The Bucket List stars Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman as two terminally ill men who escape from a cancer ward determined to complete everything on their "Bucket List" -- a list of things to do before they "kick the bucket."
The script writer, Justin Zackham explains how he wrote the script, “I went to film school at NYU. I did a TV pilot that I wrote and executive produced in New York with Paul Sorvino years ago. And then I came out here (Los Angeles) and was dicking around for a while. I made Going Greek, which was a very sort of crappy fraternity comedy that I did back in 2000. I wrote, produced, and directed, and that took so much out of me that I spent another couple years dicking around. And then I just sat down one day and wrote my own "Bucket List" just to kind of get my head organized. On that list was like "Get a movie made by a major studio, marry the perfect woman," all that kind of stuff. A lot of the stuff on there wound up in the movie. I had always fantasized about going to the Pyramids, the Great Wall, I've always been sort of obsessed with the whole notion of Everest. All those things were on it, and I just stuck it on a bulletin board.
About a year later, I just came up with this quote one day, a line that's actually in the film -- "You measure yourself by the people who measure themselves by you." Stuck that up on the bulletin board. And then another year went by before I had the idea "What about making this into a script?" And I thought if it were about me, at the time I was about 34, it wouldn't be that interesting. So I decided to make it about two guys who had lived a full life, and they only have a few months left, and suddenly there's a ticking clock, and the things that do have real importance, at least in their minds. The story really became about the one thing neither of these guys puts on their list but is the thing they most want. And that's a best friend. I have this ridiculous process, and I wrote the actual script really quickly, in about two weeks.
For me, screenwriting is all about setting characters in motion and as a writer just chasing them. They should tell you what they'll do in any scene you put them in. Until I get to that point, my writing's not very good.
There's an old saying "Writers hate writing, but love having written." I find writing painful, but there comes a point where it's painful but you enjoy it. That's usually not until the third act.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Angels
My diagnosis of cancer inspired me to begin to pray to God again. Asking for help. I knew I could not fight cancer alone.
Friends would ask me, “Do you mind if I posted your name to our prayer group at my church so we can pray for you?”
“That would be wonderful, yes, please pray for the success of my treatments and a speedy recovery.” I replied.
Prayer was a wonderful supportive step for me to ask God to help me fight cancer. One of my challenges was to take time off at work as sick leave for surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatments. I worked for the State of California for three years before my cancer diagnosis so I had accumulated very little sick leave.
I was very fortunate that my employer had a Catastrophic Leave Program. This allowed other workers to donate their leave credits of vacation, annual leave, or personal holidays to employees in extreme hardship. My supervisor prepared a request for Catastrophic Leave for me as I headed into abdominal resection surgery October 2003. I needed six months of leave credits to recover from my treatments.
After my surgery, I called my boss to see how I was doing with the Catastrophic Leave donations and he reported, “Doug you had the second highest amount of Catastrophic Leave ever recorded in this district. You must have many friends here at Caltrans. You have six months of donations for Catastrophic Leave.”
That day I realized Angels surrounded me. Angels disguised as my coworkers.
This text came into my email from some unknown source:
Friends would ask me, “Do you mind if I posted your name to our prayer group at my church so we can pray for you?”
“That would be wonderful, yes, please pray for the success of my treatments and a speedy recovery.” I replied.
Prayer was a wonderful supportive step for me to ask God to help me fight cancer. One of my challenges was to take time off at work as sick leave for surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatments. I worked for the State of California for three years before my cancer diagnosis so I had accumulated very little sick leave.
I was very fortunate that my employer had a Catastrophic Leave Program. This allowed other workers to donate their leave credits of vacation, annual leave, or personal holidays to employees in extreme hardship. My supervisor prepared a request for Catastrophic Leave for me as I headed into abdominal resection surgery October 2003. I needed six months of leave credits to recover from my treatments.
