Tuesday, February 13, 2018

From NPR's Fresh Air: A Stage-4 Cancer Patient Shares The Pain And Clarity Of Living 'Scan-To-Scan'

The following story aired on NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross on February 12, 2018.

A Stage-4 Cancer Patient Shares The Pain And Clarity Of Living 'Scan-To-Scan'

Religion scholar Kate Bowler used to believe God had a plan for her life. Then she was diagnosed with incurable colon cancer. "I really had to rethink what trust and hope looks like," she says.

Hear the story or read the transcript by clicking here.

Visit her website at: Kate Bowler: Historian, Author, Incurable Optimist.

Kate Bowler recently authored her new memoir: Everything Happens for a Reason (and other lies I’ve loved) (Random House, 2018). It tells the story of my struggle to understand the personal and intellectual dimensions of the American belief that all tragedies are tests of character.

Transcript:

TERRY GROSS, HOST:

This is FRESH AIR. I'm Terry Gross. Here's a few of the things my guest Kate Bowler doesn't want to hear about living with her incurable cancer - everything happens for a reason. God is writing a better story. Heaven is your true home. God needs another angel. It's not that she's lacking in faith. She just wants to avoid trite life lessons. Bowler is an associate professor of the history of Christianity in North America at Duke Divinity School. Her new memoir, "Everything Happens For A Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved," is about how her faith has affected the way she deals with cancer and how her cancer has affected her faith.

She also reflects on the paradox that her first book was about, the history of the prosperity gospel, which preaches that God grants health and wealth to those with the right kind of faith. Bowler was diagnosed in 2015 with stage IV colon cancer that had already metastasized. She's married, has a young son and can't bear the thought of him growing up without her. What's kept her alive in addition to colon surgery and chemo is experimental immunotherapy treatments that helped shrink her tumors.

Kate Bowler, welcome to FRESH AIR. I want to ask you to start with a reading from the preface to your book.

KATE BOWLER: Oh, sure. (Reading) Married in my 20s, a baby in my 30s, I won a job at my alma mater straight out of graduate school. I felt breathless with the possibilities. Actually, it's getting harder to remember what it felt like, but I don't think it was anything as simple as pride. It was certainty, plain and simple, that God had a worthy plan for my life in which every setback would also be a step forward. I wanted God to make me good and make me faithful with just a few shining accolades along the way. Anything would do if hardships were only detours on my long life's journey. I believed that God would make a way. I don't believe that anymore.

Hear the story or continue to read the transcript by clicking here.



Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. Cancer Connections
Priya Gopalan, M.D., Ph.D. talks cancer genetics and immunotherapy treatment of lung cancer - 
*Wednesday the 18th at UF HealthStreet*


     At Cancer Connections, tomorrow (this Wednesday the 18th), Dr. Priya Gopalan will talk about the genetics of lung cancer, including how cancer forms and metastasizes, and also about immunotherapy to treat lung cancer, which is a very hot topic now.  She will discuss some of  the most common new immunotherapy drugs on the market, including Keytruda, Opdivo, and Yervoy.

Dr. Priya Gopalan's


UF HealthStreet's Location


In the News: Lung Disease News

Be sure to RSVP TODAY ! if you'll be partaking in lunch ($4 donation requested), otherwise please bring you own sack lunch so that there will be plenty for those with reservations. If you have already RSVPd, no need to do so again.

     Please do remember to arrive before noon, so that Dr. Gopalan will be able to start her presentation on time...........

     There will be beaded {breast cancer-focused} jewelry -pins, earrings, bracelets and necklaces- offered as a donation to Making Strides, via U.F. Health oncology nurse Brenda Sheptock.  Nothing over $8, so bring cash or your checkbook.  Brenda is a breast cancer survivor, walking in Making Strides this Saturday the 21st with her team, the UF Health Breast Warriors.

     If you would like to take the free shuttle to HealthStreet, call them at  294-4882 no later than tomorrow, the 17th.  The shuttle picks up at the Davis Cancer Center, the V.A., the U.F. Health cancer hospital, and at Hope Lodge, by reservation.

     Feel free to forward this to anyone who might be interested joining us. 

Hope to see you at HealthStreet on Wednesday!
Barb

__________________________________________________________

Thank you, and have a great afternoon.


Donald - North Central Florida Cancer Control Collaborative Coordinator

Donald Greist, BS, CHES
Associate Planner | WellFlorida Council
1785 NW 80th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32606
P: 352-313-6500 x115 | F: 352-313-6514

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Invitation to Post to the Cancer Resource Blog of North Central Florida

Greetings, Cancer Resource Blog Readers and Contributors.


