The Board of Directors, volunteers and staff at the Cancer Association of Greater New Orleans (CAGNO) would like to express their heartfelt sympathies to everyone affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The staff at CAGNO, a local United Way partner agency serving the hurricane-ravaged parishes of Orleans, Jefferson, St. Tammany, St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Tangipahoa, Washington, St. Charles, St. John, Terrebonne, Lafourche, Assumption, and St. Mary, returned to their offices in Elmwood for the first time on Oct. 3 and are eager to resume administering their social services programs and helping local cancer patients affected by the hurricane.

CAGNO believes that everyone should have access to healthcare and is committed to purchasing prescription pain and treatment medications for cancer patients who cannot afford them through its Patient Services Program. CAGNO will work with local hospitals and oncology social workers to locate more than 200 cancer patients currently enrolled in CAGNO’s Patient Services Program in order to ensure that they receive access to the medications that they need. CAGNO’s staff would like to ask its current patients to help expedite the process by contacting the organization if they have the means to do so. The staff would just like to make sure that its patients and their families are safe and that their medical needs are being met.

On the business side, "CAGNO’s vendors can rest assured that all of CAGNO’s accounts payable accounts will be honored and paid in full as soon as it is possible," said Phyllis Embrey, Executive Director. Partnering pharmacies are asked to contact CAGNO to notify the organization of their business status. Pharmacies can rest assured that CAGNO will work patiently with them if their records have been destroyed as a result of the storm. If any pharmacy requires further assistance with CAGNO patients, please contact CAGNO, as the staff will be more than happy to work with pharmacies on an individual basis.

Because of their traumatic experiences, many relief workers and Louisiana residents are experiencing overwhelming feelings of loss, sadness and stress, among other things. In light of the havoc and tragedy wracked by recent hurricanes, CAGNO will be reaching out to the vast number of people who have lost everything due to the hurricane by offering free Post Traumatic Stress seminars to schools, businesses, groups and organizations. The staff at CAGNO would like to help our neighbors in any way it can. Together, the human spirit will prevail.

In order to meet the immediate needs of Louisianians affected by the hurricanes, CAGNO will not be offering basic research grants during the 2005-funding year. CAGNO will resume its Research Grant Program next year. Deadlines for CAGNO's 2006 Student and Basic Research Grant requests for proposals will be posted on its Web site (www.cagno.org) and will be sent via mail. CAGNO apologizes for any inconvenience and looks forward to working with local students and scientists in the future.

During this trying time, it is easy to ignore one’s health. But as an organization that recognizes the importance of prevention and early detection, CAGNO would like to remind and encourage all Louisianians to make time for routine health maintenance and to see a physician when necessary. New Orleans is a resilient city. By helping each other, we can rebuild a city and a people that are greater than ever before. Patients, social workers, pharmacies and friends who would like to learn more about how to help or how to apply for one of CAGNO's services can call CAGNO at 733.5539 or visit the Web site.

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