Protect Your Beautiful Face from the Sun!

by Cassandra Hoo on May 7, 2013

Posted in: Cancer Awareness

How to Protect Your Skin from the Sun and Still Look Radiant

In honor of Skin Cancer Awareness Month, I have compiled together some great eco-friendly and/or socially conscious products that will protect your beautiful face and body from the sun and give you a sun-kissed look.

1) BareMinerals SPF 30 Natural Sunscreen – This easy to apply powder sunscreen can be used on your face and body. It is great for people that don’t like the greasy and heavy feeling of sunscreen. It also adds a boost of color and evens out the skin.

2) Warby Parker Polarized Thatcher Sunglasses in Whiskey Tortoise – These glasses are chic, practical, and can be ordered with or without a prescription. For every pair of sunglasses or glasses that you buy from this company, they will donate a pair to a person who can’t afford them.

3)  ORIGINAL Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 15 – I have used this foundation for years. It is very light weight, contains minimal ingredients, and keeps the shine away. 

4) Dr. Hauschka Translucent Bronze Concentrate – Dr. Hauschka is my all time favorite brand for face and body skincare and make-up. Their products are biodynamic, eco-friendly, and truly work wonders. This translucent bronze concentrate will make your skin look positively radiant. You can also darken your foundation during your tanner months by mixing in a couple of drops until you get your desired shade.

5) Dr. Hauschka Bronzing Powder – I’m a huge fan of Dr. Hauschka’s blush and bronzing powders. The color lasts all day and imparts a very natural glow onto the skin.

6) Lavera Self Tanning Lotion – This is an effective non-streaking self tanner for the face and body. The award-winning formula is made with natural, organic, and eco-friendly ingredients. Make sure to exfoliate well before you apply this self tanner so that it absorbs evenly. I like making my own body scrub with organic jojoba oil, fine grain sea salt, and organic essential oils.

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Brain Tumor Awareness Month

by Cassandra Hoo on May 5, 2013

Posted in: Cancer Awareness

Brain Tumor Awareness Month 2013

The month of May is Brain Tumor and Skin Cancer awareness month. It is an interesting coincidence that these two diseases share the same month, because the brain and the skin are both extremely important organs. The skin is the largest organ of the human body. It covers the body and helps protect us from pathogens and injury, regulates body temperature, produces vitamin D, gives the brain information about the environment through touch, and eliminates waste. The brain is the motherboard.  It controls everything that the body does both involuntarily and voluntarily. When parts of the brain aren’t functioning normally, a person’s quality of life can greatly diminish.

Unfortunately, it is a lot easier to take preventative measures for protecting the skin and preventing skin cancer than brain tumors. Currently, there aren’t very many scientifically proven methods for preventing brain tumors. However, a healthy diet and lifestyle can’t hurt!

Here are five interesting facts about brain tumors*:

1) There are 120 different types of brain tumors.

2) 612,000 people in the US are living with central nervous system or primary brain tumors.

3) 66, 290 cases of primary brain tumors are expected to be diagnosed this year.

4) Brain tumors are the #2 leading cause of cancer related death among children and young adults.

5) The causes of brain tumors is relatively unknown.

*Information provided by: Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure’s “Brain Tumor Facts” page.  

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Skin Cancer Awareness Month

by Cassandra Hoo on May 2, 2013

Posted in: Cancer Awareness

Skin Cancer Awareness Month 2013

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month.  I think that this cancer awareness month is appropriately placed on the calendar, because May marks the beginning of nicer weather, sunnier days, and more time spent outdoors with less clothing on.  As beautiful and warm as the sun is, it unfortunately can burn us,  damage and alter the appearance of our skin, and cause skin cancer when we embrace its inviting rays.

Here are 5 tips on how to protect your skin:

1) Use a broad spectrum sunscreen with at least an SPF of 15 or higher every day.  There are luckily a lot of eco-friendly sunscreens now on the market today that smell delicious and rub in easily.  Alba’s Natural Very Emollient Sunscreen facial mineral broad spectrum SPF 20 is a hypoallergenic, paraben free, and fragrance free formula that will not clog your pores.  I am also a big fan of Alba’s Natural Very Emollient Sunscreen Pure Lavender Broad Spectrum SPF 45.  It smells great, rubs in fast, and doesn’t make you feel greasy.

2) Apply sunscreen a half hour before going outside.  The Skin Cancer Foundation reccommends applying 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) over your entire body.

3) Avoid tanning in both the great outdoors and tanning booths.  If you still feel the desire to look bronzed and beautiful, try getting a spray tan!  There are plenty of places that now offer a safe and organic formula.

