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Posts with tag CancerResearch
Posted Aug 29th 2007 4:34PM by Brian White
Filed under: All Cancers, Politics, Opinion
With next year's presidential election still over a year away, candidate hopefuls are cranking up the heat on health issues and the stances being taken. Seeing as cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the U.S., it is sure to take front stage quite a bit between now and late next year.
In the latest edition, Kansas Senator Sam Brownback and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee have joined
Senator John Edwards in stating publicly that they intend to fight cancer with increased funding and research.
One of the largest and most viewable aspects of cancer topics -- cigarette smoking -- has these men taking different opinions on what steps should be taken to curb smoking. Huckabee supports a nationwide smoking ban, while Brownback supports control by local communities. Which is better in your opinion?
Posted Aug 27th 2007 4:55PM by Brian White
Filed under: Politics, Celebrity news
With the U.S. presidential election coming up next year, candidate hopefuls are throwing their respective weights into many social issues to drum up the attention each sorely needs to win the hearts and minds of voters.
Count John Edwards into the cancer crowd, as the hopeful candidate whose wife announced recently that she did have a
recurrence of breast cancer wants to create national networks for those dealing with all cancers.
Edwards stated that his wife's battle with the second-largest killer in the U.S. has shown him that fighting cancer should be one of his top priorities. Edward's latest on the national strategy for cancer survivorship he proposes can be
read about here.
Posted Jul 4th 2007 1:16PM by Brian White
Filed under: All Cancers, Research
Researchers are stating that fooling a female body into thinking it is going through menopause could end up protecting the fertility of women with cancer.
Shutting down the ovaries using a "hormonal switch" may do just that.
If ovulation stops (just temporarily), then the ovaries and the precious eggs inside are summarily taken out of the equation when it comes to possible damage from radioactive chemotherapy treatments. For women with cancer undergoing chemo -- but who wish to later have children -- protecting those eggs is one of the largest priorities, right?
Scientists are not exactly sure why the ovaries are completely protected when the body stops ovulating, but the research may give an alternative to those women who would prefer not to
have their eggs removed and frozen for later use.Posted Jun 12th 2007 10:00AM by Riana Weis
Filed under: All Cancers, Research
In my
Form and Function feature, I talked about the mitochondria, the powerhouses of the cells. New research is focusing on the mitochondrial function and how that can help point the way to new treatments.
Mitochondria dysfunction when cancer is present, and until recently it was believed to be the result of the cancer. Dr. Michelakis, a professor in the University of Alberta Department of Medicine, researched whether the function could be restored. He found that the function of mitochondria could be restored by DCA, which restores a critical enzyme.
He found that when the mitochondrial function is restored, it resulted in a significant decrease in tumor growth. Read more about this amazing discovery at the
University of Alberta website. I am always so excited when I read about new discoveries and the research being done to try to cure cancer. I believe it can be done. It is just so sad though, when you read about this discovery and in the same article read about the fact that this researcher will have problems to secure funding, because DCA can not be patented. Wow, I hope the world is not really that brutal. I hope that he will get funding, because this is a promising development in the fight against cancer, and because it could cure cancer or at least give us new treatments. I hope.
Posted Mar 14th 2006 12:54PM by Dalene Entenmann
Filed under: Prevention
Supermodel Rachel Hunter is leading the TK Maxx and Cancer Research UK
GiveGet charity clothing donation campaign to raise £2 million for
cancer research. TK Maxx and Cancer Research UK are handing out thousands of GiveGet donation bags throughout the month
of March. UK's GiveGet charity drive runs from March 18th to April 2nd, and during that time, the public is asked to
donate unwanted good quality clothing, books, music, DVD's and other household items.
"We are really
excited by the GiveGet campaign as we hope it will help us raise vital funds for Cancer Research UK to continue its
research into the causes, treatment and prevention of cancer. We rely heavily on the public for donations and a
national campaign of this scale, made possible by TK Maxx, provides a huge boost to our fundraising efforts,"
states Simon Ledsham, Director of Retail for Cancer Research UK.
