mCancer Talk: Coping and living with cancer

Researchers have known for some time that cancer is caused from changes in a person’s genes. This could be from exposure to something in the environment (such as cigarette smoke), inherited from a parent or grandparent, or a combination of these. Your genetic makeup is only one factor that determines whether you will develop cancer.

Most cancers occur in people without a known family history of cancer. But some types of cancer can be inherited.

Talk about it

Your family health history may extend to many different family members, so start by finding out who in your family has had a diagnosis of cancer. Cancer is common so  don’t be surprised if you learn that several family members have had cancer. Keep in mind that some may not wish to share private health information. In that case, explain that you are asking to help plan your own and other family members’ health future. That may make the person feel more comfortable sharing. Read the rest of this entry →

In a recent segment of A Wider World shown on WTVS – Channel 56 in Detroit, Michelle Riba, director of the Cancer Center’s PsychOncology Program, along with Mel Majoros, a breast cancer survivor, athlete and radio show host, talk about the “new normal” after cancer treatment.

For more on Mel Majoros visit her blog, The Cancer Warrior.
Tune in tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. to catch up on A Wider World.

Let’s face it: We do a lot of sitting. The majority of Americans spend their workday sitting in front of a computer, sitting in meetings, and sitting in the car commuting to and from work.  Then we get home – and we sit to eat, relax, watch television and read.  Or we get on our home computers to catch up with friends, surf the web, play video games, help the kids with homework, or maybe even do a little more work.

We’ve been hearing for years that moderate exercise done every day improves your health and reduces your personal risk for developing cancer, heart disease and diabetes. But recently researchers have learned that making an effort to sit less and stand more several times a day can improve your health and reduce your risk for developing cancer. Read the rest of this entry →

Recent news stories, like this one on NPR, have pointed to the latest in a series of critical drug shortages in the United States. This time, the drug is methotrexate, a chemotherapy used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia, among other cancers.

Currently, our pharmacists are assuring that we have enough supply of both oral and IV methotrexate, and we expect to be able to treat all our patients who need this chemotherapy. U-M pharmacists work hard to monitor trends in drug quantities, and we have kept large quantities on hand in anticipation of shortages.

Learn why these drugs shortages are occurring and find out what’s being done to prevent shortages in the future.

If you have any questions about chemotherapy at U-M, leave a comment below or calling Cancer AnswerLine at 800-865-1125. Talk to your health care team if you have questions or concerns about your specific chemotherapy regimen.

Dr. Gregory Kalemkerian, co-director U-M thoracic oncology

In case you missed the lung cancer chat yesterday with Dr. Gregory Kalemkerian, here is the recorded version. Please fell free to post any questions in the comment section or if you have a more personal question you can call the Cancer AnswerLine at 1-800-865-1125.

Some 90% of lung cancers are caused by smoking. Quitting smoking (or never starting) is one of the best ways to reduce your cancer risk.

On the other hand, even people who have never smoked can develop lung cancer.

Talk live with Gregory Kalemkerian, M.D., co-director of thoracic oncology at the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center, about lung cancer tomorrow, Thursday, Feb. 16, at noon and learn about the other risk factors that exist for developing lung cancer.

Join from the comfort of your own home, office or wherever you have access to a computer. You can pre-register or just join the conversation as a guest at noon tomorrow. If you have a specific question you would like answered, ask it on the comment section below and we’ll make sure it’s addressed.

Breast health is important to all women – especially African American women.

Dr. Lisa Newman

Listen to our newest radio commercial talking about the research Dr. Lisa Newman is doing on triple-negative breast cancer both here and in Ghana. Dr. Newman’s outreach was also featured in the latest U-M Health System TV ad, titled “The Very Best.”

Let us know what you think or if you have questions regarding triple-negative breast cancer or the prevalence of other cancers in African Americans.

After you get over the surprise, shock and fear that comes from hearing “you have cancer,” the next thing to think about is “what do I do about it?”
One of the first and most important things to do is choose an oncologist (a doctor who specializes in the treatment of cancer) or a cancer treatment center. In many cases, your primary care doctor will refer you to someone he or she knows is an expert in the care of your cancer. Your doctor may also refer you to a hospital or center that has expertise in treating the particular cancer you have.

Diane Simeone, M.D., director of the Pancreatic Cancer Research Program here at the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center, offered insight for patients in this article: Identifying a Doctor and Facility When You Have Cancer.

The National Cancer Institute offers a search so you can easily find a National Cancer Institute (NCI) designated cancer center near you. NCI-designated cancer centers are considered centers of excellence and have received recognition for their expertise.

Our website has a number of other articles that offer information and resources to help you become an engaged patient.  Learn the 10 things you can do to take charge of your medical care. Or, take a look at the list of online cancer resources our medical librarian gathered to help you understand your cancer diagnosis. Along similar lines, please visit our mini-dictionary of terms relating to cancer.

For the not-so-recently diagnosed, what advice would you give?

Understanding how cancer cells survive is a primary focus of the research.

Eizabeth Lawlor, M.D., Ph.D.

University of Michigan pediatric oncology researcher Elizabeth R. Lawlor, M.D., Ph.D., has received a $150,000, two-year grant from CureSearch for Children’s Cancer to help study metabolic changes in Ewing sarcoma with the goal of developing new treatments for this bone cancer.

Understanding how these cancer cells survive is a primary focus of investigation in many research laboratories around the world, including Lawlor’s. Lawlor is the Russell G. Adderley Professor of Pediatric Oncology and an associate professor of pediatrics and pathology at the U-M Medical School.

Ewing sarcoma is the second most common type of bone tumor in children and adolescents, typically affecting the pelvis, tibia, fibula, and femur. This cancer most often occurs in adolescents, with nearly half of cases arising when the patient is between the ages of 10 and 20.

While most patients with Ewing sarcoma respond to treatment, nearly a third with localized disease and almost all patients with metastases relapse after their initial remission. Although the reasons for relapse are complex and not yet completely understood, it is believed that in at least some cases, there are cells in the original tumor that survive despite highly toxic doses of chemotherapy.

Lawlor’s lab previously identified that Ewing sarcoma cells have an abnormal response to stressful environments. Specifically, unlike normal cells, Ewing sarcoma cells survive when deprived of oxygen. Read the rest of this entry →

The colonoscopy is one of the most feared medical procedures, yet it is one of the best tools to detect colon cancer. Find out about the procedure in this informative video.

Here is more information on colon cancer screenings.