Give Support to a Colon Cancer Patient

I know it's been awhile since I've checked in with Cancer Nerd. Been quite busy with my MBA and a blog I have started with the women in my class, which you can check out here.

But today I write with something way more important. I received an email from a very good friend of mine, forwarded from a friend of hers. Please take a moment to read this and follow the link to Audra's Journey:

As most of you know one of my very best friends since the age of 9, Audra, has been diagnosed with Stage 4 Colon Cancer that has already metastasized to her liver. She is only 37 years old and after a long battle with infertility and losing her first son in-utero very late in the pregnancy she finally had Adam and Olivia her twins just 9 months ago.

Obviously, we are all devastated and shocked by this news, we are choosing to believe in the infinite possibilities and miracles!

I have started a website for her in which people can log on and read her story and journal entries. On this website you can also log onto her guestbook and send her a message of inspiration and support. Most of you know her but even if you do not please take the time to check in on this website occasionally and send her messages. Audra is a big believer in the power of thought and the more people who are sending love and light and energy the better for her healing and for her psyche to fight! I am begging that you do this for her. Lets make it a movement for her.

The website is www.caringbridge.org and her website name is: audrasjourney.When you get to the site it will say "visit a caring bridge website" this is where you enter, audrasjourney.

Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart.

Here is a direct link which should also work.

Please reach out and show your support to Audra today!

Be All You Can Be... in the Army of Women

October is breast cancer awareness month in the USA, as I'm sure all of you know. It's almost impossible these days to not be bombarded by pink everywhere you go!

The success of the breast cancer awareness movement in the last 20 years or so has been truly remarkable and inspiring (if a little envy-inducing for those of us who advocate primarily for another type of cancer). Huge scientific progress has been made thanks to the hundreds of millions of dollars (if not more) that have been raised by various breast cancer organizations, like Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the Avon Foundation.

There is a new initiative on the breast cancer scene this year, and it's a revolutionary one! The Army of Women, a joint initiative of the Avon Foundation and the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation, has set a goal of recruiting one MILLION healthy women to volunteer for breast cancer prevention research studies. The Army of Women launch was recently announced on the Today Show (click here to see!).

Leave it to women to take such an incredibly proactive approach in helping to eradicate this devastating disease. Very cool.

For more information, and to join the Army of Women, click here.

You go girls!

Cancer Takes a Hike

I just heard about this amazing website through the Colon Cancer Alliance September e-newsletter.

The site is called Cancer Takes a Hike, and was started by a Stage IV colon cancer patient named Andrew Stevens. Stevens was diagnosed in 2005. As he says on the site, "I had tumors in my colon, liver, spleen, and on my right adrenal gland and was given just a few months to live. Now, even after four surgeries and almost 40 rounds of chemotherapy, I still have cancer. But due to the amazing care from my doctors and nurses and an outpouring of love and support from my wife, family, friends, and thoughts and prayers of many, I am closing in on the four year anniversary of my diagnosis."

In honor of this incredible milestone, Stevens is hiking 160 miles of the Appalachian Trail with his brother and a good friend.

Fairly mind-blowing, eh? I certainly think so!

In addition to raising awareness by attempting this arduous hike, Stevens is also raising funds for the Colon Cancer Alliance. To make a donation to the CCA in honor of Andrew Stevens and Cancer Takes a Hike, click here.

First Day of School

I start my MBA program today. I have been anticipating the start of this degree for over two years, and now, today, it begins.

There are many things I have correctly anticipated about what this - my first day of school - would be like. I am wearing a suit. The day begins with coffee and a meet-and-greet. There will be formal introductions, a class portrait, a champagne reception (Yipee!). I will meet tons of new people and remember some of their names. I will meet my professors and try to not be intimidated, but I will be intimidated, and that's okay. I will finish the day exhausted but - I hope - exhilarated.

What I never could have imagined, and what will be with me all day long, is this:

My stepdad once studied at the university at which I am matriculating.

And:

Today is his birthday.

