Janice Lopez Ovarian Cancer Foundation

I am so please to share the website for the newest 501(c)(3) non-profit raising awareness and funds for research in New Jersey, the Janice Lopez Ovarian Cancer Foundation. Janice and I were both diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2005 and our families joined forces in raising awareness in Edison by hanging teal ribbons. Janice passed away in 2009 and her family continues to honor her by continuing to raise funds for research, raise awareness and by forming this foundation.

The mission of the foundation is to" raise money, and spread awareness to support ovarian cancer research and ovarian cancer patients. Our vision is to help save the lives of our mothers, daughters, sisters and friends."

Please check our their website , jlocf.org, which lists their events, how you can help and resources. Nick and I will be at the 7th Teal Night for Life on April 21,2012 at the Olive Branch. Can't wait to see the entire Lopez family. So stop by and say hi!

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing!

Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge

Fellow bloggers:

I will be trying a new activity this April. The Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge hosted by WEGO Health. I will be writing a post a day for all 30 days. Do you want to join me in writing every day about health? It's going to be a lot of fun and I'd love to see what you have to say about each of the topics, too. All you have to do to join is sign up here:http://info.wegohealth.com/HAWMC2012 and you'll be able to start posting once April rolls around.

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing!

Mercer County NJ Melanoma Walk

This blog tends to concentrate on ovarian cancer but since my participation in the Mercer County Cancer Coalition I have learned about many other events in the county that raise awareness for other cancers from Prostate ( Dad's Run) to Breast Cancer( Dragon Boat Races) . Here is some information about an upcoming walk to raise awareness of Melanoma and Funds for the Melanoma International Foundation. It will be held in Mercer County Park. I received the information from Dr. Robyn Notterman & Jayme OMalley, from the Princeton Center for Dermatology.

Please join us for our safe from the sun Melanoma walk at Mercer Park, Princeton on March 24, 2012. You can walk in honor or memory of someone you know who has been diagnosed with Melanoma.

This event is open to the entire community! All proceeds will benefit the Melanoma International Foundation. Please go to www.princetondermatology.com, to register for this event! With each registration you will receive a free tshirt!

Children and pets are welcome. We have several vendors with information and products to help you keep safe from the sun!

Please help us fight MELANOMA!!! NO ONE FIGHTS ALONE!

A dear college friend, Marie, passed away from Melanoma fifteen years after her initial diagnosis. Do the walk for friends like Marie.

Dee

Every Day us a Blessing

3rd Annual One Force to Make a Difference Ovarian Cancer Symposium

Ovarian Cancer Survivors and their Caregivers

*Save the Date*

3rd Annual

One Force to Make a Difference

Ovarian Cancer Symposium

Steps to Wellness

Saturday September 15, 2012

Educational Testing Services , Princeton NJ

Cost: $20

Vendor Tables : $25

The focus of this year’s symposium is to provide ovarian cancer survivors and their caregivers the tools they need to achieve wellness during and after treatment. Learn simple exercises to do at home. Try Gentle Yoga, Jin Shin Juyutsu or Meditation. Meet other survivors and learn about other resources available to you.

One Force To Make a Difference is a collaborative of multiple organizations sharing similar individual missions. The mission of the One Force collaborative is to work together to develop synergies that will effect increased education and awareness about ovarian cancer; improved support for survivors; and better resources for caretakers. One Force to Make A Difference supports and participates in fund raising and other events that contribute to innovative, cutting edged ovarian cancer research.

So mark you calendars and join your Teal Sisters and take some Steps to Wellness! Registration information will be available soon .

See you there!

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing!

Save the Date -Gastrointestinal Cancer Conference NJ

I learned about this conference at yesterday's Mercer County Cancer Coalition meeting and thought some of my readers might be interested.

