Stand Up To Cancer

Elena, Brooke and Keith Desserich

In this heartbreaking journal, parents Brooke and Keith Desserich remember their young daughter's fight with brain cancer, as well as the notes and drawings Elena left hidden around their home in the last months of her life. "That night, the doctors sent us home for rest, but after they told us that our daughter had only 135 days to live, sleep wasn't in our plans," Keith writes in one entry. "Still we smiled, wiped the tears from our eyes and tried to pretend that everything was all right."
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/33505113/ns/today-today_books/

Chuck Biscuits

Biscuits, punk drummer for bands like Black Flag and Danzig, has passed away from throat cancer at the age of 44. Known for his energetic drumming style, Biscuits - born Charles Montgomery - was influential in both the punk and metal genres. "It came very natural to him," said the drummer for the Descendants, Bill Stevenson. "He was hugely influential without really being as 'famous' as drummers who were actually much less influential musically."
http://www.zimbio.com/Chuck+Biscuits/articles/RvWU9dtSUA3/Chuck+Biscuits+Drummer+Black+Flag+Danzig+Dies

Rick Lyke

After being diagnosed with prostate cancer at the age of 47, Lyke, from Charlotte, NC, decided to fight back in a unique way - he founded "Pints for Prostates," an organization that reaches out to men on the importance of prostate screening through beer festivals and events held in pubs. "The pink ribbon campaign has really made it possible for women to talk about breast cancer, so we're trying to do the same thing for guys," Lyke said. "I'm hoping that there's a whole bunch of other guys out there who'll be able to experience the same thing [as me] -- see their families grow up and grow old."
http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/10/30/cancer.pints.prostates/index.html

Kelly Molineaux

Molineaux's story comes to us from Great Britain. The mother of two was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 25 and is the youngest cancer patient ever to undergo a mastectomy at the hospital where she's being treated. The social worker made it home from treatment just in time to celebrate her twin sons' birthdays. "I hope that my story will encourage other women, who might think that they are too young for cancer, to check themselves -- it could save their life," she said.
http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/north-warwickshire-news/2009/10/31/nuneaton-mum-battling-to-beat-breast-cancer-tells-her-story-92746-25054729/

As always, we welcome you to share your stories in the comments below.

Posted on November 3, 2009 1:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Fresh research indicates yet again that obesity is a major contributor to cancer risk, with one study estimating that obesity is the cause of over 100,000 cases of cancer in the US each year. Having too much body fat causes up to a half of endometrial cancer cases and a third of esophageal cancer cases; more than a quarter of Americans are obese, and another third are overweight. In July, federal researchers estimated that obesity-related diseases account for around 10% of all US medical spending - yowza.
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory?id=9008016

A new study from Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit suggests that a patient's socioeconomic status - which includes factors like income, marital status and race - has no impact on prostate cancer outcomes following curative radiation therapy. "Despite the fact that there was a large difference in income based on race, none of the socioeconomic status factors predicted for outcome," said the study's senior author. "All patients did equally well, based on the known prognostic factors." However, past studies have confirmed what most already know - that race and economic status do have an impact on whether treatment is available in the first place.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091104122517.htm

An experimental vaccine could provide help for women who have pre-cancerous growths on their genitals, helping to prevent cervical cancer in those who already have HPV. The vaccine cured nearly half of the women studied of the precursor growths, known as vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia. Further testing is needed to show whether the vaccine will impact women who have cancer, but the results are promising for patients for whom the HPV vaccine arrived too late.
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE5A419I20091105

A controlled trial conducted by MD Anderson Cancer Center indicates that green tea has some inhibiting effects in patients with a pre-malignant condition called oral leukoplakia. Fifty-nine percent of patients given a high dose of green tea extract experienced a clinical response to the treatment, while only 18.2% taking the placebo saw the same effect. However, the lead author cautions that "this is a phase II study with a very limited number of patients who took what would be the equivalent of drinking eight to 10 cups of green tea every single day. We cannot with certainty claim prevention benefits from a trial this size."
http://www.prohealth.com/library/showarticle.cfm?libid=14987

According to research in the November issue of the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, a simple questionnaire can be used to help identify patients at high risk of developing lung cancer. Questions focused on three areas - risks, environments and genetics - and were given to patients by their primary care physicians. "Simple by design, our initiative received widespread community support from physicians, patients and hospitals," said the study's lead investigator. "By providing the guidelines for pointed questions when patients are face-to-face with physicians, we can begin to identify those at risk."
http://www.medindia.net/news/Questionnaire-can-Identify-Patients-at-High-Risk-for-Lung-Cancer-60394-1.htm

That's all for this week, but I'll be back next Thursday with more!

