Exercise and Cancer

Someone asked me what was the point of working out, since I ended up getting cancer anyway? While its true exercise did not prevent my getting cancer, it did help prepare me for the fight of my life and it can help you too.  

Cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation are specifically designed to break down your body’s cells. Exercise and physical activity are the best forms of treatment for rebuilding them! In fact, the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the American College of Sports Medicine (ASCM) are urging doctors to encourage their patients to be as physically active as possible before, during and after cancer treatment. 

So where do you start? First, check in with your doctors to see what is and is not appropriate for you. Once you get the go ahead, try to include the following fitness components into your routine.

Aerobic (cardio) exercises are designed to strengthen your heart and lungs. They help lower your stress and anxiety, which have undoubtedly increased since your diagnosis. A strong cardiovascular system helps:

·        Clear toxins from your body quicker

·        Speed up recovery times

·         Lessen treatment induced fatigue

·        Increase your stamina

Cardio also helps keep your weight down, which in turn can lower your chances of a recurrence by 30- 50%.  Simply brisk walking for 30 minutes, 5 days a week will do the trick.

Surgery often affects your range of motion, posture and strength, especially for patients who have under gone a mastectomy.  Exercises like gentle yoga and tai chi are a great way to regain your flexibility and relieve symptoms of lymphedema which may result from having lymph nodes removed or radiated.

The stronger you are, the easier it is to get around and do daily tasks, making resistance training an important part of your routine. Resistance training exercises help:

·         Increase bone density, lessening your risks for developing osteoporosis,

·         Keep muscles from wasting away

·         Improve blood circulation and lymphatic flow

They can be performed 2-3 days a week, with rest days in between. Words of caution however; do not start weight training if your cancer has metastasized to your bones.

Don’t forget to throw some balance exercises into your routine.  

Surgery or reactions to certain medications may cause nerve damage known as neuropathy which can affect your balance, placing you at greater risk for falls and broken bones. Simply standing on one leg for 10 seconds, then switching sides is a great way to start.

No matter where you are in your journey, exercise can play a vital role in your treatment plan.  Go slowly, gradually building up over time and keep checking in with your doctors. The good news is it appears that any exercise, in any amount is beneficial!

Cara Novy-Bennewitz

Cancer Exercise Specialist

Author – Diagnosis: Breast Cancer –The Best action Plan for Navigating Your Journey

www.workingoutcancer.com

Navigating The Legal Maze of Cancer

There are over 12 million cancer survivors in the United States.  As cancer treatments have improved, increased attention is being paid to the field of cancer survivorship.  What do survivors need? How can we support them?

A 2005 report by the Institute of Medicine, “From Cancer Patient to Cancer Survivor: Lost in Transition,” recognized that employment, insurance, and financial issues should be addressed in order to improve the quality of life of cancer survivors.   

When people hear the dreaded words, “you have cancer,” the last thing, if at all, people think about are the legal issues that they may face because of their diagnosis.   

Many of those people are unaware of their rights and the resources available to assist them through the vast maze of legal, employment, and insurance systems.  And most of those individuals are completely unaware of the financial impact that cancer may have on their lives.

Take Paul, for instance.  Paul is 35 and has been working his way up the ranks at ABC Company for ten years, since graduating from business school at the top of his class.  He was married three years ago, had his first child two years ago, and bought his first home last year. 

Paul has just learned, after an annual visit to the doctor, that he has a thyroid cancer.

Paul’s diagnosis sends him reeling down a path in a maze of cancer-related legal issues.  As the maze twists and turns, Paul knows that he can’t take a wrong turn, or he may lose his job, his insurance, or even his home.  Overwhelmed by decisions that need to be made and deadlines that need to be met, Paul now has to inch his way down the road in front of him, trying to figure out  . . .

·         Can he continue working through treatment, or if he will need to take time off work? 

·         Can he get a reasonable accommodation to help him continue to work through his treatment? 

·         If he takes time off, does he have to disclose his diagnosis to his employer?  

·         What are his company policies? 

·         Will his job be protected?

·         Will any period of leave be paid or unpaid?

·         If he does take time off or loses his job, can he keep his health or life insurance coverage? 

·         If he does lose his health insurance coverage through his employer, what are his other options for health insurance coverage now that he has a pre-existing medical condition?

