In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the US National Cancer Institute (NCI) is working closely with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and other government and civilian agencies to bring relief to displaced cancer patients and others. As an immediate response, NCI has posted key federal assistance information and phone numbers on its Web site at http://www.cancer.gov/katrina with specific information in support of cancer patients.
Firefighters Help Colleague with Hodgkin's
Firefighter Michelle Alfano of Nutley, NJ was diagnosed in May with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Her friends & coworkers in the Fire Department are holding a charity softball game to help pay for her treatment. Fire Chief Tom Peters says this softball game is the epitome of what it means to be a firefighter and to be part of the “family.”
Events Planned to Help Hodgkin's Patient
Nearly three years ago, Levi Bundy, 20, went to the doctor with a sore throat, which led to the discovery of Hodgkin's Disease. Since then, he has undergone raditiation, chemotherapy, and a bone marrow transplant in an effort to cure his cancer.
Of Baseball and Lymphoma
Millie Zeller and her husband Carl are huge Florida Manatees baseball fans, having seen most of their games since 1994. Millie was recently diagnosed with lymphoma and with surgery and now chemotherapy, she'll miss the rest of the Manatee's season.
The team & stadium workers know her and signed a card for her, wishing her a full recovery so she can come back next season. Article
Senator Sununu Goes Bald for the Cause
U.S. Senator John Sununu is sporting a buzz cut, but not because he couldn't handle the heat in Washington. He recently shaved his head to show solidarity with Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, who lost his hair while undergoing chemotherapyfor Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Anxiety: Part 1
In the beginning, you really don't know that your lymphoma diagnosis will include dealing with anxiety. It will take many forms over time. During diagnosis it is anxiety over what will happen.
Lymphoma Fundraising
What is it with golf and lymphoma foundations? It seems like every time I troll for the latest in lymphoma information I run into LRF, LLS, or some other group having a golf outing to raise funds. Maybe these target the fat cats who have extra funds to spare (somewhere in-between bake sales and the polo tournament no doubt).
Marrow Drive for Girl with NHL
9-year-old Anna Organek is a Lowell, Michigan girl recently relapsed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. A bone marrow or blood stem cell transplant is the treatment doctors wish to try but a matched donor has to identified. None of Anna's family members are a match.
Anna's mother, Heather Organek, and several of Anna's relatives were at a community blood drive last week where 1500 people turned up to see if they matched. But Anna, whose immune system is weak, stayed home.
Pasta Dinner to Benefit Funding BMT for NHL Patient
New Hartford, CT resident John Ferguson will be seeing alot of his neighbors come out on Saturday. Friends and family are organizing a fundraising dinner to benefit a Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) to treat John's Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
I can relate to the cost of a transplant - a decade ago Fred Hutchinson wanted patients to have between $100-$150,000 (insurance or not, you had to prove the money was somewhere).
Lymphoma Survivor: Rebecca Galeota
MSNBC has a good article outlining the diagnosis, & coping of Rebecca Galeota, who had Hodgkin's lymphoma. She, like me, was crazy enough to keep working through treatment. She had an amazing support structure based on her colleagues. Worth a read.
