Battling For Health

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is is an autoimmune inflammatory disease affecting the patient systemically.

It is associated with progressive joint damage, pain, fatigue, and disability. Systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SOJIA) is a more specific type of childhood diabetes with an unknown cause. Both conditions are related to the activity of the cytokine compound interleukin 6, which is involved in the activation of cells in the inflammatory response.

According to two studies published in the March 22, 2008 issue of The Lancet, the arthritis drug tocilizumab is effective in both juvenile and adult rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

In the first of the two investigations, Professor Josef Smolen, Division of Rheumatology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria, and colleagues, performed a phase III trial of 623 adults with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis.

The patients were randomly assigned to receive tocilizumab intravenously every four weeks at one of the following doses: 8 mg/kg body weight (205 patients), 4 mg/kg (214 patients) or a placebo (204). This was paired in all groups with 10-25 mg doses each week of methotrexate, an arthritis drug that has shown to be stable before the study at these concentrations.

The primary endpoint of the study was the proportion of patients maintaining 20% improvement in symptoms of RA, according to criteria set forward by the American College of Rheumatology, also referred to as an ACR20 response.

More ACR 20 responses were recorded in tocilizumab patients than in the placebo group. That is, at 24 weeks, this was true for 59% of the patients given 8 mg/kg, 48% given 4 mg/kg, and 26% given the placebo. Patients in the 8 mg/kg were four times more likely to give an ACR20 response than the placebo, and patients in the 4 mg/kg group were more than two and a half time more likely than a placebo.

Tocilizumab is available in the market under the brand name ACTEMRA™ — a product of Roche and Chugai.

Read more details from Medical News Today.

Share This

How come Sherlock Holmes never paid any income taxes?

Brilliant deductions.

Laughter therapy is one of my personal favorite complementary and alternative medicine therapies.

Laughter has been proven through clinical trials to boost endorphins, our natural pain killers, and suppress epinephrine the stress hormone. The result is less pain and less stress. Less pain and less stress is an obvious boost for the immune system. A very good thing.

Once again the healing power of the mind comes into play here. Laughter is not proven to cure but it certainly is a tool, part of your arsenal in the battle against cancer.

Laughter the Best Medicine, Research Points to the Power of a Good Giggle. This report by ABC News shares that “a study of 20 men and women conducted at the University of Maryland School of Medicine found that 95 percent of the volunteers experienced increased blood flow while watching a funny movie, such as There’s Something About Mary, while 74 percent had decreased blood flow during a heavier picture, such as Saving Private Ryan. The results lasted about 12 to 24 hours.”

Why don’t oysters give to charity?

They’re shellfish.

The Growing Popularity of Laughter Therapy, An NPR report. This audio report by Luke Burbank discusses the laughter movement.

“What’s significant about the laughter was not just the fact that it provides internal exercise for a person flat on his or her back-a form of jogging for the innards-but that it creates a mood in which the other positive emotions can be put to work too.” Norman Cousins.

Humor and Laughter May Influence Health: II Complementary Therapies and Humor in a Clinical Population, 2006 Oxford University Press. The article points out the subjective nature of humor and the difficulty in quantifying and measuring the correlation between humor and health.

The good news is that research into this therapy has begun.

Online Resources: Healing Cancer Naturally has a great site called Laughter is Medicine.

Laughter Therapy at Cancer Treatment Centers of America.

Steve Wilson’s World Laughter Tour.

Movie Recommendations:

Nanny McPhee

Failure to Launch

Freaky Friday

Fever Pitch

The Three Stooges

The Princess Bride

Now go ahead, laugh. A big belly laugh.

Then do the research for yourself.

Share This

I have been on fish oil supplementation since (I think) the last half of October 2007.

I think I’ve mentioned that here, at least a couple of times. I felt the benefits right away, even before the beach/sand therapy worked on me.

Now, according to a UK study, intake of cod liver oil significantly reduced the amount of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) that rheumatoid arthritis sufferers have to take in.

Taking cod liver oil could allow arthritis sufferers to cut back on potentially dangerous drugs, according to a new study.

The research could offer new hope to the about 500,000 people in Britain with rheumatoid arthritis.

Scientists believe it could allow hundreds of thousands of sufferers to scale down their use of anti inflammatory drugs, the most common treatment for the disease.

