Perfectly Pink

Dear Blogger Family & Friends,

The Pink Crusader sends warm cyber-hugs while tending to family business this week. Please read on for the latest news and updates...

More pink here, if you please.

- Franz Liszt

As we immerse ourselves into October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we will soon be swimming in a sea of pink festivities. We hope you will do your part to raise awareness by participating in at least one event this month on a local level. Your community is counting on you. Cheers to the power of pink!
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SURVIVOR UPDATE

From Ellen Vaeth:
I am pleased to report that I am cancer free. The radiation did it's job and I show no signs of cancer anywhere. I will not have to take chemo but will remain on the preventive drugs (Avastin and Aredia) for the time being. Needless to say I am tickled PINK!!!!
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FYI
From Janice Duplessis & Rosemary Barr

Marc Silver is writing a story for Cure magazine on adult children who are the primary caregiver for a parent with cancer. He's looking for folks to
interview for the story and would like to talk with them about what it was like to assume the caregiver role, how it changed their relationship with their parent, what the biggest surprises and challenges were, and what advice they'd give other adult children who find themselves thrust into a caregiver role.

If you know of anyone who might be willing to be interviewed, please contact Marc Silver at : msilver@ngs.org or phone: 202-857-7623

From Cheryl P. Donlin

Study: All types of alcohol raise breast cancer risk
By MARIA CHENG

BARCELONA, Spain — All types of alcohol — wine, beer or liquor — add
equally to the risk of developing breast cancer in women, American
researchers said today.

"This is a hugely underestimated risk factor," said Dr. Patrick
Maisonneuve, head of epidemiology at the European Institute of Oncology
in Italy, who was not connected to the study.

"Women drinking wine because they think it is healthier than beer are
wrong," he said. "It's about the amount of alcohol consumed, not the
type."

Previous studies have shown a link between alcohol consumption and
breast cancer, but there have been conflicting messages about whether
different kinds of alcohol were more dangerous than others.

The researchers, led by Dr. Arthur Klatsky of the Kaiser Permanente
Medical Care Program in Oakland, Calif., revealed their findings at a
meeting of the European Cancer Organization in Barcelona.

Researchers analyzed the drinking habits of 70,033 women of various
races and asked them questions during health exams between 1978 and
1985. By 2004, 2,829 of these women had been diagnosed with breast
cancer.

Klatsky and his colleagues looked at which types of alcohol the women
drank, as well as their total alcohol intake. They compared that to
women who had less than one drink a day.

Researchers found no difference in the risk of developing breast cancer
among women who drank wine, beer, or liquor. Compared with light
drinkers — those who had less than one drink a day — women who had one or two drinks a day increased their risk of developing breast cancer by
10 percent. Women who had more than three drinks a day raised their
risk by 30 percent.

"A 30 percent increased risk is not trivial," Klatsky said. "It
provides more evidence for why heavy drinkers should quit or cut down."

Some experts said that people might be confused by suggestions that
drinking red wine is healthy, since some studies have suggested that it
protects against heart disease.

"None of these mechanisms have anything to do with breast cancer,"
Klatsky said. Though it is not entirely clear how alcohol contributes
to breast cancer, some experts think it raises hormone levels in the
blood to levels that could potentially cause cancer.

Still, doctors said that other factors, such as genetics, obesity, and
age, were more important in raising the breast cancer risk than was
alcohol consumption.

More public education may be needed. "Alcohol has had a lot of good
publicity. People may not realize the risk they're taking when they
have a few drinks," said Tim Key, of the Cancer Research UK
Epidemiology Unit at Oxford. Key was not involved in the study.

According to data published in the British Journal of Cancer in 2002, 4
percent of all breast cancers — about 44,000 cases a year — in the
United Kingdom are due to alcohol consumption.

Only a small proportion of women are thought to be heavy drinkers. But
experts now say there is enough evidence to blame alcohol for breast
cancer — and to start educating the public.

"Any alcohol consumption will raise your breast cancer risk," Key said.
"Women don't have to abstain from alcohol entirely, but they need to be
aware of the risks they're taking when they have a few too many
drinks."
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/chronicle/5169114.html
Brought to you by the HoustonChronicle.com

From Penny Andrea-Einmo
Just for Fun, visit this site:
http://facesinplaces.blogspot.com/
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UPCOMING EVENTS: Mark Your Calendars and Save the Dates!

