His high school has kicked him out of school because of his decision to give back.  He attends Madison Academy, and their policy states that their students must have haircuts that are off the collar, away from the ears, and out of the eyes.  Madison Academy is a private school.  He has told local news sources that he has no intention of cutting his hair until it’s long enough to donate, and his mother supports this decision.

He told Huffington Post, “Self confidence is really what you need to beat the disease.”  How true is that?  His family and him have received much attention from this, even from ABC News, and for good reason.  What kind of school, public or private, kicks a recovering cancer patient out of school because he wants to grow his hair out to cut it off again and give it to Locks of Love?

Last Monday, Gaskins’ mother, Christa Plante, set up a petition on Change.org.  So far, they’ve reached over 56,000 signatures and a school board meeting was scheduled for Sunday, February 05, 2012.  Click on the link to keep up with this story.

Plante also tried to come to a compromise with the school board, saying that she would cut her son’s hair as soon as it was ready to donate. The board still said “no.”  In addition to this, the policy also says nothing about the length of a female student’s hair and  because of this, the female students are able to donate.  So why can’t the males?  This seems like a double standard to me.  The school’s superintendent William Kneer stated, “…we’re not going to up and change our policy!”

So often we see teenagers getting into some form of trouble. All this young man wants to do is give back, but his school will not let him.  I cannot express my frustration with this school.  Being a survivor myself, I see exactly where he’s coming from and I feel that this is an insult to young cancer survivors everywhere!

Insanity classes will only be offered for a short time as a new exciting workout called Asylum will be introduced into the schedule. Dustin says he will continue running the Insanity classes on Monday through Wednesday at 7pm.

The Asylum classes will start shortly after the Insanity program is over. Any student or faculty member who is interested in starting the new Asylum workout should come to the Insanity class before attempting Asylum.

I recently found out that this new workout is designed mainly for athletes. The workout caters to core explosiveness not just bulk and sculpting. It focuses on explosive movements that many athletes utilize such as jumping, running, cutting and lateral acceleration. Overall Asylum provides a total body workout that is sure to test your limits so come on down to the Learner Wellness Center today and get your workout on!

Allow me the privilege to explain everything.

Vaxil BioTherapeutics is medical company in Israel. It was founded in 2006 by Dr. Lior Carmon. They have recently developed a therapeutic cancer vaccine that they hope will treat cancer and prevent it from recurring in previous cancer patients. I will be the first person in line to receive it.

          They have started clinical trials with it at the Hadassah University Medical Center in Jerusalem. Currently, they are using it in the trial to combat Multiple Myeloma, a type of blood cancer. If all goes well it could be available in about six years, hopefully treating and preventing 90 percent of all known cancers. It would be used like a drug and would be given on a regular basis.

          In a cancer patient, their immune systems are down and out but this vaccine is developed to “train” T-cells. T-cells are specific cells in your immune system that seek out foreign cells in your body that are marked with a molecule called MUC1. This molecule is typically only found on most cancer cells. ImMucin is made to activate the T-cells so that they will help destroy the cancer cells with little to no side effects.

          For large tumors and cancers in the advanced stages, chemotherapy and surgery may still be necessary but if it can be down-sized then the vaccine can help the body to get rid of it. ImMucin is intended to be long-term and would be given at a certain point every few months to keep the cancer from returning.

          Can we all agree that this is a huge breakthrough for medical science and for the world’s cancer patient population? I think I speak for many of us when I say that we would be forever grateful.

Now, for those of you who are avoiding getting your shot simply because of the needle, you no longer have reason to fear.  Many of us are scared of needles because of their size.  The nurse comes over with a smile and then you see that big, sharp pointy thing that she is about to stick into your arm.  Well, with this flu season comes an improvement-Fluzone®. This new flu vaccination is generally recommended for people ages 18 to 64.  It is administered through a short ultra-fine needle, a much less painful option nowadays.

The flu shots for the 2011-2012 year include immunization for the same viruses from last year.  Now this does not mean that you should go without getting the flu shot.  Many people go without it, but the fact of the matter is that your body’s immunity to the flu declines throughout the year and by next flu season your body will not have the support it needs to fight it off. For students living on campus, you can receive your flu shot at the Student Health Center.  Mrs. Candy Fesperman will be more than happy to help and she’s good with a needle-you won’t feel a thing!

Also, one last note, if you are allergic to chicken eggs, have had an allergic reaction to a previous flu shot, or have Guillian-Barre Syndrome, then you should consult a physician before having anymore flu shots!

With that being said, go get your flu shot.  After all, who wants to miss class because of being sick?

P.S. Please go by the health center at some point and give your condolences to Mrs. Cathi Welborne.  She is going through a rough time and could use our support.

