Thomasina Holmes: Lung Cancer Survivor Living In the Moment

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1 Community Connections August 2015 Volume No. 5, Issue 8 Thomasina Holmes: Lung Cancer Survivor Living In the Moment I didn t think I was going to make it, so it s really about my life today and how cancer makes a difference in a person s life, says Thomasina Holmes, a thriving lung cancer survivor who credits Roswell Park Cancer Institute for saving her life. An estimated 221,200 Americans (American Cancer Society Facts and Figures, 2015) will be diagnosed with lung cancer this year and it is the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women in the U.S. When Holmes was diagnosed with lung cancer, she knew the road ahead would be a long and tiring one. She wanted to give up, but as her loved ones came to her side to support her, it gave her the hope she needed and the will to keep fighting. Like every Roswell Park patient, she received a custom treatment and post-treatment plan and will continue to see her Roswell Park physician longterm to watch for any recurrence and address her health needs. Having a new lease on life, Holmes started her own business with the hope of giving her kids the bright future they deserve. Now, she wants everyone to learn the signs and symptoms associated with lung cancer, and the extreme importance of taking care of your body. To keep her message spreading, she s writing a book titled Open Your Eyes. Don t ever say it can t happen to me, because cancer doesn t discriminate, says Holmes. I just thank my God who got me through it. It changed my life completely. I m a better mother. I m a better businesswoman, and I m a better friend. It s really serious, and it seems like there s so many people that have it, and you just don t know. But I always pray. I thank God for another day. For more information about lung cancer, lung cancer screening, call ASK- RPCI ( ), or go to DID YOU KNOW. Cigarette smoking has been linked to about 90% of all lung cancer cases? If you want help to quit, call the New York State Smokers Quitline at NY-QUITS ( ), or go to

2 Community Connections Roswell Park Teams Up with WBLK Radio to Promote Cancer Awareness and Screening Cancer doesn t discriminate. Thomasina Holmes (Pictured from left to right) WBLK Radio personality Todd Anderson, lung cancer survivor Thomasina Holmes, and Roswell Park s Attending Surgeon, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Dr. Chumy Nwogu after interviews at WBLK Studios. In late July, Roswell Park Cancer Institute began a partnership with WBLK Radio (93.7 FM) to promote cancer awareness and early cancer screening initiatives to its listeners. WBLK Radio s primary listening audience is African- American, many of whom may be at higher risk for breast, lung, prostate, or colorectal cancer. Each month for the remainder of 2015, WBLK will air interviews of cancer survivors and cancer experts. Cancer awareness radio ads and messaging will encourage listeners to learn their risk factors for certain cancers and to talk to their doctor about their family history and other risk factors. Messaging will also promote the benefits of participating in screening programs, including those offered at Roswell Park. In August, the focus will center on lung cancer awareness. September will focus on prostate cancer awareness, followed by colorectal cancer awareness in October. Each month s awareness campaign will highlight a cancer survivor through on-line videos, blogs, and on social media (Facebook and Twitter). For more information, call ASK-RPCI ( ), or go on-line to Page 2

3 Volume No.5, Issue 8 First-Ever African American Male Wellness Walk Held in Niagara Falls On Saturday, July 18th, the region s first-ever African American Male Wellness 5K Walk was held in Niagara Falls, one of seven cities in the U.S. that participated. Despite the threat of rain, nearly 4,000 people participated in the 5K walk, which began at the Niagara Arts Cultural Center. The day began at 7 a.m. with free on-site health screenings and concluded with a gospel festival. We have to take charge of our health and we have to make a statement that our lives matter just like everyone else s. The African American Male Wellness Walk event began in Ohio, where walks are held annually in Columbus, Toledo and Youngstown. This past March, Niagara Falls Mayor Paul A. Dyster accepted a challenge from Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman to sponsor a walk in Niagara Falls. The challenge was accepted and the event was coordinated by Niagara Falls Councilmember Charles Walker. Roswell Park s Dr. Willie Underwood served as honorary chairman for the walk. For more information, call the official walk office at (716) Plans are already underway for next year s event. Dr. Willie Underwood Page 3

4 Community Connections Roswell Park Summer Research Student Interns Around and About In early July, Cody Kelso participated in the annual Haudenosaunee Football/Life Skills Camp on Cattaraugus Territory of the Seneca Nation and the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario, Canada. He assisted with the young people attending the football camp and conducted a prostate cancer awareness presentation to Seneca Nation men before their Masters-level lacrosse game. In late July, Marissa Haring, along with two members of the Office of Cancer Health Disparities Research (OCHDR), attended the Indigenous Writing Retreat in Fonda, NY at the Kanatsiohareke Mohawk Community. While at the retreat she, along with OCHDR research assistant Whitney Ann Henry, who is a member of the Tuscarora Indian Nation, assisted writing a scientific paper ( Haudenosaunee Health Disparities in New York State ). There they networked and shared information with other indigenous scholars and writers while residing on the original homelands of the Haudenosaunee (Mohawk Territory). Throughout the week, writers met with a traditional advisor, Betty Carr-Braint, and PhD writing advisors Dr. Rick Monture and Dr. Stephanie Waterman. Dr. Monture, a member of the Mohawk Nation, is from the Six Nations Reservation in Ontario, Canada. He is the academic director of Indigenous Studies at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, and author of We Share Our Matters, a literary history of the Six Nations of Indians. Dr. Waterman, a member of the Onondaga Nation, is from Syracuse NY. She is a faculty member of Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto in Ontario. Advisors gave feedback and suggestions in one-on-one sessions with the writers. Page 4

5 Volume No.5, Issue 8 Upcoming Events Esperanza y Vida One-Stop-Shop Breast Cancer Awareness and Screening Events: Tuesday, September 1, 2015, 9 a.m. -4 p.m., 543 Richmond Ave., Buffalo, N.Y Tuesday, September 15, 2015, 9 a.m. -4 p.m., Richmond/Summer Senior Center, 337 Summer St., Buffalo, N.Y After hour screening services at Roswell Park Cancer Institute Every Thursday from 4 p.m. -6:20 p.m. Breast Screenings and Mammograms now available at Roswell Park For more information, call: Esperanza y Vida, (716) or (716) The Buffalo/Niagara Witness Project, (716) or (716) The 27th annual Taking It to the Streets International Crusade Rally and Festival Saturday, August 15th and Sunday, August 16th, a.m. -9 p.m. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park at the corners of Fillmore Avenue and Best Street For more information, please contact Anita Williams at (716) or Tammy Lee at (716) Fifth Annual Cruisin for a Cure Buffalo Car Show & Prostate Cancer Screening Event Saturday, September 26, 2015, 9 a.m. -4 p.m. Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY For more information or to pre-register, call ASK-RPCI ( ), or go on-line to Page 5

6 R O S W E L L P A R K C A N C E R I N S T I T U T E Roswell Park Cancer Institute The Carlton House, Room 308-A Elm & Carlton Streets Buffalo, New York Phone: Fax: Terry.Alford@roswellpark.org Want to catch up on past editions of the Community Connections newsletter? Visit: