It's hard to believe October's already here - and so is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. So it seems fitting to kick off this week's round of links with the news that US breast cancer deaths continue to decline, according to the ACS. A recent report from the organization shows that breast cancer deaths have declined around 2% a year since 1990. But the news isn't all good. An estimated 192,000 women will be diagnosed with the disease this year, and around 40,000 will die from it; only lung cancer causes more cancer deaths in women. http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2009/10/01/breast_cancer_deaths_falling/
In further breast cancer news, a recent American Journal of Clinical Nutrition study links a "prudent" diet with lower breast cancer risk. According to a study of more than 50,000 African-American women, a diet rich in whole grains, fruits, veggies and fish resulted in a decreased risk of developing the disease - though there was no evidence that healthier eating lowered the risk among overweight and post-menopausal women. The researchers note that past studies have also indicated that a healthy diet can lower breast cancer risk in normal-weight women, but not, unfortunately, those who are overweight. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/WireStory?id=8724910&page=2
By now you've probably heard the news that President Obama recently announced $5 billion in new research grants. The funds come from the economic stimulus package and are designed to promote cutting-edge scientific research on several diseases, including cancer. (Sounds familiar!) The president noted that the 12,000 or so grants will lead to new jobs "conducting research, manufacturing and supplying medical equipment, and building and modernizing laboratories and research facilities." http://www.examiner.com/x-8543-SF-Health-News-Examiner~y2009m10d1-Obamas-five-billion-dollar-cancer-research-push
Fresh research out of Duke University, published in the journal Urology, indicates that men who exercise at moderate levels experience a reduced risk of developing prostate cancer. Among 190 men who underwent biopsies to detect possible prostate cancer, those who exercised "moderately," which the researchers characterize as equivalent to three hours or more of brisk walking each week, were two-thirds less likely to have the disease. And among the men who did have cancer, those who did as little as an hour of walking a week were less likely to have aggressive, faster-growing tumors. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory?id=8704391
Finally, this article from the Baltimore Sun looks at a topic we don't hear much about: intimacy and cancer, which the piece calls the "2,000-pound elephant in the bedroom." The piece relates a few tips from the ACS on maintaining physical intimacy during cancer treatment, which can cause tough-to-cope-with changes to the body. No big surprises here: the ACS reminds couples to keep the lines of communication open, to research the impact treatment may have on sexuality, and above all else, to stay positive. http://www.baltimoresun.com/health/family/sns-health-breast-cancer-intimacy,0,2855352.story
That's all for this week, but I'll be back next Thursday with more!
Stand Up To Cancer and the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), its scientific partner, congratulate Dream Team Co-Leader Charles L. Sawyers on winning the Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award for groundbreaking work on the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia. Sawyers, along with colleagues Brian J. Druker, a member of the SU2C Scientific Advisory Committee, and Nicholas B. Lydon share this award, which is among the most respected science prizes in the world and is being presented today at a ceremony at the Pierre Hotel in New York City.
Druker and Lydon's research led to the development of Gleevec. Sawyers' research spearheaded efforts toward combating the resistance to Gleevec that arises in some patients. The team's discoveries converted chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) from a nearly always fatal cancer to a largely manageable condition. Gleevec has revolutionized the world of cancer drug discovery and therapy by its mode of action, which specifically targets a cancer-causing molecule, killing abnormal cells and avoiding damage to normal cells. Rather than aiming at rapidly proliferating cells and provoking toxic side effects, as standard chemotherapeutic agents do, the awardees stymied the single rogue enzyme that triggers CML -- a tactic that most scientists predicted would fail.
Sawyers co-leads, along with Dr. Gordon B. Mills and Dream Team Leader Dr. Lewis C. Cantley, the project "Targeting PI3K in Women's Cancers." The project focuses on frequent mutations that occur in a set of genes that regulate the PI3K pathway, which is a complex signaling cascade that, in concert with other signaling networks, regulates cell survival and growth. A number of drugs to inhibit this pathway have been developed and currently are in clinical trials. However, as with other "targeted" therapies, only a fraction of patients who enroll in these trials benefit, and it is not possible to predict which patients will respond positively. This means that many women will be given treatments that have no benefit to them or could cause unnecessary complications. The goal of this Dream Team is to discover approaches that will predict which patients will respond positively to PI3K inhibitors. If successful, this will accelerate personalized cancer treatment that can be incorporated into standard practice.
Dr. Sawyers is the Director of the Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center; Dr. Druker is a Professor of Medicine at the Oregon Health Sciences University Cancer Institute; Dr. Cantley is Chief of the Division of Signal Transduction at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Dr. Mills is Chair of the Department of Systems Biology at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
Taryn Southern and Jaime King recently launched a new project featuring a series of videos designed to raise awareness of breast cancer self-examination, especially in young women. "I've always been active with breast cancer charities," Southern explained in a chat with SU2C. "My aunt, grandmother and godmother have all had breast cancer, and my aunt passed away in 2003, so I've always been interested in raising awareness."
