Relay for Life a Life Affirming Event

Several members of my immediate family and some of their friends have had their lives touched by cancer. As a result, all our lives have been touched by cancer.

Too much attention is paid to just one type of cancer during just one month of the year. Cancer isn't a month, it's year-round. It isn't a color either. And believe it or not, women get more than just breast cancer. OK, I'm venting a bit.

Thus my recommendation to check out the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. We took part in one of the largest, if not the largest such event this past weekend in Gwinnet, GA. It's a suburb north of Atlanta. To put it mildly, we were simply amazed at the thousands of people who turned out including cancer survivors and their caregivers but by people who care. People who care enough to cheer us on and help raise millions of dollars.

Here's a video of the view as we joined so many other cancer survivors and caregivers. Watch and you'll understand truly what a special event it is.



You can find a Relay for Life using the link posted above. It's our hope to see you at one of them. There are incredible displays, booths and oh yes, great food. It's a party, a time of celebration. Once you've gone, you'll never forget it.

Join in the fight against cancer. Help us find a cure. It takes dollars. You can trust the American Cancer Society to put those dollars to the best use possible.

This Caregiver thanks you for helping save some family members I love very much, to be alive and thriving, and able to take part in the Survivor Walk this year and for years to come.

Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you!"

Cancer devastating physically and financially.

March is Colorectal Awareness month. I'm sharing a story this morning about a friend, who is a colorectal cancer survivor.

When 58-year-old Erika Brown knew something wasn't right with her body, she went to a doctor, and then a second and third doctor. After 2 years of examinations, the best they could come up with was that she had IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). When she was finally diagnosed correctly, it turns out she had final-stage colon cancer. In a matter of days she had surgery, followed by 6 months of intense chemotherapy and a full-year of recovery.

Today, she's healthy. Unfortunately, she can't say the same about her finances. Choices she made in her treatment cost her financial well-being, sending her into bankruptcy. In hindsight and with the information she now knows about chemotherapy, she would have done it differently.

Erika is the Mayor of "ColonTown," a vibrant community of colon cancer survivors active on both Facebook and Linkedin.

Erika's story is all too common, says Kristin Gustafson of Chemo101.com. More than 1.5 million people are diagnosed with cancer annually; of those who undergo chemotherapy treatment, nearly 40% wind up bankrupt. Unfortunately, when they need it most, patients who are diagnosed with cancer rarely have easy access to information about their treatment options and costs.

While the focus is on colorectal cancer this month, it's really about awareness of all types of cancers and the impact they have on patients, caregivers and health care providers.

A key element in the fight is information. Do yourself a favor and conduct a health insurance checkup of just what your benefits are, what's covered and not covered. Attend open enrollment meetings where you work, or check with your HR department. Ask questions, be prepared-- just in case.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you"

Are you aware of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month?

Today starts Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Yes, there are many different kinds of cancer, but focusing on just one actually makes us focus on them all.

The best thing you can do to fight colorectal cancer is early detection. The best way is scheduling a Colonoscopy. I'll be the first to admit it's not the most fun thing to do but it sure beats dying. The Center for Disease Control reports the risk of developing colorectal cancer increases with advancing age. More than 90% of cases occur in people aged 50 or older.

A good friend of ours, Erika Hanson Brown is a Colon Cancer Survivor and talks about it in this news letter. She's also Mayor of "ColonTown," a vibrant community of "COLONists." Their Facebook Page is a great resource.

Cancer of any kind impacts you, your family and your friends in ways you cannot imagine. We've lived it at our house. It's not only the emotional and physical impact, but it can mean financial disaster if you're not prepared. Being sick shouldn't result in bankruptcy. Yet so many people simply aren't aware of what is, and what isn't, covered in their health care plans. I know, open enrollment meetings at work can be boring. Go anyways.

Another great resource, and we're proud to have them as a client, is Chemo101.com. Designed as a one-stop information source, it's not only for cancer patients, but their caregivers and health care providers too. It takes a team to win this fight. An informed team.

So be aware this month, and every month. In this case even an ounce of awareness can be worth tons of cure. Schedule a check-up. Immediately if not sooner.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you"

You Can Be Sick And Still Think

I just watched, how can I say this politely, an embarrassing segment on one of the networks speculating on Steve Jobs' health. The reporter is also a doctor and simply should have known better.

Jobs has taken a leave of absence from Apple to deal with health issues.

Jobs is fighting Pancreatic Cancer and has also had a liver transplant. He's a fierce business competitor and just as tough in fighting cancer. I did like what one analyst said about Jobs, describing him as a combination of Henry Ford, Thomas Edison and Sam Walton. Wow.

So now Jobs is taking care of his health. Regardless of sick he may, or may not be, doesn't mean he can't think. And it's his BRAIN that has made Apple what it is. Heck, I was at an Apple Store yesterday and the place was packed. Packed because the store sells wonderfully innovative products. Hip, cool and very useful.

As the spouse of a Stage IV Cancer survivor, I can attest that just because someone may be fighting any disease, the brain works just fine.

It's one of the many misperceptions people have about sick people, especially cancer patients, and it's just plain wrong.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you"

Chemo101 picked by Pepsi Refresh to compete for $250,000 Grant!

Denver, CO (PRWEB) August 30, 2010

Thanks to Pepsi's Refresh Project, an entrepreneurial initiative that awards millions of dollars in grants to ideas that "refresh the world", patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers engaged in chemotherapy treatment may soon be logging on to Chemo101, an innovative education platform designed to meet the needs of both cancer patients and caregivers.

Chemo101.com is a complete one-stop solution for education about chemotherapy treatments and resources to help mitigate the unexpected physical and financial impact on those affected by cancer.

Starting September 1, supporters of Chemo101 can log on to Pepsi Refresh's website and cast their daily vote through September 30 to help win the grant and launch the website.

A glaring need to provide a central resource for cancer patients and caregivers ignited Chemo101 principal and consultant to the pharmaceutical industry Kristin Gustafson's passion for the idea to enter the Pepsi Refresh competition. Ms. Gustafson witnessed the hardships and confusion experienced by patients and caregivers firsthand during her many years in the industry. She explains, "30% of chemotherapy patients end up bankrupt because they didn’t understand all of the financial implications of their treatment. Many more never complete therapy due to unexpected side effects or unmanageable cost. We want to change that. That's why we need everyone's vote support to provide this much needed one-stop online resource for thousands of cancer patients and those who give care to them."

The stakes are high for Chemo101 and its supporters. Winning Pepsi Refresh's $250,000 grant by gaining the most votes during September's competition can mean advancing chemotherapy education, and providing the financial help to those who badly need it. Voting for Chemo101 starts September 1, 2010 and continues through September 30. Supporters can vote help by logging on to the Pepsi Refresh page “Chemo101” in the search box on the top right of the page. Click on the “Vote for this idea,” register, then vote.

Media contact:

Kristin Gustafson
612-845-8769

Conversation Starters LLC is proud to be a partner with Chemo101.com.