No one likes to have the sex talk with their kids, but it can be equally hard for kids to have “The Cancer Talk” with their parents. F–k Cancer, an organization that promotes awareness around early detection, launched a campaign to get kids talking to their parents.
Kids can log on to the website, which lets users send personalized celebrity voicemails that set up a time to talk about cancer in person. It’s a simple tool, but it’s one that takes a lot of pressure off children. Users can choose voicemails from Fran Drescher or Michael Winslow and fill in personalized details about the parent such as age, whether they smoke or drink, and body weight. The questions are appropriately light with fun multiple choice options like measuring your parent’s weight as “super-scrawnsville (tiny)” or “A little on the chubby side. Kind of like a Doughboy.”
The organization won’t send kids in alone, providing cheat sheets, information and tips on specific cancers and how to speak to their parents about a potentially tricky topic. To break the ice, F-Cancer has posted a slew of celebrity videos talking about their own awkward sex-talk conversations with their parents. There are videos from Adrian Grenier, Terrell Owens, Perez Hilton, Deepak Chopra and more. The general message is that even though awkward conversations are tough, they come from a good place and have a huge impact.
In fact, F-Cancer claims that parents are more willing to take the advice of their children over their partners, friends and even medical professionals. If found early, 90% of cancers can be treated. The charity is hoping that “The Cancer Talk” helps make Generation Y the first generation to end late stage cancer diagnoses by accomplishing three goals. Families can have frank discussions about their cancer history, identify personal risks and early warning signs, and encourage relatives to stay on top of their regular cancer screenings every year.
It can be tough for kids to give their parents advice, especially around difficult topics like cancer. F-Cancer is using humor and a light touch to empower children to make a difference, but is it the right approach? Let us know what you think of the project and the role kids can play in making a difference.
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A study published in tomorrow’s issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association confirms what researchers have long suspected: that long conversations on cellphones affect parts of your brain. Trouble is, not even the study’s authors, the National Institute of Health, know how the calls affect you — just that they light up a significant chunk of your gray matter near the phone.
“We don’t know whether this is detrimental or whether it could have some potential beneficial effects. We don’t know one way or the other,” lead author Dr. Nora Volkow told HealthDay.
Potential beneficial effects? Well, yes. The study tracked 47 mobile-toting participants for a year and discovered that brain metabolism in a small area nearest the antenna was 7% higher when they were on a 50-minute call, meaning cellphones boost brain activity (they raise glucose levels). Doesn’t sound so bad when put like that, does it? For all we know, blasting your brain with focused radio waves could be the mental equivalent of going to the gym. Glucose levels rise with just about any complex brain activity. For example, that 7% metabolism boost is less than the amount of energy it takes to process images via your eyes.
Of course, for all we know, the long-term effects could be pretty scary. Tumor cells need a lot of glucose, too. But that may be no more than coincidence. Researchers were careful to tiptoe around the C-word and with good reason: As Ars Technica points out, in biology there is no known mechanism that could lead from low-energy, long-wavelength radiation to cancer. A giant, 13-nation study launched in 2000 still hasn’t found any proof linking the two. Cellphone users, science is on your side — for now.
Bottom line: We know relatively little about brain science and even less about cellphone use. More research is needed for a definitive answer. We’ve all heard anecdotes from friends about how calls give them headaches or a buzzing sensation. Our friends could be right, or they could be hypochondriacs. Maybe cellphones affect each brain differently. At the moment, there’s just no way of telling.
If you’re concerned, be like Volkow — who told TIME she uses a $5 headset so she doesn’t have to hold her phone to her ear. “Maybe at the end of the day cellphones aren’t damaging,” she said. “But it’s only $5.”
More About: brain, cancer, cell phones, mobile phones
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Today is World Cancer Day and people all over the world are joining together to make their voices heard. Last October, the NFL wore pink shoes and gloves to support Breast Cancer Awareness month, and there are countless regional walks and rallies to raise awareness and funds for different types of cancer, a leading cause of death worldwide.
The Office of National Statistics in the UK estimates that one in four people will die from cancer. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 84 million people will die of cancer without intervention between 2005 and 2015.
So, short of getting drafted to the NFL or signing up for a marathon, what can you do to help? Try some of the online options below and let us know about your own experiences and how you plan to help.
Stand Up 2 Cancer: SU2C is running an awareness campaign on Facebook that will create and broadcast a message about your personal connection to cancer. Head over to WCD2011.su2c.org and fill in your connection to cancer (for example, “my mother,” “my sister,” “John Taylor”) and the site will auto-generate a message and post to your Facebook. SU2C is calling it “Donating Your Facebook Status.” If you are personally in the fight, SU2C suggests you enter the message: “I stand for the end of cancer.”World Cancer Day: If you’re looking for a central hub to plan your activities, head to the World Cancer Day website. There, you can find a map of events happening across the world and links to some of the best campaigns you can support.Major League Baseball: The MLB is even getting into the mix. You can head to its site to own a virtual piece of your favorite ballpark for cancer. MLB teams are competing to see who can raise the most money for the cause by allowing fans to purchase virtually seats, bases, and even suites. Fans can bid as low as $5, and 100% of donations will go to cancer research. In return for their support, fans will receive a photo of their purchased item with their name, photo and dedication message.
There are many more campaigns out there. Join the conversation and let us know in the comments how you’ll be participating and where.
More About: cancer, social good, social media, su2C, world cancer day, world cancer day 2011
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Now you can watch people get hurt do cool tricks at the Winter X Games and give money to charity by using Foursquare.
Sports Authority has teamed up with Foursquare to help support the fight against breast cancer at the 15th Winter X Games, which run from today until January 30. Sports Authority has promised to donate $1 for every checkin to “Sports Authority at Winter X Games” at Buttermilk Mountain in Aspen, Colo. The money will go to Boarding for Breast Cancer, one of Sports Authority’s non-profit partners. Sports Authority will donate up to $1,000 per day until the games end.
Although the X Games weren’t involved in planning the campaign, the games have long been proponents of giving back, including the “Get Caught Recycling” initiative.
Given the popularity of the X Games — an annual tournament similar to an Olympics for extreme sports like skateboarding, freestyle motocross and snowboarding — it’s likely that Sports Authority will hit its $1,000 cap each day. Despite its trappings, the campaign is actually similar to traditional types of fundraising. Social media isn’t integrated so much as it’s a way for Sports Authority to track how much it needs to donate. The question is whether Sports Authority could raise more money and spread awareness by better integrating social media tools.
One step in the right direction is the use of the #Xcellent hashtag to create a larger conversation and community around breast cancer awareness.
Will you participate or check in? Do you think Foursquare is popular enough to pilot a campaign like this? Sound off in the comments below.
More About: boarding for breast cancer, Breast Cancer, cancer, ESPN, foursquare, social good, social media, sports authority, x games
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