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Hey World! Guess what February 4th is? It’s World Cancer Day, a global initiative to promote cancer awareness to aid in the detection and treatment of cancers in their early stages.

There are over 100 different types of cancer that affect individuals differently, which makes many cancer difficult to detect and treat.

At 15-40 Connection, we’re on a mission to arm you with three easy steps that will make early detection a lot less daunting, and you can feel great knowing you’re taking charge of your health.

Our 3 easy steps are:

#1) Know Your Normal -- Take note of when you feel great, so you can recognize when you don’t

#2) The 2 Week Rule -- If something feels off for 2 weeks, it’s time to act

#3) Share Your Concerns - Talk to your doctor about any health changes that only you know

So, in celebration of World Cancer Day, learn the steps and watch this video for continued early detection inspiration -- it can save lives!

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Awesome advice on living life: “Set your life on fire. Seek those who fan your flames.” - Rumi

Stay away from the negative and seek the positive in your life.

For a reminder on what 15-40 Connection does: http://www.15-40.org/join-the-new-cancer-conversation/

How we came to be (the inspiring story of the friendship that started it all): http://www.15-40.org/history/

And if you’d like to hear from us 10x a year (not quite 1x per month) sign up to our e-newsletter to find out what we’re up to: http://www.15-40.org/newsletter/

Happy Thursday!

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T-Shirt Campaign Spreads Early Cancer Detection Awareness

15-40 Connection had the fantastic opportunity to work with Booster to create a t-shirt campaign to bring even more awareness to the New Cancer Conversation and save lives through early detection. See the shirts below:

The proceeds from this campaign will help support educational programming in even more high schools, universities, and companies. To check out the campaign and purchase a shirt, go to https://www.booster.com/1540connection.

The grey shirt is also available in long sleeve!

Please support our educational programming and pick up a shirt for yourself, your family and your friends at https://www.booster.com/1540connection. 

You will be helping everyone who sees you think differently about their health and about cancer.

THANK YOU!!! 

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Happy Holidays!

We hope you have a happy and healthy holiday season! 

http://www.15-40.org/

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A Cancer Survivors Perspective  - ‘A New Outlook on Life and A Different Approach to My Health’

Being diagnosed with Leukemia at age 18 was an overwhelming reality. The three years of chemotherapy that ensued brought its own set of challenges. I am now ten years out of treatment, which has left me with a new outlook on life and different approach to health and wellness coping with the late effects of treatment.  

There has been very limited research on young adult cancer treatment. This often leaves young adults in limbo between the pediatric and adult treatment programs. I was placed on a pediatric treatment protocol because the adult protocol did not have promising outcomes for young people. I was also lucky; my treatment plan did not require a bone marrow transplant or radiation. Over the past ten years I have worked to develop a system of self-care and medical follow-up that supports my history of cancer and the late effects that come with treatment.

Since joining 15-40 Connection in May of 2015 I became more inspired to practice what I promote and enrolled in a survivor clinic. I use the three steps to early cancer detection frequently and for all issues that arise. It is a helpful set of tools that I rely on when I am concerned that something is off. As a cancer survivor, if I start to feel sick or even get a headache, my mind automatically reverts to the fear that the cancer is coming back. The three steps for early cancer detection have been an incredible resource for my physical and emotional wellbeing.

A survivor clinic is also an important resource for cancer survivors, especially young adults who can face different long-term health complications. I recently enrolled in the Smilow Cancer Center HEROES Clinic. I get a checkup once a year that involves a number of tests and screenings to measure the impact that treatment had on my body. They look specifically for signs of second cancers as well as monitor my heart, bone density, and hormone levels to see what the long-term impact of treatment is on my body. I am happy to report that the impact has been minimal and I continue to live fully without limitation or immediate biological impacts from treatment.  

