Cure Click

PROSTATE CANCER TRIAL AVAILABLE SEEKING NEW PARTICIPANTS

Did you know that prostate cancer is the second most frequently diagnosed cancer globally? And a significant proportion of patients who are treated have their prostate cancer come back or spread. There is a clinical study available, seeking participants who have Prostate Cancer in order to assess if the study medicine helps prevent or slows your cancer from spreading to other parts of your body.
More about the study:

• The study drug (Investigational drug) is administered by Tablets, Pills, or Capsules.
• At least 400 people have already taken this drug in clinical trials
• There will be 1200 participants in this trial, at 44 sites around the world

If you are interested, the full study details and eligibility criteria are listed here.
Eligibility Criteria:
Participants must:

• be male
• at least 18 years old
• have been diagnosed with prostate cancer

Participants must not:

• have prostate cancer that has spread to the bone
• be currently participating in any other clinical trial

If you’re not familiar with clinical trials, here are some FAQs:

What are clinical trials?

Clinical trials are research studies to determine whether investigational drugs or treatments are safe and effective for humans. All new investigational medications and devices must undergo several clinical trials, often involving thousands of people.

Why participate in a clinical trial?

You will have access to new investigational treatments that would be available to the general public only upon approval. You will also receive study-related medical care and attention from clinical trial staff at research facilities. Clinical trials offer hope for many people and an opportunity to help researchers find better treatments for others in the future.
Learn why I’m talking about Clinical Trials

IN "Rememberance" of those who have given their lives "Memorial Day", National Polka Festival and the Texas Motorplex!

Most of us just "live" for the "Official Start" of Summer! We tend to view "Memorial Day" as the holiday to begin warm weather, lots of outings, camping, trips to the lake, and plenty of great cooking, from barbeque, to potato salad, deviled eggs, chips, dip, you name it, all of that "summer" food! Oh, and of course, never forget a bit a beer splashed in there also.

We also for the most part know why we are in such celebration of this holiday. It is to given remembrance to ALL of our fallen men and women throughout history, that were out their, and risked life and limb to keep our country free and safe. I wanted to share a bit of history about it all, so I found a couple of links to share.


I also made my visit to my Dad's grave, put new flowers on it, and gosh forgot the flag. If this weather will give me a break over the next couple of days, I will make sure I get a flag out there also.

I didn't know about the "poppies" and how they play a role in all of this. So, I found that part interesting.

Here are the links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Day

http://www.usmemorialday.org/?page_id=2


So, as we celebrate our holiday weekend in all kinds of ways, I want to say a very Happy and very Safe Memorial Day to All. I realize for many of us, the weather may "dampen" our celebration. For us here in the Ennis, area, just below Dallas, we are supposed to also be celebrating National Polka Festival. For those of you that don't know, Ennis has an amazing history of many people here that are of Czech background. Many are either full blood, or at least half Czech. We have many that their close relatives may have come over from the country, like my Great Grandparents did, many years ago. So, it is a huge National Celebration, and our town of about 8,000 will be more like 20,000 this weekend. The weather here is very bleak, gray and also rainy. So, that does put a real "damper" on the parade and all of the outside activities that start off this morning and go until Sunday evening. We have several "Czech" Halls here. They all of Polka bands, and in fact the Bellamy Brothers are here to be the opening band at the Sokol Hall this year. There is no telling how much barbeque, Klobase', Kolaches, Saurkraut and everything else that goes along with it will be consumed, as well as a LOAD of beer! They will be dancing the Polka all weekend long and even have a dance here in one of our streets, usually on one that still has the original brick that was first laid here in town for our streets. I am putting this link up for those of you that would like to know more about the event:

Here you go, this is the main website that can tell you all about it, the history, and see the beautiful costumes. I had several when I was younger. I am "Half Czech". My Mom is full blood and it was her Grandparents that came over on a boat there at the statue of Liberty many, many years ago..

http://www.nationalpolkafestival.com/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/National-Polka-Festival/72290758415

So, as you can see, this "small town" has a great deal of "life" in it. Also, for any that don't know we also have what used to be the only "all-concrete" drag racing facility here. Which is the Texas Motorplex!!!! This town used to host two of the National events annually. One used to be on this weekend also, the spring nationals. I believe it probably just got too large too handle all of the events on one weekend. So, Ennis hosts the Fall Nationals in September I believe. When advertised they say in "Dallas", but NO it is right here in Ennis TX...

http://texasmotorplex.com/


Believe it or not I RACED down that drag strip several years back!!! We at that time did the Friday races in the spring and summer months. I spent a great deal of time out there when I was not "chronically ill" ... and loved the racing... nothing like going down a track, in a car, the quarter mile, at well over 120 MPH, for a "novice" like myself... So, that is another fact about my town.I did the "bracket racing" back then....