The project will feature a series of viral videos released over the course of six months, the first of which can be seen online here. "We don't often think about our bodies, noticing the little things that happen as our bodies change and evolve," Southern said. "It's not like we go around feeling our boobs all the time. So this campaign is all about feeling your boobs. Just feel 'em. Catch any changes early so you can get to the doctor, find out what is going on, and get the appropriate treatment."
One of the project's goals is to encourage younger women, who might not necessarily think of themselves as at risk for breast cancer, to be vigilant about checking for signs of the disease. "Young women often think they couldn't possibly get this disease, and that's just not true," Southern said. "We're trying to get people's attention, so the campaign is a little edgy. It's a little out there. And it's designed to be something that can be passed around on the web."
The first video, released yesterday, features King, Minka Kelly, Emily Deschanel, Alyson Hannigan and Katherine McPhee; it was directed by Steve Carr. The project is sponsored by Her Energy. "We're so grateful to everyone who's helped out," Southern said. "It's an awful disease, but if we can bring some humor to the process of self-examination, hopefully people will be more aware."
For anyone wishing to make a donation, Taryn and Jaime have designated Stand Up To Cancer as their preferred charity. To lend your support to accelerated cancer research, click here.
On Wednesday, President Obama announced $5 billion in new funding for the National Institutes of Health, as part of nationwide stimulus efforts. The money will be used "to conduct cutting-edge research all across America, to unlock treatments to diseases that have long plagued humanity, to save and enrich the lives of people all over the world. This represents the single largest boost to biomedical research in history."
A great commitment that got even better as the President spoke about the top priority among these diseases: "In cancer, we're beginning to see treatments based on our knowledge of genetic changes that cause the disease and the genetic predispositions that many of us carry that make us more susceptible to the disease." Considering the flat funding for the NIH and NCI over the past decade, these new resources and their concentration on cancer are encouraging news, and we are grateful.
To be precise, it's an amazing start. The funds going to cancer research in this round will concentrate on mapping the Cancer Genome. It's a worthy endeavor that may yield game-changing breakthroughs in our understanding of the disease. Going forward, the NIH will have the opportunity to balance the effort to end cancer by moving beyond basic research. Thus far, the speed of our discovery has outpaced our will to apply it.
President Obama, with a new NIH Director in Dr. Francis Collins and a mandate for renewed leadership in science, has a chance to change the way cancer is researched and treated in this country. Those of us affected by cancer know that money devoted to research must do more than create new jobs and new knowledge to be a successful investment. Ultimately, it has to save lives. That means translational research.
With translational research, government can leverage the gains of basic research like the Cancer Genome Project to pursue much needed therapies and cures. While basic research offers a certain safety, a risk-averse approach will not fulfill the mission of the NIH. President Obama, speaking at the campus Franklin Roosevelt dedicated to the newly formed NIH in 1940, three years after the founding of the National Cancer Institute, acknowledged this truth.
"Progress takes time," he said. "It takes hard work; it can be unpredictable; it can require a willingness to take risks and going down some blind alleys occasionally -- figuring out what doesn't work is sometimes as important as figuring out what does -- all of this needs the support of government."
That's why we're hoping that President Obama and Dr. Collins will commit to supporting research that will accelerate discoveries made in the lab to treatments that will directly benefit patients. It's time to put our limitless capacity for discovery to work for the people the NIH is trying to help. In the meantime, we can all be part of the solution in moving science forward.
You can listen to the AACR's teleconference on the $5 billion in new grants here.
The word "cancer" has become all too familiar in the lives of millions of people around the world. It has been referred to as the public health crisis of our lifetime. It is, in a sense, our "black plague." Cancer does not discriminate. It does not look at our gender, the color of our skin, our social class or the religion we may place our faith in.
I've been hard pressed to find someone who has not been affected by cancer in some small way. One in two men and one in every three women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Such sobering facts are hard to accept.
Very few people around the world know that cancer kills more people than HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined - until we get everyone to realize that, it will be tough to get them to act. Statistics can numb us to what the real issues are. But these are not just faceless numbers. They are your friends, family, co-workers, or teammates.
Mothers and fathers lose their jobs because of cancer. They lose the energy to come home and cook for or play with their kids. Doctors and nurses have to see their patients suffer because of cancer. This is what cancer is really like. This is what people go through. This is the face of cancer the world needs to uncover.
As a person currently battling cancer, I belong to a supportive community that has allowed me to keep moving forward, taking risks, and living strong. It is in the face of cancer that many learn to stand up and put their best self forward. As a community we find strength in numbers, in the commitment of overcoming a challenge and in the will to give make a difference in the lives of others. We learn we are not fighting this battle alone. And I say "WE" because I am referring to the entire cancer community.
I have chosen to share my story with you and how I chose to get busy living my life for every single moment. I hope my story helps someone else facing the same dark times.
I've been incredibly fortunate to have experienced a lot of great things in my life. I have traveled the world, played in packed soccer stadiums, appeared on television, dined with Bill Clinton, and achieved what most people would view as a high level of success.
But I still felt something was missing in my life. And then I was diagnosed with cancer.
