Thursday, December 06, 2007

2 Cristmas Party Grand Hotel 2007

Judith & Angela

Jann &

Ruth

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Judith

Jackie

Janice & Jane

Helen
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4 Christmas Party Grand Hotel

Judith, Marilyn & Angela

Jenny

Linda
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3 Christmas Party Grand Hotel 2007

Sue &

Jane & Sue
Ferne, Gina & Jenny
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Christmas Party Grand Hotel 2007

Linda Lyndall

Caroline Alice & Ann
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PENINSULA DRAGONFLYS


PENINSULA DRAGONFLYS OUR LOCAL DRAGON ABREAST PADDLERS AT SORRENTO PINK LUNCH OCT 2007

LISA

It is with deep sadness we advise the passing this morning of our beautiful friend and member - Lisa. Lisa was a founding member of the Group, and has battled breast cancer bravely since 2003.

Lisa, 43, leaves behind her husband Frank, and cherished son Mitchell, 7.

Lisa was a beautifully giving person - you will remember her at our August meeting, passing on her encouragement for those living with secondary breast cancer to obtain further information through the Hopes & Hurdles kit.

Our memories of Lisa are of a special brave lady, full of compassion, generousity, high intellect, fun and love.

As she treads her peaceful new path, we're sure her spirit will bloom, magnifying all these qualities, never far from Frank, Mitchell and her loved ones.

Jo and Jann

OCTOBER NEWSLETTER

OCTOBER 2007 NEWSLETTER

Hi Everyone,

Well, Breast Cancer month has come and gone, and it was quite busy !!!
- Along with several from our group, and many others, I attended the Mini Field at McClelland Gallery and it was lovely. Not a great word to describe an event, but it was lovely. Virginia from Peninsula Private Oncology unit organised the day and the format. The session was moving, the morning tea yummy, and the setting gorgeous.

- The Pink Ribbon Breakfast at Hastings on 28th October was apparently fantastic, with our brave Helen Ainslie sharing her journey with around 200 people. A great effort considering the emotion attached, and well worth it with several women coming up to her and asking if they should check this or that. She now has comments on her impressive speech from the shopkeepers of Hastings!. The local business community kicked in with great give away bags - which included a DVD of how to check your breast for lumps, along with other wonderful goodies. Well done Helen.

- The weather on 28th October was also fantastic for the picnic in Mornington Park. Jenny and the other Dragons selling their wares to raise funds, and a great family day.

Jo attended the first National Conference for young women with breast cancer – Up Close and Personal, which took place in Melbourne October this year. This was the first time that young women from around Australia had the opportunity to come together to a Conference designed specifically around the issues affecting them. This was a Conference organised by young women for young women.

The Conference aims were to inform; connect; and advocate. These aims were successfully delivered through the wide range of quality speakers who presented during the plenary and workshop sessions.

Recommendations that were put forward during these sessions included:

Better communication and awareness from GPs in diagnosing younger women is needed. Women should not be dismissed when presenting with symptoms simply because of their younger age.
Although information dissemination has improved there still appears to be discrepancy in information that is provided to young woman. It was recommended that all young women (pre-menopausal) should be informed about fertility options before treatment.
Financial guidelines and assistance:
Free mammograms and ultra sounds
Better financial support
Improving resources:
Links to specialists
Information for women with children
Accessing support groups
Support groups for partners; carers
Breast Care Nurses for all women
Advanced Young Women’s Group
Peer support program that helps connect women
Develop medical databases
Increasing awareness around young women’s issues
Transcripts, presentations and photos from the Conference will be made available on www.yabc2007conference.org late November.

Peninsula Dragon Fly's
Our members of Peninsula Dragon Fly's have returned from Caloundra, where they had a wonderful connection with women from all over the world, also

Your Stories
We have received an email from Jennifer Kerr who wants to know any stories of women suffering from breast cancer who are our of pocket in regards to expenses for treatment or loss of wages to do treatment or loss of wages to recover from treatments or even expense just to access treatments. She is campaigning to help these women help of a major publishing organisation in Australia. Her contact details are PO Box 419, Dromana, 3936Mobile: 0418 965753 PH: 03 59873716 email: kerrclan02@bigpond.com and her story is at
http://aww.ninemsn.com.au/section.aspx?sectionid=6002&sectionname=pinkribbon

Writers' Group
The Writers Group started at Peninsula Private Hospital in the Chemo Room on Wed 31st October at 2.00pm. Sorry I'm late with this one, but call Gail on 97088034 if you are interested in joining.