Although they ease pain, the drugs can cause side-effects such as high blood pressure and can increase the risk of a heart attack.

Because of the risks, doctors have traditionally limited their use and patients are advised to take the drugs only for short periods at a time.

But many sufferers are forced to take the pills on an almost constant basis to cope with the pain of their condition.

Cod liver oil could allow them to cut their use of the drugs by a third, the research shows.

Scientists in Dundee and Edinburgh followed 97 adults with rheumatoid arthritis, half of whom took 10g of high strength cod liver oil every day and half of whom took a placebo.

Read the full report from the UK Telegraph.

Share This

The following email, I got from Julia Gaynor. Read on:

Hi Gloria,

I know you cover arthritis on your blog and think this will be of interest. The number of knee replacements done annually in the U.S. will jump 525% by 2030. And the money spent on these procedures is expected to reach $65.2 billion by 2015; Medicare and Medicaid programs pay for about 60% of U.S. joint replacements.

The increasing cost to hospitals and the ever-growing number of people in debilitating pain is driving the orthopedic industry to devise more cost-effective solutions. Now, instead of one-size-fits-many or gender-specific implants, ConforMIS, Inc. has created proprietary iFit Technology to convert MRI and CT Scans into personalized, patient-specific, minimally invasive implants and accompanying instrumentation, which replaces $25,000 worth of traditional instrumentation.

This ‘image-to-implant’ technology allows for precisely sized and shaped implants that reduce the need for cartilage or bone resection and radically simplify the surgical procedure which means less blood loss, and less time in the operating room and recovery time. The procedure also allows for full range of motion for the patient while preserving the joint for future treatment options. Patients are able to return to normal physical activity (we have a patient who is back to skiing competitively 5 months after surgery).

Would you be interested in speaking with a ConforMIS patient? I can also offer photos, graphics and videos, including one of a patient walking up stairs a week after surgery.

I look forward to your thoughts,

Julia

____________________________

Julia Gaynor

Racepoint Group, Inc.

404 Wyman Street

Suite 375

Waltham, MA 02451

P: 781.487.4635

jgaynor@racepointgroup.com

www.racepointgroup.com

Share This

This is the third post in a series looking at how do you know if its Alzheimer’s disease?  The first two posts, Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease and Alzheimer’s and Dementia-the Differences laid a foundation for the symptomology, characteristics and key definitions.  In this post, I’ll discuss how medical professionals actually get to a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.

So, as our story continues, your suspicions have been verified.  Grandpa does indeed have dementia.  As we learned in yesterday’s post, the question now becomes, “what is the cause of the dementia?” Is it Alzheimer’s disease or some imposter?

Here is where it gets a little tricky, as there is no real test for Alzheimer’s disease.  Instead, medical professionals will begin the task of testing for certain conditions that cause dementia and as those conditions are ruled out, they become more and more certain that it is, in fact,  Alzheimer’s disease.  Dr. Eric Tangalos of the Mayo Clinic suggests that elderly with memory problems should be tested thoroughly to confirm, with as much accuracy as possible, that it’s Alzheimer’s disease.

Let’s look at some of the tests and procedures that might take place:

Medical history-The doctor should review past medical history carefully.  She’ll use this information to notice family patterns, prior Alzheimer’s, mini strokes or strokes, etc.  You should make a list of all medications, dosage and approximate time your loved one has been taking them. This will be of tremendous help to your doctor.

Mental Status Testing-The doctor will ask simple things like the date and time. Other questions will be asked to determine if the person is aware of his surroundings or recognizes familiar people.  As a part of mental status testing, the doctor will probably do what is called a Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE).   Your loved one may be asked to:

• Spell “world” backwards
• Count backwards by 7’s from 100
• Respond to questions regarding seasons and dates
• Follow instructions, usually sequential such as sit down, cross your legs and fold your arms.

Physical exam-This one is pretty obvious, but the physician will be checking for causes of dementia such as previous strokes, alcoholism, thyroid problems and a host of conditions that might mimick Alzheimer’s disease. They may do blood tests to rule out things like infection, severe anemia and or vitamin deficiencies, thyroid problems, diabetes, kidney or liver issues.

Neurological Exam-The doctor is looking for lapses in brain and or nervous system function.  Generally, the physician will test speech, ability of the eyes to move, balance/coordination, muscles and reflexes.

