by Life Credit Company | Jun 30, 2016 | Cancer Research & News
From car windows to front yards, the color pink has been splashed across countless surfaces to raise awareness for breast cancer. Now, that effort will have a new home — right in the pockets of Americans. A series of pink-hued coins is expected to be released in 2018. The U.S. Mint will produce 50,000 $5 coins, which will be tinged with pink, as well as 400,000 $1 coins and 750,000 half-dollar coins with symbols to reflect the fight against breast cancer. A national contest will be held to pick the artwork for the coins. The effort is meant to raise awareness for cancer patients battling the illness and the larger effort to combat new diagnoses. It also is designed to raise needed funds for the fight against breast cancer. A portion of the proceeds of coin sales will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The production of the coins would be covered by the sales price. The idea was conceived of by New York Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, who led legislation, known as the Breast Cancer Awareness Commemorative Coin Act, that called for the creation of the coins, which President Obama ultimately signed. In an interview with the Associated Press, Maloney cited the startling statistics about breast cancer: About one in eight women will develop the disease in their lifetime. “The only obstacle standing between us and a cure is further research, and that research needs funding,” Maloney said. “The funds raised through coin sales could be the ones that lead to the discovery of a cure to this devastating disease.” While breast cancer remains the most common... read more
by Life Credit Company | Jun 23, 2016 | Cancer Research & News
If you’re looking for a one-stop-shop resource for cancer patients, look no further than OncoLink. From educational information for people who are newly diagnosed to support for those going through treatments to community-building efforts for survivors, OncoLink addresses all aspects of the cancer journey. A strong history OncoLink traces its roots back more than two decades. It was started in 1994 by Dr. Joel Goldwein of the University of Pennsylvania, and holds the distinction as the very first comprehensive website offering cancer information. The concept of gathering medical information online was novel at the time; there were just 30,000 web pages available then, compared to the approximately 1 billion now. As technology has evolved, the website has undergone many transformations; it began largely as a way to connect cancer patients to other sources of information but over time started publishing original content. The material itself gradually diversified, with content generated by everyone from doctors to nurses to social workers to patients themselves. Despite its evolution, OncoLink has remained committed to its original stated goal: “to support patients, caregivers and practitioners through education.” Material for all users Education is everywhere on OncoLink. On the home page, visitors have the option of researching by cancer type — with two-dozen pages on different types of the disease. On each page, users can access in-depth information about treatment options, prevention, screening, and support. The pages are also sorted according to who’s seeking the information: patients or healthcare professionals. Patients can learn about the latest in treatments, from chemotherapy to proton therapy to vaccine therapy. The information is presented in... read more
by Life Credit Company | Jun 17, 2016 | Cancer Research & News
Today’s youth are typically well-versed in technology — a reality that is helping young cancer patients. Web and mobile applications are increasingly used for information sharing, and such technology is also now being relied on for people seeking emotional support. With just a few clicks, people all over the world can connect, share stories, and find much-needed solidarity. One organization pursuing such a strategy is The Children’s Eye Cancer Foundation, based in Germany. Its new app, RB-World, provides online help for cancer patients, specifically those battling retinoblastoma. The disease originates in the retinal region in the eye and most commonly develops in childhood. For that reason, RB-World is open to patients and survivors as young as 12. The free app allows users to instantly connect with other people who’ve been diagnosed with retinoblastoma. While they can share medical advice and information, the app largely encourages users to share stories. Isolation can be a very real risk after a cancer diagnosis; a patient may feel like no one in his or her life can relate to the fears and frustrations that cancer can bring on a daily basis. With RB-World, however, patients have instant access to a sea of people who’ve faced the same challenges as them. The app functions as a virtual support group. In-person groups may be intimidating for some patients, but this app provides the benefits of such groups in a comfortable online space. RB-World organizers tout both the safety and accessibility of the app. All information users input is SSL-encrypted, which means privacy won’t be violated. Users have to register through a unique invitation code, and... read more
by Life Credit Company | May 27, 2016 | Quality of Life & Emotional Support