"I am hoping everyone will join me in
having a clear out and help to make this year's GiveGet the biggest charity collection ever," said Rachel Hunter,
who is asking Brits to get behind the second GiveGet drive, after a survey found six in ten have at least five clothing
items they have not worn in the past two years. Rachel Hunter's ex-husband, Rod Stewart, is a thyroid cancer survivor.
Posted Mar 12th 2006 9:00AM by Dalene Entenmann
Filed under: Prevention
Do you use Google?
SearchingForTheCure has formed a partnership with
Google to create online activism for cancer research fundraising. According to the press on this, by searching from the
SearchingForTheCure website, or with the newly released SearchingForTheCure Toolbar, you generate money for cancer
research when you click on an advertisement related to your searches. Proceeds are donated to organizations, companies,
and individuals that are involved in cancer research, treatment, and care giving.
“We really think
it's something that people will want to get involved in,” said the project's Chief Administrator T.J. Skalka.
“After the recent activism successes of rubber wristbands and magnetic ribbons, we were trying to figure out a
cancer fundraiser that would get the public involved on a large scale. Over 60 percent of Americans search on the
Internet. How much larger can you get?”
Posted Mar 11th 2006 8:00AM by Dalene Entenmann
Filed under: Brain Cancer, Breast Cancer, Prevention
12 members of a girls swim team have
gotten together and published a new cookbook as a cancer fundraiser for research into finding a cure for cancer. Dana
Simms, a member of the swim team, recently lost her uncle Dan Stryer, 41, a doctor and researcher, to brain cancer.
According to Simms,
Cooking For The Cure cookbook editor, "When
we announced the idea of a community cookbook to raise money for cancer, the recipes began coming in immediately. People
would stop us in the street with tears in their eyes, thanking us for doing this project and telling us about a family
member or friend with cancer." Others would send emails.
The girls received over 450 recipes from
people wanting to help with the project. To date, sales from the cookbook has raised in excess of $20,000 dollars. The
money will be donated to cancer a charity for cancer research. The Cooking For The Cure cookbooks are on sale for $15.
If you would like to support a great cause, you can buy one
here.
Posted Mar 10th 2006 1:48PM by Heather Craven
Filed under: Prevention
The Canadian Cancer Society, Manitoba Division
will be hosting a wonderfully creative cancer fundraiser during the month of March From March 20-25, CHUM Radio Winnipeg
(Q-94 FM and 99.9 BOB FM) will host
The First Flower of
Hope Radiothon. The five day long fundraiser hosts will be interviewing survivors, researchers and family members
communicating important facts with inspirational stories. As each story is told on the air, an amazing two-story high
daffodil will begin to take shape and bloom. For those unable to join, say those of us in the United States or
elsewhere, there are still opportunities to help make a difference. By calling 1-866-627-HOPE, you can make a monetary
donation. The toll free number is open 24 hours a day.
Posted Mar 10th 2006 1:37PM by Heather Craven
Filed under: Prevention
It is well known that breakfast is the most
important meal of the day. In addition to that fact, research has indicated that proper health maintenance is vital in
reducing the risk of cancer. The English are taking this knowledge a step further by creating a month long breakfast
celebration while also raising money for cancer research.
Britain's Biggest Breakfast
will run for the length of the month. By ordering a registration packet, volunteers can invite friends and family to a
morning meal and ask for donations to help promote cancer research in England. The packet includes tips on organizing
the breakfast, healthy meal ideas and order forms for t-shirts and the like. For information, please click
here.
