Light The Night

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light The Night Walk funds treatments that are saving the lives of patients today. LLS is making cures happen by providing patient support services, advocacy for lifesaving treatments and the most promising cancer research anywhere. And it's all happening now. Not someday, today.

Friends, families and co-workers form fundraising teams, and millions of consumers help by donating at retail outlets. These efforts culminate in inspirational, memorable evening Walks in nearly two hundred communities each fall across North America.

Before I was even asked, I requested to be Corporate Walk Chair of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Light The Night Walk for a second year. After last year’s event concluded, I realized that I was still getting to know what this wonderful organization does and the impact it can have on the lives of blood cancer patients and their families. Before I tell you what I have learned so far, I am asking you to join me in this year’s campaign. Here is why: 

The mission of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is plain and simple: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. When LLS was founded in 1949, a blood cancer diagnosis was almost always fatal. Thanks in part to innovative research funded by LLS, survival rates have doubled, tripled and even quadrupled for blood cancer patients. Since its founding, LLS has invested more than $750 million in research specifically targeting leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. In my role as CEO of Redwood Regional Medical Group where a significant part of our practice works with cancer patients, I see every day the need for that to continue.

In my first year as Corporate Walk Chair of Light The Night, I had the opportunity to meet cancer patients, their family members and friends. I saw first hand how raising funds for LLS can make a difference. And blood cancer research is the gateway to other cancer treatments and cures. Did you know 49 percent of the drugs approved by the FDA in the last 10 years for cancer were first approved to treat blood cancers? Many of these drugs are now being used to treat or are being tested to treat other cancers like breast, brain, lung, stomach, pancreatic, prostate and ovarian cancers.

I’ll be frank, the Light The Night Walk is a fundraising event. I want you to participate because every additional participant means more potential dollars will be raised to make a difference in the lives of blood cancer patients. In 2010, the three San Francisco Bay Area walks raised more than $776,000 for blood cancer research and patient services. The 2011 fundraising goal for the three walks in San Francisco, the East Bay and the North Bay is $838,000. Come join me so we can go beyond that goal.

The event itself is very fun. Light The Night Walk participants walk an easy, 2-mile route carrying illuminated balloons — white for survivors, red for supporters and gold to honor those who have lost their battle with cancer — through downtown Santa Rosa. It’s open to all and does not require a particular level of fitness.

 - Wayne Fairchild

http://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/33473/commentary-‘light-the-night’-save-lives/

Race For Life

                                                                       5k Events

5k (or just over three miles) is an achievable distance for all ages and abilities. You can run, walk or even dance your way around the courses.

We have almost 200 5k Race for Life events across the UK so there is bound to be one close by where you can show cancer who’s boss. To take part in a 5k, simply enter as an individual. If you'd like to enter more people at the same time as registering yourself, you'll need to enter as a group.

   

I race for my beautiful 7 year-old niece, Lauryn, who has a combination of Burkitt’s non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. She is battling hard through chemotherapy and surgery, and she continues to amaze me every day with her positive attitude. She’s still smiling after everything, but the statistics and prognosis for Lauryn are difficult to get as her cancer is so rare. I believe she's still here thanks to current medical advances, and Race for Life helps to fund the research needed to help children like my niece. 

                                                                                    - Jennie Robinson

http://raceforlife.cancerresearchuk.org/types-of-event/5k-events/index.html

Bladder Cancer 2/24/14

1. What is Bladder Cancer?

Bladder cancer is any of several types of malignancy arising from the epithelial lining of the urinary bladder. Rarely the bladder is involved by non-epithelial cancers, such as lymphoma or sarcoma, but these are not ordinarily included in the colloquial term "bladder cancer.”

Bladder cancer, or cancer of the bladder, is cancer that forms in the tissues of the bladder. The bladder is an organ that stores urine. The majority of bladder cancers are transitional cell carcinomas - the cancer starts in cells of the inner-lining of the bladder. 

Cancer that starts in thin, flat cells of the bladder are also possible; this type is called squamous cell carcinoma. Adenocarcinoma is also possible - this type of cancer begins in the cells that make and release mucus and other fluids. 

Bladder cancer tends to affect older adults, but can develop in any age group. The disease is highly treatable at an early stage, when fortunately most diagnoses are made. Nevertheless, bladder cancer has a high rate of recurrence (coming back), even if treated early on. That is why survivors should undergo regular follow-up screening tests. 

1. Articles Related To Bladder Cancer

The cause of bladder cancer is not known. Changes in the genetic material (DNA) of bladder cells may play a role. Chemicals in the environment and cigarette smoking also may play a role. And when the lining of the bladder is irritated for a long time, cell changes that lead to cancer may occur. Some things that cause this are radiation treatment, having catheters in place for a long time, or having the parasite that causes schistosomiasis.

Bladder cancer is twice as likely to develop in smokers than in nonsmokers. Experts believe that smoking causes about half of bladder cancer in men and more than one-fourth of bladder cancer in women. 

Exposure to chemicals and other substances at work-including dyes, paints, leather dust, and others-may also cause bladder cancer.

1. Summary : Bladder Cancer

What is bladder cancer?

Cancer is the growth of abnormal cells in the body. These extra cells grow together and form masses, called tumors. In bladder cancer, these growths happen in the bladder.

The bladder is the part of your urinary tract that stores your urine until you are ready to let it out. See a picture of the female urinary system or male urinary system .

Bladder cancer can usually be successfully treated if it is found and treated early. And most bladder cancer is found early.

What causes bladder cancer?

We don't know what causes bladder cancer. But smoking cigarettes or being exposed to certain chemicals raises your risk. And like other cancers, changes in the DNA of your cells seem to play a role.

What are the symptoms?

Blood in the urine is the main symptom. Other symptoms may include having to urinate often or feeling pain when you urinate.

These symptoms can be caused by other problems, including a urinary tract infection. Always call your doctor if you see blood in your urine.

How is bladder cancer diagnosed?

To diagnose bladder cancer, your doctor will:

Ask about your medical history and do a physical exam, including a vaginal or rectal exam.

Test your urine to look for blood or abnormal cells.

Do a cystoscopy, a test that lets your doctor look into your bladder with a thin, lighted viewing tool. Small tissue samples (biopsies) are taken and looked at under a microscope to find out if there are cancer cells.

How is it treated?

Treatment choices for bladder cancer include surgery to remove any cancer. Sometimes lasers or other methods can be used to get rid of tumors.

Chemotherapy, which uses medicine to destroy cancer cells. Immunotherapy, which causes your body's natural defense system to attack bladder cancer cells. Radiation therapy, which uses high-dose X-rays to kill cancer cells. The treatment depends a lot on how much the cancer has grown. Most bladder cancers are treated without having to remove the bladder.

Sometimes doctors do have to remove the bladder. For some people, this means having urine flow into a bag outside of the body. But in many cases, doctors can make a new bladder-using other body tissue-that works very much like the old one.

Bladder cancer often comes back. The new tumors can often be treated successfully if they are caught early. So it’s very important to have regular checkups after your treatment is done.

It’s common to feel scared, sad, or angry after finding out that you have bladder cancer. Talking to others who have had the disease may help you feel better. Ask your doctor about support groups in your area.

1. Bladder Cancer : Video

Web : http://www.cancercenter.com/video/cancer-types/bladder-cancer/