Dana-Farber in the News
October-December 2006
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Gift that keeps on giving: Though he lost his bout with cancer, Dana-Farber patient Todd Schwartz' bold idea lives on Boston Herald
Dana-Farber patient Todd Schwarz lost his battle to cancer in 2002, but his legacy lives on. He helped start a program that takes Jimmy Fund Clinic patients on the road to watch the Boston Red Sox at stadiums outside of Boston. (December 24, 2006)
Fencing for Fitness NECN (5:16)
Doctors at Dana-Farber are introducing patients to a sport that is fun, low-impact and has particular benefits to cancer survivors. (December 19, 2006)
Estrogen linked to less colon-cancer dying United Press International
U.S. researchers found postmenopausal women with colon cancer lived longer and had less likelihood of dying if they had been taking estrogen supplements. The study provides a rationale to further investigate the basic mechanism by which estrogen influences the development and progression of colon cancer, according to lead author Dr. Jennifer Chan. (December 19, 2006)
Young breast cancer patients test super-hormone treatment Associated Press
A growing number of young women with breast cancer are taking the male hormone testosterone as part of a super-hormone treatment, an experimental therapy that may improve their survival odds. Dr. Eric Winer said physicians are still trying to determine the most effective dosage. (December 17, 2006)
Study notes 2003 drop in breast cancer cases National Public Radio (4:31)
(December 15, 2006)
Breast cancer diagnoses took sudden drop in '03 Boston Globe
(December 15, 2006)
U.S. breast cancer rates drop dramatically USA Today
(December 15, 2006)
Breast cancer rates drop dramatically ABC World News Tonight (2:36)
The decision by millions of women to quit hormone replacement therapy in 2002 may be behind the seven percent drop in breast cancer cases between 2002 and 2003. Dr. Eric Winer called the size and speed of the drop major news. (December 14, 2006)
Analysis: Breast-cancer vaccine advancing United Press International
An experimental vaccine to prevent recurrence of breast cancer performed well enough in preliminary studies for investigators to seek government approval to pursue its development. Dr. Eric Winer called the results extremely preliminary, but said that the findings merited further testing in a clinical trial. (December 14, 2006)
Some friendly suggestions for Matsuzaka Boston Globe
In an open letter to incoming Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy recommends that, among other things, "when you hear the words 'Jimmy Fund,' follow that person and do anything he or she asks. The rewards will be enormous." (December 14, 2006)
Testes type of disease common, curable Boston Herald
Testicular cancer, which Boston Bruins rookie Phil Kessel was reportedly diagnosed with, is one of he most common types of cancer found in young men, and one of the most curable. Although the level of awareness of the cancer is low, it can be treated in most cases, said Dr. Phillip Kantoff. (December 13, 2006)
Cancer Society plans $25m residence Boston Globe
The American Cancer Society plans to build a $25 million residence in Jamaica Plain where out-of-town cancer patients who are being treated at the city's top hospitals can stay for free. Dana-Farber gave $2.5 million toward the residence, while Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital each contributed $2 million. DFCI chief operating officer Janet Porter said the new residence is sorely needed. (December 12, 2006)
Celgene, Millennium drugs combined well in trial Reuters
Data presented on Monday at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology showed that Celgene's drug Revlimid and Millennium's Velcade appear to have a synergistic effect in treating the bone marrow cancer multiple myeloma. Trial investigator Dr. Paul Richardson said that it is remarkable to see the combination prove both tolerable and engender such durable responses in resistant disease. (December 11, 2006)
Making a difference Fox 25 (2:26)
Betty Cheney, a 15-year cancer survivor, talks about her Dana-Farber nurses and the integral role they've played in her life over the years. (Dec. 9, 2006)
Biotech co. seeks secret of safe tan, no dyes Boston Herald
Magen BioSciences, a Cambridge-based biotech company, is studying how human skin can be permanently tanned or lightened via the manipulation of pigmentation cells to help prevent skin cancer, inflammation or other disorders often caused by ultraviolet radiation from the sun. The research is centered around studies by Dr. David C. Fisher. (December 11, 2006)
Names Boston Globe
Carlton Cuse, executive producer of the TV show "Lost," and his wife, Christiane, a former Dana-Farber patient, have donated a tour of the hit show's set in Hawaii for the cancer institute's "Online Holiday Auction." Bidding for the tour, which includes plane tickets and a hotel stay for four days, was at $10,000 yesterday. (December 6, 2006)
