keep an eye on serving size. 4. Trail Mix Dried fruit and nuts offer extended energy to hikers, and it may seem like the healthiest option in the vending machine, but it's actually one of the unhealthiest snacks out there. Pre-packaged and processed trail mixes are high in fat and calories. The dried fruit is drenched in sugar and the nuts in salt. Many contain highly caloric add-ins like chocolate chips and coconut. And that yogurt-covered fruit is actually sugar-coated fruit. One handful alone can easily set you back 300 calories or more, and in a snack-size bag, there's typically 2 to 3 servings. 5. Smoothies All smoothies are not created equal. You're much better off eating a piece of fruit because pre-madeor store-bought smoothies can rack up more calories than a cheeseburger. Some have up to 650 to 1000 calories, due to extreme portions of fruit, vegetables, and sugar from ingredients such as fruit juice, ice cream, chocolate, and whole milk. Talk about a calorie bomb! Not such a smooth choice after all. 6. Frozen Yogurt It seems so much better than ice cream. When it comes to saturated fat, frozen yogurt is much healthier, but in terms of calories and simple sugars, the two treats are closer than you think. After loading up on sugar- and fat-laden toppings, frozen yogurt's calorie count catches up to its ice cream counterparts. Beware of self-serve yogurt shops. The cups are often large and if you fill them up, you could end up consuming 500 to 800 calories in the yogurt alone. And while regular yogurt contains live active cultures that can keep the bacteria in your digestive tract healthy, most frozen yogurt sold at supermarkets and retail stores have been heat processed, which kills the beneficial live cultures.

Good Morning to all. How was your weekend? Was it super busy like mine? We celebrated 4 times with our family. It was fun and hectic all at the same time. My favorite part was watching my children attack a pinata for Easter candy. Seeing two kids only weighing in at about 40 pounds each, swing a decorated stick, at a bunny in a basket pinata, was quite hilarious. We also celebrate Easter by cracking "cascarones" (confetti eggs) on each others heads. Many of our family members were good sports about squatting down so my kids could smack an egg on their heads. I'm still combing out confetti in my hair. HAHA! What was your favorite part about your weekend? Please share.

Hi Michelle, Thank you for posting in here last week. Diane said she might like to post the "Air" on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Would you like to post on Wednesdays & Fridays? I wonder if everyone sees my name and isn't interested, lol. I think it is so neat that you are sewing! How admirable! Feel free to post a photo. I've always wanted to learn how to sew. I made a couple of fleece "love knot" blankets when they were babies. I would make them in the winter so I could cover myself up with them as I made them. Talk to you ladies soon.

No One Plans For This April 16th, 2014 - by admin by Julie Ludemann Young adult Cancer Series: These young adults were asked, how did it feel to learn your friend had been diagnosed with lung cancer? http://aquariusvscancer.com/2013/12/22/from-julie/ “True wealth is the ability to fully experience life.” -Henry David Thoreau Until recently, I haven’t had a whole lot of experience with cancer. When I was in high school, my grandmother died after a malignant melanoma spread to her lymph nodes and quickly spread throughout her body. It began with a strange looking mole on her chest, right where her bra strap was. She was too embarrassed to tell her doctor about it until it was too late and the cancer had spread. At the time, cancer felt to me like an old person’s disease. She was in her mid sixties. Looking at my parents now, that age doesn’t seem quite so old, but still, older than me. Older than my friends. Cancer doesn’t happen to healthy, active, young people, right? Many years later, cancer did happen to someone like me. Someone my age. Someone healthy and active. It was a brain tumor. The treatment was aggressive. He rode his bike to his chemo appointments. He enrolled in clinical trials. He got better, and then got much, much worse. He died almost a year and a half ago at the age of 41. Cancer isn’t picky. Cancer can affect anyone, even people who are healthier, nicer, and more deserving of a good, long life than I am. And then Kim. Lung cancer. What? How is that possible? Kim is my friend. How dare cancer do this to her? I get angry at the blatant unfairness of it all. Kim doesn’t deserve this. Neither did Tim. Neither did my grandma. Neither did anyone, ever. It’s difficult to really explain how Kim’s cancer affects me without felling like a self-centered *ss. Who am I to complain? I find myself talking about things like wrinkles and sore muscles and my jerky boss, and then realizing how thoughtless those comments can be. Who am I to complain about getting older?, or having a job, or really, anything that I can complain about. Heck, I don’t know if I am going to get old. I don’t know if my friends are. What I do know, and the one thing I have learned from Kim is that you don’t always get to choose what happens in your life. You do get to choose how to deal with it. Sure, I can go on being angry at the unfairness of it all, but does that really change anything? Is it weird to say that I’m proud of Kim? Because I am. I know there are good days and bad days, but Kim has gracefully taken charge of her situation, and I know there are many people, myself included, who have benefited from her pragmatic yet positive approach to her treatment, prognosis, and living with cancer. When Kim isn’t afraid to talk about it, it helps me to be stronger. So here’s what I try to do. I try to think before I speak. I try to be more thankful. I try to be a good friend. I try to be a better, more thoughtful person. It doesn’t always work out the way I plan it in my head, but nothing ever does. No one plans for this. No one expects it. We will all deal with it eventually. http://ow.ly/vZfMZ