WOW!!!! Talk about OVERWHELMING!!!!!

I wanted to reach out to all of you that come and read on my blog. I realize that I was not getting it "out there" like I needed to.


Then between becoming a voice, advocate, an Ambassador, A Platinum Ambassador, Activist, and volunteer, I began to be able to have a better audience.

I have several to thank for this but I will say THANKS ALL OF YOU!!!

Right now I have had MORE page views than any other time of this blog... and I have had 335 so far today!!!!!! 

That is just totally mind boggling!!!


I am in support of a great deal of Organizations who are moving forward to make life different in good ways for so many chronically ill, chronic pain patients, autoimmune illnesses, arthritic illnesses... and I know being a "part" of those has helped me "round my field" of my "audience"....

I feel I should shout out to a few, but I hope I don't leave anyone out...

My heart felt thanks and more to...

The Arthritis Foundation

WEGO Health

Cure Click (a part of WEGO)

WEGO "Health Hero's"

International Autoimmune Arthritis Foundation

The Pain Foundation

The Sjogren's Foundation

The Lupus Foundation

Lupus Research Institute

Rheumatology

Power of Pain Foundation

Alliance for Lupus Research

and the list goes on and on... I probably need to update the list on my blog right now.... to ALL of you... thank you for your believing in me, for listening when things really suck, for "celebrating the good things", for showing me new ways, and a new day when it comes to living with some of the horrid diseases and illnesses.... Without all of you, all of THIS would not be possible!!!

Women, Fashion, and Our Health "HIGH Heels" How many of us would say "we don't like them?"

As I had posted on my Facebook page, that all of us as women, and especially those who have worked or work in many type of business scenes, of course felt HIGH heels, were almost a must.

I know for myself, being in the banking industry for so many years, and then in a business office for a hospital for years also, for the most part dresses, or skirts and tops/suits were a requirement. It just made sense to have a nice pair of heels to go with certain attire. Or take for instance, going "out of the town", or to a party! If a woman is dressed to the "nine's" in a beautiful evening gown, heels are usually a must. I admit I had a pair colored for just about every outfit I owned. Yellow, several pairs of black and red heels, white, orange, green, royal blue, silver, and some of course that have been my favorites are platforms heels. I have two pair in my closet right now that are about 6 inches and platform. I LOVE those heels! I got those back years ago, before "platforms" and "extreme heels" were in fashion. At that time it was almost hard to find a platform very high heel, let's say like my idol "Stevie Nicks" wears.... and at past 60 years old, probably closer to 65, she STILL wears them! And she still ROCKS the stage.


Yet, most of us knew and know that heels are horrible for your back, legs, feet, and body in general. If you take a "spill" in a pair, you can do some damage to yourself also.

So, now at just over 50, if I could still "rock" those heels, believe I would. I still have my white pair from my wedding, and I have a pair of black patent ones that I still brave at times.

But, I've had two knee replacements, a complete shoulder replacement, a neck surgery, more issues with my lumbar spine now and legs. Plus I have osteoporosis. So, me trying to wear a pair of really high heels, could cause several broken bones, if I were to fall.

I still love them. Each time I walk by the shoe department in some of the upscale places, I almost cry, because I could and would love to have a pair of several each time I see them.

But, as this article states, they are not good for us at all, and quite frankly most of us, if we really tell the truth, they are uncomfortable on our feet. After walking in them for a while, it is just horrible, yet we put up with them in the name of "fashion".

So, here is the URL to the article:


http://www.bbc.com/news/health-13725998?post_id=10205650591438923_10205650591398922#_=_

Now these are what I miss!!!

May 20th is National Clinical Trials Day!!!

https://twitter.com/CureClickTeam/status/600698797346295808

A New Day and A "New Way" to try and Simplify Clinical Trials for those who would like to either try one or know more about them.

Clinical Trial Involving High Cholesterol and/or Other things that can possibly contribute to Heart Disease

The SPIRE Program is looking for participants for a Clinical Trial involving High Cholesterol and other issues that may contribute to heart disease. If you are already on medication for High Cholesterol, yet you continue to have issues with it still being high, this clinical trial and research study may be a good fit for you.

This study evaluates the PCSK9 inhibitor, Bococizumab compared to placebo, in reducing the occurrence of major cardiovascular events, including cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, and unstable angina requiring urgent revascularization, in high risk subjects who are receiving background lipid lowering therapy and have cholesterol laboratory values of LDL-C >/= 70 mg/dL or non-HDL-C >/= 100 mg /dl


To learn more about this research project and find out if you qualify to participate see:

The full study details and eligibility criteria are listed here.

