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Did you know that cancer will soon be the leading killer of women and men worldwide? Already, cancer kills more people annually than malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDs combined.

Last year, 7.6 million people died from cancer. By 2020 that number will double, and by 2030 cancer will account for over 17 million deaths - mostly in poor and developing countries.

Remarks by Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker

I have known so many who survived cancer, and so many who did not. I think often these days of one friend in particular who is in the struggle now, and recently wrote to me. He has his grandfather's name, Winston Churchill. And in this different kind of war, to overcome cancer, he carries the same spirit of defiance and strength.

Winston wrote: "To those who, like myself, fall victim to this sinister, unseen disease that seeks to invade our bodies, I would merely say that all the resources of mind and body must be mobilized to defeat the enemy and never give in!" And Winston, we know you will never give in.

So in the global fight against cancer, too, let us be ambitious, and fearless, and united.

Governments around the world must truly understand the scope and scale of the cancer threat...and the life-saving potential of screening, early detection, treatment, and research.

Take Action: Sign this petition >>

Labels: cancer, hope, susan g komen

Cancer patients and survivors have some of the most challenging experiences with our health care system, at a time in their lives when they are most vulnerable.

Federal and state programs that provide support to under served people with cancer are dramatically underfunded, leading to huge gaps in access to treatment. Even cancer patients with health insurance find that because of high cost sharing, annual and lifetime maximums, and other limitations, they may be exposed to extremely high out-of-pocket costs. If a cancer patient has to cut back on hours or leave their job to undergo treatment, they often face the prospect of losing their health insurance. And, cancer survivors face some of the largest hurdles for reentering the workforce or seeking private insurance, because they have a so-called preexisting condition.

Cancer costs the U.S. $228 billion each year in medical costs and lost productivity. It claims more than 565,000 lives each year and inflicts incalculable physical pain and emotional distress on cancer patients and their families.

We must take this opportunity to address the needs of cancer patients by making a strong investment in the fight against cancer. This investment will provide a short-term stimulus the economy needs today, while building a foundation for a healthier, more productive workforce in the future.

As Congress considers health care reform legislation, our elected officials have a unique opportunity to address the long-standing concerns of people with cancer, which have all too often been overlooked by the U.S. health care system.

There's no time to waste.

Labels: cancer, healthcare

Today is Melanoma Monday, a day that stresses melanoma and other skin cancer prevention as well as early detection. It was established by the American Academy of Dermatology as part of Skin Cancer Awareness month in May.

Cancer of the skin is the most common of all cancers, accounting for more than 50% of new cancer cases. The two main types are non-melanoma and malignant melanoma skin cancers.

Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, can appear suddenly on any part of the body or develop from a mole. Melanoma caused 8,110 of the 10,850 deaths due to skin cancer in 2007, according to the American Cancer Society.

The other types of skin cancer - basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma - rarely spread, are less worrisome, and are treated differently than melanoma.

Lawrence A. Mark, M.D., Ph.D., an assistant professor of dermatology at the Indiana University School of Medicine and a researcher with the IU Simon Cancer Center, advises people to know their bodies and talk with their physicians about any changes they notice. Also be mindful that skin cancer can develop in places you may not consider: between the toes, on the soles of the feet, on the palms of the hands, under finger and toe nails, and on oral or genital mucous membranes.

Dr. Mark and his colleagues use the ABCD's to evaluate melanoma:

- A, asymmetry: Half of a mole or birthmark does not match the other half
- B, border: Edges are irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred
- C, color: The color isn't the same all over but may have differing shades of brown or black, sometimes with patches of red, white or blue
- D, diameter: The area is larger than six millimeters (about the size of a pencil eraser) or is growing larger

Most of the more than one million cases of skin cancer diagnosed yearly in the United States are considered to be sun-related, according to the American Cancer Society.

Physicians recommend limiting outdoor sun exposure, ultraviolet radiation is often the strongest between the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen are also effective ways to protect against exposure to UV light. The American Cancer Society advises using a sunscreen with an SPF factor of 15 or higher.

Labels: cancer, melanoma, skin cancer, skincare

Docosahexanoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid found in fish oils, has been shown to reduce the size of tumors and enhance the positive effects of the chemotherapy drug cisplatin, while limiting its harmful side effects. The rat experiments provide some support for the plethora of health benefits often ascribed to omega-3 acids.

