Hashtag = Grateful.

It's National Cancer Survivor Day! Would love to hear your warrior story! Im so grateful to the charities, family & friends that stood by me in my fight! And I can't forget my virtual, social media friends that rallied around me, too! Thank you. NED 09-09-2009. Hashtag = Grateful. 

Post a pic here or comment on your warrior story!! :) #NCSD2015 #Livestrong #LeukemiaandLymphomaSociety #GoTeam #ImermanAngels 

Day 1 - OVAC

30 States. 40 Cancer-related organizations in 1 Coalition. One voice against cancer (OVAC). 

Day 1 was filled with hours of training and meeting with our local state groups. Our California group was awesome. We had our first meeting with Sen. Dianne Feinstein yesterday afternoon. 

She took the time to hear our issues and was extremely supportive. Our ask?

1. $5.26 Billion for NIC FY15

2. Stop the decline of NCI funding. Raise the budget proportionately to that of the NIH. 

3. $510 Million for CDC cancer prevention, early detection & screening programs. 

Last night, I slept 2 blocks from the Capitol of a powerful nation that I know can make cancer a priority. 

We also had the opportunity to present her with the OVAC Cancer Champion 2014 award.

1.6 Million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer this year, and prevention, early detection, drug development, and nursing education play a very important role. 

Have your #CancerVoice heard. Contact your congressmen/women & ask for the 3 things above. ONE VOICE. 

One Voice Against Cancer (OVAC)

It's true. This blog got a wee bit dusty over the past year. It was a tough one in my own personal world for a variety of reasons. The loss of my best friend, Doc JPP, being the major reason. There is a time for everything...and sometimes that means taking time for myself. 

I'm back this year with a renewed sense of purpose & a mission to ensure we do our best in the fight against cancer. He was my support in my 3x battle with cancer as a young adult, and I know he'd want me swinging for the fences again. So here I am. :) 

This week, I step into a new realm. Instead of fundraising and awareness...I'm heading to Washington, DC as a cancer fighting survivor advocate as a delegate for the LIVESTRONG Foundation. I'll be here July 7 & 8 to talk to our congress reps about increasing federal funds for cancer research & prevention, and FDA approval process. 

Am I intimidated by Capitol Hill? A bit. But, they are all people too, and I hope Rep. Darrell Issa, Rep. Scott Peters, Sen. Barbara Boxer & Sen. Dianne Feinstein are willing to hear my story. As a cancer survivor and someone with a career in biotech/pharma, with medical nurses in my family...I hope they have open hearts and minds. 

Please join me virtually, and all the other delegates of @OVACInfo by using the hashtag #cancervoice & copying @OvacInfo @LivestrongAdv on them. Let's let them hear our voice as ONE!! 

Great LIVESTRONG Blog Post about this week:

http://blog.livestrong.org/2014/07/02/livestrong-proudly-support-one-voice-against-cancer/

1 Minute to Bring 1 Million in LIVESTRONG Grants to Your Local Community

Hundreds of qualified hospitals, cancer centers and community organizations have applied to be part of four different programs— Creative Center, Artist in Residence Outpatient Art Program, LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA, Camp Kesem and the Certification for Advanced Palliative Care—and your voice will be the deciding factor. 

Thursday 3/28 is your last change to vote to help decide where the grant money will go to this year.  There are some really, REALLY (did I say "really!!"?) cool programs. Just tonight, a fellow young adult cancer survivor friend was telling me how her daughters have attended Camp Kesem in Southern California for the last 5 years...and they love it.  How cool is that, folks?  Your VOTE can help ensure program like that stay in your local regions.













Visit vote.LIVESTRONG.org before 5 p.m. CT on Thursday, March 28 to bring cancer support programs to a community near you. It only takes a moment, but it’s a powerful way to show your support for cancer survivors and help make a difference in their lives right now.

Moving Forward with LIVESTRONG

Tonight, this blog goes personal.  I hope you can all respect that I'm writing from my heart as a 3x cancer survivor. I equally respect that we may all have differing opinions, as we wrap our minds around Lance Armstrong's interview today.  

