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| News From The Women's Cancer Resource Center |
August 2008 |
Greetings!
The Women's Cancer Resource Center is the home of a support group for women with metastatic cancer. The group meets every  Tuesday from 5:30 to 7 pm and is led three times a month by Connie Holmes, EdD, and once a month by Kim Venezia, LMFT. This group has a long history. It began as part of a study at Stanford under the direction of David Spiegel, MD, and moved to San Francisco from Stanford in 1992 under the leadership of Catherine Classen, PhD. It then moved to Berkeley in 2003 and was under the leadership of Marianne Guenther-Murphy PhD and Paula Bell, LMSW until 2005 when Connie Holmes and Kim Venezia became the new leaders. The group has been meeting at the Women's Cancer Resource Center since January, 2007. Now open to all women with metastatic cancer, it has become a place of warmth, companionship and deep sharing for its members. At this time, the group is open to new members. Those interested should contact Connie Holmes at 510.898.0548.
- Connie Holmes, EdD | |
ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION
The Truth About Plastics from Time magazine
Think Outside the Bottle - Make the pledge to stop using plastic water bottles and information about reducing plastic bottles. A blog about one woman's commitment to lessen her use of plastics in daily living New Books:
A Community Guide to Environmental Health from the Hesperian Foundation.
Drawing the connections between people's health and the environments in which we live, this groundbreaking book empowers health promoters, development workers, educators, activists, community leaders and ordinary people to take charge of their communities' health. This book will soon be in WCRC's library and an event to celebrate the book is scheduled for November 13th at WCRC - details TBA.
THE BIOPOLITICS OF BREAST CANCER: Changing Cultures of Disease and Activism by Maren Klawiter
For nearly forty years, feminists and patient activists have argued that medicine is a deeply individualizing and depoliticizing institution. According to this view, medical practices are incidental to people's transformation from patients to patient activists. The Biopolitics of Breast Cancer turns this understanding upside down.
Maren Klawiter analyzes the breast cancer movement to show the broad social impact of how diseases come to be medically managed and publicly administered. Examining surgical procedures, early detection campaigns, and discourses of risk, Klawiter demonstrates that these practices initially inhibited, but later enabled, collective action. The Biopolitics of Breast Cancer ultimately challenges our understanding of the origins, politics, and future of the breast cancer movement.
This book will also soon be added to WCRC's library.
Oakland Food Connection
The Women's Cancer Resource Center is pleased to be working with this fantastic group whose mission is to support the quality of life among Oakland's low income residents by providing nutrition education and increasing access to local foods produced from sustainable practices from seed to table. Jason Harvey and Oakland Food Connection will be providing local and organic food at WCRC's art receptions and at our Annual Swim A Mile event.
Women's Health and the Environment
The Women's Health and the Environment toolkit is available to download in three parts. It covers the science linking our health and the environment, everyday actions you can take around the home to reduce exposure to environmental contaminants and resources to get involved in the larger movement to hold government and industry accountable for protecting us from contaminants. Download it and share it with your friends and family.
Shop Green in Alameda County
By choosing Green Businesses you can help reduce waste and protect our environment because Green Businesses prevent pollution, minimize waste, and conserve energy, water, and other resources. |
| IN THE JANRAE COMMUNITY ART GALLERY AT WCRC
¡Salud! A Celebration of Latino Art, Health & Community
This Latino Heritage Month event features a health and art fair with cancer and health information in English and Spanish; a visual art show with art by more than twelve local Latino artists; free snacks; Latin American music and performance; a nutrition presentation by Laura Brainin-Rodriguez M.P.H., a free raffle and other information from local Latino organizations.
Saturday, September 6th, 10 AM - 2 PM
Women's Cancer Resource Center
5741 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland
FREE
Co-sponsored by the American Cancer Society, Charlotte Maxwell Complementary Clinic (CMCC) in Oakland, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the Women's Cancer Resource Center in Oakland.
This event is intended to promote awareness of health and cancer in Latino communities and to promote Latina Services at these organizations including support groups, information, social services and a variety of complementary treatments such as acupuncture, massage, and herbs. We also want to celebrate our culture and community. Everyone is welcome to attend. |
WORKSHOPS, CLASSES & EVENTS - all free of charge
In addition to on-going groups (Writing for Wellness, Gentle Yoga, T'ai Chi Chih, Yarn Divas, etc.) we offer a variety of other workshops and classes. Send your contact information (postal and email address) to margo@wcrc.org to ensure that you receive a current schedule. You can also check the calendar on our website.
NEW WORKSHOPS & CLASSES - all free of charge
Comadres Training:
WAGES/BCA Training on Ecological Cleaning: How to Avoid Carcinogenic Products and the Connections with Breast Cancer
On the Summit Campus: First floor of the Providence Pavilion, 3100 Summit Street, Oakland
August 26th, 3pm-6pm
Contact: Marta Borbon Ehling at 510.219.3532 or Joanna Cuevas Ingram at 510.697.7954.
Introduction to Ayurveda Wed. Sept. 10, 6:30 - 8:00 PM With Victoria Alara, graduate of Ayurveda  Institute of America
Come learn about an ancient science for living well that promotes wholeness in body, mind, soul and spirit. With roots in India, Tibet and other Himalayan cultures, Ayurveda, "the study of living," is fast-becoming recognized all over the world as a deep resource for people interested in preventive medicine and holistic healthcare. In this introductory workshop we will touch briefly upon some of the basic concepts used in Ayurvedic methods of healing, and highlight some features distinguishing it among the healing modalities available today.