In addition to being followed by a survivor clinic, I work with a primary care physician who specializes in young adult survivor care. Working with other cancer survivors through 15-40 Connection, I always encourage them to enroll in a young adult survivor clinic and be sure to have a comprehensive care team that is attentive to their needs as a cancer survivor. I mentioned a few of the members of my care team above, but also having a great dentist (chemo can do a number on your teeth!), reproductive health specialist, supportive friends and family as well as a physical and nutritional health routine is important.  One of my favorite members of my supportive team is my 13 year old dog, Pele who has been with me since the beginning of treatment!

(Above: Ashley with her Boston Terrier - Pele)

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Ashley Emerson is the Director of Education & Outreach at 15-40 Connection.

Click here to read Ashley’s story; ‘Misguided and Misdiagnosed’ and learn the early warning symptoms she experienced prior to being diagnosed with cancer.

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15-40 Connection is once again taking part in Giving Tuesday on December 1st.  It’s the Tuesday right after Thanksgiving, so after you have given thanks and stuffed yourself, then gotten plenty of shopping deals on Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, check out our #Giving2Empower and #Sharing2Empower campaign and give back so we can continue sharing info about recognizing the early warning signs of cancer. 

And don’t just assume this is only about fundraising, our campaign allows you to share the 3 steps to early detection on social, email friends and family, and honor those you care about on the #Giving2Empower Honor Roll: http://www.15-40.org/giving-tuesday-2015-honor-roll/. 

So please check out our page and join us to help save more lives like Caitlin. http://www.15-40.org/giving-tuesday-2015/. 

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The Forgotten Stepchild of Breast Cancer Awareness

It is breast cancer awareness month and you know what that means; PINK EVERYWHERE, even in the NFL. And there are many strong opinions on that issue. There is an abundance of messaging in the media around the early detection of breast cancer, but it’s not what you think and it’s not the full story. 

‘Early detection’ defined by most organizations and thought of by most people = screenings.  So for October all women are being pushed to get their annual mammogram.  But only women over age 40 are covered by most insurance for annual mammograms.  What about all the other women UNDER THE AGE OF 40?

And what about men? Most of the messaging for breast cancer awareness is aimed at women, but men can get breast cancer too.  So if you search for it you will find some stories about male breast cancer.

There is a message missing in the ‘early detection of breast cancer’, if you dig deep you can find it mixed among information on prevention and screenings, but for most people it is (pardon the pun) undetected.  

The missing link in most of the messaging and the part of ‘early detection’ that relies on YOU is missing. It’s your responsibility to know your own body and to go to a doctor if you feel something is wrong.  So in regards to breast cancer (or any cancer), if you do a monthly self-exam, you should be able to recognize any changes that are not normal for you.  

This idea that you should be responsible for your own health and speak up if something is wrong is missing in many breast cancer awareness campaigns. Most messaging seems to rely on the medical professional or technology to detect cancer early.  With all the pressure on doctors and the rate to which technology is moving, it’s not surprising that there are so many false positives and positive negatives in medicine. But really, what pushes you to get screened? Why would you make an appointment? It’s because you realize you need to go (or someone else – your spouse, partner, child or parent reminds you/encourages you). That same reminder should extend to being more in tune with your health. This process to remember to do regular self-exams, to make a doctor appointment, to seeking a second opinion if you need to, all the way through to confirming your test results if you don’t hear back, is key to early detection.

For more information about how you can detect cancer early in 3 steps, check out: http://www.15-40.org/join-the-new-cancer-conversation/

(Written by Jessica Suranyi-Hammond)

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Don’t forget the guys

October is breast cancer awareness month, but don’t forget the guys, it’s rare but they can get it too! To learn about breast cancer and how to recognize the early warning signs check out http://www.15-40.org/breast-cancer/

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(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJZFal3774M)

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Cancer Myths

We are again grateful for guest blogger and cancer survivor Deborah Ludwig (diagnosed with leukemia at 37) who writes below about cancer myths and the importance of doing your own research.

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A couple weeks after I was diagnosed with leukemia, my parents were with me to make sure I was okay and to help get me settled. One afternoon, Dad shared with me some information in one of his alternative wellness newsletters. It stated that smoking while taking oral contraceptives is linked to leukemia. I had never heard that. I knew exposure to the chemical Benzene could cause leukemia and smoking could cause lung cancer and emphysema, but this was the first I’d heard of a connection between birth control pill use and cigarettes to leukemia.

This bothered me because I had been using oral contraceptives for years and had smoked from time to time. I was never a regular smoker, but no amount of carcinogens is a good amount of carcinogens. I needed to do my own research. Was this a fact or a myth?

Answer: This one was difficult to determine. I have found no research indicating a link between leukemia and smoking while using oral contraceptives. However, acute myeloid leukemia, among other cancers, can be caused by smoking. No surprise there. Interestingly, some research has found that birth control pill use can protect women from getting uterine cancer. So, I am left to conclude that the information in that newsletter was a myth. (If you, dear reader, have information that proves otherwise, please let us know. I would be interested in it.)

However, there are some clear-cut cancer myths: what causes it, what prevents one from healing, what one should and shouldn’t do during cancer treatment, the list goes on. Below are seven cancer myths I’ve frequently heard.

1. Cancer is a man-made modern disease Cancer has always been with us. The biggest risk factor for getting cancer is age. Cancer may appear as if it occurred less in ancient times, but people did not live as long then as they do today. There are also many naturally-occurring causes of cancer such as the sun, bacteria and viruses, radon, and other natural chemicals produced by molds and plants.

2. Artificial sweeteners cause cancer For years we were told that artificial sweeteners could cause cancer. This came about because early studies showed that cyclamate in combination with saccharin caused bladder cancer in laboratory animals. However, it has been determined over the years that there is little evidence artificial sweeteners—be it Saccharin, Aspartame, Acesulfame potassium (ACK, SweetOne®, Sunett®), Sucralose (Splenda®), and Neotame—cause cancer in humans. 

3. Cell phones cause cancer The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) site states that there is no conclusive evidence that cell phone use causes cancer. That does not mean that more studies shouldn’t be done to determine health effects. There is research being conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) to determine how cell phones affect some types of tumors, the eyes, sleep, memory, and headaches. If you are concerned about any negative health issues related to cell phone use, it is recommended to get a hands-free headset that connects to your phone or use the speaker phone feature more often.  

4. Antiperspirants and deodorant cause breast cancer The American Cancer Society website reads: There are no strong epidemiologic studies in the medical literature that link breast cancer risk and antiperspirant use, and very little scientific evidence to support this claim.In fact, a carefully designed epidemiologic study of this issue published in 2002 compared 813 women with breast cancer and 793 women without the disease. The researchers found no link between breast cancer risk and antiperspirant use, deodorant use, or underarm shaving.

5. Eating sugar will make cancer worse The Cancer Treatment Centers of America site addresses this issue. The question posed is: “Does sugar ‘feed’ cancer?” The abbreviated response is that “there is no conclusive research on human subjects to prove that sugar makes cancerous cells grow and metastasize. Avoiding foods with processed sugar is a good idea in general, but eliminating foods with natural sugar won’t stop cancer cells from dividing.” Furthermore, “eliminating all sugar from a cancer patient’s diet would harm healthy cells that need energy to function.”

6. Superfoods prevent cancer There is a good deal of misinformation about super foods and cancer prevention. While eating a healthy diet is always a good idea, there is no evidence that “superfoods” such as blueberries, garlic, or beetroot are going to guarantee you will remain cancer-free. Take long-term actions to remain healthy such as eating right, exercising regularly, and maintaining a desirable weight.

7. Cancer is hereditary Only 5% to 10% of all breast cancers are thought to be caused by an inherited genetic mutation. Those percentages hold true for other cancers as well. Most cancers are caused by gene mutations that occur as we age and are exposed to environmental factors such as tobacco smoke and radiation. 

These are just a few of the many myths surrounding cancer. It is important to do your research and know the truth. Also, get to know your body’s normal and if pain, a rash, or anything unusual persists for more than two weeks, see your doctor. Early cancer detection can save your life. Visit 15-40 Connection for more info on detecting cancer early and recognizing the early warning signs.

