Our “Active Surveillance & Beyond” webinar series here at AnCan has been wildly popular. With top medical experts in AS giving incredible presentations and answering your questions, it’s a hit for a reason. We had the pleasure of having Dr. Peter Carroll (Department of Urology, UCSF), who is considered a pioneer in AS, start us off with a blast!
Hear his thoughts on biopsies, who best qualifies for AS, and how he uses AS in his own practice. We want to thank Dr. Carroll for answering so many of our attendees’ questions. You’ll also see our own AS Virtual Support Group moderators and community members, Joe Gallo, Mark Lichty, Elliot Kerman, Howard Wolinsky, and special guest: Jim Schraidt, Chairman of USTOO.
On our second edition of The TALK, a series of webinars addressing how parents and kids of every age speak to each other about their health conditions, we had the pleasure of having the ovarian cancer community share their perspectives with us.
On Wednesday July 29th, with an excellent discussion moderated by Dr. Pamela Munster (co-leader of the esteemed UCSF Center for BRCA Research), and top medical experts in the field Dr. Jocelyn Chapman (Board certified Gynecologic Oncologist at UCSF), and Beth Peshkin MS, CGC (Professor of Oncology and the Director of Genetic Counseling at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center).
We were so thrilled to have our own Ovarian Cancer Virtual Support Group moderator Ilana Feuchter (of NOCC) welcome our guests and attendees. Most important of all, we had wonderful family members of all kinds share vulnerable and honest conversations about their own “talks”. Maria Ciesla and her daughter, Alex Cornwell. Ni Guttenfelder, and her sister Leigha. Elena Solomon, and her daughter Liz Solomon. And the McConnell family, with Craig, Ross, and Corey.
There were many laughs, tears, and heartfelt moments. Including great answers to your questions by our experts. We want to thank our co-sponsors Sharsheret, NOCC (National Ovarian Cancer Coalition), FORCE (Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered), and UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Watch this incredible webinar, here:
For information on our peer-led video chat OVARIAN CANCER VIRTUAL SUPPORT GROUP, click here.
To SIGN UP for the Group or any other of our AnCan Virtual Support groups, visit our Contact Us page.
Peter Kafka’s musing this week, looks at how invention and innvation can be a two-dged sword.
Please bear with me on these thoughts, because I don’t know where I am going but I think it important to consider. Yesterday my son and I went out to change the brake pads on my Toyota. I am the middle man in a three-generation tradition of shade tree mechanics. The notion is that “if it was put together by a human then it can be fixed by one”. I believe that many men carry the DIY gene, and women too. This notion changed a bit when our creations became super complex and computerized and we had to seek expert help in certain repairs that were beyond the scope of a You Tube video. But still the tradition carries on. The DIY gene has not mutated.
When it comes to the break down of the human body, or the interruption of certain natural cycles in the world at large this “Do It Yourself” gene springs into action. As a result, truly amazing achievements have been made in the field of medicine and science in recent years and there seems at times to be no end in sight. The notion is that if we “put our minds to it” we can fix anything. This is currently being played out with great intensity to find a vaccine for Covid-19.
I know my life has benefitted from the many advancements of science and medicine. I am not complaining. My life has been extended, like many millions for whatever purpose. But like many things, it is a two-edged sword. The extended life expectancy and health of human beings on this planet has been at the expense of many other life forms in the plant and animal kingdoms. This thought should give anyone great pause. Perhaps I should leave it there. Make of this paradox what you will.
Sometime over the past month, a man attended one of AnCan’s video chat, virtual support groups with a big problem on his mind. This man had been on hormone therapy – more precisely androgen deprivation therapy, for close to 12 months and he was suffering, physically and mentally from having little or no testosterone in his body. He was fatigued, had “Lupron Brain” – brain fog, and was emotionally on the edge … all the time. Moreover, & understandably, he didn’t want to let his employer and workmates know he lived with advanced cancer. Result ….. he unintentionally upset colleagues, couldn’t complete his work tasks and …. received an offiicial employment warning.
This fellow came to us for support, and the best we could do was to suggest he speak to Human Resources under confidentialty; and/or seek an employment lawyer. What we didn’t know is that there is a non-profit out there to assist … and in their own words, this situation is their bread and butter.
Cancer & Careers is dedicated to tackling cancer-related problems in the workplace. Whether involving healthcare, employment, job seeking, employment law, Covid, or working through treatment – Cancer and Careers will help you resolve any of these issues and more, both one on one and through webinars, handouts, and other educational supplements. Check out their website and don’t hesitate to reach out to them if you have a question that needs answering.
What’s more, Brian Morvant, a senior program coordinator at Cancer & Careers told us just today in a presentation for our Male Breast Cancer Virtual Support Group that Cancer & Careers still offers a maximum grant of $500 per family experiencing financial challenges … apply now!
Make sure you’ve signed up for our upcoming Connect Education Workshops! These free workshops provide the latest cancer information straight from leading experts, via phone or online. At the end of the workshop, you’ll have a chance to ask the experts your own questions. Register by clicking on the selected link below.