Imaging–This does not happen in all cases, but it is a valuable tool as technology makes it more and more easier to actually see the brain and what is going on.

It is important to note that one or more of these categories of tests may take place at one appointment and may not require a specialist. 

You now know the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, you understand the differences between Alzheimer’s and dementia and you know about testing and diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease.

Please be reminded that YOU are your own (and your loved one’s) best advocate.  Trisha Torrey has a great post, “Taking Responsibility For Health Care Decisions,” that is a serious reminder that ultimately, we are responsible for our health care decisions.  So, ask questions until you understand what the doctor is saying, do your own research and then ask more questions.  If you have any doubts, get a second opinion.

Tomorrow, I’ll discuss the stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

May I give you a virtual penny for your very real thoughts?  Please leave a comment or send a private message to:  http://alzheimer.battlingforhealth.com/contact

Share This

By Sandee Foxten

We were high school sweethearts. Reunited after nearly 20 years, he was the one my heart had always belonged to. Love at first site is real. That is how we fell in love. The first time we saw each other, our eyes met and from that moment on, my life has never been the same. My first marriage ended in divorce and my second marriage left me as a young widowed mother of two. About a year after my husband’s death, I got a very shocking email. He was looking for me! My high school sweetie was trying to find me and I just broke down and cried in disbelief. At the time, I thought it was fate. I was on top of the world thinking that I would finally be with that one special person I never seemed to be able to put out of my mind. After talking for awhile and getting up to date on each others lives, I learned that his life was far from joyous. At the time, he was in a place in another state that helps drug addicts. He had a job and seemed pretty stable. He told me he had been clean for two years. Not knowing anything about drugs myself, I thought that all he needed was me. I thought that as long as he had my love and knew it was true, he would never feel the need for drugs again. My entire world was fixing to be turned upside down.

After driving to another state to be reunited with my old flame, we decided that he would move to my city so we could be together. He found a job really quick, but couldn’t find a decent place to stay. So I allowed him to stay with me. That is a move that didn’t take me long to regret. Once he stayed and I was in his arms, I didn’t want to let go of him again. So my home became his home. It didn’t take long to learn that he hadn’t given up cocaine. He started staying out all night. The first time, it wasn’t just all night, he was gone for several days. The truth started becoming reality not long after that. We had went out to a bar with some friends and after a few drinks, he wanted me to take him to buy drugs. I refused and told him we were going home. On the way home, we got into a heated argument and he tried to hit me. I was driving and I pulled over on the side of the at 4am and told him to get out. I wasn’t sure who this man was, but it wasn’t somebody I loved. I felt bad and went back to pick him up. We agreed that he would leave that night. He was going to pack his clothes and I would take him to the bus station. But when we got home, he took off in one of my vehicles. After we cooled down and he got his drugs out of his system, we agreed to work it out. But things only got worse. On payday, he wouldn’t bother coming home. He was gone for the weekend, getting high. Eventually, he started stealing from me. He stole items from my home to trade for drugs or money to get drugs. He stole my credit cards and drained my bank accounts. I had to take leave from my job because the situation was so stressful.

“Baby Blue” as I call him, was honestly a good man when he was sober. Very caring, very loving and gentle. But once he started drinking and doing cocaine, he became very abusive and destructive. The situation progressively worsened. While on drugs, he would make up stuff and see things that I didn’t see. I knew it was the drugs. But he would accuse me of trying to hide things. Such as he thought I was cheating on him and that is the last thing I would do. Eventually, he took a trip back to his home state and never returned. The bad part, he stole one of my vehicles in the process. I had to drive to another state and hunt him down only to find he didn’t have my vehicle. He said he let someone drive it to the store and they never returned it. I will never forget the pain of that night. He was so strung out on drugs and I had him in my hotel room planning on having him arrested for the theft of my vehicle. It was this night that I found out what no woman would ever want to here. Never in a million years did I think one man could hurt me so much. He told me what he had been doing there those past few days and it was like someone shot a bullet right into my heart. He had been running around with a prostitute and had also been selling himself to other men for drugs. This man that I loved so much was sleeping with other men. I just wanted to die at that moment. I could not believe this was happening. What more could I do? What I did next was the hardest thing I had ever been through next to the death of my husband.

