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On April 2, support runners who have taken on the Massey Challenge!
Support runners like the family and friends of Burns Ackerly. Formerly calling themselves the Boxing Day Bowlers, the team participated in the 2009 and 2010 Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k races to raise money for cancer research. This year they have re-christened themselves as
Bowling for Burns in honor of Ackerly, who is under-going treatment for brain cancer.
VCU Massey Cancer Center is the official charity of the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k presented by MARTIN'S. Over 1600 10k participants are using their race to fight cancer right here in Richmond through the Massey Challenge sponsored by Anthem.
Read Burns' story, learn more or donate at www.run4massey.org.
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Breast imaging: why screening is vital
Tuesday, April 5
5:30 PM to 6:30 PM at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
Dr. Gilda Cardenosa, medical director of VCU Breast Imaging, will discuss mammography, MRI screenings and breast imaging.
Contact Katherine Poarch at (804) 828-0123 to register for this free seminar.
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Massey Alliance at the 17th Street Farmers' Market
Tuesday, April 19
Focused on cancer prevention through nutrition, fitness and healthy living, the Massey Alliance is offering two programs throughout the 2011 market season. Learn more about the program at this volunteer training session.
For information, contact Stephanie Jenks at sjenks@vcu.edu or (804) 827-0642.
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Free oral, head & neck cancer screenings
Thursday, May 12, from
12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at the Dalton Oncology Clinic and at the Nelson Otolaryngology Clinic
The Department of Otolaryngology will hold two screenings for oral, head and neck cancer on the MCV Campus. The screenings are free but registration is required.
Contact Denese Straughn at (804) 828-3966 for details.
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Colonial Heights Kiwanis Club 30th annual golf tournament
Thursday, May 12
For information, contact Stephanie Jenks at sjenks@vcu.edu or (804) 827-0642.
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2nd Annual Secret Garden Party
Thursday, May 12
5:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Becky's Healing Garden at VCU Massey is one of the featured gardens.
Visit the Historic Richmond website to buy tickets. For more details, contact Stephanie Jenks at sjenks@vcu.edu or (804) 827-0642.
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Lovern & Friends golf tournament
Monday, May 16
For more information, contact Sue Acri at esacri@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1452.
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Moonlight Magic
Friday, June 10 from 6:30 PM to 10:00 PM at James River Cellars
Join the Massey Alliance at the 9th annual event presented by Gilbane. Enjoy wine tastings and beer, gourmet food, the lively music of Flat Elvis and a fantastic silent auction all to support cancer research.
Visit the Moonlight Magic website for details and to buy tickets.
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Free seminar: Advanced
treatments for gynecologic cancers
Tuesday, June 28
5:30 PM to 6:30 PM at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
Dr. Cecelia Boardman will discuss advanced treatments for gynecologic cancers involving the da Vinci robotic surgical system.
To register, contact Katherine Poarch at (804) 828-0123.
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| Volume 4, Issue 3 |
March 2011 |
JOIN MASSEY IN CELEBRATING CANCER CONTROL MONTH |
April is National Cancer Control Month and there is much to celebrate. According to the recent Cancer Trends Progress Report compiled by the National Cancer Institute:
* Death rates for all cancers combined continue to decline.
* The overall rate of cancer incidence (number of new cancers) has declined since the early 2000s, despite a troubling increase in the incidence rates of some cancers including melanoma of the skin, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and childhood cancer.
* Length of cancer survival has increased for all cancers combined.
Massey researchers contribute to this progress, in part by investigating how to prevent cancer, how best to control cancer and how to treat cancer with the least possible harm.
Medical advances enhance quality of life for cancer patients
New treatments are being developed that enable people to manage their cancer and continue to lead productive lives. One of the many great examples is the development of accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) for breast cancer. Massey's Dr. Doug Arthur helped pioneer this treatment. Now, what was once a 45-day breast cancer treatment can be delivered in five days. This improvement made a big difference for patient Micky Hale Smith. Read Micky's story.
Dr. Arthur is working with colleagues to continue refining the therapy. Dr. Laurie Cuttino is one of those colleagues. They are the first in the nation to test and use a device called the Contura multilumen balloon.
"The Contura device is designed to increase access to a form of radiation therapy known as brachytherapy," says Dr. Cuttino. "Brachytherapy uses a small, radioactive pellet placed in one or more tubes inserted into the affected region of the breast, and is used frequently for accelerated partial breast irradiation."
However, for approximately 30 percent of women, air pockets and fluid in or around the surgical cavity prevent the use of balloon-based brachytherapy. The Contura device works by using suction to remove air or fluid, and then expands a balloon to conform to the surgical cavity. This device also delivers less radiation to the skin and rib cage.
