The Annie Appleseed Project

Everyone seems to know someone with cancer these days, when one out of two men will be diagnosed in their lifetime and one in three women. Conventional treatments of chemotherapy, radiation and surgery have their place but they are a very difficult to endure and often weaken a person greatly.

The Annie Appleseed Project was founded to provide information, education and advocacy for people seeking kinder, gentler approaches to cancer therapy (referred to as complementary/alternative CAM). Now often called integrative oncology, the ideas were originally greeted as dangerous or destined to interfere with good outcomes. Yoga was considered a shocking addition back in the 1980’s and early 1990’s.

Since 1999, the Annie Appleseed Project’s extensive website has been available to help people with cancer, their family and friends, make more informed decisions. Using a vast array of possibilities to reduce risk, prevent recurrence, during treatment, after treatment ends, and for survivorship, is now quite acceptable to patients. It still remains to convince most oncologists who want more evidence.

Friday and Saturday are filled with speakers (including patient advocates) from many disciplines whose ideas, efforts, studies and work affect everyone with cancer. A list of speakers, links to their bios, exhibitor information, and other pertinent details can be found online at www.annieappleseed project.org. For those without computer access, call (561) 749-0084.

Registration opened September 13 and will be open until January 4. Hotel costs have been kept to a very modest $120+tax per night and anyone wishing to enjoy the Florida sun (average temps 75 degrees) can extend their stay (in either direction) at the same low rate. CEUs will be available through the cosponsoring Palm Beach Community College Health Education Department. The meeting is open to patients, family members, friends, advocates, practitioners (last year this included acupuncturists, massage professionals, oncologists, nurses, palliative care specialists, naturopaths, homeopaths, etc.)

Each attendee receives a reusable giveaway bag filled with $50-$80 in dietary supplement, natural cleaning products, and other useful items. A Silent Auction will be held to benefit the Annie Appleseed Project, an all-volunteer nonprofit.