He wanted more drugs. He wanted me to take him. At first, I refused. Then after a few moments, I agreed. My intention was to find out where the drug dealer lived. I was from out of state, but I am very good at directions. I remembered the name of the road and number on the house. After returning to the hotel, he went in the bathroom and did his drug thing. That was the one that finally made him tired enough to sleep. I rubbed his back for him to ensure he would go to sleep. It was already after daybreak, so I made my move. I called the police. Within an hour, there were three police cars outside the hotel room door. I talked to them outside. They entered the room and woke him up. After asking a few questions, they decided to arrest him. He started fighting with them and I thought they were going to break his neck when they through him down on the bed. I was standing beside the wall and I just fell down on my knees begging him not to fight. As they took him away, the cops came back in to comfort me and told me to go home and to never come back. That boy was no good for me and I needed to stay away from him.

I cried all the way home, a four hour drive. I never returned to my job because the stress caused a back injury to worsen. “Baby Blue” spent four months in a detention center for theft of my vehicle. Today, he is back out on the streets and still doing drugs. I do not know what I could have done to save him. I think he is content doing what he does. As for me, my kids were far more important than having a man to love and run after. No man will ever come before my kids. My experiences have lead me to start a blog about drug and alcohol abuse. I have received great reviews for my work on this blog.

Please take time to visit at livedrugfree.blogspot.com

Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sandee_Foxten

Advertisement: Raise Capital in 90 Days Online - Now! Learn How This Works .. Bedzzz Inn, Inc Raised $92,867 with this system!

Share This

Why a venous access device?

Venous, meaning vein, is the fastest route for delivering medication, blood and blood products in a consistent and safe and efficient manner.

TYPES OF VENOUS ACCESS DEVICES

The peripheral line

Peripheral access is obtained using a peripheral vein (hands, arms, feet or legs). Generally the hands and arms are used. Location and placement is determined by the condition of the patient’s veins and the reason for access.

An intravenous catheter is inserted using a needle covered by a flexible sheath. After insertion the needle is removed and the sheath remains inserted connected to a hub. This hub may then be connected to tubing for continuous intravenous therapy (IV) for blood or blood products, antibiotics or other medications. Often when the IV is completed and the site is still is in good condition, the access hub will receive a small cap. The cap will be used to flush the site with saline per protocols and is available for future medication delivery.

A sterile dressing will be placed over the insertion site and the catheter will remain in place for several days. These sites are not used for blood draws.

Central Venous Access Device:

All Central Venous Access Devices involve a catheter tip which rests in the superior vena cava of the heart, except a femoral (groin) line whose tip sits in the inferior vena cava.

X-ray is used to verify the correct placement of all CVADs.

A CVAD is chosen over a peripheral line for many reasons. Many drugs, especially chemotherapy medications used to treat cancer are damaging to small peripheral veins, resulting in the collapse, scarring or occlusion of the site. This leads to multiple sticks for new peripheral access sites. A CVAD will stay in place for a longer period of time, generally for the entire therapy regime or longer and most patients will go home with the device. Patients are then taught how to care for their CVAD devices at home.

A CVAD may eliminate the need for multiple laboratory blood draws.

Today’s CVAD catheter products enable the infusion of several medications, some incompatible, at the same time.

It is important to discuss with your doctor why you are having a CVAD placed. The more you know about your therapy the more comfortable you will be.

Four Common Types of CVAD:

PICC Line

This CVAD is called a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) and is non-surgically placed into the antecubital area of the arm (the front surface of the arm, at the elbow). The catheter which has a guide wire is then threaded to rest in the superior vena cava (the top opening of the heart) Several companies make this device. The photo shows a Bard brand PICC line, however; there are other brand names you may hear about such as Poly PICC or Groshong. Note the lumens or pigtails. These lines may be inserted at beside by a specialist nurse or a physician. These lines may be used for laboratory blood draws.

Non Tunneled Central Catheter

This type of CVAD is used more often for emergencies because of the quick access. The catheter is placed in the jugular or femoral vein (femoral vein is in the groin). These catheters are left in place for no longer than 2 or 3 weeks. They are not seen as often because due to the location they are not as flexible for patients and have a higher infection rate and because often cancer therapies last longer than the recommendation placement time of these catheter. They may be inserted at bedside and will have one or multiple lumens (pigtails) for use. After insertion a sterile dressing is placed on the area.

