Sarcoma Foundation of America to Honor Lilly Oncology for Advancements in the Treatment of Soft Tissue Sarcoma
– Vision of Hope Award to be presented at the SFA’s 15th Annual Fundraising Gala – DAMASCUS, Md. – April 10, 2017– The Sarcoma Foundation of America (SFA), an organization dedicated to increased research funding and advocacy for sarcoma, is pleased to announce that Lilly Oncology is the 2017 recipient of the Vision of Hope Award. Lilly Oncology will be honored at the SFA’s 15th Annual New York fundraising gala, “A Celebration of Life.” The event will take place on April 20, 2017, at Guastavino’s, 409 E 59th Street, New York, NY. The Vision of Hope Award is presented… Read More »
Rare Disease Day 2017
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 »
2016 – A Year of Hope and Progress
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 »
Hope Through Advocacy and Policy
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 »
Medical Innovation Provides Hope to Pediatric Sarcoma Patients
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 »
Honor the Kids and Teens Fighting Sarcoma Today
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 »
Denver City Council President Albus Brooks to Serve as Chair for the Inaugural RTCS Denver
— 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 »
Sarcoma Foundation of America Announces 2016 Research Grant Awards
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 »
Kids Can Help
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 »
Sarcoma Foundation of America to Present John H. Healey, MD, with the Nobility in Science Award
– 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 »
Thank You
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 »
Sarcoma Foundation of America Applauds FDA Approval of Yondelis
-Drug Approved for Use in Treatment of Advanced Liposarcoma and Leiomyosarcoma- DAMASCUS, Md. – October 23, 2015 – The Sarcoma Foundation of America (SFA) applauds the announcement by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that the drug Yondelis (trabectedin, marketed by Janssen) has been approved by the agency for the treatment of advanced liposarcoma and leiomyosarcoma, two subtypes of soft tissue sarcoma. Yondelis has received approval for the use in the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic liposarcoma and leiomyosarcoma who have previously received an anthracycline chemotherapy. “The Sarcoma Foundation of America is thrilled with the FDA’s decision to approve… Read More »
Sarcoma Foundation of America Initiates Sarcoma Tumor Genotyping Program
DAMASCUS, Md. – September 30, 2015 – The Sarcoma Foundation of America (SFA), an organization dedicated to increased research and awareness for sarcoma, a rare cancer of the connective tissue, today announced that it has initiated a fundraising campaign to support the genotyping of sarcoma patient tumors in collaboration with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). Tumor genotyping is the process by which a sample of the patient’s tumor is evaluated for genetic abnormalities that may drive healthy cells to become tumor cells, creating a growing tumor. If the tumor genotyping identifies a genetic abnormality that is potentially treatable by an… Read More »
September Warrior – Mikey
Michael “Mikey” Jeffrey Friedman 3/27/89-10/5/08 When Mikey was born I used to tell how lucky he was because he had so many people to love him. His older brothers, Brian and Peter, helped guide him through his first years of school, camp, friends, playing Little League, skiing, swimming, tennis, video games and more. But two days after his 15th birthday, Mikey would be leading us on an entirely new adventure, pediatric cancer. As most families, we never gave much thought to childhood cancer until we were thrust into the ugly beast. Michael was diagnosed with DSRCT, a rare and aggressive… Read More »
Sarcoma Foundation of America Awarded Prestigious 4-Star Rating from Charity Navigator
DAMASCUS, Md. – June 23, 2015 – The Sarcoma Foundation of America (SFA) has been awarded the coveted 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator, for sound fiscal management practices and a commitment to accountability and transparency. A 4-star rating means that the organization exceeds industry standards and outperforms most charities in its cause area. “The Sarcoma Foundation of America is proud to have received a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator,” said SFA Chief Executive Officer Bert E. Thomas IV, PhD. “We take seriously the responsibility that we have to our donors and we work very hard to… Read More »
Sarcoma Foundation of America Announces 2015 Research Grant Awards
SARCOMA FOUNDATION OF AMERICA ANNOUNCES 2015 RESEARCH GRANT AWARDS DAMASCUS, Md. – May 28, 2015 – The Sarcoma Foundation of America (SFA), an organization dedicated to increased awareness and research for sarcoma, today announced that it has awarded $500,000 in research funds to deserving scientists at institutions across the United States as part of its 2015 SFA Research Grant program. Ten 2015 SFA 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… Read More »
SFA Announces 13th Annual Fundraising Gala
