Focus On Cancer Year in Review: Immunotherapy for Leukemia

2012 was an exciting year for the Abramson Cancer Center. We are featuring blogs featured on the Focus On Cancer blog that highlight cancer treatment breakthroughs, coping tips and ideas, education and inspiration. Today, we are highlighting the immunotherapy and leukemia. A front-page story in the New York Times details the progress of a Perelman School of Medicine team in using genetically engineered versions of leukemia patients' own T cells to...

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Focus On Cancer Year in Review: Stand Up 2 Cancer and Penn

2012 was an exciting year for the Abramson Cancer Center. We are featuring blogs featured on the Focus On Cancer blog that highlight cancer treatment breakthroughs, coping tips and ideas, education and inspiration. Today, we are highlighting the partnership between the Stand Up 2 Cancer Foundation and Penn Medicine. The SU2C Dream Team at Penn is actively researching better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat pancreatic cancer. Together, members...

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Navigating the Way to Colorectal Screenings at Penn

Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Although studies prove that screening reduces colorectal cancer morbidity and mortality and is recommended for everyone over the age of 50, only 60 percent of Americans have been screened.Penn Medicine’s West Philadelphia Gastrointestinal (GI) Health Outreach and Access Program has worked to to improve the colorectal cancer screening rates in the West Philadelphia...

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Focus On Cancer Year in Review: New Brain Cancer Treatments at Penn

2012 was an exciting year for the Abramson Cancer Center. We are featuring blogs featured on the Focus On Cancer blog that highlight cancer treatment breakthroughs, coping tips and ideas, education and inspiration. Today, we are highlighting the brain cancer treatment at Penn.There are new treatments for brain cancer at Penn. In this article, writer and cancer survivor Chris Wilson discusses new treatments in surgery, radiation and targeted therapies...

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Happy Holidays From the Abramson Cancer Center

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Focus On Cancer Year in Review: New Treatment for Mesothelioma

2012 was an exciting year for the Abramson Cancer Center. We are featuring blogs featured on the Focus On Cancer blog that highlight cancer treatment breakthroughs, coping tips and ideas, education and inspiration. Today, we are highlighting photodynamic therapy for mesothelioma. Penn was the first health system in the Philadelphia area to begin researching the use of PDT to treat cancer. Also known as photoradiation therapy, phototherapy or photochemotherapy,...

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Focus On Cancer Year in Review: The Basser Research Center

2012 was an exciting year for the Abramson Cancer Center. We are featuring blogs featured on the Focus On Cancer blog that highlight cancer treatment breakthroughs, coping tips and ideas, education and inspiration. Today, we are highlighting the Basser Research Center for BRCA.A $25 million gift to the University of Pennsylvania from alumni Mindy and Jon Gray will establish a center focused on the treatment and prevention of cancers associated...

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Stay Connected This Holiday Season

Tracy Lautenbach, MSW, LCSW, OSW, is the social work team leader for radiation oncology at Penn. In this article, she reminds those with cancer, or who are cancer survivors, to stay connected to the ones they love this holiday season.Holidays are traditionally viewed as a time to celebrate with family and friends. However, sometimes people with cancer and their loved ones feel they are out of step with the rest of the world during the holidays....

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11 Tips for Holiday Eating

Debra DeMille, MS, RD, CSO is a nutritional counselor at the Joan Karnell Cancer Center. Debra has worked at Pennsylvania Hospital since 1988 with the last 12 years specializing in oncology. Debra guides individuals receiving chemotherapy and radiation as well as addressing survivorship issues including the use of integrative therapies.She conducts cooking programs and group counseling sessions for cancer survivors. You do not have to abandon all...

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Recovery for Brain Cancer and the New Normal

Christine Wilson, cancer survivor, shares her experiences from the Abramson Cancer Center’s 2012- Focus on Brain Cancer Conference. In this blog, she discusses recovery from brain cancer and accepting a “new normal.”"You are not alone." - Arbena Merolli, MSW, social worker at the Abramson Cancer CenterFor some brain cancer patients, there comes a day when active treatment ends. That day can bring with it a myriad of mixed feelings, relief, happiness, anxiety and uncertainty. The end of treatment does not mean the end of the experience of having...

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Patient Story: Proton Therapy for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Kathy Brandt was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer in 2011 at her local hospital. After much research, and a recommendation from her brother-in-law, who is a physician, Kathy chose Penn Medicine for her lung cancer treatment, which included proton therapy. Today, Kathy is cancer free. Watch Kathy Brandt, a patient alum, tell her story about proton therapy for lung cancer. You hear the words cancer and it's truly terrifying.It was...

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HEADStrong Foundation Feeds Cancer Patients and Families at Penn

This November marked the 6th year the HEADstrong Foundation prepared and served a traditional Thanksgiving dinner to several floors of patients and families who are amidst treatment for blood cancer in the Rhoads Pavilion at Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.About the HEADStrong FoundationThe HEADstrong Foundation for blood cancer is committed to finding a cure for all blood cancers. The foundation is dedicated to its founder Nicholas...

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Basser Event Promotes BRCA Research at Penn Medicine

More than 400 patients, friends and faculty of the Abramson Cancer Center celebrated the transformational gift from Jon and Mindy Gray to establish the Basser Research Center for BRCA in New York and Philadelphia this fall.The Basser Center will focus on prevention and treatment options for those with a BRCA 1 or 2 mutation and will provide a place for people to discuss their options and participate in research studies.From left:  Chi Van Dang,...

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Basser Center Story at Ovarain Cancer Research Fund

The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund provides an interview with Mindy Gray, “Wife, Mother, Sister, Philanthropist, and OCRF Board Member.” Mindy and Jon Gray are the founding donors of the Basser Research for BRCA. The ultimate goal of the The Basser Center is eradicating risks from BRCA-related cancers once and for all. The Center is focused on funding scientific research and giving brilliant research scientists the state-of-the-art facilities and the freedom to discover innovative paths to treatment, prevention and cure. With the leadership...

