February 4th is World Cancer Day

 

 

Not only is February the National Cancer Awareness Month for the United States, but for February 4^th, we recognize it as World Cancer Day.

            Cancer obviously doesn’t affect just Americans but other countries’ citizens as well. Across the globe we find other treatments, discoveries, and medical breakthroughs on cancer more than just the United States. Cancer awareness is more than letting people know the kinds of cancer, but the harms and early detection signals. It is about knowing the types of cancer screenings given, the treatments offered, and all of the tedious research done around the world but in your backyard at UAB.

            Millions of people have been affected by cancer, but we are making it our job to eliminate cancer as a public health problem by the year 2050. In order to get your brain rolling here are some interesting facts you probably didn’t know about cancer.

Several factors increase the risk of cancer, including tobacco use, pollutants, certain infections, radiation, obesity, and lack of physical exercise.

Smoking causes an estimated 90% of lung cancer. Tobacco has killed 50 million people in the last decade. If trends continue, a billion people will die from tobacco use and exposure this century, which equates to one person every six seconds.

One in eight deaths in the world is due to cancer. Cancer causes more deaths than AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria combined.

Lung, prostate, and stomach cancers are the most commonly diagnosed cancers in men. Breast, cervix, and colorectal cancers are the most commonly diagnosed cancers in women.

The American Cancer Society estimates 577,190 people will die from cancer in the U.S. per year, or more than 1,500 people a day.

While some of these statistics are scary, they are very much true. In most cases cancer can be treated if caught early or just by maintaining a healthy lifestyle such as exercising, not smoking, and being up to date with medical check-ups. Researchers have suggested that early detection is anyone’s biggest weapon to stopping cancer. Cancer treatment is easier when done in early stages of the cancer inception.

Cancer research is also hugely important to impacting the world. With donations, grants, and funding, cancer centers such as UAB can find treatments and impact others with new discoveries. Opportunities such as the ArtBlink Gala coming up on February 28^th is a great way to support cancer research, as well as fund-raising events through local, state and national organizations willing to help fight cancer.

With today being World Cancer Day, hug those you know affected by cancer and take care of your personal health so you’re not one of every three people in the world diagnosed. You can find more information online at www.3ccc.uab.edu.

UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center Magazine – Employee Spotlight

Name:  Pam Alverson

Title:  Program Director, Protocol Review and Monitoring Systems (PRMS) Office

How long have you worked at the Cancer Center?  I have worked at UAB for 27 years.  Of the 27 years, 21 were with the Cancer Center.

Describe a typical day in your job.    My job allows me to interact with current and new investigators and their staff across the UAB campus.   Sometimes I will meet with groups to provide information about the Cancer  Center review processes and other related topics. The Cancer Center has a Clinical Trials Operations Committee (Chaired by Dr. Harry Erba) that meets weekly.  The focus of this meeting is to provide a preliminary review of all cancer-related trials with the focus on trial management resources, funding, prioritization of trials, a look at the science and competing trials to make sure there are no concerns raised at this level.   Logistics-related or any other clinical trial-related business or concerns are handled at this meeting.  Accrual for on-going trials is another charge of this committee.  Preparation related to these topics and follow-up business can be part of any given day. 

 The internal scientific review provided by the Clinical Trials Review Committee (Chaired by Dr. Mansoor Saleh) at the Cancer Center reviews all cancer-related trials.  There is interaction with clinical, statistical, radiology and nursing reviewers.  Cancer Control and Population Sciences protocols and gene therapy protocols are also reviewed by this Committee.  From these meetings, reviews will be written and distributed to the investigators.  All scientific review-related correspondence comes through the PRMS office.   Both of these committees must review and approve a protocol prior to submission to the IRB and ultimately activation.  Attention to making sure the review processes of the Cancer Center are functioning as designed and facilitating these processes to avoid any unnecessary delays in protocol activation is at the top of my list.

What do you enjoy most about working at the Cancer Center?  Some of the main reasons I enjoy what I am doing are because of the people I work with and the nature of my job.   I work with people who are compassionate, intelligent and hard-working.  Whether they are in clinical, laboratory, administrative, regulatory, or clerical positions there seems to be a common focus to make things faster, easier and better for patients.  It is also a privilege to interact with world-class clinicians and scientists.  The people and the science make me proud to be part of the Cancer Center.

Tell us a little about yourself. Family, Hobbies, Interests, etc.  I am married and have a daughter and step son.  They are both married.  My daughter recently had our first grandchild in October, 2013.  Noah is a cute, happy baby who has already developed a sense of humor.  I am Granna.  My parents live close by so I get to see them often.  When not visiting with family, my husband and I enjoy working in our garden.  It is an organic garden, so the past 6 years I have been learning how to grow vegetables and not insects.  I also enjoy watching the wildlife appreciating the garden.  I enjoy most activities outside related to nature and really enjoy trips to the mountains as often as possible.