SARCOMA FOUNDATION OF AMERICA ANNOUNCES 13TH ANNUAL FUNDRAISING GALA – “A Celebration of Life” -Richard Gorlick, MD, among the honorees at the cancer charity event to be held at the magnificent Capitale located at 130 Bowery, New York, NY- DAMASCUS, Md. – April 7, 2015 – On Thursday, April 30, 2015, generous hearts from all over will join the Sarcoma Foundation of America (SFA) at “A Celebration of Life” to raise money to continue funding innovative research for patients with sarcoma. At the gala, Richard Gorlick, MD, of the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore and SFA Medical Advisory Board, will be… Read More »
Wednesday Warrior – Alex
At a young age of 5, Alex began playing soccer. He had the energy to run from one side of the field back to the next side of the field. He was not one the coach sat on the sideline to rest. He’d take a quick water break, wave at mom, and go back to the game every time. He played soccer for three years without complaint of being doubled played. However, his extreme love for football made him decide soccer just wasn’t as fun to him as football had become. With the season changing, the sport changed; following soccer… Read More »
Wednesday Warrior – Colton
Colton, now 11, was diagnosed on November 27, 2012, at the age of 9 with Ewing’s Sarcoma. He had a knot come up on his left ankle three months before while playing football. He was not in pain, didn’t have a fever, etc. I had noticed that the knot was getting larger one night after football practice, so I decided to call his foot and ankle doctor the next morning for appointment as Colton had prior feet problems. A day later he scheduled a MRI and CT, but no blood work. After endless negative results, the doctor decided to cut the… Read More »
September Warrior – Rheann
Rheann Almost two years ago Rheann, my youngest daughter (she was 4 at the time), was diagnosed with undifferentiated sarcoma of the brain. The doctors gave her six rounds of chemo and started her on radiation and she was doing great until her relapse in April 2013. The doctors didn’t have much hope as her cancer had spread down her spine and to the other side of her brain. She was re-diagnosed as Mucoid Spindle Sarcoma of the brain. We were told to plan her services and to get everything ready because she wouldn’t make it through the year. After changing… Read More »
Poul HB Sorensen, MD, PhD
Dr. Poul Sorensen is a board certified anatomic pathologist, specializing in the molecular pathology of pediatric cancers. He undertook his undergraduate, medical, and PhD degrees at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and McGill University, Montreal. He completed postdoctoral training at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California, after his Pathology training. He then returned to Vancouver to start his own laboratory at Children’s and Women’s Hospital in Vancouver. Dr. Sorensen holds the Asa and Kashmir Johal Endowed Chair in Childhood Cancer Research, and he is Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at… Read More »
What is Sarcoma?
Sarcoma is a rare cancer in adults (1% of all adult cancers), but rather prevalent in children (about 20% of all childhood cancers). It is made up of many “subtypes” because it can arise from a variety of tissue structures (nerves, muscles, joints, bone, fat, blood vessels – collectively referred to as the body’s “connective tissues”). Because these tissues are found everywhere on the body, Sarcomas can arise anywhere. Thus, within each site of the more “common” cancers there is the occasional surprise sarcoma diagnosis (e.g., breast sarcoma, stomach sarcoma, lung sarcoma, ovarian sarcoma, etc.). The most frequent location are… Read More »
Earning our Gold Ribbons
Guest blogger Judith Hannan has been a writer for over 25 years. She is the author of Motherhood Exaggerated (CavanKerry Press, 2012), her memoir of discovery and transformation during her daughter’s sarcoma cancer treatment and her transition into survival. Ms. Hannan’s daughter Nadia was presented with the SFA Courage Award at the SFA Annual Gala in 2010. She is a featured speaker, a teacher of writing about personal experience to homeless mothers and at-risk adolescents and we are pleased that she has agreed to share her insights about her journey and beyond through a blog series. ————– It’s September, time… Read More »
Thank You!
As we quickly approach the end of 2012, we at the Sarcoma Foundation of America (SFA) would like to take a moment to reflect on some of the major accomplishments achieved over the past year. These successes are possible because of you! Because of the wonderful contributions made by SFA supporters like you, we are able to move more rapidly toward our shared goal – eradicating sarcoma. Earlier this week, Mark Thornton, President of the SFA Board of Directors, sent a letter to SFA members and donors thanking them for the role that they played in the successes that the… Read More »
Identification of causative mutations for Ewing sarcoma
Ewing sarcoma is the second most common form of bone childhood cancer, and its genetic hallmark is an aberrant fusion gene known as EWS/FLI1. It is unclear whether the expression of EWS/FLI1 alone is sufficient, or additional mutations are required for malignant transformation. Identifying the common mutations among Ewing sarcoma cells is a significant process for patient treatment because of the following reasons: i) mutations can be utilized as biomarkers and ii) chemical compounds that target the mutations are strong candidates for treatment. Tumor cells are not suitable for identifying the causative mutations because additional mutations are already accumulated. And… Read More »