I will speak candidly...I go by what I know...and, it's about more than the bike. LIVESTRONG is bigger than one person. I watch LS volunteer leaders up late at night trying to figure out how to better support cancer patients and families in their local communities. I see countries that had zero pain meds in their borders start providing them to suffering end-stage cancer patients in pain. I see support for cancer survivorship issues, fighting on behalf of patients to get their insurance companies to pay for clinical trials.... ---- people may think that this "doesn't apply to them" but one day it might. And the gap this charity fills is very different than a lot of other charities (equally amazing, but just different focus). There is more to that charity than just one hero (Lance). There are hundreds. Thousands. They will have my support because they had my back when things were tough for me...including Lance. He is a hero to cancer survivors, and nobody can take that "win" against cancer away...EVER.

Am I saddened and frustrated by all this...and a little heartsick? Sure. I'm not perfect either though, and I've chosen not to judge. Today, I lean on what I know... The cancer hero that stayed in my corner (even during the TdF) and the charity that continues to be here to support me through all the complications that survivorship can bring a person. And, withdrawing support from a charity providing unique services to cancer survivors, isn't something Im willing to do. I respect other's opinions, but it hurts the wrong people. In San Diego, where I live (and all around the world), those funds go to grants for important local charities... many that you know and love. How sad if those stop? Thanks for reading today. Regardless of what you may feel today, I know that you are all in the my corner of kicking the Big C to the curb, and for that tonight, I have a lot of gratitude.

CURES ROCK. (Cancer does not.) Onwards in the fight!!

P.S. For those reading, in case you were wondering what the LIVESTRONG Foundation does for people impacted by cancer...www.livestrong.org/wecanhelp . If anyone is in need of these wonderful services, please do not hesitate to call Livestrong at 1 (855) 220-7777. For the official statement from LIVESTRONG tonight: http://blog.livestrong.org/2013/01/17/official-statement-from-the-livestrong-foundation-2/

REV Forum - Interaction to Action

I admit it. I wasn't sure what to expect of today's REV forum, co-sponsored by Genentech and LIVESTRONG.   The theme: Interaction to Action.

As an IT Pharma/Medical Device Consultant, volunteer leader for LIVESTRONG and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, once-upon-a-time biochemist/tox lab rat, and a 3x cancer survivor (etc., etc.) --- this seemed like all my loves and passions rolled up into a one day forum. Wahoo!

It did not disappoint. Cures Rock, and the REV Forum rocked. Big time.

Today was inspiring, thought-provoking and overall, made me want to get up and should a few "Amen!"s (don't worry, I restrainted myself). :) The key topics included 3 main components:

1. Free the Data and Revolutionize Research
2. Voices of Cancer (patient advocates and patient stories)
3. Innovation in Collaboration



Siddhartha Mukherjee

The list of speakers and panel guests was off the charts inspiring.... see the agenda at the REV Forum web site: http://www.rev-forum.com/. Admittedly, I about fell off my chair to be siting 10 feet away from Pulitzer Prize winner, Siddhartha Mukherjee. If anyone can sit in a room like that filled with such great leaders and their calls to action and then *not* do anything, I'd be shocked. 

Sekou Andrews kicked us off with some poetic motivation, and then Andy Palmer, Joe Selby, Amy Abernathy and Robert Cohen provide insight on the revolution of research and data.  Dr. Jack West presented on the new interaction between patients and doctors (and the "third person" in the room....the Web/Dr. Google). 

Sandwiched right in the middle to make sure nobody forgot what's important in it all, was a panel of "Voices in Cancer" --- Ethan Zohn, Kathy LaTour, Josh Sommer and Lindsay Nohr Bech. True inspirations from cancer survivors that then turned into compellling advocates to give cancer a face, and to solve some critical issues.

Wrapping up the day was the panel on Innovation in Collaboration, with Margaret Foti, Lawrence Shulman, Andrew C. von Eschenback and Doug Ulman.  And, the closing keynote: Siddhartha Mukherjee.

You know the day is going to be unique and special when Heidi Adams of LIVESTRONG says, "This ain't your daddy's conference"...and she was right.  We all sat at tables and would break into lively discussions between panels about how we can collaborate, be innovative in our ideas...and come up with ways to make that happen. 

