Cancercaregiversaz.com

We Will Survive™!

Dear Friends:

As the year 2020 is drawing to a close, we can feel a sense of Relief and Hope. COVID has touched all of us, young and old, from every part of our Country. We are grateful to the scientists, medical staff, healthcare professionals, and all of the 1^st Responders who have been there for us. We now have better ‘tools’ for treating this devastating Virus and vaccines that will save lives, jobs, and help us return to a new ‘normal’. I want to especially thank and honor All Cancer Caregivers, We are also ‘1^st Responders’. We have taken on even more roles and tasks to keep our loved ones healthy and safe.

Cancer doesn’t take a ‘Holiday’ or ‘time out’ for COVID. Unfortunately, many cancer patients have not been able to continue their treatment, or are being diagnosed ‘late’. The isolation and fear have also had a serious effect on our mental health. As Caregivers, we need to remember to take better care of ourselves. As we know, if you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t take care of someone else!

Special thanks to the Governor for his Proclamation of our 2^nd Annual Cancer Caregivers Awareness Week, November 14-21. A reminder of the important role of caregivers as part of the treatment team.

And, we are grateful to all of you who participated in our 1^st Annual Virtual Cancer Caregivers Fun Race/Walk, November 21- December 21. It was a way that we could each do ‘something’ for others who can’t do it alone. Your feedback and photos were great fun. We were happy to hear from you that taking a walk, run or hike- alone or with your family and friends, has been a great way to get fresh air and improve your mood. (our photo gallery will be on the website January 11^th).

We need your help Now to help Cancer Survivors and Cancer Caregivers in 2021!

With your support, we will be able to bring new Virtual educational programs and resources to cancer patients and caregivers at home, in the workplace, and in the community. There is still time to make a ‘year-end tax-deductible donation. Or, Make an early donation for 2021.

You can also order our Special ‘We Will Survive™ 2020 tee shirt with the Racing Bib. Our tee shirt comes in sizes for the whole family and is the right gift for every occasion!

Best wishes for a Healthy and Happy New Year!

Barbara and Jack, Celebrating 29 and a half years as a Cancer Survivor

Thanks to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act – passed by Congress this spring – each family in the US is eligible for a one-time $300 charitable tax deduction.

Here’s how it works. If you give $300 this year to a qualifying 501(c)(3) nonprofit like Arizona Myeloma Network, AzMN, you can claim it as a deduction, even if you (like most American families) take the standard deduction.

For donors who itemize their deductions, the CARES Act temporarily lifts the deduction cap of annual gross income (AGI) to qualified charities like AzMN from 60% to 100%. This means that in some situations, you could actually pay zero income tax for the year.

Donate Now

P.S. Please note that we are not attorneys or financial planners. It is important to consult a trusted professional about all decisions related to taxes.

The Cancer Caregivers AZ ™ Mission:

Our Mission is to Promote Collaboration, Build Awareness, Provide Education and Resources that Build Caregivers Skills and Advocate for Improved Treatment and Quality of Life for Cancer Patients, their Families, and All Cancer Caregivers.

It was an exciting evening for Barbara Kavanagh and AzMN’s Cancer Caregivers Programs. She accepted the Congressional Recognition Award for her dedication to all cancer patients and caregiver services.

It was awarded in a small, outdoor ceremony by Staff member,Monica Yelin, on behalf of Congresswoman Debbie Lesko. A great way for us to begin our Virtual Walk/Race Family Fun Event. Register Now and the Event concludes on December 21st.

Save the Date in 2020

Nov 14^th – 21^st
Governor’s Proclamation
AZ Cancer Caregivers Awareness Week!

Nov 21^st – Dec 21^st 1st Annual Virtual Cancer Caregivers Awareness Race

Spring 2021 Book Release

“Living with Cancer, a
CareGivers Journey©”

A guide for cancer patients, families and
Healthcare professionals

By Barbara Kavanagh, M.S.W., L.C.S.W., cancer caregiver with her husband, Jack Kavanagh, a 29 year cancer survivor.

We are proud and grateful for the amazing guest authors, including leading cancer researchers and
specialists, information on early diagnosis, new treatments, 2nd opinions, and other important topics.

The Honor Wall
The Honor Wall gives people the opportunity to donate $150 in honor of a loved one or just ‘donate’ even if you do not wish to write a tribute. $25, $50, $100, or any amount.
Make Donation/Tribute

Protecting cancer patients amid coronavirus: How to safely offer support

Our Holiday Gift to Cancer Caregivers
is our handy guide and advice.

This guide shares Barbara’s blogs that were published by AARP Colorado from June 2018 to January 2020. These blogs describe actual patient stories and shares tips for caregivers. Also included are a variety of resources for the cancer caregiver.

It is our desire that the items shared within this guide will assist caregivers in discovering strengths within themselves they may not have known they possess, so that they can better meet their caregiving challenges.

We are giving away this guide in PDF format,
donations are welcomed.

Get the Guide

Spring 2021 Book Release
Living with Cancer, a CareGivers Journey®

My writing journey is well underway! The goal of this project is to provide insights and resources that will lead the reader to be a more educated cancer patient and a more effective cancer caregiver.

It has been a 29-year journey that has taken us to 5 countries and 3 U.S. states. Over the years, Jack and I have had to find oncologists wherever we lived. We have been fortunate that they were willing to communicate and collaborate with top myeloma specialists at the Mayo Clinic and Dana Farber Cancer Institute. And, now many years later, they have generously offered to contribute their own knowledge and experience to my book, ‘Living with Cancer, a CareGivers Journey ®.

It is not just the cancer patient who is affected by a cancer diagnosis; it affects the entire family, their circle of friends, those in the patient’s workplace, and beyond. The book will include information and resources for the cancer patients, caregivers, and families, who are such an important part of the cancer team and who are searching for help and hope!

This book will be an invaluable tool for those who have cancer, work with cancer patients, research cancer, educate about cancer and work to bring about improvements in a cancer patient’s quality of life. We are inviting you, the cancer patient and the caregiver, to share your own story and also take the caregiver survey so that we can educate others who are on this journey as well.

Best Regards,
Barbara

Barbarak@azmyelomanetwork.org

Meet the Founders

Honor Wall

Arizona Myeloma Network’s Honor Wall was developed as a way for family and friends to honor and remember their loved ones who have been touched by cancer.

Cancer Caregivers Survey

We welcome your caregiver ‘feedback’ so that we can continue moving forward in making our cancer caregiver programs even more effective both for caregivers as well as the patients they ‘care for’.

Please fill out the caregiver survey . If you don’t choose to answer some of the questions, or wish to add information,that is fine. You can include your name or not.We will collate the responses and share the ‘results’ both on our website and in the Book.

Share Your Story

We invite cancer caregivers/families to send us your story of how you have coped with your loved one’s cancer diagnosis and treatment. And, please offer your own ‘advice’ and suggestions for what others can do to help. All of your stories are important to us, and may be selected for future newsletters, the Book, and/or on our website. We will not include your name unless we have your written permission. Maximum words: 600

‘Decade’ of Caregiver Photos

Visit our Photo Gallery

Thank you Cancer Support Community for hosting our annual free Holiday Stress Seminar for all Cancer Caregivers. Pictured above: Debbie DiCarlo, CEO, CSCAZ, Barbara, CEO, AzMN and Jessica Wells, MSW, Ironwood Cancer Center, volunteers , patients & caregivers.