ATLANTA – Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca is pledging $10 million to the American Cancer Society, the second-largest gift in the organization’s history, to help provide one-on-one support for cancer patients in U.S. hospitals, the American Cancer Society said Wednesday.

The society said the money will help it develop 50 new sites for its Patient Navigator Program. One of the first three sites was in AstraZeneca’s U.S. base of Wilmington, Del., at the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center at Christiana Care.

“While there are many uncertainties associated with cancer,” said Richard C. Wender, the national volunteer president of the American Cancer Society, “the Patient Navigator Program can relieve some of these anxieties by providing personalized support and education for the needs of each patient and their families.”

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Prime Minister Stephen Harper is remaining true to a pre-election campaign promise by investing $260 million to set up a new national body aimed at fighting cancer.

Stephen Harper has informed the public over the establishment of the Canadian Partnership against Cancer, which gathers a team of more than 700 cancer experts who will seek effective methods for cancer prevention and treatment.

“Cancer strikes without warning, plays no favorites and touches all of us,” the prime minister said during the announcement, made at Montreal General Hospital.

Calling it a “clearing house” for the latest information on cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment, Harper said the new agency could keep 1.2 million Canadians from developing cancer in the next 30 years and prevent more than 400,000 cancer deaths.

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SEATTLE — The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation has given a $5 million grant to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center for its work on early detection of breast and prostate cancer.

The money will go toward a “proof-of-principle” project testing the theory that certain blood proteins can signal the early development of cancer with high accuracy.

Results of the research could shift the emphasis of cancer care from treatment of advanced disease to early detection of cancer in people known to be susceptible or just starting to develop the disease, said Lee Hartwell, president and director of the Seattle-based center.

Early cancer-detection research focuses on identifying specific biomarkers – tumor-derived or responsive proteins in the blood that can indicate the presence of cancer long before symptoms begin, when the likelihood of finding a cure is highest.

The five-year survival rate for breast-cancer patients whose disease is detected at an early stage is 85 percent to 95 percent, versus just 22 percent for patients whose cancer has spread to distant organs, said Peter Nelson, an associate member of the center’s human biology division, who will serve as the project’s scientific coordinator.

In addition to improving survival rates, Nelson said better cancer-screening tools could help avoid invasive procedures and false-positive test results that lead to psychological stress and unnecessary treatments.

The Allen Foundation was launched in 2004 through the consolidation of Microsoft Corp. co-founder Paul Allen’s six private foundations. It awards grants twice a year to organizations serving people in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska and Montana.

Source: SeattlePi 

Inspirational fundraiser and terminal cancer sufferer Jane Tomlinson has been praised by Tony Blair as she entered the final week of her 4,200-mile Ride Across America for charity.

The mother of three received the Prime Minister’s best wishes in a hand-written letter delivered to her in Washington during the latest stage of her journey from San Francisco to New York.

Mrs Tomlinson, who has so far raised around £1.25 million through a series of challenges for charities, said she was now beginning to relax as she felt the end was in sight and she would be back with her family at her home in Rothwell, Leeds, next week.

In his letter, the Prime Minister wrote: “Dear Jane. Well done on all your fundraising efforts. It’s a fantastic achievement. Good luck, Tony Blair.”

Sitting outside the White House, Mrs Tomlinson said: “It’s good to be here. It’s symbolic for me that we’ve got here on the day that we needed to arrive in order to finish the ride on Friday.”

The 42-year-old was joined by around a dozen members of staff from the British Embassy in Washington for the latest leg of the ride.

“It’s been good that they could join me and give me a bit of company,” she said.

“The overwhelming feeling is one of relief. It’s relief that the end is in sight – I’ll be home with the rest of my family next week.”

Since being diagnosed with advanced metastatic breast cancer, Mrs Tomlinson has raised more than £1.25 million for a series of charities which help cancer patients and children.

Information on her appeal, including a ride diary and details of how to make a donation, can be found at www.janesappeal.com.

© Copyright Press Association Ltd 2006, All Rights Reserved.

CHICAGO: Hundreds of people took to Lake Michigan today to help raise money for leukemia research. They were participating in the 10th Annual Leukemia Cup Regatta.

CBS 2’s Suzanne Le Mignot spoke with a cancer survivor who took to the water this morning to raise money to find a cure.

This is 38-year-old Travis Wilhite. Looking at him, you’d never think just two years ago, he was fighting for his life. He was diagnosed with incurable Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Right now, he’s in remission.

“I realized at that point, that you know what, in order for me to continue to live like this,” said Wilhite, “to really cash in on the gift that I got of my cancer, that I needed to go out and help other people so they don’t have to go through that.”

Travis along with his wife and friends are taking part in the 10th Annual Leukemia Cup Regatta organized by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. They’re among the more than 600 people setting sail on Lake Michigan for the six-mile race.

There are more than 80 boats in the race. Each owner has collected donations. The goal is to raise at least $175,000, with the money going towards finding a cure for lymphoma and leukemia.

Before he set sail, Wilhite had this inspirational message for those battling cancer.

“Keep fighting, hang in there,” he said. “It does get better, I promise. You’re in my thoughts and prayers all the time and I wish you all the very, very best.”

Wilhite says raising awareness and money for cancer research is one of the greatest gifts he will ever leave behind.

In the 10 years the Leukemia Cup Regatta has taken place in Chicago, the event has raised about $1 million for research to find a cure for leukemia and lymphoma.

The National Breast Cancer Foundation has netted Fuji Photo Film U.S.A. Inc. as a supporter of its breast cancer education programs.

