Sunday, September 30, 2007

October 1st is World Mental Health Day



Mental illness is perhaps the most common and misunderstood group of diseases that afflict the world's population. The Healing Project wishes to remind our community that most mental illnesses can be successfully treated with proper diagnosis and interventions.

This year's project is Mental Health in a Changing World: The Impact of Culture and Diversity. Materials are availble in French, English, Spanish, Russian, Japanese and Chinese.

For more information:
World Federation for Mental Health
6564 Loisdale Court, Suite 301
Springfield, VA 22150-1812
(703) 313-8680
(703) 313-8683 Fax
info@wfmh.org
www.wfmh.org/wmhday/about.html

Saturday, September 29, 2007

September 30th is World Heart Day



Heart disease and stroke is the world's largest killer, claiming 17.5 million lives each year. That's why World Heart Day was created, to create public awareness of risk factors for heart disease and stroke and to promote preventive measures.

The theme of this year's World Heart Day is “Team Up for Healthy Hearts!” Organized by World Heart Federation members and partners, World Heart Day activities include free screenings, walks, runs, jump rope sessions, fitness events, public talks, scientific forums, exhibitions, concerts, sports tournaments and much more. Learn more about World Heart Day activities>

Friday, September 28, 2007

Dear Talula is Showing On Cinemax ReelLife in October



Dear Talula
Fourteen months after giving birth to her daughter, Talula, aspiring filmmaker Lori Benson received life altering news when her doctor called to tell her she had breast cancer. Within days of her diagnosis, Lori's friends began video taping her. The resulting film, DEAR TALULA, is an intimate portrait of a woman who met the challenges of her breast cancer diagnosis with captivating courage and candor. Premieres Tuesday, October 9 at 7:30pm on CINEMAX.

At 38, Lori Benson--an aspiring filmmaker living in downtown Manhattan--was relishing life and motherhood with her one-year-old daughter Talula. Then a single phone call changed her life forever: It was her doctor; calling after a routine check up; the diagnosis was breast cancer; and surgery was imperative.

Mixing verité footage with home videos and family photographs, this 34 minute film, is an intimate autobiographical portrait of Lori's battle with breast cancer. The film offers a glimpse of her life after she received the news - the complicated and often confusing medical choices, the doctors' visits, surgeries, chemotherapy and search for alternative therapies, as well as the support and encouragement she receives from loved ones, and tender moments shared with Talula.

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Free Breast Cancer Education Seminar - Dear Talula

Dear Talula A Screening and Q&A Series with filmmaker and breast cancer survivor, Lori Benson



Lori Benson & Lisa Rand, Director of Program Planning & Development at SVCCC.

The Healing Project was pleased to sponsor its inaugural Breast Cancer education seminar hosted at St. Vincent's Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Description

Dear Talula is an autobiographical, short film that illustrates a young survivor’s experience coping with a breast cancer diagnosis. At the age of 38, Lori Benson, with 14 month old daughter, Talula, in tow, is faced with a challenge she never imagined. Lori’s emotional journey, throughout her entire ordeal, from surgery to post-operative treatment, is both courageous and inspiring. Since its initial release, the film has won numerous awards at various festivals including The Tribeca Film Festival (NYC) and was short-listed for an academy award last year.

During the months of October - December 2007, the Dear Talula Screening and Q&A Series will be presented, in a variety of healthcare services organizations in New York City including St. Vincent’s Comprehensive Cancer Center and Morrisania Diagostic & Treatment Center, Bronx, NY. In addition to screening the film and conducting a Q&A, Lori will demonstrate how to perform an effective self-breast exam. The Series will be presented free of charge.

Please send an email to Melissa Marr if you’d like to attend any of the future sessions: Melissa@thehealingproject.org.

The Dear Talula educational series offers its audience tangible, take-away value. The film offers a glimpse into the day-to-day experiences of a patient, illustrating family dynamics, coping skills and the overwhelming landscape of New York City’s medical community. The Q&A with Lori Benson offers the current perspective and insight of a breast cancer survivor. Learning how to perform a self-breast exam is one of the most important tools a person can have, since early-detection can be the key to the effective management of a breast cancer diagnosis.



Lori Benson & Paula Klein, M.D. Dr. Klein attended to Lori's treatment at St. Vincent's.

The Importance of this Program

Individuals who are coping with life changing illnesses are faced with enormous challenges. This holds true for the patients, the family members, the friends and the caregivers. Health education is not a mandatory requirement in most areas, certainly not the level of health education that would be required to adequately prepare someone for the reality of living with or battling disease. Further, no amount of health education can truly prepare individuals for their own personal psychological reaction at time of diagnosis, during treatment and in some cases, during recovery.

Excluding cancers of the skin, breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women, accounting for nearly 1 in 3 cancers diagnosed. According to the National Cancer Institute, 180,510 new cases of breast cancer are expected to occur in 2007. There are 2.3 million breast cancer survivors living in the United States today.

According to the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, because of advances in the early detection and treatment of cancer, people are living many years after a diagnosis. As of January 2002, there were approximately 10.1 million cancer survivors in the United States.

