Have you ever wondered if there was an easier way to raise money for a friend or loved one in need. As we all know even those who have medical insurance, the out-of-pocket expenses can be daunting. Unfortunately, most sites are set up to help you raise monies for existing non-profit organizations, but I did find a great site called Give Forward. The site started in 2008 and has helped to raise over $5million for out-of-pocket medical expenses. They have over 10,000 users and completed over 5,000 fundraisers.
GiveForward provides personalized fundraising webpages to users, the majority of whom are looking for help for themselves or someone close to them for expenses like co-pays, travel to treatment and making ends meet in the face of a devastating illness. GiveForward funds its service by deducting a 7% fee from donations, which covers credit-card processing fees and the company’s own expenses.
We have partnered with Urben Zen to provide Integrative therapy to all our Farber Center patients on treatment. What is an integrative therapy session? There are specific yoga therapies, Reiki therapy, and Oil therapy that deal with different aspects of the symptoms of all diseases. Urben Zen has designed the following yoga therapies to assit with the symptoms of pain, anxiety, nausea, insomnia, constipation and exhaustion. These therapies will now be provided at The Farber Center for Radiation Oncology:
IN-BED MOVEMENTS
Helps to relieve anxiety, improve circultion, minimize constipation, and decrease insomnia
RESTORATIVE PROCESS
Enhances circulation, digestion and respiration
BREATH AWARENESS
Assists in dealing with pain, anxiety, nausea, insomnia and constipation
BODY SCANNING
Meditation assists in minimizing pain and releasing anxiety
What is Reiki?
Reiki treats the whole person- emotionally, physically, & spiritually- creating many beneficial effects that include relaxation and feelings for peace, security and well-being.
What is Essential Oil Therapy?
Essential oil therapy promotes a general sense of well being by promoting relaxation to relieve stress and anxiety as well as assisting to minimize insomnia, nausea, and pain.
The voice of the patient should be listened to and heard. Please take a moment to watch this video to learn why Urban Zen was inspired to make healthcare and well-being an initiative of great.
And when your cancer treatment is over The Farber Center for Radiation Oncology has joined forces with Urban Zen’s integrative therapy program (UZIT) and created OHE (optimal healing environment) classes to create a place/space where you can explore the issues that brought you treatment and to do what you can to prevent you or your loved ones from going through it again.
The 4-week integrative program is targeted to EMPOWER the cancer patent to get the best treatment of mind, body and sprit.
Program:
Initial consultation: with one of our physicians to review the overall scope of the program, the concept of functional medicine, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, “knowing your numbers,” and introduction of “Daily Health Log.” There are no out of pocket expenses for Farber Center patients.
Week 1: Nutrition/Zen*
Discuss various dietary options and specific guidelines for CA patients, esp related to preventing recurrences. Dieting,Supplements, Juicing, Fiber, etc.
Week 2: Movement/Zen*
Explore physical activity with emphasis on yoga
Week 3: Mind/Body/Zen*
Tools for stress reduction and empowerment
*Zen: each week will include guided meditation and yoga practice with therapist from the Urban Zen integrative therapy program. The UZIT program is a 12 month program that includes training in yoga therapy, essential oil therapy, Reiki, nutrition, and contemplative care giving to addresses the key patient symptoms of PANIC- pain, anxiety, nausea, insomnia, constipation, and exhaustion.
To find out more about the program or to register for our October 18th class please contact The Farber Center at 212 300-0663
As you might recall The Farber Center for Radiation Oncology was the first in NYC to treat patients with AccuBoost, an image-guided treatment for breast cancer. The process uses digital mammography for localization and surface applications for the delivery of radiation. Prior to AccuBoost, partial breast irradiation treatment was performed via invasive techniques such as employing multiple protruding catheters or with inflatable balloon devices implanted into the breast. AccuBoost is the first technology to allow High Dose Rate (HDR) treatment of breast cancer in a Non-Invasive way.
Now The Farber Center for Radiation Oncology will take part as a clinical site with Brown University Oncology Group in an AccuBoost Study designed to evaluate the toxicity, recurrence, and cosmetic outcome of AccuBoost as a form of non-invasive accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI). The faculty in the department of Radiation Oncology at Rhode Island Hospital and Brown University is among international experts in partial breast irradiation and has had expertise in this field that spans several decades. We are proud to be working with them.
