Breakaway Mile Champion & cancer survivor Dee Williams leads the Breakaway Mile in style!

Breakaway from Cancer (BFC) is made up of four nonprofits, the Prevent Cancer Foundation, the Cancer Support Community, the Patient Advocate Foundation and the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, who offer a variety of resources for people touched by cancer. Each organization was highlighted during one of the four Breakaway Miles, a special walk to recognize cancer survivors worldwide. During each Breakaway Mile, survivors, caregivers, health care professionals and supporters joined Amgen and BFC in a walk that honored a designated cancer champion who has made a difference in the cancer community. Saturday was the Prevent Cancer Foundation’s Breakaway Mile in Livermore, CA and we were proud to have cancer survivor Dee Williams as our Breakaway Champion. Dee is a twelve year breast cancer survivor who actively volunteers with several organizations that support others in their journey through cancer treatment and recovery. Read about all of the Breakaway Champions here.

Foundation Board Member & Amgen Director of Advocacy, Kathryn West @ the Breakaway from Cancer Tent.

All eight days of the Tour were packed with people, from avid cycling enthusiasts to curious locals. Many onlookers stood along the route with encouraging posters for their favorite riders, some came all the way from Europe and Australia to follow the Tour, while others were first-timers who wanted to witness this big, action-packed event in their community. Working together as a team, the BFC partners welcomed everyone to our BFC tent to provide cancer resources from prevention to survivorship. I had many wonderful conversations with people who shared their cancer story and were very appreciative of the work we are doing to Stop Cancer Before it Starts! Many of our visitors were surprised to learn there was so much you could do to prevent cancer, so it was great to see those visitors walk away with important health information, resources and a new outlook on taking better care of themselves and their family.

Thank you to California, Amgen, AEG, our BFC partners and to everyone who works toward saving lives through cancer prevention and early detection!

Prevent Cancer Foundation’s Carolyn (Bo) Aldige (center) w/ Amgen Exec. Director of Research, Dineli Wickramsinghe & Amgen VP & General Manager of Oncology, Bob Azelby.

Amgen started the BFC initiative in 2005 to promote awareness of a variety of cancer prevention and survivorship resources. The BFC is comprised of four cancer-related nonprofits, Prevent Cancer Foundation, Cancer Support Community (CSC), Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) and National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS). The BFC partners participate in the AToC race each year to distribute valuable resources and information at the Breakaway from Cancer booth and walk with cancer survivors and caregivers as part of the Breakaway Mile marches.

Prevent Cancer Foundation Staff, Cheryssa Jensen & Carolyn Schmidt travel w/ Breakaway from Cancer at the Amgen Tour of California

The AToC kicked off the race with festivities in Escondido, California on Friday, May 10. The day included an excellent gala celebration, a boa constrictor named Ruby from the San Diego Zoo and an introduction to all 16 teams competing in the race. Emcees Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen, notable commentators for the Tour de France, introduced accomplished riders from around the globe including AToC winners, Tour de France finalists and Olympian medalists.

The first stage of the race began and ended in Escondido on Sunday where the cyclists competed in a 102.6 mile course containing an 11,132-feet elevation gain. The second stage’s course was even longer at 124.3 miles and ended in a steep climb toward the finish line in Palm Springs where it was a hot and dry 106 degrees. The eighth stage concludes the race on Sunday, May 19 in Santa Rosa. Follow this exciting tour at www.amgentourofcalifornia.com or on twitter @AmgenTourofCali or @BreakawayCancer.

Along with the four BFC partners, the Prevent Cancer Foundation will be traveling with the Breakaway from Cancer tent, as part of the Lifestyle Festival, located near the end of each stage. If you’re in California come visit us at the Breakaway from Cancer tent to receive a variety of free resources and fun giveaways like sunglasses, key chains and frisbees! I applaud these amazing athletes and the inspiring cancer survivors who are working as a team to Stop Cancer Before it Starts!

