Author Archive
SFA and sarcoma awareness were recognized during the December 5 National Football League My Cause My Cleats campaign. Through this campaign, players have the opportunity to pick a cause that is important to them and represent their chosen organization on custom designed cleats. SFA thanks John Franklin-Myers, New York Jets, Tim Patrick, Denver Broncos, and Trent Williams, San Francisco 49ers for using their platform and their personal sarcoma connection to shine a light on the sarcoma community.
The next round of grant funding is opening November 1. SFA is the largest private funder of research in the sarcoma community and these grants are important to advancing new therapies for sarcoma patients. Thank you to everyone who has donated to this grant program or participated in our Race to Cure Sarcoma events. It is because of you that we are able to support sarcoma research and patients. Learn More Now
— Williams to receive organization’s Courage Award at virtual ceremony September 28 — WASHINGTON, D.C.; SEPTEMBER 27, 2021 — The Sarcoma Foundation of America announced today that San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Trent Williams will receive the organization’s 2021 Courage Award as well as serve as a Sarcoma Foundation Ambassador. In this role, the organization looks forward to Trent discussing his own experience with sarcoma — including surgery to remove the tumor from the soft tissues near his brain — as well as his recovery and return to NFL football. “Sarcoma is the rarest and most underfunded… Read More »
By Brandi Felser, CEO Advocating on behalf of those impacted by sarcoma has been a core principle of the Sarcoma Foundation of America’s mission since the organization was founded in 2001. The SFA continues to be actively engaged in the public policy arena, urging legislators and regulators to place a high priority on rare cancer research, drug development, and access to quality patient care. We are also actively engaged in coalitions like the Alliance for Childhood Cancer, the Cancer Leadership Council, One Voice Against Cancer and many others where we actively engage in advocacy letters to Members, action items and… Read More »
SFA would like to hear from you! What are the greatest needs in the sarcoma community and what should the priorities be for 2021: more education; increased information about clinical trials; greater opportunity to come together for advocacy? Let us know by completing this survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TRHQPVM
SFA joined a broad spectrum of organizations representing laboratory, translational, and clinical researchers; other health care professionals; patients with cancer; and patient advocates in sending a letter to the Biden administration and other public health officials that highlights the importance of prioritizing patients with active cancer and survivors of cancer when administering COVID-19 vaccines. http://bit.ly/2OEkvVW
SFA is proud to have once again received a 4-star rating on Charity Navigator – its highest score. Their ratings help donors make informed giving decisions and enable well-run charities to demonstrate their commitment to proper stewardship of contributions.
It has been over 2,000 days since a doctor told my wife Melissa she had synovial sarcoma. It has been over 1,400 days since her fight ended and my life and our kids’ lives changed in a way I never thought would happen. Melissa inspired me to live life large! To fight like hell for others and most importantly, to make a difference in our lives and to show the boys that we help others- no matter what our struggles are, someone else’s is always greater! Senator Johnson first met Melissa and I on February 28, 2017. He gave us… Read More »
A sarcoma diagnosis doesn’t only affect the patient, but also close friends and family members. Here are some helpful tips for those caring for sarcoma patients.
By Brandi Felser, Executive Director In January of this year I wrote a blog post reflecting on my first days at the Sarcoma Foundation of America (SFA) engaging with the sarcoma community. I wrote at the time about the impression the advocates made on me as I heard the stories they shared at the December 2019 FDA Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee meeting. I wrote then: As someone personally affected by cancer and a seasoned cancer advocate, I am no stranger to the needs of cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers. But seeing them stand before a committee of oncologists and FDA… Read More »
The FDA recently granted orphan drug status to CPI-613 (devimistat) for the treatment of soft tissue sarcoma. The maker, Rafael Pharmaceuticals, launched a phase 1/2 clinical for patients with relapsed/refractory soft tissue sarcoma. Read more about it here
The Sarcoma Foundation of America (SFA) is pleased to announce a research funding opportunity to provide one-year grants in the amount of $50,000, to support translational science research on the etiology, molecular biology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of human sarcomas. Grant awards for the 2021 cycle will be made on June 1, 2021. Click here for details and guidelines
The results of our 2017 Children’s Sarcoma Artwork Contest are in and it’s a tie! Congratulations to both Alli and Ellie, 11-year-old twins. They created their pieces in memory of their beloved brother, Brice. Brice passed away from Epithelioid Sarcoma. Alli’s artwork will be featured on the SFA’s 2017 holiday card. Ellie’s work will be used for new SFA note cards. Both Alli and Ellie’s artwork is now featured in our SFA shop! Visit http://www.cafepress.com/curesarcoma and click on the “Children’s Artwork” tab to see the newest merchandise with Alli and Ellie’s designs. Thank you again to everyone who submitted their art. All… Read More »
Sarcoma medical oncologist Laurence H. Baker, DO (@LaurenceBaker2), will answer your questions on drug development during a 45-minute tweet chat on Thursday, September 24, at 9 pm (EST). Dr. Baker is a professor of internal medicine and pharmacology at the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor. He has served as director for clinical research and hematology/oncology at UM’s Comprehensive Cancer Center; chairman of the Southwest Oncology Group, the largest clinical trials organization in the United States; executive director of the Sarcoma Alliance for Research through Collaboration, a national cooperative group that runs sarcoma clinical trials; and president of the… Read More »
American Income Life Supports Sarcoma Foundation Donations will help fund research and education POMPANO BEACH, FL SEPTEMBER 11, 2015 — American Income Life Insurance Company, headquartered in Waco, TX, in partnership with State General Agents Tom Williams and David Zophin, donated $10,000 to the Sarcoma Foundation of America (South Florida Chapter) as part of the Company’s Closer to the Heart program of charitable giving. Tom Williams, State General Agent of the Williams-Zophin Agency, representing American Income Life in the south Florida region, presented the donation to Bert Thomas, CEO of Sarcoma Foundation of America at Williams-Zophin’s main office in Pompano… Read More »
DEC. 22, 2014 – ANN ARBOR, MICH. – Focused on their mission to identify new treatments for sarcoma, an uncommon cancer, SARC has leveraged a generous donation to secure the support of the Sarcoma Foundation of America (SFA) and the What Would Willie Want Foundation (QuadW) in a collaborative effort to support a new multi-institutional clinical trial of an anti-PD1 agent. The company who is providing their drug and support for the study of soft tissue sarcoma agreed to provide their drug to study bone sarcomas if additional funding could be secured. SARC secured generous commitments from the Sarcoma Foundation… Read More »
By guest blogger, Jamie Schou In January 2012, after experiencing some soreness in my ribs, I went to my chiropractor for an adjustment. He was working on my back when he noticed a large mass. After an unsuccessful surgery at a local hospital – the surgeon thought the mass was a Lipoma – and lots of searching, in March of 2012 we found an orthopedic surgeon who determined the mass was a Synovial Sarcoma. I went down the usual path – chemo, radiation and surgery. The sugery was a 16 hour ordeal. The tumor was deep in my muscle,… Read More »