          Do you know how people always are telling you to just breathe when they can see that you’re stressed out? Well, they’re right. Don’t ignore them. Meditation is a wonderful way to do this. Meditation allows you to clear your mind of all things and focus on things that you need to focus on. Maybe you need help making a decision. This is a good way to do it. It also helps lower blood pressure, heart rate, and improves breathing. So go find a nice, quiet room where you can sit comfortably with no distractions and get to it!

          Another good way to relieve stress is by doing something that makes you happy. I know all of you reading this right now are thinking, “Well, duh,” but you may not realize that small things you do throughout the day make you happy. Having pets or just petting a friend’s dog or cat is a great stress reliever. Don’t you just love how pets love you unconditionally as long as you feed them? No matter how bad a day you’ve had or what the situation is, pets are always up to making you feel better.

          Now, let’s talk lips. We’re all college students, so let’s be mature about this. It has been scientifically proven that kissing is a good relaxation technique. During the act, your brain gives off endorphins, and if you’ve taken psychology you know that endorphins make you happy. So grab your sweetheart and pucker up!

          One more technique is not to think about the future so much. I know it’s hard to do, but how many of you find yourself getting worked up because you think about the future way too much. I know I do. Keeping you mind on the task at hand and in the present tense is a good way to prevent stress.

          On that note, I will leave it to all of you. There are many more techniques out there, all it takes is a little research to find the one fit for you.

It’s still difficult sometimes for me to say the word, “cancer.” Sometimes, I’m in utter disbelief that I even had it. I keep wondering what I would have been like today if I didn’t go through it. How would my personality be? How would I look? I can honestly say that I don’t think I would be the same person! Just to prove my point about how close many of us are to cancer and how it does affect us, I took a survey of the students around campus.

I asked the students if they had anyone in their immediate family who currently has, or has had cancer. I also asked them to specify what kind if they could. Out of the forty-seven people asked only three of them said that they had no one in their immediate family with cancer that they could think of.

As the other forty-four students specified the types of cancer, I could see a pattern developing. Breast, lung, and skin cancer were the most outstanding types, with breast cancer halting at thirteen people, lung cancer in second with nine people, and skin cancer in third with six people. Colon cancer did not receive the numbers that I expected. Colon and ovarian cancer, along with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) were tied with two each. Brain, throat, bone, thyroid, prostate, liver, uterine, bladder and cervical all came in with one person each. These statistics are scary. Forty-four out of forty-seven students asked had someone that was immediately related to them with cancer.

How many of you reading this would believe me if I told you that I had cancer? Provided that you personally know me, of course. Looking at me now, you would never know. My hair has come back and the only visible proof that I have is a scar on my chest. I have had people call me a liar after finding out, simply because I don’t look like a “sick” person anymore.

While doing some of my research and surveying for this article, several friends of mine informed me that they had parents or grandparents quite recently diagnosed with some form of cancer. I would have never known about it until they told me, and I feel deep sorrow for them because I know what it’s like to go through cancer myself, but I also know what it’s like to see a loved one go through it and to be victorious, and then still for others to be defeated. Whatever happens, whatever the outcome, it’s a horrible thing to watch and go through.

On a lighter note, breakthroughs in cancer research for all types are being made everyday.  All you have to do is go to the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) website. They update it constantly and have news on cancer, chemotherapy, and medicines. They also have helpful links. Here’s the link for their site, just click ACS.

In addition, I would like to thank all of you wonderful supporters out there. I think I speak for all cancer patients when I say we wouldn’t be here without you! I would also like to give a special thank you to my family. My mother was in nursing school when I was sick; my father was working twelve hours a day, and my little sister, Marissa, brightened my days in the hospital by jumping onto the bed with me during my stays. I love you all!

I have a personal blog all about cancer and the topics that come with it. It’s called “Surviving the C Word.” Here’s the link: Surviving the C Word.

Allergies can also be embarrassing. About a week ago, I went on a day trip with my boyfriend’s family. Throughout the entire day, I could not stop sneezing and my eyes were so watery at one point that I couldn’t see and it looked like I was crying! Thankfully, his mom had some allergy medication on her and soon after taking it I had no symptoms. Now, even though this was not my first time meeting them, it was still unbecoming.

I interviewed a friend of mine, Chadeon Proctor, who has some of the worst allergies of anyone I know. I asked Chad how bad his allergies were? This is what he had to say, “If I get a whiff of anything that would cause me to sneeze, like dust, pollen, or animal dander, then I erupt into a volcano of snot.” I also asked him how does he deal with his severe allergies? He replied with this, “Tissues, lots and lots of tissues and some benadryl!” For one last question, I asked him if he had anything to say to other allergy sufferers out there? He said, “Allergy sufferers unite…after it rains!” He remains chipper during allergy season in North Carolina.

Allergy season in North Carolina usually begins around March and ends close to May or June. Though this time span is somewhat short, is it quite severe and seems like forever to those with every allergy under the sun. Tree pollen is likely the worse of most pollen plants in North Carolina and more rain before allergy season means more plant growth and thus more pollen.