After my surgery, I called my boss to see how I was doing with the Catastrophic Leave donations and he reported, “Doug you had the second highest amount of Catastrophic Leave ever recorded in this district. You must have many friends here at Caltrans. You have six months of donations for Catastrophic Leave.”
That day I realized Angels surrounded me. Angels disguised as my coworkers.
This text came into my email from some unknown source:
People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person.
When someone is in your life for a reason, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually.
They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometime s they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.
Some people come into your life for a season, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real. But only for a season.
When someone is in your life for a reason, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually.
They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometime s they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.
Some people come into your life for a season, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real. But only for a season.
Lifetime relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.
It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.
It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Healthy Habits
To get an extra 14 years of life, don't smoke, eat lots of fruit and vegetables, exercise regularly, and drink alcohol in moderation.
That is a finding of a study that tracked 20,000 people in the United Kingdom. The benefits were also seen regardless of whether people were fat and what social class they came from.The findings were published online in the Public Library of Science Medicine journal.
by Maria Cheng
Associated Press
Jan 9th, 2008
That is a finding of a study that tracked 20,000 people in the United Kingdom. The benefits were also seen regardless of whether people were fat and what social class they came from.The findings were published online in the Public Library of Science Medicine journal.
by Maria Cheng
Associated Press
Jan 9th, 2008
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Finding hope after your cancer diagnosis
Moving from Despair to Hope
The news from your doctor that you have cancer is a major shock. I never thought I would get cancer! I do not remember anyone in my family having cancer. Turns out my grandma had cancer but I was too young to remember. Most of my family members died from heart disease. I was surprised to be diagnosed with colon cancer.
My head was swimming with a mixture of thoughts and emotions. Many were fear based, panic and dispair. How do you move from the panic from a cancer diagnosis to a hopeful future?
“Hope is a belief that a positive outcome lies ahead.”1advice comes from Livestrong, Lance Armstrong’s website.
“Hope is a decision, not an emotion nor a feeling,” explains Dr. Constance Holmes at a workshop entitled “Keeping Hope Alive.” She quotes from The Anatomy of Hope by Jerome Groopman, M.D
1. Hope, unlike optimism, is rooted in unalloyed reality.
2. False hope is rooted in fantasy; true hope is rooted in facts and data.
3. When there is no longer hope for the body, there is hope for the soul.
4. Hope acknowledges the significant obstacles and deep pitfalls along the path. True hope has no room for illusion.
5. Hope is the elevating feeling we experience when we see, in the mind’s eye, a path to a better future.
“Hope comes out of the will to live fully.” Dr. Constance Holmes explained.
“The fighting spirit construct (regard cancer as a challenge, take active steps, remain resolutely optimistic) is the psychological factor most frequently reported to affect disease outcome. Research is not conclusive if the fighting spirit actually is effective with women. Male cancer patients have not been under study.” 2
“Promoting “fighting spirit” or realistic optimism at the point of diagnosis can counteract an attitude of “helplessness/hopelessness” in cancer patients. The Greer study (1999) found that women who displayed a coping style of helplessness/hopelessness had an increased risk of recurrence.”
“Lifestyle – social support, sleep patterns, exercise regularity, good nutrition – all lead to elevated mood and maintenance of resilience.” Dr. Constance Holmes reported.
I agree with Ms. Holmes. As a cancer patient I saw my role was to participate fully in the cancer treatments and fight the disease. “Realistic optimism” means to align with the treatment plan. The medical team’s job was to pick the right treatment to kill cancer. My job was to recover from treatments.
My immediate goal after diagnosis was to get a second opinion after my diagnosis. Then shop for a surgeon to proceed with the abdominal resection. Then after six weeks of recovery from the surgery start six months of chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
After my cancer diagnosis, I made the decision to fight this disease and live. The decision to surrender to the medical care system and cooperate with the advice of the doctors was a daily decision. This was one example of my fighting spirit and I believe it helped me overcome this disease.
