Cancer Fund of America Newsletter

25 Years of Service, Growth, And Change

AN EDUCATIONAL SERVICE OF THE CANCER FUND OF AMERICA, INC.

In this issue...

CFA Spotlights A Hospice

Simple Steps to Keep Cancer Away

Make A Healthy Promise to Yourself

Fire Prevention Tips

Cancer News

Malignant Mesothelioma

Radiation Therapy

Chemotherapy

Combined Federal Campaign Employees

Testimonials

Dear CFA,

Thank you so very much for all of the wonderful gifts from your organization. I really appreciate it all and it helps me so much dealing with my cancer. God Bless You All.

The Scott Family

~TN

To all the wonderful people at CFA,

I am a single mother of two children battling thyroid and ovarian cancers. I wanted to write to let you know how deeply thankful I am for each gift box I receive. It is comforting to know there are people out there that know and care about the individual needs of cancer patients, like myself. Thank you again for all that you do through your support.

The Franco Family

~CA

Dear CFA,

Thank you, you don't know how much you help me as a cancer patient. You make me feel loved and cared for. Thank you for your time and your help. I am not sure you know how much the care boxes you send me help. Thank you again.

The Dallas Family

~OK

Dear CFA,

Just a little letter to say thanks again for all the goodies that you guys send to us. I am just about out of my bed pads and would appreciate it if you could forward more to me before I run completely out of them. Thank you so much!

Respectfully,

The Coleman Family

~CT

To whom so ever it may concern,

My mother is a patient of Lung Cancer (stage 4). I know exactly how hard it is to keep up the patient's spirit under such a hard situation. I think CFA is doing a great job by encouraging positive attitudes in patients.

I am a student right now and not on my leg yet, but I will definitely contribute to this noble effort when I stand on my own leg. Thank you very much for all of your support to my family.

The Gandhi Family

~not listed

Check out our website!!

Make donations online!!

You can help support CFA with Memorials, Legacies, Car Donations, & Wills!!

Click here

CFA would like to thank all of the Combined Federal Campaign Employees for their hard work!! We appreciate you all! Thank you!

The Cancer Fund of America Proudly Spotlights A Hospice!!

Hospice of Northwest Alabama

Founded in 1993 by community leaders of Marion and Winston Counties, Hospice of Northwest Alabama, Inc. is a freestanding, not-for-profit, non-denominational program avaliable to all reguardless of age, race, color, creed, national origin, handicap condition, illness, or ability to pay. We are run by a volunteer board of directors. Hospice of Northwest Alabama, Inc serves Marion and Winston Counties as well as parts of Franklin, Lamar, Walker, and Fayette Counties out of two offices in Winfield, AL and Hamilton, AL. We serve an average of 20 to 25 patients. Since our start we haves served more than 1175 famlies. We use a comprehensive care team made of primary physisicans, the hospice medical director, Registered Nurses, Certified Nurses Aides, Social Worker, Chaplain (Spiritual Services), and Volunteers to meet the needs of our famlies. In addition to direct care during the patients illness, we also offer grief support for a minimum of 13 months following the passing of a loved one. For more information concerning end of life services and support you may contact our office

at 205-487-8140.

Hospice of Northwest Alabama, Inc.

Simple Steps to Keep Cancer Away:

Every so often, we hear about yet another cancer-fighting food or lifestyle change, so I thought I would try to bring some of this information together in one place to show you there is much you can do to prevent cancer.

