Newspaper feature offers cancer survivors chance to share

March 7, 2012 1:00 pm

Image from the New York Times website.

The New York Times wants to hear from cancer survivors for their “Picture Your Life After Cancer” page. The daily newspaper is asking for American cancer survivors to send in a photo and brief description of how their life has changed after treatment ended.

All submitted photos are loaded into a collage to be viewed on the newspaper’s website as an online feature. Many photos are with loved ones, a few are of survivors dancing, several show survivors crossing the finish lines of road races, and one is of a survivor swimming with a dolphin. With each photo is a brief description of life after cancer. Messages are encouraging, heartwarming and filled with hope.


Rich Goade of Lehi, Utah posted the following:

“I was diagnosed with colon cancer in May of 2006. In the beginning, everything felt like an uphill battle. I felt alone and worried.

After many many more trials, I realized that I am not alone. I have my family, my friends, doctors, nurses and medical staff that are all around to support and help me. I have come to realize that I am truly blessed and don’t take things for granted as much as I used to. These have been some of the happiest days of my life, and I have cancer to thank for helping me realize that. When this all started, I never thought I would have said that.”

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Research participants needed in Lexington for study on cancer causes

March 5, 2012 3:00 pm

People looking for a way to make an impact on cancer research now have a chance. The American Cancer Society is in need of  participants for a ground-breaking research study.

This spring, ACS is opening enrollment for a national cancer prevention study, known as Cancer Prevention Study- 3 (or CPS-3). Men and women between the ages of 30 and 65 years who have no personal history of cancer are invited to participate.

Nationwide, ACS is aiming for at least 300,000 adults from various racial/ethical backgrounds to participate. Researchers will be examining what causes cancer and what does not. Understanding how to prevent cancer, will save lives.

In Lexington, Central Baptist Hospital has partnered with ACS to hold study enrollment sessions. Interested study participants may join at Central Baptist Hospital on Thursday, April 12 from 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. An additional session will be held at HealthwoRx on Saturday, April 14 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Interested participants are asked to make an appointment during those times, please visit the CPS-3 Lexington website to sign up.

At the enrollment sessions, participants will have to sign an informal consent form, complete a written survey and give a small blood sample.

Participants will be required to complete a more detailed survey at home. The survey will ask information on lifestyle and health. Periodically, ACS will follow up with participants. This is a long term study.

For more information about CPS-3 and the selected enrollment locations please email cps3@cancer.org or call toll-free 1-888-604-5888.

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Fasting may boost chemo treatments

February 29, 2012 2:00 pm

A new study conducted by the University of Southern California supports short-term fasting could assist chemotherapy cancer treatments.

The study was recently published in the Science Translation Medicine Journal and research shows that when cancer patients abstain from food for a short time while undergoing chemotherapy treatment, some cancers were cured. Cancers included breast, melanoma and giloma cells.

The results were true for the lab mice and the next step is more detailed research.

“A way to beat cancer cells may not be to try to find drugs that kill them specifically but to confuse them by generating extreme environments, such as fasting those only normal cells can quickly respond to,” said Professor Valter Longo, the study’s lead researcher to Healthcare Global.

Scientists warn for patients not to read this information and begin fasting, more research needs to be complete to see if the results would be similar for humans.

To read more about fasting boosting chemotherapy treatments, please see healthcareglobal.com.

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High school students seeks cure for cancer

February 20, 2012 12:00 pm

High school student Angela Zhang, 17, says she is a typical teenage girl.

She stays busy studying for her upcoming driver’s license exam, enjoys playing the piano and has a soft spot for shoe shopping.  But this Cupertino, Calif., teen decided to do something else in her spare time. She wrote a medical research paper on how to cure cancer.

Zhang, who began to read doctorate level medical studies in her freshman year of high school and worked at a Stanford University lab the following year, decided to put a thesis she developed to the test. She turned the paper into her high school chemistry teacher, who encouraged Zhang to have the research examined by top scientists.

In December, Zhang’s research that seeks out cancer cells and destroys them won a $100,000 scholarship in the 2011 Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology.

Zhang has made headlines for her “recipe for curing cancer” and her research has been proven successful on mice. For more on Zhang and her research, please check out CBS news coverage on this amazing medical discovery.