Years before my own diagnosis, cancer came into my house and took my father. And now it had crept into my body. My father passed away from colon cancer when I was 14. He was in the prime of his life, taken well before his time. All I wanted to do was to curl up into a ball and hide in my room. Fortunately, my friends from school, teammates, and teachers, all gave me the support I needed to carry on.
My older brothers looked after me even when they left for college. They were there for me calling, writing, giving me advice on girls, driving hours so they wouldn't miss my soccer games. They dug deep and supported me in the face of their own fears, anger and doubt.
It was these people who stood beside me and helped me focus on turning the negative into a positive. They are the ones that gave me strength and reinforced my values in a time when I felt like I was alone. As I look back on it now, that was one of my first experiences at being a survivor.
After I was diagnosed with CD + Hodgkin's Lymphoma, there were some very dark days going through chemotherapy where I felt as if my body had betrayed me. Everything was failing. I couldn't eat and had no energy. It was then that I dug deep, and the values I had learned growing up and the power of the human spirit came into focus, helping me mentally, emotionally, and spiritually get through this battle.
And I'm here. I'm still alive and I've decided to live the rest of my life with the knowledge that a critical time in a person's life is an opportunity to change and live the life you want to live.
So just as I had turned winning Survivor into an opportunity to help others in Africa with Grassroots Soccer, I decided to turn my personal crisis into an opportunity to help others right here at home.
But to do that, I felt I needed to be empowered. I had to own my cancer. And to own it, I had to acknowledge it publicly. At first I was so torn as to whether I should make my battle public. It is a very private, scary, lonely, angry, ugly time and I didn't know what would happen if I chose to open up my life to complete strangers once again. But rather than sit back and wait, I wanted to take control.
So, what did I do? I went straight to People Magazine to tell the world. I shaved my head on national TV rather than watch my hair fall out. But I was not embarrassed or ashamed. I didn't want to hide it. It was my decision, on my terms, and it was empowering.
Now that I own my cancer (well, you all know how the bills are, I may never actually own it, so I'm just making payments), I made sure I didn't let my personal cancer crisis go to waste. I decided to become a megaphone for my generation and use my diagnosis and awareness of cancer to make a difference in the world.
"TO DO NOTHING IS ALSO TO ACT, SO ACT AFFIRMATIVELY BY MAKING THINGS HAPPEN AND NOT JUST LETTING THEM HAPPEN."
And this most recent experience of being a survivor reminds me of this one absolute truth--that with all our differences, old or young, men or women or undecided, tall or short, chubby or thin, we all have one thing in common--we're all survivors on this earth for a short time period of time. Our time on this earth is not promised.
But it's not about when or how you leave this world; it's WHAT YOU DO to make the most of each day and of each crisis while we're here. We are here to not only survive, but improve our lives and the lives of others.
I learned it's what you do after the cameras stop rolling, when no one else is looking, that matters. It is how you take what is given to you and make a difference in the lives of other. If you can do that, you are what I call an ultimate survivor. I feel very lucky that I can use my fame to foster change. It is a gift I treasure.
We are here to not only raise awareness and erase stigma, but also to raise money for cancer research. Just one dollar invested in cancer prevention means ten are saved in treatment. Now is the time to stand up and invest in the fight against cancer.
To make happiness real for others is truly the greatest gift. We have the power to make a difference. Follow your heart, fight for a cause, see the hope that is born in someone else's eyes because of something WE were able to do for them.
You have my commitment to always stand with you. You have my commitment to use my survival to fight for others.
If we all make a conscious effort to initiate change in this world, imagine what life could be like. Imagine how happy we could be, and imagine the gift we would give to people who could use our help.
--Ethan Zohn,"Survivor" winner, cancer survivor
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Ethan has been selected as a finalist in the GQ BETTER MAN BETTER WORLD search. If he gets the most votes, he will donate half of his winnings to SU2C. Help him win!
Stand Up To Cancer congratulates Scientific Advisory Committee Member Elizabeth H. Blackburn, Ph.D, for winning, along with Carol W. Greider, Ph.D., and Jack W. Szostak, Ph.D., the Nobel Prize in Medicine, for the discovery of how chromosomes are protected by telomeres and the enzyme telomerase.
"Dr. Blackburn is a scientific pioneer who, along with Drs. Greider and Szostak, is revolutionizing the way we look at biology and translational science," said Margaret Foti, Ph.D., M.D. (h.c.), chief executive officer of SU2C's scientific partner, the American Association for Cancer Research. "Not only did their discovery propel cancer science forward on a grand scale, it is also changing the way we explore how to treat other types of disease and how to potentially prolong cell life."
The trio uncovered how chromosomes can be copied in a complete way during cell division and how they are protected against degradation. The solution is found in the ends of the chromosomes - the telomeres - and in an enzyme that forms them - telomerase. With Szostak, Blackburn discovered that a unique DNA sequence in the telomeres protects the chromosomes from degradation.