THE FACES BEHIND BREAST CANCER BOOK-SIGNING EVENT
Monday, October 1, 2007 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Serenitea Tea Room
13889 Southwest Freeway
Sugar Land, TX 77478
281-491-4588

THE FACES BEHIND BREAST CANCER BOOK-SIGNING EVENT
Tuesday, October 2, 2007 Time: 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Appearances Boutique, Mays Clinic, 2nd Floor
M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

ROSEBUDS MEETING
Breast Cancer Support Group Meeting
The Rose, 3400 Bissonnet.
Open to all Breast Cancer Patients/Survivors
1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month
Next meeting October 2, 2007
5:45 - 7:30 p.m.
www.RosebudsSupport.org
We look forward to seeing you!

SURVIVING CANCER: A PATIENT'S PROVOCATIVE PERSPECTIVE
Jonathan Alter, columnist and senior editor for Newsweek
Tuesday, Oct. 2, noon-1:00 p.m.
Hickey Auditorium (R11.1400), M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Lunch will be provided for the first 200 attendees.

Alter, who wrote an April Newsweek article, My Life With Cancer,
is an acclaimed journalist, historian and author who was diagnosed in 2004 with mantle cell lymphoma. Since then, he has openly shared details of his
diagnosis and treatment; how he and those around him have coped; and what he has learned along the way about himself, his disease and oncology in general.

COURAGE NIGHT 2007 - Young Survivors Coalition (YSC) Houston
Spend an evening celebrating survivorship with friends and family at the Saint Arnold Brewery. There will be tours, food and adult beverages.
October 4, from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at the Saint Arnold Brewery
www.saintarnold.com

2007 SUSAN G. KOMEN HOUSTON RACE FOR THE CURE
The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Houston Affiliate
Saturday, October 6, 2007 Sam Houston Park- Downtown
Race Day Schedule
7:45 a.m. Opening Ceremonies & Memorial Birds
8:00 a.m. Family Walk and Kids K by ConocoPhillips
8:15 a.m. 5K Coed Timed Competitive Run
8:25 a.m. 5K Coed Non-Competitive Run
8:35 a.m. 5K Coed Walk
9:15 a.m. Runners' Awards Ceremony
10:00 a.m. Awards Ceremony and Survivor Celebration
For more Information: Phone: (713) 783-9188 Fax: (713) 783-9187
http://www.komen-houston.org email:info@komen-houston.org

KNOCKOUT ROSES
A support group for women diagnosed under 40
2nd Monday of each month, @ 5:45
October 8, November 12, December 10
The Rose, 3400 Bissonnet.
Contact Amy Rigsby, Technical Director of The Rose
713-660-6675.

THE TEXAS KOMEN COMMUNITY CHALLENGE
The Komen Community Challenge is on a cross-country road trip, bringing our special brand of pink ribbon activism to 25 cities with a rallying cry to "close the gap" in funding for cancer research. Help us say it loud and clear in Texas! Come listen to live music, eat BBQ and wear pink in support of Proposition 15!

Our rally will feature inspirational speakers, a chance to meet and mingle with other breast cancer advocates survivors, community leaders and public officials from across the state and, of course, a call for all Texans to vote YES on Proposition 15 for the Cure on November 6th!We have made great strides in the fight against cancer, but we cannot lose momentum. We must continue to invest in finding the cures. Proposition 15 will create $300 million dollars a year for cancer control, prevention and research in Texas. We must make Texas the global leader in the fight to end breast cancer forever.

What: The Texas Komen Community Challenge - rally, live music and free BBQ
When: Wednesday, October 10, 6:00-9:00 p.m.
Where: Stubbs BBQ and Wallercreek Amphitheater - Downstairs Bar and Patio ~ 801 Red River, Austin, Texas 78701
Who: You and your friends and family - and make sure everyone wears pink!
Please RSVP today.

