The Cancer Fight

Two Years Later, I'm Still Winning

2013-03-14T09:30:00.000-07:00

63,158,400 seconds ago, I was killing off the last cancer cells in my body. I remember it very well. It has been two years since I finally began to feel better, when the last drop of chemotherapy entered my chest.

My body will never let me forget what's happened. Every day I wake up, I'll still see the scars reminding me. Certain foods still cause flashbacks of the taste of medicine. I won't forget the immense pain I've felt. Nothing has ever hurt so much. There were times I honestly thought there was only one way out. Thanks to the support of friends, family, and complete strangers, I've managed to overcome much of that trauma.

In these two years, I've done a few things in support of cancer patients. And while I've had my limitations, I still strongly encourage others to support some of these charities. In some cases, it's the only thing preventing those affected by cancer from losing their fight. TheCancerFight.org still offers some resources to look at.

To those who are still fighting, never stop.

Until next time,
Mark Liederbach

A New Direction, A New Beginning

2012-12-14T12:48:00.000-08:00

As the end of 2012 is upon us, and we are settling into winter, we would like to take this opportunity to share some news with you.

For the past year and 7 months, The Cancer Fight has been there to help those struggling with cancer. We've taken initiative to offer discussion opportunities, fundraising, and regular articles to spread awareness. In doing so, we have learned a lot about the fight against cancer. We have heard many fighters' stories and offered support tools like T-shirts and Wristbands. We are incredibly proud of our journey, both on the campus of the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater and online.

This past week, our executive board members convened to discuss the future of The Cancer Fight's campus presence. While we agreed that TCFO plays a big role in supporting those fighting cancer, we also acknowledged the need for a change in strategy. As of January 1st, 2013, TCFO will become an online-only operation. This comes at a time when the hurdles of in-person meetings have become larger than what is feasibly efficient. Many of us will ultimately become unable to regularly operate these gatherings. Instead, we've decided to go back to our roots as an online-based resource for those fighting cancer.

We believe that the technology available to us enables our online operation to have the same - or better - efficiency as in-person meetings. Social media resources like Google+ and its Communities, Facebook, Twitter, and of course our blog make of presence far more widespread than any in-person meeting could accomplish.

Our goal is to provide the same level of support to those affected by cancer, but do it in a more focused, and hence, more effective method. The numerous portals of communication are to remain open to our readership for as long as there is a need for it. With this new direction, we hope to vastly improve our connections, and operate on a much deeper level with those affected by cancer.

Thank you for your support. We hope to connect with you in the future as we embark on this new path.

As always, you can connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, our blog, or via email.

Mind Over Cancer | LIVESTRONG Day

2012-09-27T10:08:00.001-07:00

Our Discussion for next week just became a whole lot more important! We are now approved as an official LIVESTRONG Day event.

LIVESTRONG Day events are happening around the world. From fundraisers to information booths, to "wear yellow" days in the office and beyond. Collectively, this day will be the largest display of cancer support in history.

The Cancer Fight is now a part of this day. We want to formally extend the invitation to you to join us in our discussion: Mind Over Cancer. Tell cancer how you really feel! Share your stories, experience and successes against cancer. Help others overcome their struggle, and give the fight against cancer a collective voice!

If you'd like to join our discussion, RSVP on our Facebook Event!

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Mental Preparedness: When to Stop Worrying

2012-09-25T15:03:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow, I will be getting the blood test and chest X-ray results from last week. As I’m preparing myself for the news, I find that with each appointment, I am more and more confident that the troubles of my past are finally just that, the past.

In the beginning, my prognosis was, assuming no complications (which turned out to not be the case), treatment would be extremely effective. Nevertheless, there’s that underlying fear that something might go wrong, that something unexpected would enable that small chance of tragedy. As November approaches, and my two-year anniversary of going talk to my doctor about a lump, I’m looking at that time of my life in a very different perspective.

I find these appointments more and more of a formality, as though I know nothing will go wrong. It actually scares me sometimes to think like that, because we all know what a jinx is. I know that nothing is ever guaranteed, and I should be a little more prepared for bad news. This raises a question that I’d like to talk about: At what point in remission do the follow-up appointments and tests feel unneeded?