Who me, fat? ABC News Online
Overweight black Americans are two to three times more likely than heavy white Americans to say that they are of "average weight" even after being diagnosed as overweight by their doctor. Dana-Farber researchers say that the higher amount of misperception among black Americans is most likely due to a greater cultural acceptance among black Americans of larger bodies. (December 6, 2006)
The birth of a tumor Boston Globe
Researchers are beginning to mine evidence of a connection between cancer and early human development. Biotechnology companies are already testing certain compounds based on this research and soon may test one drug for brain cancer on a small group of patients, according to Dr. Rosalind Segal. However, developing drugs to mimic controls on embryonic cell mobility would not help patients who are diagnosed after their cancer has already spread, says Dr. Dirk Iglehart. (December 4, 2006)
Boston hospitals tally record giving in 2006 Boston Globe
Local teaching hospitals collectively raised more than half a billion dollars in the just-completed fiscal year — 68 percent more than five years ago. Susan Paresky says that conducting research requires a great deal of money and that hospitals can no longer count on the government for the same level of research funding. (November 26, 2006)
Genetic test can uncover risk of hereditary cancer CBS4 (3:21)
As it develops a better understanding of cancer genetics, the medical community is striving to reduce the risk of cancer through medication, says Judy Garber, MD. (November 20, 2006)
Cancer care often uncoordinated USA Today
Half of cancer patients and their households have problems coordinating care, according to a new poll. Experts across the country say choreographing care is one of the most important challenges in cancer. Problems like those uncovered by the survey could even hurt a patient's chance of recovery, says Dr. Lawrence Shulman. (November 19, 2006)
Biomarker detects, regulates brain tumors United Press International
Scientists at Emory University, in collaboration with Dana-Farber researchers, have identified a biomarker for brain tumors that also regulates the spread of intercranial tumors. (November 17, 2006)
Fergie makes ailing kids feel like kings & queens Boston Herald
Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson visited patients at the Jimmy Fund Clinic yesterday. (November 16, 2006)
Health for Life M.D. Newsweek
As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Dr. Carolyn Kaelin answers readers' questions about breast cancer. (November 14, 2006)
Prostate radiation limited in benefits Associated Press
A new study suggests that radiation after prostate surgery may not make a difference in how long a man lives or in how long he lives without the prostate cancer spreading. Dr. Anthony D'Amico says he doesn't expect a change in treatment in the United States because of the findings, but European doctors might increase their use of post-surgical radiation or PSA testing, which aren't used as commonly there. (November 15, 2006)
MIT, Dana-Farber, four others share $120M from NYC foundation Associated Press
The estate of late shipping tycoon Daniel K. Ludwig is donating $120 million of his real estate fortune to six cancer research organizations, including Dana-Farber. The six recipients will get $20 million each this year and millions more in future years. (November 15, 2006)
$120m gift for cancer research Boston Globe
The estate of late shipping tycoon Daniel K. Ludwig is donating $120 million of his real estate fortune to six cancer research organizations, including Dana-Farber. The six recipients will get $20 million each this year and millions more in future years. (November 14, 2006)
Report: Red meat may increase breast cancer risk NBC
(November 13, 2006)
Possible link between breast cancer, red meat CBS4Boston.com
A report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association's Archives of Internal Medicine shows a high red meat diet may increase a woman's risk for breast cancer. Dr. Wendy Chen says that the study does not apply to all types of breast cancers, but only for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, which is the more common form of breast cancer in the United States. (November 13, 2006)
Analysis: Lipid tests and Hodgkin's? United Press International
Researchers suggested that it would be cost-effective to screen survivors of Hodgkin's disease for high levels of cholesterol because of their increased risk of heart disease. "People who survive Hodgkin's disease in their 20s are at three times the risk of heart disease later in life," said Aileen Chen, a senior resident in radiation oncology at Dana-Farber. (November 7, 2006)
Pedaling against cancer, cyclists raise $26 million Boston Globe
(November 3, 2006)
Pan Mass gives record $26M Boston Herald