Fujifilm has agreed to donate sales of its new pink-themed cameras to the Dallas-based nonprofit, as well as donate $250,000 and two of its digital mammography systems. The company’s Fuji Computed Radiography for Mammography recently received approval from the Food and Drug Administration for sale in the United States.

Fujifilm will introduce two new products – a pink FinePix Z3 digital camera and a pink QuickSnap 800 Flash one-time-use camera – that will display the NBCF logo and mission, and offer information on annual mammography screening.

According to NBCF, more than 211,000 new cases of breast cancer are expected in the United States this year. Availability of screening mammography has been shown to reduce mortality by 20 to 30 percent.

When Kerrianne Duffy was diagnosed with breast cancer, it seemed as if her world would fall apart.

Just weeks before she was due to marry her long-time partner Shaun at a romantic ceremony in Las Vegas, she was hit with the shocking news.

Doctors told her she was suffering from a form of the disease so aggressive it killed two-fifths of those diagnosed.

Doctors told her she was suffering from a form of the disease so aggressive it killed two-fifths of those diagnosed.

The city hairdresser was just 27 at the time and often wondered how she would cope as she fought the disease.

Today, she has put the trauma firmly behind her and is joining a host of big names in a massive fund-raising and awareness campaign.

She is one of the “faces” in Breast Cancer Care’s new 41,000 Faces campaign, which highlights the massive number of people diagnosed every year.

Celebrities such as Zoe Ball, Lorraine Kelly, Cherie Blair and Michelle Collins are among others taking part. Mrs Duffy, now 34, who works at the Ruby Rouge hair salon on Clerk Street, Edinburgh, said: “I was absolutely devastated. You think it’s something that is never going to happen to you. I was about to be married and was looking forward to my future.”

On doctors orders, she rescheduled her wedding to take place at the registry office in India Buildings and cancelled her Californian honeymoon.

“You go through so many emotions. I became angry, and thought: ‘Why me, what have I done?’ But that was very quickly replaced by the feeling that I had to beat this,” she said.

At the Edinburgh Cancer Centre, based at the Western General Hospital, Mrs Duffy endured a mastectomy, as well as intensive courses of chemo and radiotherapy.

She also suffered the trauma of her hair falling out, but was eventually given the all-clear two years later.

Mrs Duffy, of Prestonpans, East Lothian, added: “As I was diagnosed at such a young age, I felt scared and isolated.

“After all, younger women don’t get breast cancer – or so I thought – as age is still the biggest risk factor. As a younger woman who has had the disease, I wanted to help show that anyone can be affected.

“I want people to know that it’s not just women over 50 who are affected. A lot of young women also get this, and they need to be more aware of the symptoms.”

Mrs Duffy is one of 41,000 people in the UK who are diagnosed with the disease every year and charity Breast Cancer Care is urging people who have been affected by the disease to send in their photographs.

Every photograph will be displayed online and will become part of a record-breaking gallery exhibition to be launched in time for Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.

Former Radio One DJ Zoe Ball decided to support the campaign, because her friend was diagnosed with the disease.

She said: “If, like me, you have been touched by breast cancer, please join me in supporting this campaign and send in your photo and help others to understand the scale of the disease.”

“This powerful campaign has received thousands of photos, but we still need plenty more.”

To find out more about breast cancer or how to include a photograph in 41,000 Faces, visit www.breastcancercare.org.uk or call 0808 800 6000.

Source: Scotsman News

People affected by male cancers such as prostate and testicular cancer are being encouraged to help take part in a fun charity walk – in a thong.

But patients, friends and family should know wearing underwear is not mandatory – entrants can also take part in fancy dress or remain fully clothed.

The 10 kilometre Rosemere ‘thongathon’ was first held in September last year. It aims to raise awareness of the prevalence of male cancers. It raises funds for research into cancer and initiatives which support people with the disease.

The event has been organised by the Rosemere Cancer Foundation, a charity committed to helping cancer patients across Lancashire and South Cumbria. The event will take place on Wednesday September 20, starting from the Flag Market in Preston city centre at 7pm. The route will take walkers back to The Rosemere Cancer Centre at the Royal Preston Hospital where refreshments will be waiting.

For a sponsorship form or further details about participating in the event please call Ron McAndrew on 01772 523598 or visit www.rosemere.org.uk.

Four 20-something guys are skateboarding across Canada to raise funds for breast cancer research.

Rob Lewis, 26, of Winnipeg, Aaron Jackson, 25, of Summerside, P.E.I., Benjamin Jordan, 25, of Toronto and Carlos Koppen, 26, of Halifax have been averaging 100 kilometres a day since they left Halifax in May.

The group — jokingly described by Jackson as a “bunch of little punk skaters” — said they have friends and relatives who have been touched by the disease and want to do their part.

“We decided to jump on the road and do what we do best,” Lewis said.

After passing through Regina on the Trans-Canada Highway on Monday, they hit Parkbeg, Sask., Tuesday morning. They’re expected to cross into Alberta on Thursday.

The four have already raised $26,000 for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, some of it through their Push for the Cure website.

Some large rallies have greeted the boarders at stops along the way, Lewis said.

One highlight was Vankleek Hill, a small town in Ontario that cheered them on as they arrived in a driving rainstorm. They raised $10,000.

“We had a parade, we had a barbecue, the whole town was painted pink,” Lewis said, referring to the colour associated with the fight against breast cancer.

Jackson said he has been transformed by the experience.

“It’s been absolutely unbelievable,” he said. “Like, most people don’t get a chance to see generosity on a day-to-day basis. But, us four very young men have been lucky to see that. Like, I was looking forward to being a grumpy old man some time. I’m not going to have that luxury anymore. I’ve just seen too much good in the country now.”

The four hope to finish their journey in Vancouver in October.

Source: CBC News