WCRC | April 2008 e-newsletter

During the past year there have been several attempts to break into the Women’s Cancer Resource Center and there have been incidences of robbery and violent crime in our Temescal neighborhood.

We have taken a number of measures to increase center security (in addition to a state-of-the-art alarm system):

While we do not want to discourage you from participating in our support groups, and educational, cultural and healing arts programs, we do ask that you be alert to your surroundings - day and night- and avoid leaving alone after dark. Our staff is always available to walk you to your car. Please let us know if you are using public transportation and need assistance getting to BART or your bus stop.

American Cancer Society: Lane Adams Award

Eight outstanding cancer care providers from a variety of backgrounds and regions have been chosen to receive the 2008 American Cancer Society Lane W. Adams Quality of Life Award, a prestigious national prize for cancer caring. The Lane W. Adams Quality of Life Award recognizes individuals who have made a difference through innovation, leadership, and consistent excellence in providing compassionate, skilled care, and counsel to persons living with cancer and their families.

Among the providers being honored this year is Dolores Moorehead, client services manager, Women’s Cancer Resource Center, Oakland, Calif. Ms. Moorehead was a ten-year employee of the American Cancer Society in San Francisco who now dedicates her time and energy to empowering women with cancer and to educating the general community about cancer. Through her passion for her work Ms. Moorehead has worked to implement numerous cancer patient programs to encourage cancer awareness and break down barriers to treatment.

Ms. Moorehead will be presented with the Lane W. Adams Quality of Life Award in a ceremony in Los Angeles on Friday, May 9, 2008. The American Cancer Society has recognized cancer caregivers through the Lane Adams Quality of Life Award since 1988. The awards committee includes long-time national Society volunteers, including Vicki Adams Quan, the daughter of Lane W. Adams, the former executive vice president of the Society who coined the term the “warm hand of service” and made attention to compassionate care a legacy of his service.

Support Groups Offered at WCRC

In the JanRae Community Art Gallery

Poetry by Zelma Brown & photography by Meredith Stout. Co-presented by The Sisters Project.

Workshops, Classes and Events

In addition to on-going groups we offer a variety of other workshops and classes. Please check the calendar on our website or send your contact information (mailing address and email) to margo@wcrc.org ensure that you receive a current schedule.

The Effects of Guided Imagery and Meditation and Spontaneous Remission: Their Impact on Cancer Survivors
Thursday, May 29, 7 – 8:30 PM

Come meet Kelly Turner, MSW, UC Berkeley Oncology Social Worker and Ph D.
Candidate, ACS funded researcher, who will discuss her on-going research on the effects of guided imagery and meditation for cancer patients as well as her upcoming dissertation research on spontaneous remission.
Presentation will also include a group mindfulness exercise. Open to all cancer survivors and their loved ones.

Moving from Pain into Comfort – with Jane Graly.
Saturday April 27, 1 to3 PM

Through a series of guided gentle movements, find new and comfortable ways to enjoy simple, functional activities. Based on Feldenkrais “Awareness Through Movement” classes, the workshop is designed to be especially helpful to people with low back problems but it will be useful to all.
Jane Graly is a physical therapist and a guild certified Feldenkrais practitioner. She has been a volunteer at the CMCC since 2002.

April 16 – Mediterranean Dishes
May 21 – Delicious Curries from Thailand, Myanmar, & India
June 18- Drink up! – Making fabulous smoothies, nutmilks & juices
July 16 – Cooking with fermented soy products (tempeh, miso, natto, & tofu)
August 20 – Cooking with Asian vegetables & fruits

With Sandy Der, Chef and Certified Nutrition Consultant
Register margo@wcrc.org or 510-601-4040 x111

Green Foods – Algae, spirulina, wheatgrass, seaweed & more
Thursday July 10, 6:30 – 8 PM

“Miracle Fruits” – Açai, goji berries, mangosteen, noni, pomegranate & more
Thursday July 17, 6:30 – 8 PM

Healing Mushrooms & Fungus (Shiitake, maitake, reishi & kombucha)
Thursday July 24, 6:30 – 8 PM

Everything you wanted to know about soy products
Thursday July 31, 6:30 – 8 PM

With Sandy Der
Chef and Certified Nutrition Consultant
Register margo@wcrc.org or 510-601-4040 x111

Latina Program Events

Entrenamiento de Abogacia Comunitaria: Apoyando mujeres Latinas con el cáncer de seno, con Carmen Ortiz de Círculo de Vida
25-26 de abril/ April 25th and 26th 9:00am-4:00pm
Círculo de Vida, San Francisco/Detalles TBD
For more information, please contact: Joanna Cuevas Ingram @ 510.697.7954