The Pan-Massachusetts Challenge presented a check for $26 million to Dana-Farber. The donation, a result of this year's annual PMC cycling event, is the largest sum ever raised by an athletic fund-raiser. (November 3, 2006)
Medical news: Diabetes, colon cancer, longer life TheBostonChannel.com
Colon cancer is more common in men than women, according to new research in the New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Jeffrey Meyerhardt said experts are unsure why this type of cancer strikes men more than women. (November 1, 2006)
Dual drug therapy effective against pemphigus vulgaris HealthDay News
A new treatment that combines rituximab with intravenous immune globulin offers hope to people who have the potentially fatal skin disease known as pemphigus vulgaris, according to a New England Journal of Medicine study that was co-authored by Dr. Marshall Posner. (October 26, 2006)
Study: Chest scan spots lung cancer early NBC San Diego
(October 25, 2006)
Catching cancer WHDH
A New England Journal of Medicine study suggests that computerized chest scans can detect lung cancer very early, a finding that may help lung cancer patients to live longer, says Dr. Bruce Johnson. (October 25, 2006)
Z's Zone NESN (2:00)
Boston Bruin Zdeno Chara visited Dana-Farber to meet with adult and pediatric patients and to give a Lance Armstrong Foundation Adult Survivorship Clinic patient and his family tickets to an upcoming Bruins games. (October 23, 2006)
Kidney Cancer WCVB-TV (1:50)
Charles Fuchs, MD, MPH, explains that eating large quantities of white bread and other starchy foods can elevate a person's glycemic index and possibly increase some people's risk of developing kidney cancer. (October 20, 2006)
Analysis: Protein helps brain 'clean house' United Press International
A new treatment that combines rituximab with intravenous immune globulin offers hope to people who have the potentially fatal skin disease known as pemphigus vulgaris, according to a New England Journal of Medicine study that was co-authored by Dr. Marshall Posner. (October 20, 2006)
Scientists spot brain's self-defense "switch" Canadian Broadcasting Corp.
Dana-Farber researchers say they've spotted a protein that switches on the brain's natural antioxidant defense system. This system protects brain cells from toxic free radicals, a waste product of cell metabolism linked to aging and a number of health problems, including heart attack, stroke and cancer. (October 20, 2006)
Breast Cancer WCVB-TV (2:14)
Dan Morganstern, MD, highlights some recent advances in breast cancer care. (October 17, 2006)
Projected demand drives a boom in cancer care sites Boston Globe
Dana-Farber and Brigham and Women's Hospital plan to open cancer centers in Milford, in partnership with Milford Regional Medical Center, and in Weymouth, with South Shore Hospital. Dr. Lawrence Shulman says that these centers are opening in the suburbs because patients are demanding easier access to top-level care. (October 12, 2006)
Children's lives after cancer ABC World News Tonight (2:54)
Lisa Diller, MD, speaks about chronic health issues that can affect adult survivors of pediatric cancers. (October 11, 2006)
Pfizer's Sutent "effective for intestinal tumor" Reuters
Pfizer's new cancer drug Sutent is effective for patients suffering from advanced gastrointestinal tumors which do not respond to the standard treatment, researchers said today. Dr. George Demetri led the research. (October 11, 2006)
Inflammatory breast cancer CNN (6:31)
Harold Burstein, MD, PhD, speaks about inflammatory breast cancer and its symptoms and treatments. (October 8, 2006)
Tan from a bottle may protect against skin cancer Washington Post
In a study in the journal Nature, Dr. David Fisher and colleagues reported that they were able to alter skin pigmentation to become tanned without exposure to ultraviolet rays. The findings may suggest a novel way of preventing skin cancer. (October 10, 2006)
Dean of Harvard Medical School to leave post next year Boston Globe
Dr. Joseph B. Martin will step down as dean of Harvard Medical School next June. Paul Levy, chief executive of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, said the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, a research partnership involving five hospitals, the medical school and the Harvard School of Public Health, would not have come together without Martin's leadership. (October 6, 2006)
Genetic map adds to cancer research Harvard Crimson
A recent study headed by researchers at Dana-Farber has identified a complete map of the genetic regions that may influence how estrogen contributes to breast cancer - results that could advance clinical treatment for breast cancer patients. (October 5, 2006)
New tests for colon cancer Baltimore Sun
Scientists from Dana-Farber and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have created models to assess a person's genetic risk for colorectal cancer, a common killer that, if identified early, is preventable and responsive to treatment. (October 1, 2006)
