Stand Up To Cancer will be working with the hit show Survivor and issue the “Challenge The Odds” Team Challenge with Stand Up To Cancer Ambassador and winner of Survivor: Africa Ethan Zohn. Zohn is in remission from Hodgkin’s lymphoma and is the spokesperson for the Survivor teams SU2C fundraising efforts.

CBS will engage its viewers on-air and online through Survivor fan sites in the challenge. The SU2C fundraising widget is available to all SU2C Team Community participants to share on blogs and social media platforms (i.e., Facebook and Twitter) in order to rally support and encourage donations. Top fundraisers between Aug. 17 & Sept. 1, 2010 will be announced on the September 10th show. One lucky team member may have the chance to Skype with a celebrity on air!

In addition, a CBS PSA campaign driving viewers to the Survivor SU2C donations page will launch tonight and run throughout the year.   Among the Survivors participating in the spots are fan-favorites such as Rupert Boneham, Amber Brkich-Mariano, James Clement, Colby Donaldson, Cirie Fields, Russell Hantz, Jerri Manthey, Rob Mariano, Jenna Morasca, Parvati Shallow, James ”JT” Thomas Jr., Sandra Diaz-Twine, Benjamin “Coach” Wade, Tom Westman and Ethan Zohn.

Watch the SU2C TV show on September 10, 2010, at 8PM EST & PST / 7PM CT. The one-hour fundraising event will be simulcast live and commercial-free on ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, Bio, Discovery Health, E!, G4, HBO, HBO Latino, MLB Network, mun2, Showtime, Smithsonian Channel, The Style Network, TV One, and VH1.

To get involved by starting a team, becoming a member of Stand Up To Cancer, keeping informed of their work on Facebook and Twitter or to make a donation, visit the Stand Up To Cancer Survivor site.

Stand Up To Cancer is a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. EIF meets all 20 BBB Charity Standards.

Celebrity health advocates often do a good job of  spreading the news about a specific medical condition. When you see a YouTube video featuring Zak Efron and Vanessa Hudgens for Stand Up To Cancer, the cause gets noticed. Think about Jerry Lewis and what he has done for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the conditions that the MDA covers.

Dick Van Dyke was recently named the spokesperson of the Cell Therapy Foundation which promotes stem cell therapy for diseases such as heart disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS) and cancer. Kellie Martin, who you may remember from Life Goes On,  ER or Mystery Woman is a spokesperson for the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA).

Celebrities bring awareness to unknown diseases. They help to raise money for research. They also inform people about symptoms, how to get diagnosed and available treatments. It can be difficult, though, to find a celebrity advocate for a medical condition that they actually have, especially if they are working. Many celebrities want to hide any kind of illness they have. It can hurt their career because they can be seen as someone who may not be able to show up when needed.

As they say, the show must go on. If a celebrity can’t work because of being sick, being hospitalized, or having a flare up, they can shut down taping of a show. There are also insurance issues to be concerned about. If a celebrity is known to have some type of medical problem, the insurance for the project they are working on (TV show, movie, CD, video) can be increased. Let’s not forget the rumor mill and the embarrassing stories that will be reported. For example, there was recently a sighting of celebrity buying incontinence supplies and it was fodder for celebrity gossip.

Wilma Mankiller, the first female chief of the Cherokee Nation in modern times, died April 7th, 2010 of Pancreatic Cancer. Mankiller had chronic illnesses including Mysthenia Gravis, Lymphoma, Breast Cancer and a Kidney transplant. She was only 64 when she died.

Although she had many difficulties with her health, as chief from 1985 to 1995, Mankiller she focused on health care, housing and other social and family issues within the Cherokee Tribe and she helped membership triple.

She was known as someone who not only cared, but who did something about her concerns. Her role as an advocate and leader began when she joined a 19 month long occupation of Alcatraz Island which demonstrated the US government’s recognition of tribal sovereignty.

After a car accident in 1979, which almost killed her and required 17 surgeries, Mankiller, still decided to campaign for chief and won in 1985. Through her health struggles, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1988 and continued to work for the Cherokee and Native American people.

Dermatologists are an important part of a patient’s medical team because they can diagnose chronic illness. Although many people consider seeing a dermatologist to look younger, for acne treatment or for skin cancer screening only, seeing this type of doctor regularly can help you get diagnosed with serious chronic health conditions in a timely manner.

For example, coarse, scaly skin can be a sign of Lupus, a purplish rash on the stomach can signal Lymphoma, yellowing of the skin is often a sign of liver disease, as is severe itchy skin. Rashes, flaking skin and other skin problems can be assessed by a dermatologist who works closely with your primary doctor and specialists for a diagnosis and treatment plan.

Dermatologists can also help to treat chronic illnesses. Botox is used to treat migraines. Laser treatment is used for Psoriasis and warts caused by immunosuppressants are removed. Once you become familiar with and comfortable with your dermatologist, it often occurs that you will seek out other types of treatments. After all, who doesn’t want to look good? I’d love to avoid waxing my eyebrows since Sjogren’s Disease has made my eye area sensitive, finding a dermatologist who does laser hair removal in Florida would make my day. Although I can’t get botox treatments because of having Myasthenia Gravis, I know a number of people that be thrilled to have a Botox Florida treatment center for migraines.

This is a compensated post. Please see my Disclosure Policy for more details.

What a fun way to show support and raise money for the organization Stand Up To Cancer or SU2C - a video featuring Jim Parsons from Big Bang Theory. Watch and enjoy, then go ahead and learn more about SU2C and shop and give money to this non-profit.

Mesothelioma is a cancer that has as its main cause exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is no longer used in construction in the United States, but there are some older buildings that may still contain it. Due to research about this form of lung cancer, asbestos is now removed with workers using equipment that protects them from breathing in the dust and particles and bringing any of those home to contaminate others or their own dwelling.

In the past, however before the danger was known or before employers made workers aware of the risk of working with asbestos, many people and their families were affected. Some types of workers in these situations are:

• Drywall Installers
• Elevator Mechanics
• Military Workers
• Pipefitters
• Steel Workers
• Ship Yard Mechanics
• Welders

There are many other employees including teachers and other people working in schools, tile workers, painters and carpenters. Quite often the diagnosis did not occur until years after their work ended either through retirement, leaving their job to work elsewhere, bankruptcy, etc. The sad part of this scenerio is that the asbestos manufacturers were aware of the danger but did not produce evidence until OSHA made this information available in 1971.

People who have been diagnosed are entitled to compensation. Family members of those who have died are also entitled. Since this type of law suit is so specialized it is imperative to procure a Mesothelioma Lawyer who is knowledgeable, experienced and has an excellent track record in these type of cases. You don’t want to deal with an attorney who will cause you more stress in an already stressful situation.