Thank you note from a 'Happy Capper'.

We received this very nice card and a generous donation from Anita. It makes us happy to know that we brought comfort and smiles to someone who received our caps.
Thank you, Anita.

A thank you from a 'capper'.

I wanted to thank you for the hats that are crochet or knitted that you supply to Texas
oncology in Plano. As a patient there, you have kept my head warm for almost a year and half.

I picked up my second hat today because the first one was looking well worn. What a blessing these caps are to the patients.

Thank You and Blessings!

Catherine L V

Ethan Needs Prayers

I delivered a couple of chemo caps to Ethan who is 9 years old to a neighbor that was going to visit him this weekend. However, he went into the hospital because his blood count was down. Please think about him.

Friend in MI, Cathy Needs Prayers

Cathy J had breast cancer a few years back and it has returned. Here is a note that I just recieved from her. Please think about her and keep her in your prayers!

Jan, Hi and good morning. Today is Friday morning and I am working 1/2 day today BUT in the afternoon (like 1:00 - 5:00) so I am home this morning. I received the phone call yesterday that my breast biopsy was invasive malignancy. I cried and cried but now I am done (I guess). Darn. I am in trouble; especially with my hips and low back being in this much pain. I can't even move. Wow, I had no idea what people with back pain go through. My next step is to meet with the breast surgeon on Tuesday, 09/21/2010, at 2:00 pm. I will stay in touch. Thanks Jan for being so supportive and for your prayers. Love you. CJ

If You Want Prayers or Special Thoughts...

Every day someone finds out that they have cancer and it affects so many people. And there isn't anyone who has not been affected by this terrible disease. If you have a loved one that you want us to pray for or to think about, please email us at chemocaps@yahoo.com and we will add their names to our ongoing list. This is a new item on our blog.

Going Back to Work With Cancer

For many work provides a sense of purpose and value and going back to work provides a sense of normalcy. Balancing your career and cancer diagnosis can be challenging. To help you gain understanding of your rights in the workplace and create solutions, YSC has partnered with Cancer and Careers. As part of this new partnership several FREE workshops have been planned across the country to bring experts on the subject of cancer and the workplace directly to you. If there's not a workshop scheduled in your community remember to utilize our (audio files and printed transcripts). Look under the Practically Speaking section to listen to related workshops.

A diagnosis of breast cancer is never easy to absorb, figuring out how to share this information with family and friends is difficult and emotional. Then comes the next challenge, returning to work, sharing this information with your employer, your co-workers, your clients and your friends in the workplace.

You are not under an obligation to tell everyone either at your current or potential place of employment. Who and how you inform your workplace of your diagnosis is a very personal decision. If you work for a larger company and your department has a Human Resources (HR) professional assigned to it, you may only need to tell that one person. If you have medical insurance/coverage through your employer you can opt to work with your HR professional to understand your coverage. Your HR professional can also help you to inform your manager or to make sure you are not penalized for taking time out of the work day for doctor's visits or treatments. Generally, both supervisors and co-workers will appreciate your openness and will be supportive of your situation. Yet, we encourage you to learn about your rights and protections. ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and the FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act) give employees-at-will tremendous protection.

Protect Your Privacy - If you decide to share a minimum amount of information, consider sharing the following points with your HR Professional:

• Your diagnosis
• An explanation, in layman's terms, of what your diagnosis means
• Expected course of treatment
• Expected leave of absences or sick days, if any

It is hard to know the culture of each individual workplace, think about the following when deciding who to tell and what to tell them:
Are you working in a larger corporate environment where you are part of a smaller team? Do you work for a small organization where your co-workers feel like family? Is there a general sense of trust? Are you a member of a union or an at-will employee? These questions may help you make a plan for sharing information about your diagnosis, treatment and work needs.

Don't be Afraid to Ask for Help
This can be one of the hardest steps in the process of telling those you work with. We all strive to be our best in the workplace, to deliver top results and prove our value to our company/organization. Treatment can be taxing, and will most likely cause you to slow down, or have absences during the work day. Co-workers and managers can best help if they know what you need. If it is an extended deadline when possible, changing the time of a standing meeting or the opportunity to work from home the important thing to remember is to ASK. Asking for help does not mean that you are any less smart, competent or capable - just that you need to take care of yourself during and after this challenging time.

Jubilee--Click on Story to Read

This Is Our First Post. We Are Repeating It.

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 6000 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

Nurse Navigator

Patients greatly benefit from the services of a Nurse Navigator in ways such as:

• Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for the patient’s questions or support

• Ensures continuity of care between the primary care physician and specialists

• Guides both the patient and family members through the treatment process

• Educates and supports each patient empowering them to make informed treatment decisions

• Assesses reproductive status and preserves fertility prior to chemo/radiation therapy

• Avails patients with an array of resources for such things as financial assistance, support

groups, transportation to and from medical appointments and genetic testing

A MALE BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS STORY!!!