HOPE: SUGGESTIONS
The suggestions that follow are based on the information presented in the Detailed Information document. They are meant to help you take what you learn and apply the information to your own needs. This information is not intended nor should it be interpreted as providing professional medical, legal and financial advice. You should consult a trained professional for more information. Please read the Additional Resources document for links to more resources.
Share your hopes with other people:
Having a conversation about hope with your loved ones and your health care team can be difficult. Yet, if they don't know what your hopes are, they may not be able to provide the type of support you need during difficult times.
You may need to be direct and tell others what you find hopeful and helpful. You also can tell them what makes you feel hopeless so that they can help you with your feelings. Let others know that you are trying to stay positive and that you want to talk about things that help you feel hopeful.
Write down your thoughts and feelings about hope in a journal:
Keeping a diary or journal may help you understand the role hope plays in your life. You might find it helpful to keep a hope journal where you record helpful sayings, note your progress and list what you are hoping for.
You are free to write about anything you like, including:
Feelings
Relationships
Hopes and fears
Your life after treatment
What it means to you to be a cancer survivor
Your plans for the present and the future
You may find the process of journaling helps you recognize areas in your life that you can feel good about and areas that you want to change.
Find a quiet, comfortable spot to do your writing. Spend as much time writing as you want. You can write several pages, a couple of lines or even just one word to express how you feel or what you are thinking.
Talk to other survivors about finding hope:
You might ask a member of your health care team if they know a long-term survivor with a similar diagnosis who would speak with you. It's sometimes helpful to meet others who have been where you are and have been able to live fully despite a cancer diagnosis.
Support groups provide a safe environment to share experiences with other survivors, learn new ways to handle difficult situations and talk about emotions. You will see different styles of coping with stress and adjusting to life as a cancer survivor. If you are uncomfortable talking about certain subjects with your family or friends, a support group offers you a place to talk freely about what is important to you.
Ways to find out more about support groups in your area:
Ask a member of your health care team for suggestions. Some cancer programs offer support groups for cancer survivors and their family members right in the clinic or hospital.
Call a nearby cancer center or university hospital and ask about support groups.
Call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345 (1-800-227-2345) and request a list of support groups and cancer centers in your area.
Visit LIVESTRONG SurvivorCare at www.livestrong.org/survivorcare, or call 1-866-235-7205 for information on support groups.
Talk to a therapist if trying to find hope causes depression, anxiety or overwhelms you in any way:
Ask a member of your health care team for a referral to a therapist who works with other cancer survivors. Most cancer centers employ oncology social workers who are specially trained to work with cancer survivors and their families. Even if you are not a patient at a cancer center, the oncology social worker may meet with you or refer you to someone else in the community.
It is important to interview the therapist to find out if he or she is the right professional for you. Speak honestly with the therapist and let him or her know your reasons for wanting to work with a therapist.
Examples of questions to ask the therapist:
What type of education background do you have?
What license do you have?
What is your experience working with people with cancer?
What do you understand about the emotional response to this illness?
Do you take my insurance?
Do you work with people who are anxious? Depressed?
Do you know community resources for people with cancer?
The news from your doctor that you have cancer is a major shock. I never thought I would get cancer! I do not remember anyone in my family having cancer. Turns out my grandma had cancer but I was too young to remember. Most of my family members died from heart disease. I was surprised to be diagnosed with colon cancer.
My head was swimming with a mixture of thoughts and emotions. Many were fear based, panic and dispair. How do you move from the panic from a cancer diagnosis to a hopeful future?
“Hope is a belief that a positive outcome lies ahead.”1advice comes from Livestrong, Lance Armstrong’s website.
