Know It. Fight It. End It. November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month!

Between the flu and a busy work and parenting schedule, I haven't found much time or motivation to write lately. But there is a cause that is very near and dear to my heart that I am making the time to post about. There won't be the usual food porn or cussing or irreverant food to life stories that you're used to seeing around here, so I hope you'll hear me out.

In July of 2006, I lost my Dad to pancreatic cancer. Before he was diagnosed with this horrible disease, we hardly knew it existed. I mean, the pancreas...who really cares, right? It's pretty much on the bottom of the food chain as far as all our body parts are concerned. The brain, lungs, colon, boobs? They're the popular kids at school. The pancreas? He's the quiet little guy who hangs out in the back of the cafeteria. And then one gets a pancreatic cancer diagnosis and one comes to discover that cancer of this tiny little organ has killed so many that have crossed its path. And quickly too.

As someone who's lost a loved one to pancreatic cancer, I am making it my personal mission to raise as much awareness as I can about it. Awareness is the key to building the strength and support we need in the fight against pancreatic cancer.

Did you know that pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. and has the HIGHEST mortality rate of all the major cancers? According to the American Cancer Society, 42,470 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year and 35,240 will die from it. By 2030, the number of cases is expected to increase by 55%.

Did you know that unlike other cancers, there are NO early detection tools for pancreatic cancer? An estimated 76% of patients will die within one year of diagnosis.

Did you know that pancreatic cancer research is DRASTICALLY underfunded? Less than 2% of the National Cancer Institute's budget is allocated to pancreatic cancer.

Did you know that the types of cells that make up pancreatic cancer tumors are unique—which contributes to the unfortunate resistance of the tumors to chemotherapies?

If any of the above made you stop and think "Hey, this disease DOES indeed suck and we need to do something about it," you can! November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, and here are 10 things, as quoted from The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network's website, that you can do to join the fight against pancreatic cancer:

1. Raise Awareness—Our Know it. Fight it. End it. campaign builds awareness about pancreatic cancer so more people can take more action in November. Please forward the Know it. Fight it. End it. link to as many friends as you can. Raise awareness about the disease so that together we can End it.
   
   
2. Get Involved with Your Community Affiliate—We have active affiliates in more than 70 cities across the United States. Click here to find one near you.
   
   
3. Contact Your Member of Congress—We need your U.S. Representative’s support on the Pancreatic Cancer Research & Education Act (H.R. 745), the first-ever substantive legislation that could have a significant impact on advancing pancreatic cancer research. During November, remind your U.S. Representative of the importance of supporting this critical bill. Share your story and ask your U.S. representative to support H.R. 745..
   
   
4. Contact Your Local Media—Pancreatic cancer is the least understood and least known of all the major cancer killers. Help us raise the visibility of this disease by sending a Letter to the Editor of your community newspapers. Click here to send the letter now.
   
   
5. Get a Hug When You Give Back—Tempur-Pedic, our new cause marketing partner, is fighting pancreatic cancer with their new Hugs Back Teddy Bear campaign. To learn more or purchase this adorable and super cuddly bear, with net proceeds from the sale of each bear going to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, go to: www.tempurpedic.com/teddybear.
   
   
6. Raise the Cure—There’s hope for pancreatic cancer patients, and it starts with you. You can help us create progress through research and create hope for pancreatic cancer patients and their loved ones. Donate today.
   
   
7. View and Forward Our New Public Service Announcement—You will find this 60 second spot to be compelling and emotional. Please view it and forward it on to as many friends and family as you can to help build even more awareness. Click to view.
   
   
8. Create Your Own Personal Online Fundraising Page—Creating your own webpage is a great way to share why making pancreatic cancer awareness and raising funds to advance research, support patients and creating hope is so important to you. Click to start your page.
   
   
9. Join the Conversation Online—Help spread awareness in your social networking community. There are numerous ways to make a difference and join the fight. Here’s how:
   
   
   • Follow @Pancan on Twitter and retweet our tweets to your Twitter followers. A single tweet has the power of reaching over thousands on Twitter!
   • Join the conversation on Facebook to stay informed on upcoming fundraising events, get information on how you can get involved and receive news from inside Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.
   • Tune-in to our YouTube Channel to watch and share our new PSA video, volunteer and survivor stories. You can help us create awareness by copy and pasting the video URLs into an email or web page, or embed the >videos into your web site or blog!
   • Make an online statement with a Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Twibbon! Just add to your Twitter and Facebook profile icons so your friends can see that you’ve joined the fight against pancreatic cancer. Get one here: Make an online statement with a Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Twibbon!
     
     
10. Go Purple This November—
    
    
    • Wear something purple all month like a pancreatic cancer awareness wristband!
    • Paint your front door purple
    • Bake something purple and share it with co-workers and friends
    • Tie a purple ribbon around the trees on your street
    • Put a yard sign up that says: November is National Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month – Get Involved – Go to www.pancan.org.

They're small steps, but you know what they say...many small streams make a big river. I know you probably like it more when I write about food, but please know that each person reading this puts us that much closer to someday finding a cure. I thank each and every one of you who took the time to hear me out.

From Noodles To Sex: The Prescription-Free Way To Migraine Relief

Non-migrane sufferers need not read this.