In 1985, Blackburn and her then-graduate student Greider identified telomerase, the enzyme that makes telomereDNA. Their research showed that, in some organisms, telomerase continuously replenishes the chromosome's telomeric tips. In humans, however, research showed that telomerase is damped down at certain times in the lives of many types of cells, limiting their ability to self-replenish. With this discovery, scientists saw the possibility of exploring whether, in humans, the enzyme could be reactivated to prolong cell life to treat age-related diseases, and deactivated to interrupt cancers.
Most normal cells do not divide frequently, therefore, their chromosomes are not at risk of shortening and they do not require high telomerase activity. In contrast, cancer cells have the ability to divide infinitely and yet preserve their telomeres. One explanation became apparent with the finding that cancer cells often have increased telomerase activity. It was, therefore, proposed that cancer might be treated by eradicating telomerase. Several studies are underway in this area, including clinical trials evaluating vaccines directed against cells with elevated telomerase activity.
In recent years, Blackburn and colleagues have investigated the possibility that life stress, the perception of life stress and lifestyle behaviors could take a toll on telomerase and telomeres. They have reported several studies with human participants that suggest a correlation. The findings may offer insight, at the cellular level, into the impact of stress on early onset of age-related diseases.
Elizabeth H. Blackburn, Ph.D., is the Morris Herzstein professor of biology and physiology in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at the University of California, San Francisco. She is a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee for Stand Up To Cancer, that recently awarded $73.6 million to translational research Dream Teams for projects that could impact the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of cancers in adults and children across ethnicities including, but not limited to, pancreatic, breast, ovarian, cervical, uterine, brain, lung, prostate, rectal and colon, which represents two thirds of all U.S. cancer deaths.
Blackburn is the president-elect of SU2C's scientific partner, the American Association for Cancer Research and an elected fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Royal Society of London, the American Academyof Microbiology and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. From 2002 to 2004, she served on the President's Council on Bioethics and is the recipient of numerous national and international awards, including the Kirk A. Landon-AACR Prize for Basic Cancer Research. Blackburn has chaired the AACR Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cancer Research Committee and served as senior editor of Molecular Cancer Research.
Blackburn earned her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from the University of Melbourne inAustralia. She received her doctorate from the University of Cambridge in England. From 1975 to 1977, Blackburndid her postdoctoral work in molecular and cellular biology at Yale, and was a postdoctoral fellow at the University ofCalifornia, San Francisco.
In this article out of Florida, two physicians who have faced breast cancer share their stories. Shahla Masood is the medical director of UF-Shands Jacksonville's breast health center; Susan Snodgrass is director of breast imaging at Shands. In a talk about breast cancer detection and treatment, Snodgrass reminded women that symptoms of breast cancer may vary, so it's important to discuss any changes in your breasts with your doctor; Masood noted that while a breast cancer diagnosis sounds dire, it's important to stay positive. "There are always worse things that can happen to us," she said. "Breast cancer compared to other cancers is a piece of cake." http://jacksonville.com/interact/blog/jeremy_cox/2009-10-01/health_caring_two_physicians_share_breast_cancer_battle_stories
Dana Jennings
In another contribution to the NYT's Well Blog, Jennings writes about the depression he is facing following treatment for an aggressive case of prostate cancer. Noting that as many as 25% of cancer patients develop depression, Jennings writes, "This isn't about sadness or melancholy. It's more profound than that . . . Cancer feels bleaker than other diseases. Even though my health keeps improving, and there's a good chance that I'm cancer free, I still feel stalked, as if the cancer were perched on my shoulder like some unrepentant imp." http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/29/after-cancer-treatment-waiting-for-the-sadness-to-lift/?hp
Mark Herzlich
Facing down a diagnosis of Ewing's sarcoma at the age of 22, Herzlich, a linebacker for the Boston College Eagles, recently shared his story with ESPN. His oncologist is almost certain the cancer is gone, but has yet to do a biopsy; meanwhile, Herzlich is happy to be back on campus in the company of his teammates, though he cannot play - yet. "Being part of the football team was probably the biggest part," he said. "Being welcomed back into the football team the way I was can lift anyone's spirits." http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/ncf/news/story?id=4526574
Alexandra Avakian
Avakian, a photojournalist by profession, has been documenting her battle with breast cancer in a series of self-portraits. Diagnosed with an aggressive form of the disease in 2007, Avakian has photographed everything from her treatment to wig-shopping in Virginia. She writes, "Cancer puts everything into perspective. It makes life's annoyances smaller, and life's pleasures more intense. It can also increase one's sense of determination . . . In tribute to National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and those struggling with breast cancer, I wanted to share a few pictures from those months." http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/01/behind-18/
As always, we invite you to share your stories with us in the comments below.