2012 Gastrointestinal Cancer Conference

Tuesday June 5, 2012

Registration 7:30 am

Conference 8am - 4 pm

Capital Health at Hopewell

Capital Way , Pennington , NJ

(Rooms A,B,C)

$25 Capital Health Employees

$35 Non-employees

Conference includes:

Educational materials

Breakfast , Lunch and Snack

Topics include Therapeutic Endoscopy,Liver and Pancreas Surgery , Post-op considerations

Obstacles and Strategies to Prevent Colon Cancer

Speakers Include:

Jason Rogart, MD - Christoper Gannon , MD - Ginette Watkins-Keller, RN,MSN

Sponsored by Capital Health and Mercer County Cancer Coalition

For more info contact: Ginette Watkins-Keller 609-537-6567

gwatkins-keller@capitalhealth.org

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing!

Survivor to Survivor: Understanding Cancer Research

I cordially invite you to attend my upcoming talk at the Cancer Support Community of Central New Jersey (3 Crossroads Drive, Bedminster, NJ).

Survivor to Survivor: Understanding Cancer Research

Thursday, March 15 • 6:30–7:30 pm Guest Speaker: Dee Sparacio, CSC Participant, Ovarian Cancer Survivor and Research Advocate Cure for Cancer Found–News at 11! What do the cancer research sound bites on the evening news mean for you? Learn how to read and interpret cancer research results from posters to journal articles. Find out which Web sites are reputable sources of cancer research information.

Please call 908-658-5400 to register.

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing!

March is National Social Worker Month

When people think of health care providers they see during their cancer journey do they think of social workers? I don't have the results of a scientific study ( would be interesting though) but my impression is that they would not. I certainly would rank them high on my list. In my almost seven years as a cancer survivor I have come to know a number of social workers both at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey(CINJ) and at the Cancer Support Community of Central NJ and they have helped me in countless ways.

So what are some things that cancer social workers do?

• Facilitate support groups
• Work with individuals and families from those newly diagnosed to those trying to find a new normal
• Provide helpful information and resources from transportation to financial resources to disease specific information
• Educate patients in how to reduce stress
• Clarify options and assist in various decisions facing cancer survivors during and after treatment

So thank a social worker this month, National Social Worker Month. They share our joy, help calm our nerves, help us figure out what to do next and have a box of tissues ready for those really tough times.

My thanks go out Julie, Barbara and Rose, at CINJ and to Ellen and Karen at the Cancer Support Community of Central NJ.

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing! The blessings of the social workers in my life are countless.

Kaleidoscope of Hope Gala- April 28,2012

Join us for KOH's 2012 Spring Gala!
April 28th from 6-10pm at Hamilton Park Hotel, 175 Park Ave., Florham Park NJ
Ticket price is $100 per person and includes:
A fun night with hors d'oeuvres, a sit down dinner, beer, wine, soft drinks and our signature drink, the"Teal Tini" all complimented with Music provided by DJ Ultimate Entertainment, a formal Presentation of our 2012 Research Grant Awards, a Tricky Tray, 50/50 and of course Dancing!

For those traveling or simply wishing to stay the evening, rooms have been reserved at a discounted rate for our special SPRING GALA event. Please contact the Hamilton Park Hotel, 175 Park Ave., Florham Park, NJ (973) 377-2424

Click here to purchase tickets online.

Nick and I plan on attending and hope to see some of you there.

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing!

Two new social networks- Treatment Diaries & What Next

During the past few years , I've heard from other Ovarian Cancer survivors how much they wanted to link up with other survivors. I ran across two relatively new social networking groups that might be of interest to my readers.

TREATMENT DIARIES Your Diary, Sharing Healing. (http://www.treatmentdiaries.com/)

This social network is for those living with or caring for someone with a chronic illness. It is a place where you can share your experiences and connect with others who are facing the same challenges. This group is not limited to cancer patients and includes caregivers, family members and advocates. Your posts can be private or shared with others. It is free.

WHAT NEXT Connecting with the Cancer Community

(http://www.whatnext.com/)

This community was developed by the American Cancer Society and connects you with resources and other survivors on the cancer journey. You enter your experiences into the site and the program matches you with others in your geographic area who are on a similar journey. It also makes recommendations to others ( based on your experience) giving them an idea of what to expect on their journey. There were 61 ovarian cancer/fallopian tube survivors sharing their Journey.

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing!