A Letter from the Editors
From the Editors
Flip through the paper, scan the Internet, or chat with friends: Cancer information is everywhere. Some of it is accurate, some of it is not, and some of it — like reports on the latest scientific studies — is easily taken out of context. It's no surprise, then, that misunderstandings about this family of diseases abound. To help set the record straight, Paths of Progress polled several Dana-Farber experts about the most common cancer myths for this edition's cover story.
One myth about organizations is that their strategic plans sit on shelves collecting proverbial dust. Not so with DFCI's new plan, a "living, breathing" document setting forth the Institute's goals for the next five years. It contains specific programs and initiatives, many of which are being established now; look inside for President Edward J. Benz Jr.'s summary.
Dr. Benz describes Dana-Farber as "a magnet for talented people," and that theme permeates this issue. Take the investigators who are using the Human Genome Project to study the mechanisms behind cancer and related diseases, or the clinicians and researchers seeking to understand melanoma and other skin cancers to help improve patient outcomes. Meanwhile, talented graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and others are honing their oncology skills throughout Dana-Farber as it strives to educate the next generation of physician-scientists.
Patients, too, are demonstrating their own determination to beat the disease; that comes across loud and clear in the story/photo essay about Michael Violandi, as well as DFCI doctor Wayne Marasco's reflections about the impact of his daughter's battle with leukemia and her treatment here.
We hope you'll read this edition with as much enthusiasm as our Dana-Farber staff members display every day.
Debra Ruder and Saul Wisnia
