tag:www.standup2cancer.org,2010:/blog_su2c/44 2010-03-11T22:51:55Z Movable Type Pro 4.25 tag:www.standup2cancer.org,2010:/blog_su2c//44.2737 2010-03-11T22:50:52Z 2010-03-11T22:51:55Z

First off, some really awesome news. A new cancer-related test is hitting the market this week, and it's desperately needed: OVA1, which can help doctors distinguish benign ovarian growths from tumors. In a study of 27 hospitals, doctors' office and...

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704869304575109703066893506.html?mod=googlenews_wsj According to a new American Cancer Society study, the decrease in cancer deaths in the US since 1990 is the result of reduced tobacco use, increased cancer screening and improvements in treatment. In other words: we're doing something right, and lifestyle changes and better awareness do make a big difference! However, the researchers behind the statistical analysis were sure to warn against complacency, concluding that "Continued and increased investment in cancer prevention and control, access to high quality health care and research could accelerate this progress." http://www.usnews.com/health/family-health/cancer/articles/2010/03/11/us-chalks-up-victories-in-war-on-cancer.html Researchers in British Columbia have made a breakthrough in lymphoma treatment, discovering a way to predict which patients will fall in the 15 to 25% who experience a poor prognosis if not treated aggressively from the time of diagnosis. Although the majority of lymphoma patients are cured the first time around, the rest relapse; now an easy test for a high number of CD68-positive microphages (a type of white cell) can predict whether relapse is likely. In a glowing New England Journal of Medicine piece, the test was referred to as "the breakthrough we have been looking for." http://www.vancouversun.com/health/cancer+researchers+make+lymphoma+breakthrough/2670456/story.html In other lymphoma news, new research out of Hashemite University in Jordan indicates that compounds derived from seaweed could be used to treat the disease. After scientists had previously discovered that a compound called fucoidan, found in seaweed, seemed to kill tumor cells in mice and humans, research took the next step and tested human lymphoma cells with a type of seaweed extract that is sold commercially. They found it inhibited the growth of cancerous cells without impacting healthy ones. http://www.usnews.com/health/family-health/cancer/articles/2010/03/11/seaweed-may-help-treat-lymphoma.html Finally, since I always love a good food story, I thought I'd wrap up this week's research round-up with the news that papaya can be an effective anti-cancer agent against cervical, breast, liver, lung and pancreatic cancers. Papaya leaf extract apparently boosts the production of chemicals that regulate the immune system, bolstering the body's ability to fight off disease; the study's lead researcher added that the results suggest that papaya extract can induce tumor cell death. "Based on what I have seen and heard in a clinical setting, nobody who takes this extract experiences demonstrable toxicity; it seems like you could take it for a long time as long as it is effective," he said. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinknews/7414067/Papaya-helps-fight-cancer-find-scientists.html That's all for this week, but check back next Thursday for more news you can use! --Cat ]]> tag:www.standup2cancer.org,2010:/blog_su2c//44.2735 2010-03-11T01:05:38Z 2010-03-11T01:08:21Z

This is the fourth installment of Ben's blog. To read the first three parts, click here (part one), here (part two) and here (part three). I want to start off with good news. We are on pace to have the...