THE FACES BEHIND BREAST CANCER BOOK-SIGNING EVENT
Don't miss the opportunity to purchase your copy and have it
signed by the author, photographer and many of the book's participants.
Friday, October 12, at Saks Fifth Avenue, Galleria location, Houston.
Sponsored by Cellcosmet of Cellap Switzerland, in conjuntion with SAKS.
12:00 - 4:00 pm

2007 PINK ROSE BRUNCH & FASHION SHOW
Methodist Cancer Center Special Event
October 13, 10:30am - 1:30 pm
The Junior League, 1811 Briar Oaks Lane, Houston
Free Admission. Limited Space. Register at 713-790-2700

MARNIE ROCKS SHOPPING EVENT - YSC - Houston
Join us for a fun evening of shopping for a cause at Marnie's store! Marnie is a nationally famous jewelry designer with a breast cancer collection. The proceeds from this collection benefit YSC-Houston.
October 16, 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Marnie Rocks Studio, 1415 S. Voss Road, Houston
www.marnierocks.com

2007 GREATER HOUSTON AREA BREAST HEALTH SUMMIT
Sponsors: Houston Affiliate Susan G. Komen for the Cure and The Rose
When: Thursday, October 18, 2007; 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Where: United Way Community Resource Center, 50 Waugh Drive, Houston

AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K Walk
Saturday, October 20, 2007 Registration 8:00 am
Sam Houston Park, Downtown Houston Walk begins at 9:00 am
For more information visit www.cancer.org/stridesonline
Email: strides_houston@cancer.org Phone: 1-877-606-WALK

CAP HOLIDAY CARD SALES at MAYS CLINIC
Volunteer Services and The Children's Art Project (CAP) collaborate to better the lives of patients at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. For more than twenty-five years volunteers have assisted with Card Sales. Proceeds benefit M. D. Anderson's Pediatric and Adult Patient Programs. Volunteer Services is asking for volunteer assistance with the upcoming 2007 CAP - Holiday Card Sale at the Mays Clinic. Please contact Cindy Shursen, Program Coordinator - Volunteer Services, if you are available to assist during the below sale days / times.
Dates: November 5th -16th
Times frame: 9:00 a.m. -3:00 p.m.
Contact: Cindy Shursen
Phone: 713-745-0266
Email: cshursen@mdanderson.org

PRETTY IN LIVING PINK GALA - YSC - Houston
Annual Fund Raising event for the Young Survival Coalition - Houston Affiliate. Join us for a fun night of dinner and dancing 80's style - with live music and a silent auction! November 8, 6:30 pm
Warehouse Live, 813 St. Emanuel Street, Houston

METASTATIC BREAST CANCER NETWORK
Finally, a national independent advocacy group of and for people with
metastatic breast cancer, the Metastatic Breast Cancer Network (MBCN). To
join and for information about this network visit www.MBCNetwork.org
Your membership in MBCN makes you a part of an important first step toward
bringing a new voice, a proactive voice, to the breast cancer community.
It is absolutely committed to you and makes the following pledge:
• We will honor your life by working together to fight for the development
of treatments that extend life as the search for the cure continues.
• We will protect your privacy and will never share your name or e-mail
address with any person or group.
• We will keep you informed of what we are doing to promote the concerns
of people living with advanced breast cancer.
Let our voices be heard!

November 17 - 18, 2007 Metastatic Breast Cancer Network 2nd Annual
National Conference, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Sponsored by Dr. Gabriel Hortobagyi, Chairman of the Department of Breast
Medical Oncology. Registration will open in September on the MBCN web
site www.MBCNetwork.org MBCN’s 1st annual conference in 2006 was at
Sloan-Kettering in New York and was a great success with about 300
attendees.

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. 2007. Next scheduled meeting is November 20th.
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BOOK SALES & UPDATE
The Faces behind Breast Cancer is available for purchase at the
following locations:

1) Through the web site at www.pinkcrusader.org

2) Serenitea Tea Room, 13889 Southwest Freeway
Sugar Land, TX 77478 (Limited time only)

3) Appearances Boutique, Mays Clinic, 2nd Floor,
M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

4) be.lie.ve Breast Care Boutique, 7301 Fannin Street, Houston, TX

5) Borders Books - The Strip, North Canton, Ohio
Limited Number of Signed Copies Available 330-494-4776

In addition, we are working with several other retailers for book distribution within the local area and throughout the United States. Stay tuned......
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"SHARING is CARING"
As always, The Pink Crusader welcomes your comments, stories, poems, events and photographs!Posts are updated each week. Please send your written contributions to thepinkcrusader1@aol.com.

Christopher Robin is giving a party. Oh! said Pooh. ... Will there be those little cake things with pink sugar icing?

- A. A. Milne

Until next week stay strong, stay well and keep on dancing down the pink highway!

Love, Josie
The Pink Crusader
thepinkcrusader1@aol.com