Abstract B90: [Advocate Abstract:] Armorup for life

Abstract

ArmorUp for LIFE is a nonprofit founded by Loriana Hernandez-Aldama, former news anchor and fitness and health reporter turned leukemia survivor during her one-year fierce battle with AML. Loriana was a clean eat, green drinking yoga enthusiast and at the time of her diagnosis felt like she was in the best shape of her life. She had to put her reporter hat on and dig for answers. Cancer taught her that bad things can still happen but what matters most is how prepared you show up for the fight. Doctors explained that the more fit you are, the more chemotherapy you can get. The more fit you show up the better your chances of success and that those who show up with health issues (diabetes, heart disease and obesity) have their doses lessened because doctors are forced to tiptoe around their illnesses. In the doctors' words, “We can't kill you trying to save you.” From that day forward, Loriana knew this would be the biggest story of her career. ArmorUp for LIFE was born and based on the 5 pillars of helping patients show up fit to the fight so they can meet the medicine halfway and become their own hero. Fighting cancer is a joint effort and Loriana is trying to educate everyone before, during, and after the fight to take action. Citation Format: Loriana Hernandez-Aldama. [Advocate Abstract:] Armorup for life [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Tenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2017 Sep 25-28; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2018;27(7 Suppl):Abstract nr B90.