** GIVEAWAY TIME **

It's that time again! To further increase the traffic to my site I have decided to do another giveaway!

For Nana's Box September Giveaway we have teamed up with
Designs by Reese to giveaway this fabulous pink cancer awareness bracelet!

* Rose quartz and sterling silver create a classy look in this cancer awareness bracelet by Designs by Reese. Sterling silver block letters spell out hope. A sterling silver healing charm completes the look. Bracelet measures 7.5” long and is finished with a sterling silver heart toggle.

To enter all you need to do is visit Designsbyreese and tell us your what your favorite piece of jewelry is on her etsy site. Then come back here and leave us a comment.
For a second chance to enter, post about our giveaway on your blog and then comment back letting us know that we are on your blog. (second entry based on prior approval of terms above.) The winner will be chosen on Saturday, September 13 at 1:00 pm EST.

I hope everyone will spread the word about Nana's Box, I know there are people out there that can benefit from a box of their own.

So, ENTER now, and Good luck to Everyone!!

Special THANKS to Designs by Reese for donating that gorgeous, beautiful bracelet! Check out her blog by clicking here!

TUNE IN SEPTEMBER 5TH 8PM ET/PT

STAND UP TO CANCER

In less than two weeks, over 50 personalities in TV, film, sports and music will come together to make history. In an unprecedented television event, NBC, ABC, and CBS will simultaneously devote 1 hour of commercial-free prime time to raise funds for the fight against cancer.

Should raise a whole lot of money for cancer research!

Will you be watching?

Stay Tuned..

Nana's Box September Giveaway is only HOURS away!!

Laughter is the best Medicine

By chance I found this great blog and site called Stay Positive Greetings. It is a greeting card site with funny cards to send to women going through treatment. I am always up for anything unique and uplifting that you can give to cancer patients during treatment... if that isn't obvious. ;) And this was right up my alley. If you are lacking the right words to say to someone who is battling cancer, check out this site and let the funny cards do the talking!

Shave for a Cause

When my mom was going through Chemo I told myself that if she lost her hair I would shave my head too. And that's saying alot, not just because I'm a girl with hair but the women in my family have long, LONG, beautiful locks of dark, thick hair.
Fortunately, she didn't lose her hair so, I am still hanging on to mine.
But, should you feel the need to shave your head, do it for a good cause.
September is National Childhood-Cancer Awareness Month.
The St. Baldricks Foundation coordinates worldwide head-shaving events to raise money for childhood-cancer research. Check out their site here and organize an event in your area!

*this photo is of Lea White, whose daughter Bianca has leukemia, shaved her hair to raise money for the Childhood-Cancer.

How to Talk to Your Kids about Cancer

I found this little article in the current issue of Parents and thought that the idea and organization was brilliant. Kimmie Cares dolls is an organization that provides a way for parents to tell their child about cancer. The Kimmie Cares doll and book are powerful tools that can help parents explain the monumental changes that are taking place in their life. The doll comes with 3 different hair pieces (long, short and just a scarf) and a book that talks about mothers and the effects of cancer in a way that children of all ages will understand.

This is perfect for any mother who is looking for a way to tell her children about her cancer. Check out the website. The proceeds from the sales of the Kimmie dolls are used to fight cancer.

Just another way for us to fight this disease.

Every 13 minutes a Women dies of Breast Cancer

With the recent news of the actress Christina Applegate being diagnosed with Breast Cancer I have decided to post some facts about breast cancer and breast cancer screening.

Screening:

I learned that if breast cancer runs in your family that you should start getting mammograms 10 prior to the diagnoses date of your family member. ie: if your mom was diagnosed at 39 you should start getting mammograms at 29.

Women over 40 should get a mammogram every year.

Facts vs. Myths:

Q: only women with a history of breast cancer can get it.
A: myth. 85% of women with breast cancer have no family history of the disease.

Q: all breast lumps are cancerous.
A: myth. 80% of all biopsied breast lumps are not cancerous. As a woman ages, her risk of developing breast cancer increases and if she does develop a lump, the risk that the lump could be malignant increases.

Q: wearing an under wire bra can cause cancer.
A: myth. There are no scientifically valid studies that show a correlation between wearing bras of any type and the occurrence of breast cancer.

^{-facts taken from the strength in knowing website}

"Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" is a fund raiser for breast cancer research that is currently going on across the country. Go to cancer.org to find the event closets to you.

News from the Nana's Box Family

Our dear friend, Abbi, who is a Nana's Box recipient as well as an ARDS survivor, has recently joined the ARDS Foundation team and will be attending a fund raising walk on Sept. 21, 2008. For every donation made over $40, in her behalf, the donor will receive an original drawing created specifically for them. The drawings will be done on 100% cotton rag paper with pen, pencil, and ink.

Visit her website for more information and to read her personal story.

Those drawings will be shown at the Anton Art Center for a special fund raising exhibition Sept. 12-Oct. 3, 2008. All proceeds made from the exhibition will be donated for ARDS research.