Our Collaboration Table (#5)

I found myself sitting at a table with some amazing (and wicked-smart) folks. Ken Ramirez (Gannett Healthcare), Nicole Bell (Leukemia & Lymphoma Society), Bryce Tenbarge (Teva), Erik Pearson (LIVESTRONG volunteer Leader & Mgmt Consultant), Randall Broad (Cancer Survivor & Inspiration) and Raj Thadani (Genentech). They challenged my thinking...and we might have come out with more questions than answers at times...but at least we were talking about ideas and having some good conversation.

Artist Angela Canada Hopkins

At one of the breaks, I walked over to an artist's exhibit that was set up to the side of the room. It was gorgeous! Emotional. Artist Angela Canada Hopkins was there in person. I'll probably blog a separate post about her amazing artwork, so stay tuned. She has a Fine Arts degree, and during her last year of school, her father was diagnosed with cancer. She dealt with her tragedy by turning to the canvas and tries to capture the beauty of living beings in her abstract art. As she recreates the cancer cells in her art, she tries to breathe back life and healing into the design. Check it out at: www.CanadaHopkins.com

At the end of the day, we all took the time to commit to something we'd personally do to start acting on these discussion.  Which was hard to do, as after today, I probably have 20 solid, innovative ideas on how IT can transform things (where's a V.C. around when you need one!...j/k).

It was great day. Huge thanks to Genentech and LIVESTRONG.  Big thanks to "Table 5" for putting up with my overly enthusiastic and cheerleading personality today. I'd love to hear from others that attended or who viewed the live-stream.  Comment on this blog post, or send me a note!

CURES ROCK! (Cancer does not.)

LIVESTRONG Day! 10//2

Check out the LIVESTRONG Blog today....and join in!   http://blog.livestrong.org/2012/10/02/livestrong-day-2012/

I. Support. Lance.

I'm going to tell you all, exactly what I posted to Facebook tonight.

I. Support. Lance.

Here's what I really said:

When the cancer battle for me got tough, one of the most amazing organizations that supported me was the Lance Armstrong Foundation. I will celebrate my 3 year remission re-birthday on 09/09...largely in part to some amazing organizations like LLS and LAF. Tonight, I let go, and I move on...because there are 28 million people living with cancer counting on us to do so...to join in a continued LIVESTRONG spirit and support an AMAZING foundation started by Lance Armstrong. I support his foundation and his decision to focus on this global fight against cancer. UNITY IS STREGTH. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING. (Cures Rock!) The LAF's statement: http://blog.livestrong.org/2012/08/23/statements-by-lance-armstrong-foundation-vice-chairman-jeffery-c-garvey-and-leaders-in-the-cancer-community

I mean every word.

When Lance was at the Tour de France, he stopped to make this TdF video shout-out. It tells me that even thn, he was focused on ensuring he supported the cancer community. I support Lance 100%. I support LAF 100%. They were there every step of the way through my cancer diagnosis, battle and survivorship. This 09/09...it's been 3 years since my remission re-birthday. It's been over 6 years since my first diagnosis. I say we all let go, move on...and focus on fighting the fight for cancer patients around the world.

CURES ROCK!

Join CURES ROCK! & Team LIVESTRONG in Austin!



Join CURES ROCK! and
TeamLIVESTRONG in Austin!

The CURES ROCK! Run Team is headed to the LIVESTRONG Austin Half/Full Marathon in February 2013! (In celebration of Julie's 3 year remission re-birthday on 09-09...come join the endurance adventure and fundrasiing in the fight against cancer!) To sign up, click here for the Cures Rock Team page.

Please support our team as we make a difference in the battle against cancer through our participation with Team LIVESTRONG. You can support the team by donating to LIVESTRONG and/or you can join our Cures Rock team, hit the pavement with those running shoes, and meet us in Austin!

LIVESTRONG serves people affected by cancer and empowers them to take action against this disease that is now the world's leading cause of death. LIVESTRONG has become a symbol of hope and inspiration to the 28 million people affected by cancer around the world.

LIVESTRONG inspires and empowers people affected by cancer and believes that unity is strength, knowledge is power, and attitude is everything.

Connect with the Cures Rock! Team:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/curesrock

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/curesrock 

Blog: http://www.blogspot.com/curesrock

What was Lance Armstrong Doing During His Races? Fighting Cancer.

Since the USADA seems so keen on knowing what Lance Armstrong was doing during his races at the Tour de France, I thought I'd show the world:

Lance was actively engaged in the fight against cancer.