Celebración del Día de Las Madres/Mother’s Day Celebration
10 de mayo/May 10th 10am-2pm
Street Level Health Project
2501 International Blvd., Oakland, CA 94601
For more information, please contact: Joanna Cuevas Ingram @ 510.697.7954

Testimonials/Testimonios

El WCRC está parte de la comité de planificación por La Cumbre Nacional de Latinos y el Cáncer: Siempre Adelante Juntos, en el 30, y el 31 de julio y el 1 e agosto en el UCSF Mission Bay Conference Center en San Francisco . Como seguimos en movilizando esfuerzos para aumentar participación en investigaciones, con el fin de reducir las desigualdades y mejorar el cuidado y la calidad de vida de los sobrevivientes latinos y sus familias, pedimos que usted considere enviarnos un testimonio de sus experiencias, o las experiencias de los clientes/ comunidades para los cual usted o su organización sirve.

Compartiendo sus experiencias únicas y personales podría tener un gran impacto para los Latinos en todo el país en mejorar el acceso al cuidado medico de calidad. Pedimos que Uds. nos envíen su testimonio antes del martes 29 de abril para que sean incluidos en un reporte analítico sobre el acceso y la calidad del tratamiento y del cuidado para los Latinos viviendo en los Estados Unidos, Puerto Rico, Guam, y los territorios de los E.E.U.U. Resultados preliminarios podrían ser presentados por la Asociación Nacional de Estudiantes Médicos Latinos en la Cumbre Nacional de julio 2008. Los resultados del reporte serán enviados a los legisladores y oficiales públicos de distintos estados y el gobierno federal con la meta de abogar por la legislación y las pólizas públicas de salud más efectivas. Su apoyo puede hacer realidad el sueño de mejorar el acceso a los tratamientos nuevos de alta calidad y cuidado medico a la altura del entendimiento cultural de nuestra comunidad.

Esperamos escuchar su historia. Levántese y haga escuchar su voz. Embajar la forma oficial de escribir su testimonio

Envíe sus historias a Joanna Cuevas Ingram, Representante de Agencias por NLCS antes del 29 de abril al correo electrónico: joanna@wcrc.org o por fax al 510.601.4045.

Attn: NLCS c/o Joanna Cuevas Ingram
NLCS Agencies Liaison/Latina Outreach Program Coordinator
Women's Cancer Resource Center
5741 Telegraph Avenue
Oakland, CA 94609

Por favor, llame a Joanna al 510.601.4040 ex. 109 si tiene alguna pregunta o duda.

Para más información sobre la Cumbre Nacional de Latinos y el Cáncer 2008, o para inscribirse, por favor, visite el sitio en el red

The WCRC is an integral part of the planning committee for this year’s National Latino Cancer Summit: Moving Forward Together, taking place this July 30th, 31st, and August 1st and the UCSF Mission Bay Conference Center. As we continue to mobilize and unite our efforts to increase research participation, reduce disparities, and improve cancer care and quality of life for Latinos living with cancer and their families, we ask that you consider submitting testimony of your experience, or the experiences of the clients and/or constituencies you or you organization may serve.

Sharing your unique, personal experience may carry an even greater impact for Latinos throughout the nation in improving greater access to quality medical care. We ask that you submit your testimony by Tuesday, April 29th to be included in a qualitative report on access and quality of cancer care and treatment for Latinos living in the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. territories. Preliminary findings may be presented by the National Latino Medical Student Association at the National Summit in July 2008. The report findings will be submitted to key state and federal legislators and public policy officials throughout the country in an effort to advocate for more effective public health policy legislation. We ask for your support in helping us to realize the dream of better access to quality, cutting edge culturally competent treatment and cancer care in our communities.

We look forward to hearing your story. Stand up and let your voice be heard. Download the official testimonial form

Send your stories to Joanna Cuevas Ingram, NLCS Agencies Liaison at joanna@wcrc.org or by fax at 510.601.4045 before April 29th!

Attn: NLCS c/o Joanna Cuevas Ingram
NLCS Agencies Liaison/Latina Outreach Program Coordinator
Women's Cancer Resource Center
5741 Telegraph Avenue
Oakland, CA 94609

Please call Joanna at 510.601.4040 ex. 109 or email her at joanna@wcrc.org if you should have any question or concern.