John did a summer science program here, and he was in nerd heaven (as I soon will be, though studying finance, not physics). He loved this place. He and my mom lived here that summer, and thereafter our house was adorned in university paraphernalia. Tea towels, mugs, plates, t-shirts, sweatshirts, scarves, baseball caps, winter hats, posters, calendars.

Now, all that paraphernalia (and all the new paraphernalia my mom and I have since added to the collection) takes on a new meaning, as this becomes my school, my future graduate alma mater.

The universe works in mysterious ways. I know that's a corny thing to say, but I believe it. And I will relish the connection I will feel to John, today and every day that I study here. I know he would have been bursting with pride and telling everyone within earshot that I am doing my MBA here, just like he did when I got a perfect score on my math SAT ten years ago.

I believe there is good karma all around me today, and I will absorb it as best I can.

Happy Birthday, John. Thank you for inspiring me to be the best student, and the best person, I can be.

SU2C Broadcast - Only One Kleenex Needed!

Here it is.



My boyfriend and I watched the show last night on the biggest computer screen in our house. I have to say, even though it was a bit chaotic, with some celebs missing their marks (ahem, Ms. Dunst) and some camera flubs - overall I was incredibly impressed.

The content of the show was perfect in its balance of scientific information, celebrity involvement, and humor. I appreciated that within the science sections of the show, viewers were presented with groundbreaking reseach (hooray nanotechnology!) but also with basic facts ("Don't start smoking.") that Americans, unfortunately, still need to hear too urgently.

My favorite humorous part of the show was when Katie Couric and Charles Barkley talked about their colonoscopies. In a show that was so scripted (and necessarily so, I know) it was great to see Katie being her charming self, improvising a bit with Sir Charles. And who knew the "Round Mound of Rebound" (thank you, boyfriend, for coming up with that old nickname of his!) was so funny? He had more stage presence than a lot of the actors! Not to mention how great it is that he had his colonoscopy filmed in the first place. Bravo, Mr. Barkley. And thank you.

Yes, the tears flowed. I don't know how Halle Berry, Casey Affleck, Jen Garner and Forest Whitaker made it through their "Imagine" montage when they read out stories written by those affected by cancer in the most dramatic, tragic ways. And seeing Patrick Swayze - even though I knew he was opening the show - was really tough. He has thinned out so much. In my head I will always see him as Johnny, his beloved "Dirty Dancing" character - so seeing him looking so gaunt was tough for me. It reminded me a lot of my stepdad, too, which always knocks the wind out of the ol' tummy.

Anyway, I am thrilled that I finally got to watch the show, and even more thrilled that the show raised over $100 million! A drop in the bucket compared to what our country has spent on the Iraq war, and far from what is needed to truly CURE this disease - but it's a very, very good start.

Onward!

SU2C Full Stream Available Online!

Good news!

Tara let me know that the FULL broadcast of "Stand Up to Cancer" is now available online! And unlike regular TV shows that are online in the States, I can actually watch this one from London! Which I will do tonight. Excellent.

The broadcast is available here.

Tara's blog also has some GREAT behind-the-scenes photos from the event! Click here to see them.

Thanks, Tara! And have a WONDERFUL wedding next week!

Cover Your Butt! And the Butts of Your Fellow Americans!

I received an email today from C3, the Colorectal Cancer Coalition, with an urgent message and easy task.

Right now, there are three bills in Congress that - if passed - would cover screenings for three huge constituencies of Americans: the poor and underserved, the elderly and those with private insurance.

To sign the petition click here.

The three Acts are as follows:

• HR 1738: The Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Early Detection, and Treatment Act will establish a program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide colorectal cancer screenings and treatment for low-income, uninsured and underinsured individuals who are not eligible for Medicare.
• HR 1926/S 1164: The Colon Cancer Screen for Life Act will expand existing Medicare coverage of colorectal cancer screening to include pre-procedure visits and other reimbursements, minimizing the out-of-pocket expenses for our nation’s elderly.
• HR 3060: The Colorectal Cancer Screening and Detection Coverage Act would require private health insurance plans to provide coverage for colorectal cancer. Plus, the bill will protect anyone from being denied a policy due to their need for colorectal cancer screening.