(As he has been since he was first diagnosed in 1996.)

I am not trying to make light of this USADA matter, but I also want to ensure the picture stays balanced.  During the 2009 Tour de France, Lance was focused on his love of sport and his passion to fight cancer. Who can forget the Nike LIVESTRONG Chalkbot? Lance dedicated stages of that TdF race to cancer fighters around the world, and was kind enough to dedicate one of those stages to me (a.k.a. Cures Rock).

Boston Marathon
(w/ Team LIVESTRONG)

When I found out about the video, I was curled up on my couch feeling sick from my treatments and frustrated.  In about 2 seconds, I was crying and cheering. His support -- and the support of my family, friends, coworkers and blog/twitter followers -- became a push to get through my 3rd cancer battle so I could run more marathons and live my life. And, Lance was right. I am now cancer-free as of 09-09-09 and did head back to run the Boston Marathon in 2010 with Team LIVESTRONG.

San Diego for LIVESTRONG

I am grateful to Lance as a person. He is an inspiration to me. Separate from that, but equally amazing, is the Lance Armstrong Foundation that has supported me in every step of my cancer fight, treatments and survivorship. It is why I continue to volunteer for that organization as the San Diego Leader for LIVESTRONG. I believe in them and their mission. I implore all my readers not to let the news affect the way you think about the charity that is helping the 28 million people around the world fight cancer.

CURES ROCK! Thanks, Lance! We support you.
(If you'd like to support Lance, there are two petitions you can sign: There are two petitions going around as well. One was started by Mary E. (Click here for story) and one that was started on the US Government's petition page, click here. 

Lance's video dedication from the TdF 2009:

Stage 2 Dedication: Julie Westcott -- powered by http://www.livestrong.com

Prop 29 - Our Fight Against Cancer Continues!

The Prop 29 voting is NOT finalized. The absentee ballots are still being counted in this dead even race in CA...and that gap is closing. You won't want to miss this 4min video from the Rachel Maddow show -- and tell us what you think about the corporate spending that went into this one prop in the past few months. Do you hate cancer? We do.



And, check out LIVESTRONG's Blog today, too.

CURES ROCK! (Cancer and Big Tobacco do not.)

YES on Prop 29 in CA - Vote Tomorrow!!!

With less than 12 hours to go until the CA voting polls open...it's time to continue to spread the word: Vote YES on Prop 29. 

Help stop children from smoking and help fund cancer research. This is our chance CA to make a difference in the health of our state. Game on, Big Tobacco --- CA cares about the health of our state! Don't forget to get out an vote tomorrow -- YES ON PROP 29 -- CURES ROCK! (Cancer and Big Tobacco do not.)

For the latest, check out the LiveSTRONG blog summary at this link:
http://blog.livestrong.org/2012/06/04/show-your-support-online-and-vote-yes-on-29/
Also, don't forget to follow the Twitter feeds of LIVESTRONG (@LIVESTRONG) and Californians for a Cure (@Yeson29) -- and spread the word. We *CAN* make a difference!!!

National Cancer Survivor's Day! 6/3/12

Take a Swing at Cancer!

Check out the latest guest blog on the LIVESTRONG web site! It highlights our upcoming Swing Fore! Yellow Charity Golf Tournament in San Diego on March 26th! Follow this link to the article: http://blog.livestrong.org/2012/02/16/take-a-swing-at-cancer/

As the LIVESTRONG team tweeted today:
" @LIVESTRONG: Our blog never looked so good! @DhaniJones and @Swing4Yellow "Take a Swing at Cancer" http://t.co/3w3SfAhX #golf "



To sign up to play in the tournament or volunteer, go to our web site at: http://www.swingforeyellow.com/ The playing field is filling up fast, so don't wait!

Cancer Myth-Busters for World Cancer Day

Today is World Cancer Day --
Take a minute to pause and think about how cancer has affected the friends and family in your life, and how we need to keep creating awareness to fight it.

And, what a better way to start it than by taking a short (5 questions) quiz to bust some myths around cancer?

Take the quiz on the LIVESTRONG web site and share with your family and friends to help spread awareness today. http://quiz.livestrong.org/quiz2012/

A Livestrong Christmas

While I was happily snuggled up with my dog enjoying sleeping in on the holiday weekend, I decided to check Facebook.