·         Does he qualify for state or federal disability insurance benefits to maintain his income? 

·         How will he be able to pay his bills or take care of his family? 

·         What if he becomes unable to make health care or financial decisions for himself?

The list of questions goes on and on.  At each turn in the maze another question/issue/potential problem arises for Paul and he isn’t sure where to turn for help. 

Fortunately for Paul, and the millions of other cancer survivors like him, there are organizations and agencies stationed out there in the maze that can help him find his way. 

Nonprofit organizations such as the Cancer Legal Resource Center (CLRC) (www.cancerlegalresourcecenter.org) can help people understand their options and rights.  The CLRC provides a national Telephone Assistance Line (866-843-2572) where people can get free information and resources to address their cancer-related legal issues, including navigating the legal issues in the workplace.

Cancer and Careers (www.cancerandcareers.org) is another nonprofit organization that specifically focuses on the practical issues related to work and cancer, including disclosure, balancing cancer and careers while working through treatment, and free online job search tools and career coaching for those seeking employment.

In order to help people figure out what health insurance options are available to them based on their specific situation, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has created a new online portal, www.Healthcare.gov.  This website was created under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (health care reform) and provides information about specific health insurance options as well as information about recent health care reforms.

Cancer can be a life-altering experience.  But arming oneself with information about legal rights and options can help slay any dragons that may be hiding in the maze of cancer-related legal issues. 

Joanna L. Morales, Esq. has served the cancer community as a cancer rights attorney, advocate, speaker, and author for over 18 years.  She is currently Principal at North Star Alliances, a nonprofit and business consulting firm.  She was formerly the Director of the Cancer Legal Resource Center and an Adjunct Professor at Loyola Law School, teaching cancer rights law.  She can be followed on Twitter @CancerRights.

Milk and Cancer

Dear Dr. Bone,

Is it true that there is a difference in the risk for cancer if you drink whole milk instead of skim or 2%? My friends and I were discussing it at lunch. I thought the benefits of lower fat were all related to heart disease, but they say that whole milk also contributes to cancer. Who is right?

D.L.

Dear D.L.

The relationship between milk and cancer is complex. Countries whose inhabitants do not consume much milk seem to have lower incidences of certain cancers. For example, in Japan and Mongolia there is less breast cancer than in the United States. One of the reasons posited for this phenomenon is the presence of hormones in milk. In order for cows to produce more milk they are kept pregnant for prolonged periods of time. Milk from pregnant cows naturally has a higher estrogen content. Farmers also inject the cows with hormones. One in particular, recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH), results in milk that contains higher amounts of Insulin-like Growth Factor, known as IGF-1. IGF-1 can be absorbed from the milk and stimulate cancer cells. Since hormones in milk are fat soluble, it would seem safer to drink low fat milk. On the other hand, conjugated linoleic acid, a natural anti-cancer molecule, is found at its highest concentration in whole milk as is calcium, a necessary building block for our bones.

The popular book called The China Study looks into the relationship between diet and cancer. I have many friends who became vegan after reading it because they were convinced that dairy consumption can be dangerous, not just for cancer, but for heart disease and other ailments too. A moderate by nature, I suggest that each person find their comfort level after assessing the data. It is unlikely that an occasional glass of milk or ice cream will cause cancer, but dietary modifications along with exercise, decreasing alcohol consumption, and controlling stress, should results in a longer, healthier life.

~ Dr. Bone

Weirdest Cancer Ever

Dear Dr. Bone,

My cousin and I were trying to figure out what type of cancer is the weirdest. Is there really cancer of the fingernail? The hair?

J&J

Cousins

Dear J&J,

Yes, you can get cancer of the fingernail. While it is rare, it does happen. Fungal infections of the nail are very common and cause deformities that have been misdiagnosed as cancer. Traumatic injuries to the nail also cause a discoloration that can be confused with cancer. The most common cancer of the nail is melanoma. It looks like a change in the color of the nail, usually tan to black. Unfortunately it can be misdiagnosed as a nail injury and overlooked. A good rule of thumb (get it!) is to wait until the nail grows. If the lesion does not go away with the nail growth, get it checked out. I suggest seeing a dermatologist.

Hair does not get cancer, but the hair follicle from which the hair grows is susceptible to cancer. Remember, in order to get cancer, there needs to be live cells that divide and a blood supply to the area. Hair has neither of these.

