Lisa's Story and Advise

Lisa sent us this added article that was in the Breast Cancer Website. She tells her story and gives very good advise!

Yearly Mammogram Caught Breast Cancer

My gynecologist put me on an estrogen patch after my hysterectomy, against my better judgment. Less than two years later, at age 50, a yearly mammogram and subsequent testing revealed a cancer tumor in my left breast. I had a lumpectomy in October, 2009. My surgeon said the tumor was too deep for me to feel and find. The sentinel lymph nodes were cancerous, so the underarm (axilla) lymph nodes had to be removed and 14 (over half!) were cancerous. That meant stage 3 -- chemo and radiation. I am currently in chemo, and winter is a good time to go through this with wigs and hats. I have a great husband, caring friends and wonderful people involved in my medical care and in my breast cancer support group. I also have an uncomfortable and ugly port in my chest and am dealing with lymphedema (arm pain and swelling) which can happen when you have lymph nodes removed and after radiation. I wish researchers would find out what causes cancer and cure it but, in the meantime, all we have is early detection. My advice is to get a yearly mammogram, especially when going through menopause, make sure they are taken and processed digitally, and avoid HRT if you can.

Lisa
Richardson, TX

Note and Pictures of a Happy Capper

Took a pic with my webcam in my favorite cap which I wore today in Baylor Plano's Infusion room. I still have my rosy cheeks from chemo (third of six). It doubled as a great blindfold. I pulled the front over my eyes a little while listening to a CD for a half hour during treatment. I still have most of my eyebrows and eyelashes but without the cap you can see the top of my head very, very clearly through the thinning gray hair. I'll also send you a picture after my first treatment before I lost any hair. I wear another cap at night when my head gets cold. And I have a third cap that is heavier knit and has a brim for when I'm outside wearing a coat in this cold weather.

Going to check when ya'll are at the Allen Senior Center. I saved the tags and pins and you can reuse them and I can help pin them on the new batch. Just need to know when you need me. My schedule is open except my weekly chemo days which are Wednesdays at 1PM in January.


Here is me after my first chemo in November, what my hair looked like. (Had gotten a shorter haircut so I wouldn't be shedding such long strands of hair.)

I had taken a cell phone pic in front of the bathroom mirror recently showing a friend what my chemo port looks like.



And my new look with a wig when I'm not wearing caps and hats.

And I want to wish all the knitters and cappers a happy and healthy 2010 and beyond!!

Note from Barbara

Hi Ladies,

I just wanted to thank you for the wonderful thing you've done with your chemo caps. I cared for my 55 year old sister here in Allen for about a year. She went to UT Southwestern for chemo for a very long time. She loved to go to the chemo cap box to look through all the lovely caps you all made. I believe she had one for almost all her outfits and last Christmas picked out the festive red and green ones. She even added little brooches to some to spice them up. She was single with no family and because of the cancer, had to sell her home and alot of her belongings. So whenever she got something she could call hers, she cherished it. I'm afraid we lost her in July, but she had a note on her to-do list to write and thank you for her caps. So, I would just like to thank you for brightening up my sister's life a little. I'm sure your caps have brightened up many other lives too. Thank you so much!

Barbara

2010

Another year is almost gone and a new year will begin. It was a sad year for many who found out they or someone they love has cancer. There were many happy people who had cancer and are now survivors.

We, in Joyce's Chemo Cap Project wish everyone a Happy 2010. There will be people who will be diagnosed this year, will have surgery, go through radiation and chemotherapy. Our prayers go out to those that will not survive this year or will lose someone to cancer.

To date, we have distributed over 4,500 caps to the infusion centers around the Dallas area and to some outside cancer centers outside of Texas. We are very proud of the people who took their time this last year to knit and crochet caps for us. The variety of caps was wonderful. So many colors and designs. They should be proud of what they accomplished this last year. I wish we had videos of our 'happy cappers' who picked out a cap or two that was 'just made for them'. We've had calls from women that said "she went to look in the box of caps and there it was, the cap that seemed to have been designed and made for her!" Finding out how much the women (and some men) smiled and, for a few minutes, forgot the reason they were in the infusion center made us really happy. I wish we had videos of the smiles and tears of joy others got from our caps. When Joyce told us three years ago that she wished she had something to wear on her head at night because of the pain on her scalp, she didn't what she started! Her wish became a reality, not only for her but for many, many others.

People used to ask us how long we were going to make these caps and what we were going to do next. They don't ask anymore. They know what the answer would be. Our answer to that question was always: "When cancer is defeated and there is no more cancer, there will be no need for the caps." But until that happens, we will continue to make the caps and with each cap that is put in the boxes at the infusion centers for someone to take, a prayer is included with the cap. We pray for a cure, we pray for the strength to go through their treatments, and the courage to accept whatever is in the future for them.

God Bless everyone who is involved with our project, either by knitting or crocheting, putting tags on the caps, delivering caps, donating money and yarn so we can continue making caps and God Bless everyone who has a need for our caps. Our caps are made with love. Happy 2010.

Correspondance Between Vivian and a Knitter

I am interested in donating chemo caps to your org. I have already made a few. Do I just mail them to you at the Thoreau address, or is there someplace I can drop them off?

Hello, Vicki you can mail them to our address if you wish. But if you would like to meet our group come by the center.
We are in Allen, Texas and meet at the Allen Senior Center on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings.
How did you find out about the Joyce's Chemo Cap Project?
We would love for you to donate your caps. And thank you so much for wanting to be a part of our group.
Jan and Vivian

Thank You From Susan

I have picked up a few of your caps at Texas Oncology by Baylor Plano Hospital. They are great, especially to wear around the house and to wear to bed. I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to make a difference for those of us going through chemo. I have been amazed at the outpouring of support I have received from all kinds of people as I go through this process (diagnosed with breast cancer via annual mammogram in July).
Your friend Joyce (Schmitt) must be smiling down on you!
Warm Regards,
Susan

Thank you Susan for your kind words. We are so happy that our group can do something for other people and sometimes make them smile.
God bless you on the road that you travel. Our thoughts are with you during this journey.
Jan and Vivian

Additional Note from Lisa in Richardson

Feel free to use anything I have written to you. I have been telling lots of folks about your caps and about Joyce. A neighbor just had a lumpectomy last week and will hear this week whether lymph nodes are involved (which makes a BIG difference, as you know). I had a lot of lymphs removed so I'm on chemo right now and may do radiation after all that, and I am learning how to prevent lymphedema and am going to physical therapy and will be getting bandages to put on my affected arm.

When I am bald and wearing the caps, I plan on figuring out where exactly the Allen Senior Center is and come down and help pin the tags on the caps and meet the lovely people involved in your wonderful endeavor. I am not sure if I am going to be posing for many photos in course of my treatment (torn on whether I want to remember it with photos or not), but if I have a flattering shot in a cap, I will send it to you, or pose with your group when I meet y'all.

I still have a week with my own hair. They tell me the two drugs I am on will certainly result in hair loss. We'll see.

Cancer at Christmas

This was an article I found on the internet. It was actually published at Christmastime, 2008 by the Cancer Council Victoria in Australia. It's still useful information so I thought I would put part of it on Joyce's Chemo Caps blog.

Celebrating Christmas can be difficult for people who have experienced a major change or loss in their life. Feelings of loneliness, isolation and sadness are common and Christmas traditions can be painful reminders of how different life has become.
Coping strategies

Sharing experiences and coping strategies can help people get through difficult times.