“Hope is a decision, not an emotion nor a feeling,” explains Dr. Constance Holmes at a workshop entitled “Keeping Hope Alive.” She quotes from The Anatomy of Hope by Jerome Groopman, M.D
1. Hope, unlike optimism, is rooted in unalloyed reality.
2. False hope is rooted in fantasy; true hope is rooted in facts and data.
3. When there is no longer hope for the body, there is hope for the soul.
4. Hope acknowledges the significant obstacles and deep pitfalls along the path. True hope has no room for illusion.
5. Hope is the elevating feeling we experience when we see, in the mind’s eye, a path to a better future.
“Hope comes out of the will to live fully.” Dr. Constance Holmes explained.
“The fighting spirit construct (regard cancer as a challenge, take active steps, remain resolutely optimistic) is the psychological factor most frequently reported to affect disease outcome. Research is not conclusive if the fighting spirit actually is effective with women. Male cancer patients have not been under study.” 2
“Promoting “fighting spirit” or realistic optimism at the point of diagnosis can counteract an attitude of “helplessness/hopelessness” in cancer patients. The Greer study (1999) found that women who displayed a coping style of helplessness/hopelessness had an increased risk of recurrence.”
“Lifestyle – social support, sleep patterns, exercise regularity, good nutrition – all lead to elevated mood and maintenance of resilience.” Dr. Constance Holmes reported.
I agree with Ms. Holmes. As a cancer patient I saw my role was to participate fully in the cancer treatments and fight the disease. “Realistic optimism” means to align with the treatment plan. The medical team’s job was to pick the right treatment to kill cancer. My job was to recover from treatments.
My immediate goal after diagnosis was to get a second opinion after my diagnosis. Then shop for a surgeon to proceed with the abdominal resection. Then after six weeks of recovery from the surgery start six months of chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
After my cancer diagnosis, I made the decision to fight this disease and live. The decision to surrender to the medical care system and cooperate with the advice of the doctors was a daily decision. This was one example of my fighting spirit and I believe it helped me overcome this disease.
HOPE: SUGGESTIONS
The suggestions that follow are based on the information presented in the Detailed Information document. They are meant to help you take what you learn and apply the information to your own needs. This information is not intended nor should it be interpreted as providing professional medical, legal and financial advice. You should consult a trained professional for more information. Please read the Additional Resources document for links to more resources.
Share your hopes with other people:
Having a conversation about hope with your loved ones and your health care team can be difficult. Yet, if they don't know what your hopes are, they may not be able to provide the type of support you need during difficult times.
You may need to be direct and tell others what you find hopeful and helpful. You also can tell them what makes you feel hopeless so that they can help you with your feelings. Let others know that you are trying to stay positive and that you want to talk about things that help you feel hopeful.
Write down your thoughts and feelings about hope in a journal:
Keeping a diary or journal may help you understand the role hope plays in your life. You might find it helpful to keep a hope journal where you record helpful sayings, note your progress and list what you are hoping for.
You are free to write about anything you like, including:
Feelings
Relationships
Hopes and fears
Your life after treatment
What it means to you to be a cancer survivor
Your plans for the present and the future
You may find the process of journaling helps you recognize areas in your life that you can feel good about and areas that you want to change.
Find a quiet, comfortable spot to do your writing. Spend as much time writing as you want. You can write several pages, a couple of lines or even just one word to express how you feel or what you are thinking.
Talk to other survivors about finding hope:
You might ask a member of your health care team if they know a long-term survivor with a similar diagnosis who would speak with you. It's sometimes helpful to meet others who have been where you are and have been able to live fully despite a cancer diagnosis.
Support groups provide a safe environment to share experiences with other survivors, learn new ways to handle difficult situations and talk about emotions. You will see different styles of coping with stress and adjusting to life as a cancer survivor. If you are uncomfortable talking about certain subjects with your family or friends, a support group offers you a place to talk freely about what is important to you.
Ways to find out more about support groups in your area:
Ask a member of your health care team for suggestions. Some cancer programs offer support groups for cancer survivors and their family members right in the clinic or hospital.