For more information about the National Latino Cancer Summit 2008, or to register to attend the Summit, please visit the website

Volunteering

The Alternative/Complementary Support Group needs a facilitator or two! We are looking for someone who has had cancer and used Complementary & Alternative Medicine (CAM) or a CAM practitioner who has treated cancer patients or patients with chronic or acute illness. For more information please contact Dolores at 510.420.7900 x112.

Come to our Volunteer and Intern Orientation

Where: WCRC office, 5741 Telegraph Ave. (at the corner of 58th St. in North Oakland.)

Transportation: AC Transit 1 and 1R buses. There is also plenty of parking if you are driving.

Find out about who we are, what volunteers and interns do, and basic information about cancer.

To sign up for an orientation, e-mail or call Sarah, sarah@wcrc.org, 510.601.4040 x105.

Fundraising and Supporting WCRC

There are many ways you can support the Women’s Cancer Resource Center – by donating, volunteering, and telling your family and friends about the services we provide.

Wish List

For Bart Riders

BART tickets with tiny bits of value on them that you find in your wallet, pockets and drawers have just become far more valuable to the Bay Area's community organizations. As part of the Tiny Tickets Program, BART ticket holders may donate these tickets to the Women's Cancer Resource Center. Connecting local resources and community needs is what the Tiny Tickets Program is all about.

Please send your "tiny tickets" directly to WCRC at
5741 Telegraph Ave
Oakland, CA 94609

Environmental Alerts

For more information on combating the proposed aerial spraying for the light brown apple moth please see the following resources:

News

Comprehensive Report Shows Bay Area Neighborhood May be the Greatest Determinant of Health Status

Oakland, April 7, 2008: The findings of a study released today on life expectancy in the San Francisco Bay Area show that the neighborhood where a person lives can predict how long they can expect to live. The report by the Bay Area Regional Health Inequities Initiative (BARHII), a collaboration of senior leadership from 8 local health departments, was conducted in conjunction with the California Newsreel documentary series, “Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?”. The series is presently airing on PBS stations nationally through April 17th. This week’s installment, “Place Matters” dramatizes and explains exactly the kind of health disparities BARHII found in the Bay Area.

“Is it fair that if your address is in West Oakland, your sons and daughters will live, on average, 10 years less than if your address is in the Berkeley Hills? This is not acceptable. Where you live should not determine how long you live,” said BARHII director Bob Prentice, PhD. “Every local jurisdiction, including health departments, should do whatever is in their power to rectify these differences,” he said. “We have to think of health in much broader terms than we have in the past,” said Dr. Tony Iton, director of the Alameda county health department. “Education policy affects health, planning policy affects health, and economic policy affects health. We can’t make a difference in isolation, we have to consider these sectors together,” he said. Alameda County is also trying to understand the relationship between place and health in our neighborhoods and will release a local report later this week.

The City of Berkeley also recently reported these disparities in their own Health Status Report, and has been developing wide ranging strategies to address them. “This work cannot be done by the Public Health Division alone,” noted Linda Rudolph Berkeley’s Public Health Division Director. “It will take a community-wide effort and partnerships among many city agencies and community-based organizations. It will also take more than access to health care – we need to look at the many ways in which our social, economic, and physical environments shape our lives.” BARHII’s report will be the focus of a regional forum planned in June that will bring together public health and other public agencies to discuss the implications of these findings and develop concrete strategies to address the specific factors that make put some at a disadvantage when it comes to health.

Beyond WCRC

FREE TWO-DAY CONFERENCE
Cancer as a Turning Point, From Surviving to Thriving™
September 13 & 14, 2008 - Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, CA
Need more information? Please contact us.
(800) 423-9882 or (916) 391-0549 or jan@healingjourneys.org

The Araceli Theater Project (a component of San Francisco General Hospital’s CARE - Cancer Awareness, Resources, and Education program) is inviting interested cancer survivors to participate.

Join our group of vibrant and diverse cancer survivors to have fun and explore your inner actor! During rehearsals we will develop ideas for skits, work on acting techniques and begin to dramatize our thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Skilled theater artists will guide you through exercises and activities. Don’t worry if you’ve never acted before. The Araceli Theater Project is designed for people with little or no acting experience.

Rehearsals take place on Wednesdays beginning on March 5th from 5:30 - 8pm (light dinner served) at Everett Middle School, 450 Church Street between 16th & 17th Streets. To register or for further information, contact Blue Walcer at 415-206-5901.

Our Mission

To empower women with cancer to be active and informed consumers and survivors; to provide community for women with cancer and their supporters; to educate the general community about cancer; and to be actively involved in the struggle for a life-affirming, cancer-free society.

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