The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation

Donate: It may sound simple, but donations are one of the few ways that our charity will survive. Even one dollar can help us take one step closer to achieving our mission of spreading awareness, encouraging early detection and supporting research of esophageal cancer in hopes of a cure. If you would like to make a contribution, please visit: www.salgi.org/donate

Volunteer: Join us for our upcoming events! We had tremendous success this past year at our first ever annual ‘Esophageal Cancer Walk.’ This is an annual event and a lot of fun, so please consider lending a hand or two! We also plan to host other events. You may volunteer to assist us before, during or after our events. Our volunteers can also receive college/school credit for any volunteer hours needed. Have an idea for an event? Email us! salgifoundation@gmail.com We’d love to hear from you!

Spread the word: Raising awareness for this horrific disease is as important as raising funding is to support research. Be sure to “like” us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, add us to your circles on Google+, follow and re-pin with us on Pinterest and subscribe to our blogs. Invite your friends, family, colleagues, clients and acquaintances to do the same as well! Start letting everyone you know what Salgi does and how they can also get involved! You can start by forwarding someone this post!

Fundraise: Back to our first point, donations are essential to keeping our charity alive and prospering. If you would like to throw your own fundraiser, let us know and we can provide our written consent. We might also be able to guest speak, provide you with pamphlets and help educate others about esophageal cancer, prevention and awareness. Remember, we are a 501c3 nonprofit charity so anything that is donated goes DIRECTLY to our charity and all donations are tax-free!

Need some fun fundraising ides? Plan a girls night out, throw a football party, have a yard sale, invite guests over for a wine and cheese party, throw a Halloween party. If throwing a party or night out, you can ask your guests to “buy a ticket” to your soirée and let them know the funds are going directly to Salgi. If you have a yard sale, include in your advertising and postings that all proceeds will benefit Salgi.

Planning a BIGGER party? (I.e. Wedding, Birthday, Bat Mitzvah, Bar Mitzvah, Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Sweet Sixteen, Engagement Party, etc…)  Make a considerate donation to Salgi in the name of your guests in lieu of favors.  Please contact us with questions!

You can also ask companies and businesses to donate to our charity! For instance, you can ask your favorite coffee shop to donate a percentage of their sales from a particular product to Salgi.  Remember, all donations are tax-deductable!

If you have any questions, comments or another idea that wasn’t mentioned, please contact us! www.salgi.org/contact We would love to hear from you!

GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease is a medical condition where contents from the stomach leak or reflux backwards into the esophagus.

This can cause acid reflux, heartburn, other painful symptoms and can damage the esophagus.

If you are living with GERD or suffer from acid reflux, you should consult with your doctor to receive the proper medical care.

The following are suggestions to manage your GERD symptoms and live a more comfortable life.

1. Limit your intake of the following foods: fatty foods, chocolate, coffee, alcohol, mint and acidic food and drinks.
2. Exercise. For some people, light to moderate exercise can help manage GERD symtpoms.
3. Lose weight. Fat tissues in the abdomen compress the stomach with causes more reflux from the stomach.
4. Limit the amount of water or beverages you consume during meals.
5. Stop smoking. Smoking has been shown to increase symptoms and can cause coughing which aggravates GERD.
6. Sleep with your head elevated to avoid GERD symptoms when resting or sleeping.
7. Avoid any abdominal pressures. Limit heavy weight lifting, work and tight clothes
8. Certain medications can aggravate GERD. It is important to consult with your doctor about GERD and medications.

The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) non profit organization as recognized by the Internal Revenue Service.

Content found on Salgi.org is for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

REGISTER HERE!

Join us on Saturday, June 16th at 9 AM for our first annual ‘Esophageal Cancer Walk’ at Warwick City Park.

Bring your family, friends, co-workers and your dogs, too! We need your help to make our first event a huge success!

If you are unable to attend and would still like to donate, please visit us at: wwww.salgi.org/donate

According to the National Foundation For Cancer Research, the following natural foods can reduce the risk of cancers.

Teas: Green, white, oolong. Rich in antioxidants; these teas protect your body by counteracting harmful effects of cell damage.

Tomatoes: Lycopene is an antioxidant found in tomatoe products including: tomato paste, pasta sauce, ketchup and salsa.

Foods rich in Vitamin C: Orange juice & other citrus fruits can help prevent cancers including esophageal cancer.

Cruciferous vegetables: Cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts and turnups help to stimulate the immune system and protect your body against cancers.

While the foods listed above are stated to help fight cancer, none have been found to cure cancer. Some foods such as tomatoes and citrus foods and drinks may increase heartburn or acid reflux and over time lead to risk of esophageal cancer.

Please be sure to consult your physician if you suffer from acid reflux and are considering natural remedies or products.

For more information regarding natural foods that help to fight cancer, visit NFCR’s website: www.NFCR.org

There is a new option for esophageal cancer patients who require surgery which is less invasive and greatly reduces the risk of further infections post-surgery.   The new study was conducted by Dutch researchers and will bring hope to those who suffer from esophageal cancer.

Previously, those who were diagnosed with esophageal cancer had grim chances of surviving after surgery which consisted of a surgeon cutting through a patient’s chest to remove the cancer.   The new less-invasive procedure requires patients to not only have shorter hospital stays but also have improved quality of life after surgery.

Researchers compared results of 56 patients who had open surgery with the results of 59 patients who had the less invasive surgery.  Two weeks after surgeries, 29 percent of those with open surgery developed lung infections while only 9 percent of patients with the less invasive surgery developed infections in the lung.Simon Law of the University of Hong Kong, China has been quoted as saying: “If these results can be confirmed in other settings, minimally invasive esophagectomy could truly become the standard of care.”

