Bunnies, Baskets & Blue Bonnets

Dear Blogger Family & Friends,

The Pink Crusader is taking a holiday respite, and wishes you and your loved ones a very happy, blessed and joyous Easter. May your day be filled with colorful flowers, chocolate bunnies and the promise of rebirth.

See the land, her Easter keeping,
Rises as her Maker rose.
Seeds, so long in darkness sleeping,
Burst at last from winter snows.
Earth with heaven above rejoices.

-Charles Kingsley

FYI:
From Mary Rodriguez: There is a web site for post-op clothing. It is called The Greater Good Network. This site not only covers Breast Cancer, but some other causes as well. http://www.gearthatgives.com

From Donna Fong: In my opinion, this is one of the best magazines on cancer in publication. You can subscribe free of charge by going online. Hope you will take advantage of it. The March/April 2007 issue of CUREXtra is now available at http://www.curetoday.com/cureXtra/currentissue.
Tykerb Approved as Metastatic Breast Cancer Treatment
ACS Recommends MRI with Mammography in High-Risk Women
A Book Review of Flying Crooked by Jan Michael
A Film Review of Two Weeks written and directed by Steve Stockman
A Product Review of "Earth Henna" Body Painting Kit by Chemo Chicks
And an essay and poem from our readers
For these stories and a calendar of upcoming events, visit www.curetoday.com/cureXtra/currentissue.
Please send essay or poetry submissions for Readers Write to mweber@curetoday.com.

Also submitted by Donna Fong: The new issue of CancerWise is now available online at www.cancerwise.org In my opinion, this is an excellent newsletter published by MDA which includes some interesting articles and which you can subscribe to.

From Janice Duplessis: Pocket Guide on Cultural Competence
The Intercultural Cancer Council recently unveiled the latest edition of the "Pocket Guide," Cultural Competence in Cancer Care: A Health Care Professional's Passport, giving health care professionals a systematic approach for interacting with multicultural and economically disadvantaged cancer patients and their families. This 121-page guide is an expanded version of the first edition released in 2004 and highlights the influences of culture, geography, socioeconomic status and geography on the health behaviors of the rural poor and the five largest racial/ethnic groups in the U.S.: African Americans, Latinos/Hispanics, American Indians and Alaskan Natives, Asians and Asian Americans, and Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Island Populations. Of special significance, is the additional information on the Appalachia populations, providing recommendations on how to interact with patients from rural America. To improve the cultural competency of physicians and other health professionals, the guide provides a primer on the culturally appropriate behaviors and attitudes toward cancer prevention and control that differ by multicultural and socio-economic status of patients. This includes common verbal and nonverbal communications, such as shaking hands, looking the patient in the eye, how far to sit or stand from the patient and the use of touch.
The guide can be purchased for $6.00 per copy plus shipping charges by contacting 1.877.243.6642 or downloading the order form from . . . http://iccnetwork.org/news/Pocket_Guide_Order_Form.pdf

Opportunity for Students to Make a Difference: The Collegiate Cancer Council
The Collegiate Cancer Council ("CCC") is an organization housed at the national office of the Intercultural Cancer Council. It is the first nationally recognized university student cancer organization which engages its membership in the pursuit of reducing the cancer burden and associated health disparities. The CCC functions as an educational service organization. Members have the opportunity to learn about cancer and related health disparities so that they may in turn share this knowledge with friends, peers, and the community at large. Participation in the CCC offers enhanced leadership skill development and opportunities to develop and be involved in meaningful educational and policy initiatives related to cancer prevention and control. Membership in the CCC requires a commitment to be actively involved with improving healthcare system outcomes. To learn how you can join or organize a CCC chapter at your school see . . .
http://ccc.iccnetwork.org

DAILY REMINDER:
"Fund Free Mammograms"
Go to The Breast Cancer Site at http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/tpc/EEB_0115_BCSm
and help fund free mammograms for the homeless, working-poor, and un-insured women. It costs nothing to you, except one daily click on the pink "Fund Free Mammograms" button. You can even request automatic reminders via e-mail. Please make your free click now, and thanks for your continuing support! The Breast Cancer Site, One Union Square, 600 University Street, Suite 1000, Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: 1-888-811-5271

UPCOMING EVENTS: Mark Your Calendars and Save the Dates!