Call a nearby cancer center or university hospital and ask about support groups.
Call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345 (1-800-227-2345) and request a list of support groups and cancer centers in your area.
Visit LIVESTRONG SurvivorCare at www.livestrong.org/survivorcare, or call 1-866-235-7205 for information on support groups.
Talk to a therapist if trying to find hope causes depression, anxiety or overwhelms you in any way:
Ask a member of your health care team for a referral to a therapist who works with other cancer survivors. Most cancer centers employ oncology social workers who are specially trained to work with cancer survivors and their families. Even if you are not a patient at a cancer center, the oncology social worker may meet with you or refer you to someone else in the community.
It is important to interview the therapist to find out if he or she is the right professional for you. Speak honestly with the therapist and let him or her know your reasons for wanting to work with a therapist.
Examples of questions to ask the therapist:
What type of education background do you have?
What license do you have?
What is your experience working with people with cancer?
What do you understand about the emotional response to this illness?
Do you take my insurance?
Do you work with people who are anxious? Depressed?
Do you know community resources for people with cancer?
Naps May Boost Memory
by Dave Mosher
LiveScience Staff Writer
LiveScience.com Mon Jan 7, 10:40 AM ET
If you want to remember the information in this article, take a nap.
New research conducted by brain researcher Avi Karni of the University of Haifa in Israel explores the possibility that naps help lock in sometimes fleeting long-term memories. A 90-minute daytime snooze might help the most, the study finds.
"We still don't know the exact mechanism of the memory process that occurs during sleep, but the results of this research suggest the possibility that it is possible to speed up memory consolidation," Karni said. "In the future, we may be able to do it artificially."
Long-term memory refers to memories that stay with us for years, such as "what" memories — a car accident that happened yesterday — or "how to" memories, such as one's learned ability to play the drums or tear it up in a game of soccer.
Karni, who co-authored the study in a recent issue of the journal Nature Neuroscience, instructed participants to learn a complex thumb-tapping sequence, then split the study subjects into two groups: one that napped for an hour, and one that didn't. The people who took an afternoon snooze showed sizeable improvement in their performance by that evening.
"After a night's sleep the two groups were at the same level, but the group that slept in the afternoon improved much faster than the group that stayed awake," Karni said.
An additional leg of the study showed just how much faster a 90-minute nap could help lock in long-term memories.
"Daytime sleep can shorten the time 'how to' memory becomes immune to interference and forgetting," Karni said. "Instead of 6 to 8 hours, the brain consolidated the memory during the 90-minute nap."
LiveScience Staff Writer
LiveScience.com Mon Jan 7, 10:40 AM ET
If you want to remember the information in this article, take a nap.
New research conducted by brain researcher Avi Karni of the University of Haifa in Israel explores the possibility that naps help lock in sometimes fleeting long-term memories. A 90-minute daytime snooze might help the most, the study finds.
"We still don't know the exact mechanism of the memory process that occurs during sleep, but the results of this research suggest the possibility that it is possible to speed up memory consolidation," Karni said. "In the future, we may be able to do it artificially."
Long-term memory refers to memories that stay with us for years, such as "what" memories — a car accident that happened yesterday — or "how to" memories, such as one's learned ability to play the drums or tear it up in a game of soccer.
Karni, who co-authored the study in a recent issue of the journal Nature Neuroscience, instructed participants to learn a complex thumb-tapping sequence, then split the study subjects into two groups: one that napped for an hour, and one that didn't. The people who took an afternoon snooze showed sizeable improvement in their performance by that evening.
"After a night's sleep the two groups were at the same level, but the group that slept in the afternoon improved much faster than the group that stayed awake," Karni said.
An additional leg of the study showed just how much faster a 90-minute nap could help lock in long-term memories.
"Daytime sleep can shorten the time 'how to' memory becomes immune to interference and forgetting," Karni said. "Instead of 6 to 8 hours, the brain consolidated the memory during the 90-minute nap."