As the only cancer which is steadily increasing over the past three decades in the western world, cancer of the esophagus is for many, a death sentence.  There are no underlying causes for esophageal cancer, just risk factors.  Many patients diagnosed with esophageal cancer pass within the first year of noticing symptoms and almost all cases are fatal.

Read more about this revolutionary new surgery option by clicking here.

The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation has worked with Representative Patricia Serpa and The State of Rhode Island to have April recognized as “Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month.”

Throughout this month, we have worked tiredlessly to raise awareness and funding for awareness, early detection and research of esophageal cancer in hopes of a cure.There are many other ways you can get involved in our battle against the fastest increasing cancer diagnosis in the United States:

Periwinkle is the official color for esophageal cancer awareness.

Donate:  Your tax deductible donation will ensure that we have the resources available to spread awareness and support research for this horrific disease.  We have a safe and secure online pay pal account on our site.  Use this site to make an online donation today!

Events:  Attend, volunteer or sponsor one of our upcoming events and become directly involved in supporting cancer research.  Remember to register today for our 1st annual ‘Esophageal Cancer Walk’ on June 16th! http://salgiwalk.eventbrite.com  We are also now accepting sponsorships.  Email salgifoundation@gmail.com for more information!

Your Stories:  Unfortunately, cancer has affected almost everyone.  Wheteher you share a story of your experiences with esophageal cancer or any other cancers or diseases; you will help to spread awareness and understanding for others who may be going through the same ordeal.  “Kind words do not cost much. They never blister the tongue or lips. They make other people good-natured. They also produce their own image on men’s souls, and a beautiful image it is.”  –Blaise Pascal

Awareness: Wear perwinkle as it is the official color of esophageal cancer awareness.  Include a perwinkle ribbon on your social media accounts, photos, email signatures and mailings.  Learn the facts of esophageal cancer and share your knowledge with others.

Facts about Esophageal Cancer:

• Esophageal adenocarcinoma is the fastest growing cancer in the western world.

• There are no known underlying causes for esophageal cancer, just risk factors.

• Frequent heartburn, smoking, obesity and excessive drinking are major risk factors.

• Almost all cases of esophageal cancer are fatal.

• Someone in the U.S. dies of esophageal cancer every 36 minutes.

• Many die of esophageal cancer within the first year of noticing symptoms.

• Patients whose esophageal cancer have spread only receive treatment towards relieving symptoms, not towards curing the cancer.

• Esophageal cancer survivors often suffer a lower quality of life after surgery.

The State of Rhode Island has named April “Esophageal Cancer Awarness Month.” We, The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Reserach Foundation enlisted the help of Representative. Patricia A. Serpa (D-Dist. 27, West Warwick, Coventry, Warwick) to have this resolution passed and therefore promoting  Esophageal Cancer Awareness.

From left to right: Christine, Amedeo, Linda, Rep. Patricia Serpa, Christina and James.

“I think almost everyone can say they know someone who has been affected by cancer,” Representative Serpa said. “But it’s important to highlight a form of cancer that doesn’t necessarily receive as much attention as the others. Oftentimes, this form of cancer is fatal and survivors can’t retain a high quality of life after undergoing surgery. I’m honored the Salgi Foundation would think of me, and I’m excited to help raise awareness of this disease.”The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation was created in memory of our President’s father, who lost his courageous battle with esophageal cancer in 1998. “As a newly formed organization, we felt that having April recognized by the state of Rhode Island as Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month would be our first step in bringing awareness about this terrible disease,” said Salgi Foundation’s President.

In 2007, Rhode Island ranked fourth in the country for incidents of cancer of the esophagus, or the tube that pushes food from the mouth to the stomach.  For more information, or to assist us in gaining awareness and funding for esophageal cancer please contact us today or make a tax-deductible donation.

Read Rep. Serpa’s Official Press Release Here

Read The Official RI House Resolution Here

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced approval of a new surgical device to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease otherwise known as GERD.

The device is called “The LINK Reflux Management System” and is surgically placed for patients who have chronic acid reflux (GERD) and for those patients whose symptoms are not relieved from regular use of medical therapy or for those who want to avoid a lifetime of medical therapy.

The lower esophageal sphincter is a muscle which connects from the stomach to the esophagus and prevents the backflow of stomach acid, food and drink back up into the esophagus.  When this muscle does not function properly, stomach contents flow back up into the esophagus, causing reflux and irritation to the esophagus.  Over time, this can lead to a pre-cancerous condition called Barrett’s Esophagus or esophageal cancer.

A series of titanium beads each with a magnetic core, in the shape of a ring, are connected with titanium wires and implanted at the lower esophageal sphincter to help prevent stomach contents from flowing back up into the esophagus.

To read more about the new LINK Reflux Management System, you can read the official news release.

A team of researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have identified two cancer-promoting pathways in esophageal cancer.

The discovery indicates that these pathways are crucial in the development of esophageal cancer development and progression of the disease. These groundbreaking findings can lead to advanced therapy for esophageal cancer which is already developed.

A combination of two FDA approved drugs which are used in other types of cancer have been shown to “steeply reduced the tumor burden in a mouse model of esophageal adenocarcinoma,” stated Mien-Chie Hung, Ph.D.

“Esophageal cancer is one of the most aggressive forms of cancer, with fewer than 20 percent of patients surviving for five years, the study notes. And it has become more frequent in the United States by 5 to 10 percent annually since the 1980s. Inflammation and obesity are thought to be driving factors in this increased incidence”, Hung said.

The team of researchers conducted experiments with cell lines, mouse models and actual human tumor samples.

To read the full story released by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, click here.