Calif. HS student devises possible cancer cure

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Eddie Montgomery featured in national cancer publication

February 16, 2012 12:00 pm

Grammy nominated country music artist and Kentucky native Eddie Montgomery opened up to Coping with Cancer magazine in the January/February issue about his fight against prostate cancer and his efforts to encourage men of all ages to get their prostate checked.

Montgomery told the publication he first learned of his diagnoses after speaking up about a pain he was experience on his hip. The doctor conducted a X-ray and saw a shadow. The doctor recommended Montgomery see a prostate doctor immediately.

“It freaked me out,” Montgomery said in an interview with Coping with Cancer magazine. He was told he would need to undergo surgery to remove the cancerous tumor on his 47th birthday. Montogmery’s father lost his own battle with prostate cancer at the age of 52. “When I found out, it tore me up.”

Montgomery’s cancer was caught in the early stages and surgery was successful. He received great support from his family, friends, Troy Gentry, and many fans of Montgomery Gentry, he told the publication.

Today, Montgomery is back to performing and recording music. He began 2012 on tour and up for an award, Montgomery Gentry has been nominated for the 2012 Vocal Duo of the Year by the Academy of Country Music Awards.  He strives to share his story with others and bring more awareness to prostate cancer.

According to the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men. When detected early, it can be effectively treated.

“I didn’t know how many men – how many actors, celebrities, and young guys have already been going through this. I mean it is unbelievable. I can’t believe there’s not more talk about it,” Montgomery said.

Symptoms of prostate cancer

There are usually no symptoms associated with the early onset of prostate cancer. Early detection test such as prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and the digital rectal exam (DRE) are the most common ways to identify its presence. Most advance symptoms of prostate cancer include the following:

  • weak or interrupted flow of urine
  • blood in urine
  • pain in hips, ribs or spine
  • urinating often, especially at night

Information provided by UK HealthCare

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Beanies for Baldies

February 14, 2012 12:00 pm

Preston Allen may only be 10, but he has already found a way to bring smiles to many cancer patients.

Preston and mother, Tonya, sew hats and present them to cancer patients suffering from hair loss due to chemotherapy at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital in Nashville, Tenn. The mother-son team call their sewing project “Beanies for Baldies” and are on a mission to provide warm hats to suffering cancer patients.

Preston is all to familiar with hair loss and a need for something to keep his head warm. Preston has been diagnosed with cancer twice and began treatment for Hodgkin Lymphoma in September of 2011. At five months old, he battled Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis, where cancer attacks the white blood cells. Preston’s father, Dana, lost his fight with colon cancer in 2010.

To cover the cost of  hat materials, Tonya has created a page on the online store Etsy for supporters of  “Beanies for Baldies” to buy a hat. Beanies are available in a range of colors and patterns. Hats can be sized for adults, too.

The purchase of one hat, at $5, pays for materials for three additional hats to be made and delivered to patients at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital.

According to the “Beanies for Baldies” website, Preston has embraced his father’s spirit of giving and sews vigorously to create hats for others fighting cancer. Kudos to Preston!

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New breast cancer screening tool comes to UK Markey Cancer Center

February 13, 2012 12:00 pm

A Selenia Deimensions breast tomosythesis machine.

This February, the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center will begin offering state-of-the-art digital tomosynthesis for breast cancer screenings. UK will become the first and only medical center in Kentucky to use this new 3-D technology, the Lexington hospital announced in a release.

Tomosythesis will be used by radiologist to see patient’s breast structure, eliminating confusion of overlapping tissues. During a mammogram, tomosythesis technology will take multiple X-ray photos of the breast and from many angles. A computer will process the photos and create a 3-D image for radiologists. The new technology is believed to find much smaller and earlier stages of cancers that can be missed in a traditional mammogram.

“Tomosynthesis produces images in tiny slices that can be reconstructed into a 3-D image of the tissue, similar to way a CT scanner works,” Dr. Margaret Szabunio, associate medical director at UK’s Comprehensive Breast Cancer Center, said in a statement. “It allows us to look at breast tissue in a way we’ve never been able to before.”

UK plans to begin using tomosynthesis on patients this month. Patients who had an abnormality on a regular mammogram will come in for a tomosynthesis as their follow-up, according to the release.

Tomosynthesis will be used as a regular screening tool for women who are at a high risk of breast cancer or who have dense breast tissue.

