Hope Through Grace, Inc. Blog

Awards and Recognition

2011-04-07T09:55:00.001-07:00

Hope Through Grace, Inc.

Member – National Colorectal Cancer Round Table (NCCRT), 2010 to date.

Member – Director’s Consumer Liaison Group, National Cancer Institute (NCI), 2006 – 2010.

Recipient, Harold P. Freeman Award, American Cancer Society, Texas Division, 2006.

Cited for testimony “Living Beyond Cancer: Finding a New Balance” President’s Cancer Panel, National Cancer Institute (NCI), 2003.

Panelist, Round Table Forum with George W. Bush, and Heads of U. S. Government Health Agencies, Invited by the White House, 2008.

Grace L. Butler, Ph.D.

Founder and CEO, Hope Through Grace, Inc. A non-profit 501 (C) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to eliminate colorectal cancer, 2001 – to date.

Professor Emeritus – University of Houston, 2001 to date.

Recipient, Purpose Prize Fellow, Award, 2008.

Featured, “Colon Cancer Survivor Makes a Difference in Her Community” The Colon Examiner, American Cancer Society, 2005.

Member – Initial Review Group, Scientific Review Committee, Subcommittee A-Cancer Centers, National Cancer Institute (NCI), 2004-2006.

Honoree, “Encourage the Fight,” Starlight Gala, benefiting the American Cancer Society, 2003.

Recipient, “Partners in Courage Award,” American Cancer Society (ACS), Houston, TX 2001 .

Member, “Action Plan on Colorectal Cancer for the State of Texas” Steering Committee, Texas Cancer Council, 2000.

Member, American Leadership Forum, Class XII, Houston, TX, 1994-to date.

Protect the Colorectal Cancer Control Program!

2011-04-01T13:45:00.001-07:00

URGENT LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERT

Leaders in Congress are working this week and next week to finalize the fiscal year 2011 appropriations bills. The House has recommended cutting the overall budget for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by 20%! A majority of programs at the agency would lose funding including – potentially, the Colorectal Cancer Control Program. Contact your Representative and Senators now and ask them to protect investment in this life-saving program.

NOW is the time to contact your representative and your two senators and have your voice heard. Take action-- complete the form below then help us spread the word.

CLICK HERE TO TAKE ACTION NOW!

CDC Says Black Men Have Highest Rates of Colorectal Cancer

2011-04-01T07:00:00.001-07:00

CDC Says Black Men Have Highest Rates of Colorectal Cancer

Posted: 31 Mar 2011 04:02 AM PDT

In 2007, 62 out of every 100,000 black men in the United States were diagnosed with colon or rectal cancer, the highest rate of colorectal cancer of any US group.

Overall, men were more likely to get colorectal cancer than women — almost 53 of every 100,000 American males compared to 40 per 100,000 females.

Reporting colorectal cancer incidence rates for 2007, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged regular colorectal cancer screening for all average risk adults 50 years and older to cut deaths from colorectal cancer.

According to the CDC, 142,672 Americans were diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2007, including 72,755 men and 69,917 women.

Incidence rate means how many people out of a given number get a disease in a given year. Colorectal cancer incidence rates are reported per 100,000 people.

Across all groups, 52.7 of every 100,000 men were diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2007 and 39.7 per 100,000 women.

The incidence rates per 100,000 men were:

§ Blacks: 62.0

§ Whites: 51.5

§ Hispanics: 44.8

§ Asian/Pacific Islanders: 39.7

§ American Indians/Alaska Native: 33.5

For women, incidence rates were

§ Blacks: 47.1

§ Whites: 38.5

§ Hispanics: 32.6

§ Asian/Pacific Islanders: 31.1

§ American Indians/Alaska Native: 28.8

The CDC estimates that as many as 60 percent of colorectal cancer deaths could be prevented if all men and women age 50 and over were screened routinely.

Data comes from the United States Cancer Statistics: 1999–2007 Cancer Incidence and Mortality Web-based Report.