It takes about 10 seconds to sign the petition. In doing so, you are contributing to an effort to save lives.

On the C3 website, you can learn more about colon cancer advocacy initiatives. You can also send a letter to your local Congressmen encouraging them to support colorectal cancer screenings.

Stand Up to Cancer and Cover Your Butt!

Cranking Along the Cobblestones

I live on a quaint little cobblestone street in the middle of bustling London.

This afternoon, on my way to the gym (yes, I am taking advantage of my lady of leisure lifestyle before heading back to school!), I locked my door and turned to head down our street. Ahead of me was an older man in a wheelchair. He was probably in his late 60s or early 70s and wearing the requisite senior ensemble of khaki cordouroy pants and a maroon sweater. His lap was full of shopping bags from earlier errands. He cranked his wheelchair along the cobblestones, paused a moment to look into a neighbor's construction site, and cranked some more.

I watched him as I approached. His arms grasped and pushed the wheels forward, a huge effort that advanced the chair just a pinch. As he and his chair bumped along, my heart sank for the poor man and his jerky journey down our street.

I walked up to him and said, "Sir? Can I help you navigate these cobblestones?"

He smiled and in a perfect English accent replied, "No, thank you my dear. That's very kind. But this is very good exercise!"

I chuckled, smiled back, and left to go get some exercise of my own - my heart full of admiration for this stranger and his wheelchair.

I can only hope to have such an attitude toward adversity as I age and life throws at me what it will. I hope that when I feel sorry for myself, or am struck down by life's latest challenge, I will remember this man, tottering in his wheelchair along our little cobblestone street, a wide smile across his face, enjoying the exercise.

Just Stand Up!

Even though I won't be able to watch it from the UK (thank you, Uncle Bob, for recording it for me!) I have been following Stand Up to Cancer as the big day approaches and am very excited for the broadcast!


Yesterday I downloaded the new single "Just Stand Up," released on September 2 on iTunes. This song was recorded especially for the show and includes an absolutely stellar cast of female performers rockin' out with a great message to spread:

If the mind keeps thinking you’ve had enough
But the heart keeps telling you don’t give up
Who are we to be questioning, wondering what is what
Don’t give up
THROUGH IT ALL, JUST STAND UP!

Performers on the single include my personal fave these days, Leona Lewis, as well as Carrie Underwood, Mariah Carey, Fergie, Mary J. Blige, and many, many other superstars.

To be completely honest, the song is a little corny - but it's also catchy, and it's amazing that all these women came together to create it. You can listen to the single (and download it!) on iTunes here.

Also amazing? The celebrity lineup for the broadcast! LOOK: Casey Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Christina Applegate, Lance Armstrong, Abigail Breslin, Josh Brolin, David Cook, Katie Couric, Dana Delany, Fran Drescher, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Kirsten Dunst, Elizabeth Edwards, Jon Favreau, America Ferrera, Charles Gibson, Neil Patrick Harris, Salma Hayek, Scarlett Johansson, Masi Oka, Danica Patrick, Christina Ricci, Robin Roberts, Homer Simpson, Marge Simpson, Meryl Streep, Hilary Swank, Charlize Theron, Goran Visnjic, Forest Whitaker, Brian Williams and Reese Witherspoon.

And apparently Brad Garrett is getting a live on-air prostate exam. Love it.

So please tune in! And let me know how it is!

The Grind Begins

Sigh... I have known this post day would come.

I am writing to say that I will be posting less often from now on, because I need to start focusing on my MBA work. But I will definitely keep this blog up and running, and I look forward to the insights I will gain as an MBA student!

There is so much more to learn and there will never be enough time to learn it, but I look forward to continuing to chronicle what I do learn (and when I do learn it) here.

So - sigh. But! Yay!

Onward.