Keep sending more questions.

Dr. Bone

Paps and Cancer

Dear Dr. Bone,

My gynecologist wants me to have a pap smear. I had a partial hysterectomy 3 years ago and no longer have a cervix. Do I really need a Pap smear to screen for cervical cancer if I don’t have a cervix?

A.M.

Dear  A.M.,

What a smart patient you are! The pap does screen for cervical cancer. If you don’t have a cervix, you probably do not need a pap smear. If your hysterectomy was done for pre-cancer or cancer of the cervix, then I would continue to screen you with pap smears. In my residency many years ago, we were taught to do yearly paps on everyone without a cervix to find vaginal cancer. I have never seen a case. We now know that the HPV virus is the cause of cervix cancer and warts. If you are in a stable, monogamous sexual relationship or are not sexually active, then I would no longer do a pap smear. On the other hand, if you have a new partner or there is a question about your spouse’s fidelity, then I would screen you with a pap and HPV every three years (unless one or the other are abnormal). I refer you to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists website for more information (www.acog.org).

~Dr. Bone.

Plastic Bottles and Cancer

Dear Dr. Bone,

 I drink a lot of water everyday and got nervous when I was sent a message on-line that drinking water out of plastic disposable bottles, especially if they are hot after being left in the car, poses a risk for developing breast cancer. I even read that Sheryl Crowe thinks this might be why she got breast cancer. Is there any truth to this?

Heavy on H20

Delray Beach

Dear Heavy,

First let me remind you that although water is healthy to drink, Americans (and many of my patients!) think that they need to drink large amounts of water each day to cleanse and “detoxify” their systems. The truth is that the human body does not need quite as much water as one would think and those people that drink water only when they are thirsty are no less healthy. I do see women who are depleted of electrolytes because they drink too much water and urinate so much that they lose potassium and sodium along the way, so be careful.

As for the association between plastic water bottles and cancer, the answer is a bit complicated.  There are different plastic bottles. The pliable ones that are designed to be disposable are made of PET (polyethylene teraphthalate), or a #1. This type of plastic is used in many different products and appears to be safe. The hard plastic bottles (like Nalgene or Lexan) are made out of BPA (bisphenol A). There is controversy about this compound. Some scientists believe that BPA acts biologically like estrogen and could promote estrogen-related cancers.

Until more definitive studies are done, it is best not to take any chances. The “green” advice is to use glass, or an old-fashioned thermos (lined with glass). It is better for the earth and, to my knowledge, glass has not been associated with any particular health hazards.

Dr. Bone

Prevention

Dear Dr. Bone,

With all the time, money and effort spent on finding cures and treatments for cancer, why is there not the same done to prevent? If we never got cancer in the first place, we wouldn’t have to cure it! You really don’t need to reply.

Reader

Dear Reader,

That is the million-dollar question. I hope to devote an entire column to it soon. Suffice to say that cancer is not just one disease. The causes are numerous. Each person’s body deals with cancer cells differently so each person would probably require a different prevention strategy. Lastly, there are already a lot of medical and charitable dollars spent on prevention. Open the paper and you will read about the dangers of excess alcohol consumption and cancer. Still, a large percentage of the population drinks too much. I don’t even need to discuss the risks of smoking. Yet we are not a smoke-free nation. The challenge for public health experts is to get America to adopt more healthy lifestyles that would not only decrease cancer, but heart disease, lung disease, diabetes and a host of life-threatening ailments.

Dr. Bone

Life After Cancer

A guest blog by: Sue Bock

Walking down the dim hallway, I have a light bulb moment; "I don’t need any more answers, I no longer need to research about my breast cancer." At that moment in time my roller coaster of feelings came to a close. Before that, I was always stressed, never comfortable with the uncertainty waiting for the next shoe to drop. I was scared and of course, clinical (since I am an RN after all), researching and searching for answers. Self-care was a big focus for me. I used exercise, yoga, acupressure, and retail therapy with friends to keep me sane. Love was abundant from family and friends. After 3 lumpectomies (because no one ever expected to find any cancer), the specimens were sent for gene testing. All the while, I was hoping, for a positive outcome. After a university tumor board reviewed my results, they agreed unanimously that treatment only by radiation was the best course of action. After I completed my last radiation treatment in January 2011, I celebrated with the therapy team. Then my husband and I drove away to spend a very silly day at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk playing games. No worries. No thoughts of cancer. 

