Tag: Cancer Awareness

You’re Invited: Celebrate the End of Movember!

Each November, we are proud to participate in the Movember campaign by growing moustaches and raising money to increase awareness and support for men’s health issues. The Movember Foundation is committed to funding research that will halve the number of deaths from prostate and testicular cancer by 2030. At Weill Cornell Medicine, we too are committed to reducing cancer deaths and increasing cures, and we’ve been fortunate to receive many Movember research grants over the past several years.

We hope you can join us for a happy hour to raise money for this important cause and to celebrate the end of Movember! It’s also your last chance to see our ‘staches until next year.

Where?
Draught 55
245 East 55th Street
New York, NY 10022
When?
Thursday, December 1, 2016
6:30pm  – 8:30pm

Buy your tickets today for the early bird special– $35 includes 2 complimentary drinks, food, a chance to win an iPad mini, and more!

All ticket proceeds will be matched and benefit our Movember team, the Wild Weill Cornell Mos.

Special thanks to Bill Foxx and Onco360 for sponsoring the complimentary food and beverages. 

movember_hh-flyer

Learn more about our participation in Movember, why we’re so committed to the cause, and other ways you can get involved.

Movember 2016

Movember_Drs Nanus Beltran TagawaFor the 7th year in a row, we are proud to participate in a month-long campaign to raise awareness and funds for men’s health issues each November, also known as Movember.

The Movember Campaign helps men live happier, healthier and longer lives through investing in prostate cancer and testicular cancer screening and research, as well as mental health issues.

What’s Movember?

The initiative started in Australia in 2003, when two friends decided to try to bring back the moustache trend by growing out moustaches during the month of November. The following year, after they realized that this facial hair was quite the conversation-starter, they decided to channel that energy to raise money for prostate cancer research.

Over the next few years, both the moustaches and audiences grew. The fundraiser gained traction in Australia and New Zealand. In 2007, Movember officially launched globally with partnerships in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Spain, all with one cause in mind – to change the face of men’s health – literally and figuratively through increased awareness and funds.

movember_group_wgcToday, more than 5 million “Mo Bros” and “Mo Sistas” from more than 20 countries around the world have collectively raised over $700 million dollars to fund 1,200 men’s health projects.

How can you get involved?

A number of different ways!

  1. Join our Movember team. Our team, the Wild Weill Cornell Mos, is committed to raising awareness and funds for a cause that is near and dear to our hearts.
  2. Grow a moustache. How low can you grow? Make a statement! Commit to going razor-free and growing a moustache in solidarity this month. It’s a great conversation starter to encourage friends and family members to donate to Movember.
  3. Get moving! Take the Move challenge and increase your physical activity. You can “Fly for the Guys” by teaming up with us at two special Flywheel spin classes to benefit the Wild Weill Mos Movember Team. Never taken a spin class before? This is the perfect opportunity to try it out, and there will be many beginners. Mark your calendars and sign up today:
  1. Make a donation. Donate now to support our team.
  2. Get checked. Research shows that many men only go to the doctor when they’re sick. In honor of Movember, make an appointment to visit your doctor for an annual physical or encourage a loved one to visit the doctor. Many diseases can be prevented or at least treated when caught early, including cancer.
  3. Socialize and celebrate with us at Draught 55 on Thursday, December 1st. 100% of the proceeds from ticket sales will be matched and donated to Movember.

What type of research has been funded by Movember?

Movember is committed to funding research that will halve the number of deaths from prostate and testicular cancer by 2030. The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF), one of our partners in research, is partnered with Movember to distribute funds to the most worthy scientific teams and projects.

pcf-retreatWe at Weill Cornell Medicine have been fortunate to receive many of these grants over the past several years. Some of these recent Movember-PCF Challenge Grants have funded our research to study:

  • Blood tests that assess the tumor’s circulating DNA to predict reasons for treatment resistance
  • Circulating tumor cell (CTC) tests to predict which patients are more or less likely to respond to hormonal therapy or chemotherapy
  • Assessing the genome of “primary” tumors (i.e. the initial tumors in the prostate) compared to advanced, treatment resistant tumors
  • Evaluating inflammation in adipose (fat) tissue around the prostate, which is associated with tumor growth.

Learn more about the cutting-edge research funded by the PCF-Movember Challenge Grants in 2016, 2015 and 2014.

8 Tips to Combat Chemo-Related Sun Sensitivity

Sunblock Cream Reflect UVSummertime often means vacations and more time outdoors. This also comes with increased exposure to the sun – which isn’t such a “sunny” thing if you’re feeling sensitive to it.

A side effect of chemotherapy that many cancer patients express they feel the most is sun sensitivity. This “photosensitivity” occurs because agents in chemotherapy are radiosensitizers which help to impact treatment, but also increase the body’s sensitivity to UV rays (the radiation from the sun that reaches the earth).

A little bit of sunshine can be beneficial, since the sun provides Vitamin D for strong bones, but too much exposure during chemotherapy can be dangerous and increase your risk of sunburn. Here are 8 tips to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays during and after chemotherapy:

  • Chemo and the sun don’t get along. Photosensitivity can start immediately after your first treatment and last for a few months post-treatment. Several kinds of medications (for cancer and non-cancer alike) can also increase sun sensitivity; so ask your physician and pharmacist if you’re taking any medications that fall in this category.
  • Watch the clock. Avoid mid-day sun exposure when the sun’s rays are most intense. In most places, the sun is the strongest between 10am-4pm.
  • Pay to attention SPF. SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor and represents the theoretical amount of time you can stay in the sun without getting burned. It is important to use sunscreens with protection above 30 SPF and to make sure the SPF includes protection against both UVA and UVB rays (labeled as “broad spectrum”). These two different types of rays can both cause sunburn.
  • Lather up! Reapply sunscreen every two hours or even more frequently if you’re sweating or swimming.
  • Bald is beautiful, but protect your head. Wear a wide-brimmed hat in addition to sunscreen if you have lost your hair, and in general to help protect your ears, neck and face further.
  • Stylize with shades. Wear sunglasses with UV protection to protect your eyes any time the sun is out. If your wear prescription eyeglasses, consider getting transitional lenses so that you don’t have to worry about carrying an extra pair.
  • Cover-ups are key. Cover your exposed skin as much as possible. Wear long-sleeve shirts and pants so that your body is not directly hit by the sun. Many companies now make sun protective clothing which are light, breathable and offer excellent sun protection without the need for constant re-applying of sunscreen to the covered areas.
  • Don’t forget the small spots. Ears, eyelids, feet, and lips can be easily forgotten but need extra protection. Use lip balm with SPF to protect your lips, inquire with your oncologist or dermatologist regarding sunscreens for sensitive areas, and don’t forget to put sunscreen on your ears and top of your feet (two areas that are directly hit by the sun).

In the case of a sunburn, use cold compresses and aloe vera to ease discomfort. Contact your physician if redness persists or if your sunburn is severe.

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