YES, YOU READ THE TITLE CORRECT!! MY HUSBAND IS A MALE BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR. HE WAS DIAGNOSED IN DECEMBER OF 2007 AND UNDERWENT A MASTECTOMY ON THE 14TH OF DECEMBER 2007. HE HAS BEEN BATTLING THIS HORRIBLE DISEASE FOR ALMOST 3 YEARS NOW WITH IT COMING BACK ALMOST EVERY 3 MONTHS WITH A VENGEANCE. HE IS NOW IN STAGE 4 WITH COMPLICATIONS FROM BLOOD CLOTS FROM HIS PORT. HUGH HAS BEEN AN INSPIRATION TO NOT ONLY ME BUT TO OUR WHOLE FAMILY AND MANY OF OUR FRIENDS. HE HAS KEPT HIS FAITH IN GOD AND VOWED TO MAKE THE BEST OF THIS HORRIBLE DISEASE BY SPREADING THE WORD OF EARLY DETECTION TO NOT ONLY WOMEN BUT TO THE MEN THAT CAN ALSO BE AFFECTED BY BREAST CANCER. WE HAVE DOCUMENTED HIS JOURNEY ON MYSPACE AT www.myspace.com/male_breast_cancer PLEASE TELL THE MEN IN YOUR LIFE THAT THEY TO NEED TO CHECK THEMSELVES, MAKE IT A MONTHLY THING TO DO TOGETHER!! PLEASE HELP US SPREAD THE WORD AND GOD BLESS!!

Read this and other inspirational Breast Cancer stories @ www.TheBreastCancerSite.com/StoriesOfHope

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, and it comes not a moment too soon. A recent study confirmed that nonmelanoma skin cancer is truly an epidemic in the US, with an estimated 350 percent increase in the number of skin cancers over the past decade and a half.
The Skin Cancer Foundation is committed to raising skin cancer awareness all year long by bringing you the latest in skin health and sun protection news. Please read on to learn more about photosensitivity, a subject The Wall Street Journal recently consulted us on, as well as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Advisory Panel’s unanimous decision to recommend stricter indoor tanning regulations. We also have the story on PGA TOUR golfer and skin cancer survivor Brian Davis' great game, and information on how you can support the Foundation by getting a great deal on sun protection products from Sephora and Brette Sandler, and watching a short video from Jergens®.

The Skin Cancer Foundation’s Road to Healthy Skin Tour, presented by AVEENO® and Rite Aid, also raises awareness. The Tour, which started in March and runs through the end of September, travels the country offering free full-body skin exams by dermatologists. To see when where we’re headed next, please view our Tour schedule at above or visit our Tour section.

Your Health: Even treatable skin cancer is no sunny experience

More Knitters Join the Group

Pat, Mary and Lynn have joined our group. Not only are they doing a great job of knitting but they are lots of fun while we sit around the table at the center. More Happy Cappers!!

Age Didn't Stop Jean From Learning How to Knit!

Jean is over 90 years old and has just started knitting this year. She is a quick learner and was very patient as she was learning. We are so proud of her. She sits with us at the Allen Senior Center and listens to us talking and gabbing as she knits away. So, let this be a lesson to you. Never say you can't learn to knit, crochet or anything else that you would like to do. Because Jean learned how to knit, there will be a very happy 'capper' who will wear the first cap she made. Jean is making a difference in someone else's life and starting something new in her life! Nice goin', Jean. We sure love you.

April is National Cancer Control Month

The American Cancer Society observes Cancer Control Month in April but did you know that the disease hits minorities and the uninsured harder than the general US population? Ethnic minorities and the uninsured are:

■more likely to get cancer
■more likely to die from cancer
■more likely to be treated at later stages of the disease
■more likely to receive substandard care
Even when income, age, insurance status and severity of conditions are comparable, ethnic minorities have unequal access to care and a disproportionate number of cancer related deaths.


■cancer death rates for black males are 37% higher than white males
■cancer death rates for black females are 17% higher than white females even though the incidence rate of cancer is lower in black women than white women
Skin cancer screening programs target whites so black and Latino men are 30% more likely to die from melanoma than are whites. Even though we spend $2 trillion annually on health care in our country, we are missing out on opportunities to provide basic care.

Stand Up 2 Cancer- Ending Song (Beyonce, Mariah Carey, etc.)

Papaya Leaf extract Helps to Battle Cancers

The newest weapon in the war on cancer may be fruit-based.

Papaya leaf extract, and tea made from the extract, contain major cancer-fighting properties, according to new research. Papaya was able to slow the growth of tumors in the breast, lung, pancreas, cervix and liver, University of Florida researcher Nam Dang and his colleagues in Japan found.

Their report appeared in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, according to AFP.

The researchers found that the effects of the dried papaya leaf extract were stronger when the cancer cells exposed to it received larger doses of papaya leaf tea.

In many parts of the world, particularly in Asia, papaya has been regarded as a folk remedy for various ailments.

The new research demonstrates that papaya leaf extract increases the production of a certain type of molecule that helps regulate the body’s immune system. It could one day lead to treatments in which the immune system is used to battle cancers, Dang and the scientists said in the journal.

The papaya extract had no toxic effects on normal cells, as many conventional cancer treatments do. Dang and one of his colleagues are applying to patent a process that would allow them to distill papaya extract, reports AFP.