Posted Feb 23rd 2006 8:29PM by Dalene Entenmann
Filed under: Prevention
In March, the American Cancer Society, ACS, launches the nationwide Daffodil Days program, a chance for individuals
and community groups to contribute to the Society's mission of providing education and support for those who have been
affected by cancer, and to raise funding for continuing research in finding a cancer cure. To the ACS, the daffodil,
one of the first flowers of spring, is a symbol of hope for a world free of cancer. You can contribute online, with the
Daffodil Days e-Card® program, which allows
you to send a Daffodil e-Card to anyone, anywhere, at any time, for any reason. Or, you can give the Gift of Hope, and
by making a contribution in honor of a loved one, a local Society volunteer will deliver a bouquet of daffodils
anonymously to a cancer patient at a medical center in your community.Posted Feb 18th 2006 8:33PM by Dalene Entenmann
Filed under: Prevention
Greek
Peak Mountain Resort and the American Cancer Society are hosting the first-ever
Vertical Challenge east of the Rocky Mountains. The 24-hour event
will offer competitive challenges for individuals and teams, and for all levels of ability and age. Vertical Challenge
individuals and teams compete with other participants in two ways - by total dollars raised and total vertical feet
achieved by Nordic or Alpine skiing and tubing over a 24-hour period. Vertical Challenge will begin March 4th. Greek
Peak Mountain Resort is located in New York. Donations to Vertical Challenge will go to support American Cancer Society
research, education, advocacy, and prevention programs.
Posted Feb 16th 2006 6:02PM by Dalene Entenmann
Filed under: Prevention
If you visit, or live, in Virginia Beach,
Virginia, you will be seeing an art exhibit of life size fiberglass sculptures of dolphins in neighborhoods and along
the seashore of the city.
A Dolphin's Promise is an ambitious project to
raise a million dollars for cancer research, with ninety percent of all money raised going towards cancer research.
Each dolphin is uniquely decorated by artists, crafters, designers, architects and art students, as an individual or
group project. The goal is to have hundreds of dolphins in pods on display throughout the city. A Dolphin's Promise
symbolizes a commitment to helping those battling cancer.
Posted Feb 14th 2006 9:28AM by Dalene Entenmann
Filed under: Drug, Chemotherapy, Prevention
What makes cancer such
a scary disease? All tumors do not behave in the same way. What has puzzled researchers and physicians, is why, and how,
cancer moves from the original tumor to other parts of the body, creating new tumors.
New research findings are providing
some of the answers. Migration of cancer cells begins at the outer edge of the tumor. Normal cells come into contact
with cancerous cells, and tell them to leave. Cancer cells being clever and deceptive, trick the body's normal healthy
system to do its work for it, by using signals from normal cells and getting bone marrow cells to look for new places
in the body the cancer cells can go, and grow. After the new place has been found, the cancer cells from the outer edge
of the original tumor, leave, and move to the new place. This is cancer metastasized. Before the new research shed light
on the why, and how, no one knew what to do to prevent the cancer cells from leaving the original tumor. Now that they
understand the basic process, new therapies to stop cancerous cells from moving away from the original tumor can be
focused on and developed.
Posted Feb 13th 2006 9:52AM by Dalene Entenmann
Filed under: Drug, Chemotherapy
University of Florida Shands Cancer
Center researchers have found a weakness in the protective barrier cancer cells maintain to keep from being
destroyed. Cancer cells manufacture an enzyme that bonds with a protein, which prevents chemotherapy and radiation from
destroying the cancer cells. Researchers have discovered the strength in a cancer cell's ability to survive may be in
the Focal adhesion kinase, FAK, a gene produced at high levels in cancerous tumors. This exciting new gene discovery
will encourage a great deal of research into drugs to prevent FAK from bonding to the protein necessary in a cancer
cell's ability to protect itself from destruction. Normal cells manufacture lower levels of FAK than cancer cells do,
and researchers are looking at treatments that will target FAK, while leaving the normal cells unaffected by toxic
treatments.
Posted Feb 12th 2006 2:45PM by Dalene Entenmann
Filed under: Drug, Prevention
Even though the federal government,
under the policies of President George Bush, has restricted funding on embryonic stem cell research, New Jersey,
California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Wisconsin and Illinois are moving ahead with state funding of stem cell
research. New York lobbyists are asking New York to join the other states in funding this politically controversial
research. Roswell Park Cancer Institute's president Dr. David C. Hohn, and other state research and medical
institutions, wants New York to approve embryonic stem cell research funding, and hopes to see the state funding placed
under a broader umbrella of biomedical research. Research would be monitored by a committee of scientists, to ensure
ethical practices and standards. Supporters of embryonic stem cell research believe this research can lead to cures in
cancer, and a variety of diseases, that currently have resisted traditional research breakthroughs.
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