It was an early Christmas gift.

There on my profile page was a "tagged" photo --- a LIVESTRONG badge, hanging from a Christmas tree...all with love from the LIVESTRONG Leader and fellow friends in San Jose, CA.

They celebrated Christmas in the park, LIVESTRONG-style. To be honest, the idea, well, rocks. This time of year, I am so thankful to my friends and family...and also to my health (cancer free!)...which allows me to enjoy spending time with all of them.

"Unity is strength" is one of the LIVESTRONG mottos -- and I think it's very true. Today, I felt the solidarity from my pals in San Jose, and they reminded me what this season is all about for me.

Happy Holidays. Cures Rock!

Pics:
1. My "ornament" hanging on the Christmas tree in the park
2. Blaine Mauldin & Ryan Moll (not pictured, but there, SJ Livestrong Leader - Ginna Baldassarre)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!! Today, I am grateful for my health, family, friendships and your support! Thank you!

Get Up. Get Moving. Get Rid of Cancer.

WRITTEN BY GUEST BLOGGER: ANGIE VANDERBURGH

Helplessness. There is no worse feeling than that. How well I remember those moments when I sat talking on a phone in a country across the world, hearing my sister say those hateful words, “Angie, I have cancer.” Emotions flooded though my veins---anger, sadness, more anger, and fear—but the worse feeling was helplessness. What could I do for her? I didn’t even live in the country where she lived!

Julie’s battle was long and all chronicled here throughout this Cures Rock! blog. I don’t need to dig through piles of stories to tell you the hell that journey can be. Yet in the midst of this journey also rose feelings that I thought odd and misplaced in this new world. Words like hope, perseverance, and humor became familiar to my vocabulary, and I knew that through prayers, kindness, letters, and roll-up-your-sleeves hard work, that there were indeed things that I could do as a family member watching a loved one battle cancer.

Even though I cheer at the thought that my twin has been cancer free for over two years, this battle won’t be over anytime soon for my family. I have other family members and children and friends that I want to make sure never journey down the road that my sister did. This is where committing my time to great organizations comes in to play. Recently, my daughter and I ran together at the Yellow Hat Run benefitting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Next week, I’ll head down to San Diego to volunteer at the Swing Fore! Yellow golf tournament benefitting the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Thanks to a simple request at work and a very generous company I work for, my company is also one of the sponsors of the event. (Thank you Preferred Hotel Group and Preferred Golf!) In February, the Cures Rock! running team will join the Surf City Marathon and Half Marathon race in Huntington Beach, and join Team Livestrong at the Livestrong Austin Marathon and Half Marathon, to continue to raise funds that go toward finding a cure.

Helpless? I don’t think so. It’s all perspective. Perhaps I won’t be the one in the lab finding the cure, but I might just be the one that raised that final dollar needed to fund the research that found the cure.

Feel free to join us in raising funds by signing up for an incredible day of golf at the Swing Fore! Yellow Livestrong Golf Tournament THIS COMING MONDAY, November 7th! Your involvement will earn you an incredible day of golf, a membership to Preferred Golf for 1 year (a $295 value!), lots of cool swag, and—best of all—a part in helping to end cancer forever.

See you there!
Angie

Note: To join the Cures Rock! Running team at the Surf City H.B. race, select the "Cures Rock Running Team" during registration and post here so we know you joined! To join the Cures Rock! team fundraising for Livestrong at the Austin race, go to www.teamlivestrong.org, search for the race and choose our team when you sign up! Post here so we know you joined!

LIVESTRONG Blog » Calling All Patients Affected by Recent Drug Shortage

If you're a patient, healthworker or family member that's been affected by the recent drug shortages, the LIVESTRONG Foundation has a place to share your story....check out their blog from yesterday: LIVESTRONG Blog » Blog Archive » Calling All Patients Affected by Recent Drug Shortage

LIVESTRONG Blog »PSA Tests: What the Debate Means for Men

What are your thoughts? Post your comments on the LIVESTRONG blog at the link below regarding some of the recommendations of the PSA test for men and prostrate cancer. Men, pay attention!

LIVESTRONG Blog » Blog Archive » PSA Tests: What the Debate Means for Men