20th Anniversary Celebration -- Mark Your Calendar!

The Women’s Cancer Resource Center is holding a performance of a one- woman show entitled, “Jonna’s Body, Please Hold” at the new Marsh Theater in Berkeley on May 18. Nominated for two 2004 LA Stage Alliance awards, this one-woman show chronicles Jonna Tamases’ cancer battle with humor, tenderness and joy.

The performance starts promptly at 8:00 p.m. and is followed by a champagne and chocolate reception and silent auction.

Tickets are $125 per person and will be available shortly. Seating is limited. Many of you contacted me after reading this in our last e-Bulletin – please know that I have your information and will see that you receive an invitation.

If you are interested in attending and haven’t contacted me already, please email peggy@wcrc.org and you will be sent an invitation.

Friends of Faith and East Bay Breast Cancer Emergency Fund

When ground-breaking journalist Faith Fancher was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997, she mobilized her friends and colleagues in the media to action. While fighting the disease, Fancher also worked tirelessly to raise awareness and money to help develop grassroots programs to benefit low-income women with breast cancer.

Fancher’s legacy is a vital organization known today as “Friends of Faith” and the Women’s Cancer Resource Center is proud to be affiliated with its work. Thanks to funding provided by “Friends of Faith,” the East Bay Emergency Breast Cancer Fund provides emergency financial assistance to low-income women with breast cancer in Alameda and Contra Costa counties who need financial assistance with necessities – rent, utilities, food, child care, transportation, medical insurance and nutritional supplements – during cancer treatment.

Since February 2003, Friends of Faith has granted $85,400 to the East Bay Emergency Breast Cancer Fund, providing support to 142 low income women fighting breast cancer. Referrals to the fund are made by social worker, doctor or other medical personnel and administered by our Program Director, Dolores Moorehead.

As Fancher said, “When a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, she is placed in unknown territory. Women without means often suffer the most and often need additional support. There are many grassroots agencies out there to help these women but they need funds to provide services to them. This is where Friends of Faith is available to help in awarding grants to agencies so they can continue to do this good work.”

Please join me in saluting the Friends of Faith and their commitment to keeping Faith Fancher’s vision alive.

For more information about the East Bay Emergency Breast Cancer Fund, please contact Dolores Moorehead at 510.601.4040 x112 or Dolores@wcrc.org. If you would like to donate to the East Bay Emergency Breast Cancer Fund, please contact Sarah@wcrc.org.

Peggy McGuire, Executive Director

Events Calendar

One-Time Events

Advance Healthcare Directives
Wednesday, March 22, 6:30 – 7:30 pm
Please contact Margo to sign up: (510) 420-7900 x111 or margo@wcrc.org.

NEW! One Bite at a Time: Nourishing Recipes for People with Cancer, Survivors, and Their Caregivers
Wednesday, March 29th, 7:00 – 8:30 PM
Please join Chef Rebecca Katz for an evening of recipes, cooking demonstration, food ideas, and tastings from her cookbook, One Bite at a Time.
Please contact margo@wcrc.org to RSVP and/or for more information.

NEW! Mom’s Cancer – a Graphic Novel by Brian Fies
Author event at Cody’s Fourth St. – 1730 4th St, Berkeley
Saturday, March 25 – 7 PM
20% of all books sold at the event will be donated to WCRC.

NEW! Cancer Made Me a Shallower Person: A Memoir in Comics by Miriam Engelberg
Author event at Cody’s Fourth St. – 1730 4th St, Berkeley
Saturday, May 13th, 4 PM
20% of all books sold at the event will be donated to WCRC.

Events Calendar

NEW! Between the Lines of Circumstance: A Reading Group

Navigating the waters of a cancer diagnosis is a life altering experience. As we begin to emerge from the raw emotion, we often discover that we have changed. Everything looks different now. The path ahead has been altered, sometimes even shattered. Please join us for a book group exploring the heart of our healing, and the health of our souls. Led by Linda Epley & Elsa Campo. Meets first Wednesday of the month. Next meetings will be April 5, May 3, June 7th. 7:00 – 8:30 P.M. Please contact Margo to sign up: (510) 601-4040 x 111 or margo@wcrc.org.