Canadian researchers have developed a hormone testing technique that could one day be part of a handheld device for the detection of breast cancer. The "lab on a chip" technique out of University of Toronto analyzes tiny samples of blood and breast tissue, identifying women at a risk for the disease by analyzing estrogen concentration. Now the research team is preparing for a clinical trial in 200 Canadian women to validate the promising method. http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091008/hl_afp/healthuscanadacancer_20091008011944
According to new research by US and Chinese immunology experts, human stem cells could one day be used to create a vaccination for colon cancer. Human embryonic cells injected into mice produced a consistent immune system response against colon cancer cells, indicating that they may be able to produce the same effect in humans. One of the researchers involved added that the discovery may also have implications for other forms of cancers: "Although we have only tested the protection against colon cancer, we believe that stem cells might be useful for generating an immune response against a broad spectrum of cancers, thus serving as a universal cancer vaccine," he said. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/166696.php
A new study shows that exercise during breast cancer treatment can boost patients' feeling of well-being during a difficult and often frightening time. Among Chinese women diagnosed with the disease, those reporting even low levels of regular exercise reported better physical, mental and social well-being than those who did not exercise. Recommended levels of exercise include a brisk, 45-minute walk three days a week, yoga for 40 minutes three times a week or any aerobic exercise for a half hour three times a week. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory?id=8783064
Elsewhere, researchers at the Translational Genomics Research Institute are using computer simulations to validate treatment targets for lung cancer. This "in silico" research helps identify lung cancer pathways to better match treatments to individual patients - an idea that may sound familiar to you if you know anything about SU2C's breast cancer Dream Team. "There is going to be a wealth of profiling data out there in the near future," said a doc involved in the study. "You can then apply techniques like this, and hopefully design smarter clinical trials to find the drugs that would work." http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091007081353.htm
Finally, a new study adds to growing evidence that childhood cancer survivors go on to experience difficulties later in life that are not always addressed. According to fresh research out of Yale School of Medicine, childhood cancer survivors are 20 to 25% more likely to remain unmarried than the general population. "Many childhood cancer survivors still struggle to fully participate in our society because of the lasting cognitive and physical effects of their past cancer therapy," noted the study's lead researcher. http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091008/cancer_survivors_091008/20091008?hub=TopStoriesV2
That's all for this week, but check back next Thursday for more!
October. Baseball fans start counting down the days to this month sometime after Christmas. No matter how many postseasons you've experienced, it always feels like you're living it for the first time. October 7th at Dodger Stadium was no exception. The crowd was brewing with anticipation. LA fans have a reputation of arriving late and leaving early. Not tonight. Dodger Blue had come out early and come out strong. The postseason began on the West Coast with a great match up between two of baseball's most beloved and storied franchises: the Dodgers and the Cardinals. For fans, nerves run rampant and tension mounts throughout the introductions, the warm-ups, and the last note of the national anthem.
When Ryan Ludwick's pop-up dropped for a single in the first inning to put the Cardinals ahead, a collective uneasiness set in for Dodger fans. Was this a sign of things to come? Were the predictions right? Were the Cards going to run away with it?
In baseball, as in life, things can turn around in an instant. Such was the case when Matt Kemp stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the first and hit a monster shot into straight away center field. For Dodger fans, that home run was a jubilant sigh of relief and the lead. For Kemp, that home run was his first in postseason play. And thanks to MasterCard, that home run meant a $1,000 was donated to Stand Up To Cancer-- which means more innovative "dream team" research projects are on their way to being funded.
This postseason, fans have even more reason to cheer when a player goes yard. MasterCard will donate $1000 to Stand Up To Cancer for every home run hit during the postseason. In addition, "Hit It Here" signs will appear in the outfield during Game 3 of the World Series and if a home run ball strikes those signs, MasterCard will donate $1,000,000 to SU2C.
No matter how many times you've seen it, there is an almost surreal feeling watching a ball travel over a fence, especially during the postseason. Now those home runs mean more than ever. Every dinger helps scientists move closer to ending a disease that affects one out of every three women and one out of every two men. With so much at stake, here's hoping there are many more Matt Kemp moments this season.
After losing his wife Arlene to breast cancer in 2005, Budge Brown, a Napa Valley winemaker, found a unique away to raise awareness of the disease - his Cleavage Creek wines, which feature the faces of breast cancer survivors on their bottles and benefit breast cancer research. The Cleavage Creek wines include a cabernet sauvignon, petit sirah and cabernet-syrah, all award-winners. The stories of the women featured on this year's Cleavage Creek wines are available on his vineyard's website. "Wasn't any grand plan," Brown says of the project. "It all just came together. A lot of wines have forgettable names, but people remember 'Cleavage.'" http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,560440,00.html
Tess Gallagher
Gallagher, a noted poet and the widow of famed short story writer Raymond Carver, shares how her battle with cancer "quickened her clock," giving her the courage to take care of her terminally ill mother, buy the cottage in Ireland she'd always dreamed of and go toe-to-toe with a publishing giant to preserve Carver's legacy. "Having cancer made me realize, 'you better get your dream accomplished.' Right now is the moment," she says. "I think I take a lot more chances," she said. "Cancer gave me all kinds of courage and quickened my clock." http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_wa_tess_gallagher.html
Dominic Osorio
Dominic is a 7-year-old boy from Maryland fighting brain cancer - but thanks to some creative storytelling on the part of his mom, Nicole, he's come to think he's a superhero fighting evil with every difficult procedure or treatment. Inspired by his story, a friend raised funds to create a comic book about the superhero "Dominator," who wears a red body suit with a big blue D on the chest. Though Dominic continues to fight against the tumor - and the forces of evil - his grandmother reports that he isn't giving up. "He has been fighting for two years, and he is still fighting," she said. "He always told us to believe. We are still hoping there is one more treatment to try." http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,562240,00.html
Gloria Mallory and Becky
In this moving piece out of South Dakota, writer Brady Mallory describes his mother Gloria's heroism in facing breast cancer as well as the same heroism he recently saw in a woman named Becky. "She had just had chemotherapy the day before . . . not once did she say her condition was an injustice," he writes. "Instead, and gracefully so, she said, 'You can choose to stay in bed every day, or you can choose to get out of bed and fight. I choose to fight.'" He adds, "As a 22-year-old man, my hero is still very much my mother." http://media.www.sdsucollegian.com/media/storage/paper484/news/2009/10/07/OpinionEditorial/Mother.Displays.Heroism.In.Her.Breast.Cancer.Battle-3795834.shtml
As always, we invite you to share your stories with us in the comments below.