If you are in treatment for cancer: Set realistic expectations
Consider online shopping and/or gift vouchers for Christmas presents. This can save both time and energy.
If you're experiencing financial issues, consider ‘Kris Kringle' or making home-made gift vouchers for things such as babysitting, gardening, or a picnic.
Booking Christmas lunch or dinner at a restaurant, arranging a picnic at a local park, or simply asking people to bring a contribution to the Christmas meal can reduce stress.
If you're having treatment over Christmas, consider having a low-key day on December 25 and plan a celebration at the end of treatment.
Express your needs.
Tell others if you're finding it difficult to cope and accept offers of help. Be specific about things people can do to assist.

Be gentle with yourself.
Give yourself permission to get through Christmas the best way you can. Try to accept any limitations and remember Christmas doesn't have to be perfect.
Mood swings and feelings of loss are common over Christmas. Allow yourself some time to grieve and reflect.
Have an exit plan prepared for times when you may find a family gathering or party overwhelming.
Keep activities simple and non-strenuous.
Fatigue is a common side effect after cancer treatment. Avoid overwhelming numbers of visitors and long car trips. As energy levels may fluctuate, sometimes it can be helpful to plan the day's activities and then halve them. Allow for rest time during the day.
Keep meals simple. If the person with cancer has had to change their diet, serve food that can be enjoyed by everyone.
Create new rituals:
If your usual Christmas rituals or traditions are too painful, consider replacing with a new ritual or tradition that is special to you.
Seek support:
Talking to someone about your feelings can reduce feelings of distress and isolation. Family and friends can be a good source of support.

We, at Joyce's Chemo Cap Project, hope you have a Blessed Christmas and a Happy 2010.

Again, Another Email from Emily

I am a patient of Dr. Stones and I want to tell you how much I enjoy the chemo caps. I have used them on days I don't really need a wig and they make me look and feel good, and healthy. Thanks for making these caps.

Emily

Email Received from a Capper in Richardson TX

I am not dreading going bald in the next week and a half, partly because my husband and I picked out a few caps from the box in the Baylor Plano infusion room. They go with different outfits and they look great and I am so grateful that you provide them to people undergoing chemotherapy. I almost bought one or two in a store before I started chemo and then I was so happy to see that people care enough to provide them for free for patients. The other day I was in chemo and I saw a bald young mother with two young daughters and they had a couple beautiful pink knit caps they were going home with.

I think it is a wonderful way you are keeping Joyce Schmitt's memory alive. The caps from the box mean so much more to me than any hat I could have bought in a store. I think a cap will be so much easier to wear than a wig!

Lisa

Call from a 'happy capper'

Yesterday we received a call from Carla. She just received her first treatment yesterday and while she was getting her infusion, looked down and there was this beautiful purple (her favorite color) on top of a pile of caps in a box. She was so happy to know that she could have the cap and wanted to thank us for it. Her husband told her that the cap was meant for her. I agreed. I told her she could take another cap and she said "Oh no, this is the one I want and I will cherish it. Let others take the other caps". She is a very nice lady. She told me that she would make caps if she could knit but she doesn't know how. I told her that her call to us means so much and that is enough for her to do. It's so good to hear from people like Carla!

Charles Woodson Donates $2 million

Charles Woodson wants to be known as more than a football player.

Donating $2 million to the new University of Michigan Mott Children’s Hospital and Women’s Hospital gives him a chance to do that.

The school announced Woodson’s gift on Thanksgiving before he played for the Green Bay Packers against the Detroit Lions.

Woodson’s money will support pediatric research by The Charles Woodson Clinical Research Fund in the $754-million, 1.1-million square foot hospital slated to open in 2012.

He hopes to attract the world’s best researchers who want to help children with cancer, heart disease, kidney disorders and autism.

Woodson said during a visit to Ann Arbor earlier this month that becoming a father motivated him to make the gift.

Thanksgiving

We at Joyce's Chemo Cap Project want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. To those who are now going through treatments and surgeries, to those that are now Survivors and to all of your families and friends that are going through or went through the healing process with you, we want to say 'God Bless each and every one of you'.

If you've received our caps, we hope that the caps helped make you comfortable and that you enjoyed wearing our caps.

We also want to thank all of those that made caps for us, those that contributed to our yarn supply and those who encouraged us to continue with our project. May all of you have a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Recent News Regarding Mamograms

There have been reports on the news lately that is advising women to wait until they are 50 to have a mamogram and older women need only to have a mamogram every other year. This news has upset many people in the medical field. Following is an article regarding the news and is very important for all women to read.




YSC Responds to New Mammography Guidelines


While the new U.S. Preventive Services Task Force's recommendations on screening mammography, clinical breast exam and self-examination do not directly impact the young breast cancer survivors served by Young Survival Coalition (YSC), we are concerned about the recommendation of such significant changes. Although mammograms are not perfect tests, the evidence has clearly shown that they save lives in older women and should be available for all women for whom such screening is appropriate. Further, the Task Force's recommendations deal only with average risk women, not screening in higher risk women including screening residual breast tissue of young and old survivors. For these populations there is not enough scientific data to change current recommendations. YSC believes that better tools are urgently needed for younger women regardless of their risk level. This current debate regarding the effectiveness of mammograms highlights the issues facing young women. While over 11,000 women under 40 in the United States are diagnosed with breast cancer annually, there is still no screening method for early detection of breast cancer in young women. Survival rates for young women diagnosed with breast cancer are significantly worse than their older counterparts and the disease is often detected at later stages and is found to be more aggressive. Without access to proper and timely care, a woman's odds for survival decrease.

Mammography has been found to be an ineffective screening mechanism for this population because of their breast density. Accordingly YSC urges all young women to be familiar with their bodies, know their own personal risk factors for breast cancer, be aware of the signs of breast malignancies and to promptly consult with their health provider if they have any health concerns.


For more information contact:
Dana Griffin
Communications Manager, YSC







This email was sent by: Young Survival Coalition
61 Broadway, Suite 2235 New York, NY 10006 USA


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Our Newest Knitters

We have two knitters. Their caps are beautiful and so appreciated. Welcome to our project, Angel and Vicki.

This Is Our First Post. We Are Repeating It.

This is the very first entry in Joyce's Chemo Cap Project blog.
For those who are seeing this blog for the first time and for those who would like a refresher, we are repeating it. There are many changes as far as the hospitals and the amount of caps we have completed. Since the beginning of our project until now, over 4000 caps have been made. We have received caps from California to England and, of course, from our Texas knitters and crocheters. We are so proud of everyone who has contributed to our project. We have more than 5 hospitals that we deliver to now. We know that Joyce is watching over our project as we continue in her memory.
Joyce's Chemo

The Chemo Cap Project was started by Jan Goble, Lena Louter and Vivian Denbow after a mutual friend Joyce Schmitt was diagnosed with cancer. Joyce said that the caps she had to sleep in hurt he head because of the seams. We found patterns on the Internet for Chemo Caps. The patterns suggested using yarns that were soft to the touch. Jan and I bought yarn and started making the caps. We asked Joyce to "approve the yarn" to make sure it was soft. We started knitting the caps at the Allen Senior Recreation Center on August 1, 2007. Several of our friends at the center have joined us in making the Chemo Caps. Since many of the women can crochet and knit we have patterns for both types of caps. The caps are great for sleeping or being out on the town. Our Allen group had grown and now we have over twenty women knitting and crocheting the Chemo Caps. Our project has been shared with family and friends and spread to Dallas, Texas, Florida, Georgia, Pennslyvania, Iowa and Virginia.
Some of the senior who can not make the caps have either donated money or yarn to the project.
We found several cancer centers in Collin County that wanted the caps. We are currently working with the McKinney Cancer Center and Plano Cancer Center to distribute adult caps. Our only stipulation was that the caps be given to patients that could use the caps at no cost. Lena's main focus had been on childresn's Chemo Caps. Lena has made over 100 plus children's caps and has sent them to St Jude's Children's Hospital and the Scottish Rite Hospital in Dallas.
In October we proudly renamed our Chemo Cap Project "Joyce's Chemo Caps" because without her friendshp and understanding of the great need for Chemo Caps we would not have know there was a need.
With your support over 1,500 "Joyce's Chemo Caps" have been made and distributed to cancer facilities in Collin County, and across the United States. Since the need is so great we are currently looking at additional facilities where we can distribute our caps.
If you know anyone who would like to join our group and make Chemo Caps, please contact Jan or Vivian. also if you know of a person in need of a Chemo Cap, they may contact either one of the Cancer Centers that have been mentioned.
Thank you all so much for your continued support. Each and evey one of you had made a difference in someone's life for your committment to this project

Cap Project

Letter We Received Regarding Our Caps

Hello, Vivian!
I lived down the street from Joyce during our high school days and always enjoyed her zest for life. I am so impressed with the Chemo Caps project you are a part of.

