What's New?

If you must call them instead of filling out this form, the number is 503-221-1611 and for the special rates, you need to say that you're with:
Group Name: Cushing's Understanding, Support and Help Organization
For this Event: Cushing's Organizations 10.03
Dates: October 14-19, 2003

• A Timezone card near the InstaChats, to help people know when others were chatting.

• eCards for all occasions are now available on the Cushings-Help site.

• Sign up for notification of local meetings. You need not be a CUSH member to participate.

• There are now 1326 members on the Message Boards

• We welcome your articles, letters to the editor, bios and Cushing's information. Submit a Story or Article to either the snailmail CUSH Newsletter or to an upcoming email newsletter at http://www.cushings-help.com/newsletter_story.htm A no-obligation free sample of the CUSH Organization Newsletter is also available from that same link.

• A list of Current CUSH Organization members is available here.

• If you've been diagnosed with Cushing's, please participate in the Cushing's Register

The information you provide will be used to create a register and will be shared with the medical world. It would not be used for other purposes without your expressed permission. Note: This information will not be sold or shared with other companies.

Lynne Clemens, Secretary of CUSH Org is be the person responsible for the creation of this register. If you have any questions you may contact her at lynnemc@attbi.com. You do not have to be a member of CUSH to fill out this questionnaire, as long as you are a Cushing’s patient. We do not believe that the world has an accurate accounting of Cushing’s patients. The only way to authenticate accuracy is with actual numbers. Your help will be appreciated. Thank you."

Decorative Candles:

Julia (Spencer's Mom) is beginning to make food oriented candles - shaped like sundaes, pies, and other desserts. She will donate 20% of the proceeds to CUSH and she's even trying to making a candle in the shape of the CUSH pin!

5” Pies $10 each

These three-wick tantalizing pies are appropriately scented.  They come in a bakery container and make a great gift!  Strawberry, Cherry, Apple, Blueberry (with lattice top) 

Chocolate & Pecan (without lattice top)

3” Pie Tarts $5 each

These are the same as the 5” pies, only smaller!

Strawberry, Cherry, Apple, Blueberry, Chocolate & Pecan (all no lattice top) with lattice top add $1

Cobblers $12 each Just like Mom used to make only without the calories!
Peach, Blackberry, Cherry

Cupcakes $3 each or 12 for $30

Looking for a unique Birthday gift?  How about a plate of Cupcake Candles?  Vanilla or Chocolate “cake” with white frosting and sprinkles

Cinnamon Bun - $12 (not pictured)
Just imagine hot cinnamon buns fresh out of the oven and that is what you’ll get with this huge candle.  (plates vary)

Chunk Candles Floating Candles: choice of colors & scents These can be customized with your choice of color chunks. Tealights 6 for $3.00 3 x 4” hex $12 Tarts 6 for $5.00 Pyramid  $15 Votive $1.50

Please allow 2 weeks for delivery, as each candle is hand poured.  Complete the order form below and e-mail to jwahlton@cfl.rr.com.  20% of proceeds will be donated back to CUSH.  Payment is made via Paypal only to jwahlton@cfl.rr.com.  Once order is placed we will send you a Paypal invoice for payment, which will include shipping charges. 

Colors:

Black, Blue, Brown, Gold, Grey, Ivory, Lavender, Orange, Purple, Red, Yellow, White

Coral, Lime Green, Hot Pink (these are fluorescent and will glow under a black light)

* If you do not see a color here ask me and I’ll try to get it for you

Scents:

Carnation, Cherry, Chocolate, Chocolate Chip Cookie, Cinnamon, Coffee, Cucumber, Eucalyptus, Floral, Georgia Peaches, Hot Apple Pie, McIntosh Apple, Musk, Orange Blossom, Pear Blossom, Polo (for Men), Raspberry, Sugar Cookie, Vanilla

* If you do not see a scent here ask me and I’ll try to get it for you
I’m constantly adding new products so if you’re looking for something just ask!

Cushings Support Fundraiser

QTY	ITEM DESCRIPTION	SCENT/COLOR	COST
EX: 1	5” pie	Apple	$10.00
		Total:

Cape Cod Candles:

Lynn in Va Cushieinvirginia@msn.com) has an idea for a CUSH fundraiser. Her friend Sherri has been a Party-Lite Candle consultant for many years. The candles have several different scents/colors to choose from: Cinnamon Stick (Brown), Raspberry/Thyme (raspberry), Mulberry (Mulberry), Ocean Mist (Royal Blue), Bayberry (Sage), Lime/Cilantro (light sage), Honeydew (Mint), Pear / Basil (Yellow), Vanilla (Ivory). There is an optional lid and a platter to go underneath.

These would make terrific Secret Someone gifts and you'd be helping CUSH out at the same time!

