Posts Tagged ‘sarcoma cancer’
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 »
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 »
CHILDHOOD CANCER ACTION DAYS WASHINGTON, D.C. MAY 16-17, 2016 Join us on May 16-17 You’re invited to join the Sarcoma Foundation of America and the Alliance for Childhood Cancer for the 5th Annual Childhood Cancer Action Days. This two-day event in Washington brings our community together to advocate for important childhood cancer issues currently before Congress. Your Voice Matters: A strong showing of advocates at Action Days 2016 is more crucial than ever, as we anticipate the Childhood Cancer STAR Act will be at a critical point in the legislative process. Sharing your story in Washington this spring will help us tip… Read More »
The White House today released a fact sheet outlining the focus of the newly formed Cancer Moonshot Task Force. Highlights of the new initiative include support for funding increases for cancer-related activities at the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration, as well as a focus on activities such as pursuing genomic analysis of tumors and efforts to discover immunotherapies and combination therapies. Please make your voice heard during this process. Share your story and how you have been impacted by sarcoma with the Vice President and the Cancer Moonshot Task Force. THE WHITE HOUSE… Read More »
In President Obama’s final State of the Union Address, he announced a new initiative focused on finding the cure for cancer. “Last year, Vice President Biden said that with a new moonshot, America can cure cancer. Last month, he worked with this Congress to give scientists at the National Institutes of Health the strongest resources they’ve had in over a decade. Tonight, I’m announcing a new national effort to get it done. And because he’s gone to the mat for all of us, on so many issues over the past forty years, I’m putting Joe in charge of Mission Control. … Read More »
-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 »
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 »
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 »
Did you know that sarcomas represent 1% of all cancers but 15% of all childhood cancers? September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. For many children that means back to school and all the excitement it brings. But instead of worrying about new clothes and school supplies, children fighting sarcoma are dealing with terrifying visits to the hospital for surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatments. You can help change that! Your contribution to the Sarcoma Foundation of America (SFA) will provide hope to a young boy like Damon, whose doctors discovered osteosarcoma in his left arm when he was just 9… Read More »