When one of my friends lost her hair due to chemo treatments, I wrote and a beautiful cap was sent to me which I gave to her. Another friend offered to make some for her and others so I bought many skiens of that wonderful, baby-soft yarn you use (I forget the brand name). Someone sent me a pattern but my friend having the chemo said that cap didn't fit and stay on as well as the one I received from you.

My friend, the knitter, has offered to make more of a pattern she finally devised. The chemo friend says they are pretty good and stay on at night okay. The knitter is going to be making more and I was wondering if you would like me to send some to you for distribution? I am going to take some to our local center where they administer the chemo.

Thanks for all you do in Joyce's name. It was great you sent the note to our class website.

Barbara Howe

Football and Pink Cleats

DeAngelo Williams was a catalyst for the NFL’s decision to allow players to wear pink cleats to raise awareness for breast cancer. Then he and the Panthers were off with a bye when the initiative began last weekend.
The running game last season took off after the bye week, and Williams would like a similar breakout Sunday while he honors his mom’s successful battle with cancer.
Williams, who said he lost three aunts to the disease, didn’t know his mother was diagnosed until after she was treated.
“She got it removed and she’s been in remission,” Williams said. “She’s a five-year survivor.”
Williams has since done charity work for breast cancer awareness, and in July went to Panthers director of community relations Riley Fields about lobbying the league to let players wear pink cleats. The NFL had already planned to have pink-wrapped goalposts, wristbands and gloves, but hadn’t approved pink shoes.
The NFL decided to allow five or six players per team to wear pink cleats over two games. Williams and receiver Muhsin Muhammad(notes), whose mother and mother-in-law are breast cancer survivors, are among the Panthers who will wear pink Sunday.
“She was flipping through the channels this weekend and she was calling me every time she saw somebody in pink,” Williams said of his mother. “It meant a lot to her, so I know it meant a lot to a lot of the cancer survivors and families out there.”

Wearing pink cleats in recognition of breast cancer awareness week, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady stands on the field during warmups before the Patriots' NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009, in Foxborough, Mass.

Recent caps made for the Joyce's Chemo Caps Project

Make a Smilebox slideshow

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast cancer is:


The most common cause of death from cancer among Hispanic women.
The second most common cause of death from cancer among white, black, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native women.
In 2004, 186,772 women were diagnosed with breast cancer, and 40,954 women died from the disease.

Men can also get breast cancer. In 2004, 1,815 men were diagnosed with breast cancer, and 362 men died from the disease.

There are different kinds of breast cancer. The kind of breast cancer depends on which cells in the breast turn into cancer. Breast cancer can begin in different parts of the breast, like the ducts or the glands (or lobules.)

No one is immuned from cancer. Let's show our support in October. You can wear pink to let others see the support for the fight agains breast cancer.

Help someone you know. Take her or him to lunch, shopping, to sit in the park and feed the birds. Learn to knit this month and start making chemo caps for cancer patients. There are many ways to let those suffering with this dreadful disease that you care and are aware of what it is doing to people from all races, creeds, religions, political preferences, the rich, the poor, famous and unknown.

Caps Received from Anne Lee in California

Anne Lee, who lives in El Macero, California is our latest knitter. She sent us a package this week. A package of caps. They're beautiful caps! There is a correspondance between Anne and Vivian earlier in the blog. Here is a picture of the caps received from her this weekend:

Thank you, Anne. There will be some happy faces at the Baylor cancer center.

We Need a Name for Our Knitters and Crocheters

Do you have a suggestion for what we can call the knitters and crocheters who do their loving work for the Joyce's Chemo Cap Project? We don't like to always refer to them as 'knitters and crocheters'. If you have a suggestion, please let us know in the comment section. Just click on the comment at the bottom of the post. You can leave your name or check anonymous. Thanks everyone who reads our blog and contributes to our project.

Information About the Distribution of the Chemocaps

We've posted information showing our new members of Joyce's Chemo Caps when they join us. We also have the patterns for the caps, pictures of our 'happy cappers' on the blog and letters from the 'cappers'. We've never really explained the distribution of the caps and people have asked us how we do it.
This is how we collect and distribute the caps. There are some that drop off caps to us while we're sitting around the table at the Allen Senior Recreation Center. We have no requirement that they have to meet us there or even go to the center. Many are not seniors or do not live in Allen. We meet at the center but our project is not affiliated with them. We've received caps by mail. We have not even met some of the people that make the caps but give the caps to someone else to bring them to us. We've even received caps from other states such as California and other states too far to be delivered except by mail. Some of our group do not knit or crochet but help us by pinning our cards to the caps, rolling yarn, and sorting the caps to distribute.
We usually sort all of the caps we receive on Fridays. Because everyone has different ways and different patterns and makes the caps out of different yarns or colors, we want to divide the caps evenly so each cancer center gets a good variety of caps. Some of our group buys their own yarn but if they cannot, we furnish the yarn. Our only stipulation is that the yarn is soft and is not made of wool. This makes for a good variety of caps. Many of our caps are thin. This is good because in the beginning of our project, the purpose was for thin caps to be worn to sleep in. Joyce needed something to wear to bed. Thin caps are better for this purpose. Some are thicker, good for cold winter days or nights when the 'capper' goes to the doctor, shopping or just out of the house. We receive both crocheted caps and knitted caps. And, some caps even have buttons, ribbons, little hand made flowers and other little added touches to the caps.
We sort the caps according to different categories. We end up with a lot of stacks of different caps. Then we divide the them into individual stacks to go to the centers. We make sure that there are duplicates in each stack because there may be more than one person to want a particular cap. But we don't want all of the same cap to go to one center either. Variety is better.
Another reason we want the caps to be delivered to us is because we need to have a correct count of caps that we collect and deliver. It help us to know which cancer center is going to be needing caps. We also like to keep some caps on hand in case we receive a call from a new center. And we get calls from individuals so we like to keep caps on hand. It also helps us with the distribution of yarn.

We currently distribute 'Joyce's Chemo Caps" to the following centers:
Baylor- Plano
Dr. Kelly - Allen
Parkland - Dallas
Texas Oncology Center/Plano
Texas Oncology Center/ Allen
Gilda's Guild/ Allen
UTSW - Dallas
And friends who need our caps.

Coming soon are our new centers in September will be:
Baylor - Dallas
Presbyterian - Allen

We sent 50 caps to Woodward Cancer Center in Brighton, MI.
We would like to thank everyone who has donated caps to our project.

Our project has become a ministry.

In Joyce's Memory,
Vivian, Jan and Lena

Another Hospital Gets Caps

SUSAN, a lady from Plano who is in our group has sent crochet caps to M.D. Anderson Cancer Hospital in Houston, Texas. GOOD JOB...