From there you can fill out an online questionnaire below to see if you are eligible for the trial. 

Please complete the online questionnaire to check if you’re eligible for the trial.

 You may have questions about participating in a clinical trial and how this will work, Here is a bit of information in regard to clinical trials themselves.

 

 I am including more information below in regard to what clinical trials are about and how they can help you and others as below:

GENERAL INFORMATION

What is a clinical trial?
A clinical trial (also called clinical research) is a research study in human volunteers to answer specific health questions. Carefully conducted clinical trials are the fastest and safest way to find treatments that work in people and ways to improve health. Interventional trials determine whether experimental treatments or new ways of using known therapies are safe and effective under controlled environments. Observational trials address health issues in large groups of people or populations in natural settings.

What are the benefits and risks of participating in a
clinical trial?
Clinical trials that are well ­designed and well­ executed are the best approach for participants to:

• ●  Play an active role in their own health care.
  
• ●  Gain access to new research treatments before they are widely available.
  
• ●  Help others by contributing to medical research.
  There are also risks to clinical trials:
  

• ●  There may be unpleasant, serious or even life ­threatening side effects to treatment.
  
• ●  The treatment may not be effective for the participant.
  
• ●  The protocol may require more of their time and attention than would a non­protocol
  treatment, including trips to the study site, more treatments, hospital stays or complex dosage requirements
  How is the safety of the participant protected?
  The ethical and legal codes that govern medical practice also apply to clinical trials. In addition, most clinical research is federally regulated with built in safeguards to protect the participants. The trial follows a carefully controlled protocol, a study plan which details what researchers will do in the study. As a clinical trial progresses, researchers report the results of the trial at scientific meetings, to medical journals, and to various government agencies. Individual participants’ names will remain secret and will not be mentioned in these reports (See Confidentiality Regarding Trial Participants).
  

PARTICIPATION
Why participate in a clinical trial?
Participants in clinical trials can play a more active role in their own health care, gain access to new research treatments before they are widely available, and help others by contributing to medical research.

Who can participate in a clinical trial?
All clinical trials have guidelines about who can participate. Using inclusion/exclusion criteria is an important principle of medical research that helps to produce reliable results. The factors that allow someone to participate in a clinical trial are called “inclusion criteria” and those that disallow someone from participating are called “exclusion criteria”. These criteria are based on such factors as age, gender, the type and stage of a disease, previous treatment history, and other medical conditions. Before joining a clinical trial, a participant must qualify for the study. Some research studies seek participants with illnesses or conditions to be studied in the clinical trial, while others need healthy participants. It is important to note that inclusion and exclusion criteria are not used to reject people personally. Instead, the criteria are used to identify appropriate participants and keep them safe. The criteria help ensure that researchers will be able to answer the questions they plan to study. 

__________________________________________________________________________________

****BELOW IS MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH HEART DISEASE AND AN EARLY AGE HEART ATTACK. EVERYTHING BELOW HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS TRIAL AND THEY DO HAVE ANY PARTICIPATION AS I EXPLAIN MY OWN EXPERIENCE. I JUST FELT I WOULD GIVE A PORTION OF MY OWN PERSONAL HEART ISSUES WITH YOU - AGAIN THIS ARE MY OWN FEELINGS AND HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CLINICAL TRIAL. I AM NOT A PHYSICIAN, BUT A PATIENT WITH HEART DISEASE. ****

"MY OWN FEELINGS ARE THAT...Heart disease is something that begins when you are young. The lifestyle you lead, as far as eating habits, exercise, stress reduction, all play an important role in maintaining a healthy life and a healthy heart.

Yet, there are many that suffer from high cholesterol, even though they maintain a "heart healthy lifestyle". Genetics can play an important role in the "clogging" of arteries. Over the years plaque begins to build in your arteries, and eventually can either close off an artery completely or break off and cause a blockage from pieces of that plaque hanging and cutting off oxygen and blood flow.

Therefore it is imperative for everyone who knows they have a "genetic background" (relatives, Father, Mother, Grandparents, siblings and so forth) to be sure and have your cholesterol checked, as well as your blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen levels and so on.

There are also other reasons that cholesterol medications are used. If you have already suffered a heart attack, now they use a combination of certain medications, one of which is a  cholesterol, even though you do not have a high cholesterol issue. Several of my physicians have mentioned that those medications taken at a certain dosage together, may help prevent another heart attack by a huge margin. So, cholesterol medications are not just for those with high  cholesterol, but for those that may have already had heart disease for other reasons." - All of this is provided by myself, who is a heart attack survivor and my own personal opinions.   "Rhia Steele"

***Always see your doctor and/or ask questions about a clinical trial and how it may benefit you or someone you know.