Friday, October 24, 2014
We're searching for volunteers!
Has pancreatic cancer affected your family? Do you want to help find a cure? Then the Denver Lustgarten Pancreatic Cancer Walk need your help!
Here's your opportunity to give to the cause with your time and energy. Whether you're looking to join the Walk Committee or the want to be a "day of volunteer" call us! We need your help!
Click here to learn more or call Ann Walsh at 516.803.2419.
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Why I walk ...
Tiaras, fancy dresses and magic wands are all part of growing up and these two cousins love to play princess. Unfortunately, neither of these budding Cinderellas had the chance to show their grandmother their perfect curtsy or tell her about all the palaces and royal balls in their imagination.
Each year, since their grandmother was diagnosed, their parents have traveled around the country, walking for a cure.
We walk because ... we never got to play princess with our Grandma Hildy.
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Celebrities Join The Fight Against Pancreatic Cancer
Watch the curePC television public service announcements to find out why so many extraordinary people have joined with Cablevision and The Lustgarten Foundation in the fight against pancreatic cancer.
Mayo Clinic Researchers Decode Origin of Inflammation-Driven Pancreatic Cancer
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Researchers at Mayo Clinic in Florida have revealed the process by which chronic inflammation of the pancreas, pancreatitis, morphs into pancreatic cancer. They say their findings point to ways to identify pancreatitis patients at risk of pancreatic cancer and to potential drug therapies that might reverse the process.
MULTIMEDIA ALERT: For audio and video of Geou-Yarh Liou, Ph.D. discussing this study, visit the Mayo Clinic News Network.
The study, published online today in The Journal of Cell Biology, maps how inflammation pushes acinar cells in the pancreas — those that produce digestive enzymes — to transform into duct-like cells. As these cells change, they can acquire mutations that can result in further progression to pancreatic cancer, says senior author Peter Storz, Ph.D., a biochemist and molecular biologist at Mayo Clinic.
"We don't know why these cells reprogram themselves, but it may be because producing enzymes in an organ that is injured due to inflammation may cause more damage," Dr. Storz says. "The good news, however, is that this process is reversible, and we identified a number of molecules involved in this pathway that might be targeted to help push these new duct-like cells back into acinar cells, thus eliminating the risk of cancer development."
The scientists are testing the ability of drugs already on the market to reverse this cellular transformation in the pancreas in mice models of human pancreatic cancer. Dr. Storz's research team traced the pathway leading from inflammation in the pancreas to development of cancer in the organ. They followed what happened once macrophages responded to an inflamed pancreas. Macrophages are a type of white blood cell that eats foreign material in the body.
"The belief in the field has been that macrophages were there to remove damaged cells in the organ," Dr. Storz says. "We found they weren't that benign. In fact, we discovered macrophages themselves drive the transformation and provide the setting for development of cancer."
The research team also discovered that if the pancreas is inflamed, fluid from the pancreas contains signaling molecules that induce acinar cells to transform into duct-like cells. Study co-author Massimo Raimondo, M.D., agastroenterologist, is part of a Mayo team that has developed a method to collect this fluid from the pancreas during a routine upper endoscopy test.
"We want to also investigate whether these two enzymes can serve as an early warning system, a marker of pancreatic cancer risk, in patients with pancreatitis," Dr. Storz says.
"Our hope is that we can detect that risk before cancer happens, and use a treatment that reverses any possibility that pancreatic cancer will develop," he says.
The study was supported by National Institutes of Health grants (CA135102, CA140182 and CA159222), theAmerican Association for Cancer Research, and a Mayo Clinic SPORE in Pancreatic Cancer grant.
Co-authors include Geou-Yarh Liou, Ph.D., Heike Doeppler, Brian Necela, Ph.D., Murli Krishna, M.D., and Howard Crawford, Ph.D.
About Mayo Clinic Cancer Center
As a leading institution funded by the National Cancer Institute, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center conducts basic, clinical and population science research, translating discoveries into improved methods for prevention, diagnosis, prognosis and therapy. For information on cancer clinical trials, call 507-538-7623.