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Choosing a Good Doctor
·Consider a doctor who is referred by your primary physician.
·Ask a nurse to recommend a good doctor. They work closely with doctors.
·Seek out doctors who are board certified.
·Look for a doctor with teaching responsibilities at a hospital
·Prepare a list of questions for your doctor candidate. Setup an appointment to interview the doctor and make sure the doctor candidate answers your questions completely.
·Is the doctor taking new patients?
·Is the doctor covered by your health plan? If the doctor is not covered by your health plan, can you afford to pay the extra costs?
·How much experience does a doctor have in treating your specific medical condition?
·What are the doctor's office hours? Are the hours convenient to your schedule? Does the doctor offer extended or weekend hours? Some do.
·How can you reach the doctor during an emergency? What other doctors will fill in if your primary doctor is unavailable?
·No good doctor should be insulted if you want a second opinion.
Source http://origin.bankrate.com/brm/news/advice/20030324a1.asp 1/2/2008
·Ask a nurse to recommend a good doctor. They work closely with doctors.
·Seek out doctors who are board certified.
·Look for a doctor with teaching responsibilities at a hospital
·Prepare a list of questions for your doctor candidate. Setup an appointment to interview the doctor and make sure the doctor candidate answers your questions completely.
·Is the doctor taking new patients?
·Is the doctor covered by your health plan? If the doctor is not covered by your health plan, can you afford to pay the extra costs?
·How much experience does a doctor have in treating your specific medical condition?
·What are the doctor's office hours? Are the hours convenient to your schedule? Does the doctor offer extended or weekend hours? Some do.
·How can you reach the doctor during an emergency? What other doctors will fill in if your primary doctor is unavailable?
·No good doctor should be insulted if you want a second opinion.
Source http://origin.bankrate.com/brm/news/advice/20030324a1.asp 1/2/2008
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
A Brief Listing of Cancer Resources
You are not alone in your fight against cancer. In addition to your doctor, nurse, and other members of your health care team, a wide range of other resources can offer you information and support during chemotherapy.
It's important to reach out to caregivers, other patients receiving chemo, and cancer survivors for hope and proof that you can be cured. Dealing with cancer is a hard fought battle, but one that you can win.
The following is a listing of resources for cancer support. When using any of these resources, keep the following points in mind:
* Investigate and verify any information you receive, so that you can understand how it may or may not apply to the specific cancer support you need.
* Always consult your doctor for health-related problems and chemotherapy side effects.
American Association for Cancer Research
215-440-9300
Politically active in the research community
American Cancer Society
1599 Clifton Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30329
800-ACS-2345
www.cancer.org
News, information, support
American Society of Clinical Oncology
1900 Duke Street, Suite 200
Alexandria, VA 22314
703-299-0150
Information for people with cancer, and for doctors, nurses, and scientists
By My Side™
www.ByMySide.com
Information on infection and other side effects of chemotherapy, sponsored by Amgen
Cancer Care
275 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10001
800-813-HOPE
www.cancercare.org
America's oldest and largest nonprofit agency offering cancer information and support
Cancer Hope Network
Two North Road
Chester, NJ 07930
877-HOPENET
www.cancerhopenetwork.org
Confidential, free one-on-one support
Cancervive
11636 Chayote Street
Los Angeles, CA 90049
310-203-9232
800-4-TO-CURE
www.cancervive.org
Dedicated to improving the quality of life for cancer survivors
Cancer Wellness Center
215 Revere Drive
Northbrook, IL 60062
847-509-9595
Emotional support hotline:
866-292-9355
www.cancerwellness.org
Free psychological, emotional, and social support
Center for Coping
12 West Cherry Street
Hicksville, NY 11801
516-822-3131
www.coping.com
Helping improve people's ability to cope
Chemotherapy.com
www.chemotherapy.com
When cancer treatment includes chemotherapy, patients have many questions. For the information and support that you will need, start your journey here.
