On January 28, CBS Evening News Anchor Katie Couric - who is also one of SU2C's co-founders - reported on cancer research and treatment in a segment entitled Where America Stands: Cancer. While great strides have been made in cancer research, the disease still claims more than 500,000 lives annually. In this compelling piece, Katie looks at the current state of America's fight against cancer, and the types of new, highly targeted treatments being developed that draw on discoveries made as scientists map the cancer genome. Katie traveled to the renowned Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, speaking with a patient, researchers, doctors; NIH Director Francis Collins is interviewed as well.
Six-year-old Jasmina and her family documented her fight against leukemia on Twitter, making her a "torch of hope" for others facing a cancer battle and drawing the attention of Oprah Winfrey, Rihanna and President Obama. Last week, Jasmina passed away. Her family kept her growing audience up to date during the last two months, including sharing a message she got from the President: "President Obama wrote me the most encouraging message: 'Jasmina, DREAM BIG DREAMS' AND THAT IS WHAT I AM GOING TO DO IN THE NEW YEAR." http://www.limelife.com/blog-entry/Jasmina-Anema-6-Dies-After-Inspiring-Cancer-Battle/33023.html
Linda May Hill
This article out of Utah looks at the efforts of Linda May Hill, a three-time cancer survivor who sells t-shirts with humorous messages to raise money for cancer research: "Of course they're fake . . . the real ones tried to kill me," "I lost my colon, but I'm still full of crap," and many more. (Her website, where the shirts are available, is somuchmoreonline.com.) "It doesn't matter if you have three months or three years, have a blast," Hill says. "If my kids want me to play 'Mario Brothers' instead of doing the dishes, I can tell you right now I'm playing 'Mario Brothers.' Cancer does not define us. We're so much more." http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700006116/Humor-best-Rx-for-cancer-survivor.html
Phil Brabbs
Brabbs was diagnosed with multiple myeloma the day after his 28th birthday. He and his wife, Cassie, began doing extensive research on the disease, starting with advice from a friend in medical school and moving to the internet as a resource. Eventually the two started a blog, "Multiple Myeloma for Dummies," to share everything they had learned. Brabbs, who is now participating in a clinical trial at the University of Michigan, passed along this advice to others in the fight: "Be real with your emotions. When you're sad, be sad. When you're angry, be angry. When you're furious, be furious. When you're happy, be happy. When you want to laugh, laugh. Whatever you're feeling, it's okay." http://www.myelomabeacon.com/news/2010/02/01/personal-perspective-former-football-star-and-young-father-%E2%80%9Cdominates%E2%80%9D-cancer-with-optimism-information-and-support/
Debbie Stallings
Stallings, a breast cancer survivor from Texas, carried the same bag to dozens of appointments, biopsies and surgeries during treatment for the disease. Now she makes Journey Bags for other women facing cancer diagnoses. The bags contain a small blanket, a reusable water bottle, a pocket journal and more, and can be personalized to fit the person's needs. "As a survivor, I came across a lot of people who wanted to do something, but didn't know what to give to help me through the process," she says. "I wanted to use my experience to create a Journey Bag for other survivors."The bags are available online at www.journeybags.com. http://www.scntx.com/articles/2010/01/28/news_update/257.txt
As always, we invite you to share your stories with us in the comments below!
Really is there a better way to underscore the idea it takes everyone to end cancer- than to have a catchy jingle and one really good actor run the gamut of crazy characters from "creepy hairy guy at the bar" to "plastic surgery lady" to "guys in banana hammocks on vacation?" We think not. That's why we made this video-- Up2 You + Me. We grew up on frightening PSAs like "This is your brain on drugs." And we haven't eaten eggs since. We're excited to have an opportunity to move away from the scary-rigid-grave-serious-dare we say, boring, messages found in most PSAs and do something kind of fun. And we thought it was really cool of SU2C to embrace this idea and our kooky little song. We were really fortunate to have the hilarious and versatile Jim Parsons play 30 characters and wear all these crazy outfits. We kept throwing stuff at Jim, and he would just roll with it. He was such a sport keeping his energy up for the 12 hour shoot.
Beginning today, and thanks to the donation from Microsoft and Xbox LIVE, this spot is available to a huge audience of gamers (there are a lot of us). So in between a killer solo on Guitar Hero 5 and some tough hits on Madden 09, we hope you find a message that's relatable and inspiring enough for you to get up off the couch and do your part to "make the whole world cancer free."
