Author Archive
Today’s post was written by Bert E. Thomas IV, PhD, MBA, CEO of the Sarcoma Foundation of America. Two years ago, I wrote a blog post in honor of Rare Disease Day. Entitled, “Shedding Light on the Forgotten Cancer,” it was a piece meant to raise awareness for a little known disease on a day designed to bring attention to a community of patients that are so often overlooked. It seems appropriate to share that post again as we are near Rare Disease Day 2017. On the last day of February, the rare disease community will collectively join voices and… Read More »
Today’s post was written by Bert E. Thomas IV, PhD, MBA, CEO of the Sarcoma Foundation of America. There was a long period of time where there seemed to be little to no progress in finding ways to battle the forgotten cancer known as sarcoma. This period of time lasted for decades, though it probably felt more like centuries to the patients and families that were desperately looking for treatment options that never seemed to come. And while sarcoma still takes too many of our loved ones from us, progress in our fight against this terrible disease is finally being… Read More »
Dear Sarcoma Foundation of America Supporter, As the calendar takes us into the holiday season, we take the time to reflect on the year that has passed. In the sarcoma community, 2016 has been a year of hope and progress. Two new sarcoma drugs have been approved, one drug for Leiomyosarcoma and Liposarcoma patients and another approved broadly for Soft Tissue Sarcoma patients. These new therapeutic options give us continued hope for better patient outcomes and represent the progress that sarcoma researchers have made over the last decade. The type of hope and progress that the sarcoma community experienced in… Read More »
The Sarcoma Foundation of America recently launched a new Public Service Announcement (PSA) campaign. The campaign, named “Sarcoma is Cancer,” is designed to educate a broader audience about sarcoma, introducing many listeners to this rare cancer for the very first time. These PSAs have already begun airing on radio stations across the United States, with more stations slated to run the ads before the end of the year. Listen to the PSAs: “Sarcoma is Cancer” 60 Second PSA “Sarcoma is Cancer” 30 Second PSA The PSAs are also available at www.curesarcoma.org/sfa-in-the-news/. You can be a part of the effort to raise… Read More »
Today’s post was written by Bert E. Thomas IV, PhD, MBA, CEO of the Sarcoma Foundation of America. As I write my last blog for the year, I can’t help but to think about the time of year and what it means for everyone. The Holiday Season is a time of hope and renewal, a time to spend with family and friends, and time to celebrate the special moments and accomplishments of the year. It is also a time to embrace the hope and excitement of the new year. With that said, I’d like to share with you the outcomes of… Read More »
UPDATE 12/9/2016: Thank you to all of the advocates who reached out to their Senators to urge passage of the STAR Act. Unfortunately, a vote in the Senate will not take place this year. This is not the end, as the effort will begin again in 2017. UPDATE: On December 6, 2016, the US House of Representatives passed the STAR Act. Now the US Senate must act before they adjourn at the end of this week! We need your help to make this happen. You can take action by: Calling your Senator and asking them to pass the STAR… Read More »
The Sarcoma Foundation of America (SFA) is joining with other cancer advocacy organizations through the One Voice Against Cancer (OVAC) alliance for a Twitter action day on Tuesday, December 6. The point of this action day is to urge Members of Congress to include the Cancer Moonshot funding provided from the 21st Century Cures Act in a FY 2017 Continuing Resolution (CR). It is critical that we make every effort to ensure that the funds for the Cancer Moonshot are included in the CR so that the research proposals in the Blue Ribbon Panel report can be funded without further delay. We… Read More »
Today’s post was written by Bert E. Thomas IV, PhD, MBA, CEO of the Sarcoma Foundation of America. In honor of Thanksgiving, I would like to take a moment to share my heartfelt thoughts of gratitude. I know that I speak for all of the staff at the Sarcoma Foundation of America with this list of thanks. Our work to find the cure in our time is inspired by the sarcoma community and is accomplished thanks to the help we receive from those who share the same goal of improving the lives of those touched by sarcoma. Thank you to… The… Read More »
Today’s post was written by Bert E. Thomas IV, PhD, MBA, CEO of the Sarcoma Foundation of America. At the heart of the Sarcoma Foundation of America’s (SFA) mission is research. The needs of the sarcoma community are many – the need for more awareness, more education, and more resources is unquestionable. And while the SFA places a high priority on those needs, we know that one of the greatest needs of all is for increased research. Nothing will ultimately change for sarcoma patients and their families without increased and sustained research. This means that we advocate for increased federal funds… Read More »