We Have a Wonderful New Knitter

Frances Nelson is our newest knitter. She was worried that her caps wouldn't meet up to our requirements. She and her daughter, Dru, drove to meet us at the Allen Senior Center Saturday. They drove from Richardson. Did we like her caps! Oh my gosh! We loved them. We visited for awhile and found Frances and Dru to be very nice people, committed to helping others, people and animals alike. Here is a picture of Frances with some of her caps, a picture of Frances, Vivian and Jan and a picture of the bunch of caps she brought to us. Great variety, beautiful colors. Thank you so much Frances for your help in our project.

Other Cancer Awareness for September

National Ovarian Cancer Month
Childhood Cancer Month
Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month
National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
Prostate Cancer Awareness Week (Sept. 10-16)
Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness Month

September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness month. Advocates and researchers at the University of Michigan hope that increased awareness about ovarian cancer can save lives.

Here is what they want you to know.

1. Symptoms do exist. Bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating, feeling full quickly, and frequent or urgent urinating are have been shown to be related to a possible case of ovarian cancer and if they persist you should see your doctor.
2. There is no early detection screening test currently.
3. All women should get yearly pelvic exams.
4. Ovarian cancer is difficult to treat because it's often resistant to current treatments.
5. Survival rates are better at the early stage.
6. Most common in older white women.
7. A small number of ovarian cancers are hereditary, linked to the same genes that are linked to breast cancer.
8. The best person to treat ovarian cancer is a gynecologic oncologist.

Caps

We received a lot of yarn as a donation. Really pretty yarn but we weren't sure how the yarn would look in a cap. Well, Vivian made some. Beautiful.

Luisa, one of our crocheters called. She is going to try and knit one of the caps for us.
I cast on 60 stitches but it is a little large. So I will start another one with just 50 stitches.
I told Luisa to wait until I had finished the cap so I could send her the pattern.
Angel brought us caps but they are a little large. She was sorry about the size and said she would make them smaller. She said that they fit her head. But I told her to remember that most of the people do not have hair. Angel is so nice...
The yarn is called Phentex....



Vivian,
I tried the new Phentex yarn. The outcome's beautiful! It took 1.5 hour to make one. It's very hard to know where the beginning, one has to mark the first stitch. I honestly had a tough time to do it. It could be done with a single string & turned out fine without too big a hole. I used a 1/9-5.50mm hook. It takes 1.5 balls to make a hat. If you have any questions please call me.

Correspondance Between Vivian and a Knitter, Anne Lee

Subject: information request
To: Chemocaps@yahoo.com
Date: Sunday, July 12, 2009, 3:36 PM


Dear Joyce's ChemoCap Project
I would like information on your requirements for accepting hand-knitted cap donations. I recently sent a dozen or so hand-knitted caps to one group that responded that even though I used soft, washable yarns, they required that the caps be knit from one of their three recommended inexpensive yarns (which I hadn't known beforehand). I had already purchased a large stash of finer, soft, washable yarns; few were the specific yarns that they wanted. Since I am committed to continuing to make caps, I need to find another group that will accept caps made from very soft cottons, cotton-blends, and acrylic blends. Because my sister (in whose honor and memory I knit chemo caps) was treated for cancer twice in Dallas, I was interested in your group when I saw it on the Internet.

Any information you can provide will be appreciated.
Thank you.
Annejlee
--------------------------------------------

Thank you so much for contacting our group. We take crochet and knit chemo caps made with soft yarn. We have some yarn preferences but anything soft works for us.
All of the yarns that you mentioned are currently being used by our group. What type of pattern are you using to make the caps? I can E mail you the pattern we use if you wish. But all of the ladies just do their own thing with colors and patterns.
How exactly did you hear about our group? We are located in the Dallas area. Actually, are in Allen, Texas about 25 miles north of Dallas. Were are you located?
We tag all of our caps before we distribute them. If you would like to mail the caps to our group I will give you our mailing address. As you might know we distribute to 5 cancer centers in our area.
We have people across Texas making caps for our group. We also have a group in Pennsylvania where Joyce's sister lives.
I will give you the Texas mailing address. If you would like the Pennsylvania address I will send it Later.
Please feel free to contact us if you need additional assistance or more information.
And thank you again for contacting our group.

Vivian
Joyce's Chemo Cap Project

-----------------------------------------------------
Thanks so much for your quick response! I now live near Sacramento, CA but got my BS degree from SMU in Dallas and my PhD from UTD in Richardson in the 1970s. My sister, in whose memory I now knit chemo caps, was treated for Hodgkin's in Dallas (Dr. Weisberg) in the late 70s, and then again 25 yrs later for colon cancer. She had been a founder, or at least involved in the start of, Gilda's Club of North Texas (I think that's the proper name). She passed away 4 years ago next week.

I found your group by googling - "chemo cap donations," I think it was. When I first realized that there were groups who collected and distributed caps for chemo patients last spring, I downloaded a number of patterns from various chemo-cap sites, and also purchased a few, that looked interesting and were without seams. My yarn-buying frenzy yielded all sorts of interesting, soft, washable, non-wool yarns; since I'd never been too wild about knitting with acrylics, most of these were cottons, and various blends of cotton, acrylic, bamboo & nylon. I took my first nearly dozen caps to the Med Center in Sacramento. Then I found Knots of Love on the Internet and sent the next batch to them; but they then indicated that they only wanted caps made from 3 specific yarns, none of which I had. So I recently went back on line to find a group who might want the dozens that I'll be making from my yarn stash! I was delighted to find your group in the Dallas area because when I became inspired to make caps, I had wanted to support patients in the Dallas area.

I really want to make caps that patients want to wear - so if they really prefer simple rolled-brim, stockinette hats from acrylic yarns, for example, I can focus on making those. I'd love to know what patterns your group use, and yarn preferences.

Anyway, that's my chemo-cap story and my connection with Dallas. I'm going to be away for the next few weeks, but I'll send my next batch to you and you can let me know if you like them, or re-direct me!

Thanks.
Anne Lee
--------------------------------------

Hello, again Anne.
We currently deliver caps to Parkland and UT-SW in Dallas. Our friend Joyce took her treatments at those two centers. We would love to have your caps.
Joyce had mentioned that even the pillow case hurt her head at night. That is when we started our group. We still make the soft caps to wear at night. Our pattern has a seam but it is almost invisible. As I mentioned the ladies just do their own thing. Some use straight needles and some use circular needles.
The only yarn that we have found that is not real soft is the Red Heart Super Saver. Although if you wash the caps and dry them the yarn is softer. We mainly purchase yarn at Hobby Lobby. We like their brand I LOVE THIS YARN. But as I mentioned any soft yarn will work.
I am sending the basic knit pattern for you information. It sounds like you have done a lot of research and have the patterns necessary.
Thank you again and hope to hear from you soon.
Vivian
-----------------------------------------------
Hi Vivian

I have completed five knitted, and two crocheted, caps that I'd like to send you for distribution. If you donate to Baylor Hospital in Dallas, I'd be particularly pleased if mine were to go there - as that's where my sister received her last treatments... Do I need to fill out any forms to send with them? I put a tag on mine to note the fiber content; if you need additional information, please let me know. I just send them to you, right? at:


Joyce's Chemo Cap Project
1206 Thoreau Lane
Allen, Texas 75002

Thanks.

Anne Lee
-------------------------------------------------------
That would be wonderful Anne. You have the address correct.
We will make sure that they are donated to Baylor.
Thank you again for participating in the Joyce's Chemo Cap Project.
Vivian
------------------------------------------

Another Note From One of Our Crocheters!