Let me clarify something. I do not think the appointments are in fact unnecessary. That would be foolish. Rather, when does the mind simply stop worrying? Let’s say you are lucky enough to have made it through treatment. You've survived untold amounts of agony, loss, and pain; and you have finally reached remission. Assuming that your chance of relapse is minimal, how long does it take the mind to move on?

I cannot give the complete answer to this question. I can, however, contribute my experiences to the discussion. From my perspective, worry and stress over these tests diminish at a direct proportion to the length of time between appointments. As time passes, follow-ups and tests are scheduled farther apart. You go from having appointments every week, to every two weeks. Then you might only talk to your Oncologist every 1-3 months. Eventually, assuming your tests continue to be optimistic, your prior struggle with cancer has evolved into a yearly affair. Although I find each piece of good news a milestone towards recovery, I find my reaction to the news less and less significant.

Likewise, your expectation changes. You are now expecting good news, and would be more and more shocked to hear otherwise. It raises an interesting note. This implies that if one were to have a relapse at any point in remission, the “better” time to have this complication be closer to the end of treatment, versus years of thinking you’re in the clear.

I’ve put the word better in quotes for obvious reasons. There is never a good time for complications, but there can be worse times. While each situation is different, and every patient is at a different point in their lives, I think that the underlying principle here holds true. It’s an observation that I have found particularly relevant to my remission time and recovery. I don’t necessarily believe in jinxes, but there is always that innate fear that this time, the results could say something very unwanted. Your level of mental preparedness may be something to observe, because that type of news is devastating. It requires an amount of self-perspective and mental strength to make the decision to fight once more. This is something I think about all the time.

First In-Person Discussion for Fall Announced

2012-09-25T08:42:00.000-07:00

The Cancer Fight Organization is gearing up for their first in-person discussion of the Fall Semester at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Members selected several discussion topics to be covered at the chat on Tuesday, October 2nd at 8:15pm. This discussion is part of a larger initiative by The Cancer Fight to provide weekly talking points for those affected by cancer. These talking points allow cancer fighters the opportunity to open up about their struggle and find connections with others in similar situations. We release these topics every Monday via blog and Youtube.

If you are a student at The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and would like to attend this discussion, RSVP on our Facebook event, or let us know by emailing us at connect@thecancerfight.org. Snacks will be provided, so we'd like to have enough for everyone.

Next week's discussion topics will be announce on Monday, October 1st on our Youtube Channel;. You can view and respond to this week's topics below.

4 Reasons Why Google+ Can Help You Beat Cancer

2012-07-10T11:40:00.000-07:00

Sunrise at Cape Canaveral | Mark Liederbach

Google+ is a rather unique community. Depending upon what you want from it, the community has a place to find what you are looking for.

Part of The Cancer Fight's overall mission is to provide an accessible way for those affected by cancer to communicate with others, share their thoughts, and receive support in a personal way. When Google+ and the advent of Pages came along, we were very excited about the possibilities. We now had the zero-cost platform allowing us to fulfill this goal. Since our first step into the network, we now have an ever-growing base of 400+ supporters. Many of these supporters participate, console, and help others struggling with cancer. This network can prove incredibly useful for someone affected by cancer, as well as many other features. Below is our top 4 reasons why Google+ and fighting cancer have such a strong bond. If you are someone dealing with cancer in any sort of way, we encourage you to consider if any of these reasons can help your situation.

Face-to-Face Cancer Discussions

Organizations like The Cancer Fight, Community Support, Virtual Photowalks and many more are using the Google Hangouts feature to bring together fighters and survivors alike to talk about cancer.

From celebrating birthdays in hospitals to virtual photowalks for those who can't get outside, they are reaching out to patients worldwide. This is an optimal environment to find the abundance of support you need.

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Resources

Whether your looking for survivors, experts, or someone to cheer you on, there are boundless resources found on the platform.

We usually use our page to host private and public support groups. Others like to share new treatment research. If you've got a particular interest on any cancer-related topic, you can probably find it quite easily using the universal Search bar at the top of each page.

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If you use Blogger, You're Empowered.

Now that Blogger (a Google product) is now integrated with Google+, your personal cancer blog is now even more empowered. You can directly link the authors of your blog site to their respective Google+ profiles.