Myth: Indoor tanning is safer because it protects you from sunburn by giving you a base tan.  
Fact: There is no such thing as a “safe” or “healthy” tan. A tan is damaged skin and can put the body at risk for skin cancer. Studies show that melanoma, the most lethal form of skin cancer, is the fastest-growing cancer and is being diagnosed in more and more young people, largely attributable to the use of tanning beds.

Myth: You can’t get sun damage on a cloudy day.
Fact: Your skin is at risk even when the sun’s not shinning. The sun’s ultra violet rays can actually break through the clouds. Even on cloudy days you should use sunscreen and lip balm with UVB and UVA protection with SPF 30 or more.

Myth: You need sunlight to get enough Vitamin D.
Fact: The safest way to get Vitamin D is through a healthy diet and supplements, not long hours in the sunlight. Foods such as milk, yogurt, salmon and tuna are all rich with this nutrient. Fifteen minutes a day of sun exposure for three days a week is all you need for adequate levels of Vitamin D.

Myth: People with darker skin can’t get skin cancer.
Fact: Skin cancer doesn’t discriminate – men and women of all ethnicities are at risk. Although darker-skinned people are less likely to get skin cancer than white people, they are typically more likely to die from the disease.

Myth: Eighty percent of sun damage occurs before the age of 18.
Fact: The majority of a person’s sun damage actually occurs later on in life. While many parents are vigilant with keeping their kids safe with sunscreen and protective clothing, they often don’t practice what they preach. It’s important to protect both your children and yourself from sun exposure whenever you are outdoors.

Remembering these sun safety facts can help you and your loved ones prevent sunburn and early signs of aging and most importantly reduce your risk of skin cancer. You can still have fun in the bright summer sun by following these simple steps:

1. Apply one ounce of sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher before going outside
2. Wear protective clothing – sun glasses, hats and clothing made of tightly woven material with long sleeves
3. Avoid tanning beds and sun exposure when it’s the brightest
4. Routinely check your skin by following the ABCDE rule

Visit Save Your Skin to learn more about keeping your skin healthy year round.

Knowing your family health history can help you determine your family’s health risk and make preventive choices.

According to a health survey, only 1 in 3 adults say they have attempted to collect and record their family medical history. It’s important to your overall health, including cancer prevention, to know about your family’s health history. Knowing where to begin, understanding the importance of it and feeling comfortable with starting that conversation with your family are some of the challenges and questions we may face. To help guide us through this process the Prevent Cancer Foundation, in partnership with the National Broadcaster’s Association (NAB) and the Congressional Families Cancer Prevention Program, will hold the organization’s first webcast: “Family Medical History: Why and What You Should Know.”

The panel will be moderated by Dave Dubin, a three time cancer survivor and advocate for cancer screening and genetic testing. Panel members will consist of a diverse group of leading experts and advocates:

Anna Maria Izquierdo, Primary Care Physician and Executive Director of Care for Your Health

Beth N. Peshkin, MS, GCG, Associate Professor of Oncology and Senior Genetic Counselor at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center

Allyn Rose, Miss D.C., family medical history and cancer prevention advocate

The panel will cover a range of topics including:

• The importance of knowing one’s medical history
• How your family medical history can help reduce your risk of cancer and other chronic diseases
• Strategies for learning about your medical history from family members
• Genetic testing and genetic counseling

Before and during the panel discussion, audience members are encouraged to tweet (@preventcancer) questions for the panelists to answer.

The free webcast will be streamed live online from the NAB’s offices and we hope you will be able to join us on Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at 2 pm Eastern. We hope you will “tune in” for this lively, informative and life-saving discussion!

Keynote speaker John Polanowicz, Massachusetts HHS Secretary, talks with Michael McCalla, MSHA, at a break.

The Prevent Cancer Foundation’s Dialogue for Action on Cancer Screening: Hitting the Targets took place in Baltimore on March 20 – 22, 2013. Over 200 attendees from diverse health professions came from 35 states and the District of Columbia, six tribes and Urban Indian Health Organizations and Japan to be part of this lively and dynamic interactive conference on access, quality and cost of health care.

Since the conference, we’ve heard many positive comments from attendees by email and phone and in our online survey (with about a 50% response rate).