Disturbing news from Forbes this week, reporting on an increasingly widespread form of tonsil cancer caused by a virus. The new form of the disease, which is different from that caused by smoking and problem drinking, is caused by HPV - the same virus that causes cervical cancer in women. The NCI estimates that 4,000 people, 75% of them men, develop the form of throat cancer annually. One solution could be to give kids of both genders the HPV vaccine, but the jury's still out. http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2009/1102/health-cancer-tonsils-virus-hpv-at-our-throats.html
New research shows that cancer patients going through chemotherapy experience less treatment-related fatigue when they exercise. A study from Denmark confirms what many already knew: that exercise boosts feelings of well-being during chemo, thereby helping with the fatigue problem. The exercise program should include both high- and low-intensity activities like aerobics and massage therapy. http://in.reuters.com/article/health/idINTRE59E4J320091015
Meanwhile, research out of Japan indicates that it is possible for cancer cells to be passed from a pregnant woman to her unborn child, although the cases are very rare. Generally speaking, the placenta and the baby's immune system prevent cancer cells from being passed on, but in one case discovered by Japanese researchers, a woman passed leukemic cells to her unborn daughter. It is the first time that this link has been genetically proven. http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/news/2009/10/091013_cancer_child.shtml
According to a cell biologist at UC Berkeley, skin cells may be able to provide an early warning for cancer risk elsewhere in the body. By inexpensively culturing a few skin cells, Harry Rubin argues that increases in how densely cells grow can be measured, warning of cancer risks that could be ameliorated by behavioral changes. "This is the first step in cancer, though not yet cancer, and you can measure these changes quantitatively," Rubin said. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091015163555.htm
Finally, new Norwegian research indicates that survivors of testicular cancer face an increased risk of long-term illness owing to the medical treatment they receive. A study published in the November issue of the Journal of the British Association of Urological Surgeons shows that almost 25% of testicular cancer survivors develop long-term neurological, hearing and circulation problems. Twenty percent of the men studied also faced infertility. The researchers recommend quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy weight and increasing physical activity as ways to mitigate these long-term issues. http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7016701624?Testicular%20Cancer%20Surviors%20Face%20Long%20Term%20Health%20Risks%20From%20Treatments
That's all for this week, but I'll be back next Thursday with more!
For all you men out there: ever considered growing a mustache? Now there's a great reason to sport this look throughout the month of November: Movember, an initiative designed to raise awareness of men's cancer.
SU2C salutes Movember for its fun, innovative approach to raising awareness of both prostate and testicular cancer. To get involved, register at www.movember.com, where you can find everything you need to get started, including an awesome mustache style guide. See you in Movember!
Criss, the original drummer in KISS, is celebrating a year since completing treatment for breast cancer. The disease is almost always seen in women; male cases represent less than one percent a year. That's why Criss is helping to raise awareness of the disease in men, who he says can feel embarrassed about the possibility of having the disease. To men who notice lumps in their breasts, Criss says: "Don't sit around playing Mr. Tough Guy. Don't say 'It's going to go away.' It might not and you might not see life anymore and how beautiful that is." http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/10/15/male.breast.cancer/index.html?iref=mpstoryview
Stefanie Spielman
This touching article out of Ohio looks at Stefanie Spielman and her husband Chris, a former linebacker for Ohio State. In 1998 Stefanie was diagnosed with breast cancer, and the disease has recurred multiple times since then. In the piece, Chris celebrates his wife's courage in facing what he calls "her biggest challenge" yet again. Since 1999, the Spielmans have helped raise over $6.5 million for cancer research. "They're strong," says Spielman's former coach. "It's easy for us to say, 'That's how you should be.' It's a heck of a lot harder to be that way -- and they are. They're amazing." http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/life/stories/2009/10/20/1A_SPIELMANS.ART_ART_10-20-09_D1_UOFDQTF.html?sid=101
Alan Margolies
At the age of 56, Margolies was diagnosed with prostate cancer during a routine physical for a life insurance policy. Now, three years later, he appears to be cancer-free, and is leading a prostate cancer support group in his town of Jacksonville, Florida. Thirty-five men came out for the group's first meeting, which connected newly diagnosed men with men who have been through prostate cancer treatment. "To be with other men who have dealt with prostate cancer is an opportunity and a privilege," he says. "In battling cancer your mental attitude is crucial. It's important to feel positive." http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-10-20/story/prostate_cancer_survivor_leads_new_support_group
Marianne Godfrey
This article out of Atlanta remembers Godfrey, who faced down breast cancer twice in her life - once in the sixties, when she was 32, and again 12 years ago when she was 68. Godfrey devoted her life to educating the public and raising money for the American Red Cross, and was a familiar face at American Cancer Society fundraising events; she passed away last week from congestive heart failure. "She was an unbelievable fighter," her son says. "If anybody ever had room to complain, moan or grown about her circumstances, it was her. But she never did." http://www.ajc.com/news/gwinnett/marianne-godfrey-80-offered-166389.html
As always, we welcome you to share your stories in the comments below.