This is such a wonderful thing that Abbi is doing and we wish her the best of luck. We are happy to hear that her recovery is going well and that she is giving back in her own special way. For more information or to contact Abbi, you can email her at: abbiisraelsen@yahoo.com

Recent News

Recently I've had the privilege to make two boxes for two very special women. The first is for a women named Robyn who is battling Breast Cancer, for the 2nd time. Thanks to her neighbor and dear friend she will soon have a box of her own. It's always a pleasure to make a box for someone I don't know. I hope it brings a bit of joy and happiness to Robyn's family. Robyn, who is an Elementary school reading specialist loves to garden and the joy of her life is her 3 grandchildren. Stay strong Robyn, and keep up the fight!

The next box was made for my sisters friends mom. She was recently diagnosed with Breast Cancer and has since had surgery. She will be starting on rounds of chemo soon and we wish her all the strength in the world. She has one daughter who is an amazing person. I have had the chance to travel to the other side of the world with this girl, and she is a wonderful person. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Karleen and her family. Stay Strong!

Sunscreen safety

It is now well known that exposure to sun puts people at risk for skin cancer and premature aging and that most of that exposure comes during childhood (80% of a person's lifetime sun exposure occurs before they are 21). Regular use of sunscreen in children can lower their risk of skin cancer by almost 78%.

There are many sunscreens available for safe use in children over six months old. Pick one that offers UVA and UVB protection and that has a SPF of 15 or higher (especially if your child has light skin). Apply the sunscreen in a thick coat at least 30-45 minutes before going outside and reapply every two hours (or more often in he is swimming or perspiring heavily).

Here are some other tips to protect your child from the damaging effects of the sun.

• Wear protective clothing, including a hat and long sleeve shirt and long pants. Keep in mind that most clothing only has a SPF of 5-9, so you can still get sun damage with a shirt on.
• Limit exposure to the sun when it is at its strongest (10am-4pm).
• Protect your child's eyes with sunglasses that protect against UVA and UVB radiation.
• Use sunscreen daily, even if it is cloudy, since most of the sun's radiation penetrates clouds and can still cause sunburn.
• Consider using a sunscreen with ingredients (such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) that physically block the sun's radiation if your child has sensitive skin.
• Deet lowers the effectiveness of sunscreens, so use a higher SPF if you are using a combination product that has both a sunscreen and an insect repellent.

So Grateful...

I am so grateful and lucky to have such wonderful people in my life. Thank you to all you wonderful friends and family members who have helped me spread the word about my Nana's Box , and to those of you who posted links and such on your blogs.
I got a huge response to the giveaway that I did. I was even able to get a few names of people who will be receiving Nana's Boxes, thanks to the wonderful and caring people in their lives. Its been so special to learn bits and pieces about these cancer patients. I feel so blessed to be able to provide them just a bit of hope and comfort in such a rough time.
Thank you again to all of you who support me and my little cancer project. My heart is overwhelmed with gratitude!

And the Winner is....

Thank you so much to all of you that entered our giveaway and Congratulations to Yelowflower, our Winner!
I hope that you will continue to visit our site to get info about cancer, and cancer prevention. Please look for our next Giveaway starting Sept. 1st!!!

I appreciate all of you for spreading the word about Nana's Box. Since starting this giveaway we have been asked to create a number of Nana's Boxes for patients currently in treatment. Without your help we could not have gotten the word out.

Thank you to all of you who posted Nana's Box on your own blogs and to those of you who have contacted us about get a box to a loved one.
"Together We Can Cure Cancer!"

Give-a-way Time! ** NOW CLOSED **

GIVE-A-WAY!!!

This is the first give away that Nana's Box has done. It certainly will not be the last. We are giving away a faux suede, lavander bag. Inside we are adding a pack of homemade cards and envelopes (4 thank yous, 4 thinking of yous, 3 blank), a "colors of cancer" bookmark, and a purple HOPE cancer wristband!

All you have to do is leave us a comment before 1:30 pm on August 8th, and you are automatically entered to win! We will randomly draw a winner and then contact you for further details on where to send your prize.

Please tell all your friends and fellow bloggers about us and our give-a-way!

Thanks!
"Together We Can Cure Cancer"

The War on Cancer

Facts You Need to Know About Cancer

One in three people will contract cancer, and one in four will die from the disease.

Within five years, cancer will surpass heart disease as the leading cause of death, according to the American Hospital Association.

In 1994, 1.2 million new cancer cases were added to the more than eight million people in the U.S. who have already been diagnosed with cancer.

Since 1950, the overall cancer incidence has increased by 44 percent; the incidence of breast cancer and male colon cancer by about 60 percent; testis, prostate and kidney by 100 percent; and other cancers, such as malignant melanoma, multiple myeloma and some lymphomas, by over 100 percent.

ACS: Cancer Facts and Figure 2008-

Cancer death rates have decreased by 18.4% among men and 10.5% among women since the early 1990s. But while reports from the last two years have seen declines in the overall number of cancer deaths (in 2003 and 2004), this year's report examining 2005 data shows an increase (559,312 cancer deaths in 2005 compared to 553,888 in 2004).