Whole breast radiation therapy as a standard technique for adjuvant RT following breast conservation surgery is typically daily treatments for 3.5 weeks to 6.5 weeks. The AccuBoost accelerated partial breast irradiation reduces the volume of breast tissue treated and surrounding organs (heart, lung), in a shorter treatment time (10 treatments over 5-10 days). Patients can be treated twice a day for 5 days or once a day for 10 days in place of whole breast radiation therapy.
We will be looking for patients to participate in the study that fill the following criteria:
Patients referred for adjuvant radiation therapy who are diagnosed as early stage node negative hormone receptor positive with:
1. A confirmed histological diagnosis of invasive breast carcinoma or DCIS
2. Age greater or equal to 50 years old
3. Treated by breast conserving surgery with axillary node dissection or sentinel lymph node biopsy
If you are interested in participating in the study please contact The Farber Center for Radiation Oncology at 212 300-0663 to schedule a consultation.
Dr. Marnee Spierer from The Farber Center for Radiation Oncology is now 77WABC’s Breast cancer expert. Please watch as Dr. Spierer talks about what a breast cancer patient should know.
To learn more about breast cancer please visit The Farber Center for Radiation Oncology here: The Farber Center
To visit 77WABC breast cancer page go here: 77WABC
So what is “integrative oncology?” It depends on who you ask. When you google “integrative oncology,” chances are, the modalities under discussion will usually focus primarily on various dietary changes and lifestyle interventions, such as exercise. You will also find that some will refer to it as quackademic medicine.
What does is mean to The Farber Center? It means we use and coordinate the best evidence-based treatments (i.e. surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy) with complimentary modalities (i.e. acupuncture, massage, stress reduction, herbal/botanicals, etc.) with the goal of treating your cancer, preventing recurrence and reducing side effects and symptoms. We do all of this in an environment that soothes and nurtures you.
No matter what kind of treatment a cancer patient receives, the fight against cancer is more than a physical challenge. It impacts everything from emotional well-being to financial stability. We believe that caring for a patient is caring for a person. We realize that people exist within a matrix of family, friends, jobs, homes, neighborhoods, geographical areas, and psychological and cultural environments, all of which can influence health and disease. Our mission is to develop a treatment plan that is right for our patient and their loved ones in an environment that supports and nurtures them.
Going to a physician who believes in integrative oncology won’t change your diagnosis, but it will put your body in a better place to get healthy. Integrative Oncology encourages living a healthy lifestyle to help the body in its’ innate abilities to fight and prevent cancer. This can be accomplished by learning strategies to reduce stress, increasing physical activity and eating healthfully (“anti-cancer diet & nutrition.”) Practicing these lifestyle changes creates a place where the healthy cells in your immune system can flourish and do their best work.
And when your cancer treatment is over The Farber Center for Radiation Oncology has joined forces with Urban Zen’s integrative therapy program (UZIT) and created OHE (optimal healing environment) classes to create a place/space where you can explore the issues that brought you treatment and to do what you can to prevent you or your loved ones from going through it again.
The 4-week integrative program is targeted to EMPOWER the cancer patent to get the best treatment of mind, body and sprit.
Program:
Initial consultation: with one of our physicians to review the overall scope of the program, the concept of functional medicine, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, “knowing your numbers,” and introduction of “Daily Health Log.” There are no out of pocket expenses for Farber Center patients.
Week 1: Nutrition/Zen*
Discuss various dietary options and specific guidelines for CA patients, esp related to preventing recurrences. Dieting,Supplements, Juicing, Fiber, etc.
Week 2: Movement/Zen*
Explore physical activity with emphasis on yoga
Week 3: Mind/Body/Zen*
Tools for stress reduction and empowerment
*Zen: each week will include guided meditation and yoga practice with therapist from the Urban Zen integrative therapy program. The UZIT program is a 12 month program that includes training in yoga therapy, essential oil therapy, Reiki, nutrition, and contemplative care giving to addresses the key patient symptoms of PANIC- pain, anxiety, nausea, insomnia, constipation, and exhaustion.