To learn more, check out Common Cancer Myths and Misconceptions on the National Cancer Institute website.

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Read Deborah’s story on what led to her cancer diagnosis.  

If you are interested in guest blogging for 15-40 Connection, contact us. 

Want to share your cancer story to help others? Contact us.

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What can I control if I get cancer?

The below post was written by Deborah Ludwig, who was diagnosed with leukemia at 37. This is the second of two posts by Deborah, you can read her first post (‘What could I have done to prevent getting cancer?’) here.

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What can I control if I get cancer?

A cancer diagnosis is like having a massive black cloud hovering above, blocking the light, creating an endless shadow of despair. My advice is to look for the silver lining because this could be a personal-growth opportunity, providing an experience in the art of letting go and trusting in the healing process as well as your oncologist. You don’t have to be in charge of every detail.

Your medical team knows what they are doing (and find another one if you feel that they do not). Make a list of all your concerns and questions. Insist they are addressed to your satisfaction. Do your own research. It took me a few months to brave delving into the bone marrow/stem cell transplantation process, but once I did, I discovered knowledge was power.  

In addition to being an advocate for yourself, find strategies you can use that contribute to your own healing, that complement your medical treatment. Each day upon waking you have a choice: lay around feeling sorry for yourself (and sometimes you have every right to do that, particularly when treatment’s side effects are harsh) or decide to partake in two to three activities you enjoy each day. I would go walking or do Yoga and discovered meditation, which was a life-saver to my mental health..

Researchers have also discovered that expressive writing produces health benefits. I have been journal writing since 1992, so I journaled my entire cancer experience, setting aside time each day—sometimes multiple times a day—to record my leukemia journey, getting my emotions and ideas out of my head and onto the page or the computer screen.

You will not always be cheerful and no one expects you to be, but choosing to have a positive attitude as often as you are able will make you feel better. Your attitude is one element over which you have total control. You can also decide what you eat, how much and how often you exercise, what creative or enjoyable activities you engage in daily (such as writing, painting, reading, learning a new language, golf, tennis, etc.), with whom and how often you socialize (such as dinner out, a trip to the mall, a movie, ballroom dancing, etc.). Pay attention to the needs of your body, mind, and spirit.

Post-treatment, you control how you re-engage with the world. Has cancer changed any of your goals and dreams? If so, what actions will you take to move in that new direction? Furthermore, it is important that in your new normal to continue being attuned to how your body feels, noticing any changes, in particular those that are pro-longed more than two weeks, as this could be a sign of something more serious. Early detection can be life-saving.  Cancers caught in the early stages have better survival outcomes.

We may not be able to control whether we get cancer or how our bodies handle treatment during and after it, but we can control our thoughts and actions. Cancer is stressful and can alienate us from friends and colleagues, but with the right actions, you can make it more bearable—even dare I say it, enjoyable—not just to you but to your loved ones. Accept that which you cannot control, but do control what you can because that will empower you, not just during cancer treatment, but throughout your life.  

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Deborah Ludwig is the author of Rebirth: A Leukemia Survivor’s Journal of Healing during Chemotherapy, Bone Marrow Transplant, and Recovery. She has also shared her story on the 15-40 Connection website to help others learn from her experience prior to diagnosis, including taking action sooner rather than later when you notice changes in your health that don’t improve after two weeks.

If you are a cancer survivor and would like to share your story with 15-40 Connection to help others detect cancer earlier, contact us.

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What could I have done to prevent getting cancer?

The below post was written by Deborah Ludwig, who was diagnosed with leukemia at 37.

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One of my first questions when I was diagnosed with leukemia was: What could I have done to prevent getting cancer? I didn’t think I’d been exposed to the chemical benzene (one known cause of leukemia) and had no idea what other factors may have contributed to my disease. In the end, I chalked it up to bad luck and that there was very little I could have done to prevent it. A recent study, “Variation in Cancer Risk among Tissues Can be Explained by the Number of Stem Cell Divisions,” provides some support for this.