4) Wear a hat and UV-blocking sunglasses to stay sheltered from the sun (and look super cool in the process).

5) Make sure to examine your skin and note any changes that occur over a period of time.  Please read the Skin Cancer Foundation’s If you Spot it You Can Stop it article for more information and useful tips.

To learn more about Skin Cancer and preventative care, go to the Skin Cancer Foundation’s website.

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Healtheo360: An Online Healthcare Social Media Network

by Cassandra Hoo on April 2, 2013

Posted in: Cancer Awareness

Healtheo360 logo

Cancer and other illnesses can be quite scary, challenging, and hard to deal with for both the patient and caregiver.  Leaning on family, friends, and your local community for help, support, and love can do a world of good.  However, sometimes that tight-knit supportive network isn’t enough.  If you have ever felt alone, anxious, need a creative outlet or a place to share your thoughts with others that are going through the same thing, have a lot of unanswered questions, or the desire to help others, you are in luck. With today’s technology, there are plenty of ways to virtually connect with other people all over the world that you can relate to via blogs, social networks, and innovative online support communities that are specifically targeted for different types of cancers and illnesses.

Healtheo360 is a wonderful free online healthcare social media network that was founded in 2012.  The online platform allows people to share their stories via video or text with others “Just Like Them.” Members can also communicate with each other on various discussion threads and actively see when a member posted something new whenever they visit the website’s main home page. Although the site is quite new and still in beta, it has already attracted a lot of avid followers/users and gained many sponsorships and partnerships with leading health organizations. I had the chance to meet David S. Duplay, the Chairman and founder of Healtheo360, when my family and I were audience members at the Katie Show’s Spotlight on Cancer episode. I admire the passion, pride, and determination that he has for his organization and believe that he is not going to let the momentum of his mission ever falter.

David came up with the idea to start Healtheo360 after his mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease and his sister-in-law was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast Cancer at the young age of 32. He saw a lack of motivation and inspirational support from the local and online communities that they participated in and decided to design a better online support group model. His goal is to make Healtheo360 the number one healthcare social media network. His website and vision has a lot of potential and I am interested to see how this website proliferates, adapts, and changes in the next year.

You can help support Healtheo360’s mission by voting for them to get on the stage and deliver a presentation at Internet Week New York. You can vote from now until April 10th! Please click HERE to vote.

**Healtheo360 also made a beautiful sponsored group page for Bonded Forever. Healtheo360‘s team did a great job putting it together. Please check it out HERE.**

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National Cancer Control Month 2013

by Cassandra Hoo on April 1, 2013

Posted in: Cancer Awareness

National Cancer Control Month 2013

Today marks the first day of National Cancer Control Month.  I have copy and pasted President Barack Obama’s Presidential Proclamation for this special month below:

NATIONAL CANCER CONTROL MONTH, 2013

– – – – – – –

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

For more than a decade, Americans have watched the overall cancer death rate drop lower and lower with each passing year. As a Nation, we have measured that progress not just in the lives we have saved, but also in the moments we have shared — patients lifted up by the promise of remission, parents blessed with the chance to watch their children grow up, young people confident that a diagnosis cannot put a limit on their dreams. But even with the gains we have made, we know there is more work to do when more than half a million Americans lose their lives to cancer every year. This month, we rededicate ourselves to securing better outcomes, reducing new cases, and advancing cancer research.

To beat this disease, we must continue our efforts to prevent it. Each of us can reduce our risk of developing cancer by maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, limiting alcohol intake and sun exposure, and living tobacco-free. For help quitting smoking, visit www.BeTobaccoFree.gov. Additional resources on what cancer is and how to prevent it are available at www.Cancer.gov.

Detecting cancer early gives patients the best chance for successful treatment. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, insurers are required to cover recommended cancer screenings and other preventive services at no out-of-pocket cost to the patient — a provision that has already helped nearly 71 million people. To build on those gains and stop cancer before it takes hold, I encourage all Americans to see their health care providers for regular screenings and check-ups.

Expanding on today’s progress also means investing in tomorrow’s breakthroughs. My Administration is committed to supporting the kind of medical research that has unlocked decades of new therapies and promising interventions. Beginning in 2014, the Affordable Care Act will also give cancer patients better access to those treatments by preventing insurance companies from denying coverage because of a pre-existing condition or putting annual dollar limits on most benefits.

Together, our Nation is moving forward in the fight against cancer. As we recommit to improving prevention, detection, and treatment, let us honor the memory of the courageous men and women we have lost to the disease, and let us stand with all those facing it today.