“Tomosynthesis digital breast imaging will be of great benefit to our patients when it comes to detecting breast cancer in its early stages,” Dr. Mark Evers, director of the UK Markey Cancer Center, said in a statement. “The earlier a cancer is detected, the higher a patient’s chances are for a full recovery. This technology has the potential to save many, many lives.”

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2011 Grant Recipients

November 29, 2011 12:31 pm

Lexington, Ky- Nov. 29, 2011 – The Lexington Cancer Foundation, Inc., announced today the award of $236,500 in grants to 11 Kentucky non-profits to improve cancer care, continue awareness efforts and to fund cancer research projects. The winning non-profits are: American Cancer Society Hope Lodge, Appalachian Regional Healthcare, Inc., Central Baptist Hospital, Friends of Indian Summer Camp, Manchester Memorial Hospital, St. Joseph Hospital Foundation, Tri-County Cancer Coalition, Inc., University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center, Kentucky Blood Center, The Center for Courageous Kids and Kentucky Prostate Cancer Coalition/Healthy Initiatives, Inc.

Grants awarded will support several types of projects, including: salary support; cancer patient transportation to medical centers; marketing materials for cancer awareness; Jin Shin Jyutsu classes for cancer patients and prostate screenings at Kentucky State Fair 2012.

The Lexington Cancer Foundation, Inc., is a nonprofit committed to raising funds for the care of Kentucky’s cancer patients.  The philanthropic mission of the organization is to create awareness and raise funds in the fight for the eradication of cancer. Grants are awarded to Kentucky nonprofits each year that are focused on improving the quality of healthcare for cancer patients.  To date, the Foundation has awarded or pledged over $7 million to worthy cancer causes. The Foundation accepts grants January through June of each calendar year.  A committee comprised of Foundation board members reviews grants in August.  Recipients are notified in September and payments are presented to the recipients at the Foundation’s full board meeting in November.

The non-profits were honored at a grant awards ceremony 10 a.m.  Nov. 17 at the Hilary J. Boone Center located on the grounds of the University of Kentucky.

The Lexington Cancer Foundation, Inc. is pleased to announce the following organizations and the plans for the grant funding:

1)      American Cancer Foundation Hope Lodge – Lexington, Ky. Continuing to fund the services of the Hope Lodge, a no cost housing facility for cancer patients receiving treatment in the area

2)      Appalachian Regional Healthcare, Inc. – Hazard, Ky. Assisting with transportation and a patient assistance program for its cancer patients in the Hazard and Harlan Communities

3)      Central Baptist Hospital – Lexington, Ky. Funding for two initiatives in the Central Baptist Hospital Cancer Program

4)      Friends of Indian Summer Camp – Louisville, Ky. Supporting programming costs for children and teens that are currently being treated for cancer or have survived childhood cancer to attend a week-long summer camp

5)      Manchester Memorial Hospital ­– Manchester, Ky. Supporting the hospital’s 2012 Project Pink awareness and educational events that encourage residents to practice healthy behaviors and early breast cancer detection

6)      St. Joseph Hospital Foundation – Lexington, Ky. Salary support for the Patient Nurse Navigator program, a free of charge service for cancer patients and loved ones designed to support and guide those through the cancer diagnosis, treatment and recovery

7)      Tri-County Cancer Coalition, Inc. –Corbin, Ky. Transportation funds for cancer patients to obtain gas transportation, wig, lymph, edema sleeves, and sir conditioners for patients going through treatment, dying or recovering from cancer

8)      University of Kentucky Healthcare Markey Cancer Center – Lexington, Ky. Salary support for Dr. Rachel Ware Miller as a principle investigator of an ovarian cancer trial.

9)      University of Kentucky Healthcare Markey Cancer Center – Lexington, Ky.  Provide the Jin Shin Jyutsu care program for cancer patients

10)  Kentucky Blood Center – Lexington, Ky. Provided necessary funds to help center purchase a new mobile blood drive transportation vehicle to be travel in central and eastern Kentucky

11)   The Center for Courageous Kids – Scottsville, Ky. Provide for more than 40 children with medical needs to attend summer camp in June 2012

12)   Kentucky Prostate Cancer Coalition/Healthy Initiatives, Inc. – Louisville, Ky. Provide free prostate cancer screenings at the Kentucky State Fair

For more information contact The Lexington Cancer Foundation office at 859-388-2620 or log on to www.lexingtonfoundation.org.