This is the fourth installment of Ben's blog. To read the first three parts, click here (part one), here (part two) and here (part three). I want to start off with good news. We are on pace to have the stem cell transplant around mid-March. Isn't that great? I just had a PET/CT scan done yesterday and the results were fantastic! I do not have to complete my third treatment of ICE ICE BABY! The standard protocol is a minimum of two cycles to put you into remission and a third one for good measure. Some people must do a third and a fourth just to get them into remission; this is not true for me! Apparently my scans show no visible signs of cancer and thus no third round of ICE! Yay! Dr. Forman thinks I am in good shape and can move forward without this last treatment. Taking a step back, the last six weeks or so have been up and down. The first cycle of ICE was not too bad -- I was out and about after three days of rest. But that second cycle of ICE, oh no. It kicked my ass like Angelina Jolie kicked Brad Pitt's ass in Mr. and Mrs. Smith. I was sweating like Mike Tyson in a spelling bee. I was miserable. I threw up for the first time. I couldn't get out of bed for two days. I lost five pounds and thought the feeling was never going away. It took about nine days for me to feel up to par again and to start doing things on my own. The highlight of the week was a tuna melt I was able to keep down. The scariest part of this was that I was actually living and having to look at some version of myself in the mirror that I didn't even recognize. I truly didn't look like me. I did not like that! For the record, chemo sucks. Period. Next I had a minor surgery to have a Hickman catheter inserted in my chest. At the same time, they tested my bone marrow one more time, but not for Hodgkin's; this time they were looking for any chromosomal defects, like the ones that cause leukemia. Apparently all this chemotherapy may kill the Hodgkin's cells, but one of the side effects has been leukemia. It is highly unlikely any abnormalities will be found. However, if they were, I would be looking for a donor transplant versus donating to myself. But again, this happens in very few cases. After the insertion of the catheter, I was given a drug for several hours called cytoxin. The only reason I got this drug, as it has been explained to me, is to prepare my stem cells for harvest. We have to "trick" them a bit using a drug they think they have to fight or get "pushed" by, thus producing more stem cells. I also got daily shots of 750mg of Nupengen (a big blood-building drug) for 10 days. The date of my stem cell harvest was Monday, March 8th. We are hoping to go into the hospital March 15th for the stem cell transplant itself (when I'll go into a 25-day bubble). This all depends on whether there is a bed available. I really want to get started so I thought I'd pull the cancer card, but I don't think it will work at City of Hope. Ha ha. However, as it turns out, Dr. Forman's head physician assistant's daughter goes to UC Irvine with me, and she knows who I am? I think I have met her at a party or two. Also, I grew up with this woman's niece and nephew from camp! So maybe I do have a few connections after all. Dr. Forman is calling me the Ferris Bueller of City of Hope. Now where is my Ferrari? I wanted to make a top ten list of ways you know you have cancer, but I could only think of one. 1. The highlight of your day is eating. I encourage visitors after my stem cell transplant, because I will be bored. Come entertain me. Hospital said no strippers allowed. Be creative. As hairless as a pre-pubescent teenager with braces trying to get the hottest girl in school to recognize him, Ben ]]> tag:www.standup2cancer.org,2010:/blog_su2c//44.2733 2010-03-10T21:51:49Z 2010-03-10T22:54:26Z

On the March 10th broadcast of CBS News' "The Early Show," co-anchor Harry Smith underwent a colonoscopy live, with additional reporting from Evening News anchor and SU2C co-founder Katie Couric. The segment looked at preparation for the procedure as well...

Watch CBS News Videos Online And check out Peter Yarrow performing "The Colonoscopy Song" here:
Watch CBS News Videos Online]]> tag:www.standup2cancer.org,2010:/blog_su2c//44.2734 2010-03-10T00:25:34Z 2010-03-10T00:27:21Z

Jaime Escalante Escalante, 79, is the math teacher who was the basis for the movie "Stand and Deliver." Today, the former teacher at Garfield High School in LA is in treatment for bladder cancer in Reno, and his doctors have...

