Monday, September 29, 2008

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month occupies a special place on The Healing Project's (THP) calendar. Our organization was founded by Debra Lachance, a breast cancer survivor. Our Board of Directors includes scientist H. Michael Shepard, PhD who led the Herceptin discovery team at Genentech. Dr. Shepard continues to develop novel medications for treating a range of diseases including Breast Cancer as president and CSO of Receptor BioLogix. THP has also benefited greatly from the support of Scientific Advisory Board Member, Stephanie F. Bernik, MD, FACS. Dr. Bernik is Chief of Breast Surgery for the comprehensive breast program at St. Vincent's Comprehensive Cancer Center in New York City. She is noted for her efforts in creating treatment protocols for women under 40.

Fast Facts About Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States.
178,480 women in the United States will be found to have invasive breast cancer in 2007.
40,460 women will die from the disease this year.
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women (after lung cancer).
2 million women are living in the United States who have been treated for breast cancer.
African American Women are much likely to die of Breast Cancer.
2,030 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among men in the United States.


Early Detection and Treatment will Save Your Life.

What is Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that grows in one or both of the breasts. Breast cancer usually develops in the ducts or lobules, also known as the milk-producing areas of the breast.

October 17th is National Mammography Day. Many sites will be offering free and low-cost mammographies. If you have not had a mammography recently, please sign up.

Free and Low-Cost Mammographies (Some programs are for this month only or on October 17th):
The American College of Radiology - Search for these facilities in your area. The facilities that are participating will be listed with a pink ribbon designation.
Local Susan G. Komen Foundation Affiliate: Komen affiliates raise money to help local underserved women obtain breast health services. The affiliate will have a listing of organizations to which they have granted funding, so call to see what services might be available in your area. To locate your nearest affiliate, log onto the Komen Foundation Web site.
Planned Parenthood Clinics: Women can make an appointment for all types of low-cost or free health services, including breast health, with the clinic nearest them by calling 1-800-230-PLAN (800-230-7526).
YWCA Encore Plus Programs: Services are provided on a sliding scale. Screening mammography is available to women 35 years and older who are medically underserved. Call 1-800-95-EPLUS (1-800-953-7587).
CDC's National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Programs: Offer low-cost mammograms and clinical breast exams to women between the ages of 40-64. States are legally able to narrow the age range, so call your state to find out if you are eligible for this program. They may also have information about other facilities in their area for younger women. Call toll-free 1-888-842-6355 or log onto the above Web site for information specific to your area.

Resources:
• Mammograms: Questions and answers about screening
• National Cancer Institute: What you need to know about breast cancer
Visit The Healing Project's Resource Page and Select Breast Cancer for an exhaustive list of Breast Cancer Resources.

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month Board of Sponsors
C1C-315
1800 Concord Pike
Wilmington, DE 19850-5437
nbcamquestions@yahoo.com
http://www.nbcam.org/
Contact: Cynthia Church



October is Healthy Lung Month



Healthy Lung Month is sponsored by the American Lung Association and seeks to increase awareness of issues pertaining to the maintenance of healthy lungs.

Healthy Lung Month
American Lung Association
61 Broadway, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10006
(800) LUNG-USA (586-4872)
(212) 315-8700
info@lungusa.org
www.lungusa.org
Materials available
Contact: None designated

Saturday, September 27, 2008

October is "Talk About Prescriptions" Month



NCPIE is a coalition of over 125 diverse organizations whose mission is to stimulate and improve communication of information on appropriate medicine use to consumers and healthcare professionals. NCPIE is the nation's leading authority for informing the general public and health care professionals on safe medicine use through better communication. Better medicine communication can lead to better health outcomes and improved quality of life.

The Healing Project would like to urge its community to educate itself about the benefits of pharmaceuticals and their proper uses. Further, natural substances, nurtriceuticals and supplements are often contain powerful chemicals that can have adverse effects and negative interactions with ethical drugs. Take the the time to read labels, consult with your doctor and speak to your pharmacist. Finally, THP would like to remind you to take antibiotics sparingly. The overuse of antibiotics has caused the rise of powerful resistant strains of bacteria that threaten uncontrollable epidemics of lethal diseases.

"Talk About Prescriptions" Month
National Council on Patient Information and Education
4915 Saint Elmo Avenue, Suite 505
Bethesda, MD 20814-6082
(301) 656-8565
(301) 656-4464 Fax
ncpie@ncpie.info

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

September is National Cholesterol Education Month



National Cholesterol Education Month
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Health Information Center
P.O. Box 30105
Bethesda, MD 20824-0105
(301) 592-8573
(240) 629-3255 TTY
(301) 592-8563 Fax
nhlbiinfo@nhlbi.nih.gov
hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/cholmonth
Materials available
Contact: Information Specialist

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

September is Healthy Aging® Month



The Healthy Aging® Campaign — a national ongoing health promotion designed to broaden awareness of the positive aspects of aging and to provide information and inspiration for adults, age 50+, to improve their physical, mental, social, and financial fitness. Healthy Aging® represents the best there is about aging.

Healthy Aging® Month
Educational Television Network, Inc.
P.O. Box 442
Unionville, PA 19375
(610) 793-0979
info@healthyaging.net
www.healthyaging.net/agingevents.htm
Materials available
Contact: Information Specialist

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

September is National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month



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.

National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment
Office of the Director, Consumer Affairs
1 Choke Cherry Road, 2nd Floor
Rockville, MD 20857
(800) 729-6686
(240) 276-2750
(240) 276-1630 Fax
info@samhsa.gov
www.recoverymonth.gov
Materials available
Contact: Consumer Affairs

Monday, September 1, 2008

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month



Some Quick Facts About Ovarian Cancer

  • Only 15% of women are familiar with the symptoms of ovarian cancer.
  • 67% of women incorrectly believe that a yearly Pap test is effective in the diagnosis of ovarian cancer.
  • In 2007, an estimated 22,430 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer and 15,280 women will die from the disease.
  • As of January 1, 2003 there were 171,840 living women who had a history of ovarian cancer. (Latest figures Available)
  • One in 69 women will develop ovarian cancer.
  • One in 95 women will die from ovarian cancer.
  • 5-Year Survival relative rate survival rate for all women with ovarian cancer is 45.


The Healing Project believes there is a need to greatly increase Ovarian Cancer awareness, clinical education and pharmaceutical research. While it is a common cancer, the public and medical community needs to get speed so it can be detected early. Finally, the National Cancer Institute and research community must invest time and effort in developing better diagnostics and therapies to make this a cured or chronic condition.

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
Materials available
Contact: Jane E. Langridge