You may remember that I was in a clinical trial using Selenium with Carboplatin and Taxol for treatment of ovarian cancer.
Research into selenium and various cancers continues at CINJ. I received this e-mail about a clinical trial at CINJ that will study selenium to reduce the risk of prostate in men.
Healthy male volunteers needed
Researchers at The Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ) are studying the role of the mineral selenium in reducing one's risk for prostate cancer. Consider taking part in this study...and join the team!
CINJ researchers are trying to see if selenium yeast or selenomethionine lower
prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels and prevent other markers related to the
development of prostate cancer in healthy men of different age groups.
Participants will be asked to take over-the-counter selenium supplements or a placebo
for twelve months.Five visits to CINJ are required during the study, where blood and urine samples will
be taken.
Compensation is provided.
You may be eligible to participate if you:
Are a healthy male between 20 and 79 years
of age
Have no evidence of prostate cancer
Are a nonsmoker
Can visit CINJ five times over twelve months.
To see if you are eligible for this study,
contact Michelle Orlick at 732-235-6048 or
orlickmi@umdnj.edu.
Dee
Every day is a Blessing!
Monday, August 15, 2011
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Ovarian Cancer Symptoms video - Australia
Ovarian Cancer Awareness month is next month.
Do you know the symptoms of Ovarian Cancer?
This video says it all .
Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
A Different Kind of Girls Night Out
Tuesday was a busy day filled with lots of friends.
The day began with Girls Night Out (GNO) with a twist. Instead of meeting at a restaurant for dinner, all the ladies in my GNO group met at one ladies home at the Jersey Shore. It is an annual August event for us. We met other when our children were in grade school together. I've only been in the monthly group since 2003 but I have known these wonderful ladies for years.
Girls Day at the Beach began with lunch and a short walk to the beach. Bathing suit on, sitting in our folding chairs, we gathered together in a big circle and chatted. We spoke about our children & grandchildren, about our tax bills due at the end of the month and about the latest book we read. In this group there is no jealously, every single woman is genuinely happy for the good news we share with each other. But we don't only share the good we share our painful experiences too and offer advice.
After about an hour on the beach the rain began. We laughed as we sat there initially in a light drizzle saying it would blow over. Well, the rain got harder and we heard a clap of thunder so we picked up our chairs and walked the short block back to the house. Once inside we lamented about how the rain was wrecking our day at the beach but as the conversation restarted we forgot all about the rain. Who ran into whom. Whose car was in the shop. Who is looking to buy a new home. What we have on our bucket list. What wonderful conversation. As the clock struck 4:30 I sadly bid my farewell. How I love these women. Women brought together by our children, who remain friends even as our children have children of their own.
After a bite to eat at home I went to my cancer support group. I have been going to this group since 2007 when it formed. It is moderated by a wonderful social worker. These women are brought together by their gynecologic cancer diagnosis yet we have become friends. We have ovarian, endometrial, uterine and vulvar cancer survivors. Some women , who are BRCA1 & 2have had both breast and ovarian cancer. Some ladies are newly diagnosed and in treatment, in active treatment for a recurrence and some are in remission. We gather for an hour and a half once a month to share our stories and how we feel both mentally and physically . Most of us are from my cancer center yet we welcome with open arms others like ourselves from other hospitals and cancer centers. We have all become close friends.
These friends know diagnostic test names, how to interpret test results, chemotherapy drug names & numerous treatment options. We discuss the pros and cons of different types of ports. But it is not always an easy group of friends to be with. I say that because in this group we hear what some would say are scary things and very sad things. We hear when cancer has returned. (I've had to share that news once already.) We hear a friend's cancer is growing and not responding to a drug. We hear about serious reactions to the drugs that are making us better. We hear about transfusions and low blood counts. We hear about drug shortages and postponed treatment. We hear when the decision has been made to stop treatment and spend time with family.
But we hear good news. We hear a tumor is shrinking, we see when a friend's hair is growing back and the scars that are healing. We hear about trips to Colorado, Alaska & Florida and get excited about future trips to Italy. We share photos from our children's graduations and weddings. We celebrate the birth of grandchildren. We raise awareness of ovarian cancer and attend survivor's day celebrations together. Sometimes our social worker has to almost kick us out the door because we want to talk more to each other. So many times we continue our conversations and updates by e-mail.
Some people will ask me why I still attend a support group since I am in remission. What they don't understand is that the women in this group are my friends. We just have a different kind of Girls Night Out.
Dee
Every Day is a Blessing! I am bless to be friends with some very special women.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Informative Libby's H*O*P*E post on the Cancer Genome Report on Ovarian Cancer
For the past few years I have been following a blog written by Paul C. called "Libby's H*O*P*E- *Helping *Ovarian Cancer Survivors* Persevere Through* Education. He began the blog as an effort to help his cousin Libby , diagnosed at the age of 25 , find information about ovarian cancer.
On August 5th, he wrote a post on the recent Ovarian Cancer Genome Report. If you want to learn more about the subtypes and demographics of ovarian cancer, the cellular pathways that cause and influence the disease & potential treatments , you should read this post. It is a long article but the explanations are well- written and worth the time.
Feel free to contact Paul if you have any questions.
Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!
Monday, August 8, 2011
There Are Other Chronic Diseases
This blog has concentrated on cancer, ovarian cancer in particular with a few dashes of breast, prostate & pancreatic cancer information. I've written about my experience with ovarian cancer, about ovarian cancer awareness activities, cancer research and fundraising opportunities in NJ. Why? Because many members of my family and friends have been affected by cancer.
A week ago Sunday I learned that my younger cousin C had passed away. C did not have cancer. She had pulmonary fibrosis. " Pulmonary fibrosis is the formation or development of excess fibrous connective tissue (fibrosis) in the lungs. It is also described as "scarring of the lung".(wikipedia) " On MedPage Today I read the article "Pulmonary Fibrosis and the End of an Era for Jerry Lewis and the MDA".
In July, a bill was introduced in Congress called the "The Pulmonary Fibrosis Research Enhancement Act".The bill would expand research and awareness, create a National Pulmonary Advisory Board and a National Pulmonary Fibrosis Registry. Some of the latest research into pulmonary fibrosis has found a link between the disease and gastroesophogeal reflux. The current level of research funding for lung diseases - other than cancer- is $ 1.269 billion annually. There are many chronic illness that also deserve those valuable research dollars.
Check out the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation site for more information.
Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!
Friday, August 5, 2011
For Men over 40 - Free Prostate Screening
I am usually writing posts for women with ovarian cancer but I want to share something for the men in our lives.
FREE Prostate Screening New Brunswick, NJ
Monday, September 19, 2011 5 pm - 8 pm Screenings are free, but an appointment is required. |
To schedule your appointment for a screening, please call1-888-MD-RWJUH (1-888-637-9584)
|
Thank you CINJ and the RWJUH for offering this screening for over 10 years.
Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Awareness Day at a Somerset Patriot's Game
Here is a fabulous opportunity to support ovarian cancer awareness in NJ and have a fun day at the ball park. I've gone twice in the past and it really is a fun family time. Bonus - fireworks!
Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!
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