'Cause you're those people who look at us migraine sufferers like we're crazy when we say our heads hurt so much that it feels like it's being squeezed by a vice-grip and that the very sound of your voice makes us want to hurl all over your lap. Yes, they are debilitating. No we are not being whiny crybaby sissies when we say that we need to go home because of a headache. Migraines suck.

Maybe it's from fatigue or maybe even from the fact that my post-partum hormones are having a party, but whatever the reason may be, I've unfortunately been getting alot of migraines lately. Fortunately, given how much I hate taking prescription meds, I've got a list of ways you too can get migraine relief without having to see the doctor (unless you're screwing him or her...read on)

1) Turn down the lights & noise Duh.

2) Excedrin Migraine OK, yes it's a pill that you still have to pop, but I remain delusional that it won't have as many short or long term side effects since it's over the counter. Just one of these asprin/acetominophen/caffiene cocktails works for me. The trick, though, is to pop one of these babies when you feel the slightest hint of a headache coming on, otherwise you may be too late.

3) Minty oil or balm Yes, you will smell like your 85 year old Chinese grandma, but this stuff works. Simply dab some on the areas that are ailing you, such as your temples, forehead, neck or that little spot just under your nose and you'll feel your head clear up. (Just be cautious not to get too close to your eyes!) My formula of choice is White Flower Oil since I've been using it for everything from stomach aches to headaches since childhood; I also like that its vintage-y looking bottles come in three sizes including a miniature one that I take with me wherever I go. These can be purchased for a couple bucks anywhere Chinese health products and herbs are sold such as Wing Hop Fung; a better known choice is Tiger Balm which can even be purchased at your local drugstore.

4) Spicy foods I know, I know. The last thing you want to do when you're all nauseous is eat, but eating something sometimes helps to curb the nausea. (This was also true for me during pregnancy--hmm, could there be a connection?) Additionally, it's always been my personal theory that migraines are your body's way of telling you it's trying hard to eliminate something it doesn't want up in there. Eat something spicy--a big steaming bowl of spicy noodles is my personal fave--to make yourself sweat and to get that nose running which will hopefully help clear up that foggy-headed feeling that often accompanies a migraine. I always keep some Nong Shim Neoguri Spicy Seafood Udon on hand just in case I'm feeling too crappy to pick up some pho, boat noodles, bibim naeng myun or wonton noodles.

5) Caffeine, preferably with carbonation Caffeine helps to constrict the blood vessels that caused the headache in the first place. I usually reach for a coke before the coffee for this next reason...

6) Gas No, not the kind you put in your car, silly. You know what kind of gas I mean; yes, that's right...burp or fart. I don't know why, but it helps take the edge off the pain.

7) Sex Has someone ever given you the excuse "Not tonight dear, I have a headache?" Well there's a chance that he or she was lying. Studies have shown that the endorphins and pain relieving horomones released while knockin' boots helps to cure headaches. No spouse, significant other or booty call around? Get creative. You know what I mean. Oh yeah, and don't do numbers 6 & 7 together, please.

8) Elimination I know this is gross, but as I mentioned before, I always have the feeling that my body's trying to get rid of something every time I have a migraine. Which is why, despite my lifelong fear of throwing up, everytime I actually did hurl from the migraine associated nausea, I immediately felt better. And um, not to be even grosser, but elimination the other way also provides some headache relief. (Note: don't do this either if doing number 7)

9) Take those contacts out The last thing you want when you already feel like your head is being sucked into a vacuum is the feeling of suction cups grasping onto your eyeballs. Take those suckers out or if you can't at least give your eyes a good drenching with rewetting drops.

10) Clean up Hopefully you did this before doing #7, but even if you didn't do the deed, go take a steamy hot shower or at least go brush your teeth and wash your face. The water helps the muscles and blood vessels in your head and neck chill out.

11) Sleep Probably the best cure of them all. When all else fails, turn the lights out and catch some zzz's. Your body will thank you.

So there you have it. Now these aren't meant to be a substitution for seeing the doc if your migraines persist...they're merely ways to make your day less miserable when that headache does strike. And there's no guarantee that any or all of these will work for everyone either as each person is different so don't come after me if none of these work. I might just throw up on you.

P.S. This may be a little controversial, but you can always kill two birds with one stone and opt for plastic surgery and botox to get rid of both your forehead frown lines and your migraines. I will be following steps 1 through 11 above until I hit my 40's (right around the corner by the way) which will hopefully also be when going under the knife for migraine relief becomes more mainstream. No more migraines and health insurance paying for a little nip-tuck? Yes, please.

Lions and Tigers and More Tigers...Oh My!

I can sorta understand Corner Bear Skin Rug Guy because while tacky, some of his rugs could look flokati-esque from very far away.

I can even understand the Corner Flag Guy who sells international flags and Bob Marley wall hangings.

But Corner Tiger Guy I will never understand. Is there such a demand for giant stuffed tigers that this guy sets up shop every single day on the corner of La Brea and Venice? Look, he even has a sign and a little storefront!

So, DG wants to know: who buys these??? Well, he did have a customer while I was snapping away private-eye-style from the gas station across the street, though I did not see her actually purchase a giant stuffed tiger. And if I had to guess, I'm sure this guy shops here too.