With You, We Stand - 12/1/09
Posted on December 1, 2009 2:07 PM
Nitin Mongia
Mongia, a survivor of chronic myeloid leukemia and silver medalist at the 2006 Doha Asian Games, has turned his passion for sailing into a way to help his fellow cancer patients. Between hospital visits and chemotherapy sessions, Mongia takes patients out on his boat for a breath of fresh air. "Cancer may not always kill you, but it can leave you without any life," he says. What I do is help patients forget their daily hassles of medical tests and heavy medication for a while."
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Mongia-s-story--Fighting-cancer--sailing-to-hope/544680
Kathryn Brown
Brown, a two-time cancer survivor and deputy in the Bexar Counter Sheriff's Office in Texas, recently formed the Cancervive Foundation and hosted its first event, the Breast Cancer Awareness Motorcycle Bash. The fundraiser brought out a big crowd, including several biker chapters; Brown rides her own Harley Davidson to relieve stress. "You don't see very many minorities on the forefront trying to promote cancer awareness, so I wanted to be that trailblazer to let minorities know you don't have to be ashamed," she says.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/health/69537422.html
Randy Zisook and Jessica Neal
This Chicago Tribune article looks at the lives of two very different lung cancer patients. Zisook, diagnosed in 2007, is undergoing palliative care for the disease, which is terminal; Neal, a lifelong nonsmoker, had her tumor removed and is in remission. The two have teamed up to spread their message: that smoking kills, but lung cancer is also not just a smoker's disease. "There is a bond between cancer patients," Neal says. "You learn that life is precious, enjoy it while it lasts."
http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/chi-lung-cancer-zones-18-nov18,0,5723649.story
Tyler Shipman
Shipman is an eighteen-year-old battling end stage cancer. He always dreamed of restoring his 1986 Pontiac Fiero. Now a group of Fiero lovers have joined forces to help him see that dream become a reality, contributing time and crucial parts to the project. "This weekend, the high school senior will sit back and watch his car take shape," the article's author writes. "His parents cannot believe what is happening. It has come down to time for Tyler. It means cherishing it tonight, teaching the rest of us to embrace it."
http://www.wday.com/event/article/id/27097/
As always, we welcome you to share your stories with us in the comments below.
Weekly Links - 12/3/09
Posted on December 3, 2009 9:52 AM
The controversy over the new PSTF mammography screening guidelines rages on. This NPR interview with Dr. Carol Lee of Memorial Sloan-Kettering looks at a new side of the debate: whether there are better methods for detecting breast cancer in women under the age of 50. Lee touches on ultrasound, MRI and nuclear medicine techniques, but notes that so far none have been shown to be a suitable replacement for mammography.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2009/11/mammography_and_beyond_for_bre.html
A new study indicates that cutting the greenhouse gases responsible for global warming could come with a set of health benefits. According to The Lancet, a global effort to walk and cycle more, drive less, switch to cleaner-burning stoves and reduce dairy and meat consumption could not only save the environment - it could also save lives. "Climate change can seem a distant, impersonal threat: In fact, the associated costs to health are a very real and present danger," says the UK's Health Secretary. "We need well- designed climate-change policies that drive health benefits."
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=aazEVJP_nSA8
Unraveling the mystery of breast cancer risk factors just got a little easier. New research helps to explain how pregnancy can protect against the disease: the pregnancy protein alpha-fetoprotein has been shown to slow the growth of breast cancer in rats. The study's lead researcher, who has worked for two decades to prove this thesis, says that one day the finding could be leveraged into better treatment for the disease. However, other researchers warn that further investigation is necessary.
http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/news/20091124/pregnancy-protein-may-slow-breast-cancer
The CDC has released a set of flu season guidelines tailored toward cancer patients and survivors, who face an increased risk of complications from the virus. In a new section of their website, they answer frequently asked questions about cancer and the flu, looking at what adult cancer patients and survivors should know about this winter's flu season, whether they should be vaccinated and what kinds of antiviral drugs should be prescribed.
http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/flu/
Finally, this piece from CNN.com looks at whether gay men are at an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer. Dr. Otis Brawley, CMO of the ACS, answers that both men and women who engage in anal intercourse are at an increased risk for developing anal cancer, but the risk factors for colorectal cancers have been shown to be the same regardless of sexual orientation - family history, age and presence of inflammatory bowel disease.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/expert.q.a/11/25/rectal.anal.cancer.risk.brawley/
That's all for this week, but we'll be back next Thursday with more!