If you want to see this in action, take a look at the toolbar to the right of our blog. In addition to this integration, you can also post your newest article to Google+ the second you click "Publish". Keep it up, and Google+'s tendency to direct relevant users to pages they are interested in - like yours - will grow and grow.

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Privacy

Circles, circles, and well, circles! You might get dizzy with all these circles, but in perspective, it means your privacy is guarded. When you want to build your network of support, you'll come across many different types. You'll have survivors, fighters, experts, family, and more. You might not want to share information on death rates of a particular cancer with fighters currently struggling with that same affliction.

Yet experts and survivors might find this information very relevant. If you've divided your network into circles, that's incredible easy. Simply share with your Survivors and Experts circles, and not the Fighters circle. We have utilized this feature to a maximum efficiency, providing only the information our followers will appreciate.

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If we come up with another list of why Google+ has transformed our view of online support for cancer fighters, we'll be sure to post it as quick as we can type it. We believe your support is out there, and we want to be your first step in making the change.

Don't know where to start? Here's our to-do list.

1. Sign up for Google+ at plus.google.com.
2. Build your circles using the search function.
3. Find The Cancer Fight on Google+, we'll help you out!
4. Have a Blogger account? Hook it up to your new profile.
5. Interact, engage, and make the connections you're looking for.

That's it! If you want more information, be sure to

Relay for Life Event to Hold Cancer Study

2012-04-10T09:54:00.000-07:00

Credit: ACS, Relay for Life

As those in the city of Whitewater, WI gear up for another annual Relay for Life on April 28, 2012, other locations are seeing some big opportunities to directly help cancer research.

For years, the American Cancer Society (ACS) has been holding the Relay for Life events all across America, in hopes to spread support for those affected by cancer. Among the locations participating in these events is the city of North Reading, Massachusetts. This year, Relay for Life will be holding a special signup allowing participants to be part of a cancer prevention study. This study, conducted by the ACS Epidemiology Research Division will attempt to understand certain causes of cancer.

The Chairperson of the study, Janet Vincze, states: "If we don't study a poplulation, we don't know." Individuals who who hope to contribute to the study must meet certain criteria including age limits, no prior history of cancer, and long-term commitment to the study.

This study will be conducted over the next 20 to 30 years, and will involve short follow-up exams and brief surveys. It is not going to be a clinical study, rather this analysis will focus on lifestyle choices and other factors that might lead to the development f cancer.

ACS has conducted these types of studies in the past. The Cancer Prevention Study is the third in a series of very informative tests. In the 1980's, previous cancer studies concluded the link between smoking and lung cancer, as well as correlations between obesity and cancer.

If you support these types of programs and studies, please consider joining an ACS-sponsored Relay for Life near you. Such research is a vital link to understanding better treatment and prevention methods for cancer.

You can learn more about Relay for Life here

(Special thanks to the North Reading Patch)
"Cancer Study Incorporated in Relay for Life" Reading-North Reading Patch. Patch, 10 April. 2012. Web. 10 April. 2012. <http://reading.patch.com/articles/cancer-study-incorporated-in-relay-for-life>.

Caregiving: Making the Difference

2012-03-15T08:04:00.000-07:00

Some thoughts around caregivers and supporters of cancer patients.

It is a role you never expect to play. One for which you can never prepare. It is a time filled with contradiction and emotion. Here you are providing support and strength to the patient, trying to stay positive, optimistic and hopeful. At the same time you can’t help but worry, feel sadness and maybe even some unfounded guilt. Why did this happen? What could be the cause? Is there anything that could have been done differently? I don’t know a loving parent who wouldn’t want to trade places with their child who was diagnosed with cancer. After all the years of fixing and making things better, suddenly there is such a feeling of helplessness. You quickly realize that this one, you can’t handle alone. You need to find faith in many things including the amazing doctors, chemotherapy nurses and other medical professionals dedicated to fighting this disease.

Then, in the midst of all the emotion, there is the daunting challenge of handling the business aspects of it all. Cancer treatments are complicated and expensive. The cold hard truth is, cancer treatments are big business to the medical institutions who need to be paid and to the insurance companies who want to pay as little as possible. Dealing and negotiating with the business offices of the medical providers while challenging the insurance company is a necessary evil, during a time when you are likely in a weak and emotional state. On one hand, you would spare no amount of money to provide the best care and successful treatment for your patient, but money is not a limitless bounty.