The Congress of the United States, by joint resolution approved March 28, 1938 (52 Stat. 148; 36 U.S.C. 103), as amended, has requested the President to issue an annual proclamation declaring April as “Cancer Control Month.”

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim April 2013 as National Cancer Control Month. I encourage citizens, government agencies, private businesses, nonprofit organizations, and other interested groups to join in activities that will increase awareness of what Americans can do to prevent and control cancer.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand thirteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-seventh.

~BARACK OBAMA

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Get Your Rear in Gear Philadelphia 2013 Event Recap

by Cassandra Hoo on March 19, 2013

Posted in: Cancer Awareness

Get Your Rear in Gear 2013: I got assigned lucky number 2013

Get Your Rear in Gear Philadelphia 2013 was such a blast! I enjoyed all of the grueling training weeks that led up to the event, because I learned a very valuable lesson: anything is possible (getting more toned was another added benefit). I also appreciated the outpouring of love and generosity that I received from friends, family, and complete strangers. Bonded Forever ended up raising $1,435.00, which surpassed my team’s $1,000 goal! Go team!

Despite the fact that I mostly trained outdoors in the cold, I found the 10k during the day of the event to be very challenging. I had a lot of factors going against me: it was freezing out, I was semi-sore from pushing myself too hard during the week leading up to the event, I didn’t have time to stretch before the run, it was way too early in the morning, and my phone died 1/4 into the run (which left me without musical accompaniment and my NikePlus speedometer). The only thing that kept me going, were the people around me. My motivational music became the sound of hurried breathing and the rhythmic pulse of sneakers hitting pavement. I also looked at all of the runners in front of me and made it my mission to not stop running or slow down. I figured that we were all in this together and fighting for our loved ones and the cause. I didn’t want to let anyone down and tried my best to not let any nuisances or discomfort get in my way.

I ended up making it to the finish line in 59 minutes and 6 seconds, which was unfortunately my slowest 10k time to date. However, despite my slow time, I was beyond elated, proud, and relieved that I crossed the finish line with so many other dedicated people. It felt good to be a part of something bigger than myself.

After the race was over, I had a lot of fun with my two other team members, Jess and Kathy Musti. The close knit daughter and mother duo and I had a blast taking photographs inside the blow-up colon tunnel (I really want to meet the people who dreamed up this idea and designed it), exploring the different vendors, and drinking beer at 10 am in the morning (I took just a sip for the record). I’m really thankful that they joined my team to honor a loved one, helped raise money for the cause, and invited me over for a carb-o-licious pre-run dinner.

I am a bit sad that all of the momentum and training leading up to the event is finally over.  I seriously can’t wait to do it all again next year!  And who knows… this 10k just might inspire me to start training for a half marathon.

Below is a recap of the photographs that I posted on Instagram.  Enjoy 🙂

Get Your Rear in Gear 2013: I was overwhelmed by the turnout at the event!

I was overwhelmed by the amount of people that showed up at the event!

Get Your Rear in Gear 2013: There was a sea of runners both in front and behind me.

There was a sea of runners both in front and behind me during the 10k run.  They kept me motivated.

Get Your Rear in Gear 2013: The finish line

I am so proud of all of the people that came to the event and crossed the finish line!

Get Your Rear in Gear 2013: I absolutely love this photograph of Team Bonded Forever inside of the blow-up colon tunnel! So funny!!

I absolutely love this photograph of Team Bonded Forever inside of the blow-up colon tunnel.  

Get Your Rear in Gear 2013: I kicked Colon Cancer's butt!

 I truly kicked Colon Cancer’s butt at 2013’s Get Your Rear in Gear event.  Ka-pow!!

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Get Your Rear in Gear Fundraiser at Dig Yoga

by Cassandra Hoo on March 18, 2013

Posted in: News/Events

We got our "Rear's in Gear" at Dig Yoga

Instagram: Dig Yoga yogis got their “Rears in Gear” for Team Bonded Forever’s GRYIG Fundraiser

Team Bonded Forever’s final Get Your Rear in Gear fundraiser took place at Dig Yoga Philadelphia on March 15th. The studio’s yoga superstar co-owners, Mariel Freeman and Sue Elkind, led a challenging and alignment based mixed levels yoga class that fed the body, mind, and soul. Sue and Mariel both have a great sense of humor, an insane understanding and knowledge of anatomy and alignment, the ability to give directions and break down each posture with precise articulation and imagery, and boundless amounts of positivity and grace. I always leave their classes with a better understanding of my posture and movement and a big smile on my face. Their positivity is so infectious!