No One Plans For This April 16th, 2014 - by admin by Julie Ludemann Young adult Cancer Series: These young adults were asked, how did it feel to learn your friend had been diagnosed with lung cancer? http://aquariusvscancer.com/2013/12/22/from-julie/ “True wealth is the ability to fully experience life.” -Henry David Thoreau Until recently, I haven’t had a whole lot of experience with cancer. When I was in high school, my grandmother died after a malignant melanoma spread to her lymph nodes and quickly spread throughout her body. It began with a strange looking mole on her chest, right where her bra strap was. She was too embarrassed to tell her doctor about it until it was too late and the cancer had spread. At the time, cancer felt to me like an old person’s disease. She was in her mid sixties. Looking at my parents now, that age doesn’t seem quite so old, but still, older than me. Older than my friends. Cancer doesn’t happen to healthy, active, young people, right? Many years later, cancer did happen to someone like me. Someone my age. Someone healthy and active. It was a brain tumor. The treatment was aggressive. He rode his bike to his chemo appointments. He enrolled in clinical trials. He got better, and then got much, much worse. He died almost a year and a half ago at the age of 41. Cancer isn’t picky. Cancer can affect anyone, even people who are healthier, nicer, and more deserving of a good, long life than I am. And then Kim. Lung cancer. What? How is that possible? Kim is my friend. How dare cancer do this to her? I get angry at the blatant unfairness of it all. Kim doesn’t deserve this. Neither did Tim. Neither did my grandma. Neither did anyone, ever. It’s difficult to really explain how Kim’s cancer affects me without felling like a self-centered *ss. Who am I to complain? I find myself talking about things like wrinkles and sore muscles and my jerky boss, and then realizing how thoughtless those comments can be. Who am I to complain about getting older?, or having a job, or really, anything that I can complain about. Heck, I don’t know if I am going to get old. I don’t know if my friends are. What I do know, and the one thing I have learned from Kim is that you don’t always get to choose what happens in your life. You do get to choose how to deal with it. Sure, I can go on being angry at the unfairness of it all, but does that really change anything? Is it weird to say that I’m proud of Kim? Because I am. I know there are good days and bad days, but Kim has gracefully taken charge of her situation, and I know there are many people, myself included, who have benefited from her pragmatic yet positive approach to her treatment, prognosis, and living with cancer. When Kim isn’t afraid to talk about it, it helps me to be stronger. So here’s what I try to do. I try to think before I speak. I try to be more thankful. I try to be a good friend. I try to be a better, more thoughtful person. It doesn’t always work out the way I plan it in my head, but nothing ever does. No one plans for this. No one expects it. We will all deal with it eventually. http://ow.ly/vZfMZ