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
In Battle With Cancer, Doctor Asks Others To Perform Acts Of Kindness
October 2014
HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. (CBS4) - A hero of a doctor is asking others to be heroes, too, in their communities.
Jill Pechacek, who was recently diagnosed with stage-4 pancreatic cancer, is challenging others to perform
random acts of kindness to benefit their communities. The challenge has spread to all 50 states and internationally.In her 29:11 challenge, Pechacek is asking people to perform at least 29 random acts of kindness over 11 days, for instance: hugs, homemade cards, opening doors for others and more.
Pechacek is a co-founder and physician at Aspen Family Care in Highlands Ranch. She wrote recently on the practice’s website: “Thank you so much for all the love and support that you have provided my family over these last few weeks! While this time has been very challenging, I have drawn so much hope and inspiration from each one of you. We have been blessed with so many acts of kindness, and while these kind acts are incredible, it is the thoughtfulness behind these acts that is truly the most amazing!”
LINK: Jill Pechacek’s Caring Bridge Site
Her coworkers in Highlands Ranch recently dressed up as superheroes to support the hero she’s been in their lives and careers.
“I love her, I miss her,” a co-worker dressed up as Green Lantern said.
Pechacek said she is overwhelmed by the love and encouragement she’s received. So she had the idea of making that kindness contagious. Her challenge is based on a bible verse about hope. The call went viral.
She read to CBS4’s Kathy Walsh from an email that listed the acts people have performed in her challenge: money
given to a homeless man, a 100 percent tip to a struggling waiter, a tank of gas filled, more than 37 random hugs and more.The cancer’s survival rate is 1 percent.
“That’s all I focus on is the 1 percent,” she said, “and I know that I can be there.”
She has beaten the odds before. Twenty years ago, she survived ovarian cancer.
She places her faith in a higher power: “God’s got this” is a motto she invokes often.
“If I can be someone’s hope or someone’s miracle and empower and inspire other people, then I’m honored that God chose me,” she said.
To watch her video or to learn more, CLICK HERE.
Consuming a high-quality diet is associated with lower risk of pancreatic cancer
Contact: Zachary Rathner
Zachary.Rathner@oup.com
919-677-2697
Journal of the National Cancer Institute
Previous studies investigating the relationship between food and nutrient intake and pancreatic cancer have yielded inconsistent results. The U.S. Government issues evidence-based dietary guidelines that provide the basis for federal nutrition policy and education activities to promote overall health for Americans. The authors evaluated how closely study participants' diets matched the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, as measured by the Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2005), and then compared their risk of pancreatic cancer.
Zachary.Rathner@oup.com
919-677-2697
Journal of the National Cancer Institute
People who reported dietary intake that was most consistent with the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans had lower risk of pancreatic cancer, according to a new study published August 15 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Previous studies investigating the relationship between food and nutrient intake and pancreatic cancer have yielded inconsistent results. The U.S. Government issues evidence-based dietary guidelines that provide the basis for federal nutrition policy and education activities to promote overall health for Americans. The authors evaluated how closely study participants' diets matched the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, as measured by the Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2005), and then compared their risk of pancreatic cancer.
Hannah Arem, Ph.D.,, from the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD, and colleagues calculated HEI-2005 scores for 537,218 participants in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study (ages 50-71 years), based on responses to food frequency questionnaires. Pancreatic cancer risk was then compared between those with high and low HEI-2005 scores, accounting for the influence of other known pancreatic cancer risk factors.
Among the study participants there were 2,383 new cases of pancreatic cancer. Overall, the investigators observed a 15% lower risk of pancreatic cancer among participants with the highest HEI-2005 score compared to those with the lowest HEI-2005 score. This association was stronger among overweight or obese men compared to men of normal weight, but there was no difference for normal vs. overweight or obese women. While the authors adjusted for known risk factors such as smoking and diabetes status, they caution that other health factors not collected in the questionnaires may be associated with a more healthful diet and might explain some of the observed reduced risk. They also noted that diet is difficult to measure and the HEI-2005 was not designed specifically for the purpose of overall cancer prevention.