--Cat
Making of the UP2 Campaign
Posted on December 9, 2009 1:30 PM
Stand Up To Cancer has crafted a new campaign to demonstrate that it is "Up2" all of us to stand up in the fight against cancer. As creative director/copywriter Janet Champ eloquently stated, "The fight against cancer isn't just up to someone else. It isn't just up to our neighbors or our relatives, or up to the rich or the famous, or up to doctors or scientists or politicians or some distant lab. Ending cancer is 'Up2' all of us."
SU2C set out to share this inspiring idea in a new PSA and print campaign called "Up2." It's Up2 you, it's Up2 me - it's Up2 all of us.
We asked Jesse Dylan to direct the spots and shoot the print campaign. Through his company Free Form, Jesse and his colleagues endeavor to create messaging and communications at the leading edge of the dialogue about health, social activism, global philanthropy, and ultimately compassion. Stand Up To Cancer's mission - to accelerate collaborative cancer research - was a natural fit.
During our first production planning call, we learned that our line producer, Sheila, had just received word that her sister had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Reminders of the urgency of our mission are never more than one story away.
We invited people to come show how it is Up2 each of us to fight against cancer by signing the Up2 wall. Our wall was signed by athletes, actors, musicians, scientists, researchers, nurses, patients, grandparents and kids, those touched by cancer, survivors - anyone who could come to set and share why it's Up2 each of us to end this disease.
SU2C's fantastic outreach team contacted our ambassadors, scientists, celebrities, and friends of the cause. Staffers, family members, and volunteer background players all came out on an early Sunday morning, and hung in there with us through a couple of long days of shooting.
Naturally we are thrilled that so many wonderful people came out to share their support, including Rob Lowe, Renee Zellweger, Mandy Moore, Kristin Chenoweth, Michael Strahan, Monica, Billy Bob Thornton, Derek Fisher, Robin Tunney, Diane Kruger, Rashida Jones, Minka Kelly, Travis Pfimmel and Sofia Vassilieva. A very special guest to join us at the Up2 shoot was DW Moffett. Don came directly to our set from his flight from Afghanistan to represent the Pablove Foundation, which was founded to improve the lives of children with cancer, in honor of Don's son's best friend Pablo Castelaz.
Stand Up To Cancer has made a wonderful friend in musical genius Dave Stewart, who, together with Ann Marie Calhoun, created a new anthem for Stand Up To Cancer, which provides the score for the Up2 PSAs, with a special guest vocalist appearance by Joss Stone.
In writing Stand Up To Cancer's anthem, Dave Stewart shared that his intention was to create a song that is not afraid to use the word "cancer." An extended Up2 PSA that features Dave Stewart's anthem is coming soon!
Special thanks go to DDB, Janet Champ and Rick McQuiston, Jesse Dylan and his team at Free Form - especially Priscilla Cohen, Sheila Tighe, Justin Giugno (our patient editor!), Janine Crisculo, Wonder Serra and everyone there. Many thanks to Dave Stewart and his team - Ned Douglas, Tony Quinn, and Kori Bundi - and the inimitable Joss Stone for sharing her soul and making the Up2 campaign rock.
Hope you like it.
- Bedonna Smith, SU2C Producer
"What never ceases to amaze me is that EVERYONE has a personal connection to cancer. Throughout the day crew members would come up to me to tell me how important it was to them to be working on this particular shoot because of how cancer has affected their lives. The line producer had just learned her sister was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The camera man's brother was in treatment. The caterer's mother had breast cancer. Everyone is connected and invested in finding the cure. We must find the cure!" --Pam Williams, SU2C Executive Producer
With You, We Stand - 12/8/09
Posted on December 8, 2009 5:17 PM
Jack Ganster
After facing brain cancer in 2003, 47-year-old Ganster decided to combine his love of the great outdoors with his desire to help other survivors. As co-founder of a new organization called Survivor's Outdoor Experience, he now gets to do just that, bringing cancer survivors of all ages the opportunity to learn about the benefits of healthy, active living. Classes start in January and will include yoga, healthy cooking classes, and a snowshoe demonstration. "I know that I may still face more complications from this potentially deadly disease, but as I returned from my exhilarating outing, I knew that life was not out to get me," Ganster said. "I was out to get life!"
