Carcinoid Awareness Month

Elinor Gonci presided over the meeting consisting of 8 members.

Business Meeting

Summary of October meeting when those present decided that they would like to continue the group. Summary of December meeting of the holiday pot luck lunch and presentation of a clock to Bob Getman. Treasurers report $2,440. balance. Election was held for a recording secretary. Sandra Holmes was elected. Correspondence was read from Eileen Shingleton regarding her husband, Michael. Report of the passing of Shirley Olson. Discussion of the need of the web site. Discussion of using the fundraising bracelets, magnets, and pins at health fairs. The cookbook has approximately 100 recipes, Judy and Nancy would welcome any help. Radio WTIC l080 AM on Sunday 8:30-9:00 am from Yale Cancer Center discusses various types of cancer, transcripts of the program can be read on the computer at www.yalecancercenter.org, then click on healthline. Pat Strong and Elinor Gonci would welcome someone to take over the group as they are only temporary chairpeople. Discussion of the purpose of the group ie awareness and or support, let Pat Strong know how you feel. A suggestion was made that maybe meetings could be held further south of Hartford for those traveling from that area. Julianne Maggio volunteered to look for a meeting place that we might use in June.

We were reminded that the next meeting is scheduled for Sunday, April 15, 2007 at the Welles Turner Library in Glastonbury from 2 to 4 p.m.

The business meeting was closed and we went into support group mode.

Respectfully submitted, Sandra Holmes Secretary

PAST affairs:

GOVERNOR RELL PROCLAIMS MAY 2005 AS "CONNECTICUT CARCINOID CANCER AWARENESS MONTH"

Statewide- Governor Jodi Rell has issued a proclamation designating May 2005 as Connecticut Carcinoid Cancer Awareness Month. Carcinoid Cancer results from changes in the gasterointestinal system neuroendocrine cells which cause these cells to grow too much and form slow growing microscopic tumors which if not treated, can expand and create numerous symptoms and which could ultimately lead to death. Carcinoid Cancer is known to affect approximately 80,000 people in the United States and approximately 70 new cases are identified in Connecticut each year.

Carcinoid Cancer is commonly misdiagnosed due to the symptomatic similarities to other diseases such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), anxiety, Crohns disease, Asthma, Rosacea . Thus the disease is considered to be under diagnosed. Even after diagnosis, many patients will go untreated since is has been generally believed that Carcinoid tumors are benign and slow-growing.

In December 2003, a number of Carcinoid patients and their care givers organized the Connecticut Carcinoid Initiative (CCI) for the purpose of making health care providers and the public more aware of and sensitive to the symptoms of this disease. The Initiative also works to ensure that treatment options are available to reduce the number of misdiagnoses of Carcinoid patients and to enable earlier detection and treatment to enhance quality of life and survival.

In her proclamation, the Governor urges all citizens to join her in the understanding of cancers and participation in activities to support education and research to find a cure.
PROCLAMATION MAY 2005

To see formal proclamation CLICK HERE

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This is a photo of Irene Wahl., a CCI member, delivering 1086 letters in support of out Carcinoid Postal stamp project. We now have approximately 7000 such letters from all over the country.

MAY 2004 WAS CARCINOID AWARENESS MONTH.
On the 29th of April, 2004 Governor Rowland of Connecticut signed the first proclamation making May Carcinoid Awareness Month in Connecticut.
( For pictures of this special event CLICK HERE )

12 Jericho Dr.
Old Lyme , CT. 06371
H-860-434-2682
C-860-227-0497
dglbg@juno.com

Robert Getman is the Founder and Coordinator of the Connecticut Carcinoid Initiative ( CCI )

Wife's Death Spurs Local Man to Help Others
Widower Forms Carcinoid Cancer Support Group to spread awareness of rare cancer
4/30/2004 - Old Lyme -" Bob Getman couldn't reach the goals he set as caretaker for his dying wife, Diane.But when he could not reach those goals one by one, he set a new course to help raise awareness of Diane's disease."
For full story by Joanne M. Godfrey, Lyme Times Staff Writer CLICK HERE
Lyme Times
http://lymetimes.shorepublishing.com/