Christian Tomasetti and Bert Vogelstein at John Hopkins University state their results suggest that only a third of the variation in cancer risk among tissues is attributable to environmental factors or inherited predispositions. The majority is due to “bad luck,” that is, random mutations arising during DNA replication in normal, noncancerous stem cells.

Image Credit: C. Tomasetti, B. Vogelstein and illustrator Elizabeth Cook, Johns Hopkins

Alice Park interviewed the scientists for a Time.com article in January, reporting on their study. “The replicative power is the engine that keeps the body going, allowing tissues to replace cells as they die off.  But it’s also the process behind cancer, since cancer is caused by cells that pick up mutations in their DNA when they divide—and stem cells are the only population that copy their DNA and divide to make more cells.” The researchers charted stem cell data for 31 types of tissue and found that the more stem cells tissue had, the higher the incidence of cancer over a person’s lifetime on average.

Preventive measures aren’t enough to avoid many cancers, such as melanoma, ovarian, lung cancer among non-smokers, and most common leukemias, so being vigilant about screening and picking up the first signs of trouble early are vital, the scientists say.

We have been advised time and again that certain actions reduce our cancer risk: getting regular exercise, eating a low-fat diet including many fruits and vegetables (the darker the color, the better), quitting smoking, abstaining from excessive alcohol consumption, avoiding exposure to the sun as well as toxic chemicals in food and cleaning products or the environment. Alas, you can adhere to all these precautions and still end up with cancer.

This is why early detection is important too.  Get to know your body and what feels normal and become familiar with your health.  You will be more attuned to any abnormalities, particularly anything lasting longer than two weeks, for which seeing a doctor is a good idea.

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Deborah Ludwig is the author of Rebirth: A Leukemia Survivor’s Journal of Healing during Chemotherapy, Bone Marrow Transplant, and Recovery. She has also shared her story on the 15-40 Connection website to help others learn from her experience prior to diagnosis, including taking action sooner rather than later when you notice changes in your health that don’t improve after two weeks. 

If you are a cancer survivor and would like to share your story with 15-40 Connection to help others detect cancer earlier, contact us.

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Please help us welcome our summer intern Jen! She is writing a blog on her experiences as an intern at 15-40 Connection.  And no, she is not just doing drink runs...

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Wrest Meaning Out of Cancer

In honor of National Cancer Survivor Month, we’re continuing to share guest posts by some of our amazing cancer survivor network.  You may have already seen two in the past few months from Dave McGrath (Why I Speak for 15-40 Connection) and Kris MacDonald (Mixed Up Priorities).

The below post was written by Vanessa Laven, who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma at 25.

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The most frustrating thing about cancer is that it has nothing to do with anything we can control. You can eat well, not smoke or drink alcohol, cut out sugar, exercise every day, think only the happiest and most positive thoughts possible and still get cancer.

Frustrating, right?

Those first few weeks of diagnosis are the worst because you'll slowly realize that there is no answer to "Why me?"

So what did I do? I decided to wrest meaning out of cancer. I saw an opportunity to fundamentally change who I wanted to be. This was my reset button.

I’m not naturally as positive as I sometimes appear on social media. It’s a forced persona but one that has helped me start viewing the world in better terms. By making myself think about the good potentialities and not just the bad, I’ve been able to appreciate life more.

Have you (or someone you love) been diagnosed with cancer? Or maybe you just got the worst news ever? Take a deep breath. Let it out. Now's your chance to erase the disappointments, the embarrassing failures and the awkward moments. Start anew and with a better chance of getting it right.

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To wrest meaning out of cancer, Vanessa started making her own plush internal organs called Survival Organs. She has also shared her story on the 15-40 Connection website to help others learn from her experience prior to diagnosis, including to advocate for yourself if you feel your doctor is dismissing your concerns, and to get a second opinion.

If you’d like to share your story with 15-40 Connection to help others detect cancer earlier, contact us.

