| CALLING ALL ARTISTS! |
In 2005 we invited children of the Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Foundation community to submit drawings of angels. After a significant number of drawings were received, they were reviewed by Pennsylvania pewter artist Jerry Jackson, and one was chosen as the basis for a commemorative angel for the Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
Jackson wanted to donate his services and the angels to support the work of the Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Specific donors received one of the angels as a 'thank-you' for their support.
The photo accompanying this article shows the 2005 angel, designed by Kyla in honor of her Aunt Pam who had been diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer (IBC). Jackson enjoys working from the drawings of children because they see the world in a unique way and are willing to capture their dreams on paper.
Jackson has offered to craft a new angel for the Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Foundation, so we're asking all the children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews of IBC patients/survivors/pathfinders to submit drawings of angels. The drawings should be on standard 8 ½ x 11" white paper in dark pencil or black ink. Be creative, be imaginative, and even whimsical! Let your imagination run wild! Get those kids busy drawing. All drawings will be reviewed and evaluated for creativity and ability to be translated into pewter.
Send all drawings to: IBC Research Foundation, P.O. Box 786, Citronelle, AL 36522. Include the name, age, mailing address, phone number and relationship of the child to the IBC community. We encourage children to submit multiple drawings.
The Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Foundation is honored to benefit once again from Jackson's talent and generosity. In addition to hand crafted angels, Jackson has an extensive line of pewter ornaments, kitchen items, and whimsical castings that are available through craft shows and from the artist.
Click here to read the 2006 article about the ibcRF pewter angel.
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| Upcoming Events |
June 4-8 - American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, McCormick Center, Chicago, IL Click here.
June 11 - Breaking News from ASCO; Teleconference 12:00 pm to 1:15 pm EDT Click here.
June 18 - Cancer Rights Conference; Chicago, IL Click here.
June 22 - Teleconference: Living With, Through & Beyond Cancer, Part III: Survivorship &Workplace Transitions; 1:30-2:30 pm ET Click here.
July 13 - Teleconference: Living With, Through & Beyond Cancer, Part IV: Survivors Too: Communicating With and Among Family, Friends and Loved Ones; 1:30-2:30 pm ET Click here. |
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 Quick Links for IBC Patients and Caregivers
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1-877-STOP-IBC
1-877-786-7422
email:
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A Connection Between Volleyball & Breast Cancer Clinical Trials?
By, Ginny Mason, RN, BSN
Executive Director, ibcRF
In spite of improvements in the treatment of breast cancer there are still those patients with disease that doesn't respond to standard medical treatment. Such patients are left with few, if any, options. They could opt for a clinical trial but most clinical trials compare one chemotherapy regimen to another, perhaps adding a new drug to the mix in hopes of improved progression free survival. Such trials are useful but seldom offer significant benefit to the metastatic patient who has been through numerous treatment regimens.
At last year's ASCO (American Society of Clinical Oncology) meeting, conversation buzzed after the results of the Bisgrove Study were presented. This study "showed that molecular profiling can identify specific treatments that help keep cancer in check for significantly longer periods, and in some cases even shrinking tumors." The cancer community was fueled with a new hope for personalized medicine.
Clinical trials exploring personalized medicine options are expensive and challenging to implement. Enter the Side-Out Foundation (www.side-out.org), a non-profit developed in 2004 by a group of volleyball enthusiasts who also share a passion to stop breast cancer. In a recent conversation Bryant Dunetz, COO of the Side-Out Foundation, shared how Side-Out developed. His wife, Gloria, was dealing with a recurrence of breast cancer and her situation was affecting the whole family. Their son Rick, a high school volleyball coach, was especially concerned about his mother and decided to share her story with the team. In response to the story, the girls doubled their efforts to win; not just for their coach but for Gloria who often came to watch their games. Each inspired the other with hope and courage blossoming. Rick saw the powerful connection between his mother and the team and wanted to bring that to other athletes and cancer patients. He created Side-Out to accomplish that goal.
"Side-Out in volleyball occurs when one team wins a point while its opponent is serving, thereby regaining the serve or control of play. Likewise, in the war against breast cancer, the Side-Out Foundation supports health care professionals in their pursuit of practical solutions for women and men with this dreaded disease, enabling them to regain control of their lives and live them to the fullest. Through its Dig Pink breast cancer awareness rallies at high schools and colleges across the country last October, Side-Out exceeded its $1 million goal by nearly $500,000."
The Side-Out Trial, which opened in February of this year, will enroll 25 patients with metastatic breast cancer. The trial is designed to go the "next step" from the Bisgrove Study and combines molecular profiling with mapping proteomic pathways in tumor tissue. The end result is a report, provided to the treating physician, which will provide treatment recommendations based on the specifics of the patient's tumor tissue. This trial not only identifies the presence or absence of specific known breast cancer biomarkers; but also includes the important proteomic pathways, expanding information about the tumor and potential useful therapies.
The trial is offered via two locations: TGen Clinical Research Services (TCRS) at Scottsdale Healthcare in Scottsdale, AZ; and Fairfax Northern Virginia Hematology Oncology, Fairfax, VA. Caris Life Sciences and George Mason University's Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine (CAPMM) are the two principal laboratories applying their independent technical approaches for the analysis.
Women or men with advanced breast cancer (including inflammatory breast cancer) that has progressed through three prior treatments are eligible for the trial. For specific trial criteria go to ClinicalTrials.gov. For more details about the various partners involved in the project click here. |
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Inflammatory Breast Cancer Awareness
The weather is warming up these days and that signals the start of cancer walks, health fairs, and other opportunities for raising awareness of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC). If there is a scheduled activity in your community, check with the organizers about having a table at the event where you can share brochures and/or bookmarks while educating people about IBC.
Don't forget about our newly designed Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Foundation tee-shirts! They're just the thing to wear at those awareness raising events. Having the symptoms listed clearly on the back of the shirt makes you a "walking educational billboard" and certainly gets people's attention! Click here to order yours today! (Available with or without the symptoms on the back.)
 Our Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Foundation pins are now back in stock. (Go to: www.ibcresearch.org) Choose from the Barksy design featuring an artist rendition of a tumor cell cluster in the loop of the ribbon or one that says "IBC Research" in gold letters. Both are great ways to show your commitment to raising awareness. The Barsky pin is guaranteed to spark questions like "what is that flower on your pin?" or "I've never seen a pink ribbon pin like that, why is it different?" When the questions come, it's your chance to tell your story. Don't forget to give a brochure or bookmark as you answer! (Also available at www.ibcresearch.org)
As you're involved in awareness activities, consider joining the " A Team", our awareness/advocacy e-mail discussion list, and tell folks what you're doing. The "A Team" is a great place to share ideas, encourage one another, and network with others with shared interests. Who knows, you might meet someone on-line and find out you live in the same general area. Local/regional groups have developed when people meet on-line through the e-mail discussion lists.
You never know when you'll have the opportunity to spread the word, so be prepared with brochures/bookmarks and share with the store clerk, hairdresser, your church group, book club, etc. Don't hesitate to contact your local newspaper and television stations, they're usually looking for human interest stories that also educate.
Inflammatory breast cancer awareness isn't just for October!
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