National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship

Join Team NCCS in New York City!
NCCS is building a team to walk or run in the annual EIF Revlon Run/Walk for Women, one of the nation’s largest 5K fundraising events. Money raised at this event helps fund important research into the cause and cure of women's cancers, prevention, education and support service programs.
 Join Team NCCS in New York City on Saturday, May 2, by registering for the Run/Walk or by volunteering to help us at the event. If you can’t attend, show your support by making a donation!

New Survivorship Program Offers Follow-Up Care Plans
NCCS is proud to be part of a new program providing tools and resources that pave the way for survivors and their physicians to build individualized plans of follow-up care after cancer treatment.

Journey Forward, a combined effort of NCCS, WellPoint, Inc., the UCLA Cancer Survivorship Center and Genentech launched in February 2009 in five pilot states for survivors of breast and colon cancers and will later include plans for survivors of other cancer types throughout the country.

Integrative Medicine Starts with the Empowered Patient
Last week, hundreds of key leaders in healthcare engaged in a national conversation about integrative medicine at the Institute of Medicine (IOM) Summit on Integrative Medicine and the Health of the Public. NCCS’s Acting President & CEO, Ellen Stovall, participated in a discussion panel with Dr. Mehmet Oz, Kaiser Permanente CEO George Halvorson, and AARP CEO William Novelli. Stovall emphasized the need for patients to be good self-advocates. Learn more about the summit.

Spotlight on Cancer Survivor, Rob Read
Last month Rob Read, a 27-year, two-time cancer survivor, participated in an honorary Breakaway Mile bike ride in his hometown of Santa Rosa, Calif. The ride, which is part of the Breakaway from Cancer initiative, (a complementary component of the Amgen Tour of California cycling race that raises awareness about the free resources and programs available to cancer survivors and their loved ones) celebrates a survivor and the support team that helped through his or her cancer journey. Rob was joined by his parents and friends in this fun and inspiring event that took place during Stage One of the Amgen Tour of California, just moments before professional cyclists including Lance Armstrong crossed the finish line. Thanks to Rob for sharing the story of his incredible cancer journey with the crowd in Santa Rosa!

CancerCare Telephone Workshops
Coping with cancer can be difficult and affect life in ways you never imagined. CancerCare partners with NCCS and other organizations to bring you free, informative telephone workshops addressing a wide range of these issues. Workshops coming up in the next few weeks include:

- March 5, 2009: Coping with Cancer Pain: What You Need to Know
- March 12, 2009: Balancing Cancer and Careers: Living and Working with Cancer
- April 14, 2009: The Seventh Annual Cancer Survivorship Series: Living With, Through and Beyond Cancer, Part I: Managing the Stress of Survivorship.

Cancer Survival Toolbox Series: Finding Information
Every person, regardless of the type of cancer they have or the treatment they choose, needs certain, basic information. The need for good information continues after treatment starts and even after it ends. Information is not only helpful for making educated decisions, but it can also be a source of comfort; easing doubt, fear, worry and stress. Good information can help you understand your kind of cancer and its treatment, how to pick the experts you respect and trust to be part of your healthcare team, and much more. The Finding Information module will teach you basic skills to help you determine which resources might be useful to you or your loved one during this difficult time.