Tag: Cancer
Trump EPA Guts Environmental Justice
From the US Environmental Protection Agency’s website (likely to be removed before long): “Environmental justice” means the just treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of income, race, color, national origin, Tribal affiliation, or disability, in agency decision-making and other Federal activities that affect human health and the environment … [continued]
The post Trump EPA Guts Environmental Justice appeared first on CleanTechnica.
Study finds contaminants in Detroit soil and street dust
Researchers found some Detroit soil and street dust were high in two persistent and toxic contaminants associated with negative health effects like cancer and skin conditions.
$7.2M boost for London-based Alzheimer’s, cancer studies
London researchers studying how molecular imaging can improve cancer care and the detection of Alzheimer’s have received a major boost
Feed a pig for Wheels of Hope
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Nancy Thibeault knows how difficult having cancer can be on the patient and the family. She’s been there and three years ago she decided to give back in a tangible way.
Thibeault has been a volunteer driver with the Wheels of Hope transportation program at the Canadian Cancer Society since 2012.
In 2005 Thibeault was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Throughout her treatment the people she interacted with were incredibly kind and she wanted to give back. She wanted to be one of those thoughtful people.
There are many reasons that keep Thibeault returning as a volunteer but the bonds she’s created are one of those reasons.
“I think just to know that I can, in fact, drive someone and take the worry away from family members is enough,” Thibeault said.
Thibeault knows first hand how much there is to think about and deal with when a cancer diagnosis hits family that some people may not realize.
“This is a wonderful program and I believe it helps families, so, so much,” Thibeault said.
The Pigs of Hope campaign gives people the chance to “adopt” a piggy bank to raise money for Wheels of Hope, which provides rides to cancer patients for treatment and related appointments.
“It’s neighbours helping neighbours in its truest fashion,” said CCS fundraising coordinator, Laura Pethick.
One in five cancer patients have trouble getting to appointments for physical or financial reasons, Pethick said.
“Imagine the devastation of the diagnosis and then having to worry about how you’re going to get there,” Pethick added.
The average cost of a ride from Huron-Perth to London costs about $50, so a minimum commitment of that amount is required to adopt a pig. Participants decide how many rides they want to sponsor, either doing so as an individual or as a group.
Drivers volunteer their time but are reimbursed for their mileage. It cost the Huron-Perth chapter $54,000 to run the program last year.
“The need is growing every year,” Pethick said.
“This is a really neat, tangible way for people to say ‘I wanna help and I want to know that I’m helping a neighbour’,” Pethick added.
The Huron-Perth chapter provided assistance to 143 cancer patients with 1,750 rides to cancer related appointments. There are 72 drivers with the local office that drove 151,544 km last year.
As an extra bonus adopters can dress up and name their piggy banks to take part in a contest. Take a picture of your pig in its costume and email it to huronperth@ontario.cancer.ca or tweet it to @ccshuronperth.
“We’ve seen someone put a mustache for Movember, we’ve seen someone dress it up as Santa,” Pethick said.
Businesses, schools, groups or individuals can adopt a pig on Dec. 4 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Bayshore Broadcasting (108 Courthouse Square).
If you want to adopt a pig but are unable to attend on Dec. 4 go online to http://convio.cancer.ca/goto/huronperthpigs2015.
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Tech Causing Cancer?
With kids using cell phones earlier and earlier (pre-paid companies like Boost and Virgin Mobile cater to the tween and teen markets who aren’t quite ready for contracts), and after reading a post from Eco Child’s Play last week, I was reminded that healthier tech alternatives aren’t necessarily all about green. Below is a list of some tech products that may help promote better health or at least reduce exposure to radiation.
1. Ego Cup from Funkwerks – This plug n’ play speaker phone syncs with Bluetooth enabled handsets and slides easily into the cupholder for easy storage when driving. I love that it’s so easy to set up and doesn’t require lengthy instructions to use or block vision by hanging from the rear view mirror. This is especially important for residents of California and other vicinities that are going hands-free on July 1st.
2. Bluetooth earpieces – no doubt Samsung makes some of the best quality, more affordable earpieces, but for talking in the car, the Yada YD-V1 is a great system (especially for those who tend to forget to bring their earpiece with them.) The universal phone cradle sticks onto your dash or wherever its most convenient for your to reach it, and also has a holder for the earpiece, which gets up to 6 hours of talk time and has 105 hours of standby time. The set auto powers on when you turn on the engine and hangs up with the push of a button or when you re-cradle the earpiece.
3. One other option for the less tech-savvy, is the plug in earpiece. Simply plug it into the jack on your phone and insert into your ear – no need to worry about syncing or answering an incoming call from another system. This is as basic and functional as it gets if you don’t mind the wire hanging down. Most phones ship with these in box or you can pick one up to match your phone at mass retailers, like Target.
While research has shown little correlation between cell phone use and cancer, in a recent New York Times article, the FDA admits that the studies did not take into account long term exposure to the radiation and notes that the best brain surgeons try to limit their exposure through use of ear pieces and speaker phones when they can.
Regardless of the healthy risks, studies have convincingly shown that cell phone use on the road leads to an increase in the number of accidents; so, this summer, try out one of the options above.