Care-Aware

Today – June 14^th – is…

Blood Type Awareness Day

Family History Day

National Flag Day

US Flag Org.

The United States Army Birthday (1775)

The 234th US Army Birthday (2009)

World Blood Donor Day

World Blood Donor Day Org.

“Celebrating Your Gift of Blood.”

Blood Saves

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June 7^th, 2009, is…

National Cancer Survivors Day

National Cancer Survivors Day^® is a “Celebration of Life”  - a symbolic event to show the world that life after a cancer diagnosis can be a reality.

The National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation defines a "survivor" as anyone living with a history of cancer… from the moment of diagnosis through the remainder of life.

Survivorship is not without its’ own challenges:  there are often physical, emotional, and financial hardships which can continue for years after diagnosis and treatment… sometimes including things like access to cancer specialists and promising new treatments, denial of health and life insurance coverage, financial hardships long after the initial diagnosis and treatment, employment problems, psychological struggles and the strain on personal relationships and the profound fear of recurrence.  More resources, research and legislation are needed, to help improve the quality of cancer survivors’ lives.

I personally know scores of survivors – from many who’ve been recently-diagnosed (& who are currently in treatment), to those who were diagnosed some time ago & have completed their treatments & are in remission or “NED” (declared as having “No Evidence of Disease”, in cancer-world terms), or even declared as having been “cured.”  I know of children who were given as little as less than 10% chance of living who are still here years later… of a woman who was told she had just months (or weeks) to live, who is still here several years later… & even of people who have survived cancer for decades (just to cite a few of the many instances)!  They are proof that one can live fulfilling lives after a cancer diagnosis, despite (& amidst) the challenges of it-all.  I celebrate their lives & survivorship with each of them, today. 

Happy Cancer Survivors Day to ALL cancer survivor’s everywhere!  You are beacons of hope to many others; & your lives & courage & stories are precious & priceless, in this world.  Blessings!

Visit The National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation website for more. [click]

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       MONTH of JUNE

           Awareness Events

Today – May 31^st – is…

World No Tobacco Day

This year’s theme is:

"Tobacco Health Warnings"

Picture warnings have been shown to be particularly effective at making people aware of the health risks of tobacco use and convincing them to quit.

More and more countries have been requiring that packages of tobacco show the dangers of the product's use – which is called for in the guidelines to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

Since the theme revolves around pictures, I’m thinking I should end the write-up, here, & get straight to them:

I'd post more of them as-is, here... but they don't seem to be available in a readily-post-able form... so here are links to more:

(Just click to view...)

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The MONTH of MAY is…

American Stroke Month &

National Stroke Awareness Month

“CBS Cares” has been doing short PSA’s (Public Service Announcements) on a variety of health topics.  I saw several different short PSA’s on TV, recently, about stroke awareness.  This was one of them:

Maybe I was just looking in the wrong places, but I must say that when I visited the website which was mentioned in the ads, I had a tough time “learning more” there (at least in regards to strokes – there was some info. on some of the other topics).  Hmm… awareness kind of loses its’ impact if it’s not readily-available, user friendly, & such – don’t you think?

I still like the fact that they’re running the PSA’s, though – that’s an important awareness effort.

Now, if YOU’D like more information about stroke warning signs & prevention, just click on the links below (no hunting involved… unless the links fail or somethin’ ):

“The Warning Signs Of A Stroke” [click]

(One short page – 6 quick bullet-points.)

“Stroke Prevention Guidelines” [click]

(Nine different points, with info., are given in this one-page guideline.)

Related Events:  The MONTH of MAY is also National High Blood Pressure Education Month.

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This week – May 24^th – 30^th, 2009 – is…

Older American's Mental Health Week

Older American's Mental Health Week hopes to spread the message that:

“Mental Illness is NOT a normal part of aging.”

Awareness & understanding help by reducing the stigma about mental illness which keeps many older Americans from seeking help.  For instance, with older people who are often taking multiple medications, one or more of those may cause depression; & knowing this may help people bring the matter up with their doctors & have their medications reevaluated, rather than going through months or even years of unnecessary suffering.  Also, statistics show that 80% of older adults recover from depression after receiving treatment that includes both psychotherapy and anti-depressant medication.

Mental illnesses are real, common and treatable; yet, although one in four American adults have a diagnosable mental illness, less than one-quarter of them get any type of proper attention or appropriate treatment for it.  Undiagnosed and untreated mental illness, however, has serious implications for older adults and their loved ones; & older adults have the highest suicide rate in the country.