BCRFA gives largest donation ever to UAB Cancer Center

On Tuesday, January 20, 2015, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama (BCRFA) presented its largest donation ever – $650,000 – to the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center. This year’s gift brings the organization’s cumulative total to more than $5.1 million since 1996.

Since their launch, BCRFA has made an annual donation to the Cancer Center with proceeds from various fundraising efforts over the course of the year, including specially designed car tag sales, special events and from individual donors. Without the generous support of the community, none of these efforts made by BCRFA would have been possible.

“We are extremely thankful for all of the hard work the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama has done for us. Their support has been astounding since their inception and we couldn’t be happier to be their partner in the fight against cancer,” says Edward Partridge, M.D., director of the Cancer Center. “This kind of giving allows for our hard work to continue with hope for an even brighter future.”

BCRFA has continued to strive for success in helping the Cancer Center‘s breast cancer research program, which is now recognized as one of the premier research programs in the United States. This kind of partnership will strengthen not only financial needs, but the work of the community. All donations given by the BCRFA are given exclusively to the Cancer Center and remain in Alabama. BCRFA has generous help from community partners that include: Winn-Dixie, Docupak, Tameron Automotive, Belk, Sirote & Permutt, and The Alabama Power Foundation, along with many others.

BCRFA and UAB provide researchers with the resources to accelerate discovery and translate new knowledge into meaningful therapies for all types of breast cancer. They also provide funding for several key breast cancer projects that have the potential to provide new cures and to prevent DNA repair in breast cancer tumor cells. Much of this work is led by Andres Forero, M.D., a nationally recognized expert in breast cancer research and treatment and Cancer Center senior scientist.

Kate Kiefer, president of BCRFA, gave thanks to all that has helped her staff fund the Cancer Center and continued to advocate breast cancer research at the appreciation luncheon Tuesday. She passionately spoke about the foundation’s vision for the future and what a tremendous help the Birmingham area has been assisting in finding the cure for cancer in Alabama.  

“The BCRFA hopes to continue to increase their funding to UAB each year, as the more dollars we raise, the more opportunity UAB has to conduct the amount of research required to find better treatments for all types of breast cancer, if not for the ultimate cure,” says Kiefer.

 Dr. Partridge wrapped up the ceremony by accepting the large donation and ended with a bold statement.

“With this donation, we will not only continue to grow stronger as a leader in the fight against breast cancer, but also grow closer to achieving our vision of eliminating cancer as a major public health problem by 2050,” says Partridge.

National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

January is National Cervical Health Awareness Month, and the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center is offering new alternatives to traditional cervical cancer screenings

More than 1 million women across Alabama ages 25 to 29 should be screened by their doctor for cervical cancer. Under the new guidelines, women should be tested using HPV screening alone and not a Pap smear. Pap smear testing will be used as a follow-up if tested HPV positive, as well as remaining the primary testing for women under the age of 25. Clinicians who are caring for these women are seeking out help in order to give their patients the best advice on the health advantages of using the HPV test as the best option for cervical cancer screening.

This was triggered by an FDA approval for the HPV testing method as the primary method for cervical cancer screening. Today’s guidance is being written and led by gynecologic oncologist,  Warner Huh, M.D., and is also being published simultaneously in the journals Gynecologic Oncology, Obstetrics & Gynecology, and the Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease under the title “Use of Primary High Risk Human Papillomavirus Testing for Cervical Cancer Screening: Interim Clinical Guidance.”

“Although FDA approval is critically important for introducing a new screening test or algorithm, providers ultimately rely on guidance or guidelines to help them make the best decisions for their patients and want to understand advantages, disadvantages and unknowns associated with a new screening approach,” said Huh, who is a senior scientist for the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center, Director of the UAB Division of Gynecologic Oncology, and is also a board member for both the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology and the Society of Gynecologic Oncology. 

Patients’ HPV testing will feel the same compared to the Pap smear but the only difference is how these samples are being examined. Medical personnel will run the samples through an automated machine to look for HPV DNA instead of abnormal cells.

“Pap smears miss a fair number of adenocarcinomas. We don’t want a test that will miss disease,” said Huh.

Remember to stay up to date on your personal testing and to talk to your doctor about any questions or concerns you might have with testing or other cervical cancer matters.

Why Give Wednesday: Childhood Cancer

Every year in the United States, approximately 13,400 children between the ages of birth and 19 are diagnosed with cancer. Every day, 36 children are diagnosed with cancer, with the average age of diagnosis at just 6 years old. That's one to two cases for every 10,000 children in the United States.

In Alabama, 150 children are diagnosed with cancer each year. Childhood cancers are the leading cause of death by disease among children in the United States, with approximately 2,500 children dying from the disease annually.

But there is hope. While incidence rates for some types of childhood cancers have remained steady over the last 20 years, five-year survival rates have dramatically improved. Today, a child diagnosed with cancer stands an 80 percent chance of beating the disease.

“That’s up from 50 percent just 20 years ago,” says Raymond Watts, M.D., director of the UAB Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology. “However, that still leaves 20 percent of children who don’t survive. So even though we’ve made tremendous improvements, we still face significant challenges.”

