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Issue highlights
Colorectal cancer is preventable and beatable
Live local; give local: Accept the Massey Challenge
Resources for reliable cancer information
Upcoming events

For a full listing of Massey's seminars and events, visit the online events calendar.  
  
Thursday, Feb. 28
Laughs for Massey  


West End Comedy performs at On the Rox to benefit the Massey Challenge.

   

  

Friday, Mar. 8 
Steal the glass: Tap Takeover at Capital Ale House for Massey 

 

Enjoy a beer brewed especially for breast cancer awareness. Proceeds benefit the Massey Challenge.


More information

  

Tuesday, Mar. 26
Palliative care: Easing suffering from serious illness


Massey's Egidio Del Fabbro, M.D., will discuss how palliative care can relieve pain and symptoms and ensure quality of life for individuals and their families facing severe or chronic illness.  

 

More information

 

Wednesday, Apr. 3
Date night for Massey at Arcadia!


Dine with friends to benefit the Massey Challenge.

 

More information

  

Saturday, Apr. 13

HDL, Inc. Massey Challenge

 

Join family, friends and colleagues as they run or walk to raise funds for cancer research at Massey. 

 

More information

 

Issue: 2
March 2013
 
THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT COLORECTAL CANCER

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, a nationwide opportunity to start conversations and spread the message that colorectal cancer is preventable, treatable and beatable.

 

Dr. BouHaidar
Doumit BouHaidar, M.D.
"Colorectal cancer is one of the five most prevalent cancers in the U.S. and a leading cause of cancer death. But it doesn't have to be," says VCU Massey gastroenterologist Doumit S. BouHaidar, M.D. 

"People take their cars in for regular check-ups and they should do the same for their colon. Colorectal cancer is treatable, especially when discovered early. In many cases, it is preventable, because the right screening at the right time can detect warning signs when there is still time to act."

Regular screening can prevent colorectal cancer

 

Screening tests are exams that look for disease when there are no symptoms. Colorectal screening can detect polyps and precancerous growths in the colon and rectum, enabling doctors to remove them before they can to turn into cancer. There are several methods of colorectal screening; talk with your physician about the pros and cons of each test to determine the best choice for you. Learn more.

Multiple sclerosis drug shows promise in treating colorectal cancer

Sarah Spiegel in pink suit
Sarah Spiegel, Ph.D.


After uncovering a mechanism that promotes chronic intestinal inflammation and the development of colorectal cancer, VCU Massey scientists led by Sarah Spiegel, Ph.D., have found that fingolimod, a drug currently approved for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, could potentially eliminate or reduce the progression of colitis-associated cancer. Read more.

Clinical trial tests drug for preventing recurrence of colorectal cancer  

 

A standard treatment for colorectal cancer is to resect (surgically remove) some or all of the colon. But what is the best way to prevent the cancer from recurring? Researchers answer questions like this through clinical trials. In a nationwide trial at VCU Massey, the drug rosuvastatin is being tested to see if it can stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes tumors need for growth. Giving rosuvastatin after surgery may keep polyps from forming and colon cancer from coming back.

  

Learn more about the trials now available at Massey. Search "colon" in the "disease site" field on the clinical trials search page.  

 

ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE

Kaity Kasper is a young, successful Richmond attorney with a penchant for fashion and the color pink. She is also a cancer survivor. This year, Kaity will commemorate her 10 years of survivorship by chairing the Health Diagnostic Laboratory, Inc. Massey Challenge and by aiming to broaden its reach further than ever. By planning more outreach programs and creating a Richmond community-wide fundraising effort, Kasper wants to double the number of participants who accepted last year's Challenge. Learn more.

 

Monument Avenue 10k banner  

As a result of Kaity's efforts, the hard work of the HDL, Inc. Massey Challenge committee and scores of other volunteers, there are even more ways to support cancer research at Massey. You can walk or run in the 10k to raise funds, or you can participate in a growing number of community events at the local restaurants and businesses that are supporting the Challenge. There's something for everyone.  

Don't know about the Challenge?

 

For the eighth year, Massey is the charitable partner of the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k, the fourth largest 10k in the U.S., attracting 40,000 participants. Through the HDL, Inc. Massey Challenge, the Richmond community can help fund crucial cancer research.  

 

Here's how it works:

 

1. Sign up to walk or run in the 10k. (Race registration fees do not benefit VCU Massey.)

 

2. Accept the Challenge and participate as an individual or be part of a team by using our online fundraising tools. If you wish, you can organize your own team with family, friends and coworkers.

 

3. Consider making a personal donation.  

  

Here's why it mattersView video.

 

2013 HDL, Inc. Massey Challenge
ASK MASSEY
Where can I find information that will help me understand my cancer better?

Educational outreach is an important part of VCU Massey's mission. Massey offers two libraries and health education specialists to address patients' informational needs, and works with partners to provide health information in the community.

Patient resource libraries: VCU Massey has developed and staffs two libraries for patient convenience. The Linen-Powell Resource Library is located at the entrance to Massey's Dalton Oncology Clinic on the MCV Campus. The Lois E. Trani Patient Resource Library is located within VCU Massey Cancer Center at Stony Point. Both provide a wide selection of cancer-related information for free. Librarians will assist patients in selecting the most appropriate materials. They will even create individualized packets for specific cancers with information on diagnosis, treatment and coping.

Health Information and Advocacy @ Your Library (HIA): HIA Health information woman provides accurate and reliable health information at public libraries in underserved regions of the state. Health information specialists are on hand at the libraries to help citizens obtain reliable print and digital resources related to their health. The program also hosts a Web site with health-related resources organized by county and library system, and offers health seminars and screening events.

Healthy Living and Learning Center: The Petersburg Healthy Living and Learning Center makes credible health information available in much the same way as the HIA program. Located on the main floor of the Petersburg Central Library, the center is staffed by specially trained librarians and community health educators to help Petersburg residents find appropriate information regarding their health concerns and to connect them to health resources within the community. 
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Momentum is published by VCU Massey Cancer Center.

David Raine, Jr.
Editor
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.