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More Gift Ideas for Someone with Cancer

Carly Roop RD, CSO, is a registered dietitian at the Joan Karnell Cancer Center (JKCC). She provides nutrition education and support to patients while addressing nutrition-related side effects from chemotherapy and radiation. Dietitians at JKCC provide educational nutrition programs that are open to patients as well as the community.Can You Still Have a Merry Time Without Eating or Drinking?It seems impossible to go anywhere or do anything without...

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New Discoveries Toward Brain Cancer Recovery

Christine Wilson, cancer survivor, shares her experiences from the Abramson Cancer Center’s 2012- Focus on Brain Cancer Conference:Discovery to Recovery. In this blog, she discusses treatments for brain cancer. Neurosurgery:  The Crux of Treatment for Brain Cancer"The neurosurgeon's goal is take out as much of the tumor as possible safely, " says Steven Brem, MD, conference chair, and director of neurosurgical oncology."Personalized medicine...

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Immunotherapy and Leukemia

A front-page story in the New York Times details the progress of a Perelman School of Medicine team in using genetically engineered versions of leukemia patients' own T cells to fight their cancer; an approach which has now been used in 12 patients, 9 of whom responded to the therapy -- including two children."Our goal is to have a cure, but we can't say that word," said the study's leader, Carl June, MD, the Richard W. Vague Professor in Immunotherapy in the department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and director of Translational Research...

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Gifts for Someone with Cancer

Carolyn Vachani, RN, MSN, AOCN, is an oncology advanced practice nurse at the Abramson Cancer Center. She has worked in the areas of medical hematology and oncology, bone marrow transplant, clinical research, radiation therapy and staff development. She is also the nurse educator for OncoLink. Have you thought about holiday gifts for someone with cancer?The holidays can be very stressful- particularly when you are already dealing with a cancer diagnosis...

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Cancer-fighting Recipe: Butternut Squash and Mac Casserole

This easy bake recipe gives a delicious, creamy appearance without the saturated fats of macaroni and cheese.Butternut squash is the most nutrient dense of the winter squashes. It contains multiple carotenoids, Vitamin A, Vitamin C and fiber. The coconut milk adds to the creamy texture. Lower fat varieties are available if you are interested in cutting down the fat and calories. Walnuts are my favorite nut as they are a good source of Vitamin E,...

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The Promise and Peril of Genetic Testing

Susan Domchek, MD, executive director of the Basser Research Center and an associate professor in the division of Hematology-Oncology in the Abramson Cancer Center was a guest on WHYY Radio's Radio Times, discussing advances in genetic testing....

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Immunotherapy for Lung Cancer

Christine Wilson, cancer survivor, shares her experiences from the Abramson Cancer Center’s 2012- Focus on Lung Cancer Conference. In this blog, she discusses new ways in which lung cancer tumors are being used to create new treatments for lung cancer. Demystifying the Immune System"Lung cancer is a formidable foe with many ways of eluding the immune system--but we are developing multiple approaches to using immunotherapy as a treatment option."...

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Brain Cancer Experts Behind the Scenes at the Abramson Cancer Center

Christine Wilson, cancer survivor, shares her experiences from the Abramson Cancer Center’s 2012- Focus on Brain Cancer Conference. In this blog, she discusses the experts behind the scenes at the Abramson Cancer Center. "For 10 years, we have been talking more about hope than progress, but in the last couple of years, we are seeing big differences using new drugs and targeted therapies. We aren't really sure why this is occurring, but we know that...

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Cancer Fighting Recipe: Spicy Kale with Fried Grapes and Frizzled Onions

Kale’s strong and sometimes bitter flavor comes from its sulfur-containing compounds, which are converted into isothiocyanates (ITCs) when its leaves are broken by blending or chopping. ITCs have proven immune boosting and anticancer effects, making this the perfect dish for combating those fall sniffles!Lacinato kale has long and slender leaves and is usually more tender than its cousin curly kale. Other braising greens such as Swiss chard, beet...

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5 Easy Yoga Poses to Do Anywhere

The practice of yoga calms the mind by providing a deep feeling of relaxation and balance. Did you know that the very basics of a yoga practice can be done during your “everyday” life at any place or any time? When you find yourself caught up in the hustle and bustle this holiday season, give yourself the gift of “instant yoga” by practicing these quick and simple techniques…anywhere…anytime:Staying Grounded During the Holidays: 5 Easy Ways to Take...

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Surgery, Radiation and Proton Therapy for Lung Cancer Treatment at Penn

Christine Wilson, cancer survivor, shares her experiences from the Abramson Cancer Center’s 2012- Focus on Lung Cancer Conference. In this blog, she discusses new treatments in radiation and proton therapies for lung cancer patients. "At Penn, we care about the total patient experience,” says John Kucharczuk, MD. “ We know that for most people, the diagnosis of lung cancer is their first experience with this disease. As doctors, we need to recognize what that means to people, understand their anxiety level.”Surgery for Lung CancerAt Penn,...

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Advances in Diagnosing Lung Cancer

Christine Wilson, cancer survivor, shares her experiences from the Abramson Cancer Center’s 2012- Focus on Lung Cancer Conference. In this blog, she discusses new imaging and diagnostic advances for lung cancer. Defining Risk, Reducing Deaths from Lung CancerThe National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) demonstrated that regular, low dose CT screening for people at high risk of developing lung cancer reduces the death rate by 20 to 25%. That trial, the largest screening trial in history, also raised a number of questions.Who is at high risk? The...

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