New research out of Yale indicates that the right combination of estrogen and a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) could relieve the symptoms of menopause while cutting breast cancer risk. Ever since hormone replacement therapy was shown in several studies to increase breast cancer risk, researchers have looked for a safe way to alleviate menopausal symptoms. The addition of the SERM to the therapy appears to block cell growth; now the results are being tested in large-scale clinical trials. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091019172339.htm
A new treatment for renal cancer has been approved by the FDA. Votrient, otherwise known as pazopanib, was shown in a phase III trial to reduce the risk of advanced renal cell carcinoma progression by 54% compared with a placebo, irrespective of prior treatment. Advanced renal cell carcinoma is the most common malignancy of the kidney and is highly resistant to chemotherapy; around 13,000 Americans will die from the disease this year. http://seekingalpha.com/article/167957-glaxosmithkline-receives-fda-approval-for-renal-cancer-treatment
A clinic in Reading, Massachusetts has been using a new form of breast cancer screening that eliminates the waiting period often associated with suspicious mammography results. Breast scintigraphy involves injecting a contrast agent into a patient, then using a gamma camera to look for "hot spots" in the breast that could indicate cancer. The Lahey Clinic is using the technique to provide patients with abnormal mammograms faster results than they would get from a six-month follow-up mammogram. http://www.wickedlocal.com/reading/homepage/x927263244/New-brerast-cancer-test-at-Lahey-Clinic
Recent research from the Journal of General Internal Medicine indicates that cancer survivors who smoke may not be getting the support they need to quit. In fact, more than a quarter of cancer survivors who smoke didn't get any advice about quitting from their health care provider, according to the study. "While smoking cessation is difficult, it can play an important role in increasing cancer survivors' quality of life," said the study's lead author. "Time and again, studies have shown that people really do listen to what is said at the doctor's office in regards to smoking, so healthcare providers need to take advantage of this teachable moment." http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2009/10/cancer-survivors-are-often-inspired-to-live-more-healthfully-but-not-all-do-despite-a-desire-to-quit-cigarettes-some-conti.html
It's been a while since I threw any food-related news items into the mix, so here's a good one: a new Australian study indicates that selenium can dramatically cut the risk of developing bowel cancer. Selenium, which helps trigger apoptosis - otherwise known as cell death - is found in seafood, grain and eggs, among other common foods; in one study, mice who were fed extra selenium showed a 60% reduced incidence of bowel cancer. Cheers to that! http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26248632-12377,00.html
That's all for this week, but I'll be back next Thursday with more!
If you used the hashtag #beatcancer on Twitter, Facebook or your blog last weekend, you're not alone. #beatcancer set the Guinness world record for "most shared social message," garnering over 200,000 mentions in a single day! Better yet, sponsors eBay/PayPal and MillerCoors pledged to donate a penny to cancer research for every time the hashtag was posted over the weekend, resulting in over $70,000 in donations to Alex's Lemonade Stand, Bright Pink, Spirit Jump, and, of course, SU2C.
#beatcancer has now hit over a million mentions online and continues to be a top trending topic in social media. Thanks to everyone who posted the hashtag!
You can read a little more about the world-record-setting initiative here.
In an op-ed in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Margaret Foti, MD, PhD, CEO of SU2C partner the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), reminds us all what the Nobel Prize in Medicine represents - and why scientists like Drs. Elizabeth Blackburn, Carol Greider and Jack Szostak deserve to be as well known as the celebrities and reality TV stars who've become household names. Dr. Blackburn is a member of the Stand Up To Cancer Scientific Advisory Committee.
"It's time for Americans to see science for what it is -- exciting, dynamic, and vital to our well-being," she writes. "Rather than trying to get themselves in the spotlight, scientists do the work that leads to breakthroughs that keep our families healthy. Though they do not seek conventional fame, when they receive a small measure of it - as have Blackburn, Greider, and Szostak - the American public should take the opportunity to understand the impact they have on our lives."
Don't forget to tune in for Game 3 of the World Series for the chance to see SU2C get a million dollars from MasterCard if a ball strikes the "Hit It Here" sign positioned in the outfield. There will also be a very special surprise from SU2C, so don't miss it!