Today’s post was written by Bert E. Thomas IV, PhD, MBA, CEO of the Sarcoma Foundation of America. As I write this blog, we find ourselves in the midst of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, a time to educate the public about the realities of childhood cancer and to draw attention to the need for more pediatric cancer research. For the Sarcoma Foundation of America, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is also a time to remind everyone that sarcomas are not just a cancer of adults, but also of children and young adults. Sarcomas account for 15 – 20% of all childhood cancers, a… Read More »
September means back to school for many. For us at the Sarcoma Foundation of America (SFA), it also means bringing awareness to the kids and teens fighting Sarcoma. You see, September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Did you know that TWENTY percent of all pediatric cancers are Sarcomas? Children fighting Sarcoma are dealing with terrifying visits to the hospital for surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Your gifts to the Sarcoma Foundation of America will provide hope to kids like: the toddler diagnosed with rhabdomyosaroma when their milestones should be learning to walk–and run. the school-aged child that has a pain… Read More »
Today’s post was written by Bert E. Thomas IV, PhD, MBA, CEO of the Sarcoma Foundation of America. Hope and Help is my patient advocacy motto. I believe that one can characterize patient advocacy efforts into two buckets: activities focused on Hope and activities focused on Help. Hope for finding a cure and Help with the patient journey. Historically patients had the smallest voice in terms of advocacy, but that is not the case anymore. The accomplishment of the patient advocacy community in raising the impact and importance of the patient voice is a testament to how a group of people… Read More »
— 5K Event to Raise Awareness and Funds for Sarcoma Research — DAMASCUS, Md. – August 19, 2016— Sarcoma survivor and Denver City Council President Albus Brooks will serve as the Chairperson of the inaugural Race to Cure Sarcoma Denver. The charity 5K run/walk will benefit the Sarcoma Foundation of America (SFA) and the University of Colorado Cancer Center. Brooks was diagnosed in July with Chondrosarcoma, a subtype of sarcoma. Sarcoma is a rare cancer of bone and soft tissue. It is rather rare in adults, comprising only 1 percent of all adult cancers, but accounts for 15 percent of… Read More »
Today’s post comes to us from Brendan Locke. Brendan’s wife Melissa was diagnosed with sarcoma in January 2016. Since that time, her disease has been at the forefront of their lives. As you might imagine, Brendan has made it his mission to see that she receives the best treatment possible. He has also made advocacy and sarcoma awareness a significant priority, working not only to improve things for Melissa, but also to serve as a voice for the greater good. Brendan recently wrote to Vice President Joe Biden, the force behind the Cancer Moonshot initiative, to share Melissa’s story and bring attention to the needs… Read More »
Today’s blog post was written by Halle, an 11-year-old sarcoma advocate. Halle, inspired by her mother’s experience with sarcoma, has become active in sarcoma advocacy and fundraising. Not only has she traveled to Washington, DC, to speak to Members of Congress, she also coordinated a fundraiser at her elementary school. We have no doubt that you will be as impressed and inspired by Halle as we have been. I am 11 years old and I am going into middle school next year. I have always known my Mom had cancer. My Mom got cancer in her foot when she was pregnant with me. … Read More »
On behalf of everyone at the Sarcoma Foundation of America (SFA),THANK YOU! The Celebration of Life drew in over 350 individuals from the across the New York region and raised over $550,000! “A Celebration of Life” honored those who have battled sarcoma, as well as those who have dedicated their lives and careers to the treatment of sarcoma patients. At this year’s 14th Annual Fundraising event, we honored John H. Healey, MD, FACS, with the Sarcoma Foundation of America’s Nobility in Science Award, and Advaxis Immunotherapies™ for their work to advance an immunotherapy platform to fight osteosarcoma in pediatric patients. We… Read More »
DAMASCUS, Md. – June 2, 2016 – The Sarcoma Foundation of America (SFA), an organization dedicated to increased awareness and research for sarcoma, today announced that it has awarded $400,000 in research funds to deserving scientists at institutions across the United States as part of its 2016 SFA Research Grant program. Eight research grants, each worth $50,000, have been awarded to researchers who have made it their mission to study sarcoma, a rare cancer that arises in the body’s connective tissue. All proposals are peer reviewed by the SFA Medical Advisory Board who award the grants to the best, most promising… Read More »