Jaime Escalante Escalante, 79, is the math teacher who was the basis for the movie "Stand and Deliver." Today, the former teacher at Garfield High School in LA is in treatment for bladder cancer in Reno, and his doctors have told him he has a few months, at best, to live. But Escalante still has lessons to share, which he does using a pen and paper since his voice is almost gone. Asked about his former students, he writes, "They understood the significance of ganas, the giant step to success. I had many opportunities in this country, but the best I found in east LA. I am proudest of my brilliant students." http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-escalante7-2010mar07,0,6159259.story Pam Miller In this article out of South Dakota, Miller, 47, shares her story. Diagnosed with colon cancer at the age of 45, Miller had surgery to remove a tumor the size of a plum as well as a foot and a half of her colon. She says she wishes she would've known the disease was hereditary - her mother had had polyps - and that she'd have seen a doctor about her symptoms sooner. She says, "I should have pursued it with my doctors but I didn't because of the embarrassment . . . I do feel strongly about it. Had I not been so embarrassed I probably wouldn't have had to go through all of this." http://www.ksfy.com/news/health/86674017.html Placido Domingo Domingo, the 69-year-old tenor singer, had surgery last week to remove a cancerous polyp from his colon and is expected to make a full recovery. According to his spokeswoman, the cancer was localized and the operation was minimally invasive. Domingo is expected to return to work in April with a performance of "Simon Boccanegra" in Milan. "His exact return to his performing engagements remains subject to how fast he can heal and regain his characteristic strength," said his spokeswoman. http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_14634131 Lauren Gayeski In a comment on last week's "With You, We Stand," Lauren shared her story: "On this day, 10 years ago, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. I was 19. Having cancer had a profound effect on my path in life. Since my surgery, I graduated from college, became an oncology nurse and cared for hundreds and hundreds of cancer patients, got married, and gave birth to three beautiful boys. Now, even when I'm having a rough day, life is still sweeter because I've seen the other side, both myself and from those for whom I have cared. Cancer made me grateful for all the little things we take for granted and I try to live in the moment, because it's scary to not know what's ahead. So, cheers to my 10 years without cancer! Thanks for letting me share my story..." As always, we welcome you to share your stories in the comments below. ]]> tag:www.standup2cancer.org,2010:/blog_su2c//44.2732 2010-03-08T17:13:43Z 2010-03-08T17:16:00Z

This is the third installment of Ben's blog. To read parts one and two, click here (part one) and here (part two). When they finish harvesting my stem cells, eleven or twelve weeks into treatment, I'll go back to City...

This is the third installment of Ben's blog. To read parts one and two, click here (part one) and here (part two). When they finish harvesting my stem cells, eleven or twelve weeks into treatment, I'll go back to City of Hope and they'll put me in the stem-cell wing. They will give me what they call the "atomic bomb" of chemotherapy for six days straight. They say this is like Hiroshima on your body. It will kill anything and everything, including the Hodgkin's cells that exist on that cellular level, they hope. This chemotherapy protocol is called BEAM. On the last day of this chemo they will re-introduce my stem cells back into my body, and while everything else re-grows with lots and lots of good drugs, my stem cells will set up shop in my bones in about nine days. I then will stay in the hospital another ten or more days to make sure my white blood cells and immune system come back to strong numbers. So, in total I will be in the hospital for a minimum of 25 days. Some stay less, and others stay more. I will be on close watch. If anybody wants to come visit (which I highly encourage), you will need to wear a mask and gloves. The room is very sterile. It's kind of like Bubble Boy. Does anybody have any good movies that I should watch? Any Playboy magazines I should read? I'll take anything to keep my mind off of the storm I will be enduring. In the end, we are looking at about a sixteen-week, or even longer, process. After the transplant, they have certain benchmarks they look at. Day One is the day I get the transplant. From then on, Day 40 is important, as are Day 50, Day 70 and Day 100. They use these dates to make sure I am healthy, and they recommend I stay pretty isolated from certain areas. I mean, I'll be like a baby. My immune system will be brand new. I think I can get the chicken pox again - who knows? If you guys have any questions, please feel free to call or email me. I want to say thank you to everybody who has been there for my family and me. I don't think that anybody can battle this alone. People ask me if I need a support group or a place where I can tell people how I am feeling, and I tell them I have probably the largest support group in southern California. All of you are the reason I keep truckin', because nobody wants to see anybody fail and everybody wants to hear a success. Well, I am going to be that success. Bracelet sales are through the roof partly because of Stand up 2 Cancer. They made a little Facebook note about me and people just started buying. Those bracelets mean a lot to me. I don't really think it's about the money - don't get me wrong, raising money for cancer research was the goal, but when you wear one it does more than raise money. It raises awareness. You are wearing something that means more to me than anything, and I can't thank you enough. I want to spread the vibe of CUCK FANCER nationwide. And I want everybody to have that sarcastic, cynical, who-gives-a-crap mentality towards cancer. It sucks, and we all should be able to say it. With love, Cuck Fancer, Ben]]> tag:www.standup2cancer.org,2010:/blog_su2c//44.2729 2010-03-05T00:25:59Z 2010-03-05T00:26:54Z

An experimental drug called cabazitaxel could offer a last-ditch hope for prostate cancer patients, reports the LAT's Booster Shots blog. After testing the drug in 755 men in 26 countries, esearchers are reporting this week that the drug can improve...