I am so thankful for all of the people that showed up to support my cause, practice yoga with me, and donate money.  Mariel and Sue were especially amazing that night and I loved their enthusiastic willingness to dedicate their time and studio space for this event. We ended up raising $425 dollars that night, which helped me exceed my team’s donation goal of $1000 by several hundred dollars!!! Money aside, I am also equally appreciative for the outpouring of love that I received that night. Everyone wished me good luck on my run and voiced that they hope my mother continues to stay healthy and cancer free.  I definitely channeled their good wishes and happy vibes during the tougher parts of my 10k run on March 17th.

I also want to give a big thank you to Sweet Freedom Bakery.  They donated a sizable amount of vegan/gluten-free/a lot of other stuff-free brownies and magic bars (which are super delicious despite the lack of traditional baking ingredients).  The sweets were a big hit; everyone left the studio extra happy.

I will be posting a blog about my GYRIG 10k event soon.  There are some great photographs of my team and I inside a large blow-up colon tunnel (it’s pretty hilarious).  Stay tuned.

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Get Your Rear in Gear Training – Week Six

by Cassandra Hoo on March 16, 2013

Posted in: Cancer Awareness

Bonded Forever Week 6 Training for Get Your Rear in Gear 2013

 #getyourrearingear

I’m writing this post the night before my big 10k run for Get Your Rear in Gear.  I probably should already be in bed, but I’m unfortunately a habitual night owl (my last name, Hoo, ironically suits me so well).  Although I know that I can finish the run without a hitch, I’m a bit nervous about the early call time.  I’m not a morning person.  My intelligence and normal cognitive functioning doesn’t really reach full capacity until about 10 am.  Therefore, I’ll probably start the run in a clumsy and grumpy state and finish like a ferocious lion.

I felt a bit nostalgic while I put together this last Instagram recap in InDesign.  I really enjoyed taking Instagram shots for each of my workouts.  It helped keep me motivated and marked my steady progress.  Looking back, I honestly can’t believe how much my running distance and time improved in such a short amount of time.  Before I started training, 2 miles was my happy medium.  I can’t believe that I am now able to run up to 7.5 miles — and possibly more.  A half marathon might definitely be in my horizon….

I’ll be taking photographs tomorrow during the event.  You will be able to see them on twitter, instagram, and facebook.  Wish me luck!

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Get Your Rear in Gear Fundraiser at T Cycle X

by Cassandra Hoo on March 14, 2013

Posted in: News/Events

Dancer's Pose at Bonded Forever/T Cycle X's Get Your Rear in Gear Fundraiser

Bonded Forever/T Cycle X’s Get Your Rear in Gear fundraiser was a lot of fun!  NaTasha Threadcraft, the owner and founder of T Cycle X, and I are kindred spirits.  She unfortnately lost her grandmother to Colon Cancer and really felt compelled to help me raise money for a cause that has touched her personally.  I’m glad and thankful that we were able to organize this event to honor her grandmother and my mother.

NaTasha was able to hold the event at her company’s gorgeous workout room in Lofts 640.  Paul Thorson (from DJ DEEJAY) spun some great tunes, Tabitha Jones got the party started with a lively Zumba class, and Carolyn Kendrick cooled us all down during her restorative and relaxing Hatha yoga class.  Ryan Crown’s Juice Club kept all of the participants refreshed and detoxed with his complimentary (and very delicious) fresh squeezed juices.  I really enjoyed meeting all of the people that attended the event and I appreciated their enthusiasm for my cause.

Bonded Forever's Jewelry Display for GYRIG Fundraiser at T Cycle X

 Bonded Forever’s Jewelry Display for GYRIG Fundraiser at T Cycle X

If you live in the Philadelphia area and want to get/stay in shape, please consider T Cycle X.  NaTasha’s company offers bootcamp, Zumba, yoga, and personal training sessions at the Lofts 640 studio.  NaTasha also teaches a mean T Cycle X spin class all over the city.  I love taking her class on Saturday mornings at Sweat Fitness – Center City.  She especially gets the calorie burning exercise jam sessions revved up whenever she  teams up with DJ DEEJAY!

My final Get Your Rear in Gear fundraiser is happening at Dig Yoga Philadelphia on March 15th at 6:30 pm. Co-owners and yoga superstars, Mariel Freeman and Sue Elkind, will be teaching a mixed levels yoga class. Sweet Freedom will be serving up some guilt free vegan/gluten free (and a whole lot of other stuff free) snacks.  Please read, Get Your Rear in Gear 2013 Fundraiser Schedule for Team Bonded Forever, to learn more about the event. If you cannot attend the event and would still like to donate or sign up for the run/walk, please go to Bonded Forever’s team page.

