"Stand Up to Cancer" Selects Dream Team Researching OC

Last September, the Stand Up to Cancer Telecast raised over $100 million for translational cancer research. One Dream Team from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center ( Dr. Cantley), Memorial Sloan Kettering (Dr. Sawyer) and M.D.Andersen ( Dr. Mills) will be researching mutations that occur in genes that regulate the PI3K pathway which regulates cell growth and survival. They will specifically be studying the mutation in breast, ovarian and endometrial cancers. If you would like to read more about the research click here.

LiveSTRONG
Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!

My "lifesavers"

Most of you who read this blog know that I have been treated for ovarian cancer at the Cancer Institute of NJ, first in 2005 and recently for my recurrence. I consider the doctors and nurses there to be my "lifesavers".

I thought I would share a YouTube video with all of you that truly gets to the essence of what it is to be treated there. You will see a number of the nurses that I know as well as hear about the Resource Center. In the short video they don't have time to mention the nutritionist, pharmacists, social workers and genetic counselors who are available to help you on your journey. They sure have helped me.

So if you have a few minutes- 10 minutes actually- check out the video About the Cancer Institute of NJ

LiveSTRONG

Dee
Every Day is a Blessing !

The Little Apple

When I started chemo back in January I knew there would be a lot of things I would miss during treatment. One of those things was my daughter and son-in-law's move to Kansas from Oklahoma, where Andy was stationed. I had wanted to help them move into their new home in early April but understood that being in treatment would make that difficult. So instead I set a goal to visit them as soon as I finished chemo.

Last Wednesday, we began the 1300 mile , 2 day drive to the Little Apple- Manhattan Kansas. We started out from just outside the Big Apple and drove through Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri into Kansas until we reached Manhattan- which is known as the Little Apple. I really like road trips- it is a great way to see this beautiful country. I never knew there were tunnels through the mountains in western PA, that Illinois was so flat or that the wind never stops in Kansas.

We are enjoying our visit and love Andy and Terry's new home. From here in the Flint Hills of Kansas, we visited the Sunset Zoo, Fort Riley , the Oz Museum in Womego, and the Rose Garden in Topeka.The weather has been warm and mostly sunny since we arrived. No tornados have been sighted but we did meet KSU Wildcats ! (Yes, the same Wildcats that Rutgers beat in the Texas Bowl in 2006.)

Being done with chemo and making this trip - priceless!


Livestrong

Dee
Every Day is a blessing! And I've been truly blessed.

FY 2010 Budget

Here is some info from OCNA regarding President Obama's FY 2010 budget and increases for the NIH and CDC.

• The National Institutes of Health (NIH) would receive $30.759 billion, which is a $442 million (1.4 percent) increase over FY 2009. Of this amount, cancer research at the NIH through its National Cancer Institute (NCI) program would receive an increase of $268 million over FY 2009, representing a 5 percent boost and bringing cancer research funding at NIH to $5.15 billion. In FY 2008, NCI devoted $22 million to ovarian cancer research.

• The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Division of Cancer Control and Prevention would receive $341.1 million, which is an increase of $800,000 (0.2 percent) over FY 2009. Of this amount, Johanna's Law: The Gynecologic Cancer Education and Awareness Act would receive $6.807 million and the Ovarian Cancer Control Initiative ovarian cancer research would receive $5.414 million. This is a moderate increase for both programs

The Ovarian Cancer National Alliance is the leading advocacy organization for ovarian cancer patients and their families in the United States and works to increase federal funding for ovarian cancer research, improve health care practice and raise public awareness about the symptoms of this disease.

Livestrong
Dee
Every Day is a Blessing !

I Beat Cancer Again

This is the most wonderful post that I could write.

CT on Monday
Bloodwork on Tuesday
PET scan on Wednesday
Waiting for results on Thursday
Waiting for results on Friday
Waiting is not easy for me. Not knowing what will come next is very difficult.I'm a planner. I need to know what comes next.

Today around 6:15pm my gyn-onc called to tell me that my CT and PET scans were clear. With my CA-125 at 11, she told me I was done with chemo. I beat cancer a second time!

Life is what comes next!

I have God, my CINJ doctors ( Dr. Rodriguez, Dr. Gibbon, Dr. Gannon) , CINJ nurses( Deanna, Mary Jane, Carla and Terea) , my husband , children, family and friends to thank for getting me through these last few months.

I will continue to LIVESTRONG.

Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!

My Sister's Book Signing

My sister, Melabee Miller is an architectural photographer. She teamed up with author / designer Nancee Brown, ASID, to write the book "Can't Fail Window Treatments".

Next Thursday they will be having a book signing at the Barnes and Noble store in Springfield, NJ. (I must admit this is pretty exciting.)

Here is the info and a link to the book's Barnes and Noble site and the Facebook event site.

When:
Thursday - May 14,2009
7PM-9PM
Where:
Barnes and Noble
240 Route 22 West
Springfield , NJ

So if you want to learn how to photograph your home or how to use window treatments to update the look of your home this is the place to be next Thursday!

Livestrong

Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!

Sunday - Tea ... Monday - CT

May 3, 2009
I attended the Teal Tea given by the Teal Tea Foundation , a NJ foundation, that raises awareness and funds for ovarian cancer. It was a wonderful event at the Trenton Marriott. Women volunteered to be table captains and decorated each table using different themes.They also held Teal Hat, Ms Tea and Mr & Mrs Teal competitions. Yours truly wore the hat I made (shown above). Spending time with my Doctors and other survivors from CINJ ( top photo) was wonderful. CINJ Foundation benefited from the event.

Jean Shipos, survivor and President of the Teal Tea Foundation, asked me to come up to the podium and share with the group why I wrote this blog. I was really honored to be a part of the festivities and can't wait to participate next year.Kudos to all the volunteers who made the event such a success.

May4,2009
Well it was CT day today. They actually took me early and it was a good thing there was some extra time. They needed it to find a vein for the IV for the contrast. My veins are terrible. They finally found a vein in my hand . Ouch! This experience just drove home the point that I must schedule my CT's with enough time before hand to have my port accessed at CINJ so they can use it for contrast. Everything else went smoothly.

Livestrong
Dee
Every Day is a Blessing.

Coastal Jersey Parrot Head Club Event Supports CINJ

My friend and fellow OC survivor Pam Favocci is the secretary of the Coastal Jersey Parrot Head Club. The Parrot Head's enjoy the music of Jimmy Buffet and celebrate life by supporting non-profits in NJ. This year their Annual Feeding Frenzy and Birthday Bash will benefit The Cancer Institute of NJ.
Join them to Party with a Purpose!

6th Annual Feeding Frenzy
June 14, 2009
1-7 pm
Doolans
700 Route 71, Spring Lake , NJ
Buffet- Auction-Prizes
Entertainment

To buy tickets visit their website.

Livestrong
Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!

S 717 Cosponsors now include NJ's Senators

Thanks to everyone who wrote / called Senators Menendez and Lautenberg regarding Senate Bill 717 - 21st Century Cancer ALERT (Access to Life-Saving Early detection, Research and Treatment) Act. They signed on this week to be cosponsors.

Thank you Senators for your support of this bill - may its passage lead to an early detection test for ovarian cancer.

LiveStrong
Dee
Every Day is a Blessing ! Even if my neutrophils are low ;o)