STAND UP TO CANCER

I watched a show the other night called Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C).  It was carried on the four major networks, commercial free, so I’m sure a lot of you saw it also.  I know I’ve seen parts of other year’s shows, but I must not have paid much attention.  This time I did and became intrigued with their scope and mission.  They were founded May 27, 2008 - ironically within the same time frame as my PPO (primary peritoneal ovarian) cancer diagnosis.   This is the way their statistics are listed on their website:

Founded: May 27, 2008
Funds pledged since inception: $180 Million
Research grant commitments awarded to date: $109 Million for 33 grants
Number of scientists funded: 350
Number of institutions joining in SU2C's collaborative mission: 60
Number of people in the U.S. who were diagnosed with cancer today: 4,490
Time to fix the problem: now

Started by a group of women whose lives had all been affected by cancer in profound ways, they began working together to marshal the resources of the media and entertainment industries in the fight against this nightmare disease.  SU2C is a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation, a 501(c)3 charitable organization.  Its primary goal is to raise funds to hasten the pace of groundbreaking translational research and accelerate the delivery of new therapies to patients by getting them from the “bench to the bedside” as quickly as possible.  SU2C brings together scientists from different disciplines across various institutions to work collaboratively, rather than competitively. 

The Executive Leadership Council as well as the Production staff is filled with household names such as Katie Couric and Gwyneth Paltrow, both of whom have very personal connections with this vile disease. 

“This recent program honored all those who’ve been lost to the disease, emboldened those brave survivors among us to continue fighting, and highlighted SU2C’s remarkable progress in cancer research.  The results are tangible, and the potential for breakthroughs in the coming years is very exciting.” Gwyneth Paltrow. 

  

“Stand Up To Cancer is a true force in advancing innovative cancer research, powered by the generosity and passion of millions of people who want to see this disease finally brought to its knees.  Together, we are helping some of the world’s best scientists make meaningful progress” Katie Couric. 

Watching so many big names from the entertainment community come out and rally around this cause was very moving to me.  I didn’t know that Major League Baseball is a founding donor of SU2C and, together with its thirty Clubs, has committed more than $30 million to the initiative to date.  I didn’t know that 100% of the public’s donations go directly to cancer research.  I’ve watched many telethons in my life, but this seemed more real, more personal, more critical – probably because I have more vested in the outcome.   The biggest stars of the show actually weren’t the Big Stars, as such, but rather the scientists who work so hard to defeat cancer and the brave patients who fight it every day. 

During the broadcast, patients shared their powerful stories and demonstrated the real impact of SU2C-funded research.  One former police officer spoke of multiple surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, and finally a clinical trial conducted by the SU2C Epigenetics Dream Team.  Epigenetic Therapy silences the bad genes in order to jump start the good ones, and produces a “priming effect,” enhancing the potential effectiveness of subsequent treatments.  His tumors shrank dramatically. 

Another gentleman had been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer which wasn’t responding to standard treatments.  He was concerned about participating in clinical trials – insurance coverage – lots of trips to the facility – possible serious side effects.  He eventually participated in several trials and was there to Stand Up To Cancer.  He said that he would like to think that, in his own small way, he’s helping to ensure that his children and their children’s children will live in a better, healthier world. 

Another mother wrote a Thank You Letter to the scientists who saved her son’s life.  He had been diagnosed with Nephroblastoma.  She said that she felt “privileged that God gave us the opportunity to see the world in a much different way.  Many people will never know how strong they really are, how deep their faith really is, or how much kindness and generosity surround them on a daily basis.  Our situation gave us that unique and beautiful perspective on life that is stronger and more powerful than any cancer or disease on earth.” 

Every day, cancer kills 1,600 Americans – one person every minute.  SU2C was founded on the belief that we are at a pivotal juncture with the potential for transformative progress in cancer research because of two trends: breakthroughs made in our understanding of the basic science of cancer, and technological advances that enable us to translate them into new treatments. 

Collectively, the research underway through the SU2C Dream Team projects has the potential to impact the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of cancers in adults and children across ethnicities including pancreatic, breast, ovarian, skin, cervical, uterine, brain, lung, prostate, rectal and colon, melanoma, leukemia and lymphoma, all of which represent approximately two-thirds of all U.S. cancer deaths.  Currently, the following seven Dream Teams have been supported by SU2C funding: Epigenetics Dream Team, Pancreatic Cancer Dream Team, P13K Pathway Dream Team, Breast Cancer Dream Team, Circulating Tumor Cell Chip Dream Team, MRA Melanoma Dream Team, PCF Prostate Dream Team.   In addition to soon issuing the call for ideas for an SU2C-St. Baldrick’s Foundation joint Pediatric Cancer Dream Team, SU2C and the Cancer Research Institute will announce the selection of an SU2C-CRI Dream Team focused on cancer immunology in the near future.

This is like a Star Wars movie – and SU2C is the new Force!

Remember “Do Not Underestimate the Power of the Force”; and the classic “Use the Force for Good!”  May the Force find the cure for us all!

I’m excited about the goal, I’m fascinated about the science, I’m inspired by the survivors, and I’m hopeful – VERY HOPEFUL – for the future!  Please God we will see the end to this despicable, cowardly beast in our lifetime or at least in our children’s lifetime.  While we watch and wait and pray, I will thank God for people like these who use their God-given gifts to help others and be the hands and the voice for all of us who fight every day for our very lives.

SURVIVAL TIP FOR TODAY:  Pray for the scientists and the people working for a cure.  They are our hope!  May the Force be with them!