Last week SU2C's executive director, Diane Balma, was a guest on the Stupid Cancer radio show hosted by I'm Too Young For This. Balma talked with i2y's Matthew Zachary and Kairol Rosenthal about the importance of translational research and about SU2C's unique Innovative Research Grants, which support young, risk-taking scientists who otherwise might not be able to get funding for their projects. To hear the broadcast, visit the links below!
This article out of North Carolina tells the story of Beau's Buddies, a nonprofit providing a wide range of services and support for families facing cancer, and particularly of Dr. John Gibbs, a founding member of the organization who faced a cancer diagnosis himself in 2006. "I treated thousands of patients before, but now, when I look at the disease process after being a patient myself, I see that there is a medical aspect of treatment and a psychological and emotional aspect to treatment," Gibbs says. "I've started to learn that the heart is as important as the medicine, particularly with a disease like cancer." http://www.reflector.com/news/beaus-buddies-gather-to-fight-cancer-918143.html
Jodi and Cici Beutel
Jodi Beutel, who owns a hair salon in Rochester, New York, was inspired to take action following the deaths of her mother-in-law, Cici, and a longtime client, Kim, from breast cancer. Six years ago, Jodi began an annual "Cut-a-thon" designed to raise money for breast cancer research; haircuts cost $15, and all proceeds are donated to the Breast Cancer Coalition. In this article, Jodi recalls shaving Kim's head for her when chemotherapy began to make her hair fall out. "We cried while we did it," Jodi says. "We hugged. I was glad I could do it for her." http://www.13wham.com/guides/health/story/Haircuts-Help-Fight-Breast-Cancer/HHhUYHDTnU2wR-d0sKD6CQ.cspx
Laurren Smith
Laurren Smith is a Dallas-area 13-year-old facing down a rare form of cancer. When her doctors warned her family she might not make it to Christmas, the community rallied around her to create Christmas in October. Their parade included fancy cars, trucks and a Christmas-themed float done in hot pink and zebra stripes - Laurren's favorite colors. "We believe that a miracle is still possible," says one of the parade's organizers. "But we believe that part of the miracle is about how many people's lives a 13-year-old girl can touch." http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-earlyChristmas_26met.ART.State.Edition1.4bace7a.html
Heather Insley Klein
In a Facebook comment on last week's "With You, We Stand," Heather shared her story: "I stand up for my aunt who has a crazy stomach cancer usually found in men over 70. She's fighting like mad! I also stand up for all the women in my life who were diagnosed with breast cancer and so far beaten it. I love you all so much."
As always, we invite you to share your stories in the comments below.
Good news for those who are battling rheumatoid arthritis: tumor necrosis factor blockers, which help reduce inflammation in people with RA, have been exonerated when it comes to increasing patients' risk of cancer - for now, anyway. According to new research, the relative cancer risk of anti-TNF therapy remains unchanged for those taking immunosuppressants for up to six years. But the researchers behind the study warn that "given several uncertainties, continued vigilance remains prudent." http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2009/10/29/rheumatoid-arthritis-treatment-doesnt-promote.html
In other research news related to anti-inflammatories - how often do you get to read that phrase? - a new study in the journal Cancer indicates that regular long-term use of over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin can drastically reduce women's odds of dying from colorectal cancer. Patients in the study who used anti-inflammatory drugs at least three times a week prior to cancer diagnosis had a 42% reduced risk of death from the disease. The researchers note that if confirmed in other studies, their findings may have big implications for cancer prevention. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory?id=8947817
You guys know I have a special place in my heart for food-related news, so I loved this story out of New Zealand, where scientists are working to create a "medical dessert" designed to combat the side-effects of chemotherapy in cancer patients. It's an ice cream called ReCharge that uses active ingredients from dairy products to reliever diarrhea, anemia and lack of appetite. "The two bio-active milk components developed for ReCharge have the unique potential to assist the body in coping with the side effects of chemotherapy," said the CTO of dairy giant Fonterra, which is working with University of Auckland researchers to develop the therapeutic treat. http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSWEL346244
A new study in the most recent issue of The Lancet Oncology indicates that combining chemotherapy with radiation treatment for patients with advanced head and neck cancer can increase survival from just one year with radiotherapy alone to 2.2 years. The retrospective study looked at 10 years of outcome data on 966 patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer; the findings show the long-term benefit of inexpensive non-platinum chemotherapy drugs. http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2009/10/27/adding-chemo-helps-head-neck-cancer-patients.html
Finally, remember our friend Dr. Servan-Schreiber of Anticancer fame? He has a great essay in the Daily Beast about making the right lifestyle choices to reduce the risk of developing cancer. "Lifestyle choices that weaken or strengthen the natural defenses that protect us against cancer may play a major role in whether early tumors develop into a dangerous disease," he writes. His recommendations for a healthier lifestyle? Plenty of fruits and vegetables, no smoking, moderate drinking and at least 30 minutes of exercise a day. http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-10-29/fighting-cancer-with-fruit/?cid=hp:justposted1
That's all for this week, but I'll be back next Thursday with more!