Do you know the difference…

…between healthy grieving over losses and unhealthy depression?

…between normal worries and anxiety disorders?

….between normal use and overuse of alcohol and medications to dull emotional and/or physical pain?

Check out this quick fact page, below:

“Ten Facts About Mental Health and Aging” [click]

For more FREE information:

(including free document downloads, resources & links)

General Mental Health Resources Page [click]

Source: www.mentalhealthweek.org

To Learn More about Mental Health for Older Americans, Visit:

American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Geriatric Mental Health Foundation

  “A Guide to Mental Wellness in Older Age: Recognizing and Overcoming Depression”

Older Adult Consumer Mental Health Alliance

Related Events:  The MONTH of MAY is Mental Health Month & also Older Americans Month.

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Today – May 19^th – is…

Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Day

22q13 Deletion Foundation

Phelan-McDermid Syndrome is a genetic disorder which is associated with specific developmental and physical features resulting from the loss of a small amount of genetic material from Chromosome 22. The name for it is said as: "22-q-one-three."  (See the link above [Foundation - in purple] for more information.)

New to you?  Me, TOO (I learn a LOT, doing this)!  I had never heard of this syndrome before this month.

& today is also…

World Hepatitis Day

World Hepatitis Alliance

One in 12 people worldwide are living with either chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C; but awareness of this remains low – so many people who are infected are unaware of it.

Are YOU number 12?  ‘Am I Number 12?’ is the World Hepatitis Day slogan, because they want each of us to stop & think about how common hepatitis is, globally, & whether we may be at risk (and if so, to get tested)… and also to know about how to avoid becoming infected.  Visit the link above or www.aminumber12.org for more information.

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“Farrah’s Story”

If you missed the two-hour documentary about Farrah Fawcett’s experiences with being diagnosed with & treated by cancer (which aired last night [May 15, 2009] on NBC), it is now available for viewing online.

Farrah was originally diagnosed (on Sept. 22, ’06) with anal cancer, which eventually became stage 4 - metastasizing to her liver.  She & Ryan O’Neal (her long-time ‘significant other’) had also gone through Ryan’s earlier diagnosis & treatment for CML (Chronic Myelogenous leukemia [diagnosed in 2001]); & the death of Farrah’s sister,Diane, to lung cancer (in 1998). 

Much of “Farrah’s Story” includes real-life footage of Farrah (taped by her good friend, Alana Stewart) visiting doctors & going through treatments, surgery, & recovery.  Alana, at one point, had suggested that they needn’t tape all of it; but Farrah told her that this was "what cancer is" (kudos, Farrah)... so, fair warning: there’s footage of her throwing up, in there (sick from anesthesia… she counted herself vomiting 76 times, total, once), & going through the pain & hair loss & good news & bad… all  of the real stuff that cancer brings.  The affect on the family is also shown – with deeply-felt comments & footage from Ryan O’Neal & Farrah’s son, Redmond (who’s currently in jail on drug charges, but was released for a three-hour visit [a few weeks ago]).

Here’s a brief promo piece about Farrah’s documentary:

Farrah comments that there needs to be more awareness, research/funding, & utilization of treatments which are already being used in other countries (& which have been proven as effective, there).  Care-Aware™ agrees!

A big “thank you” to Farrah & her family & friends (& doctors/staffs) for bringing more, real cancer awareness into the world-wide spotlight.  Our love & prayers go out to her & all of her loved ones.

You can read about “Farrah’s Story” &/or watch the full video by clicking on the links below:

“‘Farrah’s Story’ a Tale of Inner Strength (Article) [click]

“Farrah’s Story” – Full Documentary (11-part videos) [click]

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Share Awareness:   Pass on the URL/address to this blog post (below) &/or to the main Care-Aware™ Space (above); or post this HTML clickable-link code to the Care-Aware home page: <a href="http://care-aware.spaces.live.com" target="_blank"> Care-Aware™</a> (Click to Visit)<br>

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Tuesday – May 12th, 2009 – is…

Fibromyalgia Awareness Day

National Fibromyalgia Association

International Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Awareness Day

CFIDS Association of America

CDC: CFS Info.

International Nursing Day

(Anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth)

Florence Nightingale International Foundation

Sex Differences In Health Awareness Day

Identifying the biological & physiological differences betweem men & women,

& how that affects health & disease for both.

Society for Women's Health Research

Related Awareness Events:  The MONTH of MAY is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) Awareness Month, National Fibromyalgia Education and Awareness Month, & Women's Health Care Month.  This week (May10 – 16, 2009) is also National Women's Health Week.

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