Tunneled Central Catheter

This is a surgically placed catheter. Two incisions are made to tunnel the catheter in through a vein in the chest or neck, and they generally exit above the nipple level of the chest wall. While 8 to 10 inches of the tubing is visible, this catheter is easy to keep in place and much more accommodating for the patient’s lifestyle. The photo shows a Bard brand single lumen Hickman catheter. There are many brands such as Hickman, Broviac, Groshong, each with a variety of specific characteristics. Which catheter you receive will depend on your physician and your particular needs. The tunneled catheter will have a sterile dressing at the insertion site, and will be capped off when not in use. These catheters may be used to obtain laboratory blood samples.

Port Catheter

This CVAD requires surgical placement. The port may be placed in the upper chest, or a smaller type of port may be placed in the forearm. The photo shows a Bard port. There are many brand names such as Mediport, Infusaport or Port-A-Cath. The catheter is placed under the skin in a small pocket. The incision is about two inches long and the catheter portion is tunneled like the tunneled catheter. Once the incision heals it is difficult to tell the you have a catheter. The reservoir sits below the skin. Its surface is covered with a rubber top. When your port is needed a special needle called a Huber needle is used for access. When the needle is in place the site will be covered with a sterile dressing. Ports may be used to obtain your laboratory blood samples.

Resources for venous access ports:

Central Venous Access Device photos are from Bard, where you may also obtain patient information on access devices.

Other resources:

PICC line education from a nursing PICC insertion specialist.

Teens Living with Cancer, All Hooked Up: Central Lines

RadiologyInfo: Vascular Access

HDC Corporation, The original PICC company, for product information.

Share This

The terms dementia and Alzheimer’s are often used interchangeably.  In fact, dementia is not Alzheimer’s and Alzheimer’s is not dementia, although, they are certainly related.

For example, let’s say you your stomach is bothering you. You can’t eat much and it’s difficult to drink.  At first you shrug it off and hope you’ll lose a few pounds, but then you try to ignore it and finally attempt to soothe it with over the counter medicines, nothing works.  You call your Dr. and make an appointment. A couple of days later, you find yourself in the Dr’s office.  She asks you some questions, examines you and declares, “You have an acute pain in your stomach.”  You think to yourself, “Uh….duh……tell me something I don’t already know.”

Well, if you take your grandfather to the Dr. because he is acting strange, and has a set of symptoms that concern you, and the Dr. says, “He has dementia,” and sends you home.  It is akin to telling you he has a pain, which brings me to my main point.

Dementia is a SYMPTOM.  It is caused by something.  What you know after hearing the word is simply this. The symptomology that caused you to take your grandfather to the doctor is called dementia.  The “pain in the brain,” so to speak, is dementia.  What you need to know now is, what is causing the dementia?  You can click on the link for a detailed definition, but for now, here’s a simple one from Dr. David Roeltgen.

“Dementia is an impairment of thinking and memory that interferes with a person’s ability to do things which he or she previously was able to do.”  Dementia is NOT a part of the normal course of aging.

There are many causes/types of dementia, some of the common ones are:

Parkinson’s disease, Picks disease, brain tumor, alcoholism, Acute B12 defeciency, Hunington’s disease, depression, multi-infarct, and of course, Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s disease: A progressive neurologic disease of the brain that leads to the irreversible loss of neurons and dementia. The clinical hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease are progressive impairment in memory, judgment, decision making, orientation to physical surroundings, and language. A working diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is usually made on the basis of the neurologic examination. A definitive diagnosis can be made only at autopsy. (Definition adapted from medicinenet.com)

So, it’s important for you to ask questions, do some research of your own and then ask the doctor to do more tests to discover the CAUSE of the dementia.

Tomorrow, I’ll discuss Alzheimer’s testing and diagnostic measures.

In the meantime, I’ll give you a “virtual” penny for your thoughts. Or if you’d rather comment privately, feel free to contact me at:    http://alzheimer.battlingforhealth.com/contact  

Either way, I’d love to hear from you!

Share This

This book has been mentioned to us by Tina at the comments section:Preventing Arthritis: A Holistic Approach to Life Without Pain Ronald M. Lawrence M.D. Ph.D. and Martin Zucker.

Thanks a lot Tina! I think I need to buy this book as well. What about you? If you think you need a copy of this book, grab it now from Amazon.