I tried the new Phentex yarn. The outcome's beautiful! It took 1.5 hour to make one. It's very hard to know where the beginning, one has to mark the first stitch. I honestly had a tough time to do it. It could be done with a single string & turned out fine without too big a hole. I used a 1/9-5.50mm hook. It takes 1.5 balls to make a hat. If you have any questions please call me

Note from One of Our Knitters

From: Susan
To: "Chemo Caps"
Date: Friday, August 21, 2009, 3:11 PM


Vivan - A good thing happened today - A lady from New Orleans used to
live here while her house was being rebuilt. Well she has been back in
New Orleans for a couple of years and she showed up here today. Anyway
we started talking and she asked about what was on my table and I
showed her the caps and explained how it works. Her name is Mary -
While she was here, she made about half a cap and she is excited. I
gave her one of your cards. She said she had a friend named Julie who
died of cancer but anyway she is going to start making caps for people
in New Orleans. We decided people there have cancer too. She called it
"paying it forward." When she left she was on her way to Hobby Lobby.
See you Wednesday - Susan

Great news! We hope that our project reaches cities all over the states! The more knitters and crocheters making caps, the more 'happy cappers'!

Let's Cure Cancer by Brian Trent of the Dallas Examiner

Obama’s historic election was sandwiched between two cancer deaths – that of his grandmother the day before, and of bestselling author Michael Crichton the day after.
Why don’t we cure the damnable disease?

Roughly one in four American deaths are from cancer; approximately 1,500 every day. Globally, this sickle reaches 10 million people annually and is expected to sharply increase. Indeed, in a political climate marked by fanatical divisiveness, cancer is something of a wake-up call. It is not a disease of specific demographics (as AIDS was originally thought of as a “gay disease” due to its prevalence among homosexual communities) of social classes (Crichton led a blessed life of literary success and all the money that went with it, and yet was fundamentally powerless to defeat the disease.)

Just a few days after the election, Washington University published their discovery of “cancer genes” responsible for the 5-10 percent of cancers considered to be hereditary. That study cost $1 million dollars; by contrast, the monthly bill for the Iraq War is $10 billion. Over the past several years, the U.S. government has spent a mere $100 million dollars on genome studies of brain, lung, and ovarian cancers. Again, just a fraction of our military spending.

Just where are our priorities? Imagine what we could be accomplishing if we diverted the cash flow, from war into cure.

To use a historical perspective, the human race managed to claw its way to the top of the food chain despite all odds. Without natural armor, poison sacs, or terrible fangs, we used social skills and intellect to survive and prosper. We defeated the perils of the prehistoric world.
Yeah, we fought her off too.

Transitioning from villages to cities, we devised ways of dealing with the scarcity of water and food. We irrigated the land, domesticated livestock, and perfected tool-making. We pioneered surgical techniques, and can now repair paralysis in lab rats. We have mapped the human genome, landed on the moon, split the atom, and sent probes into deep space.

Is anyone still willing to say that we can’t defeat cancer?

The bubonic plague which decimated Europe and Asia can be cured with a pill today. In 1665, a renewed outbreak of that plague led London’s newspapers to declare it was divine punishment. Being divine, all one could do was pray for deliverance. Yet more than a millennium earlier, the Greek physician Hippocrates addressed the subject of epilepsy (also considered a heavenly curse) and wrote,

“People think epilepsy is divine because they don’t understand it. But I propose that one day we will understand what causes it, and in that moment it will cease being divine.”

Cancer is a breakdown of cellular division, resulting in out-of-control replication. New discoveries have linked viruses like HPV to the cause of many cancers, while others owe to environmental contagions and genetic factors. There are numerous kinds, and it is doubtful that a single approach (barring some nanotechnological miracle) that will work for all. And yet it is still a mechanical process, and humans have a neat way of mastering the mechanics of the universe. We're really just getting warmed up.

It is too late to help Obama’s grandmother, Michael Crichton, or those in our own families who have died from this terrible disease. But it needn’t be too late for ourselves, our children, and our tomorrow.

Michigan Men Take It Off to Benefit Breast Cancer

BY CASSANDRA SPRATLING
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER


Two Michigan men have landed in a place neither of them ever thought they'd be -- naked, well, nearly naked, in a calendar.
It's slightly naughty, but it's for a good cause.
Jeremy Watmuff (Mr. May) and Dr. Ken Colton (Mr. October) are featured in the 60-Mile Men 2010 calendar.
It's produced and sold to support the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk, which raises money for research, treatment and prevention of breast cancer. The 60-mile walk begins today and Misters May and October are among the estimated 3,000 people who are committed to walking from Dearborn to Ann Arbor this weekend.
The 2010 calendar, which sells for $20, is the third edition of the calendar produced by 60-Mile Men Inc., a Michigan-based support group that raises money for the 3-Day.
Founder Matthew Pickus of Ann Arbor got the fund-raising idea while participating in the 2006 walk. He later appeared as Mr. January in the first calendar in 2008.
Men submit online applications to appear in the calendar. Participants must be men who work or walk in the 3-Day.
It's Colton's first time in the calendar, but his third in the walk.
Colton, 52, a family practice physician in Westland, and his wife, Amy Colton, 55, began walking in 2007, two years after she was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer.
"I diagnose breast cancer on unfortunately a high rate of my patients," Colton says. "For the sake of my wife and my patients, we both wanted to do more toward ending breast cancer."
Mr. May, a.k.a. Watmuff, 31, a bank manager in Warren, also plans to walk in the 3-Day this year, something he did initially because he was looking for a way to give back.
"But once I started trying to raise money and talking with my friends and family, I realized how many people I know who I never knew are either affected by breast cancer or know someone who is," he says. "Each one gives me more reasons to walk."
As for the calendar, "It's something I never expected I'd be doing in my entire life," says Watmuff. "But it ended up being a lot of fun. It's all done in good taste. At times I felt like a star."

60 Mile Breast Cancer Walks Going On Now

If anyone has gone on one of these walks, please email any interesting stories to our email address: joyceschemocaps@yahoo.com.

A friend, Annette, in Michigan just completed her walk. She has the blisters and sore legs to prove it. But she's proud that she could contribute the $2500.00 to the cause! Her friend Michelle and her sister, Sarah, joined her in the walk. Annette and Sarah lost their sister to breast cancer and they walked in her memory. Here is a good picture of the group they walked with. Any stories? We'd like to post them.

Summertime Needs Attention!

Too much sun exposure can be dangerous for everyone. It can cause skin cancer, cataracts, wrinkles, and painful burns that may permanently damage skin. It can also make side effects of some chemotherapy worse. Sun exposure during 5-FU (5-fluorouracil) chemotherapy leads to more skin reaction and tanning. Intense sun exposure can also weaken the immune system even more than treatment has already.

Skin in an area that's receiving radiation therapy should be protected from the sun with a bathing suit or other clothing. Be careful: Sunscreen can further irritate radiated skin.
Still, you don't have to hide inside on bright summer days just because you're in breast cancer treatment. According to dermatologist Margo L. Weishar, M.D., of Springhouse, PA, you can enjoy the sun if you take these precautions:

