Cancer Fairy Godmother » Books

A Book to Save your life

admin — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 01:05:31 +0000

Here’s a club everyone wants to be a member of. It’s probably human nature to wonder if you have what it takes to survive in a crisis. This thought-provoking book not only profiles dozens and dozens of people who have done just that, it also gives you a way to grade yourself on your likely survivorship, and tips on how to raise your score. You even learn which seats on an airplane are the safest (be near an exit, and forget about that window seat).

The three rules of the Survivors Club, according to author Ben Sherwood, are that everyone is a survivor, one person’s crisis can’t be compared to another’s, and people are stronger than they know. Attitude has a lot to do with it. If you see yourself as a survivor, you’ll likely be one.

You learn many of the reasons why people do not survive. One is called the Incredulity Response — people simply don’t believe what they are seeing. Two gripping stories bring this idea to life. In the first, a car-ferry sinking in the Baltic Sea, many victims didn’t move or try to get out of the sinking ship, but were rather “frozen to the spot” looking like “marble statues, pale and immoveable.” 852 passengers died. In the second story, a fire in London’s Underground train station killed 31 people, with many commuters marching “right into the disaster, almost oblivious to the crush of people — some actually in flames — who were trying to escape.”

“Brainlock” is another reason some people in crisis die. They respond to the shock of the situation by forgetting to think. “Under stress… people often display memory problems. They seem to forget what they’re supposed to do.” This isn’t good if you’re skydiving. As Sherwood puts it, “panic is the archenemy of survival.”

The final section of the book is devoted to helping you understand your own survivor potential, with quizzes to take and a website to visit.

Reading this book will make you think about how you live your life, and ways to ensure you can keep on living. It’s fascinating.

How to get insurance when you have a pre-existing condition

admin — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:03:30 +0000

1. Become a group of one.

In about a dozen states, you can be a group all by yourself for insurance purposes. What this means is that you become, in effect, just like any other company, and insurers can’t deny you insurance or charge you higher premiums because of your pre-existing condition, according to Lembo.

“You’d be surprised at the number of folks who open their own landscaping business” to get the group of one, he says.

To find out whether your state will allow you to become a group of one, see this list from the Kaiser Family Foundation (look at the column headed “Definition of Small Group,” and look for “1-50″).

For more information on becoming a group of one, see this advice from the American Diabetes Association.

In states where you can’t become a group of one, you can become a group of two.

“You can hire your brother-in-law to become a subcontractor for your landscaping company,” Lembo said. “It’s horrible, but what else are you going to do?”

An important note: Under these rules, an insurance company might be allowed to exclude coverage for your specific condition for a short period of time, usually about six months.

2. If you’ve been laid off, get COBRA.

COBRA can be extremely expensive, but it’s worth digging deep in your pockets for the premiums, because it may be difficult, if not impossible, to get insurance any other way, Consumer Reports’ Metcalf says. If you’ve been laid off since September 1, you’re eligible for a 65 percent discount on COBRA premiums. For more information, visit the Department of Labor’s Web site.

3. When you lose your employer-related insurance, apply for new insurance within 63 days.

In all states, a designated insurance company — charmingly called “the insurer of last resort” — has to take “all comers” in insurance lingo. You have to apply for this insurance within 63 days of losing your group insurance. For all the rules, read this explanation from Families USA (scroll down and look for the “HIPAA eligible” heading).

Here’s the bad news: Although in some states there are limits to what the “insurer of last resort” can charge you, in other states, there aren’t. In those states, “the sky’s the limit,” . “They can and will charge you a fortune. It could be, say, $1,400 a month in premiums with a $5,000 deductible. But some people pay that because it’s the only game in town.”

To find out the rules in your state, visit the Kaiser Family Foundation’s State Health Facts or contact your state insurance commissioner.

4. Find out whether your state has a high-risk pool.

State high-risk pools are specifically for people with pre-existing conditions who can’t find affordable insurance on their own. Thirty states have high-risk pools, insuring 175,000 people, according to the American Diabetes Association, which lists the states on its Web site.

5. See whether your professional organization offers group insurance.

Some professional groups, such as those representing real estate agents and freelance writers, offer health insurance. Check and see whether your profession does the same.

Here’s another piece of advice, offered somewhat tongue in cheek: Move to Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York or Vermont.

“In those states, everyone has to sell to you,” said Cheryl Fish-Parcham, deputy director of health policy at Families USA. Not only do insurance companies have to sell you a policy in those states, there are limits on how much they can charge you, she says.