Being Vigilant
After the positive feedback received re comments from Jo in the last Newsletter re secondaries, Jo advises the following:
What 'follow up' do we have/ need. Remember that different types of cancer diagnosis will require different follow up. Some doctors will do a baseline of CT and Bone Scans at diagnosis, some will not. Some doctors will continue to do scans at regular intervals some only at certain stages or when a symptom warrants it. Blood tests for tumour markers is only appropriate for women who at the time of diagnosis had an elevated marker, many women do not.
The best advice is to be alert but not alarmed and to be 'breast aware' as you know your body better than anyone and see it more regularly. But don't be afraid to get something unusual checked out. We all need to take care of ourselves. Cheers Jo
Regular follow-up is essential after treatment for early breast cancer.
After your treatment you should have regular appointments with your GP, surgeon, radiation oncologist or medical oncologist. Regular follow-up makes sure that if breast cancer comes back in the breast, breast tissue, or the other breast, it is promptly treated. Regular follow-up also allows your doctor to check for, and manage, any side effects from treatment that might develop after you have finished treatment. Speak to your doctor about your follow-up schedule.
Appropriate follow-up involves regular examinations and mammograms. It does not involve chest X-rays, bone scans or blood tests unless there is a problem that shows they are needed.
See your GP or specialist as soon as possible if you:
• feel a lump in either breast, or in the breast tissue left on your chest after mastectomy
• have any other symptoms in either breast, such as nipple discharge
• develop any other symptoms that concern you.
Do not wait until your regular appointment if you notice any new or unusual changes.
If you change doctors at any time, ask your new doctor to request your medical records from your previous doctor.
NBCC Information for women with Early Breast Cancer.
Cancer Council Victoria – Free Seminar for people living with advanced cancer:
“When cancer won’t go away”
Saturday 1 December, 10.30-2.30pm
Partners, family and Friends are encouraged to attend.
RSVP: PH: 13 11 20 or email cis@cancervic.org.au

Coming Up:
Nov 7th Annie Carter - with bras and bathers for us special gals
Dec 5th Christmas Dinner at the Grand Hotel - bring a Kris Kringle to the value of $10 [I'll book for 20 so just turn up on the night]

I won't be at the next meeting, I'll be sunning myself in Cairns while catching up with my daughter Jane, so in the meantime, stay healthy and take care.

Jann

Sunday, May 06, 2007

APRIL NEWSLETTER

April 07 Newsletter

Hi everyone,

We had a very interesting meeting this month, with nutritionist Julie Regan. She has sent some handouts and I'll have copies at the next meeting on 2nd May but notes from slides include:

Nutrition, Physical Activity and Cancer:
§ Vegetables and Fruit may be Protective
§ Moderate Exercise is Protective
§ Excessive Red Meat Consumption may be Hazardous
§ Preserved Red Meats are Hazardous
§ Burnt Meats may be Hazardous
§ Obesity is Hazardous
§ Alcohol is Hazardous
Best Evidence: Gastro-Intestinal Cancers; Endometrial Cancer; Lung Cancer
Some Evidence: Breast Cancer; Prostate Cancer; Kidney & Bladder Cancers

The Power of Antioxidants and Other Natural Protection:
§ Berries
§ Broccoli (cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts)
§ Tomatoes - cooked preferable
§ Red grapes (and wine)
§ Garlic
§ Tea – black and green
§ Carrots (beets, sweet potato, other yellow-orange vegetables)
§ Soy (phytoestrogens)
§ Whole grains
§ Oils - olive, fish

What Foods Pyramid:
Starting from the bottom [good foods] to the top [not so good foods]
§ Daily exercise and weight control
§ Wholegrain foods at most meals; plant oils [olive, soy, corn, sunflower, peanut and other vegetables oils.
§ Vegetables in abundance; Fruit 2 - 3 servings
§ Nuts and legumes 1 - 3 services
§ Fish, poultry and eggs 0 - 2 servings
§ Dairy or calcium supplement 1 - 2 services; Alcohol in moderation unless contradicted ie. with folate.
§ Red meat and butter - use sparingly; White rice, white bread, potatoes, pasta and sweets - use sparingly