--Cat

Posted on November 5, 2009 1:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Abdul-Jabbar, who played in the NBA for twenty years and earned six championships and six MVP awards, recently went public with his battle with chronic myeloid leukemia. Abdul-Jabbar first learned he had the disease last year. "I think that someone like me, who has a public presence, because people pay attention to what's going on in my life, can help save some lives," he said. "I want to get the message across: this condition is treatable. I want to get people to go to doctors, take the medication. This disease can be managed and you can continue to live a very meaningful life."
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/10/sports/basketball/10rhoden.html?_r=3&hp

Barbara Gray
Diagnosed with breast cancer was diagnosed with breast cancer around this time last year. Initially after completing treatment, Gray had a hard time embracing the term "survivor." Now, in a story in her local paper, she talks about recovering from both the disease and its after-effects - and learning to reach out to others to move forward with her own life. "I would just really urge people to do their annual mammograms," she said. "If you catch it in the early stages, then your prognosis is much better . . . This has been an exciting year for me. It hasn't been a year out of my life. It's been a great adventure."
http://www.theolympian.com/living/story/1029347.html

Nancy Thompson

This uplifting piece out of the Berkshires tells the story of a group of local cancer survivors who use humor to, in one member's words, "thrive and not just survive." The group's uplifting and educational events have grown from about 80 people in attendance to over 300. "There were just hundreds and hundreds of people there," said Thompson of the event that inspired the group. "And they were all having a good time. They were talking and laughing and eating. I saw that cancer doesn't have to take away from you."
http://www.berkshireeagle.com/local/ci_13744726

Robin Pelka

In a comment on last week's "With You, We Stand" entry, Denis J. Lanza shared his story: "My amazing, beautiful, loving and unique fiance, Robin Pelka, died on Saturday, September 19th at the age of 34 of brain cancer. I had already begun writing a blog in her memory at the time of her death. It is an account of the woman who changed my life forever. She is my soulmate and the love of my life. Please stop by and read about my angel. Thank you and God Bless you all."
http://denisandrobin.blogspot.com

As always, we welcome you to share your stories in the comments below.

Posted on November 10, 2009 5:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

According to new research, around half of women who undergo surgery for breast cancer still experience symptoms of pain and numbness up to three years later, with women under 40 who've received lumpectomies at the greatest risk of lingering side-effects. Though it's considered normal for women to experience pain or loss of sensation in the breast, armpit, arm or side, 40% of women experience pain in other parts of the body. Scientists say that in most cases the pain can be reduced with the help of a physical therapist.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/11/11/breast.cancer.survivors.pain/

A story in the New York Times' excellent Well Blog looks at the results of a disturbing new study that indicates that women with cancer and other serious illnesses are seven times more likely to become separated or divorced than men with similar health problems. "There clearly is an emotional attachment women have to spouse, family and home that in times of stress causes women to hunker down and deal with it, while men may want to flee," said the study's lead researcher, adding that more research on the topic is needed. The study also showed that couples who had been married longer were less likely to break up following a cancer diagnosis.
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/12/men-more-likely-to-leave-spouse-with-cancer/

Scientists at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have found that the drug Sprycel, which is used to treat chronic myeloid leukemia, can also be effective in fighting ovarian cancer. Better still, when paired with a chemotherapy regimen, the drug was shown to be even more effective. "It is important to remember that this work is only on cancer cell lines, but it is significant enough that it should be used to justify clinical trials to confirm that women with this type of ovarian cancer could benefit," said the study's first author.
http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2009/11/12/Leukemia-med-may-also-fight-ovarian-cancer/UPI-40751258054895/

In this NYT feature called "Uncovered," six patients share their experiences with the current health care system. The first, Tasha Huebner, tells her story of battling breast cancer first, then the bills that came along with it. "There was $5,000 that they denied for my surgery, and they said it was because there was an extra nurse in the room," she says. "I didn't even know what to do with that . . . I'd be tired, not feeling well, and I'd have more bills. I'd be in tears because it was just too much."
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/11/02/health/INSURANCE_VOICES.html?ref=health

Finally, this piece from US News and World Report confirms that the declining use of hormone replacement therapy among menopausal women may be driving down the rates of a condition known as "atypical ductal hyperplasia," which is a known risk factor for breast cancer. If the link is confirmed by subsequent research, the relationship between HRT and breast cancer will be better understood, hopefully leading to superior treatments.
http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2009/11/12/less-hrt-fewer-cases-of-possible-breast-cancer.html

That's all for this week, but check back next Thursday for more!