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20091207/news/312079993
Ellie Othick-Bowmaker
Ellie is a 14-year-old girl from the UK who has been facing down cancer since 2007. Now the young patient has directed her efforts toward raising money for a children's brain tumor charity called Ali's Dream, recording three songs with her uncle, Glenn Coggin, and selling the CDs in local music stores for five pounds apiece, the majority of which will go to Ali's. "Ellie's brilliant," her uncle said. "She's doing well and her sense of humor is still there. We're all really proud of her."
http://www.scarborougheveningnews.co.uk/news/Ellies-on-song-for-childrens.5888686.jp
Jothy Rosenberg
At the age of 16, Rosenberg lost a leg to osteogenic sarcoma; three years later, he had two-fifths of his lungs removed. Now the two-time cancer survivor, who went on to become an accomplished athlete and found six technology companies, has written a memoir designed to help others overcome obstacles, "Who Says I Can't." "The book is really about when something bad happens to you -- whatever it is, it could be cancer, depression or getting a divorce -- you need to find tools to bounce back," said Rosenberg.
http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/needham/2009/12/cancer_survivor_hopes_book_wil.html
Patricia Ross
Ross faced breast cancer twice, in 1997 and then again in 2008, and the second time around, finding herself unable to work because of treatment, it was her local Salvation Army that helped get her through financially, providing Christmas gifts for her kids. Now Ross is giving back, volunteering at the food bank in her local town and giving two Salvation Army coordinators angel pins. "They helped us, so we want to help them," she said. "Every one of those people care about you, it doesn't matter what your situation is. If I need help in the future, I'll know who to turn to."
http://www.newarkadvocate.com/article/20091203/NEWS01/912030332
As always, we welcome you to share your stories with us in the comments below.
Weekly Links - 12/10/09
Posted on December 10, 2009 3:41 PM
By now you've probably heard that the annual "cancer report card" for the US is in, with the National Cancer Institute reporting a decline in both overall cancer rates and overall mortality rates. According to the report, the decline is probably due to a combination of factors ranging from preventative medicine to lifestyle changes to better efforts at early detection. However, some forms of cancer have shown little or no progress.
http://www.examiner.com/x-28889-DC-Alternative-Medicine-Examiner~y2009m12d10-National-Cancer-Institute-reports-decline-in-overall-cancer-rate
Disturbing news this week for Angelenos and anyone else who lives in a traffic-snarled part of the world: new research has linked cancer to the air around congested freeways. According to tests performed at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in LA, the brains of lab rats began to change after just three months of exposure to traffic-polluted air, suggesting that ultrafine particles in diesel soot and other combustion biproducts have a carcinogenic effect. "Of all the particulate matter, those coming from diesel appear to be the most worrisome," said the study's lead researcher.
http://www.dailybulletin.com/news/ci_13955712?source=rss
In cheerier news, new evidence suggests that bisphosphonates, drugs that are used by tens of millions o women to fight osteoporosis, also cut the risk of developing breast cancer. In a study of over 150,000 postmenopausal women, those taking the drugs showed a 32% reduction in their rate of invasive breast cancer versus those who were not. "Bone loss and potential fractures are a known complication of breast cancer therapy. Our feeling is that bisphosphonates may actually prevent disease recurrence through a variety of mechanisms," said the study's author.
http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2009/12/10/bone-drugs-may-beat-back-breast-cancer.html
You guys know I always enjoy a bit of food-related news - especially at this time of year! So I was heartened to read that pistachios contain a certain type of vitamin E that can help reduce the risk of developing lung cancers and other malignancies. In a study comparing 18 people who ate 68 grams of pistachios a day for a month with 18 who did not add pistachios to their normal diet, those in the pistachio group showed significantly higher levels of gamma-tocopherol, the beneficial vitamin. "Pistachios are one of those 'good-for-you' nuts, and two ounces per day could be incorporated into dietary strategies designed to reduce the risk of lung cancer without significant changes in body mass index," said a study author.
http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2009/12/09/want-to-cut-cancer-risk-try-munching-pistachios.html
Finally, a study from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences indicates that loneliness in rats can increase cancer incidence. Test rats were separated at birth, with some kept in groups of five and others isolated. Remarkably, those kept alone showed a 135% increase in mammary tumors, a whopping 8,391% increase in tumor size and a 3.3-fold increase in the relative risk of malignancy. They also showed higher levels of corticosterone, a hormone associated with stress.
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/12/09/study-lonely-rats-more-apt-to-get-deadly-cancer/
Well, that's all for this week, but check back next Thursday for another research round-up!