During treatment one of my radiotherapy technicians told me her own breast cancer story; how she finished 9 months of chemo & radiation and was forced to decide what was next for her. Her increased risk of injury with subsequent increased risk of infection & lymphedema prevented her return to her career as a jewelry designer. This inspired me to take my life coaching in a different direction. Now it is my mission and pleasure to help women after breast cancer to live a life they deserve. It’s about living your best life possible with or without disease. Let me help you find where you fit, maximize your strengths, your impact, and your contentment.

Breast cancer doesn’t define you; it frees you to arrive at different choices.

Sue Bock

Coach Sue

“Inspiring women with courage to dream, change, and live life’s adventure

http://bestlifeafterbreastcancer.com

The Truth About Vitamin D

Know your (Vitamin) D- factor

Vitamin D: The “Super-Vitamin”

Vitamin D was once thought to be just another vitamin that was just as important to your health as all the other vitamins.  We know it plays a huge role in the regulation and absorption of Calcium, (that’s why you will see it in your Calcium supplements) but it’s just over the past several years that people are “doing extra D” for important added benefits...and rightly so!

The major biologic function of vitamin D is to maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus. Vitamin D aids in the absorption of calcium, helping to form and maintain strong bones. Recently, research also suggests vitamin D may provide protection from hypertension (high blood pressure), cancer, and several autoimmune diseases including Multiple Sclerosis, Diabetes, and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Vitamin D is a somewhat “special” vitamin as well because the body actually manufactures Vitamin D from sunlight.  No other vitamin is produced in our systems.  The fact that our bodies produce it and the fact that it has such an impact on many of our bodies systems, actually puts it in the category of a hormone.  This all important “super-vitamin-y hormone” has made headlines recently because of the link that was discovered with breast cancer.

Vitamin D and Breast Cancer

It was found that a significant number of breast cancer patients, for whatever reason, had very low levels of Vitamin D.  It was suggested that increasing women’s Vitamin D level to “adequate” (35-74 ng/ml in the blood measured as calcifediol or Vitamin D 25-hydroxy) could save 65,000 women from developing breast cancer every year. A study of over 1400 women in the general population showed that over 50% of them had inadequate Vitamin D levels. (myself included)

When I was diagnosed with stage III breast cancer my Vitamin D level was 23 ng/dl! (desirable is considered to be 35 - 74 ng/dl)  A few weeks of high dose vitamin D under a doctor’s supervision, with a daily supplement intake of 4000 mg/day is keeping me in the 50’s. 

Since the breast cancer study, it has been discovered that other cancer patients as well had low Vitamin D levels (but not prostate cancer).  We are learning more and more about vitamin D and the role it plays on your immune system.  Poor immunity is related to your risk of cancer, but also is linked to heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, and Multiple Sclerosis among others.  the reason is the role Vitamin D plays in “apoptosis” or regulating the destruction of unwanted cells.  A lapse in the regulation causes overgrowth.....cancer.

It would make sense, then, to assume that it is vital you know what your Vitamin D levels are and supplement to keep them stable.  This can be done with a simple blood test called “serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D”.  This has become a very routine blood test and it is the only way to know if you are getting enough D.  With repeated tests you can tell what  “your personal” level of supplementation is in order to keep you within range.  The fact that Vitamin manufacturers are now making Vitamin D in 2000 mg sized pills tells you that people are wising up.

D2 vs D3

Vitamin D comes in two forms when buying supplements. Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) comes from plant sources, and Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) comes from animal sources.  Your body produces vitamin D3 from sunlight.  The jury is still out on whether Vitamin D2 or D3 is absorbed better. For vegans, obviously the choice is clear.

How do I get enough Vitamin D?