“Despite incredible support from family and friends, I still felt alone, with nobody to turn to for answers.” That was the motive that inspired cancer survivor Rowan to launch Spero for Cancer. Spero is a mobile community that offers online help for cancer patients, as well as survivors and supporters. The effort is founded in the idea that a sense of community — with people who are facing, or who have faced, the same things as you — is a powerful tool in the fight against cancer. Making Connections With Other Cancer Patients Socializing is central to Spero’s mission. When you register, you’re able to input information about the type of cancer you have or had, your age and location, and the system then connects you with others with similar characteristics. Through Spero’s direct-messaging capability, users can reach out to one another and share stories, offer advice or even talk about non-cancer topics for a respite from their illness. Cancer can be an isolating disease; even with loving family and friends, patients may feel like no one truly understands the daily effects of the disease. That’s where Spero succeeds: It allows patients to make real connections with people who have experienced the same diagnosis, symptoms, fears and worries and, ideally, the same triumph over the disease. Getting Information In addition to establishing connections among people whose lives have been touched by cancer, Spero gives patients and their supporters valuable access to information about the disease. Spero offers a robust blog section, which touches on a wide range of cancer-related topics. For instance, there are medical-focused blogs, such as one... read more
by Life Credit Company | May 22, 2016 | Quality of Life & Emotional Support
Music’s impact on our society is vast, and varied. It inspires and energizes crowds, from sports fans to concertgoers. It tells stories in ways that language cannot. And it unifies people across cultures, communicating messages where words are not needed. It also can be an individual source of comfort, an idea that has taken hold for people facing cancer. Singing in a choir, even for just one hour a week, can provide help for cancer patients — on social, emotional and even physical levels, according to new research. Tenovus Cancer Care and Royal College of Music and Imperial College in Wales teamed up to explore a choir’s impact on people dealing with cancer, either directly or through relatives. Investigators tested saliva samples from choir performers for a stress hormone, and found that stress levels were down after singers performed. In addition to negatively impacting one’s outlook, stress has been proven to suppress the immune system, researchers said. While stress relief can’t actually cure a disease, it can certainly alleviate the symptoms and get patients on the right track to health. That’s a lesson Huntsman Cancer Institute is already putting into practice. Beth Hardy is a music therapist at HCI. There, she creates individualized music plans for each patient; she writes songs with some, plays music for others and incorporates it into therapy plans for others. The impact is noticeable. Music’s relaxation power is evident when patients drift off to sleep during sessions. Focusing on a musical activity also distracts patients from the pain they’re experiencing, which can decrease their need for some medications and improve their mood. Hardy has... read more
by Life Credit Company | May 16, 2016 | Quality of Life & Emotional Support
We can all recall the masterpieces we colored as children: The colors may not have always been inside the lines, and the finished products weren’t always frame-worthy, but it was a relaxing activity that allowed us to explore our creative sides! Recently, adults have been enticed to revisit their carefree childhood days with the rising trend of coloring books geared toward adults. Big-box retailers, bookstores and online sites are selling the books en masse; Crayola even just recently launched its own line of adult coloring books, paired with special crayons and pencils. According to CNN, adult coloring is “all the rage” right now. The trend is not just a money grab, however; there are real benefits to the phenomenon — including for people facing cancer. Just ask patients at UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center. The facility has started passing out coloring books to patients seeking chemotherapy and other treatments. The center is treating coloring like a standard resource for cancer patients, situating coloring books and art supplies alongside its collection of movies and games traditionally offered to help patients relax during their visits. According to Kathleen Lorain, who leads the center’s art programs, the center has found coloring to be effective at reducing stress. Lorain explained to NewsMedical that creative activities like coloring activate the right side of the brain; on the contrary, stress and worry stimulate the left side. That change allows the left side to “quiet” down, alleviating anxiety, which is common among cancer patients. “Because they’re occupied with thoughts such as ‘what color do I use?’ and ‘how should I color this part?,’ their right brain... read more
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