LAT's Booster Shots blog. After testing the drug in 755 men in 26 countries, esearchers are reporting this week that the drug can improve survival in men with advanced prostate cancer by 30%. While prostate cancer is usually treated with hormone-reducing drugs through a process called chemical castration, cabazitaxel can work for those patients whose cancers are castration-resistant. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2010/03/new-drug-offers-lastditch-hope-for-prostate-cancer-patients.html Meanwhile, freezing a malignant breast tumor has been shown to not only kill the cancer in the breast, but also to prevent it from spreading, according to a recent study performed on mice. The mice who received a 30-second version of the procedure, which is known as cryoablation, had fewer tumors that spread and a better survival rate than those treated with a slower freezing technique or with surgery alone. "Not only does [cryoablation] appear effective in treating the primary tumor with little cosmetic concerns, but it also may stimulate an immune response capable of eradicating any cells that have traveled throughout the body, reducing both local and distance recurrence, similar to giving a breast cancer vaccine," said the study's lead researcher. http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/health/2010/03/04/2010-03-04_freezing_malignant_breast_tumors_helps_stop_the_spread_of_cancer_in_mice_study.html In other breast cancer news, new research suggests that a "plant-focused" diet may reduce breast cancer risk by up to 30%. In a study of 34,000 Chinese women, researchers detected a trend of decreasing breast cancer risk with increased intake of vegetables, fruits, and yes, soy. In spite of the cultural differences, the study's lead author believes American women can learn from the findings. "Eating a diverse diet that can be characterized as having a lot of fruits and vegetables, and possibly adding soy also, would be beneficial," she said. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6234HU20100304 A study out of the University of Birmingham in the UK indicates that childhood cancer survivors have four times the normal risk of developing bladder cancer later in life. The highest risk for bladder cancer was seen in patients who had initially faced heritable retinoblastoma, a type of eye cancer typically seen in children under the age of five; survivors in this group were more than nine times as likely to develop bladder cancer as childhood cancer survivors overall. However, even for these patients, the risk of developing bladder cancer is still pretty small - fewer than half a percent of childhood cancer survivors will develop the disease. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6234HG20100304 Finally, researchers in the Netherlands have tested a vaccine for mesothelioma with promising results. Mesothelioma typically occurs in the lungs and is most often caused by exposure to asbestos. In a study of ten patients, scientists found that the vaccine induced an immune T-cell response against the tumors without negatively impacting patient health. "We hope that by further development of our method it will be possible to increase survival in patients with mesothelioma and eventually vaccinate persons who have been in contact with asbestos to prevent them from getting asbestos related diseases," said the study's lead author. http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/636645.html That's all for this week, but I'll be back next Thursday with more! --Cat ]]> tag:www.standup2cancer.org,2010:/blog_su2c//44.2728 2010-03-03T16:41:43Z 2010-03-03T16:44:59Z

This is the second installment of Ben's blog; to read the first part, click here. After my December PET/CT revealed a suspicious area, I went in for a biopsy on the21st. At first I was smiling, taking pictures of my...