The Top 20 Most Antioxidant Rich Foods:
1. Small red beans (dried) 2. Wild blueberries3. Red Kidney beans 4. Pinto beans 5. Blueberries 6. Cranberries7. Artichokes (cooked) 8. Blackberries 9. Prunes 10. Raspberries11. Strawberries 12. Red Delicious apples13. Granny Smith apples 14. Pecans 15. Sweet cherries 16. Black plums 17. Russet potatoes (cooked) 18. Black beans (dried) 19. Plums 20. Gala apples
Alcohol:
§ Alcohol increases the risk of cancers
§ Alcohol causes dehydration
§ Weakens your resolve to high fat foods
§ Men 2-4 standard drinks per day
§ Women 1-2 standard drinks per day
§ Try to have at least 3 alcohol free days per week

Daily Intake:
§ Recent research by the CSIRO suggests macronutrient intake for the general population wishing to lose body fat is:
§ 50% carbohydrate
§ 30% protein
§ 20% fat

In Summary:
§ Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables
§ Whole grain foods
§ Legumes – including soy beans and soy products
§ Fish and oils [oily fish = salmon, trout, mackerel, herring, sardines, pilchards, kippers, eel, whitebait, tuna (fresh only), anchovies, swordfish, cap, jack fish, katla, orange roughy]
§ Eat as much as your body needs
§ Exercise

Julie consults in Mt Martha, or is happy to come to your home. Her details are:
Julie Regan
Nutritionist
B. App. Sci. (HM), Gr. Dip Nutr.
0411 245 656
jsixsmith@optusnet.com.au

For those of you are gluten intolerant, the Mt Martha Bakery [the one behind the shops near the rear carpark] bakes a variety of gluten free bread every Tuesday

I borrowed one of the new books Jo purchased for us - Nutrition for Women and it has quite a section devoted to nutrition and breast cancer - very interesting and informative.

LIVE Mini Field of Women 2007
Following the success of the live Mini Field at the MCG in 2005, BCNA are organising a live Mini Field at Telstra Stadium in Sydney on 11th August before the Sydney Swans and St Kilda match. We voted not to attend as a group at the last meeting, but if any individuals are keen to attend contact BCNA or www.bcna.org.au.

News from members:
Jo and Helen attended an information day at the Cancer Council this month, and will update us at the meeting on Wednesday.

Karen Cox has been involved with a new double DVD that has been put together for the Cancer Council by Wayne Tindall. The DVD is for health professionals as well as newly diagnosed cancer patients of all types, as it explains what cancer is, and how it grows, and apparently how the different treatments attack the cancer. It includes information from health professionals and stories from cancer survivors. Karen is attending the launch on Monday 30th April at the MCG, so we'll look forward to more information and where we can get the DVD. Well done Karen.

March News from Peninsula Dragonflys - from Janice Russell
March has been a very busy month for the Dragonflys. The biggest news is, that Heather did a great job in securing a donation from Bernie at the Grand Hotel Mornington for a new boat. Well done Heather, thanks from all the team.

Our uniforms arrived and don't they look fabulous. Lots of very positive comments from other teams.

Lynda has been working hard on some fabulous artwork that we will be using for promotion when we go to Caloundra.

We had our first capsize, intentional of course. Fortunately it was warm weather and we all survived the ordeal. A few members were caught under the boat but did a very good job getting out. Not to many bruises. We also had Prue, our Vic. Rep and Michelle Hanton the Australian Rep in the boat. I think we have Patsy and Judy to thank for organising that. Thanks also to Alan Opie for coaching us on a very memorable day.

We had a full team attend a Regatta at Docklands during March Moomba. We had a great day even if we didn't win any of our races.

At the end of March about 15 Dragonflys took off for the Mile High Regatta at Falls Creek. What a fun weekend that was. We even managed to win a medal.

Happy Paddling - Janice Russell

The Beleura Group will be holding a picnic in Mornington Park in October for Breast Cancer Month - Sunday 28th October BYO everything and wear pink.

Coming UP:
May 2nd Aromatherapy hand massages - mmmmm
June 6th To be advised
July 4th Dinner at the Grand Hotel [because they are sooo good to us]
Aug 1st Anne Copper - bras and prothesis
Sept 5th Kindra Logan on Lymphedema
Oct 3rd Breast Cancer month - so we'll be discussing mini field, lunches etc.
Nov 7th A quiet catch up
Dec 5th Christmas Dinner at the Grand Hotel

We are also arranging Tai Chi and Yoga sessions in between meeting dates - will advise when confirmed.

See you all on 2nd May at The Bays for a chat and our aromatherapy hand massages.

Take care,
Jann