Here are some of the comments shared by attendees:

“This is always my favorite conference to attend all year and wish others emulated it in both style and substance. Even the small details of food choices matching the mantra of healthier choices and behaviors is emphasized.”

“It was well worth the investment of time and money!”

“The speakers were experts in their fields—thank you. All levels of the diverse audience benefited from the information. The conference certainly inspired innovative thought and debate. This is what generates great healthcare quality!”

From left: moderator Cliff Goodman, PhD, & Seiji Hayashi, MD, MPH, Robin Yabroff, PhD, MBA, & Joe Lipscomb, PhD, discuss access, quality & cost of health care.

Here are the top three reasons for coming to the Dialogue:

1. Informative Presentations: “Information on current trends, innovations and updates on cancer screening” was key to over 80% of attendees.
2. Networking Opportunities: “Networking” was named by over 64%; some also noted that speakers were very accessible. One attendee wrote, “It was a wonderful networking opportunity. I am coming away with some good tools to implement in our prevention program.”
3. Expert Speakers: “Speakers on the agenda” was named as a draw by over 50%. One attendee commented that “the outstanding panels provided a wealth of information which proved useful in understanding the current changes which affect my job.”

Attendees plan to ‘keep the Dialogue going’ with actions on cancer screening that they plan to take after the Dialogue:

From left: Lillie Shockley, RN, MAS, & Jennifer Smith, PhD, MPH, share perspectives in a small-group discussion.

• Over half plan to implement change in their workplaces or communities
• Over 60% plan to contact colleagues they met at the Dialogue to discuss or collaborate on cancer screening activities

Check out the two-page overview of the 2013 Dialogue.

Since 1999, the focus of the Dialogue has been on colorectal cancer screening. This year, the Dialogue expanded to include mandated guidelines-driven screenings for breast, cervical and colorectal cancers, as well as screenings for skin, prostate and lung cancers. Continuing education credit is available for physicians, nursing professionals and certified health education specialists.

If you’re a professional working in cancer screening, put this on your calendar: March 20 – 21, 2014 (with March 19 as pre-conference day), and join us at the Dialogue next year! Send your ideas and suggestions for 2014 session topics and speakers to me at Karen.Peterson@preventcancer.org.

While nobody ever wants to hear those words, I consider myself fortunate. My family, friends and co-workers have been supportive and loving throughout this experience, and I have access to excellent cancer treatment.

Maryanne Kipe, a colon cancer patient, encourages her friends to get regular cancer screenings.

I was not symptomatic, but I knew that I should begin colorectal cancer screening at age fifty. Because of this, my cancer was found in an early, more treatable stage. While I join other patients every month for treatment, my oncologist at Fox Chase Cancer Center has told me that I should think of mine as a preventive measure. My experience has taught me how important cancer prevention, screening and early detection can be in one’s cancer diagnosis and outcome.

Being healthy and attentive to my health care has always been important to me and my family but since my diagnosis, it has become more of a top priority. For example, I stopped tanning at my tanning salon, which I admit to doing regularly until now. I no longer use tanning beds because I know that avoiding the harmful rays of tanning beds and the sun are vital in preventing skin cancer. I did nothing to cause my colorectal cancer, but if I were to develop skin cancer, I only have myself to blame. I want to do everything in my power to stay healthy and I don’t ever want to hear any doctor say, “you have cancer” again.

One of the other actions I took immediately after finding out that I had colon cancer was to help as many other people as I can learn about what they can do to reduce their risk for the disease. I knocked on the doors of the teachers who were 50 and older at the elementary school I work at and began encouraging them to get their screenings. I told them that despite the fear or displeasure of having the colorectal cancer screening, it’s not all that bad, it’s worth any discomfort and it can save lives. I’ve also made phone calls to friends who should get screened, because they are 50 or older or have a family history of colorectal cancer. I’ve given Prevent Cancer Foundation Buddy Bracelets to strangers that I’ve met at the pharmacy filling the same prescription as me, so that they can share the message of regular screenings with their loved ones. I will also make sure that my children and family talk to their health care providers about when to get screened; since we are now aware of a family history of the disease.