This is the second installment of Ben's blog; to read the first part, click here. After my December PET/CT revealed a suspicious area, I went in for a biopsy on the21st. At first I was smiling, taking pictures of my naked butt in the hospital bed. Cut to two hours later, when the surgeon hugs my mom and cries, "It's Hodgkin's."My mom pulls it together like she always does and comes to see me in agonizing pain in ICU. She tells me, but I can't retain water, if you know what I mean. After speaking with my oncologist, we knew that the next step was going to be a stem-cell transplant (standard protocol for relapsed Hodgkin's). The question was, where? City of Hope is one of three hospitals in the United States that does these transplants in their sleep. So if any of you know my mom, you can guess where we went. Yeah, you guessed it! Not only one of the best hospitals, but she got me in with the best doctor, the doctor who wrote the first book on bone-marrow transplants in 1978, Dr. Stephen Forman! A little fun fact: City of Hope does about 500 transplants a year, while the average hospital does about a hundred. Oh, by the way, COH is also in the middle of nowhere. I mean, don't go past the hospital too far or you might feel a little "uncomfortable." It is in Duarte, between Monrovia and Arcadia. We went in for the consultation on January 12th, and I started chemotherapy on the 15th. First, let me tell you about Dr. Forman. It was like I met Steven Spielberg and Woody Allen at the same time. But this guy was way smarter! I felt completely safe and knew that this doctor was going to save my life. He explained the processes to me, not my mom, which, if you were wondering, is the best thing a doctor can do. Talk to the patient, not his mother! It killed her, but she's used to it by now. Here is the process. Stay with me. Focus. Take notes. I am going to be having an Autologus Stem-Cell Transplant/Rescue. They will take my own stem cells from my veins and use them to re-grow my immune system. The other places you can get stem cells are from somebody else, from umbilical cords or from the bone. My cancer is not yet in my bone marrow; it lies deep within my blood on some unknown cellular level (anybody cracked the code of cancer yet???). So they can use my own stem cells for the transplant. Imagine this next part as a calendar. I will be going in for salvation chemotherapy called ICE every three weeks. I will be in an outpatient facility for one day and inpatient for the next two. I will do this probably three times. So we're at about nine weeks. This chemotherapy will hopefully put my body into remission. When I say remission, I mean that there will be no visible traces of cancer on a PET/CT scan. So why not stop there, right? Well, as I said earlier, we know it will come back, because it is deeper, on a cellular level that nobody can see. This much they apparently know about Hodgkin's. In between the second and third ICE treatment, I will have a mini-surgery to get some type of Hickman catheter put into my chest. I will wake up and they will start my third cycle of ICE while I am in the hospital. After those nine weeks, I will rest for two weeks or so before going into City of Hope so they can harvest my stem cells. It's about a six-hour process, and the technology is amazing. Check this out: I will sit in a chair and they will take a lot of blood out of me, but give me back everything but my stem cells. You may ask, why stem cells? Well, blood is made up of five parts: white blood cells, red blood cells, plasma, platelets, and stem cells. Stem cells are the cells that can become any one of the four other parts of the blood, or mutate and become cancer. How's that science tip for you? Now go impress your friends. After they harvest my stem cells, and they say they have enough for a transplant, BOOM! That's when the crap hits the fan . . . ]]> tag:www.standup2cancer.org,2010:/blog_su2c//44.2727 2010-03-03T00:36:01Z 2010-03-03T00:36:42Z

Lislie Nunez Nunez was diagnosed with leukemia at 22. A year later, her friends organized a local drive aimed at finding her a donor for the bone marrow transplant she needs. Over 400 people turned out on February 18th to...

Lislie Nunez Nunez was diagnosed with leukemia at 22. A year later, her friends organized a local drive aimed at finding her a donor for the bone marrow transplant she needs. Over 400 people turned out on February 18th to be tested to determine whether any were a compatible donor match. Nunez says that in the meantime, she's not losing faith. "I'm very thankful," she says. "It's hard but also it gives you strength. Before, I used to feel sorry for people who have cancer, and now that I am going through this, I know that God helps a lot. He gives you strength to go on." http://www.yumasun.com/news/luis-56649-san-strong.html Liam Howell At the age of seven, Liam Howell might be one of the world's youngest inspirational speakers. But Howell, diagnosed at eight months with a rare form of eye cancer that has left him legally blind, has plenty to speak about. Participating in a public speaking competition, Howell has shared his story with his entire school, and on March 27 will take it to an even bigger audience at the next level of the contest. "I lead a very normal life as a seven-year-old boy... and I am still cancer free," he says. http://www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2470895 Peter Cobb Cobb was diagnosed with Acral Lentiginous Melanoma, an unusual form of skin cancer, in summer of 2008; that same year, he had half a finger amputated to halt the spread of the disease. Now Cobb, 55, and three of his friends have decided to cycle over 1,000 miles to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. "Cycling that epic journey will be a life-changing challenge and I've wanted to do some fundraising for Macmillan for a while now," he says. "I'm really excited for it and I hope I manage to raise thousands of pounds." http://www.hertsad.co.uk/content/herts/news/story.aspx?brand=HADOnline&category=News&tBrand=HertsCambsOnline&tCategory=newslatestHAD&itemid=WEED26%20Feb%202010%2011%3A51%3A51%3A630 Kali Sanchez In a comment on a recent "With You, We Stand" post, Sanchez shared her and her husband's story: "My husband is currently fighting a good fight. He was diagnosed with testicular cancer which rapidly spread to his lymph nodes in his back on October 20, 2009, 7 days before our sons 5th birthday. Finally we have the all-clear, that chemo treatments are a thing of the past and that we will have a CAT scan and see where we stand with our battle. Always fight to win....you can do it, you are not alone!!" As always, we welcome you to share your stories with us in the comments below. ]]> tag:www.standup2cancer.org,2010:/blog_su2c//44.2723 2010-03-01T17:09:19Z 2010-03-01T17:10:49Z

