No Wooden Nickels

Originally Posted Aug 18th 2007 2:39PM by Patricia Mayville-Cox

A 2007 government report on cancer addresses not only the tobacco industry, but also the food industry and the federal government. The report called on the federal government to “cease being a purveyor of unhealthy foods.”

According to the report, federal, state and local policies have made healthful food more expensive and less available while cutting back on physical education classes in schools.

The report recommends encouraging doctors and insurance companies to offer more programs regarding nutrition, smoking cessation and exercise. The report also urged Congress to authorize the FDA to regulate tobacco and to increase the cigarette tax.  The Bush administration at the time opposed such an increase in the cigarette tax.

They’re ready to sting, and they know where they’re going.

They’re called “nanobees,” and they’re not insects — they’re tiny particles designed to destroy cancer cells by delivering a synthesized version of a toxin called melittin that is found in bees.

“Melittin, which would otherwise result in substantial destruction of your red blood cells and other normal tissues if it were delivered intravenously alone, is completely safe when it’s on a nanoparticle,” said Dr. Samuel Wickline, director of the Siteman Center of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

Nanobees are one of the latest examples of how nanotechnology may change the way diseases are treated. Read more…

Hey guys, here’s a great reason to put your distaste for broccoli aside and scarf some down at dinner tonight — eating it regularly can significantly reduce your risk of prostate cancer. 

In fact, it’s more effective against the cancer than any other food out there.In a study, The US National Cancer Institute and Cancer Care Ontario in Toronto found that while regularly eating fruits and vegetables didn’t necessarily reduce one’s risk of prostate cancer, eating lots of leafy greens–particularly broccoli–was associated with a reduced risk of aggressive prostate cancer.  Another healthy food that showed promising results? Cauliflower.

So eat next time you’re tempted to eat the meat and leave the veggies, don’t–for your health’s sake.

In the last decade, we’ve seen studies that link mobile phone use to various types of cancer, the most common type being brain cancer.  The thinking is that the radiation output from these devices affects the brain when those phones are held close to the head for extended periods.

Well, here’s one attempt to shoot this theory down, I suppose.  In Australia, authorities there have said that mobile phone use does not cause cancer, and talking on a phone in the car is no more dangerous than having a passenger aboard.  Wow– those are heavy hitters.

For many of us, those ultra low-power Bluetooth headsets are the solution for not holding that cellphone near your head for along periods of time.  And still a great many more feel that even the BT headsets are still a cause for concern.  You?

In early 2009 it was announced that cancer had surpassed heart disease as the number one killer of Americans under the age of 85, according to an annual report by the American Cancer Society.  As one of the primary organizations which refer their patients to our doors for financial assistance, this report carried special weight for No Wooden Nickels.

While cancer is no respecter of class, status, race or religion, it has an even more devastating effect on those who are already deemed “low-income”.  For over three years No Wooden Nickels has been engaged in the fight, step-by-step, with more than 400 cancer patients and their families who have sought financial assistance for basic necessities. 

No Wooden Nickels is the only charitable organization of its kind devoted exclusively to offering help with those basic needs to simply get through treatment.  Assistance such as transportation, household utilities, meals, medical equipment, clothing, adult and child care, medical bills and more.  Click here to learn more.

So here is the plain truth (the short version) as many cancer patients already know and what we see each day:  over 85% of patients who are diagnosed with cancer and undergo treatment are too ill to continue working.  Once out of work, patients and their families suffer an immediate decline or complete loss in income.  While family members can and do help, the battle can sometimes last, on average, a year and a half (of course I’m being generous).  A great many patients have no insurance or quickly max out their benefits in a few short months.  Chemo ain’t cheap. 

Now, try to maintain doctors’ appointments, travel on average 60 miles one way for treatment, experience decreased activity due to the ill effects of treatment and oh, I almost forgot…come home to no lights or no heating gas, etc.  Sobering thought wouldn’t you say?  Like many other organizations who has cancer in it’s crosshairs, No Wooden Nickels attempt to add our voices to advocate on their behalf.  Daily I am sent and plow through tons of current information on cancer, nonprofits and the enormous amounts of research being done. However, we recognize perhaps more than most that in the overwhelming majority of these cases help is needed—now.  To change the present.  That’s why we say we help deliver dignity. 

Don’t get me wrong, this disease which is estimated to end the lives of some 566,000 of our loved ones here in the U.S. in 2009 requires attack from many sides.  More importantly, there are wonderful and innovative approaches and ideas being implemented and discussed every day.  Being a former systems engineer/administrator I am still drawn to headline making IT news.  So imagine my surprise and delight as I perused the December ’08 issue of Wired http://www.wired.com/medtech/health/magazine/17-01/ff_cancer/ where it talked about the work of Don Listwin, formerly of Cisco Systems and the mission of the Canary Foundation.  Having lost his mother to ovarian cancer is now on a mission to beat cancer with early detection using biomarkers by 2015—this is one of my favs.

But instead of me going on and on, we’d like for you to add your voice to the discussion.  Honestly, I do not know of anyone who doesn’t know someone who has not been touched by this disease.  Grammar aside, we’re always on the search to find ways to raise awareness of this community.

Therefore, this forum is for sharing your personal stories or those of someone you know who has or is currently battling this disease and the devastating financial impact it creates.