I am extending a special invitation to everyone with resources, news, events, or special topics, to share with those in North Central Florida, to get involved in posting your contributions right here to The Cancer Resource Blog.


To post an item on The Cancer Resource Blog, please email me at ncfcancercontrol@gmail.com. Please feel free to call me at my office number below.


Thank you, for playing a vital role in all aspects of providing timely resources and information to those that may need it the most.


Respectfully,

Donald – coordinator of North Central Florida Cancer Control Collaborative (NCFCCC)
www.ncfcancercontrol.org | www.ncfcancercontrol.blogspot.com | www.cancerresourceguidencf.org 

Donald Greist, BS, CHES
Associate Planner | WellFlorida Council
1785 NW 80th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32606
P: 352-313-6500 x115 | F: 352-313-6514
dgreist@wellflorida.org| www.WellFlorida.org

WellFlorida Council provides oversight and leadership for the NCFCCC.

Tuesday, August 22, 2017


Cancer Connections

Dr. Heldermon's triple negative breast cancer researchand the discovery of new drugs to treat it

Cancer Connections meets on Wednesday August 23rd, with Dr. Coy Heldermon speaking about his triple negative breast cancer research and the discovery of new drugs to treat it.
Please arrive at HealthStreet by 11:50 so that Dr. Heldermon may begin his presentation on time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I need your RSVP by Monday August 21st if you'll be partaking in lunch ($4 donation requested).  Otherwise, we ask that you bring your own lunch so that there will be plenty for those who RSVPd.
directions to the HealthStreet building (2401 "old" Archer road)
http://healthstreet.program.ufl.edu/directions-to-healthstreet-2/directions-by-car/ 

Please call HealthStreet at 294-4882 by Tuesday the 22nd if you would like to the take the free shuttle to and from the meeting.  The shuttle picks up at the Davis Cancer Center, the V.A., the U.F. Health cancer hospital, and at Hope Lodge, by reservation.
Feel free to forward this to anyone who might be interested joining us, or in attending future meetings.

Sept. 27          Dr. Jatinder Lamba    the role of the pharmacist in cancer care
October 18     Dr. Priya Gopalan  using immunotherapy for lung cancer
Nov. 29           Brent Reynolds   eco-oncology and the treatment of cancer
Dec. 20           Dr. Folakemi Odedina     prostate cancer:   research, treatment and 
                                        advocacy

many thanks!
Barb

Barb Thomas
Cancer Connections
bnbbarb@aol.com

Monday, August 14, 2017

Location:  HealthStreet
2401 SW Archer Rd, Gainesville, FL 32608
3rd Wednesday of the Month @ 4PM
Refreshments Provided
Starting August 16th, 2017
BrainTumorSupport@neurosurgery.ufl.edu

352-273-9000



FYI: a brand new support, resource & education group for brain & spinal tumor patients and their caregivers will be held on Wednesday August 16th at 4 p.m. at HealthStreet.  The group is led by Dr. David Tran of U.F. Health and assistants Sarah Andrews and Soni Warren, department of neurosurgery, division of oncology.



Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Read the latest issue of Cancer Stakeholder June 2017 & July 2017

PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT: Cancer survivors today are living longer. Two-thirds of those with invasive cancers live longer than five years.

About the Cancer Stakeholder The Cancer Stakeholder is an e-newsletter, which includes the DOH cancer updates, cancer tools and resources, funding opportunities, events, research, and other information about cancer. The opinions expressed in the Cancer Stakeholder do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department or its staff. Please direct questions, comments and suggestions to the Comprehensive Cancer Control Program at cancer@flhealth.gov.

Post to The Cancer Resource Blog

To post an item on The Cancer Resource Blog, please email: ncfcancercontrol@gmail.com

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Free Webinar from: Suwannee River AHEC
The following information has been provided by:

Ashley Williams, BS, CMN
Professional Education Coordinator
Navigator Program Coordinator
Suwannee River Area Health Education Center
14646 NW 151st Blvd., Alachua, FL  32615
Phone: (386) 462-1601 ext. 101
Fax: (386) 462-1601

 
Join us for HPV Vaccination: Give it a Shot (or 2) presented by Debbie Saslow, PhD, of the American Cancer Society at 2 p.m. ET, Tuesday, July 25. The webinar will cover the burden of HPV disease, the scientific reasons behind the recommendation to vaccinate at age 11-12, and ways that providers can decrease missed vaccination opportunities. 

Registration link:

http://nao-ntc.adobeconnect.com/shotor2/event/registration.html.
 


___________________________________________________________

Thank you,

Donald - North Central Florida Cancer Control Collaborative Coordinator
 
Donald Greist, BS
Associate Planner | WellFlorida Council
1785 NW 80th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32606
P: 352-313-6500 x115 | F: 352-313-6514