Naturally:  Our skin will produce vitamin D3 by exposing it to sunlight without sunscreen.  5 – 10 minutes a day 3 x week is sufficient to get adequate doses of Vitamin D in your system.  I must warn you of the Skin Cancer Foundation’s recommendations that you don’t go out in the sun without sunscreen.  (They would rather you just take a pill, thank you)

Foods:  It is hard to eat enough foods to get the levels of D you need. Foods contain, or are fortified with, the form D2 or D3. You will find D in eggs, fish and fish oil, fortified dairy products and (dare I say it?) beef liver (ugh) and cheese. Difficult for those on vegan or low fat diets, but many many foods are fortified. (D3 is the usual form in supplements, but not all are Vitamin D3)

Supplements: Here is where it gets tricky…..initially, the RDA (recommended daily allowance) of vitamin D was thought to be 200 UI/day but we now know that this amount just is not enough. The consensus from many sources is that every adult should be taking 2000 IU/day.... especially, the elderly, dark skinned people, those who live in colder climates (don’t get sunlight exposure), over weight (vitamin D is prevented from absorption in overweight persons) and those who have inflammatory bowel disease like Crohn’s that affect absorption.

Toxicity: Initially, there was not enough evidence to put a number on the upper limit for intake of vitamin D. Early studies showed that abnormally high levels of blood calcium were observed in those that took in excess of 50,000 IU /day of vitamin D.  This led the Food and Nutrition Board to establish VERY conservative maximum upper intake levels of 2000 IU/day.

Since 1997, more and more studies have been done that show vitamin D toxicity is very unlikely in healthy people at intake levels lower than 10,000 IU/day. 

Toxicity can further be avoided by taking it in conjunction with Vitamin K. When taken with Vitamin K, vitamin D is less likely to reach toxic levels.  Certain companies are now making Vitamin D with Vitamin K together.  Not much info on this, but I’m told by experts in the field that the data is there, and there will be more supplements that contain a combo of vitamin D and K in the future.

Be careful

Vitamins are not regulated by the FDA and because of that there is no guarantee that because the bottle says “Vitamin D3 1000 IU, that it contains what it states.

Pick a vitamin company that you trust. Look at their philosophy….look at who owns the company…. how long have they been around….any claims about certain products should have data to support it.  Call the company and ask questions.

Vitamins lose their potency so check expiration dates.

Look for a descriptive label…..does the bottle say just “Vitamin D”…..or Vitamin D3?

Look at the fillers….yeasts, preservatives….bulking agents, binding agents, etc….

Do they “do good” for the community?  do they donate a portion to research etc?

Bottom line

Even if you don’t like taking supplements, you may want to consider getting your Vitamin D blood level checked.  Having the right level may do more for your health than you realize.


Author Susan Gonzalez is a registered nurse, breast cancer survivor, and the creator of MOON Organics Inc. MOON organics is committed to providing organic, healthy products while helping those going through treatment for cancer. Please visit MOON-Organics.com for details.

References:

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/study-vitamin-d-kills-cancer-cells/story?id=9904415#.Ty8i-pjNB5g 

http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/news/20101213/low-vitamin-d-levels-common-in-breast-cancer

http://www.skincancer.org/healthy-lifestyle/vitamin-d/the-skin-cancer-foundation-statement-on-obtaining-adequate-vitamin-d

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17145139

http://www.ajcn.org/content/80/6/1678S.long

NEW! Cancer Connect Podcast

STAY TUNED!

Cancer Connect (to be released this week), is a weekly short through inspiration and motivation. Feel free to listen at home, or work to the wonderful people who have become innovative during the healing process and would like to share their journey with you. We will also be interviewing caregivers to help express the anxiety and stress they undergo with little to no support. Our goal is to change the way people think of cancer and bring a new resource into the homes of that many more patients, caregivers and professionals.

Our first guest will be recent blogger Susan Parker. We are so excited to share this new journey with our followers and we hope you will enjoy!

Lean On Lavender, The Color Of All Cancers,
Cancer Shop USA Team

Veterans and Cancer Survivors much alike

A few years ago Eric and I were strolling along Fifth Avenue in New York City. A commuter bus passed us displaying an advertisement on its side that was unforgettable. It was a picture of three bald heads. Under the first was the word MILITARY. Under the second was the word FASHION. Under the third was the word CANCER. Neither Eric nor I could recall what organization ran the ad - he thought it was the American Cancer Society but I wasn't so sure - but it was a powerful image. Eric remembered that it was about breast cancer during October; he thought the first two heads were male and the third was a female, making it even more poignant.