Finding Your Inspiration

2011-03-31T12:11:00.001-07:00

Finding Your Inspiration

Pottery, Poetry and Patios

Posted by Mary Miller on March 26th, 2011

What do they have in common? All are forms of creative expression that cancer patients have used to “add life to their days,” wrote oncologist Evan Lipson, MD, of Johns Hopkins University in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (online edition Feb. 7, 2011).

One of his patients, Mike, was building a stone patio in his backyard because it was “therapeutic, physical, and something I could control and have a sense of accomplishment.”

Among the “unique and remarkable ways that people living with cancer make the most of their time,” Lipson has observed several themes: exercising, leaving a legacy, activism, building relationships, giving. And the most powerful, he thinks, is “creating something.”

It can be painting, pottery, gardening, writing—any outlet to express unspeakable feelings, to get a brief vacation from the roller-coaster of cancer, and/or to leave something behind.

Several studies have shown tangible physical results—improved lung function in patients having asthma; decreased pain in rheumatoid arthritis; and in a 2010 review of 12 studies in cancer patients, improved psychological states and perceived quality of life.

In his own patients, Lipson wrote, he has seen them find “relaxation, solace, calm, catharsis, and healing.” He added, “What you end up creating is not important. What matters is that the process feels good.” If it doesn’t feel good, it’s fine to move on to something else. Instead of judging the outcome according to some external standard, Lipson said, “A project is worthwhile because it comes from inside you.”

Source: Journal of Clinical Oncology (online edition Feb. 7, 2011)

If you have been diagnosed with cancer, where have you found your inspiration to keep going everyday? We would like to hear your stories.

Fight Colorectal Cancer Endorses Life-Saving Legislation Introduced by Representatives Kay Granger (R-TX) and Jim McGovern (D-MA) Along With Senators Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX)

2011-03-15T09:09:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON, D.C. – March 7, 2011 – Fight Colorectal Cancer is pleased to endorse this bipartisan and bicameral legislation that will ensure access to colorectal cancer screening and treatment by authorizing grant funding for states and local health departments. The “Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment Act” (H.R. 912/S. 494) will protect the men and women who are within the recommended age for colorectal cancer screening, but not yet eligible for Medicare.

With an estimated 51,370 deaths last year, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Of the men and women expected to die of colorectal cancer in 2011, 50% could be saved if they were tested earlier.

Screening saves lives in two ways, by preventing cancer when pre-cancerous polyps are.....Find out more information by clicking here!

Hope Through Grace 6th Annual Walk-a-thon via @constantcontact

2011-03-14T13:05:00.000-07:00

Hope Through Grace 6th Annual Walk-a-thon

Check out our sponsors and contributors!

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

2011-03-07T07:24:00.000-08:00

Things YOU should know in March!

- Get the latest News and Announcements from

Hope Through Grace!

- Send an E-Card to friends and family.

Remind them to get screened!

- Have you heard about the latest legislation regarding colorectal cancer?

2011 Congressional Butt-In

2011-03-02T10:50:00.001-08:00

Congressional Butt-In

(We are passing on this information from the Colorectal Cancer Coalition. Their website is www.fightcolorectalcancer.org)

What: 2011 Congressional Butt-In

When: Wednesday, March 2 – Thursday, March 3, 2011

How: Call 1-866-615-3375 anytime from 9 AM to 5:30 PM EDT

More Info: Email Advocacy@FightCRC.org

Your call really will make a difference! Legislators want to hear from advocates like you. Listen to other advocates who have taken the time to Butt-In to Congress talk about why it is so important.

Help us get a National Colorectal Cancer Screening Program passed into law. Call Congress at 866-615-3375 on March 2nd or 3rd.

6th Annual Walk-A-Thon

2011-01-27T13:36:00.000-08:00

Will you help?

Please take some time to help a cause that we are passionate about. Did you know that colon cancer is the 2^nd leading cause of cancer deaths in men and women, but is PREVENTABLE? If you get regular screenings you can catch the disease before it gets too late. Or too COSTLY. For the under-served community though, insurance costs and co-pays are too burdensome and people are not getting screened.