To find out more about the program please contact The Farber Center at 212 300-0663
A special thank you to our patients who were kind enough to speak out and tell their stories and allow us to put together this video. These patients are fighting breast cancer, prostate cancer, sarcoma, and brain cancer. We will have longer versions of the stories available soon on our website. Grace Huang directed the film, and Industrial color handled the post production.
About Grace Huang: You might remember her from our Rocks Against Cancer Video. Grace began her photography career at Harvard University, where she obtained a BA in Visual Environmental Studies under the tutelage of acclaimed fine art photographer Christopher James. After graduation, a Rotary International Fellowship afforded her the opportunity to spend an adventurous year in and around Provence while attending the Ecole Nationale de la Photographie. Settling in New York City, Grace began her professional photographic career shooting everything from fashion and beauty to lifestyle and travel for a wide range of magazines. Her signature style of cinematic storytelling and naturalistic spontaneity evolved over the next decade. Today she has a eclectic career shooting both stills and motion for a diverse editorial and advertising clientele. Her editorial clients include InStyle, British Marie Claire, Red, German InStyle, Self and Lucky. Her advertising clientele includes Dove, EOS, Mary Kay, St. Ives, Aveeno, Clinique, John Frieda, Cyzone, Gillette, Johnsons, Carefree, Hue, No Nonsense, Gardasil, Olay, Avon, Lilly Pulitzer, Liz Claiborne, Target, Godiva, Walmart and Saks Fifth Avenue. Grace has photographed a range of celebrities such as Krysten Ritter, Katrina Bowden, Poppy Delevingne, Bijou Phillips, Cory Kennedy, Jennifer Morrison, Carmen Electra, Julie Delpy, Jessica Simpson, Cynthia Rowley, Shiva Rose, Sarah Chalke, Elisha Cuthbert, Mia Tyler, Daisy Fuentes, Rhona Mitra, Whitney Port, Daveigh Chase, Sarah Wynter, B. Smith, Jesse Martin, Christy Turlington, Frederick Fekkai, Sergio Garcia, and Henrik Lundqvist.
About Industrial Color: From top tech and production support on over 10,000 shoots to inventing online digital photo workflow, Industrial Color continues to push the limits and develop industry standards. With offices in New York, Los Angeles and Miami, their talented team and extensive production capacity enables them to provide a full range of high-end services to clients whether it be in studio or on location anywhere around the globe. Services of Industrial Color include: digital still and RED and HD video capture, post-production, color and video editing services, archival printing, high-speed file transfer, online image management, archive and file storage.
TalkAboutHealth is where patients and caregivers get personalized, helpful, and accurate answers from experts, survivors, and organizations.
TalkAboutHealth has carefully chosen leading medical professionals and experts to join the community and share their expertise and knowledge. They are a welcoming and caring community who have come together to meet, share, and learn with each other. They welcome patients, families, caregivers, survivors, professionals, and organizations. Everyone is encouraged to share their unique knowledge and experiences. The more we share, the more lives we improve and save.
How does it work:
TalkAboutHealth finds and notifies the right experts, survivors, and organizations to answer questions. They then connect patients, high risk individuals, and supporters who need health support, with survivors, experts, and organizations who can help.
You can then post your discoveries or what you are thinking to educate others and start conversations. Talk About Health then recommends matches for you with people who can help, such as experienced peers, survivors, and experts. They match members based on experiences, disease, treatments, medications, side effects, demographics, cultural background, and much more.
Accurate, timely, and helpful
The right people are notified right away to answer questions based on experience and specialty. Both the staff at TalkAboutHealth and experienced community members review all answers. If answers are not accurate or helpful, they are marked “Not helpful”, or are flagged and removed.
Personalized and relevant
They match you with the answers and knowledge you need based on your health and profile information.
Organized and curated
The community organizes and curates the questions and answers so that the information is trusted and easily found.
Real-time notifications
They notify you of new answers and updates via facebook, email, instant message, and twitter so you get the latest information.