Ayurvedic Supports When Facing Cancer
Thurs., Sept. 18, 6:30 - 8:00 PM
With Victoria Alara, graduate of Ayurveda Institute of America
Whether we are facing the side-effects from cancer treatments, a new cancer diagnosis, or simply the knowledge of living amongst carcinogenic factors, we all can find support within the wisdom of Ayurvedic knowledge regarding cancer. It turns out that what's good for people with cancer is exactly what's needed for preventing cancers taking root, as long as you know your constitution and the state of balance or disease present. We will cover broadly and suggest reading for greater detail: a wholesome diet, gentle detoxification processes, regular emotional releasing techniques, shoring up mental resilience via meditation and breathwork, and Ayurveda's rejuvenation herbs. We will also briefly review case studies where there has been a consistent reduction of chemotherapy and radiation side-effects from a specific Ayurvedic herbal preparation.
Register with margo@wcrc.org or call 510-601-4040 x111. Cooking Club
3rd Wednesdays 6-8 pm August 20 - Cooking with Asian vegetables & fruits
Future classes will be on cooking with mushrooms and Middle Eastern recipes.
With Sandy Der, Chef and Certified Nutrition Consultant
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FUNDRAISING - Supporting WCRC's Work
SWIM A MILE for Women With Cancer
It's time to sign up and start training for the 2008 Swim-A-Mile. This year's event will be held at Mills College in Oakland on Saturday, October 4th & Sunday, October 5th. Join the other 500 swimmers in having a great time while raising funds for Women's Cancer Resource Center. You may register online here.
Don't worry if you don't swim like a mermaid, you can still be part of the fun! We need volunteers for both days of the event, please go to our website to take a look at how you can help.
We look forward to seeing you on the pool deck!
6th Annual Bike Against the OddsSaturday, August 23, 2008 Lakeside Park, Oakland, CA For more information or to register click here.
Support Strokes kayaking event will be held on Saturday, August 23, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. You can register for Support Strokes online and also make a donation at the same time. All registration and donation information is on their website.
Community Thrift Store
Clean out your garage and help WCRC! Donate your items to Community Thrift Store and designate the Women's Cancer Resource Center as your beneficiary. Visit the Community Thrift Store at 625 Valencia Street, San Francisco, or call them at 415-861-4910 for more information. You can also find them on the web.
WCRC Wish List
- Gift cards to Ikea, OSH, Williams Sonoma or Sur la Table to outfit our new kitchen - coming soon. . .
- Gift cards to Berkeley Bowl, Trader Joe's or Whole Foods to use to purchase tea and goodies for our clients
- Fresh flowers
- Gift cards to Berkeley Horticulture, the Dry Garden, Magic Gardens or other garden stores for plants and gardening supplies
- Gift cards to local restaurants and caterers for food for events
- Taxi vouchers for transportation for our clients
- Gift cards to OSH or a plumbing supply store to upgrade our fixtures so that we can be certified a "Green" business
- New yoga mats for our clients
- Gift cards to art supply stores for creativity workshops
- Musicians to donate their services for our gallery receptions and other events
- Steam cleaning services for the rug in our support group room
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| VOLUNTEER
Come to our Volunteer and Intern Orientation
Wednesday, September 3, 6 to 7:30 pm
Where: WCRC office, 5741 Telegraph Ave. (at the corner of 58th St. in North Oakland.)
Transportation: AC Transit 1 and 1R buses. There is also plenty of parking if you are driving.
Find out about Women's Cancer Resource Center, what volunteers and interns do, and basic information about cancer.
To sign up for an orientation, e-mail or call Sarah, sarah@wcrc.org, 510-601-4040 x105.
Are you Interested in Facilitating a Support Group?
The Alternative/Complementary Support Group needs a facilitator or two! We are looking for someone who has had cancer and used Complementary & Alternative Medicine (CAM) or a CAM practitioner who has treated cancer patients or patients with chronic or acute illness. For more information please contact Dolores at 510.420.7900 x 112. |
GREAT CANCER BLOGS & OTHER INTERNET RESOURCES
By Lori Hope - Author of Help Me Live: 20 Things People with Cancer Want You to Know.
By Kairol Rosenthal - Author of the forthcoming book, Everything Changes: Living With Cancer In Your 20s and 30s.
Information on Cancer Tests from the Annie Appleseed Project. They also have a wealth of articles on cancer, especially on breast cancer and complementary medicine. |
BEYOND WCRC
Cancer as a Turning Point, From Surviving to Thriving (TM), a FREE two-day event for anyone touched by cancer - patients, survivors, their friends and family, support persons, and healthcare providers - September 13 & 14, 2008 at Memorial Auditorium in Sacramento. Pre-registration is recommended. Continuing Education is available for a cost for RN, MFT, and LCSW. www.healingjourneys.org.
Sociology Study
Northwestern University's Department of Sociology invites 18-40 year old women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer within the past two years to participate in an interview-based study. (Both pre- and post-treatment women are welcome to participate). Participants will be interviewed regarding their fertility, their current family life, and their future family plans.
Compensation for participation in this study is a 25$ Visa gift card. To find out more or to participate in the study, please contact the Principle Investigator, Dr. Karrie Ann Snyder, at karrie-snyder@northwestern.edu or 847-467-0517. |
| SLOW FOOD NATION
By Sandy Der
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