Professor A. M. El-Mowafy led a team of researchers from Mansoura University, Egypt, who studied DHA's effects on solid tumors growing in mice, as well as investigating how this fatty acid interacts with cisplatin, a chemotherapy drug that is known to cause kidney damage. El-Mowafy said, "DHA elicited prominent chemopreventive effects on its own, and appreciably augmented those of cisplatin as well. Furthermore, this study is the first to reveal that DHA can obliterate lethal cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity and renal tissue injury."

DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid that is commonly found in cold-water fish oil, and some vegetable oils. It is a major component of brain gray matter and of the retina in most mammalian species and is considered essential for normal neurological and cellular developments. According to the authors, "While DHA has been tentatively linked with protection against cardiovascular, neurological and neoplastic diseases, there exists a paucity of research information, in particular regarding its interactions with existing chemotherapy drugs". The researchers found that, at the molecular level, DHA acts by reducing leukocytosis (white blood cell accumulation), systemic inflammation, and oxidative stress - all processes that have been linked with tumor growth.

Researchers report in the journal Clinical Cancer Research that increasing intake of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids -- the kind found in dark fish, like salmon, and shellfish -- was strongly associated with a decreased risk of aggressive prostate cancer.

Men who consumed the most long-chain omega-3 fatty acids had a 63 percent reduced risk of aggressive prostate cancer compared to men who consumed the least.

"If you want to think of the overall inverse association in terms of fish, where omega-3 fatty acids are commonly derived, the strongest effect was seen from eating dark fish such as salmon one or more times per week."

You can read more details online at Cell Division. Cell Division is an online forum for and from the cell-cycle community that aims to publish articles on all exciting aspects of cell-cycle research and to bridge the gap between models of cell cycle regulation, development, and cancer biology. This forum will be driven by specialized and timely research articles, reviews and commentaries focused on this fast moving field, providing an invaluable tool for cell-cycle biologists.

Labels: cancer, omega 3, prostate cancer

In 1971, the United States declared war on cancer. Despite momentous strides and life-saving advances since then, the fundamental goal of the war - to diminish death and suffering from cancer - has not been realized. Forty percent of Americans will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives; 1.4 million new cases will be diagnosed this year alone. Cancer will claim more than 565,000 American lives this year - about 1,500 people a day. And the disease inflicts incalculable physical pain and emotional distress on cancer patients and their families. The U.S. must reinvigorate the war on cancer - we must energize science and remove the barriers to discovering and delivering the cures for cancer.

The 21st Century Cancer ALERT (Access to Life-saving Early Detection, Research and Treatment) Act - sponsored by Senators Edward Kennedy and Kay Bailey Hutchison - promises to reignite America's war on cancer by strengthening cancer research, emphasizing early detection, and improving cancer care for underserved populations.

ALERT stands for Access to Life-saving Early Detection, Research and Treatment:

Early Detection - The ALERT Act will place an emphasis on early detection and promote the discovery and development of biomarkers to detect cancers at the earliest possible stage when cancer is most treatable. The bill also has a particular focus on childhood, rare, and high-mortality cancers.

Research - The ALERT Act will strengthen the cancer research process by promoting public-private partnerships and collaboration between government agencies. The bill also has a focus on translational research so new discoveries and breakthroughs in the laboratory make their way to patients' bedsides as quickly as possible.

Treatment - The ALERT Act will improve access to cancer care for underserved populations by expanding access to clinical trials, patient navigation services, and screening and treatment for colorectal cancer.

Let your Senators know you support the ALERT Act. Urge them to co-sponsor the bill, if they haven't already, and to move it quickly to a vote!

Labels: alert act, cancer

Curing Kids' Cancer today awarded the annual Killian Owen Research Grant to the Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

$80,000 was donated to the Aflac Cancer Center's Clinical Research office in memory of Killian Owen, who lost his battle with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in 2003 at the age of nine after a four year battle with the disease. Killian is the inspiration for the charity Curing Kids' Cancer.