Gilda's Club Worldwide
322 Eighth Avenue
Suite 1402
New York, NY 10001
917-305-1200
888-GILDA-4-U
www.gildasclub.org
Free support for people with cancer
National Cancer Institute
Cancer Information Service
800-4-CANCER
www.nci.nih.gov
Free information on all cancer types
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
1010 Wayne Avenue, Suite 770
Silver Spring, MD 20910
877-NCCS-YES
www.canceradvocacy.org
Network of organizations and individuals serving people with cancer
National Comprehensive Cancer Network
www.nccn.org
888-909-6226
Dedicated to advancing research and improving the effectiveness of cancer care
National Patient Advocate Foundation
800-532-5274
www.npaf.org
Information on government policies
The Wellness Community
888-793-WELL
www.thewellnesscommunity.org
Free educational support, networking groups, and social gatherings
Source : http://www.neulasta.com/patient/support/info.jsp
1/1/08 AMGEM © 2007 Amgem. All rights reserved.
It's important to reach out to caregivers, other patients receiving chemo, and cancer survivors for hope and proof that you can be cured. Dealing with cancer is a hard fought battle, but one that you can win.
The following is a listing of resources for cancer support. When using any of these resources, keep the following points in mind:
* Investigate and verify any information you receive, so that you can understand how it may or may not apply to the specific cancer support you need.
* Always consult your doctor for health-related problems and chemotherapy side effects.
American Association for Cancer Research
215-440-9300
Politically active in the research community
American Cancer Society
1599 Clifton Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30329
800-ACS-2345
www.cancer.org
News, information, support
American Society of Clinical Oncology
1900 Duke Street, Suite 200
Alexandria, VA 22314
703-299-0150
Information for people with cancer, and for doctors, nurses, and scientists
By My Side™
www.ByMySide.com
Information on infection and other side effects of chemotherapy, sponsored by Amgen
Cancer Care
275 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10001
800-813-HOPE
www.cancercare.org
America's oldest and largest nonprofit agency offering cancer information and support
Cancer Hope Network
Two North Road
Chester, NJ 07930
877-HOPENET
www.cancerhopenetwork.org
Confidential, free one-on-one support
Cancervive
11636 Chayote Street
Los Angeles, CA 90049
310-203-9232
800-4-TO-CURE
www.cancervive.org
Dedicated to improving the quality of life for cancer survivors
Cancer Wellness Center
215 Revere Drive
Northbrook, IL 60062
847-509-9595
Emotional support hotline:
866-292-9355
www.cancerwellness.org
Free psychological, emotional, and social support
Center for Coping
12 West Cherry Street
Hicksville, NY 11801
516-822-3131
www.coping.com
Helping improve people's ability to cope
Chemotherapy.com
www.chemotherapy.com
When cancer treatment includes chemotherapy, patients have many questions. For the information and support that you will need, start your journey here.
Gilda's Club Worldwide
322 Eighth Avenue
Suite 1402
New York, NY 10001
917-305-1200
888-GILDA-4-U
www.gildasclub.org
Free support for people with cancer
National Cancer Institute
Cancer Information Service
800-4-CANCER
www.nci.nih.gov
Free information on all cancer types
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
1010 Wayne Avenue, Suite 770
Silver Spring, MD 20910
877-NCCS-YES
www.canceradvocacy.org
Network of organizations and individuals serving people with cancer
National Comprehensive Cancer Network
www.nccn.org
888-909-6226
Dedicated to advancing research and improving the effectiveness of cancer care
National Patient Advocate Foundation
800-532-5274
www.npaf.org
Information on government policies
The Wellness Community
888-793-WELL
www.thewellnesscommunity.org
Free educational support, networking groups, and social gatherings
Source : http://www.neulasta.com/patient/support/info.jsp
1/1/08 AMGEM © 2007 Amgem. All rights reserved.
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