Big Four hoops coaches to host cancer benefit

Men’s basketball coaches and their wives from Iowa State, Iowa, Drake and Northern Iowa will host a “Hoops for Hope” benefit for the American Cancer Society on May 5 at Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino.

Tickets cost $125 and include a reception with the coaches and dinner, followed by a dance. The fundraising-event starts at 6 p.m.Iowa State men’s basketball coach Greg McDermott and his wife, Theresa, are honorary chairpersons of the gala.

Theresa was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2006. She had surgery to remove the cancer a week later and started chemotherapy in late December. Theresa completed chemotherapy treatments in June.For more information, call 1-800-688-0147 or visit online at:www.cancermw.org/hoopsforhope

Ellsworth signs American Cancer Society Congressional Cancer Promise

According to http://www.courierpress.com/news U.S. Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D-Ind.) is now one of a handful of Indiana congressmen who have signed the American Cancer Society Congressional Cancer Promise.

“It is officially signed. I will do my part,” Ellsworth said to a group of applauding supporters Monday at the Old National Bank headquarters in Evansville.

With his signature, Ellsworth pledged to make health system reform a priority, improve access to care, increase funding for cancer research and promote prevention, early detection and survivorship.

With the stroke of a pen, he joined three congressmen in Indiana, 15 in Illinois and four in Kentucky who are among the legislators supporting the cancer promise, according to the American Cancer Society.

For more on the story visit the Courier Press website above.

Cancer Deaths On The Decline

About 3,000 fewer people died from cancer in the United States from 2003 to 2004, the American Cancer Society reported on Wednesday.

It said the big decrease shows that not only has the death rate from cancer been reversed -- but it has been reversed so much that fewer people are dying, even though the population of elderly people, who are most susceptible to cancer, is growing.

Cancer death rates have been declining for a long time. The declines have now outpaced the growth and aging of the population," Elizabeth Ward, director of surveillance research for the American Cancer Society, said in a telephone interview.
She said a small decline seen in the previous report had grown considerably, showing the trend was real.

The biggest fall in deaths was seen in colorectal cancer, the second-leading cause of U.S. cancer deaths, which will affect 112,000 people in 2007 and kill 52,000.
"Colorectal cancer really stands out," Ward said.

"There was a drop in both men and women, both a drop in mortality rates and in cancer incidence." The death rate from colon cancer fell by 5.7 percent in 2003-2004 from the previous year.

In 2004, 553,888 people died from cancer, compared to 556,902 in 2003. Fewer people died from the four leading cancers -- lung, breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer -- with the exception of lung cancer in women.

The five-year survival rate for all cancer patients between 1996 and 2002 was 66 percent, the group said. That compares to 51 percent between 1975 and 1977.

The four leading causes of cancer in the United States are:
-- Lung cancer, which will be detected in 213,000 people in 2007 and kill 160,000
-- Prostate cancer, which will be diagnosed in 218,000 men and kill 27,000
-- Breast cancer, which will be found in 180,510 men and women and kill 40,900
-- Colon cancer, which will be diagnosed in 112,000 people and kill 52,000.
The statistics do not include skin cancers known as squamous and basal cell carcinoma, which affect a million people a year.

The full report is available on the Internet at http://www.cancer.org/statistics.

Why Do I Relay?

Everyone that gets involved with the Relay For Life has their own special reason to be there. Some are survivors and some have family, friends or other loved ones that are fighting with cancer or that have lost the fight with cancer. Personally I fit into the second section of that statement. I have lost many loved ones to cancer and I hope that the money that my team and I raise for the Relay For Life helps those who are fighting the disease as well as those who are trying to cope with a loved ones battle.

There are many stories on the American Cancer Society's webiste regarding the reasons to Relay but I believe that everyone must find their own reason to participate.

My reason to relay is personal. I lost a wonderful friend who taught me a lot in the time that we knew one another, my father-in-law who showed me the meaning of a yelling match and a smile, my husband's grandfather who was I loved like my own grandfather and I never tired of his stories and my husband's grandmother who I didn't get a chance to know very well. I have lost aunts and other family members as well and have had a close friend survive cancer and have family who are battling the disease now.

There are countless reasons to relay but when they are personal to you then you fight even harder to get the news out there about Relay and you work to make the fundraisers you do a success. Cancer touches us all. Everyone on my team has their own special story about why they relay. Maybe they'll share those here eventually. Maybe not. But everyone involved with Relay is there because of someone they loved. Good luck to all Relay For Life teams who are out there raising funds for the American Cancer Society. I hope all you do is a success.

Why I relay:

Top 10 Tips for Avoiding Cancer

The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 560,000 Americans died from cancer-related causes in 2006. Some cancers are preventable, and people can cut their risk by maintaining some positive health steps.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Chief Medical Correspondent to CNN.com top 10 tips for avoiding cancer:

1, 2 and 3) Do NOT smoke. If you're one of the more than 40 million American smokers, you need to stop. Smoking is linked to at least three in 10 cancer deaths, according to the American Cancer Society. That's more than 165,000 deaths a year.

4) Stay active. Inactivity and obesity are linked to cancer. Half an hour of exercise a day will significantly help your odds.

5) Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. The American Cancer Society recommends at least five servings each day. In general, the most colorful fruits and vegetables have the most nutrients.

6) Limit the amount of red meat and processed meats in your diet, and make sure the meat you do eat is lean.

7) Avoid deep-fat frying. Instead, use low-fat cooking methods like roasting, baking, broiling, steaming or poaching. Also, choose low-fat or non-fat milk and yogurt.

8) Limit your alcohol consumption or avoid alcohol altogether.

9) Protect yourself in the sun. Wear sunscreen to limit your exposure to damaging ultraviolet rays.

10) Girls should get the HPV vaccine before they are sexually active to help prevent cervical cancer.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/

Teen Raising Money For Cancer Research

According to www.press-citizen.com the story about a teenager named Mitchell Landau who has a family history of cancer and a school project to complete is raising money for the American Cancer Society captured my attention.

Mitchell Landau is a South East Junior High eighth-grader and he plans to raise money by using family connections at restaurants in Iowa City, North Liberty, Waterloo, Cedar Falls, Waverly and Moline, Ill.

On Monday, 10 percent of total sales at nine restaurants in those cities, including the Brown Bottle in Iowa City and North Liberty, will go toward the project. The project was created when Landau was assigned to do at least four hours of community service for his personal development class at school. He said he remembered the effects of cancer in his family, including his grandmother dying of colon cancer. His aunt is fighting breast cancer as well, he said.

"I thought I wanted to do something cancer-related," he said. "The biggest cancer-related group I could think of was the American Cancer Society."

His father, David Landau, suggested mirroring a project that benefited the Iowa City Hospice done at the Brown Bottle in Iowa City and North Liberty, both of which he owns with his wife, Gina. Mitchell's project grew as he enlisted the help of two uncles and his grandfather.

"They just came over for Thanksgiving and I asked," Mitchell Landau said. "Cancer has touched all of us, and it has changed people's lives."

David Landau said he expects business to double Monday as people hear about the project, a thought echoed by Mitchell Landau.

"The more people who come in, the more that goes to the cancer society," he said. "Their eating can help people fight cancer and maybe find a cure."

To Read more go to:
http://www.press-citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070106/NEWS01/701060309

If you live in the area of these restaurants think about visiting on the Double Monday. Thank you to Mitchell Landau for his help in this fight against cancer.