"It is virtually impossible to explain how valuable Curing Kids' Cancer is to the children of Atlanta and the surrounding southeastern region," states Dr. William G. Woods, Director of the Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. "Philanthropic entities like Curing Kids' Cancer make it possible for our staff of physicians and nurses to fight pediatric cancer and get kids back to being kids."

Curing Kids' Cancer has two national grassroots fundraising programs -- Coaches Curing Kids' Cancer and Teachers Curing Kids' Cancer. Both programs urge parents and children to donate money to pediatric cancer research in the name of their coach or teacher rather than buying them traditional gifts.

Inspired by nine-year-old Killian Owen's battle with leukemia, Curing Kids' Cancer Inc. is a unique, national grassroots movement which aims to raise both awareness and money to find cures for all types of childhood cancer.

Labels: cancer, children, cure, funding

As a parent I can tell you I would do anything for my son. We're talking walking on coals, swimming oceans, walking to the ends of the earth and back again DAILY if it were necessary. So while I do not understand the plight of parents fighting for the life of their child, I do understand the love behind it.

Chad Czapor is 17 years old. He is a junior in high school. He has tons of friends and can be found helping out at sporting events whether with coaching or cheering on his brothers.

Recently doctors told him he has a brain tumor. His parents, Stephani and John, are now crusading, along with their community, to raise money for a procedure that could save his life.

Stephani and John are searching endlessly to find a doctor to operate on Chad. It is a delicate operation. They found a surgeon in New York who specializes in this type of brain tumor, but unfortunately, their insurance will not pay for the surgery.

Perhaps the risks are too great, perhaps the insurance fears such an operation would be fruitless. I won't pretend to understand how any person or business can put a price on a life or some how calculate whether or not a patient deserves a chance to fight, but this is our world.

And so, even in a time of struggle when it is hard for anyone to meet ends meet, I am asking you to put some spare cash (or even change) aside and add it to the Czapor Family Fund.

You may not have healing hands or be able to fulfill wishes, but you do have the ability to put a $1 to a cause which could save a human life and that my friends is a priceless and selfless honor.

"You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result." - Mahatma Gandhi

Labels: brain, cancer, funding, insurance

Emmy Award-Winning Filmmaker Takes On The Question 'How Far Have We Come In the War on Cancer?'

"What is the truth about cancer? Is it the same deadly killer it was 30 years ago -- or are we making progress? Find out through the poignant stories of patients battling the disease in The Truth About Cancer premiering nationally on PBS Wednesday, April 16 at 9:00pm ET."

Part science, part personal catharsis, part character-driven storytelling, the 90-minute documentary is narrated by Linda Garmon, who tells the moving story of her husband's battle with cancer. Sounds like it will be quite the tear jerker.

Following the 90-minute documentary is a 30-minute panel discussion entitled Take One Step: A Conversation About Cancer with Linda Ellerbee. News journalist and breast cancer survivor Linda Ellerbee moderates the dialogue featuring a panel of doctors, all of whom are cancer survivors themselves.

SOURCE

Labels: cancer, documentary, PBS

In case you were wondering what Cal Ripken, Jr. has been up to I thought I'd let you know.

Ripken, known as the "Ironman" because of his consecutive games streak, lost his father to lung disease just weeks before Opening Day in 1999. He now makes a strong effort in educating the public about lung cancer and I am extremely thrilled he is doing so.

Last night I was reading stats about cancer research. Brian and I discussed it briefly because I asked him why lung cancer would be getting so little research when it is the leading cause of cancer. He knew immediately the answer was lack of attention due to the lack of funding.

Ripken joined the Lung Cancer Alliance as part of their "The Face in the Fight" campaign, in the beginning of 2007 and renewed his commitment for 2008. "I am proud to work with Lung Cancer Alliance to help reverse the stigma surrounding the disease," said Ripken. "For too long, lung cancer has been ignored and those diagnosed have been blamed. Lung cancer survivors deserve to be treated with compassion and support regardless of their smoking history." Joe Buck and Troy Aikmen are also big parts of the campaign.

While I understand lung cancer may be on of the most preventable types, because well, you can stop smoking or never start smoking, I still don't believe it is right to give the disease less attention for that reason. Having Cal Ripken's name on the bill will hopefully benefit the need for research in this area.