In my experience, without careful monitoring, follow-up and advocacy of medical claims, treatments deemed necessary by doctors would have been denied by the insurance company. The financial aspects alone were a full time job. My heart goes out to anyone not able to handle this task and certainly to any cancer patients who must handle their own finances and advocate for themselves during treatment and recovery.

Somehow, both you and your cancer survivor will make it through the toughest of times. You, yourself, will feel like a fighter and a survivor.

Written by Carol Liederbach, Mother and Caregiver of Mark

Photo credit: Mark Liederbach, 2011

Successful Cancer Discussion Last Week

2012-03-05T08:42:00.000-08:00

Last week, The Cancer Fight held one of our virtual cancer discussions via Google Hangouts. A total of 12 people turned on their webcams to join in, with experiences in cancer varying greatly. We had personal, thoughtful chats on topics ranging from what it's like to be a kid with cancer, caring for someone with cancer, and the forefront of cancer research.

All the while, we were streaming live to our new TCFO Network, which was its inaugural event.

Our discussion gave us and some new-found friends the opportunity to express our thoughts and feelings in a constructive way that was very special. We really appreciate the meaningful discussions we were able to have with those who participated, and we know that we will soon connect again.

In then mean time, if you or your organization have a cancer discussion that you would like to stream to TCFO Network, feel free to sign up, as we want to make sure everyone has the chance to spread their knowledge to others.

Stay connected with us to hear of our next cancer discussion!

Your Friend,

Mark Liederbach
President, Co-Founder - The Cancer Fight

Surviving: Take Control

2012-02-15T07:51:00.000-08:00

I've talked a lot about support over my time spent writing. One topic that I haven't touched on since mid-February of last year is setting a goal for yourself. Life should not yield to cancer. Treatment will put tremendous stress on your basic abilities to function. To combat this, I strongly advise you to fight for normalcy.

My perspective on cancer led me to understand that it was this constant force trying to derail your everyday life; and while there are some elements out of your control, take the little victories. Treatments like chemotherapy immobilize, demotivate, discourage keeping a routine, and most of all, attempt to convince you that you have lost control. You still have control. It is a challenge, but every waking moment you spend dealing with cancer needs to be viewed with the idea that the ball is in your court. You have taken the offense, and control this fight.

Here are some ways to maintain some sanity:

Set a Goal: Early on in my diagnosis when outlook was looking bright, I set a goal - more of a bet, really. If I could fight through chemo, I would do something for myself. In my case, I found that thanks to the financial circumstances associated with less classes at school, I had a good start on saving for small trip for my girlfriend Nicole and myself. So we set a date to take a vacation near the end of treatment. For me, it was that Twinkie tied to the end of the stick. It was my motivation to stay in the game.

This philosophy especially meant something to me near the end, when the complications happened. Not one week before the end of treatment - and the trip I had been looking forward to for three months - I developed multiple blood clots in my lungs and left arm. I was hospitalized for four days with excruciating pain in my chest; and I gained a new regiment of prescription blood thinners (both orally and by injection). When I was this close to finishing, nothing, especially this, was going to stop me from finishing on my terms. As long as I had the blessing of the doctors, I was ready to go. It's certainly more symbolic than anything, but I think that it's a good story of determination.

Stay Active: Treatment will take a huge amount of your energy. It's a key challenge faced during this process. The problem is that treatments like chemotherapy also need to be balanced with regular activity. The reason being that you begin to feel even worse with the more time spent immobile and not doing things you'd normally be able to do. Accepting the fact that some things my become impossible to accomplish during treatment, other tasks - like going for a walk, being social (when you can), and in my case blogging - will help you keep some sanity. Mainly, it's beneficial to distract your mind from negative thoughts. It's an active process, but ultimately very worth the effort.

I've also found my activity and attention diverted towards my continued studies. I chose to stay in college through treatment, which may not be for everyone similar to my situation; but I recommend the same type of mental stimulation - however that applies to you. I believe it is just as important as the physical activity, because it will help you with the psychological toll this fight takes from you.