According to Arem and colleagues "the Dietary Guidelines for Americans are issued to promote overall health, including the maintenance of a healthy weight and disease prevention. Our findings support the hypothesis that a high-quality diet may also play a role in reducing pancreatic cancer risk." Future studies are needed to confirm these findings.
In an accompanying editorial, Rachel Ballard-Barbash, M.D., and Susan M. Krebs-Smith, Ph.D., from the Applied Research Program at the National Cancer Institute (Bethesda, MD), and Marian L. Neuhouser, Ph.D., from the Cancer Prevention Program in the Division of Public Health Sciences at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (Seattle, WA) discuss that progress has been made in understanding associations between diet and cancer risk, but they have not resulted in noticeable changes in cancer incidence in the US. They conclude, "Practical and actionable dietary recommendations that are based on sound research should ultimately reduce patient suffering and treatment-related expenditures from preventable cancers."
###
Contact Info:
Article: NCI Office of Media Relations, ncipressofficers@mail.nih.gov, 301-496-6641
Article: NCI Office of Media Relations, ncipressofficers@mail.nih.gov, 301-496-6641
Editorial: Rachel Ballard-Barbash, Ph.D., barbashr@mail.nih.gov
Pancreatic Cancer in the News
| pancreatic cancer
Daily update ⋅ September 6, 2014
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WKBN stands up to cancer
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – As part of Stand Up To Cancer, WKBN is ... 20 will raise money for Guthrie in his battle against pancreatic cancer.
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Gran off to parliament for debate on cancer
Linda Reardon, from Llantarnam, created the Families in Support of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness group in 2011 after losing three members of her ...
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Drug go-ahead tonic for cancer sufferers
Experts say Abraxane will help extend the lives of patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer by up to two months, and for some patients it can be even ...
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Katie Couric set to host star-studded "Stand Up to Cancer" event
Couric lost her first husband, Jay Monahan, to colon cancer in 1998. Couric's sister, Virginia state senator Emily Couric, died in 2001 from pancreatic ...
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“Stand Up To Cancer” show at 7pm Friday
“Stand Up To Cancer” show at 7pm Friday ... Administration (FDA) of a new combination treatment for pancreatic cancer, as well as FDA “breakthrough ...
From Phone Banks to Facebook: Katie Couric's Stand Up to Cancer Broadcast Plans - Hollywood Reporter
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Le Tour de Boswell stops in for a Newbury coffee
The charity ride was raising money for Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund following the death two years ago from the disease of Boswell's founder ...
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Stand Up To Cancer TONIGHT on 6abc
Stand Up to Cancer is also funding a local Dream Team, which is having success with new treatments for pancreatic cancer. As government research ...
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cancer quotes of hope - Bing Images
This Pin was discovered by Vicky Cramer. Discover (and save!) your own Pins on Pinterest.
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Monday, October 20, 2014
Meaningful Mondays!
You're not alone in the fight against pancreatic cancer!
Join Lustgarten as we fight to find a cure.
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Walk to honor those with Pancreatic Cancer
You can help make a difference! Join the fight and walk for a cure! Register today!
Pre-Registration Fee $50
Walk-In Registration Fee $60
Registration 9:00 am
Walk starts at 10:30 am
Join us on Sunday, November 2, 2014 at Sloan's Lake Park, Denver, CO. Pancreatic Cancer Research Events are a great way to increase funding for research and raise awareness for pancreatic cancer. Lustgarten Foundation Events serve as a wonderful celebration of the progress being made in the fight against this disease, and your important participation provides hope for the future.
Saturday, October 18, 2014
Now that I have been diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer, where do I turn for information??
Information & Support Services
Web-based & Telephone
CancerCare
1-800-813-HOPE (4673)CancerCare is a national, nonprofit organization that helps people face the many challenges of a cancer diagnosis by offering free education and support programs to help patients and loved ones understand and deal with their diagnosis, treatment options, quality-of-life concerns, and other important issues. CancerCare offers Telephone Education Workshops (TEWs), one-hour conference calls presented by experts from around the country. In addition, CancerCare offers free Telephone Support Groups for both pancreatic cancer patients and caregivers.