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Katie Couric’s Spotlight on Cancer Special

by Cassandra Hoo on March 13, 2013

Posted in: Cancer Awareness

Spotlight on Cancer special on Katie

Lights, Camera, Action: Spotlight on Cancer special on the Katie show

Several weeks ago, I got a long voicemail from my father.  He exclaimed that my sister, Jadian, saw a tweet by Katie Couric that gave ticket information about her daytime talk show’s upcoming Spotlight on Cancer special and asked if I was interested in going.  By the time I had the chance to call my father back, my sister had already signed us all up.  As luck would have it, my family and I were 4 of the people chosen to get tickets for the live show.  Considering that the intimate TV studio only has 144 seats, this was quite a special and fortunate treat!

On the day of the show, all of the audience members had to congregate in ABC Studio’s cafeteria to wait until we were allowed to enter the TV studio.  Every single one of the audience members was given a Stand Up to Cancer T-shirt that stated how they were affected by cancer. It was so powerful and moving to be in a room of people who were wearing shirts that said, “Fighting,” “In Memory of,” “Survivor,” and “Touched By.”  I felt so lucky, blessed, and privileged that my dad, sister, and I got to wear gray “Touched By” shirts and that my mother got to proudly wear a yellow “Survivor” shirt.

Katie Couric Spotlight on Cancer 2013 show

My mother and I are proudly wearing our SU2C shirts and Bonded Forever “Stay Grounded” bracelets

I met so many wonderful people in the cafeteria.  Everyone had a story to tell and an organization or blog that they had started or were passionate about.  It was really great to be amongst so many other people who were trying to be proactive and involved. It was also amazing to see all of the “In Memory of” and “Fighting” T-shirt wearers look so brave, upbeat, and defiant.

I was touched and inspired by Katie Couric’s Spotlight on Cancer show taping.  It was so informative, uplifting, courageous, and thought provoking.  The show featured celebrities that were cancer ambassadors/activists (Blythe Danner, Fran Drescher, Maura Tierney, and Shannon Miller) and leading medical professionals. All of the factual, candid, and intimate information that they shared was so invaluable.  I hope that the show helps raise cancer awareness, motivates people be proactive about getting tested/screened, and instills hope to those who desperately need it.

I was so impressed and moved by Katie Couric’s grace, warm and inviting smile, openness, and compassion.  She has truly been such an innovative and effective leader, crusader, and advocate for cancer awareness, research, and patient care and I was honored to have the opportunity to be in her presence.  She was kind enough to postpone taping one of her segments so that she could have a lengthy audience Q&A.  So many people courageously shared their stories, promoted their organizations, and asked great questions about health insurance, ways to find support groups for rare types of cancer, how social media can help cancer patients and caregivers create an online community and support system for themselves, and so much more.

Katie has co-founded and founded so many wonderful organizations and institutions for cancer.  Please read up about them at the links provided below:

    • Stand up To Cancer (SU2C): This organization helps raise money, increase awareness, and accelerate innovative cancer research.
    • Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health: The center is named after Katie Couric’s late husband, who unfortunately lost his fight against Colon Cancer.  This clinical center of the New York-Presbyterian Hospital and the Weill Medical College of Cornell University is dedicated to  integrated care, prevention, screening, treatment, support, research, and education for individuals who have or are at risk of developing GI cancers.

I want to give a special shout out to a couple special people that I met that day:

    • David DuPlay, founder of Healtheo360: Healtheo360 is an online community that helps patients, caregivers, and loved ones share their stories via video or an online journal and connect with others that are facing similar situations.  David has a HUGE heart and an unstoppable desire to improve people’s lives.  Although the company is fairly new, I think it is well on its way to becoming a big success.
    • Suleika Jaquad, writer of the NY Times column, Life Interrupted: Sulkeika is a beautiful and remarkable young woman in her twenties who is currently fighting leukemia.  Her blog is so brave, poignant, raw, and honest. I just started to follow her on Instagram and Twitter and read all of her old blog posts. She’s one cool chick.  I wish her the best of luck in making a full recovery.
    • Mailet Lopez, creator of I Had Cancer: Mailet Lopez and Squeaky Wheel Media teamed up to create an award winning online social support network that connects survivors, fighters, and supporters.  Mailet was kind and patient enough to take several photos of my family and I.  I loved her cheerful disposition and funky style.

Overall, my experience at the Katie show was so wonderful and I am thankful that my sister signed us all up. The show was a great way for us all to come together and celebrate my mother’s amazing recovery!

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