Avoid Isolation: The previous section mentioned being social. I thought I'd expand on this a bit. With chemotherapy, your body cycles through phases of high energy periods and low-motivational moments. Understanding your specific case is important. When you feel the energy to do so, I strongly encourage you to go have fun with your friends and family. Have a movie night, go shopping, anything you feel up to doing; because once that low period comes around, you will miss this energy.

Support is an Asset: Don't be afraid to look for help. Virtually everyone would love to be there for you. There support is vital. In fact, it's one of the basic principles of The Cancer Fight. Cancer cannot be fought alone, and I do not recommend trying. It can be as simple as talking to a listening ear. My experience with this led to starting this blog. I wanted to create an outlet for my thoughts. There are other places you can find a support network that best suits you. As always, feel free to get in touch with me if you need help with this (or just want to talk, I'm here).

With these tips, I believe you can help maintain a strong sense of control over the treatment process. These really helped me power through those inevitable challenges. The Cancer Fight is founded upon many of these ideas. Providing support is our purpose, our passion, and our specialty.

Thanks for reading,

Mark Liederbach

Founder, President, The Cancer Fight

If you need someone to talk to, we are always looking to connect. Consider us one of your biggest fans.

My Journey: One Year Later

2012-02-07T15:50:00.000-08:00

How does it feel?

The first time you heard the diagnosis, what was your reaction? Looking back, I can say with clear certainty that I felt shocked, stunned, and worst of all, helpless. I first wrote about my impressions way back in January of 2011, but since then I have gained more perspective on the day my world changed.

In the span of one year, I have done more to combat this disease than I would have ever imagined. Sure, cancer struck the first blow, but - with the help of those around me - I came back swinging. It would be a lie to pretend that I did not want to give up; that maybe this was just the way I had to go. It's far too easy to think that this should be it. Quite honestly, that first week or so envelopes you in this idea, but it's a slippery slope.

My words on this issue are simple: Fight back! There is nothing more precious than the love and support of those around you in this difficult time. Use this support, cherish your loved ones, and never ever give up. We all have our weaknesses; and we all have our breaking points. With the help of those around us, we can battle through this, and take one more step towards beating cancer.

First day of Chemotherapy

I found my voice against cancer through writing thoughts down. When I expressed my feelings and emotions into this blog, I was releasing them from the entrapment of my mind. I did not trust these thoughts to fester in my impressionable, vulnerable conscious. That is why many of my previous posts contain less than cheery tones. They are snapshots of that particular point in my life. I cannot mask them, and I feel the responsibility to speak absolute truth.

Nowadays, I feel that I have eased back from these types of posts, which is partly a good thing - as it shows I am getting better with time. On the other hand, I want to maintain that delicate relationship I share with those still struggling with cancer. I have a vow to provide my whole life experience to help them through their fight, and do my best to lessen their burden. If even one more person can find a lifting support from my cause, I am eternally grateful to have helped them that much.

I move forward, bringing more hope to as many people as possible. I want to continue to grow this cause. Support is a key aspect in survival. I cannot offer more than my understanding, insight, and ever-growing resources. With the love and continued support from my friends, family, and followers, this organization will continue to progress and help those affected by cancer.

Thank you for reading,

Your friend, survivor, and supporter,

Mark Liederbach

Have you had any experiences with cancer? Please share your story in the comments below.

If you would like to show support for a loved one, please check out our "In Our Thoughts" Program.

Share Your Support: The "In Our Thoughts" Program

2012-02-02T14:57:00.001-08:00

We've always believed in sharing support for those affected by cancer, because no one should face this difficult journey alone. With this in mind, we would like to introduce our newest feature for you to announce to the world that you care for those dealing with cancer.

The "In Our Thoughts" program is open to everyone and all social platforms. Submit yours or a loved one's name with a short description of their condition and we will post an update to the community. We will keep them in our thoughts, and will show our support for them as they go through this ordeal. These posts can be as long or brief as you would like.

You can find this form at the link here
(Facebook users will find a tab on our page, or click here)

Please share this with the world, because no one should feel alone when dealing with cancer!

