Break Cancer is a “record setting bonanza brought to you by the LIVESTRONG Young Adult Alliance” aimed to bring awareness to adolescent and young adult, or AYA, cancer which impacts nearly 70,000 people age 15 to 39 each year. According to the National Cancer Institute (2006), “cancer occurring between the ages of 15 and 30 is 2.7 times more common than cancer occurring during the first 15 years of life.” Cancer incidence in young adults has increased steadily over the past 25 years, and “survival improvement trends portend a worse prognosis for young adults diagnosed with cancer today than 25 years ago” (NCI, 2006). With tremendous cancer disparities existing within this cancer survivor subpopulation, there is scant data about cancer causes, treatment options, and survivorship issues. Young adults are just now being recognized as a distinct population with unique needs, and their position at the intersection of pediatric and adult oncology results all too often in patients falling through the cracks of resources and support services.
Help set a record – The Most Times Cancer Gets WordPressed – in the next 24 hours and raise awareness of AYA cancer. You can participate in the world record-setting merriment in several ways:
1. Leave a comment, more specifically – a tribute, honoring either someone age 15 to 39 impacted by cancer or a healthcare professional, individual, or organization devoting time to caring for AYAs with cancer.
2. Write your own WordPress blog post about AYA cancer or the Break Cancer record-setting bonanza. (Ahem, #postaday2011, anyone?) Be sure to link to this post or leave a link in the comments so I can count it in our results.
3. Share this world record attempt via email, Facebook, or Twitter. You can follow Break Cancer on both Facebook and Twitter, as well.
That’s it. Oh, and if you’d like to set your own Break Cancer record, you can do that, too. If you’re attending SXSW next week, you definitely need to swing by the Highball on March 13th for URDB World Records Live, Benefiting Break Cancer and join the record-setting festivities. Hmmm…maybe the WordPress folks headed to Austin need to get in on that action.
Enough! It’s time to WordPress Cancer!
Leigh
March 9, 2011 9:52 amAwesome record to set!
I want to use this space to encourage everyone — young people especially — to schedule your checkups and annual exams. They could save your life.
Last year, a friend was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She was only 32 and had no symptoms. So if she’d skipped her annual exam, it could have easily gone undetected until it was too late. Luckily, she caught it early, got treatment quickly, and her prognosis looks great!
#breakcancer
Henrike
March 9, 2011 12:33 pmIn honor of Michelle O’Rourke, a 3B Colorectal cancer SURVIVOR and an amazing advocate.
Michelle shared her story with Voices of Survivors: http://voicesofsurvivors.org/?p=871 and she definitely kicks cancer’s butt.
#breakcancer
Emily
March 9, 2011 1:56 pmGreat idea Nursetopia, thank you for supporting Break Cancer!
Cheers to all who work so hard every day to support AYAs with cancer – keep up the awesome work!
Chari
March 9, 2011 2:28 pmRemembering Donald Wilhelm, an inspiration to many cancer survivors, who died of Hodgkins Limphoma on13th Sep 2010 at the age of 39. May his book ‘This time is a Charm’ continue to inspire all those in the fight against cancer.
#breakcancer
Marcia Banta
March 9, 2011 2:31 pmIn memory of Courtney Clifford.
Henrike
March 9, 2011 3:48 pmFirst Descents! They “provide whitewater kayaking and other outdoor adventure experiences to promote emotional, psychological and physical healing for young adults with cancer” =>
http://www.firstdescents.org
Shirley LaVergne
March 9, 2011 4:22 pmI’d like to make a special tribute to the organization where I work, Nurse Oncology Education Program. We have a fabulous video on our website, “At the Crossroads, Cancer in Ages 15-39.” This powerful video addresses the important needs of this special population and the barriers that confront them. http://www.noep.org
Donna Regen
March 9, 2011 5:13 pmIn memory of Jaime Regen Rea who was diagnosed with melanoma when she was 20 and fought it bravely for 9 hard years, touching countless lives with her positive spirit, her beautiful smile, and her courage. It claimed her life when she was 29. With her story featured in the American Academy of Dermatology ad campaign against tanning bed use, she continues to make a difference!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYzfldQ3OU0
Teal Toes
March 9, 2011 5:40 pmTeal Toes seeks to raise awareness of ovarian cancer by encouraging people to paint their toenails teal, the color of ovarian cancer awareness. Seeing this color on toes sparks needed conversations about this dread disease that doesn’t only strike women over 60.
Through my own YA cancer journey and with Teal Toes, I have met too many women with this disease. It is in their honor and memories that we fight on.
Dee
March 9, 2011 7:43 pmIn honor of Nicole Christison 28 years old and a survivor of Ovarian Cancer.
In memory of Courtney Clifford .
Lisa Watson
March 9, 2011 10:24 pmIn memory of Monica Neubauer.
Mark
March 10, 2011 5:14 amI had cancer at 29 now im 41 still have problems from the treatment now but i will not stop the fight against this awful disease until my very last breath. The biggest thing we can do is spread awareness then we will kick it in to touch for ever.
In memory of my Mum Linda Mahon sadly lost her battle to Liver cancer in 2006. I fight in her memory.
Mark
March 10, 2011 5:15 amawseome record to set. in memory of all the brave young warriors out there.
Lynne
March 10, 2011 5:42 pmIn recognition of the work of HOPE Clinic, a non-profit clinic in Houston that educates low-income and medically underserved women about the need for cancer prevention screenings, and provides it, regardless of the women’s ability to pay.
Jody Schoger
May 14, 2012 6:26 pmIn loving memory: Richard McCready. His death, from Hodgkin’s disease when he was 36, taught me how cruel and random cancer is and can be. That knowledge changed my life.