Lending Support to Cancer Caregivers During National Family Caregivers Month and Beyond

 

Bringing Attention to the Challenges of Caring for Those with Blood Cancer & Finding Solutions to Ease the Emotional Toll on Caregivers & Patients

Celebrated every November, National Family Caregivers Month is a time to recognize and honor caregivers across the US. In a study by the National Alliance for Caregiving, about 50% of 111 cancer caregivers reported feeling “highly stressed” due to the intense and demanding nature of caregiving, and there is growing evidence this could potentially affect the mental health of the patients as well.

In particular, the mental health of patients with blood cancer, including those living with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and their caregivers, can be impacted due to the physical, emotional and social effects of the disease.

CLL is the most common leukemia in adults. It's a type of cancer that starts in cells that become certain white blood cells (called lymphocytes) in the bone marrow. The cancer (leukemia) cells start in the bone marrow but then go into the blood.

As with other illnesses, COVID-19 has exacerbated the mental health impact of blood cancer on patients, as well as placing an added strain on caregivers. In a recent survey of 100 patients with blood cancer, 96% of patients reported their blood cancer has impacted their mental health since the start of the pandemic in 2020, and 72% of patients said they rely most on their family members to provide them with emotional support for their blood cancer.

Recently, New Age Mama was able to interview Dr. Ken Tiller, a hematologist and oncologist at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore. The doctor discusses the  impact of blood cancer, including CLL, on the mental and emotional health of both patients and caregivers, and share resources to help meet this important need.

This interview was very eye opening, and Dr. Tiller's tips can be especially helpful during the holiday season when so many people are juggling responsibilities and still give their loved ones a holiday to remember. 

CeMe: Tackling Barriers Around Sharing Cervical Cancer Stories

It's estimated that 14,100 people in the United States will be diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2022 alone. Of those, 4,280 will die as a result of their diagnosis. Most of the time, we don't hear the stories of those fighting a battle with this disease  Thanks to a campaign called CeMe, which was created by Seagen and Genmab, these women are finally getting a voice. This campaign not only gives representation to the diverse women in the cervical cancer community, but to also shares stories that foster deeper connections and empower women in their care.

CeMe shares the stories of real-life women with cervical cancer through videos. The patients and advocates tackle difficult conversations. Hear the heartbreaking struggle of  a single mother living with cervical cancer, inspiring tales of confronting cultural barriers facing women of color, or just get tips on supporting a loved one while navigating a cancer diagnosis.

An example of one of the women highlighted by CeMe is Aisha, a single mom. After being diagnosed at the age of 32, Aisha found herself balancing cervical cancer and being a single parent to her young children. Today, she’s a Cervical Cancer Program Coordinator at SHARE Cancer Support where she helps cancer patients connect with the resources she needed when she was diagnosed.

Another member of the CeMe campaign is Arlene.  New Age Mama was lucky enough to speak with her personally. Arlene is a Filipino American woman diagnosed with cervical cancer at age 48. Following her diagnosis, she made it her mission to share her  experience of navigating living with cervical cancer at the intersection of her identities as a mom, a caregiver, and an Asian American woman. Here are some of the questions Arlene answered for us during our interview.

Q) What are some of the cultural obstacles you had to overcome especially as an Asian woman when you speak about cervical cancer?

A) Initially, when I got the cancer call, I felt like I did something wrong; that I could've taken better care of myself. I felt ashamed. Growing up, I was never educated on sexual health, HPV, or vaccinations, so when I was diagnosed with cervical cancer and found out it was a preventable cancer, I was upset that I didn't get that education early on. 

Q) What advice would you have for other women going through a cancer diagnosis?

A) I would like other women to remember that cancer is just another chapter in our life. It's not our whole life and the challenges we will face will happen, but we must learn to control what we can control and have a more positive mindset. Focus on the small things in life that many of us forget, like waking up alive; having an attitude of gratitude. I really live by that every day and I believe everything happens for a reason. I believe we can get through anything and by sharing our stories its also a healing journey for us and we can make a difference for another person going through their cancer diagnosis. 

Q) How did you seek out support during your cervical cancer journey?

