Hello from Pink-Link
Greetings!
I hope this newsletter finds you feeling well. Pink-Link continues to grow as the word gets out about our supportive services. We now have over 500 members! I hope you're taking advantage of everything we have to offer in obtaining a healthy survivorship. We've received a couple of emails from women with metastatic disease asking for more information to help them. We've added "metastatic" to our breast cancer profile so those women can connect with other metastatic survivors. If you have metastatic disease, please update your profile to reflect this change. During the month of April, Pink-Link will be exhibiting at the Oncology Nurses Society Annual conference in Las Vegas. We're looking forward to meeting nurses from across the country who dedicate their lives to helping survivors like us.
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| The Stone Age was less Depressing
by Lianne Avila, MA,MFT
After a diagnosis of Breast Cancer,
many women have reported symptoms of Depression. For some this may pass but for others the
symptoms may stay and perhaps get worse.
A recent scientific study showed a significant decrease in depression in
those that implemented these six simple elements into their lives'. Read more |
Nutrition and Skin Protection
by Janice Baker, Registered Dietician, Certified Diabetes Educator
Protecting your
skin against excess sun exposure is the most important part of reducing your
risk of skin cancer. We also know that
other factors are important in risk reduction, such as avoiding tanning booths,
using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF rating of 15 or greater -
reapplied frequently, avoiding smoking and annual skin cancer exams with a
dermatologist who can show you how to do monthly skin examinations at
home.
To read the rest of Janice's article, click here |
Six L's of Caring and Coping - Live
by Dave Balch, Founder of The Patient/Partner Project
Dealing
with cancer is not just about cancer; it's about life with cancer. It's about all of the stresses, joys, and
responsibilities you already had in your life in addition to the new
stresses and responsibilities that come with serious illness. It's easy to get bogged down.
Read more of Dave's article |
Massage Benefits for Survivors
by Toni Muirhead, Licensed Massage Therapist
Massage done safely can relieve the physical side effects of
surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Massage, done by
a massage therapist trained in safe practices for patients in treatment
for cancer, can offer a gentle touch to quiet the mind, create a feeling
of calmness, and relieve the muscle tension due to illness and
inactivity.
Continue reading |
New Book to help Children understand Cancer 
by Ellen McVicker, author In 2002, Ellen McVicker, Aurora, Colorado resident
and teacher for over 20 years, wrote a story for her cousin, Nanci Hersh, a New
Jersey resident who was just diagnosed with breast cancer. The story was a gift from Ellen to help Nanci
explain her recently diagnosed cancer to her two young sons. Two years later, Nanci, an award-winning
artist, agreed to illustrate Ellen's words. On October 1st, 2006, Butterfly Kisses and Wishes on Wings - When someone you love has
cancer, a hopeful, helpful book for kids was released.
Continue reading
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Questions to ask your Doctors
by www.PLWC.org Patients Living with Cancer Regular and open communication with your
doctors is important in making informed decisions about your health
care. Consider asking the following questions of your doctors-breast
surgeon, medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, plastic surgeon, and
fertility specialist-so that you can learn more about your diagnosis,
treatment plan, and possible side effects. These questions should be
viewed as a starting point in communicating with your doctors, rather
than a complete list. (Some questions appear in more than one section
because the order in which patients see specific doctors can differ.)
Continue reading
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| Volunteers Needed
The
Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation
is on a mission: to eradicate breast cancer and improve the quality of women's
health through innovative research, education and advocacy. Through our research, we are working towards
an unprecedented understanding of where
breast cancer begins-in the breast ducts-and we now have the tools to get
there. The intraductal research holds the potential to expand our knowledge in
way that will truly allow us to end breast cancer. That is why it is the focus
of our research and that of the researchers we fund.
Read more
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Stomp Cancer Fundraising Campaign
Scott Mactavish, a
filmmaker, author and thirteen-year Hollywood veteran, is pleased to
announce the launch of the Stomp Cancer fundraising campaign. Mactavish's film SUMMER RUNNING: The Race to Cure Breast Cancer
starring Sissy Spacek is now available on DVD exclusively at the Stomp
Cancer website, with net proceeds going directly to cancer research. When you buy the DVD via the Pink-Link website, Scott will donate $4.00 directly to Pink-Link! Click here to read more, buy the DVD and donate to Pink-Link |
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One Member's Journey
My name is Carolyne Williams and I was
diagnosed in January, 2007 with a borderline low grade malignant phyllodes
tumor. The tumor measured 7.5 cm in its widest section. It was a
very fast growing, bulky, moveable mass in my left breast. The only
symptom was a rapid increase in breast size, where I went from an A cup in my
left breast, to a B cup. I put off seeing a doctor about it for 3
months, because I was hoping it would just go away, or that it was normal
breast growth. After 3 months however, it started becoming very
painful and very hard, similar to the feeling of a breast
implant gone wrong.
To read the rest of Carolyne's journey, click here |
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