Did you know that today is World Cancer Day? This year's theme is prevention, with a focus on lifestyle changes like eating a healthy diet, quitting smoking and exercising regularly. The World Health Organization has issued a report indicating that around 40% of cancers worldwide are potentially preventable. WHO also warned that without changes, global cancer deaths could jump from an estimated 7.6 million this year to 17 million in 2030. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/03/AR2010020301299.html
You don't hear a lot of good news about hormone replacement therapy (HRT) these days, but a new study suggests that menopausal women using HRT may have a lower risk of developing colon cancer. This news, reported in the American Journal of Epidemiology, must be taken with a very large grain of salt, as HRT has repeatedly been proven to come with hefty health risks, including an increased chance of developing breast cancer. However, the findings do support the theory that estrogen offers some protection against colon cancer, and point to a need for further study into the effects of HRT on different organs, the researchers say. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6134XJ20100204
Yowza. New research in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention indicates that soft drinks may be worse for your health than you ever knew. In a study of over 60,000 men and women in Singapore who were followed for 14 years, researchers found that those who consumed two or more soft drinks a week had an 87% higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer, possibly because of elevated insulin levels in the body. However, the study's senior author does add that those who consumed the drinks on a regular basis tended to have a "poor behavioral profile" in general, which may have contributed to their increased risk. http://www.examiner.com/x-12568-Indianapolis-Health-Examiner~y2010m2d4-Two-or-more-soft-drinks-a-day-raise-pancreatic-cancer-risk-82
A recent study from the journal Nanomedicine shows that magnetic nanoparticles have the ability to selectively remove ovarian cancer cells from human ascites fluid, potentially preventing the spread of the disease. "Circulating tumor cells can implant at distant sites and give rise to secondary tumors. Our technique is designed to filter the peritoneal fluid or blood and remove these free floating cancer cells, which should increase longevity by preventing the continued metastatic spread of the cancer," noted one of the study's authors. http://www.healthimaging.com/index.php?option=com_articles&view=article&id=20475:magnetic-nanoparticles-might-prevent-spread-of-the-cancer
Finally, a little dispatch from the personal finance department: the Wall Street Journal reports on a new study indicating that discussing treatment costs with health providers as early as possible after a cancer diagnosis helps patients budget better for the payments to come. Don't be uncomfortable raising these issues with doctors and office staff, advises the director of the ACS' Patient Navigator Program: "When you do get sick you have so much on your plate, so at least having a general understanding of what insurance covers relieves some of that stress," she says. http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100204-711888.html?mod=WSJ_latestheadlines
That's all for this week, but I'll be back next Thursday with more!
Last week, President Obama set the federal budget process into motion with his official Budget Request to Congress for the Fiscal Year 2011. While there's plenty of negotiating yet to be done, we know that the President's plan includes a $1 billion increase to the National Institutes of Health budget, raising the overall NIH budget to a total of $32.1 billion. While a 3.2% increase in budget may seem modest, it is the largest single year increase proposed by the executive branch in 8 years, coming at a moment when the President and members of Congress have pledged to cut spending.
The National Cancer Institute will receive $161 million of the new NIH funds, raising the NCI's budget to $5.26 billion. More broadly, the budget request highlights "more than $6 billion for cancer research," with funds being directed "to initiate 30 new drug trials in 2011, and double the number of novel compounds in Phase 1 - 3 clinical trials by 2016; and support the completion of a comprehensive catalog of cancer mutations for the 20 most common malignancies, setting the stage for complete genomic characterization of every cancer as part of medical care within 10 years."
We're grateful to see that the White House is renewing support for the war on cancer. It's a war that will be in its 40th year by the time the next federal budget takes effect. By then, cancer will be the world's leading cause of death. The 111th Congress has the opportunity to make its mark on history by going beyond the President's call for more funds and sending a bill to his desk that mandates new and better weapons in the war on cancer, getting rapidly to the front lines.
The SU2C movement for change is robust. We can already see and say with certainty that the amount of money and material resources that are focused on cancer is not the end game. It's not how much is spent, but how it's spent. Your generous contributions are the starting gun for an innovative revolution to save lives now! To that end, the value of your donations is priceless.
A fact sheet about the HHS portion of the President's Budget can be found here, and the complete budget can be found here.
Gossett, an Oscar-, Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning actor, recently learned he has early-stage prostate cancer. He said he was going public with the disease to "set an example for the large number of African-American men who are victims of this disease because of the comparatively low emphasis in our community on preventive examinations and early treatment . . . I want to influence them to seek, as I have, the fine medical care and early detection now available." We've launched a star for Gossett in the SU2C Constellation; you can add a message to it, and see what others have written, here. http://edition.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/Movies/02/09/louis.gossett.cancer/
Mary Matthias
In 1998, doctors told Matthias, who was fighting stage III endometrial ovarian cancer, that there was nothing more they could do for her. Today, the 55-year-old woman is a proud cancer survivor and author of "Will There Be Cows In Heaven? Finding the 'Ancer' in Cancer," a book of inspirational stories like her own. "God has given me so many stories. He has put so many people into my life. I felt it was for a reason," she says. "The book is about hope, and I needed to give hope back." http://www.htrnews.com/article/20100208/MAN04/2080453/Sharing-her-story-of-cancer-survival
Dave and Geri Cochrane
Dave Cochrane is fighting mantle cell lymphoma, a rare, aggressive form of non-Hodgkin's that has necessitated six years of cancer treatments and a stem cell transplant. As Dave and his wife, Geri, struggle to cope with massive medical bills, their community has stepped up to the plate, offering gifts - often anonymously - to help them out financially. Marveling at the support and generosity of their friends, neighbors and co-workers, Geri says, "There have been so many angel moments. God just keeps providing for our family over and over again. We're so blessed." http://www.dailyinterlake.com/news/featured_story/article_83a53b82-145b-11df-8e71-001cc4c03286.html
Megan White
At the age of six, Megan was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. Two years later, she's not only an eight-year-old survivor of the disease; she's also attained her dream of being a Sugar Bear, a cheerleader for Missouri State University. As an honorary Sugar Bear, Megan got to cheer with college-level cheerleaders at a recent game. "The day after my surgery, I don't remember this, but my mom said I stood up in the bed and said I was ready to dance," Megan says. "I want to learn and do the flips and stuff that they do." http://ozarksfirst.com/content/fulltext/?cid=233432
As always, we welcome you to share your stories with us in the comments below!
According to a study out of UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, chemical modifications to proteins called histones can be used to predict the prognosis for and response to treatment of certain patients with pancreatic cancer. Histone modifications are an epigenetic change in the body, i.e. one that occurs over the course of one's life rather than because of their inherited DNA. (If the word "epigenetics" sounds familiar - it should!) "Overall, these histone modifications are providing useful information as to how a cancer may behave," said one of the researchers. "In addition, there may be a direct causal link between these changes and tumor aggressiveness." http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100211091204.htm
Elsewhere, a team of scientists in New Jersey is working to learn more about "the secret lives" of cancer cells that self-cannibalize to survive periods of stress. It sounds like a good thing - let 'em eat themselves - but, in fact, researchers think self-cannibalization may be critical to a tumor's growth. The scientists in the study hope to produce new therapies that can stem these changes, which make cancer cells resistant to treatment. "The ultimate test will be to take all of our findings and use that information to develop novel approaches for eradicating cancer," said one team member. "If we can prevent tumor cells from utilizing this altered metabolic state then that should be the Achilles' heel of tumors." http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100211151649.htm
You guys know I can't resist a good food story, and this one's my favorite of all the ones I've shared with you so far. Scientists have discovered that red grapes and dark chocolate are both foods that starve cancer cells - which puts red wine and this Dove bar right here in the same fine company as blueberries, garlic, soy and green tea. "What we eat is really our chemotherapy three times a day," explains one of the researchers behind the discovery, whose team is systematically identifying anti-cancer foods. I for one am thankful they checked out red wine and chocolate. Thanks for doing the due diligence there, guys! http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1192292/Cancer-starved-by-sweet-treat
Scientists at Yale recently announced that they've streamlined the process for synthesizing a family of compounds with the potential to kill cancer and other diseased cells. In the Journal of the American Chemical Society they introduce the unique category of anti-cancer agents, which are called kinamycins. "The key to success will be whether we can develop selectivity--whether we can kill cancer cells in the presence of non-cancerous tissue," said the study's lead author. "Based on what we already know about the chemical reactivity of these molecules, I'm optimistic we can do this." http://www.healthnewsdigest.com/news/Science_220/Yale_Scientists_Synthesize_Unique_Family_of_Anti-Cancer_Compounds.shtml
Finally, a little news on lung cancer: researchers have discovered sex-specific lung cancer genes, which go a long way toward explaining why the disease can be dramatically different between men and women. According to a JAMA study, the biology of lung cancer in women is extremely different from that in men, meaning there may be better ways to target treatments in the future. "Women, in general, have a less complex disease, at least in terms of the numbers of molecular pathways involved," said the study's lead author. "We also discovered that there is a subset of elderly patients would probably benefit from treatments that we've normally reserved for younger patients." http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61903W20100210
That's all for this week, but check back next Thursday for more!