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2011 Wine, Women & Shoes

September 22, 2011 8:30 am

An unique fashion event featuring New York designers Badgley Mischka

Lexington, KY – Sept. 22, 2011 –Lexington Cancer Foundation, Inc., will present the first annual Wine, Women & Shoes event next month, offering Kentucky fashionistas the opportunity to sip and swirl select wines from the west coast, shop a marketplace dedicated to the fall’s best designs in shoes and accessories, and be dazzled by the 2012 spring designs of Badgley Mishchka in a fashion show.

The Wine, Women & Shoes fundraiser will take place Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Keene Barn located at Keeneland. The event will benefit The Lexington Cancer Foundation, an organization dedicated to raising awareness and funds for cancer research. Annually, the organization makes significant grants available to worthy nonprofits and medical centers throughout the state. In addition, the event is the kick-off for Keeneland’s 75th anniversary and a portion of the proceeds will benefit Horses and Hope, First Lady of Kentucky’s Foundation which funds cancer screenings for uninsured equine industry workers.

The highlight of the Wine, Women & Shoes evening will be a fashion show presented by New York designers Mark Badgley and James Mischka. The designer duo are the creative geniuses behind the stylish evening wear and accessories of Badgley Mischka, named one of Vogue’s “Top 10 American Designers.” Guest will be wowed by the spring 2012 Badgley Mischka line, most recently viewed during New York Fashion Week. Following the fashion show, the designers will be on hand to meet fans and patrons.

Approximately 350 wine-savvy, fashion-loving women and men will gather to sip varietals from some of the country’s top winemakers and distributors, including Blackbird Vineyards, Jan Farris Winery, Wine Sisterhood, Onehope Wine, Valley of the Moon and many more.

Guest can also bid on silent and live auction items, including a Badgley Mischka costumed designed Derby outfit including accessories, and shop the latest trends in the multi-designer Marketplace and Men’s Paddock Lounge. Marketplace merchandise includes vendors from Lexington, Louisville and across the nation, including AJ’s Clothing, Artemis Boots, Badgley Mischka, Glasscock of Louisville, Keeneland Shop, Monkees’ of Lexington, Mod Boutique, Trillium, among others. Vendors are contributing top notch accessories and fashion pieces for the Key to the Closet raffle. One winner will take home all the contents of the closet.

Tickets are $100 per person and $150 per couple. VIP seating at the fashion show is $150 per person or $200 per couple.

The Lexington Cancer Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to raising funds for the care of cancer patients.  The philanthropic mission of the organization is to create awareness and raise funds in the fight for the eradication of cancer.  The Lexington Cancer Foundation is also dedicated to improving the quality of healthcare for cancer patients.

Wine, Women & Shoes is a national charity event that raises money for organizations across the U.S. To date over 70 events have been held to help net $7 million for Wine, Women & Shoes charity partners. In 2011, Wine, Woman & Shoes events are to be held in Tulsa, Okla., Seattle, San Diego, Naples, Fl., San Francisco, Portland, Buffalo, N.Y., Greensboro, N.C., Maui, Hawaii, and Orange County, Calif.

For more information on Wine, Women & Shoes contact the Lexington Cancer Foundation office at 888-388-2620 or log onto www.lexingtonfoundation.org.

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Spotlight on Christine A. Moore Millinery, 2010 Hats and Handbags for Life

March 16, 2010 3:20 pm

As a woman, what is the Kentucky Derby with out a fabulous hat? Southern fashonistas and those that play the role for a day, know it is the ultimate accessory for the most important fashion event of the year in the Bluegrass, and you do not want to get it wrong! The Lexington Cancer Foundation’s Hats and Handbags for Life silent auction, of new and gently used hats, handbags and accessories, is the perfect way to pick your hat while supporting an amazing cause – cancer!

The Lexington Cancer Foundation is pleased to host milliner, Christine A. Moore of New York. She will be donating hats, but will be attending our event in person! Her creations have provided the finishing touch to innumerable ‘A List’ celebrities on Derby day. Click on this video to learn more about her amazing talent.

Hats and Handbags for Life will be held on Thursday, April 8, 2010 at Keeneland Race Course. Learn more about the event and purchase tickets by selecting ‘Hats and Handbags’ under ‘Events” on this site.

Submitted by Kristi Martin, Executive Director – The Lexington Cancer Foundation, Inc.

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