CHILLICOTHE — When Adena Health System began its free lung cancer screening program in November, no one knew what the effect would be on the community. The program that provides free CT scans for people at high risk for the disease has answered that question, having tested more than 350 patients in its first six months and uncovering five confirmed cases, as well as several others with suspicious results that have undergone further testing. “By offering scans for free, Adena is making sure anyone who may be in a high-risk category has access to this life-saving test,” said Dr. Jeffrey VanDeusen, Adena Cancer Center’s medical director. “Looking at other programs in the country, we knew we would have the greatest impact if our program was offered at no cost. Programs that charge for screens generally see a fraction of the patients of those offering them for free.” People in the high-risk target patient population are between 55 and 74 years old, have 30 or more “pack years” of smoking in their past and are current smokers or have quit smoking within the past 15 years. The screening is a noninvasive CT scan, which can easily identify tumors or lesions that may need medical attention. In addition to confirming or disproving the possibility of lung cancer, the test has found heart aneurysms, liver nodules, lung disease and even a diagnosis of breast cancer in patients tested at Adena. Like a mammogram, patients are recommended to have a screening each year for the greatest chance of survival in the case of a lung cancer diagnosis. Adena’s Lung Cancer screening program has been designated a Screening Center of Excellence by lung cancer advocacy group. The Lung Cancer Alliance designates Centers of Excellence to identify the places a patient can go for a lung cancer screening that will offer them well-coordinated care and disease management. Patients meeting the screening criteria should schedule a free lung cancer screening by calling 740-542-5864. For more informationabout the Adena Cancer Center, go to: http://www.adena.org/services/page.dT/lung-cancer

Can Dental Hygiene Have an Impact on Lung Cancer? We are learning more and more about chronic inflammation, and how it may lead to the development of cancer. This can be seen directly in some cancers in which cancer develops from local inflammation. Examples include HPV leading to cervical cancer and chronic esophageal reflux leading to esophageal cancer. But inflammation in one region of the body may also lead to the development of cancer in another region of the body. There is now evidence that periodontal disease is associated with cancers of the lung, kidney, pancreas, head and neck, as well as leukemia and lymphomas. Why? How could inflammation in the mouth lead to cancer at distant sites, such as lung cancer or kidney cancer? Periodontal disease creates inflammation that doesn't stop in the mouth; instead the inflammation results in an increased concentration of inflammatory markers throughout the body. An increased concentration of these inflammatory markers is in turn linked with an increased risk of several types of cancer. What can you do to lower your risk, or what about if you already have cancer? Make regular appointments with your dentist. Brush and floss regularly. Before beginning chemotherapy it's a good time to talk to your dentist; due to a low white count or platelet count your oncologist may recommend avoiding flossing and using a gentle toothbrush during treatment. http://ow.ly/vVq2K

LUNGevity Hero Monica Barlow April 8th, 2014 - by admin Monica BarlowLUNGevity Foundation is proud to honor our April LUNGevity Hero, Monica Barlow, an incredible, dynamic, talented young woman who passed away in late February. An inspiration to so many and a beloved member of the LUNGevity team, Monica served as a vocal advocate for lung cancer research, both as a spokesperson for LUNGevity Foundation’s Breathe Deep Baltimore and DC events and in news articles raising awareness of the disease. She also was always available as a resource to fellow lung cancer survivors. Monica graduated from the College of William and Mary. She began interning for the Baltimore Orioles in 1999 and, but for one year with the Richmond Braves, remained an Oriole until her death. Monica became involved with LUNGevity Foundation after her own stage IV lung cancer diagnosis in 2009. She had developed an incessant cough while training to run a half marathon. A never smoker with no family history of lung cancer, she was shocked to learn that an inoperable nodule had developed on her left lung and had spread to her lymph nodes and liver. Thanks to a clinical trial of crizotinib and the surgery removing 40 percent of the lung cancer mass, Monica was able to add years to her life. Seeing first-hand the benefit of lung cancer research and new, innovative medical technologies, Monica was eager to share her story with the world, hoping to raise awareness that not only non-smokers could be diagnosed with the disease, but also that the research we do can extend lives. She was also an extraordinary resource for fellow lung cancer survivors, providing support through in-person and over-the-phone meetings. Her positive attitude and infectious spirit served as a beacon of hope for many. Never defined by her disease, Monica continued to live life to its fullest, exploring the outdoors and hiking mountains with her husband Ben. LUNGevity Foundation is so grateful to the Orioles and Monica’s many friends and family for their support of LUNGevity, championing lung cancer research in Monica’s memory. The outpouring of support from across the nation is a testament to her character and the injustice in our world losing such a remarkable woman. LUNGevity hopes that as we continue to raise awareness and make significant technological advances, we will one day know a time when no one dies from lung cancer. During her lifetime, Monica was an inspiration to many who struggled with the disease, and that legacy will continue to inspire the research and strength in community that LUNGevity Foundation offers. She will be dearly missed. http://ow.ly/vU6xY