ABA's Consumer's Tool Kit for Health Care Advance Planning

The American Bar Association's Commission on Law & Aging has a free web resource available to the public called "Consumer's Tool Kit for Health Care Advance Planning". The tool kit "contains a variety of self-help worksheets, suggestions, and resources." There are 10 tools in all and they include: How to select your health care agent or proxy; Are some conditions worse than death?; How do you weigh odds of survival; personal priorities and spiritual values important to your medical decisions; after death decisions to think about now; conversation scripts: getting past the resistance; the proxy quiz for family & physician; what to do after signing your health care advance directive; guide for health care proxies; and resources: advance planning for health care. These tools are available in .pdf format in English only.

Recipe Bookmarks Available from "The Cancer Project"

One of the goals of The Cancer Project, based in Washington DC, is to provide "comprehensive information about the role of dietary factors in keeping people healthy." The Cancer Project has announced the availability of an adorable pair of bookmarks, each containing a recipe that helps promote a diet "rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, low in fat, loaded with fiber, and full of cancer-fighting antioxidants" and encourages kids to try new foods. The two recipes featured are "Man’s Best Friend,” Broccoli Poodle: Cream of Broccoli Soup Recipe" and “All Aboard the Fiber Express,” Squash School Bus: Spaghetti Squash and Mushrooms Recipe. One set of child-friendly bookmarks may be ordered free of charge from The Cancer Project.

Chemotherapy Fact Sheet Available in 11 Languages

The Inova Fairfax Hospital Life with Cancer program has developed a Chemotherapy tip sheet available in English, Spanish, French, Korean, Russian, Vietnamese, Ukrainian, Chinese, Farsi, Urdu, Arabic, and Somali.

The fact sheet provides 11 suggestions for dealing with the physical and emotional side effects of chemotherapy.

Stretch and Practice Yoga Right from Your Desk

Now here is a resource that just might prevent you from becoming a patient yourself! It is also a good resource to share with patients who may be returning to work or who could use some advice on how to sneak in some physical activity during their day. The Alberta (CA) Centre for Active Living has created two online videos called Stretch @ Your Desk and Yoga @ Your Desk. These videos are part of the Alberta Centre for Active Living in the Workplace website which contains a wealth of information and tools for remaining physically active on the job.

Available both in English and French, each stretching video takes about 10 minutes and is led by a certified fitness consultant and yoga instructor. As their website describes, "The exercises in these videos are designed to counter the effects of sitting at your desk by focusing on stretches for your back, neck and shoulders. The exercises come in stages so that you can work on different parts of your body. Most of the exercises can be done right in front of your computer monitor. No need for special clothes or equipment."

The Alberta Centre for Active Living is affiliated with the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation at the University of Alberta.

Bone Marrow Transplantation Audiovisuals

A number of bone marrow transplantation resources available on video and DVD are available from the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP). And the best part? Single copies of these items can be ordered for free!

NMDP publications include:

"Forward! Living Life after Transplant"
"This educational magazine and DVD helps teens and young adults know what to expect before, during and after transplant. It features five young transplant recipients who share their journey and offer advice for dealing with physical and physiological changes, as well as relationships, school and self-image post transplant."

"The Paths to Progress"
"This bilingual audio CD uses easily understood language to explain the transplant process. It was created to reach people who learn by listening, Mandarin speakers and people who are English language learners."

"Discovery to Recovery: A Child's Guide to Bone Marrow Transplant"
"An award-winning educational, interactive DVD and booklet for children ages five to nine who will be undergoing a marrow or cord blood transplant. The DVD tells the transplant story through two engaging puppets and provides interviews from children and their families who have been through the transplant process. The accompanying booklet is designed as a supportive tool to promote transplant discussion within the family."

Handout on Thrombocytopenia in 10 Languages

Inova Fairfax Hospital's Life with Cancer program has developed a patient education handout entitled Thrombocytopenia: When Your Platelets are Low. This one-page handout is available in French, English, Spanish, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Vietnamese, Chinese, Farsi, Arabic, and Urdu. Thrombocytopenia is available free of charge and can be downloaded for use in .pdf format.

Resource for People with Cancer on Complementary and Alternative Medicine

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) has developed a publication to guide people with cancer to CAM resources.

This publication, entitled Thinking About Complementary and Alternative Medicine, features:

Basic descriptions of CAM modalities.
Guidance for evaluating CAM information.
A list of reliable CAM resources.
Tips for talking with traditional healthcare providers about CAM. Suggestions for finding certified CAM providers.

Free copies of "Thinking About Complementary and Alternative Medicine" are available online for viewing or downloading in .pdf format. This resource is available in English only.