Rosebuds Meetings
Open to all Breast Cancer Patients/Survivors
1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month 5:45 - 7:30 p.m.
APRIL 3 & 17 MAY 1 & 15 JUNE 5 & 19
-----------------------------
Rosebuds II Meetings
(For those who have had or are at high risk
for recurrence and/or metastasis)
2nd and 4th Thursday of each month 5:45 - 7:30 p.m.
APRIL 12 & 26 MAY 10 & 24 JUNE 14 & 28
www.RosebudsSupport.org

"Brushes with Greatness"
The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
teams up with Saks Fifth Avenue, April 12, 2007 6:30-8:30pm
Ticket Price $25.00* For more info: bsmp@mdanderson.org
(Guests will receive $25 gift card to be used for cosmetics)
*A percentage of sales will benefit the
Beth Sanders Moore Young Breast Cancer Survivor's Program
at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Road to Recovery Volunteer Driver Certification
•April 13, 2007 – 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. @ San Jacinto Cancer Center,
4021 Garth Rd, Baytown, TX 77521

•April 20, 2007 – 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. @ American Cancer Society Office, 6301 Richmond Ave, Houston, TX 77057

RSVP! For additional information about the Road to Recovery program, or to RSVP for one of the trainings, please call Damita Hines (713)706.5649

Note from Rosemary Barr: DRIVERS NEEDED
Lack of transportation is a major problem for thousands of cancer patients. Many patients need daily or weekly cancer treatment over the course of several months. Many patients do not have a car, are too ill to drive themselves, and/or do not have family or friends may not be able to assume the burden of frequent trips to treatment centers.

Road to Recovery uses volunteer drivers who use their own cars to transport cancer patients and a maximum of one companion to/from cancer treatment. If you have a car and some spare time, you can help someone keep a very important appointment.

Susan's Rally Golf Tournament
in the fight against breast cancer
Monday, April 16 281-480-7744
3820 San Jacinto, Houston TX 77004
www.susanrally.org

Survivors Offering Support (SOS)
Instead of meeting on the traditional second Tuesday of the month, April will be an exception to the rule. We will be meeting at the church on Tuesday, April 17 at 7 p.m. This meeting will be a “sharing and caring” format as well as a discussion of the results of the SOS survey. If you recall, the survey was an opportunity to give your opinion on a variety of issues ranging from prayer at the end of the meetings to the format of the meetings. Also, Marcia Williamson has a wonderful video to show us. It is titled “Stepping into the Ring.” It is a skit about a woman’s desperate fight with breast cancer and her deeper enemy, despair.

Pink Lemonade Guild Lecture Series Luncheon
Wednesday, April 18, 2007 Noon - 1:30pm
Guest Speaker: Beth Dwine, R.N., Author, Nurse, Yoga Instructor
"Five Simple Ways to Create Balance in Everyday Life"
Ouisie's Table, 3939 San Felipe
$25 per guest RSVP by April 13, 2007
713-524-7465 or Loubel@pinkribbons.org

Y-Me.org ShareRing Network
April 18, 2007, 7:00 p.m. (CT)
Topic: “Understanding Lymphedema Treatment”
Speaker: Julia Osborne, P.T., C.M.L.D.T.
Clinic Director
Physiotherapy Associates
Oncology Rehabilitation
Denver, CO
Julia Osborne is a certified lymphedema specialist. She is Clinic Director of Oncology Rehabilitation Physiotherapy Associates in Denver , Co which is one of few facilities in the United States that exclusively treats oncology patients. She has treated oncology patients for over 5 years.

This is a free, monthly one-hour teleconference featuring a breast cancer related presentation by a medical professional followed by a question and answer session. Participants are divided into small groups for discussion, which are moderated by peer counselors. The ShareRing Network teleconferences take place on the third Wednesday of each month, beginning at 7:00 PM Central Time (CT). Questions about this program can be directed to sharering@y-me.org or 1-800-221-2141.