The candles are all pure Cape Cod candles. The total cost is 15.00 per candle including shipping/handling. Sherri has offered us her commission, $3.00 for each candle that is sold, to go to our CUSH Organization.

For an order form, please email Cushieinvirginia@msn.com or download here in Excel format.

Please send checks with orders to:
Sherri Blakeman
7808 Knollwood Street
Brandywine, MD 20613


You may also email orders to Sherriblakeman@comcast.net and mail the checks to her.

Many thanks to Lynn and Sherri!

Burden Bears:

Natalie has been collecting some money for CUSH.

She says: "I am making "Burden Bears" and selling them at my craft shows and I am donating $1 from each sale... ...So far I have collected about $20 for us."

Rose Marie found this article for us

Journal Links ACTH Dependent Ectopic

Here's a new article from The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
Vol. 88, No. 3 1029-1035
Copyright © 2003 by The Endocrine Society :

http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/88/3/1029

Original Article

Management of Occult Adrenocorticotropin-Secreting Bronchial Carcinoids: Limits of Endocrine Testing and Imaging Techniques P. Loli, F. Vignati, E. Grossrubatscher, P. Dalino, M. Possa, F. Zurleni, G. Lomuscio, O. Rossetti, M. Ravini, A. Vanzulli, C. Bacchetta, C. Galli and D. Valente Endocrine Unit (P.L., F.V., E.G., P.D.) and Departments of Nuclear Medicine (M.P.), Thoracic Surgery (M.R.), Radiology (A.V., C.B.), Pathology (C.G.), Clinical Biochemistry (D.V.), and Surgery (O.R.), Niguarda Hospital, 20162 Milan, Italy; and Divisions of Surgery (F.Z.) and Nuclear Medicine (G.L.), 21052 Busto Arsizio Hospital, Busto Arsizio, Italy

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. Paola Loli, U.O. Endocrinologia, Ospedale Niguarda, Piazza Ospedale Maggiore 3, 20162 Milan, Italy. E-mail: ploli@iol.it.

Abstract

The differential diagnosis and the identification of the source of ACTH in occult ectopic Cushing’s syndrome due to a bronchial carcinoid still represents a challenge for the endocrinologist. We report our experience in six patients with occult bronchial carcinoid in whom extensive hormonal, imaging, and scintigraphic evaluation was performed. All patients presented with hypercortisolism associated with high plasma ACTH values. The CRH test and high dose dexamethasone suppression test suggested an ectopic source of ACTH in three of six patients. During bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling, none of the patients showed a central to peripheral ACTH gradient. At the time of diagnosis, none of the patients had radiological evidence of the ectopic source of ACTH, whereas pentetreotide scintigraphy identified the lesion in two of four patients. Finally, a chest computed tomography scan revealed the presence of a bronchial lesion in all patients, and pentetreotide scintigraphy identified four of six lesions. In all patients a bronchial carcinoid was found and removed. In one patient with scintigraphic evidence of residual disease after two operations, radioguided surgery, using a hand-held probe after iv administration of radiolabeled pentetreotide, was performed; this allowed detection and removal of residual multiple mediastinal lymph node metastases. In conclusion, our data show that there is not a single endocrine test or imaging procedure accurate enough to diagnose and localize occult ectopic ACTH-secreting bronchial carcinoids. Radioguided surgery appears to be promising in the presence of multiple tumor foci and previous incomplete removal of the tumor.

Rose Marie has access to the full text article. If you are interested, msg her.

The next scheduled chat is TONIGHT at 9 PM, Eastern, when we will discuss Cushing's, troubles with diagnosis, symptoms and much more.

Important! The chat room has been updated and will look different to folks who have been around before - there are some new features, and some of the old ones have moved to a new place, so it might take a little getting used to. People who do not have Java on their browsers may use another version of the chatroom.

Please be sure to continue on to TheCushingsChat. While you're in the Power Surge room, click on the black "X" at the top of the room (Not the X in the blue circle) This will put you in the area where you can see all the rooms listed. You'll see the one to the list that says TheCushingsChat. Double click on that name to get into the room.

If you do have menopause issues, be sure to return on Thursday nights at 9 eastern for wonderful information, guest speakers and camaraderie.

Not sure how these times relate to where you are? Here's a Time Zone Converter

Directions: When you enter the Chat Room (http://sites.chatspace.com:8350/):

1 Enter a nickname for yourself (it would help everyone if you use the same name you use to post...but it's not necessary). NO Password is required. Your password from the boards will not work, unless you register it after you are in the chatroom. More features are available when you are registered, but it is entirely optional. If your chosen name doesn't work, it means that someone else has registered it. Pick another name and try again.

You may also choose a font size at the sign-in window, under "Options".

2 Push the "LOGIN button"

You will be in my friend's Power Surge Chat Room.

3 On the top, left side, you will see a tab that says "Rooms". Click on that and there will be a list which includes the TheCushingsChat. Click on the name to get in.