Lung cancer is the number one cancer killer, killing more Americans each year than breast, prostate and colon cancers -- combined. What you might not know and what I didn't know is that 60% of lung cancer patients are people who quit smoking decades ago or never smoked to begin with. That shocked me and I think if more people noted that fact then they would be more apt to pitch in. However, Ripken said it well when he explained these patients should be treated with the same compassion and support regardless of their history.

Click here for a PDF poster to hang up at your place of work or around your local community.

In other related news, Congressman E. Clay Shaw, Jr. has taken the lead on lung cancer in the House of Representatives. He convinced 73 of his colleagues in the House to cosign a letter demanding more lung cancer research funding. To thank Congressman Shaw, a lung cancer survivor, for his hard work and leadership in getting other members of the House to stand up for more research funding for lung cancer please contact him.

By Mail:
The Honorable E. Clay Shaw
U.S. House of Representatives
1236 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

If your representative is one of the cosigners, thank him or her also.

If your representative is NOT one of the cosigners, you may want to ask if he or she would send a similar letter. To contact your representative simply go to www.house.gov/writerep/ and enter your ZIP code.

Labels: cancer, lung dieases

I don't know about you but I never complete my resolutions. I always have the best of intentions but by February I'm back to eating tons of cookies. What can I say? I have a whole set of sweet teeth.

My hope for 2008 is that doctors and scientists are able to develop new treatments/cures for cancer. Or perhaps more likely, better screenings which are less invasive and can be used for very early detection.

I'd also like to see more people delve into the healthcare profession. We are lacking good doctors, nurses and surgeons that actually care about their patients more than their salary or recognition.

And last but not least, I would like less news on childhood obesity. And for that to happen we need to make sure our families are active and eat more nutritiously. Less fast food and more sit-down family dinners. It's not easy, but in many ways it is very necessary.

Labels: cancer, nutrition, obesity, research, resolutions

Almost all animals and plants synthesize their own vitamin C except humans and a small number of other animals, including, apes, guinea pigs, the red-vented bulbul, a fruit-eating bat and a species of trout.

This morning in some of my reading I came across an article which discusses the use of vitamin C in treating cancer patients.

Drs. Cameron and Pauling's wrote a book "Cancer and Vitamin C" and it provides 26 case histories of patients with various cancers who received a benefit from vitamin C including: brain, breast, prostate, bladder, lung, stomach, ovarian cancer, leukemia and mesothelioma.

"Vitamin C has many roles that may be associated with fighting cancer including: acting as an anti-oxidant and scavenging free radicals, supporting the various immune cells, modulating cell growth and differentiation, helping to synthesize carnitine which is essential for the transport of fat to mitochondria, and possibly even strengthening collagen."

Scientists found that intravenous vitamin C in the form of ascorbate killed cancer cells in lab tests. Even if large amounts of vitamin C don't always cure cancer, it is extremely interesting to know the benefits of this vitamin.

I'm sure there will be a constant argument when it comes to treating cancer. I do hope that whatever ends up being most beneficial to the patient is what gets done. Pharmaceutical companies shouldn't refute these studies just because it may or may not effect their bottom line. A human life is priceless.

Source

Labels: cancer, vitamin c, vitamins

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common form of leukemia among adults, accounting for 40% of the cases. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is predicting about 15,5340 new cases of CLL will be diagnosed in 2007. About 95,579 people are living with CLL. Those are alarming numbers, but the good news is that progress is being made daily on better treatments.

The Institute of Cancer Research has just published an article discussing combo drug treatments for Leukemia patients.

"Patients with the most common type of leukemia achieved better responses to treatment with two cancer-fighting drugs than one in a large international study.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients also had much better survival rates without disease progression when treated with a combination of the chemotherapeutic drugs fludarabine and cyclophosphamide than patients treated with fludarabine alone or another single-agent chemotherapy, chlorambucil." (Source WebMD)

This information comes to us not long after hearing about a drug called CD37-SMIP, which targets a protein called CD37 on the surface of leukemia cells.
The study shows that it can successfully attach to the protein on the leukemia cells and kill them.

If you would like to help support finding a cure for leukemia you can sport a "relentless" red wristband. The bracelets cost $1 and proceeds go to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Labels: cancer, leukemia, new drugs