--Cat
With You, We Stand - 12/15/09
Posted on December 15, 2009 10:34 AM
Bryant Gumbel
Last week, Gumbel, host of HBO's Real Sports, revealed that he was recovering from surgery to remove a malignant tumor from his chest cavity, near his lung. According to his spokesperson, Gumbel's prognosis is good; the tumor was not in the lung, as some previously believed. Gumbel was one of the first sports announcers to make the switch to general entertainment. His spokesperson added that he'd be back to work without missing a show.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/2009-12-08-gumbel-tumor_N.htm
Rachel Flotard
Flotard, the lead singer and songwriter of the band Visqueen, took a break from her music for several years to care for her father as he fought prostate cancer. After his death in April, she threw herself into her music again, and Visqueen's new album Message to Garcia is full of songs she wrote during his illness. Surprisingly uplifting and upbeat, the album kept her "alive and normal during a completely abnormal time," Flotard says. You can hear some of the songs at the link below.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121402293
Chris Pablo
After battling cancer for 14 years, Pablo, a tireless advocate for cancer patients, recently passed away at the age of 59. He worked for 15 years as director of public affairs for Kaiser Permanente before going on to work in health policy law, and "gave hope to countless others with cancer, telling them they can survive and be productive." Among other things, Pablo arranged organ donor drives and worked with fellow leukemia patients to help them get through their treatment.
http://www.starbulletin.com/news/20091210_chris_pablo_advocate_for_cancer_patients_dies_at_age_59.html
Joni Jasterzbski
After surviving stage IV breast cancer, Jasterzbski, of Wayne, New Jersey, was inspired by the random acts of kindness of total strangers she experienced during her treatment. Now she's "paying it forward" through the same organization that was so good to her, working with an organization called Hearts of Hope that provides hand-painted ceramic hearts and notes of support to cancer patients. "This past year has been incredibly hard and very draining emotionally for me and my family but creating these hearts has filled mine right back up with hope," she said.
http://www.northjersey.com/news/health/78940007.html
As always, we welcome you to share your stories in the comments below.
CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium
Posted on December 16, 2009 3:05 PM
Highlights from the World's Leading Breast Cancer Meeting
December 9-13, 2009
This December, more than 8,400 people from 97 countries descended on San Antonio for the CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, now in its 32nd year. What began as a small gathering of mostly local colleagues in a hotel has exploded into an international event that draws physicians, scientists, advocates and media from all over the world (58 percent of attendees this year were from outside the United States) to discuss the latest in breast cancer prevention and treatment.
Part small town and part city, San Antonio is quickly overwhelmed by the energy of late breaking science as groups of people speaking multiple languages huddle over abstracts and posters. Restaurants are filled with animated conversation, and even cabdrivers pose questions like, "so what do you think of the bisphosphonate research?" before you have time to suggest a destination.
Although breast cancer has many success stories, over 40,000 women died of this disease in the United States last year. Researchers are now coming to a greater understanding of the complexities of breast cancer, and realizing that it is not one disease but several with varying natural histories and prognoses. Scientists and clinicians are working to develop new, highly specific, targeted therapies that will be more effective and spare women the debilitating side effects associated with breast cancer treatment.
Here's a sampling of some of the exciting news that came out of this year's meeting, which is now jointly sponsored by the American Association for Cancer Research (SU2C's scientific partner), the University of Texas Health Science Center and Baylor College of Medicine.
Five Year Data Support Herceptin's Role in Boosting Breast Cancer Survival
Dennis Slamon, M.D., Ph.D., director of clinical/translational research for the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Revlon Women's Cancer Research Program at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center and a co-leader of a Stand Up To Cancer Dream Team, presented five year data on the efficacy of Herceptin in treating breast cancer.
Herceptin targets HER2, a gene associated with more aggressive breast cancer. Slamon's results showed significant improvement for women with early breast cancer treated with drug combinations that include Herceptin. Prior to the introduction of Herceptin, women with this gene had significantly shorter survival than those without it.
Based on the success of Herceptin, Slamon believes that fewer women should receive chemotherapy regimens that include anthracyclines because they contribute to higher rates of cardiac toxicity and acute leukemia. He acknowledged that this is controversial because anthracyclines have been a standard component of adjuvant chemotherapy for many years and his recommendations represent a departure from an approach that is credited with helping to lower the mortality rates from breast cancer. Yet in Slamon's view, women who get the anthracyclines are "paying a higher price in safety and getting little added benefit."
To learn more about Dr. Slamon's research, click here.
