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Final figures are not yet in for Dining Out for Life on April 25, but early numbers  suggest that is was, as usual, a great success.  Trio Restaurant and Spencer's contributed 60% and 75%, respectively, of the day's sales.  Volunteer ambassadors sponsored by Bank of America helped bring customers into restaurants and bars, which helped raise awareness of D.A.P.'s programs and services and solicited more than $26,000 in direct donations!  Brighthaus Marketing also helped bring in many of the Tuesday Night Social Club's 1200 members to a variety of restaurants.   Brighthaus also held a special kick-off event for the Club at Random Haus Palm Springs, with catering by El Mirasol and cocktails by Ketel One Vodka.  That event contributed more than $2,800 to Dining Out for Life.  (sb) 

The April 19 free cancer screening offered by D.A.P.'s new Annette Bloch Cancer Care Center served 66 people (a good number for a new event and the size of our community), examining them for oral, head and neck cancers in observation of the awareness week for those types of cancers.  Several were referred for further consultation.  Desert Regional Medical Center and City of Hope partnered with D.A.P. on this outreach.  We hope such screenings will become a regular event at the Cancer Care Center.  (sb)

We have long known that long-term antiviral therapy, aging and the fact of being HIV-positive all increase our risk for developing cardiovascular disease.  Illness and fatigue which prevent exercise, hyperlipidemia, chronic inflammation, stress and depression only add to that risk.  Yet so far, there has been only sporadic data and sparse comprehensive guidance in helping HIV patients manage cardiovascular issues.  But now, a clearer picture is developing although it's far from clear.  David Wohl, MD, and HIV specialist at the University of North Carolina, has done extensive research on HIV and cardiovascular health.  He recently gave a detailed interview describing the latest information and what we can expect in managing our cardiovascular issues as we get older.  Especially interesting is his discussion of specific effects numerous antiviral drugs may have on our heart health.  Click here to read the interview and take some time with it--it's current vital information and worth a close read.  (sb) 

Do you sometimes feel that living with HIV/AIDS is often all about labs, t-cell counts, pillboxes, pharmacies, doctors, insurance and worrying?  There is fortunately, much discussion about HIV patients' physiological health, but far less focus on their overall mental well-being.  As we live longer but age quicker with the disease, it's increasingly clear that one's psychological state is as critical a factor as any other in managing HIV/AIDS.  Researchers and healthcare providers (well, some) are becoming more inclusive of mental health issues in treating patients.  "We have made this mind/body distinction, especially in our culture," says licensed HIV client therapist David Fawcett, Ph.D.  "It allows a lot of providers--and society in general--to turn a blind eye toward some of the things that are less convenient or more difficult to approach.  The medical community treating those with HIV tends to look at the objective data--the raw values and because of time shortages, they may choose to prescribe an antidepressant or an antianxiety medication--and that's the end of it.  But from the patient's point of view, that's not the end of it.  They get into all kinds of issues that often go unaddressed.  And there is a real lack of resources for people to turn to."  In addition to depression, isolation and stigma, cognitive decline is also becoming more common in aging HIV patients.  Click here for more about that, and here for a general discussion about why mental health of HIV patients is often sidelined and how we hope that is finally changing.  And watch DAPCAN for upcoming stories featuring our mental healthcare professionals here at D.A.P.  (sb)  

The LGBT Community Center of the Desert is proud to announce the first comprehensive LGBT Health Needs Survey of the Coachella Valley!  In partnership with a local health research company, the Health Assessment Resource Center (HARC), the Center has designed an online survey to assess the health needs of the local LGBT community.  Information obtained from this survey will help The Center design programs and services to better meet your specific needs, and obtain additional funding to provide new programs and services.  Click here for all the information you need to take the survey.  It's all online, completely anonymous, takes approximately 20 minutes to complete and is ultimately for your own benefit!  (jl) (sb)