Through his most famous song, "My Sharona," Fieger became emblematic of the new wave movement in music hitting the mainstream. He passed away on Sunday from lung cancer at the age of 57. His band, The Knack, disbanded in 1981 but wound up reuniting for regular tours in the 90s, and their biggest hit, which was Billboard's number-one song of 1979, endures to this day, as this NYTblog entry shows. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/16/arts/music/16fieger.html
Cindy McCrary
A four-year survivor of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, McCrary, 46, is now gearing up for her fifth Relay For Life, for which she is making cancer awareness blankets to help raise funds. When McCrary ran her first Relay in 2006, she believed she was going to die from the disease. Now, as a survivor with a newfound passion for volunteering, she says, "This is where I'm supposed to be . . . Not that I wanted to get cancer to find it, but sometimes the bad leads into a blessing." http://www.ldnews.com/news/ci_14351851
Dana Jennings
It's been a while since we checked in with Jennings, an occasional contributor to the NYT Well Blog who recently completed treatment for Stage 3 prostate cancer. In his most recent entry for the blog, Jennings talks frankly about coping with the side effects of treatment, which can include incontinence and erectile dysfunction. He says, "True manhood is about love and kindness. It's about responsibility and honor, about working hard and raising your children the best way you know how, with love, respect and discipline." http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/15/after-surviving-cancer-a-focus-on-true-manhood/
Joan Fowler
In a comment on a recent "With You, We Stand" entry, Fowler shared her story with us: "My husband was diagnosed with non small cell lung cancer, stage 4, going on now four years," she writes. "It was not looking good at first, but now thanks to his doctor and God he is fighting on. He has had no chemo treatments now for two year and there is no sign of new cancer at this time . . . I hope this gives other people the spirit of fighting and not giving up. We trust and believe that whatever Gods will is will be and we try and just live a good life. We have our struggles but we keep on going. So just believe in hope and love and never give up."
As always, we invite you to share your stories with us in the comments below.
A new study out of Milan indicates that men who work in certain occupations experience an increased risk of lung cancer. Chemicals and other job hazards "play a remarkable role" in risk, although smoking remains by far the biggest cause of the disease. High-risk occupations included mining, metalworking and certain types of construction work; men with these professions were found to be 74% more likely to have been diagnosed with lung cancer. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61E53920100215
The FDA has established a risk plan for certain anemia drugs, which will require health providers treating patients with these medications to be trained in their use and document that they have informed patients of their risks. The erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, or ESAs, boost the production of red blood cells, but have been shown to have a higher risk of death and cardiovascular complications for aggressively treated patients. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1622012020100216
Over at the NYT's very excellent Well Blog, Tara Parker-Pope checks in on the "myth of bras and breast cancer," namely that the undergarments could contribute to the development of the disease. She notes that the claim has no basis in fact and originates in a flawed study that never made it into a peer-reviewed medical journal, and links to a great Q&A with more information. "Because the idea of bras' causing breast cancer is so scientifically implausible, it seems unlikely that researchers will ever spend their time and resources to test it in a real epidemiological study," notes Dr. Tim Gansler, director of medical content for the ACS. http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/16/the-myth-of-bras-and-breast-cancer/
Researchers at the University of Missouri are developing an at-home cancer detection kit that could one day be able to test body fluids for breast and prostate cancer. The sensor at the heart of the concept, which is smaller than a human hair, would produce instant results, and researchers say it could one day be sold in drugstores. "By using highly sensitive, low-signal-loss acoustic resonant sensors in a liquid, these substances can be effectively and quickly detected -- a brand-new concept that will result in a noninvasive approach for breast cancer detection," said Jae Kwon, who last year won a $400,000 NSF grant to pursue the project. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,586582,00.html
Finally, a new report from the Nurses' Health Study indicates that taking a single aspirin tablet every other day can cut the risk of breast cancer recurrence. In a 30-year study of 4,164 breast cancer survivors, those who took aspirin regularly were 71% less likely to have a deadly recurrence of their breast cancer compared with those who took little or no aspirin. Dr. Bernadine Healy opines in her column on the topic, "Were these aspirin tablets a hot new biotech drug, we would be popping champagne right now." http://www.usnews.com/health/articles/2010/02/18/aspirin-a-blockbuster-therapy-for-breast-cancer-survivors.html
That's all for this week, but check back next Thursday for more!