Bisphosphonates May Lower the Risk of Invasive Breast Cancers in Post-Menopausal Women
Millions of post-menopausal women take drugs known as bisphosphonates, sold as Fosamax and other brands, to increase their bone density and reduce their risk of osteoporosis. New studies presented at the CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium indicate that taking these drugs may also reduce the risk of invasive breast cancer.
Rowan T. Chlebowski, M.D., Ph.D., professor of medicine at David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and chief of the Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, presented data from the Women's Health Initiative that showed women who took bisphosphonates had significantly fewer invasive breast cancers than women not using these drugs.
Previous studies have indicated that bisphosphonates reduce the number of recurrences and cancers in the other breast by as much as 30 percent. "These agents appear to make bone less hospitable to breast cancers," Chlebowski said.
To learn more about Dr. Chlebowski's research, click here.
New Approaches to Treating Metastatic Breast Cancer Show Encouraging Results
In at least one study that showed a real treatment effect, Kimberly Blackwell, M.D., associate professor of medicine and director of the Clinical Trials Program in Breast Cancer at Duke University Medical Center, showed that women who received Herceptin along with Tykerb had improved overall survival of 14.5 months compared with nine months on Tykerb alone.
This is dramatic because these women had already failed on several Herceptin-containing regimens. The theory behind this approach is that the Herceptin and Tykerb together form a "total blockade" of the HER2 pathway, which is more effective than using either drug alone. The trial enrolled 296 women with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.
To learn more about Dr. Blackwell's research, click here.
--Diane Balma, executive director of SU2C
Weekly Links - 12/17/09
Posted on December 17, 2009 4:30 PM
By now you've probably read the news that an Archives of Internal Medicine study indicates that radiation from CT scans could result in 14,500 cancer deaths for every year the technology is used. It's new information to consider in a familiar debate - do the risks of screening with advanced technology outweigh the benefits? One important aspect to consider: newer CT scanners are better equipped to perform low-dose imaging and include preprogrammed settings designed to further reduce radiation dose.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-sci-ct-scans15-2009dec15,0,3370000.story
New research out of Columbia University indicates that disparities in cancer survival rates for minorities increase as cancers become more treatable. In other words, disparities are almost nonexistent in cancers such as pancreatic and lung cancer; instead, they're seen in cancers with more extensive early detection and treatment options. "We must pay close attention to how the benefits of our medical advances are distributed in the population, and implement specific strategies that can reduce cancer disparities," said the paper's senior author.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091217133734.htm
A new study in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine indicates that there may be a way to identify malignant breast tumors without biopsying them. Around 5.6 million biopsies are performed annually in the US on benign lesions; the unpleasant procedures cause patients substantial stress, and also add cost to an overburdened health system. Now a new imaging agent can be used as a biomarker during PET scanning to evaluate tumors - at least in mice. "If this ability of 64Cu-TP3805 holds up in humans, then in the future, PET scans with 64Cu-TP3805 will significantly contribute to the management of breast cancer," said the study's lead author.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091217150842.htm
Finally, new research indicates that folic acid may be linked to cancer development. The synthetic form of vitamin B9 is used to fortify foods in the US to prevent birth defects and is taken by expectant mothers in pill form. But a new JAMA study shows that those taking folic acid may have a 21% higher chance of developing cancer - and a 38% higher chance of dying from it. The study involved 6,837 people with heart disease with an average age of 62. One quick caveat: all study participants who took folic acid also took B12 supplements, and the study didn't determine whether the two shared equally in the added risk.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/health/6772092.html
That's all for this week. The Weekly Links will take a break next week for the holiday, but we'll be back in the new year with more news you can use!
--Cat
Ethan Zohn Update
Posted on December 17, 2009 4:31 PM
A few months ago, SU2C celebrity ambassador Ethan Zohn checked in with us to give us an update on his battle against Hodgkin's lymphoma -- and to provide some inspiring words for those also in the fight. He wrote:
"I want to be a megaphone for this generation. I want to support all young adults with cancer and rally the Twitter generation to support its own. We each have role to play in supporting cancer research, and this is mine. The voice of the young adult with cancer is now being heard."
Now we're thrilled to relay some happy news -- Ethan recently learned his cancer is in remission! You can see him sharing the news here:
http://www.people.com/people/videos/0,,20331284,00.html
Congratulations, Ethan, from all of us at SU2C, and thanks for all of your amazing work in raising awareness of young adult cancers!
