An Important Message from Our Founder

Please take a few minutes to read the following letter from David Rodman Cohan, Foundation President. We hope you will be inspired by how a young woman named Heather was able to save her own life after hearing about Susie’s Cause.

Dear Friend,

My gratitude to all those who make Susie’s Cause possible grows and grows with each New Year. Thank you for being a friend to Susie’s Cause and for helping us remove the silence surrounding colon cancer. Thank you for spreading awareness about life-saving screening and prevention. Together we are making Susan’s hopes and dreams for this foundation a reality.

As you may know, my beloved daughter Susan was diagnosed with colon cancer the year she turned 40 and died two years later after a heroic battle. The Foundation was created and named in honor of Susan’s faith, her courage, and her adamant desire to prevent unnecessary deaths and suffering from colon cancer.

Recently, a young woman named Heather contacted me to explain how hearing about Susie’s Cause helped save her life.  At age 39, she experienced her first symptoms of colon cancer and as most of us would do, she self-diagnosed through the internet where she first read Susan’s Story.  She dismissed the possibility that colon cancer could be her ailment, but the life similarities between her and Susan stuck in her head; both around the same age, Heather was also the mother of two young children, she was from Florida, but now living in Maryland. Although she dismissed the symptoms and moved on, Susan’s life story continued to remain in her head.  A few months later, the symptoms resurfaced and she discussed it with her Internist who also dismissed her symptoms.

However, on her 40th birthday, (same age as Susan was diagnosed), the symptoms returned and she decided to see a GI doctor. He suggested a colonoscopy, just to be sure, which led to the diagnosis of stage 2A colon cancer.  Today, she remains cancer free. 

Heather and daughters

In her letter, Heather said: “I wanted to share this with you, as you may not realize the ways in which your foundation is able to reach people and help save lives. Thank you, for continuing her cause and helping to prevent others from suffering.”

Thankfully, Heather is one of many that Susie’s Cause was able to reach.  The events and awareness programs that you support are bringing our goal of eradicating colon cancer as a life threatening illness that much closer.

Because of Susan’s enduring wish to help others, The Susan Cohan Colon Cancer Foundation exists today but it is only because of help from people like you that the Foundation is becoming the international leader in colon cancer prevention, support and treatment that she dreamed it would be.

Those facing colon cancer, their families and friends, and anyone searching for ways to more successfully treat this dreadful disease find networks of possibilities in our organization. Together our efforts to educate and support people of all ages will prevent unnecessary suffering and deaths from colon cancer.

What can I do to help Susie’s Cause reach more people in 2013?

Since its founding in 2004, Susie’s Cause has spread awareness about life-saving colon cancer screening and prevention. We want to share with you some of the great ways our supporters around the country gave their time, money, and creativity to support Susie’s Cause in 2012. It’s inspiring to see all the creative ideas people had to get out the word about how screenings and healthy lifestyle can prevent colon cancer.

Some of the events and activities that our supporters did in 2012 included:
Hosting Dinners and Galas, Ice Skating, Swim-a-thons, Volunteering, Sharing their Stories, Cooking Chili, Contributing Articles, Running and Walking in Races, Growing Mustaches and Beards, Lifting Weights, and Paddling Canoes.

Each of these events brought new friends to the cause and raised awareness about screening and prevention. Every time we can speak out about colon cancer prevention is a chance for someone like Heather to hear us and get diagnosed early, in time to save her life.

Were any of these ideas yours? Do you have other ideas for events? Share them with us on our blog and Facebook. You can read more about past and upcoming events on our website[link]. Is there something you would like to do to support Susie’s Cause in 2013?

Grassroots events are also great ways to honor and remember family members while bringing your community together.