Successful T-shirt sale at Movie Showing

2012-01-29T16:19:00.001-08:00

A big thank you to the hundreds of people who came to see "50/50" this past weekend on the campus of UW-Whitewater. Your seeing this movie allowed our organization to grow in wonderful ways. We talked to many people before and after the movie about ourselves and what we have and hope to achieve. All the while, we raised over $150 in shirt sales!

We still have T-shirts to sell, and we will continue to sell them as an ongoing fundraiser. You can always stop by our Facebook Page to learn more information about shirt sales. Below, we've included a running total of the money raised from shirt so far.

Selling T-shirts at "50/50" This Weekend

2012-01-25T10:16:00.000-08:00

While SEAL treats you to the wonderful movie "50/50" this weekend, The Cancer Fight will be right there with them! We will be selling T-shirts near the theatre for $10. You can pay via cash, credit, and debit (stay tuned for possibly accepting Purple Points as well). We only have a supply of 50 shirts, so be sure to claim yours soon!

Can't wait until Thursday? You can secure your shirt today by ordering through this form http://goo.gl/pEUpG

Looking for Ideas! Speakers, Discussions, and More

2012-01-12T16:30:00.000-08:00

We are in the process of scheduling our events for the next few months. We want to ask you what we can discuss in our Google+ Hangouts, LiveStream Talks, and other events.

We are also scheduling speakers for Spring through next Fall. Please let us know of any way our social media can make an even better impact on connecting those dealing with cancer to some much-needed support!

Additionally, if you would like to be a part of a Google Hangout talking with others affected by cancer, be sure to connect with us so we can start communicating.

We have opened a Survey on Google Docs for you to submit ideas, speakers, live events, and future hangout discussions for broadcast. Let us know what you think!

Sweeping Up the Dust and Settling in

2011-12-17T17:52:00.000-08:00

Our Blog has finally established itself on the URL www.Blog.TheCancerFight.org!

We are proud to announce that this will hopefully be the last of our renovations to our blog for a while. If you would like to leave feedback regarding our new blog page (layout, accessibility, etc.), I've created a feedback form to gauge your opinion on our new URL and blog.

Let us know what you think!

We're Sticking Around!

2011-12-15T10:37:00.000-08:00

In the process of setting up a new blog subdomain (blog.thecancerfight.org), we also just renewed our place on your web browser!

Our domain www.TheCancerFight.org is secured until 2013! We've grown so much in the first year of existence, I wonder where we will be by then!

Blog will be down for 24 hours

2011-12-13T11:16:00.000-08:00

We are trying to seemlessly tie our new blog home to our current domain. Because such a transfer takes 24 hours to occur, our blog will be in a slight state of limbo until then.

This minor inconvenience should pay off, however. Since we will be able to keep our blog within our current domain at www.TheCancerFight.org. The blog will soon appear at www.blog.thecancerfight.org. Pretty cool, eh?

In the meantime, you'll probably be seeing this message:

Followed by this message:

The Cancer Fight is Now Selling T-Shirts

2011-12-12T23:53:00.000-08:00

The Cancer Fight Organization is now selling T-Shirts!

For a few weeks, our group has come up with many designs, voted, and tweaked them to just the right shirt to sell. We believe that this shirt incorporates our determination to fight cancer as well as showing our passion for using technology to connect fighters from all over.

You can purchase a shirt online by selecting your size and paying securely through Google Checkout or Paypal. The Cancer Fight will even pay your shipping costs!

T-Shirts are available for pre-order and will be delivered in January.

Our Lovely Design

(Front) Our new iFight theme symbolizing our use of technology to connect Fighters
(Back) Latin phrase "Luctor et Emergo" - Meaning I Struggle and Succeed

If you are a UW-Whitewater student or faculty member, you qualify for on-campus pricing. Please follow this link before placing your order.

Welcome to The Cancer Fight's New Blog

2011-10-06T13:45:00.000-07:00

The Cancer Fight is using Blogger.com to post new and exciting blogs more frequently. We have not been too happy with the limitations of our last blog provider, and we are moving to a more accessible interface. No worries! the blogs you've come to know and expect will still be here! We have only changed our blog home. The Cancer Fight's Home will always be the same!

Best Wishes,

Mark Liederbach