If you focus on prevention now, you may never have to hear that dreaded phrase, "You have cancer." Here are some proven cancer-fighting actions, with tobacco at the top of the list as the major preventable cause of cancer:

Don't smoke or use other tobacco products. Smoking cigarettes, cigars, or a pipe is the major cause of lung cancer. Tobacco in the form of snuff causes nasal cancer and chewing tobacco increases the risk of mouth, tongue, and throat cancer.
Avoid secondhand smoke. This is now easier with bans on smoking in many public places.
Check your basement for radon. Long-term exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S.
Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Whole-grain and fibrous foods probably protect against some types of cancer. Consuming too much saturated fat (found mostly in animal products) may increase the risk of breast cancer.
Control your weight. Obesity is associated with an increased risk for most types of cancer.
Cook smart. Don't char meat when grilling and avoid frying or cooking foods at high heat.
Avoid exposure to the ultraviolet (UV) radiation in sunlight. When outdoors, wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses and generously apply a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher. Most people use less than half the amount of lotion needed to get the sunscreen's claimed SPF, so remember to reapply it. And whatever you do, don't succumb to the lure of a quick tan at a suntan parlor.
To limit your risk of breast and ovarian cancer after menopause, do not use hormone replacement long term.
Get vaccinated against human papilloma virus (HPV) as a girl or young woman. A new HPV vaccine was approved by the FDA in June 2006.
Know the medical histories, and especially the cancer histories, of close relatives. This means your parents, grandparents, and siblings. This information will help you determine your genetic risk for some cancers and arrange to be screened for early cancer detection with a mammogram for breast cancer; a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test for prostate cancer; a colonoscopy for colon cancer; and a Pap smear for cervical cancer.

Yahoo Health

Click here for more information.

Make A Healthy Promise to Yourself

Fortunately, fitness comes in many forms. Use this guide to discover some new activities that suit your abilities and interests and get moving. Including exercise into your daily routine can help you gain energy and strengthen your muscles, including your heart - the most important muscle of all.

Effortless Exercise

Who said you have to "work out" to stay in shape? No matter what your lifestyle, incorporating fitness into your daily life is easier and more natural than you think.

Here are a few suggestions that can help you fit fitness into your daily routine.

Three Things You Can Do at Work:

Take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator.
Keep a pair of running shoes at your desk and turn lunchtime errands into a power walk.
Park your car a little further away from work so you can get in a walk.

Three Things You Can Do at Home:

Put an exercise machine like a stationary bicycle, a treadmill or a step climber in front of the television, and work out while you watch.
Do 10 squats or stretch while you're on the phone.
Stretch in bed before you rise each morning or before you go to sleep at night.

Three Things You Can Do at Play:

Rediscover your neighborhood by taking walks and bike rides.
Take weekend hikes with your family.
Turn fun occasional activities into regular exercise, like salsa dancing, skating or cross-country skiing.

WebMd

For more information, click here.

fire

Fire Deaths and Injuries, Prevention Tips

Never leave food unattended on a stove.
Keep cooking areas free of flammable objects (such as, potholders and towels).
Avoid wearing clothes with long, loose-fitting sleeves when cooking.
Never smoke in bed or leave burning cigarettes unattended.
Do not empty smoldering ashes in a trash can, and keep ashtrays away from upholstered furniture and curtains.
Never place portable space heaters near flammable materials (such as, drapery).
Keep all matches and lighters out of reach of children. Store them up high, preferably in a locked cabinet.
Install smoke alarms on every floor of the home, including the basement, and particularly near rooms in which people sleep.
Use long-life smoke alarms with lithium-powered batteries and hush buttons, which allow persons to stop false alarms quickly. If long-life alarms are not available, use regular alarms, and replace the batteries annually.
Test all smoke alarms every month to ensure they work properly.
Devise a family fire escape plan and practice it every 6 months. In the plan, describe at least two different ways each family member can escape every room, and designate a safe place in front of the home for family members to meet after escaping a fire.
If possible, install or retrofit fire sprinklers into home.

Sources: Adapted from recommendations of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the U.S. Fire Administration, the National Fire Protection Agency, and CDC.

For more info, click here.

Follow up Links

Medline Plus

Yahoo Fitness Health

National Cancer Institute

Please forward our newsletter to all of your family members and friends! Also, to sign up for The Children's Cancer Fund of America's Newsletter

Click Here!!