1. Today, approximately 65% of people diagnosed with cancer are expected to live at least 5 years after diagnosis.

2. Patients and family members are looking for ways in which to gain immediate access to relevant health care information. They are also searching for new and better ways of coping with their diseases and by connecting with others who are facing similar challenges, they are doing just that.








For more information about Dear Talula and Lori Benson, please visit www.deartalula.com and www.artcatalyst.org.

1 Ries LAG, Eisner MP, Kosary CL, Hankey BF, Miller BA, Clegg L, et al. (eds.) SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975-2002.
Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute; 2005. Available at http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2002/.
2 Ries LAG, Eisner MP, Kosary CL, Hankey BF, Miller BA, Clegg L, et al. (eds.) SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975-2002.
Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute; 2005. Available at http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2002/.

Monday, September 24, 2007

Scientists: Brain injuries from war worse than thought

USA Today's Greg Zoroya published an extraordinary and troubling article indicating that large numbers of American Servicemen may experience long-term neurological impairment due to exposure to concussion.

This is a serious issue that will likely afflict tens of thousands of troops over the course of the next four decades.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

September 21st is World Alzheimer's Day

Welcome to the World Alzheimer's Day™ section of Alzheimer's Disease International's (ADI) website.

World Alzheimer's Day™, 21 September each year, is a day on which Alzheimer associations concentrate their efforts on raising awareness about dementia. There are an estimated 24 million people around the world who currently have dementia.

Each year a theme is selected about which ADI prepares and distributes promotional materials to our member Alzheimer associations, other organisations and individuals around the world. Getting people to campaign collectively on a unifying theme in their country is the most effective way of bringing dementia to the global attention of governments, opinion leaders, medical professionals, people with dementia and their carers.

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Take a Loved One for a Checkup Day - September 18th



Are you already taking charge of your health? If so, help a family member or friend do the same thing. Regular health care, including preventive care, can enhance and extend the lives of those you love. That's why September 19th is Take a Loved One for a Checkup Day. It's your chance to encourage those you love to visit a health professional -- or at least make an appointment to visit one. And look for a community-sponsored health event near you on this day. It's a great way to show you care. When your loved ones are connected with the right medical care, they can find out about their health concerns. Certain health problems can be prevented and others can be treated. Please help those you love do something good for their health on September 19. Go with them to visit a health professional or make an appointment to see how they can take care of their health.

For more information click here.

Friday, September 14, 2007

Stories of Wounded Soldiers




If you have not had the opportunity to view Alive Day Memories: Home from Iraq, you should. Hosted by James Gandolfini, this HBO presentation highlights the stories of 10 veterans wounded in Iraq.

These men and women who have sacrificed so gallantly to defend the United States relate the personal experiences of injury and recovery.

HBO has kindly made this Alive Day Memories available for viewing in its entirety on the web.

Thursday, September 13, 2007

US Life Expectancy

The Washington Post published an article outlining life expectancy in US. It is worth a read.

U.S. Life Expectancy Hits New High

Summary of Statistics:

40 Nations have a higher life expectancy than the U.S.

If you were born in 2005, you have a life expectancy of 78 years.

Rates of mortality for Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease continue to increase while rates of death from stroke and cardiac disease are decreasing.

Women outlive men by 5.2 years

Whites outlive blacks by 5.1 years.

The mortality rates for infants increased slightly to 6.89 per 1000 births. Nonetheless, this figure is unacceptably high.

To see the full report, visit the National Center for Health Statistics.

The best measures to take to improve life expectancy and some of the cheapest are:

Improved care during pregnancy;
Being fully vaccinated;
Compliance with prescribed medications;
Increased Screening and Dettection; and
Improved life style (less fatty foods and no smoking).

The Healing Project subscribes to the belief an once of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Saturday, September 8, 2007

Stop Suicide Today - September 10th


Each year in America almost 30,000 people commit suicide, and 70% of those people tell someone or give warning signs before taking their own life. Stop A Suicide Today! can teach you how to recognize the warning signs of suicide in family, friends, co-workers, and patients, and how to respond as you would do with any medical emergency. Learn more about Stop A Suicide Today!


Wednesday, September 5, 2007

September is Leukemia & Lymphoma Awareness Month



The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
1311 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains, NY 10605
(800) 955-4572
(914) 821-8806
(914) 821-3607 Fax
infocenter@leukemia-lymphoma.org
www.lls.org

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month



Ovarian Cancer is one of the most challenging diseases in the spectrum of cancers. Today new diagnosis and treatment guidelines are being developed. However, this disease needs intense focus as diagnosis is often late and outcomes poor. It is essential to support the development of new treatments and for patients to participate actively in clinical trials.

For more information

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
National Ovarian Cancer Coalition
500 NE Spanish River Boulevard, Suite 8
Boca Raton, FL 33431
(888) OVARIAN (682-7426)
(561) 393-0005
nocc@ovarian.org
www.ovarian.org

Sunday, September 2, 2007

September is National Alcohol & Drug Addiction Recovery Month



About Recovery Month
The Recovery Month effort aims to promote the societal benefits of alcohol and drug use disorder treatment, laud the contributions of treatment providers and promote the message that recovery from alcohol and drug use disorders in all its forms is possible.

For more information, click here.