New Thinking in Illness Study

This study looks at how the way that we tend to think a lot about certain things might influence our thoughts and behaviours that relate to acute illness, represented by cancer, and chronic illness, represented by diabetes. Increasing our understanding of how people think in response to illness may help identify individuals who may experience difficulties in adjusting to illness and also guide us in developing ways to help you overcome these difficulties.

To participate in this study, you need to be aged 18 or over and have been diagnosed with any of the following: Type I or Type 2 diabetes, breast, colorectal, gynaecological, prostate or skin cancer.

If you'd like to find out more about the study, please visit Thinking Style in Illness

NEWSFLASH!!! Now open to international participants.

In the pink

The Sydney Opera House. Always stunning. Now pretty in pink. And, no, it's not a makeover by Queer Eye for the Straight Guy team aka The Fab Five.

The Opera House is currently illuminated in pink to kick off the start off Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Lots of great events going on and then there's Pink Ribbon Day on October 23rd.

How about hosting a Pink Ribbon Breakfast with some friends to raise funds in the last week of October? Lots of fun, especially if you invite along some male friends too. After all, remember that breast cancer can also affect men.

Register now and get a free starter kit. Are you game?

Postscript: Read some interesting views on this campaign at NHS Blog Doctor.

Source:

Photograph by Rick Rycroft.

Breast cancer. It's not just about the girls.

Kylie Minogue's battle with breast cancer has been in the news a great deal over the past year. It's great that people like Kylie and Belinda Emmett have gone public with their health problems to spread awareness of this disease and drive home the fact that breast cancer can affect much younger women too. After all, approximately 12,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in Australia alone.

However, did you know that around 100 men a year in Australia are also diagnosed with breast cancer? Surprised me. Horrified many of my male friends who didn't even realise men could get breast cancer.

While there's many excellent resources out there for women, the issues faced by men with a breast cancer diagnosis can be quite different. In the provision of information about this condition, men have been largely forgotten.

“It’s understandable that men diagnosed with breast cancer could feel a deep sense of isolation when so much of the information and support available is targeted towards women."

Dr Helen Zorbas, Director of the National Breast Cancer Centre.

Until now.

The National Breast Cancer Centre (NBCC) has set up a website for men with breast cancer in acknowledgement that diagnosis can be devastating for anyone. The site incorporates information specifically targeted at men, with signs and symptoms, methods of diagnosis, treatment options and many other useful resources.

Excellent stuff. As is the case with women, The National Breast Cancer Centre urges any man who notices a change in the look or feel of his breast to see his GP without delay. A very important message. Pass it along to the men in your life.

Resources

JohnWNick Foundation
NBCC Press Release