--Cat

Posted on November 12, 2009 1:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dominic Osorio

A while back we shared the story of Dominic Osorio, a 7-year-old boy from Maryland fighting brain cancer. Thanks to some creative storytelling on the part of his mom, Nicole, Dom came to think of himself 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. Dominic recently lost his battle with the disease. "He always told us to believe," his mother said.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,575302,00.html

Cheryl Snyder

This article our of New Port Richey, Florida, profiles Cheryl Snyder, who after beating cancer herself began the Diva Hope Foundation, which raises money for free breast, cervical and uterine cancer screenings for women in her area. "We just started this because of the need for it. There is nothing that local does that," she says. "The other foundations are great, but we want to take care of our community."
http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local/story/From-cancer-patient-to-crusader/d-wu0nYinEm0V7ytbGWK0Q.cspx

Janice Stompro

After undergoing a double mastectomy and four months of chemo, Janice Stompro decided to fight cancer again in another way: by compiling and selling cookbooks to raise money for research. For ten years, Stompro has released an annual "Recipes for Research" compilation. Recipes are submitted by both friends and celebrities, including five former first ladies. "I consider myself one of the lucky ones," Stompro says.
http://www.insidebayarea.com/trivalleyherald/localnews/ci_13786511

Dave Jacobs

In this piece out of Seattle, friends and family remember firefighter Dave Jacobs, who recently passed away from esophageal cancer. Jacobs had spoken about his battle with cancer at meetings of the State Council of Firefighters, and fought to prove that his form of cancer, as well as others, were occupational hazards. "My heart goes out to the other firefighters who have yet to be diagnosed," he said during his chemotherapy treatment. "This job is a killer."
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/412118_jacobs13.html?source=mypi

Posted on November 17, 2009 5:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In the wake of this week's news that the US Preventative Services Task Force has revised its recommendations on screening mammography - more on that in a different entry to come - a new report indicates that only 25% of adults aged 50 to 64 in the US are getting their recommended cancer screenings. "This is really looking at untapped opportunities to improve the health of adults," said the report's co-author. "It really talks about broadening the use of these potentially lifesaving preventive services."
http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2009/11/19/too-few-older-adults-get-recommended-screenings.html

Meanwhile, the debate over the new screening recommendations rages on. Though the USPSTF stresses that it is not telling women under 50 not to receive mammograms but rather encouraging them to talk to their doctors about it, groups like the ACS have been quick to speak out against the recommendations, which they say have the potential to impact Medicare reimbursement as well as reimbursement from private payors.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/11/19/earlyshow/health/main5710326.shtml

The parents of an 11-year-old girl who passed away from cancer in August have taken Capitol Hill by storm. Their daughter, who appears to have been a victim of a "cancer cluster" seen in their hometown of Clyde, Ohio, inspired them to fight to be sure the Caroline Pryce Walker Conquer Childhood Act receives its $30 million in annual funding. "It's been a long day, but it's been very worthwhile," said Warren Brown. "Has anyone committed to saying the $30 million will be there? No. Are there some intimations the money will be there? I would say yes."
http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091119/NEWS16/911199971

According to fresh research from the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, smoking-related bladder cancer is on the rise. You read that right: not lung, but bladder cancer. Dartmouth Medical School has observed that the risk of developing smoking-related bladder cancer has increased in New Hampshire since the 90s. An accompanying editorial points out that this could be the result of changes in the contents of cigarettes over the years.
http://professional.cancerconsultants.com/oncology_main_news.aspx?id=44306

Finally, an engineering researcher at University of Florida has designed a "micro-endoscope" to detect the early warning signs of cancer in the body. The device can see beneath the surface of tissues to reveal abnormal groups of cells or unusual growth patterns before cancerous growths become visible. The engineer says the endoscopes could also be used to assess how well treatment is going and could help in surgical planning.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091119121304.htm

That's all for this week, but check back next Thursday for more news you can use!