NEW! Writing & Performance Workshops with members of the Mothertongue Feminist Theater Collective
Join us to write stories, poems, one-liners, and songs in order to demystify the body and the stage. Let's write together and then perform for ourselves and our friends.

Founded in 1976, Mothertongue believes that women find joy and strength in telling truths to one another.

Meetings will be 4th Saturdays 4/22, 5/27, 6/24; 1-3 PM

Please contact margo@wcrc.org to register and/or for more information.

Gentle Yoga for Health & Healing
With Bonnie Maeda and Carol Love
2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month; 1-2 P.M. (March 22; April 12, 26)
Location: WCRC

Especially for women with cancer - supporters may attend as space permits.

Please contact Margo to register margo@wcrc.org (510) 420-7900 x111

Yarn Divas

YARN DIVAS | For knitters and other crafters
Last Tuesdays - March 28, April 25, May 30, June 27, July 25
7:30 - 9 PM
Location: WCRC
Instruction by Kate Freeman of Article Pract.

Writing for Wellness
3rd Saturday of the month, 2 – 4 PM
March 18th, April 15th, May 20th, June 17th
Please contact Jeanne to register (510) 632-7548 or jeany98@aol.com

T’ai Chi Chih® for Balance and Well-being
March 17, 24, 31 – 10 – 11 am, with Wendy Helms, PhD.
Please contact Margo to register: (510) 420-7900 x111 or margo@wcrc.org.

NEW! Creative _Expression in Mixed Media with Jan Mignaud
Tuesdays, April 4, 11, 18, May 2 – 7 -9 PM

Join us for creative endeavors with collage and other fun art forms. Most materials provided but you are encouraged to collect your own papers, magazines, photos (not your original copy) and other items with personal meaning. No previous art experience necessary. This art group offers an opportunity to learn about self -_expression with collage and mixed media while allowing for development of community at WCRC.

Jan Mignaud holds a BA in Art Education and a MA in Art Therapy. She has had much experience in Studio Art and currently teaches part-time at NIAD and creates art in her studio in Oakland. Jan is also a cancer survivor.

Please contact margo@wcrc.org to register and/or for more information.

Events Calendar

Cancer Treatment Side-Effect Management
Saturday, March 25, 2006 | San José
For more information and to RSVP, please call Carolina at (408) 271-8327.
Refreshments will be served.

Meditation, Relaxation, and Stress Reduction Workshop
March 30. 2006
With: Pat Ramirez LC
From 12:00 to 2:00 pm
At: The Wellness Community
3276 McNutt Ave., Walnut Creek

Cancer and Financial Support and Treatments Programs
June 29, 2006 – Concord
6:00 to 8:00 pm

All Day Workshop about Chemotherapy and Side Effects, Coping with the Emotional Impact of Cancer, Community Resource Presentation and Cancer Patient Survivor Testimony.
August 26, 2006 – Mt Diablo Medical Center – Concord
10:00 am to 3:30 pm
To register call Millie (510) 601-4040 x 110 or (925) 381- 9866
millie@wcrc.org

Angel Island 3 Day Sea Kayaking Trip
Friday - Sunday, March 31 - April 2
Cost: $175 - $350, discounts and scholarships available. Call Dana at 510-215-5127

Join Healing Adventures for a gentle outdoor adventure. Our programs are geared for people challenging illnesses, their friends and families. Our sea kayaks are very stable and easy to paddle. No previous experience is necessary. Even if you cannot paddle a boat, we can match you with a kayak guide as a partner to do the work. Join us and Environmental Traveling companions (ETC) for three days of fun and relaxation. Learn basic kayaking, explore Angel Island, enjoy delicious meals and exquisite views from the deck of a historic house. See http://ww w.healingadventures.org.