Share This

Time to start screening for colon/colorectal cancer. NOW!

The Facts:

March is National Colon/Colorectal Awareness Month.

The lifetime risk for being diagnosed with colorectal cancer is 1 in 19.

90% of all colon cancer diagnoses are in people age 50 or older.

It is the third leading cancer diagnosis in men and the fourth in women.

The disease strikes about 150, 000 people and causes approximately 50,000 deaths per year.

African-American’s are the highest racial or ethnic group at risk in the U.S.

The disease usually starts with a polyp.

The 5 year survival rate for those diagnosed early is 90%

Only 39% of those diagnosed are diagnosed early.

Seven Steps to Lowering Your Risk of Colorectal Cancer

From the Prevent Cancer Foundation (formerly the Cancer Research Foundation of America)

1. Get regular colorectal cancer screening beginning at age 50. (Talk to your health care provider about starting early if you have indicators of a higher risk.)

2. Eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and whole grains from breads, cereals, nuts and beans.

3. Eat a low-fat diet.

4. Eat foods with folate such as leafy green vegetables.

5. If you use alcohol, drink only in moderation.

6. If you use tobacco, quit. If you don’t use tobacco, don’t start.

7. Exercise for at least 20 minutes three or four days each week.

For more detailed information of risk factors due to personal history, inherited syndromes, lifestyle and unproven risk factors please visit the

American Cancer Society online.

Symptoms, Testing and Treatment:

Early stages are most likely to be asymptomatic. Later symptoms include:

• Changes in bowel habits
• Rectal bleeding or blood in stools

Testing will depend on your history but may include a yearly stool testing, a colonoscopy every 10 years, a flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years. Further testing includes a CT colonoscopy every 5 years and a double contrast barium enema every 5 years.

What is stool testing? This is a type of test that generally includes a screening slide which tests a sample of stool for the presence of blood through a chemical reaction. This may be done in the doctor’s office or through a take home kit. Many foods affect the test so you will be given instructions on what foods to avoid for a period before the test. There are several different types of tests for stool in the blood. This test does not indicate the presence or absence of polyps.

What is a colorectal polyp? A polyp is a small tissue growth in the rectum or colon. Appearance of polyps tends to increase with age. Polyps may be discovered due to rectal bleeding or on a colonoscopy. They should be removed and tested for cancer. Some polyps are benign, some are considered pre-cancerous and some are malignant. When a malignant cancer occurs it may be necessary to also remove part of the surrounding tissue.

Treatment of Colon/Colorectal Cancer:

• Surgery is the most common treatment
• Chemotherapy and/or radiation is included when cancer has spread

For more information on treatment options for the 5 stages of colon cancer, including clinical trials and biologic treatment options visit the National Cancer Institute site.

Roadblocks to early diagnosis:

Initiatives from across the cancer community in America have come together to encourage state legislatures to adopt legislation requiring insurance carriers to cover the cost of preventative screening.

New laws have increased coverage in the U.S. to 54 % of the population compared to 49% at the end of 2006.

In 2004 a coalition of organizations committed to early detection and prevention of colon cancer began the Colorectal Cancer Legislation Report Card.

Find out what grade your state got in the most recent report card and visit the C3:Colorectal Cancer Coalition site for more information on how to contact your legislator with the message to pass colorectal cancer legislation.

More online resources:

National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (NCCRT): A partnership of over 50 members whose goal is to improve communication, collaboration and coordination among health-agencies, medical professional organizations and the public.

National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance (NCCRA): a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation founded by journalist Katie Couric, cancer activist Lilly Tartikoff and the Entertainment Industry Foundation.

Colon Cancer Alliance (CCA): “brings the voice of survivors to battle colorectal cancer through patient support, education, research and advocacy.”

The Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Program at Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute at Cedars-Sinai: Inspired by the care Sharon Osbourne received at Cedars-Sinai, “the program works to improve the lives of patients and their loved ones by providing at-home help, childcare and transportation, access to support groups and patient care services offered at Cedars-Sinai. The program also underwrites colon cancer education for health-care providers.”

Books:

The American Cancer Society’s Complete Guide to Colorectal Cancer (2005, Non-Fiction)

It’s Half Past Midnight: A Poignant, Practical and Humorous Trip Through My Colon by Robert Cull (2007, Memoir)

Share This