Ben Teller is the founder of Cuck Fancer. He recently learned he's facing a recurrence of Hodgkin's lymphoma. Where do I begin? How about with: WHAT THE EFF!? I don't think any of us hoped that I would ever be...

Ben Teller is the founder of Cuck Fancer. He recently learned he's facing a recurrence of Hodgkin's lymphoma. Where do I begin? How about with: WHAT THE EFF!? I don't think any of us hoped that I would ever be writing one of these again, at least not for this reason. I was 18 months clean and strong like Russian bull. I was taking a full load of classes at school, I had two solid internships, and I was living 20 feet from the beach in Newport! Life was good. I guess you can guess what I'm feeling. Cancer really makes you appreciate what you "used to" have. But please don't feel sorry for me. I will have it all again soon. The question I seem to get from everybody is, "How did all this come about?" One beautiful August morning, I was off for a routine PET/CT scan. Honestly, I didn't give it a second thought. The doctor called my mom the next day and said, "We think we found something, but we aren't sure." They were hoping it was an anomaly, or some type of infection, or a false positive -anything but THAT! My doctor (Raul Mena, who we all adore) said that my cancer, if it was back, was slow-growing, so waiting three months would not harm me at all. Besides, he and everyone else NEVER believed it could be back. So off to school I went. Come December, I finished my first quarter of school and went in for another PET/CT scan. It was similar to the day that the Americans invaded Normandy: we knew it was coming, but nobody really wanted to go. I mean, come on; there is no way that it's back. I am young, I fought it off the first time and was categorized as a "rapid responder"; I'm good. No worries, Ben. That is what I kept telling myself. I pretty much tell myself that to this day. I got a call the next morning and it wasn't good news. The area previously seen in August had not only not gone away; it had gotten a bit more "intense." They knew it was something. (By the way, I still thought it was nothing.) I had three options: One, wait three more months to see if it went away or got bigger. Yeah, RIGHT! Two: get a second opinion. I have the best doctor in the world; not gonna happen. Three: have a biopsy, find out what this stuff is and move on from there. Being the instant gratification kind of guy that I am, give me door number three. I knew I would be in pain from the surgery, but if it meant not having cancer, it was worth it. ]]> tag:www.standup2cancer.org,2010:/blog_su2c//44.2721 2010-02-26T01:01:48Z 2010-02-26T01:02:59Z

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...

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! --Cat ]]> tag:www.standup2cancer.org,2010:/blog_su2c//44.2718 2010-02-24T01:03:08Z 2010-02-24T01:05:49Z

George Karl 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...

George Karl 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 ]]> tag:www.standup2cancer.org,2010:/blog_su2c//44.2714 2010-02-18T18:06:03Z 2010-02-18T18:07:19Z

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...

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! --Cat ]]> tag:www.standup2cancer.org,2010:/blog_su2c//44.2710 2010-02-16T20:20:27Z 2010-02-16T20:21:19Z

Doug Fieger 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...

Doug Fieger 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 NYT blog 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. ]]> tag:www.standup2cancer.org,2010:/blog_su2c//44.2707 2010-02-12T00:15:51Z 2010-02-12T00:17:04Z

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...

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! --Cat ]]> tag:www.standup2cancer.org,2010:/blog_su2c//44.2702 2010-02-10T00:32:19Z 2010-02-10T00:33:27Z

Louis Gossett Jr. 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...

Louis Gossett Jr. 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! ]]>