Radiation treatment after a mastectomy for advanced breast cancer is part of the standard treatment guidelines. In the mid-1990s, several studies (Huang Study) concluded that mastectomy patients with advanced breast cancer have better outcomes if they undergo radiation after surgery. Initially, the medical community seemed to pay attention to the findings. As a result four organizations had issued guidelines about the value of radiation after mastectomy from 1999 to 2001: the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the National Institutes of Health, and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. From 1996 and 1998, the rates of radiation following mastectomy for women ages 66 and older increased from 36.5% to 57.7%. But in a review of data from 1998 to 2005, researchers from MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston found no further increase. But more than a decade after the lifesaving value of radiation was confirmed, about half of all women who should get radiation therapy aren’t getting it.
The new study, published in the journal Cancer, finds that 45.2% of older women found to have high-risk breast cancer between 1999 and 2005 did not receive additional post-mastectomy radiation treatment, despite the publication of major guidelines recommending the therapy. High risk patients were defined as Stage 3 breast cancers, patients with tumors 5 centimeters or larger and those where the tumor had spread to four or more lymph nodes.
What the study also found was that women who live in areas with a lot of radiation oncologists were 20% more likely to get radiation than women who did not. They contribute this to the particular challenge of older patients in getting daily radiation treatment for five or six weeks, especially those living in rural areas with limited access to transportation.
It is important for patients to have a discussion with their physician about the possibility of recurrence without radiation. It is important that the oncologist and breast surgeons have these challenging discussions to ensure the patient is aware of all the options and is getting the most appropriate care for them.
We were honored to welcome Darlene Rodriguez into our center a few weeks ago. Darlene Rodriguez is co-anchor of Today in New York on WNBC. Rodriguez became co-anchor of the show in July 2003 after serving as a reporter for WNBC and then co-anchor of Weekend Today in New York. Here is the link to the report: www.nbcnewyork.com Enjoy and spread the word.
As you know when I come across an amazing foundation or blog I like to spread the word. While doing some research on breast cancer I came across The Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation. As you may know, subtypes of breast cancer are generally diagnosed based upon the presence, or lack of, three “receptors” known to fuel most breast cancers: estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). A receptor is a protein that lives inside or on the surface of a cell and binds to something in the body to cause the cell to react. But triple-negative breast cancers need different types of treatments because they are estrogen receptor-negative, progesterone receptor- negative and HER2 negative. Medicines like tamoxifen, which targets the estrogen receptor, and trastuzumab (Herceptin), which targets HER2, are not helpful in treating triple-negative breast cancer. Instead, chemotherapy along with radiation has been shown to be the most effective treatment for triple-negative breast cancer. There are a lot of myths out there and this site does a wonderful job of educating patients and providing resources for clinical trials and support.
About TNBC Foundation
Nancy Block-Zenna
The Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation was founded in 2006 in honor of Nancy Block-Zenna, a young woman who was diagnosed at age 35 with triple negative breast cancer and died 2 1/2 years later in 2007.
In response to Nancy’s diagnosis, her close friends launched the TNBC Foundation to raise awareness and support research in the area of triple negative breast cancer. It was Nancy’s hope that, as her daughter Jolie grows older, triple negative breast cancer will no longer be the threat it is today.
Their mission is to raise awareness of triple negative breast cancer and to support scientists and researchers in their effort to determine the definitive causes of triple negative breast cancer, so that effective detection, diagnosis, prevention and treatment can be pursued and achieved.
Click here to learn more or call The Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation Helpline at (877) 880-TNBC (8622): TNBC Foundation
RT @GildasClubSea: RT @talkabouthealth: Whats stereotactic radiosurgery? Used often in #cancer treatment @TheFarberCenter http://t.co/gI ... http://twitter.com/thefarbercenter2012/02/05
RT @talkabouthealth: How is #radiation treatment schedule & amnt radiation per treatment determined? TY @TheFarberCenter http://t.co/9ty ... http://twitter.com/thefarbercenter2012/02/05
The first and only freestanding radiation facility of its kind in Manhattan, the Farber Center represents a warm alternative to the sterile and often daunting hospital environment without compromising quality of medical care and they accept most insurance plans. Drawing on his longstanding experience as one of the most respected radiation oncologist in the field, Dr. Farber handpicked the most innovative technology, sought-after physicians, and superior facilities in the world to establish what is first and foremost a superlative treatment center. In fact, the Farber Center’s independent status allows the facility to take advantage of the most sophisticated technology available, offering superior treatment under the guidance of highly regarded professionals while treating patients as people.