Hope Through Grace makes it their mission to not only educate the community about the importance of getting baseline colonoscopies, but they help fund screenings for those who cannot afford it. They are saving lives! On March 26^th I would like you to join me in participating in a most worthy cause, to eliminate colon cancer in our community. I have registered online for the 6^th Annual Hope Through Grace Walk-A-Thon and I hope you will join me. My goal is to form a team of 10 walkers. It is a simple $25 fee to register and funds raised go towards helping Harris County residents receive baseline colonoscopies.

We all know about Breast Cancer and other worthy causes, but colon cancer falls to wayside because - well, it's not something most people want to talk about. But the reality of the situation is that people are dying and that can be prevented.

If you do nothing else today, please just inform yourself on the risks of colon cancer and how you can screened. http://www.hopethroughgrace.org

If you are not able to attend on March 26th (you should because it's going to be fun!) please click on the link provided to make a donation. Any size contribution - large or small - helps the underserved members of our community receive colonoscopies that they cannot afford. We are helping to PREVENT COLON CANCER!

Follow This Link to start a team and register today!

Are you ready to get moving?!

2011-01-12T14:18:00.000-08:00

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR THE...

6TH ANNUAL WALK-A-THON

2011 will mark the 6^th year that we have hosted our annual walk-a-thon. It is one of our most fun events; to plan as well as participate! From the very beginning Hope Through Grace has wanted to promote living healthy lifestyles, and what better way to do that than to get the community moving?! Each and every year brings out more participants than the last and we are excited to keep growing, spread awareness on the important of colon cancer screenings and meet more members of our community.

Our 2010 Colon Cancer Challenge Walk-A-Thon showed a 200% increase in attendance! Thank you to our sponsors and supporters!

2011 plans to be even bigger than last year, so click the link below for more information!

2011 Hope Through Grace Walk-A-Thon registration information

“On the Move To Stop Colon Cancer”

Join Us:

Saturday, March 26, 2010

8:00am – Registration Begins

9:00am – Walk-A-Thon Begins

Tom Bass Park III

15108 Cullen Blvd.

Houston, TX 77047

Check out photos from last Year’s Event: We had a blast! Walk-a-Thon 2010

After the Diagnosis

2010-12-02T09:32:00.000-08:00

What Now?

Until you have been there you have no idea how much your world is flipped upside down after the doctor says, "You have cancer." A plan is outlined for treatment, your prescriptions are filled, and bills are calculated.

But there is so much more.

Not only must you worry about SURVIVING, but you must also worry about staying strong. Not only for yourself but for family and friends as well.

We would like to hear from you; those of you who have experienced this emotional roller coaster - who would be willing to talk about it to encourage others who are going through the same thing. Feel free to visit our website and read Dr. Butler's Story of Hope.

If you are willing to share your story please do so in the comment box below.

HTG 8th Annual Symposium

2010-09-28T07:33:00.000-07:00

(NOTICE: THIS IS A PAST EVENT)

HOPE THROUGH GRACE, INC. & PARTNERS PRESENT:

THE

8th ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM

"An Agenda for Colorectal Cancer Prevention”

Featuring:

An Introduction

City of Houston's

Mayor Annise Parker

Also, featured presentions

by:

Marian S. Krauskopf, MPH

(Director, Cancer Prevention and Control Program Bureau of Chronic Disease Prevention and Control New York City Department of Health)

Thomas K. Weber, M.D. , FACS

(C5 Co-Chair, Founder, Chairman of the Board, and President of the Colon Cancer Challenge Foundation as well as the Chairman for the National Colon Cancer Roundtable)

Rebecca Garcia, PhD
(Chief Prevention Officer, (CPRIT) )

David Lopez, FACHE
(President Harris County Hospital District)

Ernest Hawk, MD, MPH
(Vice President of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, MD Anderson Cancer Center)

SAVE THE DATE!!!

November 12th, 2010

11:00 am – 2:00 pm

Junior League of Houston

1811 Briar Oaks Lane

Houston, Texas 77027

Event Information:

$50 EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION ENDS SEPTEMBER 30TH!

STARTING OCTOBER 1ST, REGISTRATION FEE IS $60

Hope Through Grace, Inc. is convening it’s Eighth Annual Symposium which is “a call to action” among a diverse set of community collaborators. The Symposium is a way to engage community stakeholders by generating strategic thinking and new ways of increasing baseline screening colonoscopy in the Houston area.