Cancer Information Service
1-800-4-CANCER / 1-800-332-8615 (TYY)CIS is a free nationwide cancer information and education network. By calling the toll-free number, cancer patients, their families, people at risk for cancer, and health professionals can receive publications, audiovisual materials (available in English and Spanish) and other information confidentially on all aspects, including treatment and clinical trials.
Cancer.Net
Cancer.Net provides timely, oncologist-approved information to help patients and families make informed health-care decisions. All content is subject to a formal peer-review process by the Cancer.Net Editorial Board, composed of more than 150 medical, surgical, radiation, and pediatric oncologists, oncology nurses, social workers, and patient advocates.
American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service.
OncoLink.org
OncoLink, a free on-line service of the University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center, is a complete source of cancer information for patients, their families, caretakers and friends. Visitors can get information on everything from cancer support services, resources, books, to even a special section offering humor called OncoLink LITE.
CancerConnect
CancerConnect is dedicated to providing the most up-to-date information on the treatment and prevention of cancer.
CaringBridge
CaringBridge offers free, private Web sites for people facing a serious health event. Using a CaringBridge Web page, patients and caregivers can share updates, post photos, and receive messages of hope and encouragement through a guestbook.
Vital Options
1-800-477-7666Vital Options is a telesupport cancer network and the nation's only call-in cancer radio show. It airs The Group Room, a weekly live radio show simulcast on the Web.
The Wellness Community
1-888-793-WELLEducation and support services for cancer patients and their families, including support groups, stress-reduction techniques, cancer education workshops, etc.
ACOR.org
ACOR cancer information system offers patients and their families access to electronic mailing lists and Web sites. The lists are public on-line support groups, which provide information and support to anyone seeking answers about cancer and related disorders.
Johns Hopkins Discussion Forum
This unmoderated discussion forum allows patients to post messages and communicate about pancreas cancer.
John Hopkins iCarebook for Pancreatic Cancer
The Johns Hopkins iPAD application for Pancreatic Cancer is an educational guide for patients, family members and friends facing a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Created by leading experts in the field, this interactive application includes text, illustrations, animations and videos. Emphasis is placed on multi-disciplinary care and the team approach. The App is free and is available in the iTunes store.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/icarebook-hd/id697194060?ls=1&mt=8
For a description of the App, please go to their Website:
http://pathology.jhu.edu/pancreas/icarebook/index.php
Johns Hopkins Pancreatic Cancer Blog
Thomas Jefferson University Hosptials Ask the Experts
This forum seeks to build awareness about the condition and give patients, families and caregivers an opportunity learn more about the available treatment options.
Patient Resource Publishing
Patient Resource Publishing provides free, trusted resources to cancer patients, including a Cancer Resource Guide. PRP also manages www.MyCancerAdvisor.com, a Web site dedicated to patient advocacy and empowerment through education. Visitors to MyCancerAdvisor can share information and connect with others in a community of learning and support.
Whipple Warriors
info@whipplewarriors.org
Whipple Warriors is a group whose mission is to educate, support and advocate for all whipple surgery survivors.
Cancer Care - A Helping Hand
The resources guide for people facing financial challenges. Order copies of "A Helping Hand" completely free of charge today at www.cancercare.org/publications/order. supply is limited.
Cancer Legal Resource Center
Cancer Legal Resource Center (CLRC) is a joint program of Disability Rights Legal Center and Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. The CLRC provides information and education about cancer-related legal issues to the public through its national telephone assistance line.
Support Groups & Health Fairs
- Telephone Education Workshop
View Webcast of Medical Update on the Treatment of Pancreatic CancerPresented by CancerCare
Ongoing - Community Support Groups
Wellness Centers*
*Supported by the Michael Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer FoundationCancer Wellness Center
215 Revere Drive
Northbrook, IL 60062
Phone:
847-509-9595 or 866-292-9355 (toll-free)Pancreatic Cancer Networking Group meets 2nd Thursday of the month (6:45 – 8:30 p.m.)
