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Breast program & its leader recognized for excellence |
Harry D. Bear, MD, PhD, Chair, Division of Surgical Oncology, was awarded the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) Distinguished Investigator Lifetime Achievement Award.
International trials led by Dr. Bear have resulted in major changes in the treatment of breast cancer over the past two decades and have dramatically increased the chance for breast conservation among women with breast cancer.
In a different venue, Massey became one of the first 100 cancer centers officially recognized by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC).
"We're very pleased," Bear said. "This national recognition acknowledges our interdisciplinary, comprehensive approach to the diagnosis and treatment of breast disease as well as our focus on exceptional patient care."
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 How to sign-up for the Massey Challenge
First: To run or walk in the race, you must register for the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k through the Richmond Sportsbackers.
Next: To join the Challenge as an Individual
1. Visit the Challenge site.
2. Select the "Register Now" button.
3. Answer the questions.
4. Customize your personal website.
5. Email the link to your page to your friends, family and coworkers and ask them to support you.
To Start a Team
1. Visit the Challenge site.
2. Select the "Register Now" button.
3. Select "Start a Team."
4. Answer the questions.
5. Upload your pictures or logos to your team page and personal page.
6. Email the link to your page to your friends, family and coworkers and ask them to support you.
If you have any questions please call 804-828-0883. |
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Saturday, Feb. 6
Healthy Lifestyle Expo
The VCU Medical Center, and WTVR-CBS 6 present the 2010 Healthy Lifestyle Expo on Feb. 6 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The expo provides a one-stop health care learning experience.
Representatives from more than 25 clinics and services at Massey and the VCU Medical Center will answer your health questions.
Tuesday, Feb. 9
The 15th annual Women & Wellness forum
This year's event, again presented by The Jenkins Foundation, features renowned designer Charlotte Moss and will benefit women's cancer research at Massey.
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| Volume 3, Issue 1 |
February, 2010
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Research highlights of 2009 |
Massey's 175 faculty researchers have made ground-breaking discoveries that have been validated in prestigious scientific journals. The summaries below are the first in a series of short vignettes intended to illuminate the exciting research taking place at Massey.
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Dr. Andrew Larner showed that a previously known protein, Stat3, plays a role in the energy production of cells, which could suggest new ways to treat diseases, such as cancer, that have imbalances between energy demands and energy generation. He and Dr. Massoud Manjili are now conducting a breast cancer study in mice involving this protein, as published in Science.
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Drs. Frank Fang and Jolene Windle demonstrated in mouse models that a specific receptor may function as a tumor suppressor gene that inhibits invasion in human cancer cells, as published in Molecular Biology of the Cell.
- A project with Drs. Paul Fisher and Devanand Sarkar on the mda-7/IL24 gene, co-discovered by Dr. Fisher, showed that autocrine regulation of mda-7 leads to cancer cell death, as published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.
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Drs. Deborah Lebman and Sarah Spiegel identified an oncoprotein involved in the spread of invasive esophageal cancer cells, as published in Molecular and Cellular Biology.
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Collaborative studies by Drs. Dent, Grant, Fisher, Sarkar, Lee, and Graf showed that adding Vorinostat to Sorafenib results in synergistic killing of gastrointestinal carcinoma cells, as published in both Clinical Cancer Research and Molecular Cancer Therapy. |
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Still cookin' |
Ida McCutchen is a good cook; just ask anyone who knows her. Like any good cook, she knows the right ingredients make all the difference.
When Ida was diagnosed with stage III lung cancer in March, 2008, she came to Massey where she discussed treatment options with lung cancer specialist Sherman Baker, MD. After reviewing alternatives with her family, she decided to enroll in a clinical trial at Massey. Participants in clinical studies may have access to promising new treatments that could prove more effective than the current standards of care.
Today, Ida is back in her kitchen, surrounded by family. As a beneficiary of the ground-breaking clinical research taking place at Massey, she also gave back. What Massey researchers learned from her outcome, when combined with the experience of other trial participants, helps other cancer patients.
Read more about Ida McCutchen, and about how you can help. |
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The high cost of cancer |
Cancer costs $2.6 billion in lost lifetime productivity in Virginia, according "Cancer Survivors and Work," a research study by Cathy Bradley, PhD, a health economist and co-leader of Massey's Cancer Prevention and Control research program. The study looked at the employment and work hours of 500 women with breast cancer and 300 men with prostate cancer from diagnosis through 18 months. Findings showed:
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Women with breast cancer were 18% less likely to be employed six months after diagnosis.
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Those who remained in the workforce showed a decrease in hours worked compared to before their cancer diagnosis.
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Men with prostate cancer were 10% less likely to be working six months following diagnosis; many older men retired and left the workforce altogether.
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Women undergoing chemotherapy had significantly increased absenteeism over those who didn't.
LINC's tips for avoiding financial disaster
Looking at the impact of cancer in the aggregate is one thing; dealing with it as a patient is another. Cancer affects your whole life and often creates legal and financial needs that you've never considered before. The Legal Information Network for Cancer (LINC) is a Richmond-based resource committed to helping patients deal with these issues early, so they don't become greater problems later. Some tips from LINC:
Know your insurance policy inside and out
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Notify your health insurance provider of your diagnosis as soon as possible.
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Find out if the treatments recommended by your physicians are covered by your insurance policy and what portion of the cost will be your responsibility.
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Select providers that are "in-network" in order to ensure the lowest possible co-payment.
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Ask your insurance provider to assign you a case manager -- someone to be your single point of contact for all bills -- who will have authority to make corrections and adjustments to bills, and to resolve administrative difficulties that may result from multiple billings.
Seek resources for financial assistance if needed
Know what employee benefits you & your family are entitled to
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Ask the employer about paid and unpaid leave, continuation of health insurance, and disability benefits. Working family members should also ask about leave eligibility to help care for you if needed.
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Discuss with your employer what will happen to your salary or benefits if you need to work part-time.
Please contact LINC at (804) 378-LINC if you have any questions or need referrals to resources. | |
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Momentum is edited by David Raine, Jr.
Communications Manager & Web Director
VCU Massey Cancer Center
804-628-1829
To learn more about VCU Massey Cancer Center, please visit our Web site at www.massey.vcu.edu. |
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