Schedule your sun time for early or late in the day. Wear a tightly woven, wide-brimmed (5 inches) hat, and clothing that covers most of your body.
Don't step outside without your sunblock on! And apply the sunscreen at least 20 minutes before you go outside, because it takes time before it starts working.
Forget the false notion that any sunscreen SPF (sun protection factor) higher than 15 is a waste. Go for the highest number you can buy. "Most people don't apply sunscreen the way it's tested in the lab, me included," Dr. Weishar says. "You may be getting only half the protection you think you are." She recommends 45 SPF, in a waterproof formulation to combat sweat. If you swim, reapply even waterproof sunblocks after being immersed in water.
For best face protection, Dr. Weishar advises using sunblocks that contain zinc. The blob of white that you may have seen covering lifeguards' noses is one kind of zinc sunblock. But newer products contain tiny particles of zinc that block harmful rays but are invisible when applied.
Sunscreens are chemical sunblocks, not physical ones like zinc. They absorb—rather than deflect—harmful rays. If you buy a sunscreen, according to Dr. Weishar, choose one containing Parsol (chemical name: avobenzone). This is a chemical that does a good job of absorbing harmful rays.
Protect your head. If you've lost your hair, the exposed skin has never seen sunlight before and will burn easily. The same goes for your ears, since many women usually style their hair over their ears. "The best thing is to wear a hat," Dr. Weishar says. "Otherwise, use a good zinc sunblock."
Apply topical vitamin C before sunscreen or makeup. Sold in liquid form, it can protect your skin against sunlight damage. Choose the ones that come in brown, light-sensitive bottles, Dr. Weishar says. This is because the vitamin C molecule is easily destroyed and should not be stored in a clear container.
Use an indoor tanning lotion if you want a deep tan. "They work superficially on the skin and are harmless," says Dr, Weishar. "Just remember that the color you get won't protect you from the sun."
If you have a fresh surgical scar, keep the area well covered. It can get pinker, then darker, if it's exposed to the sun.
Don't rely on the SPF ratings you see on makeup or face lotions to protect your skin. If you're going to be outdoors for longer than a trip to the supermarket, use a sunblock or sunscreen.
Remember that most T-shirts give you a sun protection factor of only about 8.
If you're going through radiation treatment, protect your skin from the drying effects of chlorinated pool water by using a barrier product like A&D ointment or Vaseline petroleum jelly.
After underarm lymph node dissection, try to avoid poison ivy, bug bites, cuts, or any other outdoor risks for infection or allergic reaction.
If you're currently in breast cancer treatment, avoid hot tubs, Dr. Weishar notes. She says she's seen many cases of "hot tub folliculitis"—a condition caused by invisible bacteria in hot tub water. Bathers emerge with painful and ugly red sores on their skin. Although the condition is not serious, she says it could be worse for someone whose immune system is weakened.
With a little care, summer really can be a day (or week) at the beach, despite breast cancer treatment. Says Dr. Weishar, "I tell women, 'Put on a zinc sunblock, cover up, and enjoy!'"

Thank You from a Happy Capper's Happy Daughter

We received a very beautiful Thank You this week from the daughter of one of our 'cappers'. Her mother loved the caps she received. She gave us a very generous donation too. Here is what she wrote to us.
Click on each page to read it.

Amber Turner's Story

Check out this website. It's about a young woman who help with the fight against cancer. Her mother had cancer. Then she discovered that she, too, had it. She wrote a book. This is a quote from her.

What you really need when you've been diagnosed with cancer is to meet somebody who has been through it and come out on the other side," she said.

And this is the website:
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/oct/27/encouragement/

Emails between a knitter and Vivian.

Hello, Susan how are you doing? How is your friend? We are praying for her.
I will be in Plano on Friday at the nail salon. Do you need yarn?
Let me know.
Vivian
I went down to see Nancy for a few days. She is OK but has been off chemo for a month and needs to start today again actually at MD Anderson. I am very proud at the way she is handling this. I don't think I would have her spirit about it. Her main concern is still helping others. Yes I could use some plain colored yarn or fluffy stuff. I bought some when i was down there and we made mostly the fun fur hats. 1 p.m. friday? See you then - Susan
Fuzzy is best because they are so soft. What I have been doing is mixing the fuzzy either with another fuzzy or a lightweight yarn and they look great and feel great - According to Nancy. She picked out a few colors for herself so I was making hats at her place too.

Note from Finland

Shirlaine from wrote you a message from Finland

It's very kind of you to knit the caps for cancer patients. My aunt has cancer and due to her drug treatments she often loses her hair. Recently, the treatments seem to have helped as the cancer has been in control in some way.

Our prayers go out for your aunt, Shirlaine.

Patterns for Chemo Caps

Here are some patterns to crochet or knit chemo caps: To show the pattern at full size, please click on the picture and the patterns.

Thank You from John, Joyce's son

It is Mother's day, 2009. It has been about 7 month's since my mother Joyce passed away. I miss her dearly especialy on a day like today. I thank all of the volunteers at Joyce's Chemo Caps for what they have done in my mother's memory. God Bless you all.

John

John, we miss your mom a lot too. We went on a trip with the senior center the other day and one of us said that Joyce would have loved to have been with us. We all knew that she was with us, laughing at us and with us. We can all feel her presence at different times.
God Bless you too, John.

Vivian, Jan and Lena

Thank You note received from Susan

Vivian received this beautiful Thank You note today. It brings tears to our eyes to know how our caps touched Mandi's heart.
You can read Mandi's journal at: www.caringbridge.org/visit/mandifisher

Carrie and Mom

Carrie works for Senior Select. Her mother has been making beautiful chemocaps for us! Many thanks to Carrie for delivering the caps to us and to her mom for making them for us!

Great New Book to Read-- Hearing the Stream

Hearing the Stream, A Survivor's Journey into the Sisterhood of Breast Cancer. The foreword of the book is written by Dr. Jodi Chambers, a prominent breast cancer surgeon in Denver , and the back cover testimonial is written by Dr. Tim Byers, Interim Director of the University of Colorado Cancer Center. More information is included below and in the attachments.

Hearing the Stream:

A Survivor’s Journey into the Sisterhood of Breast Cancer weaves together the author’s own story of her struggle with breast cancer with those of five others also diagnosed. Through each of their eyes Chambers brings to life the complexities of this disease, from its emotional and physical impact to its sometimes hidden historical, economic, political, and environmental dimensions. Chambers shows how bonds of sisterhood develop among the survivors, ironically bringing a great deal that is positive into their lives.

Because of her grandmother’s and her own experiences with breast cancer, Chambers speaks with authority on this subject. Her research and extensive involvement with survivors and cancer organizations allow her to provide a rich, mature perspective on the many complex facets of breast cancer.

Now available online at www.ellexapress.citymax.com., through Borders, or Barnes & Noble.

Lena, Jan and Vivian at the Allen Health Fair

A Thank You Note

My mother is getting her treatment at UT Southwest. Thank you for the prayer and all the you are doing for everyone. We live in Lewisville. I would love to be able to come to one of the meeting but with work and everything not sure if I would be able to make it. Thanks you for the pattern and the name of the yarn. I will be sending you some cap and yarn. Please let me known if there is anything else that I can do to help.
Alice

Health Fair at Allen Senior Recreation Center

Joyce's Chemo Cap Project had a table set up at the Health Fair yesterday. It was very successful. We displayed some of the caps, our scrapebook was displayed showing pictures of 'cappers' (those that receive our caps, knitters, crocheters, and a signup sheet for those that wanted to join our group. We have seven new knitters or crocheters that requested information and patterns. Mary crocheted two beautiful lap blankets and Lena crocheted one that we donated to the Health Fair for the drawing. All in all, it was a very good health fair and very successful for us.

Wendy's Followup Appointment

When ENT doc scoped me today, he said that my right vocal chord is now completely repaired/restored. I have been a complex case for him because of all the weird complications. When I had woken up from the thyroidectomy surgery and for weeks after, i could barely talk & for awhile I made a wheezing/whistle sound when I breathed. He said I made his day & that it won't regress, so I am very grateful.

Please scroll to see Wendy's story.

Thyroid Cancer

What is Thyroid CancerThyroid cancer occurs in the cells of the thyroid — a butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of your neck, just below your Adam's apple. Your thyroid produces hormones that regulate your heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature and weight.

Thyroid cancer isn't common in the United States. About 37,000 people are diagnosed with thyroid cancer each year, according to the National Cancer Institute. Thyroid cancer rates seem to be increasing, which doctors think may be due to new technology that allows them to find small thyroid cancers that may not have been found previously.