My goal in sharing my story is to help impress upon as many people as possible that there are steps that you can take to reduce your risk for cancer or to find it early. Getting screened, protecting yourself from the harmful effects of tanning and practicing healthy habits, like exercising and eating well, are all ways to help prevent cancer. While you can’t prevent all cases of cancer, there are some that can be prevented or detected early when it can be more successfully treated. I know that I am going to do everything that I can to ensure that the people in my life and community know what they can do to help save their life or the lives of their loved ones.

Editor’s Note: Guest Blogger Maryanne Kipe is a colon cancer patient who works at an elementary school in PA. She is a passionate advocate in her community for promoting colon cancer screening and early detection and knowing your family history in order to reduce one’s risk of the disease.   

At the event, guests had the opportunity to tour the Prevent Cancer Super Colon and receive important information about colorectal cancer prevention as well as a free take home colorectal cancer test kit. Several healthcare professionals from the Hope Center, a cancer center, and Northwest Georgia Oncology Center were onsite throughout the day to help encourage colon cancer screening, answer questions and give tours of the cancer center.The Center is located across one of Cartersville’s major shopping centers, allowing us to attract shoppers who had no idea they would be stepping inside a giant colon that day. Many of our visitors heard about us from the hospital media and local press as well. Our interactive colon was a big hit for the young families that came to learn more about cancer prevention. The colon exhibit was a great way to teach kids the importance of eating their fruits and veggies and being active as an easy way to start keeping their body healthy and preventing colon disease and cancer. I also had the opportunity to give a tour of the Prevent Cancer Super Colon to a local cable television show.

Oncology doctor w/ daughter inside our giant colon exhibit!

The Prevent Cancer Foundation would like to thank our host, Cartersville Medical Center and Northwest Georgia Regional Cancer Coalition, the event sponsor, for inviting us to participate in this wonderful event. It was great working with people who truly share a passion for sharing the message of prevention and early detection of colorectal cancer.

Elvis stops by the Prevent Cancer Super Colon in Times Square to remind his fans to get their colon cancer screenings!

The Prevent Cancer Super Colon was invited to be a part of Fight Colorectal Cancer’s (FCC) One Million Strong, an event spotlighting colorectal cancer awareness and prevention and encouraging everyone to celebrate the more than one million survivors of the disease in the U.S. The event included lots of fun, health-related activities that attracted many on-lookers to come find out what colorectal cancer and screening was all about. From sun up to sun down, the day was filled with dance parties, free yoga sessions, an acrobatic yoga demonstration, colon health educational materials, celebrity appearances, a “strong-man” competition and the sharing of many heartfelt survivor stories. The Prevent Cancer Foundation’s President and Founder Carolyn (“Bo”) Aldigé spoke in the opening ceremony about the importance of detecting polyps and colon cancer early and reminded the audience that the disease is preventable, treatable and beatable. Our Prevent Cancer Super Colon became one of the day’s most sought out attractions, showing the hundreds of participants and volunteers the importance of colorectal cancer screening.

This party for colon cancer prevention attracted people of all ages and walks of life to the Prevent Cancer Super Colon. We were able to give a tour of our three-dimensional super colon, show visitors what colon cancer and related disorders look like and provide them with fun, educational materials, such as Elvis magnets and Buddy Bracelets that each included vital screening information. I was amazed by how many people wanted to take our Buddy Bracelets to share with their family, friends and co-workers, in order to share the message about colorectal cancer screening guidelines (what a thoughtful way to show someone you care!). But many took them for themselves, commenting that the bracelet would serve as a helpful reminder to make an appointment for colon cancer screening soon.

This was my first Prevent Cancer Super Colon stop and even though I had studied my colorectal cancer and colon health facts, I ended up learning just as much, and maybe more, from our visitors, as they learned from me. Our morning visitors included a family from France that has an aunt with colorectal cancer, who also travels with a colon cancer educational exhibit similar to ours! It was interesting to learn the awareness activities for colon cancer happening in France. Their story reminded me that cancer has no boundaries and it’s a world-wide burden for so many individuals and families. People from all over the world shared their stories about the colon cancer screening process, having a family risk of colorectal cancer and how losing a loved one to cancer motivated them to get their colorectal screenings.