Here are some common medications that most people take for allergies. However, if after taking one of these for a short time, you see no results, you should consult a doctor. The medicines are as follows:

Benadryl
Claritin
An EpiPen (For those with anaphylactic reactions)
Flonase
Nasonex
Omnaris
Zyrtec

Before we get to the traits, a lot of people would also like to know if their blood type is rare, well, here’s your answer:
O+ makes up 38% of the world population
A+ at 34%
B+ at 9%
O- at 7%
A- at 6%
AB+ at 3%
B- at 2%
AB- at 1%.

Did you know that blood types are also inherited? Just like biology majors would work with a punnett square to figure out possible physical traits, the same can be done with blood types. This is also how paternity testing is done. You also have two Rh factors. This is how you inherit your specific blood type.

Now, as promised, the traits. As surveys have shown, many people with Rh- blood have noticeable traits that people with Rh+ blood do not, such as; an extra vertebra or and extra rib, keener vision and hearing, lower body temperature, lower blood pressure, and blue, green, or hazel eyes that change color. Also, many Rh- people have a higher immunity to bacteria and viruses. So all you Rh- people out there, check this out and see if you think it’s true.

All you A+ people out there, here’s your diet based on your blood type. Fresh fruit, green vegetables, wheat, and lots of beans are the way to go for you. Also, all you type A’s out there are more vulnerable to malaria, TB, and smallpox, but don’t fret, you’re not the only ones.

I want all the type O’s to take a bow, because you seem to be the most resistant to a lot of diseases. Type O’s are resistant to syphilis and TB, but more vulnerable to HIV. Also a good diet for you would be lots of meat.

Type B, it’s your time to shine, you are more resistant to TB and do not appear to be any more vulnerable to any disease. This does not mean for you to test it!

For you type AB’s out there, your blood has both the A and B antigen on it, therefore, you would have traits of both the A and B blood groups.

I hope that you found this article very informative and you now know what your blood type says about you.

Though cancer rates are dropping, skin cancer is still a big concern during the summer. Many know what skin cancer is, but may not know the facts and details and ways to prevent it. Don’t be fooled; children and college-aged people can get skin cancer too.

There are different types of skin cancer, but the most common kind is Basal Cell Skin Cancer. Around 8 out of 10 patients with skin cancer have this type. It develops from being in direct sunlight or exposed to UV rays for long periods of time. Though, it is rare that people die of this kind of cancer, it is still dangerous and comes with many side-effects.

People with fair skin are found to have this more often than those with darker skin. Also, elderly people and men are at a higher risk. Men are 2 times more likely to develop skin cancer, than women.

There are ways to decrease the likelihood of developing skin cancer. The most obvious would be the use sunscreen and lots of it. Wear a hat, sunglasses, a shirt. Keep to the shade. Tanning beds are good, once in a while, but they also heighten the chance of developing skin cancer.

Doctors have long debated the topic of vitamin D vs. skin cancer. The top answer has been that even though the sun gives us much vitamin D, they recommend that people stay out of the sun and take vitamin D by mouth, because we only get a small percentage of our vitamin D from the sun and being out in the sun too long clearly has bad effects.

Also remember to drink lots of water and take a break every once in while, just to keep up your fitness and hydration during the hot summer months.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) there are three basic steps to follow in order to stay flu-free. The CDC says that “the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses” is getting the vaccine. Lucky for the Catawba students and staff, the flu vaccine is available for $20 (cash or check) at Proctor Student Health Services.

The CDC explains that the second step to keep from getting the flu is to “take action in stopping the spread of germs.” The tips that they offer to avoid spreading germs are all common sense and pretty simple. It is important to cover both your nose and your mouth when you sneeze. If a tissue is available, use it to stop your germs from spraying everywhere. If no tissue can be found, healthcare professionals suggest patients to use the inside of their arm to catch their germs. Another way to stop the spread of germs is by washing your hands often with soap and water. The CDC says that germs are most often spread when people touch their eyes, mouth, and nose and that by not touching those areas of your face, the chance of getting sick is less likely.

As stated by the CDC, the third step in avoiding the flu is to “take anti-viral drugs if you are prescribed them by a doctor.” Anti-viral drugs are different from antibiotics, but are not available over the counter. The anti-viral drugs can make an illness somewhat milder and has the ability to shorten the time a person is sick. They also may prevent serious complications with the flu.

One of Catawba’s school nurses, Kathi Welborn,RN wants students to know that “There have already been some confirmed cases of the flu” and that “flu season will be around until about May.”

The following is a list of flu symptoms: fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headaches, runny or stuffy nose, fatigue, and chills. Sometimes people have been known to have vomiting and diarrhea. It is possible for people to have the flu and have respiratory problems without spiking a fever.

Take the first step in avoiding the flu and go get your flu vaccine at Proctor Student Health Services today!

For more information on the flu, make sure you visit our wonderful nurses!