Dr. Melanie Bone's Family

To this day my memory is not what it was before chemotherapy (or is it my age?), and I'd forgotten completely about that bus until I found myself back in Manhattan for a weekend getaway. I thought the weekend after the marathon would be perfect. Not as hectic and still not too cold to walk in Central Park. Somehow it escaped me that it was Veterans Day weekend. We planned out our day to visit Occupy Wall Street and make it back uptown in time to catch the parade. A veteran in uniform marched by. He had a shaved head. Out of nowhere, a memory of the bus flashed into my head.

Instead of thinking about the image as an advertisement for cancer, I tried to think about it from the perspective of the veteran. After all, veterans and cancer survivors have a lot in common.

Going to war as a soldier and "fighting" a battle against cancer are analogous. The experience, often scary and overwhelming, is one not easily understood if you have not been through it. Soldiers develop a camaraderie during war in much the same way that cancer patients do. They are subjected to difficult and challenging situations and always are aware of the imminent threat of loss of life or limb.

There is a certain mysteriousness to the "secret lives" of soldiers and cancer patients. They are assumed to see, hear, feel, and do things that most of us would never see, hear, feel, or do. At the other end, most are left with strong memories, be they good or bad, and some with nightmares that can be long-lasting.

Having survived war or cancer earns you the title of "veteran" or "survivor." With these titles come an identity and certain expectations. Many vets and survivors forever remain identified by their status. They hold onto it for a multitude of reasons.

Some are empowered to use their status to raise awareness and others to help those that come after them. Some just feel that they are forever changed and are at a loss to reinvent themselves as anything else. Post-traumatic stress disorder abounds as does guilt that they have made it and other soldiers or cancer patients died.

I am certain there are many veterans who have returned home and moved on just as there are cancer survivors who are cured and moved on. Why don't we remember them as often? Because their status as veteran or survivor is now a part of their persona, but not the central, identifying component of it.
I am known for trying to take the war and battle analogy out of the cancer experience. I support the concept of approaching cancer sensibly and thoughtfully. In war there are winners and losers. Even the winners suffer.

With cancer, many patients are cured. They are the winners, but are always left with scars. For those that die or live with cancer as a chronic disease, is it right to label them losers? I don't think so. Unlucky yes, but the connotation of the word loser is not one that should be associated with people who are not cured of their cancer.

As we boarded the Jet Blue plane home, I had one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences. There on the wall of the jetway were the exact pictures of the bald heads we'd seen a few years earlier. What are the chances of that happening?! One read SOLDIER, the second STYLE, and the third SURVIVOR. They were being used as part of a bank advertisement. Eric and I looked at each other with disbelief. I knew this column was destined to be!

Please take a moment to visit Cancer Shop USA It's a great resource for cancer patients and professionals.

Welcome To Cancer Shop USA

Welcome to the first and only patient requested-doctor approved on-line store to offer products to help with the side effects of chemo and radiation.

Cancer Shop USA is one of a kind! Founded by Dr. Melanie Bone, Cancer Shop USA offers a myriad of over 300 practical and appropriate products to comfort those undergoing treatment and on their journey to recovery.

Many of the specialty products Cancer Shop USA has to offer are actually designed by cancer survivors. Survivors know best  because they already rode much of the path to recovery. Cancer Shop USA helps survivors get their products into the hands of cancer patients.

One of the many products Cancer Shop USA offers that is designed by a survivor, includes the Chemo Port Cover. This beautiful handmade creation was designed by an Ovarian cancer survivor who was tired of hiding behind old baggy shirts and jackets. She decided to create something that was durable and could easily clip onto any strap thus hiding her chemo port. Cancer Shop USA now offers Chemo Port Covers in over 16 styles and 20 different colors.

Dr. Melanie Bone is a mother of 4, practicing physician, and published author. Maybe you have read her syndicated column Surviving Life, or perhaps you read her book Cancer: What's Next. You may have even "Asked The Expert" on her foundation's page. These are all resources Dr. Bone creates for patients to eliminate the fear associated with cancer. 

Please visit our video bar and Twitter updates to the right --->.

You can browse all the unique items Cancer Shop USA has to offer by click the "Shop Now" tab above. 10% of profits get donated to different foundations monthly. To submit your foundation, please email arielle@cancershopusa.com for more information. We are currently getting ready for Ovarian cancer month in September. If you would like to nominate a foundation please email Arielle our Director of Marketing. 

"It's not the years in your life that count.  It's the life in your years."  ~Abraham Lincoln