COMMUNITY FUNDRAISERS AND AFFILIATES

Susie’s Cause has had many inquiries from compassionate followers across the nation seeking to establish an Affiliated Division of Susie’s Cause in their area.  In response to these inquiries, Susie’s Cause is now accepting applications by individuals who would like to form an Affiliated Division.  If accepted by Susie’s Cause, the applicant would be guided and assisted by the Susie’s Cause’s team to organize an event or events in the applicants’ area such as mentioned above. When these initial events are concluded, if both Susie’s Cause and the applicant mutually desire to establish an Affiliated Division in the geographical location of the applicant, then Susie’s Cause will officially designate the selected applicant as the Volunteer Executive Director in his or her geographical area.

For more information on how to plan a successful event or become a Susie’s Cause Affiliate please contact Foundation Director and Event Coordinator Kim Cohan at kim@coloncancerfoundation.org or call (410) 244-1778

Want to act now to help? Donations of all sizes help Susie's Cause grow their healthy lifestyle, awareness, and prevention programs and are welcome at any time so donate today [Donate today]

Visit our website for more ways to get involved today [Get Involved!]

Happy New Year,
David Rodman Cohan
Foundation President (Volunteer)
Susan Cohan Colon Cancer Foundation, Inc.

201 North Charles Street
Suite 2404
Baltimore, Maryland 21201

website

How Can Cruciferous Vegetables Help You?

Posted by Barbara Armstrong Green

Could the mythical fountain of youth, that famed explorer Juan Ponce de Leon searched for more than 500 years ago, be as close as the produce section of your local grocery store or farmers’ market?

There is a growing body of evidence that eating a lot of plant food may protect you from getting cancer, according to nutritional expert and best-selling author, Dr. Joel Fuhrman. He points out that some vegetable families offer more cancer protection than others.

Meet the Cruciferous Family

If you are not familiar with the cruciferous family of vegetables, you should be because this is one of those powerful vegetable families that Dr. Fuhrman refers to as “full of super foods with powerful anti-cancer effects”.  They include arugula, bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, kale, and radish, to name a few.

What Do Observational Studies Say?

• Eating a lot of cruciferous vegetables could reduce the risk of colorectal cancers by 18%.
• One serving per day of these vegetables reduced the risk of breast cancer by more than 50%.

Read more>



Can Aspirin Protect Us from Colon Cancer?



Posted by Barbara Armstrong Green

Aspirin – that tiny pill with a growing list of reasons to take one – has the cancer research community wondering if it’s time to recommend widespread use of aspirin to prevent colon cancer. A number of studies suggest that aspirin may prevent and possibly reduce the risk of dying from some cancers including colon cancer.

At the 2012 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress in Vienna, members debated whether the evidence is strong enough to outweigh the risks of prescribing aspirin to millions of healthy people.

There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that taking aspirin (NSAID) may reduce an individual’s chances of developing colorectal cancer and perhaps other malignancies. A recent meta-analysis that focused on the effect of aspirin use on colorectal cancer showed large and statistically significant reductions in both incidence and death from the disease. The finding, the study team pointed out, is consistent with results from numerous studies that have shown that regular (NSAID) use reduces or prevents precancerous growths in the colon from increasing.

Pros and Cons

Dr. Peter Rothwell of the University of Oxford argued that the mounting evidence of aspirin’s strong anticancer effect is hard to ignore. He suggested that “at a minimum, in combination with the appropriate screening, the data indicate that aspirin would be highly effective in preventing colon cancer.”

However, other medical experts argue that it is premature to recommend that people start taking aspirin specifically to prevent cancer. Even low-dose aspirin may trigger gastrointestinal bleeding. Dr. John Baron of the University of North Carolina said he is not ready to endorse aspirin's widespread use for cancer prevention. "We need to consider all of the benefits and harms that can accrue from aspirin use," said Dr. Baron.

A recent edition of the NCI Cancer Bulletin, reported that the strongest data for supporting the use of aspirin (NSAID) to reduce cancer is in colorectal cancer. But unanswered questions remain, such as dosage, how long to take aspirin for the optimum effect, and when to start taking it.

So stay tuned. And, as always, check with your medical team before making any changes to your medications.