Today’s post was written by Bert E. Thomas IV, PhD, MBA, CEO of the Sarcoma Foundation of America. Over the past few weeks we’ve seen the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) make decisions regarding some investigational therapies for sarcoma. In that time, one investigational new drug received priority review status, which cuts the drug review period from 10 months to six months. Another was given fast track designation. This designation is also intended to expedited the review process for “serious conditions with unmet medical need.” Certainly sarcoma falls into that category. The Sarcoma Foundation of America (SFA) has long been… Read More »
In 2010, Jonathan Yip was diagnosed with osteosarcoma after returning from a carefree summer in China. Taking time off from his studies at Harvard, Jonathan underwent chemotherapy and surgery over the course of the next 10 months. At the end of his treatment, thanks to the dedication and expertise of his team at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, including Dr. John Healey and Jody Roth, RN, Jonathan emerged cancer free and leg intact. A week after chemotherapy ended, bald and with a cane, Jonathan went to Washington, DC to intern at the White House National Economic Council, where he… Read More »
Bonnie Newman was 19 years old when she was diagnosed with cancer for the first time. A semester in school was delayed for treatment, but she eventually graduated from college and spent the following summer on a backpacking adventure through Europe with her twin sister. The second time she was diagnosed, Bonnie was a new hire at a large Wall Street firm and the youngest woman accepted into their Broker/Financial Advisors training program. Only 6 weeks into her new position, she found out her cancer had returned and spread. After surgery, chemotherapy, and a long recovery, she returned… Read More »
Nathan Greenberg was just 21 years old, captain of the Union College Men’s lacrosse team, and eager to head into his senior year of college. At this moment in his life, Nathan had everything figured out and was looking forward to one final summer of fun before the real world. However, one week before he headed back for his senior year, he was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma in his left hip. After two surgeries, 13 rounds of chemotherapy, and countless trips to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Nathan was able to complete his treatment. Because of his positive and… Read More »
Today’s blog was written by Caleigh H. during her time at the SFA office for “Take Your Child to Work Day.” Caleigh, a 2nd grader, is the daughter of Lori Hoffman, SFA’s Senior Manager of Public Policy and External Affairs. Even though she is only 7 years old, Caleigh already understands how devastating sarcoma is, especially since it often impacts children like her. This is why she has taken an interest in helping and has even staffed the SFA booth at CureFest for Childhood Cancer, an event dedicated to raising awareness for childhood cancer. One of her tasks today was to put together a… Read More »
– Healey to be honored at the 14th Annual Fundraising Gala – DAMASCUS, Md. – April 28, 2016 – The Sarcoma Foundation of America (SFA), an organization dedicated to increased research funding and advocacy for sarcoma, is pleased to announce that John H. Healey, MD, FACS, Chief of Orthopaedic Surgery at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, is the 2016 recipient of the Nobility in Science Award. Dr. Healey will be honored at SFA’s 14th Annual New York fundraising gala, “A Celebration of Life.” The event will take place on May 12, 2016, at Guastavino’s, 409 E 59th Street, New York,… Read More »
– John H. Healey, MD, and Advaxis Immunotherapies among the honorees at the “Celebration of Life”- DAMASCUS, Md. – April 14, 2016 – The Sarcoma Foundation of America (SFA) today announced that the 14th Annual SFA New York fundraising gala, “A Celebration of Life,” will take place on May 12, 2016, at Guastavino’s, 409 E 59th Street, New York, NY. The New York event raises money to fund innovative sarcoma research that will lead to the development of new and better therapies for sarcoma patients. “A Celebration of Life” will honor those who have battled sarcoma, as well as… Read More »
Today’s post was written by Bert E. Thomas IV, PhD, CEO of the Sarcoma Foundation of America. Like most in the sarcoma advocacy community, you are probably very well acquainted with July as Sarcoma Awareness Month. You’ve no doubt heard of September being known as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Hopefully you’ve also become familiar with the last day in February being set aside for Rare Disease Day. As you know, each of these campaigns gives us special opportunities to bring awareness to the needs of sarcoma patients, caregivers, and survivors. SFA supporters like you always step up and help us… Read More »