A) Social media actually played a positive influence during my journey. I was seeking out  advocacy groups, googling them, but I found a group in particular called Cervicor. They had a diverse group of women who were so open and women I can really relate to because after my treatment, people don't understand that my life doesn't go back to normal. Whatever normal is. And I was glad to find a space of women where I wasn't afraid to voice my feelings and I wasn't judged or I didn't feel alone.

Q) Can you elaborate more on why its important for women who are at risk or have been diagnosed to hear other women's stories?

A) I think its important because if women can see the similarities they have with one another, they will not feel alone and will be more open to share their stories. In my culture, being Asian American, it will raise awareness of the things that need to be changed. For example, instead of being silent or ashamed to talk about sexual health or HPV, we can bridge the gap between our generations so we can communicate more effectively. Every since my cancer diagnosis, my daughter and I have had more open conversations in regards to sexual health and HPV, so I believe that that's a big step going forward.

Q) What else can you tell our audience about CeMe and where they can go for more information.

A) Seagen and Genmab created something special here with the CeMe initiative by highlighting real stories of diverse women of different races, cultures, and backgrounds. To often in the media we only hear conversations about prevention and eradication of cervical cancer . Here, they are highlighting diverse cultures like my Asian American community in the social media space so that brings out more awareness of important topics and messages that need to be addressed. So I'm proud to be a part of the CeMe initiative and I would like others to share my story and visit and watch the other stories on this channel. That channel is on YouTube. Its really sharing what the CeMe Initiative does. Its really paving the way to bring more awareness to cervical cancer. 

Speaking with Arlene was a truly inspiring experience, but her story is only one of many. If you'd like to hear more inspiring stories like those of Aisha and Arlene, be sure to check out the CeMe YouTube Channel. 

Guest Post: Winning the War on Cancer by Sylvie Beljanski

Winning the War on Cancer: The Epic Journey Towards a Natural Cure (Morgan James, June 2018, (230) pages, $19.95, Trade Paper; ISBN 978-1683507246) by Sylvie Beljanski is the story of the discovery and attempted suppression – and finally confirmation - of a promising natural remedy for cancer.

President Nixon signed the “War on Cancer” into law in 1971. Some forty-five years and several billion dollars later, and looking at death rates globally, it looks like we have lost the battle. Or have we? What if a natural solution had been there all along, but had just been overlooked by the pharmaceutical industry?

Sylvie Beljanski, the daughter of Mirko Beljanski, PhD, outlines a personal journey of discovery of her father’s new, and promising, paradigm for the treatment of cancer. The research of Dr. Mirko Beljanski, who spent over 40 years at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, studying the environmental impact on DNA replication and transcription, addresses the hypothesis of "cancer resulting from a progressive and cumulative destabilization of the DNA due to environmental toxins." That led him to uncover the anticancer powers of certain botanical extracts. Several recent studies conducted in various American academic institutions have now confirmed that the extracts work at the level of the DNA with a selective action against many kinds of cancer cells, while exhibiting an excellent synergistic action with chemotherapy drugs like Gemcitabine.

In 1993, Francois Mitterrand, then President of France, turned to Beljanski during his battle with an advanced prostate cancer. Against all conventional wisdom, Mitterrand’s failing health improved and he was able to complete his second term as President. But instead of being hailed and embraced, Beljanski and his, natural and non-toxic way to address cancer were fiercely opposed by prominent scientists with strong ties to the pharmaceutical industry. When Mitterrand ultimately died about 18 months after he left office, the French government brutally shut down Beljanski’s laboratory and mercilessly persecuted him. “When my father, a biologist-biochemist who worked for many years at the famous Pasteur Institute in Paris, started to rethink the origin of cancer and find new solutions in order to develop molecules able to selectively block cancerous cell multiplication without killing healthy cells, he ran into major opposition,” remarks Sylvie. “The conventional oncology community ostracized him, despite the fact that his theories on cancer were aimed at complementing chemotherapy and radiation, not replacing them.”