Participants will propose policy initiatives that, through civic and professional engagement of individuals and their collective actions, address colorectal cancer prevention and early detection issues. This Symposium is a dynamic approach to civic engagement, screening participation, and advancing the health and wellness of this community!

Round Table Discussion Groups:

Advocacy Groups, Media - those who promote social change by informing and influencing health policy.

Government/Policy Organizations - those who have oversight and responsibility for protecting community health and wellness within local, regional, state, and national government agencies.

Physicians, Clinicians, Community Health Centers - those who provide comprehensive primary and preventive health care.

Endowments and Foundations - those who are grant makers and financial underwriters.

Community Based NGOs - non-governmental organizations and/or volunteers who provide benefits to others from humanitarian and charitable perspectives.

HOTEL INFORMATION:

La Quinta Inn & Suites Houston Galleria

713-355-3440

1625 West Loop South
Houston, TX 77027

(Ask for La Quinta Inn & Suites Houston Galleria Area and Group #546)

Standard Room Rate: $85.50 + tax

RATE & RESERVATION DEADLINE: October 21st, 2010

(After this date room availability is not guaranteed! Room rates subject to change, $10 upcharge for the King Sized Room option)

A Little Bit About Us

2010-09-27T10:20:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the very first blog post for Hope Through Grace. In an effort to reach out to the community and spread the news of cancer prevention we hope that by joing the blogging community we will be able to help so many more people! We can only accomplish our goals with help from the people that we reach out and touch, so please help us spread the word! Here is a little bit of information about us:

Our Vision

Hope Through Grace envisions a community and a society in which the incidence and the mortality rates of colorectal cancer are diminished and ultimately eradicated. HTG participants will adopt life changing attitudes, beliefs and behaviors that promote wellness and healthy living, resulting in the significant reduction in the incidence and mortality rates of colorectal cancer.

Our Target Population

Our target population includes persons who are medically underserved, uninsured, underinsured, survivors and all others who wish to live more healthily.

Our Mission

Our mission is eliminating colorectal cancer through prevention and early detection. We are proud to offer cancer screening for early detection, survivorship support, education, advocacy, and, services to underscore the importance of colorectal cancer prevention, early detection and cancer care.

Our Core Belief

“No matter what one’s situation in life, there is always a good hope through the grace of God.”

In pursuit of our mission, Hope Through Grace, Inc. is committed to lowering the risks and incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) by educating people about the disease and urging them to seek colorectal cancer screenings, especially if they are in a high risk group. Much is said about colorectal cancer’s excellent cure rate if caught in the early stages. However, we believe that education is the key to prevention and that more action needs to be taken to help low-income individuals, those who are uninsured, and those who are underinsured, to obtain life-saving colonoscopy screenings.

Hope Through Grace focuses on cancer prevention. We encourage colonoscopy screenings to detect abnormalities that may lead to cancer. If a polyp is detected, it can often be removed during the test. This avoids the possibility of it developing into cancer.

Sadly, because of lack of knowledge and/or lack of funds, people often do not seek prevention measures. We have found that too often, when people finally do consult a health professional, it‘s too late; disease has begun. Our goal is to reduce levels of misinformation, mistrust and distrust by those who delay, avoid or refuse CRC cancer prevention, early detection or support meaures.

Hope Through Grace serves three primary cancer-related needs: education, early detection of colorectal cancer and survivorship support to low-income, uninsured and underinsured citizens in Harris and contiguous counties.

We help save lives by offering financial assistance, education and access to services otherwise not available to this sector of our community. In addition, we provide education and other assistance to insured people and urge them to get screened.

HTG offers one-on-one consultations, workshops, intake screening seminars, and symposia, designed to ensure the public is provided with an understanding of colorectal cancer, risks that increase potential, and measures they can adopt to lower their risk or prevent the disease.

Dedicated to Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Early Detection, and Cancer Survivorship
http://www.hopethroughgrace.org/
info@hopethroughgrace.org
713-668-4673
Houston, TX