Symptoms
Thyroid cancer typically doesn't cause any signs or symptoms early in the disease. As thyroid cancer grows, it may cause:

A lump that can be felt through the skin on your neck
Changes to your voice, including increasing hoarseness
Difficulty swallowing
Pain in your neck and throat
Swollen lymph nodes in your neck
When to see a doctor
If you experience any signs or symptoms that worry you, make an appointment with your doctor. Thyroid cancer isn't common, so your doctor may investigate other causes of your signs and symptoms first.

Cause
It's not clear what causes thyroid cancer. Thyroid cancer occurs when cells in your thyroid undergo genetic changes (mutations). The mutations allow the cells to grow and multiply rapidly. The cells also lose the ability to die, as normal cells would. The accumulating abnormal thyroid cells form a tumor. The abnormal cells can invade nearby tissue and can spread throughout the body.

Types of Thyroid Cancer
Papillary thyroid cancer. The papillary type of thyroid cancer is the most common, making up about 80 percent of all thyroid cancer diagnoses. Papillary thyroid cancer can occur at any age, but is most commonly diagnosed in people ages 30 to 50.
Follicular thyroid cancer. Follicular thyroid cancer also includes Hurthle cell cancer. Follicular thyroid cancer typically occurs in people older than 50.
Medullary thyroid cancer. Medullary thyroid cancer may be associated with inherited genetic syndromes that include tumors in other glands. Most medullary thyroid cancers are sporadic, meaning they aren't associated with inherited genetic syndromes.
Anaplastic thyroid cancer. The anaplastic type of thyroid cancer is very rare, aggressive and very difficult to treat. Anaplastic thyroid cancer typically occurs in people age 60 or older.
Thyroid lymphoma. Thyroid lymphoma begins in the immune system cells in the thyroid. Thyroid lymphoma is very rare. It occurs most often in adults age 70 or older.

Joyce's Chemo Cap Project

Brokenness by Wendy Tuttle Jenkins

Last August, 2008, I felt really inspired to write about 6 poems. Very strange, because I never really wrote poetry. Remember, these were written before I had ANY idea of any cancer diagnosis. I used to think they were for someone else, but looking back now, I think God gave them to me to prepare my heart. This was my first one.

Brokenness
We never know what life will bring,
Whether good or bad, sunshine or rain.
We have no control, this is for certain,
For around the next corner, could be a collision.

When dealt life's blows, one can react in anger,
Slam the door on the world to escape the danger.
We can hide our feelings and mask our anguish,
But in the end we become sarcastic and selfish.

WE cannot explain why God allows our brokenness,
To pretend we understand, is the first sign of foolishness.

We could throw our fists in the air as some people do,
Look the creator in the face and ask Him, how dare you?
But what purpose would that serve with what time we have left?
To not ask Him for help would be the ultimate theft.

The nights are full of unrest and the depression is deep,
To overcome them we must turn on the light and receive.
There are those standing beside us expressing they care,
Just reach out and grab their hand and do not despair.
These are the Hands of God in the flesh,
Reminding us that He won't forsake us.

Here is the pearl and key to it all,
God is the first to see the sparrow fall.
If He cares that much to notice a bird,
How much more does He care that your prayers are heard?
He knows the hair on your head and numbers each one,
He sings over you at night and calls you His son.

Each grain of sand is matched to the stars in the sky,
The truth is you matter to God; He’s your biggest ally.
You are special and important and created in His image,
He knows the plans He has for you,
YOU are not alone in your pilgrimage.

~Wendy Jenkins, 08/2008, before any cancer diagnosis.

Please scroll down to read Wendy's story.

A comment sent to us

Wow! You should feel proud of what you do. My Mom had breast cancer a few years ago so these mean a lot to me. Thank-you for helping out others."

Cheryl (Grand Rapids, Michigan)

Hearing The Stream By Diane Lane Chambers

Hearing the Stream Reviews
Review by Allan Burns, Editor, Colorado Springs, CO

The Sisterhood of Survivors

Hearing the Stream: A Survivor's Journey into the Sisterhood of Breast Cancer by Diane Lane Chambers

Like everyone else who receives a cancer diagnosis, Diane Chambers was initially shocked and scared. She knew only two people who had battle breast cancer: her grandmother and a judge in whose court she had worked as a sign language interpreter. Both had died. Despite daily flashbacks to her grandmother's tragic experience with disfiguring surgery, horrendous lymphedema in both arms, and burns from radiation, Diane accepted her diagnosis and began making decisions about what route to take with a competent team of doctors. She chose the only treatment that made sense for her: a mastectomy and reconstruction.

Six months later, as treatment and recovery began to fade like a bad dream, Diane began recovering her life. She had worked as a sign language interpreter since 1977 and published an acclaimed account of her experiences, Words in My Hands (Ellexa Press, 2005). but she soon learned that after cancer there was no going back to "life before cancer." There was only "life after cancer," and she quickly discovered it is not such a bad thing. She forged powerful bonds with a sisterhood of survivors--all people who had been through emotions and physical changes similar to her own. From Kim she learned the issues facing young single women with breast cancer. From Pat she learned how older women cope with diagnosis and treatment and from Sue how the mother of a baby struggled to save her own life. From Charlie she came to appreciate what men have to go through when diagnosed with a "female disease."

Above all, from the extraordinary Harriette Grober, who had been on chemotherapy for an unprecedented nine years, she learned about a determination she had never imagined and how to be thankful and happy in each moment. She also learned to take Harreitte's advocacy as a model and became involved herself in raising levels of political and social awareness about the disease. Currently, Diane is an active member of the National Breast Cancer Coalition and the Association of Breast Cancer Survivors and regularly participates in workshops, symposiums, and webcasts on cancer.

Hearing the Stream, the fruit of all she has experienced and learned as a cancer survivor, is an inspiring book that weaves together her own story and those of five others, thereby providing multiple perspectives on a complex disease that can be a different as the individual people dealing with it. As Dr. Tim Byers of the University of Colorado Comprehensive Cancer Center says, "Accounts such as this of the human toll of breast cancer motivate me as a researcher--and should motivate us all--to redouble our many efforts to reduce further and someday eradicate this disease."

To purchase this book click:
www.ellexapress.citymax.com/purchasebooks_wordshands_deafblind_brcancer.html

Health Fair

Friday, May 1, 2009 there will be a Health Fair at the Allen Senior Recreation Center. We actually got a booth there this year! We'll have caps on display. We'll also have the scrapebook of how the Joyce's Chemo Cap Project started and how it is continuing. We hope to have a lot of people stop at our booth. There will be raffles at the Health Fair with donations from some of the booths. We have two beautiful lap blankets to be raffled off.

A Surviving Capper's Generosity

Today we received a nice donation of yarn and 6 caps from a capper! Claudia, from Frisco, received one of our caps last fall. She didn't like to sit around so she knit us some caps. She's a very busy lady working on a lot of projects. She had a lot of extra yarn so she wanted us to have it. We really appreciate the yarn. She's in remission right now. If anyone knows of ovarian cancer survivors, please send their story to our email so we can add it to the blog. If fact, we would like survivor stories from everyone. This blog is to help people who have, have had or have someone they love with cancer. All stories would be read. Meanwhile, thank you, Claudia, for your super donation. The yarn will make a lot of beautiful caps and the caps you made will make 'cappers' so happy! God Bless you.

True story

This true story is to make you smile. Even when things are not happy and you are frustrated, a little story may help.
A friend told me today that her friend who was in her 80s found that she had breast cancer. They performed a mastectomy on her left breast. After all was done, she was fitted with a prosthesis. My friend asked her how she was doing and how she liked her new bra. She replied "Well, it's funny. My right breast is sagging to my belly and the left one with the prosthesis is nice and pointy."