--Cat

Posted on November 19, 2009 3:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius issued a statement regarding a government-funded panel's new mammography recommendations, as the Secretary aimed to address "the great deal of confusion and worry among women and their families across this country."

The statement came in the wake of Monday's release of new U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendations on breast cancer screenings and widespread news coverage of the recommendations, as well as reaction from the cancer community and advocacy groups like the American Cancer Society. In her statement, Secretary Sebelius makes clear that the Task Force's recommendations are not a reflection of federal policy, that the policy on breast cancer screenings remains unchanged, and that the recommendations are simply evidence for consideration and further study.

Most importantly, she advised women to "talk to your doctor about your individual history, ask questions, and make the decision that is right for you."

The Secretary also pointed to the "great need for more evidence, more research and more scientific innovation to help women prevent, detect, and fight breast cancer, the second-leading cause of cancer deaths among women."

Your contributions to Stand Up To Cancer have enabled scientists to collaborate on precisely that type of innovative research. Two of the five Dream Teams we have funded thus far have a significant focus on breast cancer. Their work, coupled with that of their colleagues on the other three teams, has the potential to lead to better screening tests and better therapies; tools that will make diagnosis and treatment more reliable, more comprehensive, more precise, more targeted and more effective for many cancer types.

With the controversy about screening casting a glaring spotlight on the need for such research, we wanted to take a moment and express our profound gratitude for your support.

--

Here's the full text of HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius's statement on breast cancer screenings:

"There is no question that the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendations have caused a great deal of confusion and worry among women and their families across this country. I want to address that confusion head on. The U.S. Preventive Task Force is an outside independent panel of doctors and scientists who make recommendations. They do not set federal policy and they don't determine what services are covered by the federal government.

"There has been debate in this country for years about the age at which routine screening mammograms should begin, and how often they should be given. The Task Force has presented some new evidence for consideration but our policies remain unchanged. Indeed, I would be very surprised if any private insurance company changed its mammography coverage decisions as a result of this action.

"What is clear is that there is a great need for more evidence, more research and more scientific innovation to help women prevent, detect, and fight breast cancer, the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women.

"My message to women is simple. Mammograms have always been an important life-saving tool in the fight against breast cancer and they still are today. Keep doing what you have been doing for years -- talk to your doctor about your individual history, ask questions, and make the decision that is right for you."

Posted on November 19, 2009 3:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dax Locke

Dax, a two-year-old with acute myeloid leukemia, may not have much longer to live, according to his doctors. So his community of Washington, Illinois has come together to bring a little early holiday cheer to Dax and his family, putting up Christmas decorations before Halloween and keeping them up straight through the holiday itself. "This is a family who stayed united and formed a team to help Dax," one neighbor says. "They gave everything they had. We're trying to do the same thing."
http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/11/18/decorate.dax/index.html

DeAnn Chatlosh

Chatlosh, a breast cancer survivor in remission for about eight years, is so passionate about finding a cure that she's even decorated an entire room of her house in all pink. She participates in walks to raise money for research, and even organized a craft and vendor show to support the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. She and her daughters are halfway to their $5,400 goal for the walk in June. "We want to find a cure," she says. "I've created a history for my daughters."
http://www.southtownstar.com/neighborhoodstar/tinleypark/1895732,112209TPbeat.article

Kairol Rosenthal

In a moving piece for the NYT Well Blog, Rosenthal writes about the impact thyroid cancer has had on her memory. The 37-year-old's account of how cancer has "reconfigured my body and mind" is a moving and honest testament to the powerful side effects of both the disease and its treatment. "My big leap is not quite as glamorous as running a marathon or climbing a mountain after treatment," she writes. "But it is hard work just the same. Exposing my rickety mind is getting slightly easier with time. Hopefully I'll have decades to practice."
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/17/when-cancer-muddles-the-mind/

Sophia Mohler

Sophia, a seven-year-old who just finished eight weeks of treatment for brain cancer, recently received a special gift courtesy of the Long Beach, CA Pink Hearts fund. The Pink Hearts were able to provide her with a new wig made from hair donated by Long Beach students. "We just want her to feel good about herself and be able to smile all the time," says Sophia's mother.
http://www.wlox.com/Global/story.asp?S=11555576

As always, we welcome you to share your stories with us in the comments below.

Posted on November 24, 2009 5:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)