Wellness House
131 N. County Line Road
Hinsdale, IL 60521
Phone:
630-323-5150Pancreatic Cancer Networking Drop-in Group meets 4th Tuesday of the month (7 – 9 p.m.)
Jennifer S. Fallick Cancer Support Center
2028 Elm Road
Homewood, IL 60430
Phone:
708-798-9171Pancreatic Cancer Networking Drop-in Group meets 4th Wednesday of the month (7:00 – 8:30 p.m.)
Friday, October 17, 2014
Count Me In! Fighting Pancreatic Cancer!
Has pancreatic cancer affected your family? Do you want to help find a cure? Then the Denver Lustgarten Pancreatic Cancer Walk need your help!
Here's your opportunity to give to the cause with your time and energy. Whether you're looking to join the Walk Committee or the want to be a "day of volunteer" call us! We need your help!
Click here to learn more or call Ann Walsh at 516.803.2419.
Thursday, October 16, 2014
I walk because ...
Thousands of people across the country are inspired to walk each year for a cure. Over six years ago, Meg Phillips and her family introduced Denver to the Lustgarten Foundation by kicking off the first annual fundraising walk for pancreatic cancer. Today, the walk has raised over $350,000 towards pancreatic cancer research.
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
NIH scientists visualize how cancer chromosome abnormalities form in living cells
For the first time, scientists have directly observed events that lead to the formation of a chromosome abnormality that is often found in cancer cells. The abnormality, called a translocation, occurs when part of a chromosome breaks off and becomes attached to another chromosome. The results of this study, conducted by scientists at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, appeared Aug. 9, 2013, in the journal Science.
Chromosomes are thread-like structures inside cells that carry genes and function in heredity. Human chromosomes each contain a single piece of DNA, with the genes arranged in a linear fashion along its length.
Chromosome translocations in a living cell
For the first time, scientists have directly observed events that lead to formation of a chromosome abnormality that is often found in cancer cells. The results of this study--from senior author Tom Mistelli, Ph.D., lead author Vassilis Roukos, Ph.D., and colleagues at the National Cancer Institute--appears in the Aug 9, 2013 issue of the journal Science.
Chromosome translocations have been found in almost all cancer cells, and it has long been known that translocations can play a role in cancer development. However, despite many years of research, just exactly how translocations form in a cell has remained a mystery. To better understand this process, the researchers created an experimental system in which they induced, in a controlled fashion, breaks in the DNA of different chromosomes in living cells. Using sophisticated imaging technology, they were then able to watch as the broken ends of the chromosomes were reattached correctly or incorrectly inside the cells.
Translocations are very rare events, and the scientists’ ability to visualize their occurrence in real time was made possible by recently available technology at NCI that enables investigators to observe changes in thousands of cells over long time periods. “Our ability to see this fundamental process in cancer formation was possible only because of access to revolutionary imaging technology,” said the study’s senior author, Tom Misteli, Ph.D., Laboratory of Receptor Biology and Gene Expression, Center for Cancer Research, NCI.
The scientists involved with this study were able to demonstrate that translocations can occur within hours of DNA breaks and that their formation is independent of when the breaks happen during the cell division cycle. Cells have built-in repair mechanisms that can fix most DNA breaks, but translocations occasionally occur.
To explore the role of DNA repair in translocation formation, the researchers inhibited key components of the DNA damage response machinery within cells and monitored the effects on the repair of DNA breaks and translocation formation. They found that inhibition of one component of DNA damage response machinery, a protein called DNAPK-kinase, increased the occurrence of translocations almost 10-fold. The scientists also determined that translocations formed preferentially between pre-positioned genes.
“These observations have allowed us to formulate a time and space framework for elucidating the mechanisms involved in the formation of chromosome translocations,” said Vassilis Roukos, Ph.D., NCI, and lead scientist of the study.
“We can now finally begin to really probe how these fundamental features of cancer cells form,” Misteli added.
This research was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the NCI’s Center for Cancer Research.
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Reference: Roukos V, Voss TC, Schmidt CK, Lee S, Wangsa D, Misteli T. Spatial dynamics of chromosome translocations in living cells. Science. August 9, 2013. DOI: 10.1126/science.1237150.
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