Medical Disclaimer

The information presented on the Susan Cohan Colon Cancer web site is solely intended to provide you with information that will help educate you on the importance of diet, exercise and regular cancer screening in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Adopting these habits is an individual choice and one that should only be made after consultation with your health care professional. No information provided on this Web site or otherwise is intended to replace or in any way modify the advice of your health care professional.

Source: National Cancer Institute



Another Important Reason to Get Moving in 2013

 

Posted by Barbara Armstrong Green

The holidays might seem like a dream to you now, but for those of us who overindulged on those delicious cookies, it may feel more like a nightmare as we take that first dreaded step onto the bathroom scale.

I don't know about the rest of you, but it sure feels good to get back into my exercise routine. As the mother of three athletic sons, my husband and I spent most of our weekends watching our kids play everything from baseball to wrestling. It wasn't until our youngest son graduated from college and emptied our nest that I got serious about getting back into shape.


What's the Big Deal about Exercise?

My initial goal was to drop a few jean sizes. But the more I read about the dangers of obesity, the more I realize that exercise is an important key to health and longevity. And I plan to be around – and in good health – for a long time.

In his book, Super Immunity, Joel Fuhrman, M.D., has this to say about the importance of exercise: “Exercise not only helps your immune system fight off simple bacterial and viral infections; it also decreases your chances of developing heart disease, osteoporosis, and cancer. The key to the longevity-promoting effects of exercise is maintaining a high degree of exercise tolerance and fitness.”

Try to break a sweat. Dr. Fuhrman reported that middle-aged men followed for 26 years by researchers found that those who exercised vigorously lived the longest. According to Dr. Fuhrman, “It truly is survival of the fittest!” In other words, “It is not sufficient just to take walks. Adding on more exerting exercise, where the heart rate is elevated, and sustaining that elevation for at least five minutes has additional benefits.” To elevate your heart-rate jog or jump in place and exercise at least three times a week. You don't need to do extreme events such as marathons, which may put too much stress on the body.

Colorectal Cancer and the Benefits of Exercise

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer affecting both men and in women and the second cause of cancer death in men and in women in the United States. The National Institutes of Health estimates that 143,460 Americans will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and 51,690 will die from the disease in 2012.

Colorectal cancer has been one of the most extensively studied cancers in relation to physical activity, with more than 50 studies examining this association. According to the National Cancer Institute (NIH), “Many studies in the United States and around the world consistently found that adults who increase their physical activity, either in intensity, duration or frequency, can reduce their risk of developing colon cancer by 30 to 40 percent relative to those who are sedentary regardless of body mass index (BMI), with the greatest risk reduction seen among those who are most active.

”The magnitude of the protective effect appears greatest with high-intensity activity, although the optimal levels and duration of exercise are still difficult to determine due to differences between studies. NIH estimates that 30 to 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day is needed to protect against colon cancer.

I enjoy taking Pilates and Yoga classes at our local gym and walk with friends on the weekend. Working out on a regular basis has been one of the highlights of my year. I took it slow at first and didn’t know if I would be able to keep up. But I soon realized that everyone else was in the same boat. And just showing up is half the battle. Little by little, I got stronger and increased by stamina. I love the camaraderie and feel healthier and more energized than ever. I don’t know why it took me so long to get started. But I don’t intend to quit any time soon.

Your Turn: Share some of the ways you plan to get in better shape in 2013 and beyond.

Sources: National Cancer Institute and Super Immunity: The Essential Nutrition Guide for Boosting Your Body’s Defenses to Live Longer, Stronger, and Disease, Author: Joel Fuhrman, M.D.

 Comment below.



A dance aerobic session at our recent health fair

Young people join in the fun at our health fair



Eighth Annual 5K Run and Family Walk

Eighth Annual 5K Run and Family Walk



Eighth Annual 5K Run and Family Walk





Medical Disclaimer

The information presented on the Susan Cohan Colon Cancer web site is solely intended to provide you with information that will help educate you on the importance of diet, exercise and regular cancer screening in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Adopting these habits is an individual choice and one that should only be made after consultation with your health care professional. No information provided on this Web site or otherwise offered is intended to replace or in any way modify the advice of your health care professional.