2007 Pink Ribbon Reception
Thursday, April 26, 2007
5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Junior League of Houston
1811 Briar Oaks Lane
Free to Affiliate Members
2007 Chair Claudia Brown and
Co-chairs Nicole Barnett and Anne Williams

Relay for Life of Cy Fair College
American Cancer Society Overnight Event
April 27 & 28, 2007, 7:00pm - 7:00am
www.acsevents.org/cyfair for info & registration

Breast Cancer: Its Effect on Spouses & Others
Saturday, April 28, 2007
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
The Beth Sanders Moore Young Breast Cancer Survivor's Program
www.mdanderson.org/youngbreastsurvivor
Email: bsmp@mdanderson.org

Susan's Rally
Sunday, April 29
For info: 713-526-2747
www.susanrally.org

The 2nd Annual Cancer Patient & Caregiver Conference
Friday, May 4, 2007. Registration:9:00am
Program begins at 9:30am-2:30pm.
Dr Michael Keating from MD Anderson will be the keynote speaker.
Location: United Way Building 50 Waugh Drive.
To Register: 713-520-9873 Contact Person: Elizabeth Wilson
www.cancercouseling.info

Relay For Life of Angelina County
American Cancer Society
May 4th & 5th, 2007
Lufkin Middle School

Relay For Life® is a fun-filled overnight event designed to bring together those who have been touched by cancer in our community. At the event, we celebrate survivorship and raise money to help the American Cancer Society in its mission to save lives, help those who have been touched by cancer, and empower individuals to fight back.
http://www.acsevents.org/angelina/positivepinkdynamite

Walk to Empower
3-Mile walk, Sunday, May 13, 2007
MacGregor Park, Houston, Tx 9:00am
Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization
No Fee Register online at www.y-me.org

The Alice Thomsen Lymphedema Awareness Group of Houston
Meetings are scheduled on the 3rd Tuesday of every other month at the American cancer Society Building,6301 Richmond (between Hillcroft and Fountainview) at 7:00pm. The 2007 dates are May 15th, July 17th, September 18 and November 20th.
For further information call 281-546-6438.

CanCare Survivors Day Luncheon
Date: Thursday, May 31, 2007
For More Info: patwh@cancare.org
As most of you know our Survivors Day Luncheon will be held on Thursday, May 31 at the Intercontinental Hotel. Our luncheon event is a wonderful way to honor friends, family and employees who are cancer survivors and the medical communities who treat them. Our keynote speaker is Scott Hamilton, who is considered to be the world's most celebrated figure skater. In addition to being a role model and humanitarian, Mr. Hamilton is also a ten-year testicular cancer survivor.

2007 Komen Survivor Party
August 22, at The Houstonian
Details to be announced in future posts.

"The Faces behind Breast Cancer" Launch Party
Save the date, Sunday August 26, at 1:00 pm.
Details will be announced in future posts.

Living Fully
M.D. Anderson Annual Conference
September 6-8 2007
Marriott Westchase - Houston, Texas
Additional information is not available at this time.

Tour De Pink 2007
Pink Ribbons Project
September 9, 2007
at Prairie View A&M University
www.tourdepink.org
Additional info in future posts.

2007 Breast Health Summit
"SAVE THE DATE" for the 2007 Breast Health Summit to be held on October 18, 2007 at the United Way in Houston. Please pass this information on to others who may be interested. Additional information will be sent out later by both e-mail and postal mail. And of course, if your mailing address has changed, please be sure to forward the updated information to me. I look forward to seeing you in October!
Pat Dames
The Rose-
12700 North Featherwood
Houston, TX 77034
281-464-5150
Fax 281-484-7083
pdames@the-rose.org
www.the-rose.org

"Sharing is Caring"
As always, The Pink Crusader welcomes your comments, stories, poems, and events. Posts are updated every Sunday. Please send your written contributions to thepinkcrusader1@aol.com.

This concludes our weekly edition of the Pink Crusader. See you next week!

All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt!

-Lucy Van Pelt, "Peanuts" by Charles M. Schulz

Stay strong, stay well, and keep on dancing with the hope of a better tomorrow.

Love, Josie
The Pink Crusader
thepinkcrusader1@aol.com