We've shared George Karl's 2005 battle with prostate cancer in SU2C Mag; now the Denver Nuggets coach is facing cancer a second time, this time of the throat and neck. Intent on seeing his team through the postseason in spite of chemotherapy, he says that coaching "is going to be my sanctuary, to do what I like to do and think about all those things that will pop in your mind" when undergoing cancer treatment. "I need everybody," he says. "I also need the gym. I need the juice from being happy about kicking someone's butt. I felt very early it made no sense for me to separate from the team. I'm using them. I need them. Hopefully, they don't mind it." http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2010-02-18-karl-cancer_N.htm
Frank Lautenberg
Lautenberg, who at 86 is the nation's second-oldest senator, was recently diagnosed with lymphoma of the stomach, which physicians agree is likely to be curable. The cancer will require treatment over the next few months, but Lautenberg will not resign, according to his office. "I wouldn't be too surprised to soon hear how he's once again outpacing younger aides as they walk through U.S. Capitol building," said state Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/19/AR2010021902429.html?hpid=topnews
Mary S. Herczog
Herczog, who passed away last week at the age of 45, was an avid documenter of her own battle against breast cancer, both in national news outlets and at her website, cancerchick.com. Diagnosed at age 33, Herczog told her story with an incredible amount of wit - even after her second recurrence. "People were definitely shocked by her writing," her husband said. "They'd say, 'How can you put so much humor into something so scary?' But . . . they would see she was making it less scary . . . that you could be this real person and have cancer." http://www.philly.com/philly/obituaries/84936277.html
Tonie Auer
Auer faced cancer in 1975, as a six-year-old; today, years later, she remains committed to advocating for children facing the disease. She recently donated her hair to Locks of Love, the organization that provides wigs to kids and adolescents who've lost their hair because of a medical condition. Auer says what she went through made her empathetic to those fighting the disease. "It has shaped who I am," she said. "It has made me more compassionate." http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/drc/localnews/stories/DRC_locks_0221.13ab8f74c.html
A new experimental therapy for melanoma is showing extremely promising results, researchers reported this week. The drug, which currently goes by the catchy name RO5185426, blocks the effects of the BRAF genetic mutation that the human genome project found to be a part of many melanoma tumors. Turning off the gene keeps it from signaling cells to grow uncontrollably. In a clinical trial testing the drug, 70 to 80% of patients with the mutation saw their tumors regress, often by about 50%, within just months of trying the medicine. That's especially good news because in spite of years of research, the last big advance in treating melanoma came out in 1992, and it only works for 5 to 10% of patients. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/WellnessNews/melanoma-drug-hope-fight-virulent-form-cancer/story?id=9933403
Prophylactic removal of a healthy breast is becoming increasingly common for women being treated for breast cancer; the rate of these preventive mastectomies increased 150% in the five years between 1998 and 2003. Now, a new study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute indicates that prophylactic mastectomies benefit one group of patients most: those under 50 with Stage 1 or 2 breast cancer that is estrogen receptor negative. For these women, the mastectomy upped their odds of remaining cancer free after five years by 4.8%. The study also identified one group that definitely did not benefit from preventive breast removal: patients over the age of 60. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2010/02/breast-cancer-prophylactic-mastectomy.html
A new survey by the Avon Foundation for Women indicates that a quarter of US states have either cut or eliminated screening mammography and early detection services for women under the age of 50. The results of the survey underscored concerns that the US Preventive Services Task Force's revisions to screening guidelines issued last year might be used to deny health coverage for women. "Lawmakers at all levels need to act now to ensure that these recommendations do no further damage, and that women have full and ready access to mammography," said Dr. James Thrall, chair of the American College of Radiology's Board of Chancellors. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61L4JZ20100222
Scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology have shown that by directing gold nanoparticles into the nuclei of cancer cells, they can not only prevent those cells from multiplying - they can also kill them on the spot. The nanoparticles are decorated with two chemicals: one that gets them into the cytoplasm of cancer cells but not healthy ones, and the other that draws them into the nucleus. The gold then interferes with the cell's DNA, effectively killing it. "Previously, we've shown that we can bring gold nanoparticles into cancer cells and by shining a light on them, can kill the cells. Now we've shown that if we direct those gold nanoparticles into the nucleus, we can kill the cancer cells that are in spots we can't hit with the light," said the study's lead researcher. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100216140402.htm
Finally, a new study shows that removing lymph nodes boosts endometrial cancer survival. It had previously been shown that removing pelvic lymph nodes would have this effect, but the surgery is more effective at preventing recurrence if the para-aortic lymph nodes are removed as well, say Japanese researchers. Those at medium to high risk for recurrence who had both sets of lymph nodes removed were 56% less likely to die of the disease than those who only had pelvic lymph nodes removed, according to the analysis of 328 women. http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/636366.html
That's all for this week, but I'll be back next Thursday with more!
