Sing with CHICAGO to fight Cancer !!

 

Hey All You Rock Fans: Sing With Chicago and Fight Breast Cancer !!

Grammy-Winning Band Chicago and American Cancer Society Team Up for Third Year of the Hit Promotion

Chicago has teamed up with the American Cancer Society for the third year in a row to give fans a chance to bid to sing with them during their tour across the U.S.
Fans across the country will be able to bid on a great package that includes a meet and greet with the band, two premium tickets, backstage passes, and a special opportunity to sing the classic hit song "If You Leave Me Now" onstage with the band during the concert.

Fans can bid in the auction at www.cancer.org/singwithchicago starting Friday February 24, 2012 and all proceeds directly benefit the American Cancer Society’s fight against breast cancer. 

In 2010, the band joined forces with the American Cancer Society, to create "Sing With Chicago", a highly successful promotion that has raised over $130,000 to fight breast cancer. “The Sing With Chicago promotion was such a great time for our fans, and contributed so much to the breast cancer cause, that we wanted to do it on our 2012 tour, too,” said Peter Schivarelli, Chicago's manager. “We’re doing it this year in honor of our friend Paqui Kelly, the wife of Notre Dame’s head football coach Brian Kelly, who is a breast cancer survivor.”

The American Cancer Society is pleased  that Chicago is offering this amazing opportunity for the third straight year, and that the band remains dedicated to using their musical talents to help create a world with less cancer.

What an exciting way for our American Cancer Society supporters to fight breast cancer and have a once-in-a-lifetime experience onstage with this amazing band.

This is a photo of Burlington’s retired Police Chief Fran Hart and wife Isis backstage with Chicago. The Harts bid for and won a prize package to benefit the American Cancer Society.   Fran Hart had the opportunity to join Chicago on stage to sing lead vocals for one of their songs.

HOW AWESOME IS THAT !

"The Cure Starts Here" My tour of Wilmot Cancer Center

Last week, I had the distinct honor of getting a tour of Wilmot Cancer Center here in Rochester,NY.

The Cancer Center was designed by Donald Blair & Partners Architects and SWBR Architects to provide patients with a healing environment surrounded by natural light, beautiful artwork and compassionate caregivers. 

This center is quite unique. A patient receives all of their care in one building. It is designed with the patient in mind, and makes their experience as easy and comfortable as possible.

An expanded, multi-media patient and family resource center provides education and support services along with a meditation area for quiet reflection.

My most memorable part of the tour, by far, was the research laboratory. The team of doctors and students at Wilmot have been recognized for clinical and scientific research contributions that have shaped treatments and cures.They are dedicated to achieving national leadership in cancer care and research. I was honored to be able to catch a glimpse of  the teams at work-exciting to say the least!

The development of a vaccine to prevent cervical cancer began at Wilmot. Their scientists found the critical component of the vaccine designed to prevent infection with the human papilloma virus, the leading cause of cervical cancer. This vaccine is now available world-wide and could save hundreds of thousands of lives every year.

Wilmot  received one of just four prestigious National Cancer Institute Specialized Program of Research Excellence grants for lymphoma research. The  scientists there are collaborating with colleagues across the country to develop new therapies and tactics for deconstructing these diseases.

The future for the Wilmot Cancer Center is bright and they are proud to partner with their community and supporters- including The American Cancer Society, to continue the path of excellence that has been laid. 

Wilmot's motto, “The Cure Starts Here,” is not a slogan, it’s a promise !

A special thank you to Kimberly Cenzi, Associate Director for Events and Community Outreach.

Early detection is the key, my own story

Last November I knew something was not quite right with my body.  I could not put my finger on what exactly it was, I just knew I didn't feel like myself.  I decided to see my General Practitioner, Dr. Ly. She listens very closely to her patients and her care goes above and beyond.  She shares an office with a Gastroenteroligst, Dr. Klein.  At this appointment she asked if I could hang around for a few minutes and see him because she was concerned with the symptoms I was experiencing.  I remember having Grace in tow, who at the age of 2 was bouncing off of the walls, but I knew I needed to stay.

Dr. Klein read over my chart and asked me many questions.  He said he did not like the sound of  what I was experiencing and wanted to do a endoscopy to see what was going on. Within a week I was scheduled for the endoscopy.

A couple of days after my procedure I was at my daughter's dress rehearsal for the Nutcracker when Dr. Klein called me.  All I remember him saying was you have a tumor. The diagnosis nobody ever wants to hear. This was not supposed to happen to me, a year prior I was taking care of my husband as he was battling cancer.  I went outside so I could hear him, and ask a few questions.  I had an adenoma on my ampulla. On my what ??  He told me I was extremely lucky because this was the beginning stages of pancreatic cancer, but that it is never found in this early stage.  Usually this type of cancer goes undetected, and it is too late once it is found.

My adenoma was removed and now I go twice a year for routine endoscopies.  I will be on surveillance for the rest of my life for pancreatic cancer.  I am so lucky!!

Regular check ups and Cancer Screening increases the chances of detecting certain cancers early, when they are most likely to be curable.

We must listen very closely to our body, as it can save our life.

Take control of your health and reduce your cancer risk.

some simple guidelines in taking control are as follows:

• Stay away from tobacco.
• Stay at a healthy weight.
• Get moving with regular physical activity.
• Eat healthy with plenty of fruits and vegetables.
• Limit how much alcohol you drink (if you drink at all).
• Protect your skin.
• Know yourself, your family history, and your risks.
• Have regular check-ups and cancer screening tests.
• Listen to your body !