Note From a Capper's Husband

Hi
My wife is getting chemo treatment, and when we were in North Texas Cancer Center on 15th St in Plano we saw your basket and sign. She crochets blankets for Project Linus, which donates blankets to premie babies. She is also interested in making caps for your project. How do we get started?
Thanks
David


Vivian's answer to David

We use very soft yarn. Most of the yarn we use is a Hobby Lobby brand called "I Love this Yarn". Most of the ladies that make the caps live in the Allen area. We meet at the Allen Senior Center on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. We also knit or crochet at home. We would love to have your wife join our project. The need for the caps is increasing and we have been delivering around 100 a week to 5 cancer centers in this area.
Some of the ladies make the caps at home and either bring the caps to the center or mail them to our mailing address.
I am going to attach several of our crochet patterns.
If she needs more information or additional assistance please let us know.
Thank you again for wanting to join our project.
Vivian

Welcome To My World by Grangran

I found this in a website written by a woman who underwent chemo and her thoughts after. She has this website to show the steps she went through after losing her hair and the problems with her fingernails. Please check out her website. It is:
http://home.att.net/~scorh2/Cancer3.html

Here is an exerp of what she wrote:
Just some thoughts: Friends have asked me "Do you think about it everyday and are you scared? I can honestly say "NO." I've always been fairly upbeat and positive about everything. I've never felt that excessive worrying did much good in any situation. From the very beginning I've had such a sense of peace about everything: the diagnosis, the treatment and all my caregivers. For that I am so very thankful. I think I mentioned way back in the beginning that I just feel this is a pebble in my life I've got to step over. I've talked to so many folks who do nothing but feel SHEER PANIC. That would be horrible.

In some ways I'm a totally different person than I was in June of last year when CANCER became such an integral part of my life, but I think the differences are positive rather than negative. I may not have been a worrier, but I've definitely always been an over-achiever. If I did it; it had to be the best. You know that saying "Stop and smell the roses?" Hey, that's what life is all about. Slow down, don't fret the small stuff and appreciate/cherish/embrace every positive aspect of your life. Do what you can -- the rest is going to be there tomorrow -- and if not tomorrow, the next day. Somehow I just never learned that before now

Thank you, Grangran for your words for others that are undergoing chemotherapy.

Nice note from the United Kingdom

Well done on making the chemo caps. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005
and had to undergo chemo, I know how much it meant to myself and other friends I
made, that people had taken time to help us out. So I'm sure your efforts are
greatly appreciated.

Passing of a Dear Friend

Joyce's Chemo Cap Project lost a very dear friend Monday. Bob, who we refered to as 'old Bob' because there are so many Bobs at the Allen Senior Center passed away at the age of 92. He was a generous donor to our project because he felt it was a good cause. His wife passed away from cancer a few years ago. He loved to sit with the Chemo Cap group. We'll miss his bright smile and his jokes.

Certificate of Appreciation

We received certificates for our work from RSVP Of The Senior Source yesterday.

Note from Portugal

My name is Lurdes, writing from Sintra, Portugal.

Thank you for being a member of Joyce's Chemo Cap project. I take a look to the blog and I belive you are putting a smile in many faces.

Tree Dedication

Today a group of Joyce's Chemo Cap Project went to Bill's and Scott's to deliver a tree that we dedicated to Joyce's memory. It's a Red Oak tree and will grow to be a beautiful tree in their yard. Vivian read the Certificate of Dedication from the City of Allen. Lena, Wadad and Vivian made little caps to hang on the tree. Because of the storm and possible snow coming to our area, the tree planting will be done after the storm passes.

Another Thank you

Here is a note that Vivian received and Vivian's answer to her.

DEAR VIVIAN, I AM A FRIEND OF JOYCE THAT YOU HAD SENT A CHEMO CAP TO.
I AM LETTING YOU KNOW THAT I AM DOING WELL AND HAVE MADE A GOOD RECOVERY. I NOW HAVE A FRIEND THAT WILL BE GOING THROUGH CHEMO. I WOULD LIKE HER TO HAVE A CAP. I WILL SEND A CONTRIBUTION TO COVER YARN AND MAILING COSTS. SO I NEED YOUR MAILLING ADDRESS. I THOUGHT I WOULD BE ABLE TO KNIT BUT I HAVE NAURAPATHY IN MY FINGERS. I SHARED THE STORY OF YOUR CAP PROJECT WITH SO MANY. I ENJOYED MY CAP AND I KNOW MY FRIEND WILL TOO.
SINCERELY, ROSE MARY F

Hello, Rose Mary. I remember sending the cap. We are so glad that you are doing well. We would love to send a cap to your friend. What color would she like? Also would she like one to sleep in and one to wear outside?
Just give me your mailing address and I will send the caps to you. Our project is all about giving the caps that we make to the people who need and want them.
Check out our blog

A Wonderful Thank You and New Knitter!

It's so wonderful when we hear from someone that found us on this blog and respond so graciously. We are so happy to have you knit caps for us, Betty! You're correct that the 'cappers' love and appreciate the caps made for them. And we appreciate those that can make the 'cappers' happy! If not for the knitters and crocheters and all the others that contribute by donating yarn and money, rolling the yarn into balls, tagging the caps for us and delivering the caps to the oncology centers, none of this would be possible. Joyce didn't realize what she started and I can feel her presence with every cap that is made and delivered.
Here is the letter that we received from Betty!
Please click on the letter to read it.

Wendy's Comment regarding Wendy's Story

Just wanted to add a few things: I wrote this story to update my facebook page for just a few friends that I had not been in touch with. I had not seen this site until after my dear old friend Jan had posted my story (with my permission).

After reading how many people are being blessed by these wonderful caps, I feel very humbled to even have it included with all of you.

What a great tribute to your friend, Joyce; she must be grinning ear to ear from heaven as she cheers you and all of these wonderful people on. May God bless each and every one of you.

~Wendy

Wendy's Story

Wendy told her story of her recent cancer. It is quite interesting and informative. Her story shows that you should have anything unusual checked out. If a doctor shrugs it off and you feel that something isn't right, feel good about going to another doctor before you, too, shrug it off! Here is her story:

Well, let me start in the present: Recently, I was diagnosed with Papillary Thyroid Cancer...then had my thyroid removed (1-20-09) which turned out to be 5 tumors and some lymphnodes that had cancer too.

While I was in the hospital, my calcium dropped to dangerously low levels...as in my feet and hands went numb, my stomach...then my face started twitching at which time I hit the nurse button, I grabbed the phone and called my husband to say, "I think I am dying, I love you, good bye"...lol...Seriously, they kept me 9.9 days. arghh.

Today (3-13-09), I received 2 big radioactive iodine capsules to kill any remainder thyroid cancer cells. So things should be on the upswing right? I should add that the radioactive iodine pills (2) that they SAY don't make you sick, did make me sick: very nauseaus and my face and neck are very swollen. But no pain, no gain.


A few months ago (10-2008), I went in to have 3 moles removed. One was a mole that I had on my nose my whole life...turned out be Invasive Malignant Melanoma. Yeah me :)...Had a sentinel lymph node biopsy done which did show that melanoma had not traveled to those nodes and was clear, so I should be good. :)

I could show you some pictures, but they are not pretty. Especially, when they cut my face open to fix the hole they created in my face...like 40+ stitches externally and 10+ internally. stretching from my eye down my nose over to my mouth...Can't even tell now, but you should see day 2, ha ha ha. Scary!

Moral of the story...ummm, seriously have your whole body checked by a qualified dermatologist, especially if you spent time in the sun as a kid and/or frequented tanners...AND...when they tell you it's nothing, go with your gut and be your own health advocate.

They told me the nodule they felt on my throat was no big deal too and to sometime, way down the road, get it ultrasounded... & the mole, same thing...looks okay, we'll just send it out just in case, blah blah blah... Who knew you could die from a mole OR low calcium?...so now you know, the rest of the story. :)