For more help in finding insurance when you have a pre-existing condition, you can contact the Cover Me Foundation at 877-678-7631 or Coverage For All at 800-234-1317.

Free Gods Love We Deliver Meals for Cancer Too

admin — Mon, 11 May 2009 03:18:16 +0000

A great charity that actually helps those who are sick is Joan Rivers favorite charity “Gods Love We Deliver”. The Cancer Fairy Godmother was so happy when she saw on The Celebrity Apprentice that this charity delivers free food. Again the word FREE. As promised the Cancer Fairy Godmother tries her best to give you information on these services.

At God’s Love We Deliver there mission is to improve the health and well-being of men, women and children living with serious illnesses (CANCER) by alleviating hunger and malnutrition.

They prepare and deliver nutritious meals to those who are unable to provide or prepare meals for themselves. They also provide illness-specific nutrition education and counseling to their clients,families,care providers and other service organizations.

How can you get on the meal program? Call client services at 212-294-8102 or 800-747-2023 this will begin the registration process. For more information: http://www.godslovewedeliver.org

Parabens-Free Cosmetic Companies

admin — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:55:28 +0000

Want to know if your product contains parabens? Here are some steps to take:

Look on the label for the following ingredients: methylparaben, propylparaben, isoparaben, or butylparaben.
Find out which company makes the product you use. See if they have an ingredient list available on the product itself or on the company’s web site.
Try emailing or calling the company and asking them if your product contains parabens.
If you find a cosmetics company that is completely paraben-free, let us know!

Keep in mind that if a company is not forthcoming with the information you seek, you may want to purchase your products from another company.

Here are some companies that have committed to being paraben-free. These companies do not use parabens for preservation, but instead use other procedures, packaging choices, and ingredients to achieve product stability.

Crazy Sexy Cancer

admin — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 23:28:57 +0000

An advice-from-the-trenches cancer survival guidebook for young women with cancer.

Actress and photographer Kris Carr thought she had a hangover, but a Jivamukti yoga class didn’t provide its usual kick-ass cure. A visit to her doctor confirmed her “liver looked like Swiss cheese,” covered with cancerous tumors. She entered trench warfare (wearing cowboy boots into the MRI machine, no less), vowing, “Cancer needed a makeover and I was just the gal to do it!” She began writing and filming her journey, documenting her interactions with friends, doctors, alternative “quacks,” blind dates, and other women with cancer—sadly a growing group. These include hip, young women such as illustrator-author Marisa Acocella Marchetto (Cancer Vixen), Glamour writer-editor Erin Zammett (My So-Called Normal Life), MTV personality Diem Brown (Real World/Road Rules Challenge), model Sharon Blynn (founder, Bald Is Beautiful), and music manager Jackie Farry, among others. In August 2007, The Learning Channel will broadcast Carr’s unforgettable documentary, Crazy Sexy Cancer.

CRAZY SEXY CANCER TIPS gathers the lessons learned and advice offered from Carr’s own journey, as well as the experiences of her cancer posse. Full-color photos accompany personal stories and candid revelations in this scrapbook of advice, warnings, and resources for the cancer patient. Chapters cover your changing social life, dating, sex, and appearance; essential health tips on how to boost your immune system; recipes; medical and holistic resources; and information on young survivor support groups. The resulting book is a warm, yet informative tool for any woman newly diagnosed with the disease and for those who love them.

Breast Cancer Survival Manual

admin — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:37:12 +0000

A completely updated edition of the definitive guide for patients with breast cancer

The new fourth edition of The Breast Cancer Survival Manual provides essential updates on treatment and care, enhancing the basic information that has made this the most trusted guide for women diagnosed with breast cancer for the past decade. This edition includes the most current advice on:

• getting a second opinion: why it’s important, what questions to ask, and how to decide which team of doctors is best for you:

• updates on genetic testing and how doctors are using the results to tailor care for each patient
• navigating new types of radiation, the herceptin breakthrough, and improved reconstruction surgeries

Conscious of the rapidly evolving spectrum of treatment options, Dr. John Link outlines the latest findings and professional wisdom for the patient in pursuit of the most effective treatment plan.

The Breast Cancer Survival Manual continues to be a must-have for any woman seeking accurate and accessible information about managing breast cancer today.

John Link, M.D., a renowned oncologist, is head of Breastlink, a comprehensive breast cancer group he founded that is based in Southern California. Breastlink has been recognized as a leader and innovator in breast cancer care by Self magazine and ABC’s 20/20. Dr. Link also founded the Breast Cancer Care and Research Fund, a nonprofit charity dedicated to educating and helping women achieve optimal care.