Volunteer Orientation – Tuesday, April 4th, 6:00 – 7:30 pm

Volunteering at WCRC is the perfect way to give back to others, while at the same time providing nourishment for your spirit. Attend the Volunteer Orientation on the first Tuesday of the month and find out about who we are, what volunteers and interns do and some basic information about cancer. We look forward to seeing you!

Please contact Sarah to sign-up: sarah@wcrc.org 510.601.4040 x 105.

Sixth Annual Support Strokes Race and Fundraiser
May 20, 2006

Join California Canoe & Kayak (CCK) in a paddle for life! The Sixth Annual Support Strokes Race and Fundraiser, is a challenging, 15.5-mile sea kayak and canoe paddle around Alameda Island to raise money for breast cancer advocacy, research, and treatment. CCK sponsors this event is in memory of Lore Hogan, a friend and fellow paddler who lost her battle with breast cancer in May of 2001.

You don’t have to be an expert paddler to participate; the event has appropriate challenges for all levels. The courses include a two-mile paddle for novices and cancer survivors, and an eight-mile course ending at Crown Beach in Alameda (with a complementary shuttle service back to Jack London Square for you and your boat). Pre-event training sessions will be available for registered participants in the month prior to the event.

Last year’s event raised $18,199 that went directly to Women’s Cancer Resource Center.

Registration fee is $25 and each participating paddler is asked to raise a minimum of $100. All pledges raised will be distributed among the beneficiaries based on the donor’s choice.

California Canoe & Kayak will provide kayak and canoe rentals for $10 per person to all registered participants as needed. Reservations for boats must be made at least two weeks in advance by calling CCK directly at (510) 893-7833.

Registration forms are available from California Canoe & Kayak, 409 Water Street in Jack London Square, Oakland CA 94607, or marketing@calkayak.com.

Baja Fresh Fundraiser

Baja Fresh in San Francisco will be donating 15% of the price of your meal when you bring in this flyer on any of these dates: APRIL 7, 14, 21, 28

Courtesy of the Silent Spring Institute in Newton, MA

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Dolphin Waletzky

Abstract Works by Eight Bay Area Artists
Featuring: Kim Anno, Bill Dallas, Diane Dunwoodie, Anna W. Edwards, Pablo Tellez, Orlonda Uffre, Dolphin Waletzky, and Lee Williams.

Show runs April 10th – May 25th 2006, at the Women's Cancer Resource Center Art Gallery.

Opening Reception with the artists, Friday April 21, 6 – 9 P.M.
Free, wheelchair accessible.

by LauraLynn Jansen

“Your best medicine is what you put on your plate three times a day,” one of my wise teachers told me.

The number one guideline for cancer prevention and for an overall balanced healthy diet is to eat your fruits and vegetables. Cancer is seen by many experts as a maladaptation to a reduced intake of nutrients by our body’s metabolism. In other words, they see cancer as being the result of a deficiency of plant foods in the diet. Almost every source of information on cancer and diet refers to the need to consume at least the recommended daily intake of five servings per day of fruits and vegetables for prevention and for supporting a body dealing with cancer treatment.

Certain types of cancers are linked to diet or dietary habits.

The American Health Foundation put together this Basic Guideline regarding possible promoters of cancer and cancer causing substances, also known as carcinogens. The ‘inhibitors’ in the far right column should be used as part of an overall balanced diet in the prevention of these types of cancer.

The key to remember with any dietary changes, supplements and the like is to use them in moderation. The general guidelines for nutrient intake are: 12-15% protein, 55-60% carbohydrates, 25- 30% fats and <10% saturated fats. However, when facing a major health challenge, such as cancer or other illnesses, it is best to meet with a registered nutritionist to develop a program that is tailored to your changing needs. Many hospitals and clinics have nutritionists whom you can set up an appointment to talk to ask your doctor or nurse. Also check with the Women’s Cancer Resource Center for nutrition resources.

Namaste, LauraLynn

LauraLynn Jansen can be contacted through her website, www.ihcoach.com.

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