The Cancer Fund of America's
Quarterly Newsletter

leaves falling/fall

Autumn '09

Chewing Tobacco No Safer Thank Smoking

Tobacco users who think it's safer to dip snuff or chew tobacco than smoke are dead wrong, researchers say. A study has found that taking one pinch of smokeless tobacco delivers the same amount of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as smoking five cigarettes...

Elders Lack Knowledge of Stroke Signs, Risk Factors

Older people poorly understand most of the important warning signs of stroke and factors that increase risk for this medical emergency, researchers from Dublin, Ireland, have found. Among 2033 older men and women, fewer than half knew that dizziness, numbness, weakness, and headache are common warning signs of stroke, report Dr. Anne Hickey, of Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and colleagues. Just 54 percent listed slurred speech as an indicator of stroke...

How Weight Loss Helps the Heart

Losing a lot of weight rejuvenates the physical structure of the heart, and it makes no difference whether the weight is lost by surgery or by dieting, a new British study shows. The heart muscles of people who started with a body mass index (BMI) averaging 40 -- a BMI of 30 is the usual marker of obesity -- became noticeably thinner and more efficient when they brought their BMI down to 32.2 in a single year...

For more cancer related news click here.

Malignant Mesothelioma

Malignant mesothelioma is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells are found in the pleura (the thin layer of tissue that lines the chest cavity and covers the lungs) or the peritoneum (the thin layer of tissue that lines the abdomen and covers most of the organs in the abdomen).

Being exposed to asbestos can affect the risk of developing malignant mesothelioma. Anything that increases your chance of getting a disease is called a risk factor. Having a risk factor does not mean that you will get cancer; not having risk factors doesn't mean that you will not get cancer. People who think they may be at risk should discuss this with their doctor.
Many people with malignant mesothelioma have worked or lived in places where they inhaled or swallowed asbestos.

After being exposed to asbestos, it usually takes a long time for malignant mesothelioma to occur. Other risk factors for malignant mesothelioma include the following:

Living with a person who works near asbestos.
Being exposed to a certain virus.

Possible signs of malignant mesothelioma include shortness of breath and pain under the rib cage. Sometimes the cancer causes fluid to collect around the lung or in the abdomen. These symptoms may be caused by the fluid or malignant mesothelioma. Other conditions may cause the same symptoms. A doctor should be consulted if any of the following problems occur:

Trouble breathing.
Pain under the rib cage.
Pain or swelling in the abdomen.
Lumps in the abdomen.
Weight loss for no known reason.

Tests that examine the inside of the chest and abdomen are used to detect (find) and diagnose malignant mesothelioma. Sometimes it is hard to tell the difference between malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer. The following tests and procedures may be used:

Physical exam and history: An exam of the body to check general signs of health, including checking for signs of disease, such as lumps or anything else that seems unusual. A history of the patient's health habits, exposure to asbestos, past illnesses and treatments will also be taken.
Chest x-ray: An x-ray of the organs and bones inside the chest. An x-ray is a type of energy beam that can go through the body and onto film, making a picture of areas inside the body.
Complete blood count (CBC): A procedure in which a sample of blood is drawn and checked for the following:
- The number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
- The amount of hemoglobin (the protein that carries oxygen) in the red blood cells.
- The portion of the blood sample made up of red blood cells.
Sedimentation rate: A procedure in which a sample of blood is drawn and checked for the rate at which the red blood cells settle to the bottom of the test tube.
Bronchoscopy: A procedure to look inside the trachea and large airways in the lung for abnormal areas. A bronchoscope is inserted through the nose or mouth into the trachea and lungs. A bronchoscope is a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing. It may also have a tool to remove tissue samples, which are checked under a microscope for signs of cancer.
Cytologic exam: An exam of cells under a microscope (by a pathologist) to check for anything abnormal. For mesothelioma, fluid is taken from around the lungs or from the abdomen. A pathologist checks the cells in the fluid.
Biopsy: The removal of cells or tissues from the pleura or peritoneum so they can be viewed under a microscope by a pathologist to check for signs of cancer. Procedures used to collect the cells or tissues include the following
- Fine-needle (FNA) aspiration biopsy of the lung: The removal of tissue or fluid using a thin needle. An imaging procedure is used to locate the abnormal tissue or fluid in the lung. A small incision may be made in the skin where the biopsy needle is inserted into the abnormal tissue or fluid, and a sample is removed.
- Peritoneoscopy: An incision (cut) is made in the abdominal wall and a peritoneoscope (a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing) is inserted into the abdomen.
- Thoracoscopy: An incision (cut) is made between two ribs and a thoracoscope (a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing) is inserted into the chest.
- Laparotomy: An incision (cut) is made in the wall of the abdomen to check the inside of the abdomen for signs of disease.
- Thoracotomy: An incision (cut) is made between two ribs to check inside the chest for signs of disease.

Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options.
The prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options depend on the following:

The stage of the cancer.
The size of the tumor.
Whether the tumor can be removed completely by surgery.
The amount of fluid in the chest or abdomen.
The patient's age and general health, including lung and heart health.
The type of mesothelioma cancer cells and how they look under a microscope.
Whether the cancer has just been diagnosed or has recurred (come back).

After malignant mesothelioma has been diagnosed, tests are done to find out if cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body. The process used to find out if cancer has spread outside the pleura or peritoneum is called staging. The information gathered from the staging process determines the stage of the disease. It is important to know the spread of the cancer in order to plan treatment. The following tests and procedures may be used in the staging process:

Chest x-ray: An x-ray of the organs and bones inside the chest. An x-ray is a type of energy beam that can go through the body and onto film, making a picture of areas inside the body.
CT scan (CAT scan): A procedure that makes a series of detailed pictures of the chest and abdomen, taken from different angles. The pictures are made by a computer linked to an x-ray machine. A dye may be injected into a vein or swallowed to help the organs or tissues show up more clearly. This procedure is also called computed tomography, computerized tomography, or computerized axial tomography.
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging): A procedure that uses a magnet, radio waves, and a computer to make a series of detailed pictures of the chest or abdomen. This procedure is also called nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI).
Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS): A procedure in which an endoscope is inserted into the body. An endoscope is a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing. A probe at the end of the endoscope is used to bounce high-energy sound waves (ultrasound) off internal tissues or organs and make echoes. The echoes form a picture of body tissues called a sonogram. This procedure is also called endosonography. EUS may be used to guide fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy of the lung, lymph nodes, or other areas.

There are three ways that cancer spreads in the body. The three ways that cancer spreads in the body are:

Through tissue. Cancer invades the surrounding normal tissue.
Through the lymph system. Cancer invades the lymph system and travels through the lymph vessels to other places in the body.
Through the blood. Cancer invades the veins and capillaries and travels through the blood to other places in the body.

When cancer cells break away from the primary (original) tumor and travel through the lymph or blood to other places in the body, another (secondary) tumor may form. This process is called metastasis. The secondary (metastatic) tumor is the same type of cancer as the primary tumor. For example, if breast cancer spreads to the bones, the cancer cells in the bones are actually breast cancer cells. The disease is metastatic breast cancer, not bone cancer.

The stages of malignant mesothelioma are divided into two groups, localized and advanced.

Localized malignant mesothelioma (stage I)
In localized malignant mesothelioma, cancer is found in the lining of the chest wall and may also be found in the lining of the lung, the lining of the diaphragm, or the lining of the sac that covers the heart on the same side of the chest.

Advanced malignant mesothelioma (stage II, stage III, and stage IV)
Advanced malignant mesothelioma includes stage II, stage III, and stage IV.

In stage II, cancer is found in the lining of the chest wall and the lymph nodes on the same side of the chest. Cancer may also be found in the lining of the lung, the lining of the diaphragm, or the lining of the sac that covers the heart on the same side of the chest.
In stage III, cancer has spread to any of the following areas:
- The chest wall.
- The mediastinum.
- The heart.
- Beyond the diaphragm.
- The peritoneum.

Cancer may have also spread to lymph nodes on the other side of the chest or outside the chest.