To address this, the Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center, Children’s of Alabama, the Children’sOncology Group and the National Cancer Institute recently formed the Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders. This unique partnership is focused on unifying local and national resources to improve and enhance childhood cancer care, research and education.

"Our goal is finding a total cure through research and development of innovative therapies,” Dr. Watts says. “We’re also researching ways to lessen the risks of treatment, both short-term and long-term, while allowing children to return to normal activities after their treatments are complete.”

Because while survival rates for childhood cancers have improved, they do come with a cost. Two-thirds of survivors face at least one chronic health condition, and as many as 25 percent face a late-effect considered severe or life-threatening. Some late effects of childhood cancers include: infertility, cardiotoxicity (heart problems at an early age), learning difficulties, audiovisual problems, hearing loss, and the most frightening possibility, second cancers.

Supporting research is critical to eliminating childhood cancer as well as the long-term effects that survivors face. Only about 4 percent of the National Institutes for Health's annual budget is currently dedicated to pediatric cancer research. You can make a difference by making a gift on our website or by visiting Children's of Alabama.

Why Give Wednesday: Liver Cancer

First, let’s start with the liver…

The liver is the second most important organ in your body and the largest organ inside your abdomen.  It is found right being your ribs on the right side of your body.

Its purpose?

-The liver removes harmful substances from the blood

-It makes enzymes and bile that help digest food

-It converts food into substances needed for life and growth.

What is Liver Cancer?

Liver Cancer is known as a Gastrointestinal Cancer, which is among the most deadly cancer types, and in some cases, some of the most difficult to treat.  In 2014, the National Cancer Institute estimated approximately 33,190 new cases of primary liver cancer and bile duct cancers in the United States and 23,000 deaths from the disease. Secondary liver cancer is cancer that spreads to the liver from another part of the body.

Facts on Liver Cancer

• Liver cancer is seen more often in men than in women. An average man's lifetime risk of getting liver or intrahepatic bile duct cancer is about 1 in 81, while an average woman's risk is about 1 in 196.
• The average age at diagnosis of liver cancer is 63. More than 95% of people diagnosed with liver cancer are 45 years of age or older. About 3% are between 35 and 44 years of age and about 2% are younger than 35.
• Liver cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, accounting for more than 600,000 deaths each year.

Why UAB?

At UAB, treatment options are contemporary, accurate, efficient, and effective. Patients diagnosed with liver cancer can rest assured that they have an expert team behind them. Liver Cancer Patients will be treated within the UAB Multidisciplinary Gastrointestinal Oncology Clinic. When patients choose to be treated here they benefit from a team of physicians who are specialists in their fields, who care for patients with state-of-the-art technology. These specialists work in collaboration with members from the Department of Radiation Oncology, and Divisions of Hematology/Oncology, Gastroenterology, Endoscopy, and Radiology making a variety of innovative diagnostic and therapeutic modalities available to patients.

Visit our website for more information, your support is greatly appreciated. Donations are accepted here. 

Why Give Wednesday: Learn about UAB & Leukemia/ Lymphoma

What is Leukemia?

Leukemia is a type of cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow and causes large numbers of blood cells to be produced and enter the bloodstream. There are an estimated 52,380 new cases of leukemia in the United States in 2014. There are an estimated 24,090 deaths due to Leukemia predicted this year.

What is Lymphoma?

Lymphomas are cancers that affect the cells in the immune system and are the most common type of blood cancer. Depending on the specific cells that are affected, each case is classified as one of two primary types – Hodgkin’s or non-Hodgkin’s – and these two categories break down further into five types of Hodgkin’s lymphoma and more than 40 subtypes of non-Hodgkin’s.

Of the two types, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is far more common, affecting approximately 70,800 estimated in 2014 in the United States, as opposed to 9,190 cases of Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is any of a large group of cancers of lymphocytes (white blood cells). Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas can occur at any age and are often marked by lymph nodes that are larger than normal, fever, and weight loss. 

Hodgkin's lymphoma is a cancer of the immune system that is marked by the presence of a type of cell called the Reed-Sternberg cell. Symptoms include the painless enlargement of lymph nodes, spleen, or other immune tissue. Other symptoms include fever, weight loss, fatigue, or night sweats. Also called Hodgkin disease.

Why Choose UAB

The UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center is a nationally recognized leader in the field of leukemia and lymphoma research and actively conducts clinical trials for both acute and chronic leukemia patients and both Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients.

The Cancer Center has been involved in several clinical trials of Clofarabine, an anti-leukemia drug developed here in Birmingham. Many of these examine the drug’s effects on patients older than 60.

The Cancer Center has also been involved in several clinical trials and conducts much epidemiologic study on the outcomes of minority patients with lymphoma.

Much leukemia and lymphoma research is done through UAB’s Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, which is one of the 10 largest in the country.

Visit our website for more information, your support is greatly appreciated. Donations are accepted here.