The Prevent Cancer Foundation featured on the NASDAQ Jumbotron!

As the sun started to set and the neon lights grew brighter, we could feel the enthusiasm building for the One Million Strong finale! The final events of the day included a pumped up dance party, recognition of colorectal cancer survivors on stage and an appearance by Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin, the current Middleweight Champion of the World, who did not leave without getting his Buddy Bracelet and a tour of the Prevent Cancer Super Colon! Quillin took pictures with survivors in front of the Prevent Cancer Super Colon and shared a message of “Let’s knock out colorectal cancer.”

Just as this remarkable day was coming to an end, the Prevent Cancer Foundation was featured on the NASDAQ board communicating our vision to all those watching in Times Square: Stop Cancer Before it Starts! 

The Prevent Cancer Foundation is very thankful to our friends at FCC and Bayer, the event sponsor, for inviting us to be a part of this truly inspiring day full of exciting moments and eager supporters all promoting better prevention, diagnosis, patient care and treatment of colorectal cancer.

Tim Byers, MD, MPH, an expert in cancer prevention research from the University of Colorado School of Public Health, will moderate a lively and thoughtful discussion among four thought leaders on cancer screening who know this issue broadly and deeply from diverse perspectives. We are fortunate to have these panelists:

• David F. Yankelevitz, MD, is professor of radiology at The Mt Sinai Hospital, an expert in the diagnosis of early lung cancer and an initiator of the International Early Lung Cancer Action Program (I-ELCAP) which enrolled more than 50,000 people in 8 countries.
• Stephen Taplin, MD, MPH, Branch Chief of the Process of Care Research Branch at the National Cancer Institute, is an expert in the field of cancer screening, having built his research career around problems he saw in day-to-day practice as a primary care physician and as head of a breast cancer screening program.
• Robert A. Smith, PhD, is an epidemiologist and Director of Cancer Screening at the National Office of the American Cancer Society and has been involved in the development of numerous cancer screening guidelines.
• Quyen Ngo-Metzger, MD, MPH, recently appointed as the Scientific Director for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, serves as the main government lead to provide guidance to the USPSTF and interacts with the public and other agencies regarding the work of the Task Force.

Attendees will have the opportunity to join this discussion and others at the 2013 Dialogue conference which will be held March 21 and 22, with pre-conference sessions on March 20.

The Prevent Cancer Foundation’s annual Dialogue is attended by the diversity of healthcare professionals involved in early detection of cancer, and it provides concrete tools and effective strategies for use in both clinical and public health settings. Since 1999, the screening focus of the Dialogue has been on colorectal cancer. New this year, the 2013 Dialogue is expanding to include breast, cervical and colorectal cancers, as well as skin, prostate and lung cancers. Continuing education credit is available for physicians, nursing professionals and certified health education specialists.

Register now for the 2013 Dialogue.

In support of the Gala that raises funds for cancer prevention and early detection programs, I am again inviting my Facebook fans to participate in my 2nd annual Facebook contest to benefit my charity of choice, the Prevent Cancer Foundation. Each fan that makes a donation of $5 or more between Tuesday, February 5 and Friday, March 8 will be entered into a drawing to win a signed copy of my book, “The Big White Book of Weddings” and an autographed photo!! Every donation will support the funding of vital community cancer prevention and early detection programs that help save the lives of men, women and children across the county. The winner will be announced on my Facebook page on Tuesday, March 12.

I, like so many others, have family and friends that have been touched by cancer. I encourage all of my fans to join the Facebook contest for the Prevent Cancer Foundation and help each of us to help all of us prevent cancer.

Editor’s Note: David Tutera is a celebrity wedding planner, bridal fashion designer, designer, author and professional speaker. He is the host of WEtv’s show, “My Fair Wedding with David Tutera,” the author of seven books and a member of the Prevent Cancer Foundation’s Board of Directors.