"All of these advancements are translating to shorter treatment times, less side effects and greater breast conservation -- all outcomes that significantly impact patients' quality of life during and after treatment," says Cuttino. Review the studies
Discoveries hold promise for previously untreatable cancers
New research is finding therapies for cancers for which effective treatments did not previously exist. For instance, Massey researchers have discovered a novel mechanism in gene regulation that contributes to the development of a form of liver cancer called hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Currently, there is virtually no effective treatment for HCC, and this breakthrough by Drs. Devanand Sarkar and Paul Fisher and colleagues identifies a promising new target for therapeutic intervention. The study was recently published in Hepatology and the goal is to move these findings to Phase I clinical trials for patients with liver cancer. Read more >>
Advances in cancer prevention and control improve patient outcomes
Massey is a national leader in cancer prevention and control research. Groundbreaking work by Massey scientists are proving that better doctor-patient communications and patient education improve patients' ability to prevent or survive cancer by changing their behaviors.
For example, the impact of teaching family health history as a tool to prevent breast and colon cancer is under examination by Dr. Joann Bodurtha. "Family health history is among the strongest predictors of cancer and is the most powerful screen for genetic cancer risk," she says. "By studying the effects of teaching women how to discover their family health history, we can learn whether their new knowledge changes their behaviors and reduces their risk for cancer."
By embedding health messages in audio narratives, Dr. May Kennedy is testing whether an entertainment education approach better promotes breast and colorectal cancer screening among African American women over 50 years of age. She believes the project will provide insight that can help improve prevention communication and ultimately reduce the current disparities in cancer screenings.
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COMFORT AND SUPPORT FOR CANCER PATIENTS | |
Radiation oncology clinic now more family-friendly
The radiation oncology clinic at VCU Massey Cancer Center is now more family-friendly with the opening of a waiting and recovery room designed for and dedicated to pediatric cancer patients and their families. Named Reese's Room in honor of former Massey pediatric brain cancer patient Reese Klauer, the room was made possible through generous donations from the ReeseStrong Foundation and local residents, businesses and charities.
Vibrantly decorated and outfitted with kid-sized furniture, toys, coloring books and children's movies, Reese's Room offers pediatric cancer patients and their families a private area where they can wait for and recover from radiation treatments away from the hustle and bustle of the adult waiting room. Read more >>
Cancer support groups
- Massey's Leukemia and Lymphoma Support Group for patients, families and friends affected by blood-related cancers is held at the VCU Massey Cancer Center at Stony Point on the fourth Tuesday of every month, from 7 PM to 8:30 PM. Call 559-1841 for more details and to register.
- The Breast Cancer Bosom Buddies support group is provided by VCU Massey Cancer Center at Hanover Medical Park and is held on the second Monday of every month from 6 PM to 7:30 PM. This group is for women in every stage of breast cancer from diagnosis to survivorship. Phone Mila Schimpf at 559-1839 for location and details.
- A support group for anyone with cancer and their families is provided by VCU Massey Cancer Center at Hanover Medical Park. Contact Karen Mullin at 559-1841 for dates and details.
These support groups are free and open to all cancer patients, whether or not they have been treated at Massey. Please call to confirm time and location, as these meetings are subject to change to best suit the needs of attendees.
Look Good...Feel Better workshops
Look Good...Feel Better (LGFB) programs are provided by the American Cancer Society for women and men. The workshops offer practical guidelines to help deal with some of the side effects of cancer treatment -- skin changes, hair loss, stress, and other issues. In particular, the women's program teaches beauty techniques that combat the appearance-related side effects of cancer.
The next LGFB workshop is sponsored by Massey and will be held April 4 from 1 PM to 3 PM in the Sheltering Arms Conference Room at Hanover Medical Park in Mechanicsville. Contact Karen Mullin at (804) 559-1841 for details and to register. These workshops are free, but registration is required. Patients should be undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatments, or recently finished with their treatments, to participate.
The LGFB workshops are held each month, but the location and meeting time alternate monthly. Future programs will be held at Massey's downtown Richmond location on the MCV Campus from 10 AM to 12 PM on May 16, September 12 and November 21, 2011.
Programs will be held from 1 PM to 3 PM in the Sheltering Arms Conference Room at Hanover Medical Park in Mechanicsville on June 6, August 8, October 10, and December 5, 2011.
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__________________________________
Momentum is published by VCU Massey Cancer Center.
David Raine, Jr. Communications Coordinator dlraine@vcu.edu 804-628-1829
If you have questions about cancer, cancer treatments or survivorship, please ASK MASSEY.
To learn more about VCU Massey Cancer Center, please visit our Web site at www.massey.vcu.edu. |
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