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Read stories shared by cancer survivors, learn from them and the early warning signs they experienced and help yourself and others detect cancer earlier. www.15-40.org/learn-from-me/

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Tanning Truths

It’s Skin Cancer Awareness and Melanoma Awareness Month...

For more information on skin cancer and HOW TO DETECT SKIN CANCER EARLY visit http://www.15-40.org/skin-cancer/

Early cancer detection saves & improves lives - your best chance to detect cancer early is YOU! (http://www.15-40.org/) 

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Why I Speak for 15-40 Connection

Cancer survival rates have barely improved for 15-40-year-olds since 1975, largely due to delayed diagnosis in this age group. 15-40 Connection is a non-profit organization working to change this by empowering teens and young adults with the knowledge of what an early cancer symptom can look or feel like, sometimes by sharing the stories of cancer survivors, like Dave McGrath. Here, he tells us why 15-40 Connection is important to him:

Why I Speak for 15-40 Connection

By Dave McGrath

The simple reason why I speak for 15-40 Connection is because I really hate cancer.  I use the word “really” to be nice, but usually my feelings for cancer warrant the use of expletives.  Cancer has taken a lot from me and the people I care about.

Even though I’m still trying to figure myself out, I was the first person I knew who had cancer.  When I was 18 years old in 1992, cancer was a word that I had only heard of and seen depicted in a couple of movies.  I would get to know cancer on a really personal level for the next six months, and I received my last round of treatment for brain cancer during my first weekend of college.

Cancer took a “normal” end of high school into freshman year in college away from me.  A few months after my treatment ended, I started “fighting back” by getting drunk and breaking things.  What I went through wasn’t fair, but I wasn’t about to talk to someone about my feelings. I released them, however unhealthy it was, in the way that I needed to.

When I was a junior in college, cancer took the lives of two of my friends: Danny Manning, Jr., and Justin Horton.  Danny graduated with me from Saint John’s, and I met Justin (13 when he died) while we were both getting cancer treatment at UMass.   Because of my drinking I wasn’t there for Justin at the end, and that led to me not having a drink since he passed away in 1995.

Since I graduated from college, cancer has taken a lot more people.

My friend Greg Montalbano, Uncle Bobby, my friend Aimee’s mom, my friend Bethany’s mom, my friend Suzie’s dad, my friend Casey, my friend David’s dad, my friend Blake’s mom, my friend Anne’s mom, and more than twenty- five former Hope Lodge guests.  

I speak for 15-40 Connection because I think it’s my duty as a survivor to honor all of those people by fighting back, and 15-40 Connection is a group I believe in.  I personally won’t be satisfied until the cancer survival rates are 100% for all age groups, but I think the 15-40-year-old age group is a great place to start. Cancer survival rates haven’t improved in this age group since 1975, while they have improved in other age groups. That’s why I believe in focusing resources on teaching this age group about early detection.

Like my hatred of cancer, a big key in beating cancer is simple: early detection.  Most cancers are much more likely to be curable if you find them in the first or second stage. Although there is no single set of cancer-like symptoms, a symptom could be anything that doesn’t feel normal for you.

I speak for 15-40 Connection because my life has been an example of both what not to do and what to do when facing symptoms that don’t feel normal.

I learned my lesson about the importance of being proactive about my health the hard way. With my Crohn’s Disease, I let the symptoms go on for years and didn’t seek out a doctor until the pain was so bad I couldn’t stand up straight.  The disease had put holes in my intestines, and 1 ½ feet of my large and small intestines were removed when I was diagnosed with Crohn’s as a freshman in high school.

When I started having really bad headaches and double vision at age 18, I went to a doctor right away.  It saved my life.  If just one person I speak to can learn from my example, it is worth it.  

I speak for 15-40 Connection because it is an organization made up of wonderful people who are dedicated to getting the message of early detection out there.  Both the staff and the awesome group of volunteer cancer survivor speakers that I work with make speaking for 15-40 Connection something I look forward to every time I do it. My goal is to share my story and 15-40 Connection’s message with at least 1,000,000 people.  It is time to change the way we talk about cancer.

Read Dave’s Story Here