Shortly thereafter, Beljanski became ill without access to his own products to save his life. Mirko Beljanski, PhD, was arrested in 1996, striped of most of the freedoms usually granted by the French constitution and never given a chance to have his day in court to defend himself. He died in 1998 before a hearing date was set by the Judge. An involved legal battle ensued, keeping these remedies from reaching people who need them, but also transforming the relationship between a father and his daughter—and launching Sylvie into a crusade, sworn on her father’s deathbed, to keep working to make them available.

With her father’s passing, Sylvie embraced her father’s mantra: “When we have the power to help, we have the duty of doing so.” Fulfilling a promise to carry on her father’s legacy, The Beljanski Foundation, a non-profit organization in New York City, was founded in 1999. Its mission to further Dr. Beljanski’s work by researching natural compounds with anticancer potential is being conducted within a network of prestigious institutions, including Columbia University Medical Center, Kansas University Medical Center, and Cancer Treatment Centers of America®.

The book is a narrative woven with scientific research and exciting stories of healing. While the scientific portion is certainly shocking and promising, it the personal story that is more unexpected and compelling. Beljanski’s journey of understanding her father as a researcher, grasping his immense impact, and wrestling with the opposition he faced is stirring, inviting others, especially young researchers, to pursue a cure with determination. The style balances exposition, dialogue, and narrative to keep the story moving forward in a way that’s richly textured. The pace is methodical, befitting the diligent nature of both scientific research and law. The voice is impartial in its portrayal of science and law, but has the passion and urgency of a dedicated daughter who’s unnerved by the suppression of lifesaving treatment.

The book has received numerous awards including:

·         Amazon Best Seller in 3 categories

·         2019 International Book Award

·         2019 Independent Press Award

·         2019 OnlineBookClub.org Non-Fiction Book of the Month (January)

·         2018 OnlineBookClub.org Non-Fiction Book of the Year

·         2018 New Apple Book Award

·         2018 Nautilus Book Award

·         2018 Foreward Indies Finalist

As well as being featured in:

·         Newsweek

·         The Hill

·         Barnes & Noble 5^th Avenue NYC Flagship Store

·         Over 100 Hudson News locations

It is now also going to be available in French under the title “Gagner la Lutte contre le Cancer, la Découverte dont la République n’a pas voulu” (Editions du Souffle d’Or).

TriDerma Partners with ACCO to Help Children Battling Cancer

'Nearly 16,000 children under the age of 19 are diagnosed with cancer in the United States each year. Cancer has become all too common for families across the country — affecting people of all ages. The American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO) is one of the nation’s largest grassroots organizations at the forefront of the devastating battle against childhood cancer. 

TriDerma, a line of true skin care products made with Certified Genuine Virgin Organic Aloe and other carefully selected botanicals to heal a variety of skin problems, has partnered with the ACCO to help with the pain that childhood cancer causes. Patients undergoing cancer treatments often times experience adverse skin reactions, including uncomfortable dryness, itching, peeling or blistering. 

Throughout August, September (National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month) and October, TriDerma will donate 20 percent of sales from five of its specialty products, each hand selected for the different ways they can benefit and help children suffering from cancer. 

My Thoughts

Not only is TriDerma supporting a great cause, they are offer great products. My three-year-old son suffers from eczema. It breaks my heart to see his little arms and legs broken out in itchy, dry patches of skin.  He's too young to understand that he shouldn't scratch and no matter how much I try to monitor him, he always winds up drawing blood. Being a typical boy, he likes to pick the scabs and his legs were getting scarred up from constant wounds. Thankfully, we discovered TriDerma.

I've tried lots of products for my son's eczema, but none have worked as quickly or as effectively as TriDerma Eczema Fast Healing Cream. The formula glides on smooth and feels like lotion, leaving skin soft and touchable, and leaving behind no greasy residue. The aloe really goes to work and starts healing on contact. My son's legs looked better after just a few days. We also tried out the TriDerma Fast Healing Cream and this was amazing too. Those little scabs he kept picking have finally started to heal. This combination of products was exactly what we needed.

These are only a few of the amazing skincare products available from TriDerma. If you'd like to learn more about TriDerma and all they have to offer, be sure to visit their website or follow them via social media. 

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