Final Portfolio

And so we come to the end.  Here is my Final Portfolio.  I hope that you take the time to read through it and see the way I have grown as a writer throughout the semester.
Thanks.

Immune System-What's Your Role Here?

Researchers at University of Pennsylvania's Abramson Cancer Center have discovered a novel way of treating pancreatic cancer by activating the immune system to destroy the cancer's scaffolding.  This was tested in a small group of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer and several patients had positive results with their tumors shrinking substantially.

Rather than the immune system needing to attack the cancer directly to be effective, attacking the dense tissues surrounding the cancer is an approach, similar to attacking a brick wall by dissolving the mortar in the wall.

The immune system was able to eat away at this tissue surrounding the cancer and tumors fell apart as a result of that assault.

However, when looking at post-treatment tumor samples, researchers found there were no T cells to be seen.  Instead, there was an abundance of another white blood cell known as macrophages.  Macrophages were attacking what is known as the supporting tissue around the tumor called the tumor stroma.  Researchers used a cell surface receptor called CD40 antibodies to teach the macrophages to attack the tumor.  T cells can't seem to get into the tumor or its surrounding tissue because of the density and hostility of the area surrounding pancreatic cancer.  They are now working on a way to supercharge the macrophages response and to get the T cells into the tumor's microenvironment.

So basically, if scientists can get T-cells and the macrophages to double team the tumor, they could overpower the tumor.  Let's hope this trial continues and that scientists can figure out how to overpower these tumors.

Making Progress

University of California San Francisco scientists have found a link between inflammation and pancreatic cancer.  A link has been found between molecules found in an inflamed pancreas and the early formation of pancreatic cancer.--What does this mean you ask?  This discovery may help scientists identify new ways to detect, monitor, and treat pancreatic cancer.
The UCSF team, led by Matthias Hebrok, PhD. discovered two molecular "signals" produced abundantly in the pancreas during inflammation--a protein named Stat3--helps to initiate the early stages of pancreatic cancer.  Another protein, called MMP7, appears to affect metastasis, or the spreading of the tumor.
In lab experiments, Hebrok and colleagues showed that blocking these proteins in mice shrunk the number of lesions that can lead to cancer and reduced the extent of cancer metastisis.
Their experiments also showed MMP7 may be a clinical indicator of the pancreatic cancer stage, possibly making it useful as a marker for more aggressive disease.

Hopefully, these scientists will continue making progress and help find a way to treat, detect, and monitor this terrible disease.

Kick Pancreatic Cancer

After looking through all of the posts I have done, I realized that I have yet to talk about an event that took place that was close to my heart.  At Waynesburg University in Waynesburg, Pa, an event was started two years ago by the girl's soccer team known as Kick Pancreatic Cancer.  This event was started for Ken Moore, the father of Waynesburg soccer player Catherine Moore.  He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and after Catherine talked to her team about the disease, they decided to do something about it.  The event was planned to take place during a girl's soccer game in October.  The girl's team wore purple jerseys, donated to them by Under Armour and did their best to create publicity for the event.  The team created a Facebook page inviting friends both near and far to come and support the girls and to support the Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research, who would be receiving any money the team raised.  The girl's team sold purple t-shirts, Hirshberg Foundation wristbands, and cutout soccer balls that said in memory or in honor of.  They also had different baskets you could buy tickets for with various items inside.  All the money from the concession stand was also donated.

This event may not seem like a huge deal, but I have gone two years in a row because one of my closest friends is on the soccer team and made me aware of the event.  She was very close to my mom and even had the date she died written on the back of her legs during the game.

The most amazing thing about this event, is that the girl's set a goal to raise around $1,000.  In reality, they raised $10,615.  What an awesome achievement.

My Profile Essay

Even though I turned in my profile essay and you can all access it via my blog, I thought that I would give you a little information about my interview and what I learned about my interviewee, as well as things we talked about that didn't make it into my paper.

I interviewed a woman named Annette Fetty-Santilli.  She is a volunteer for PanCAN and works as the West Virginia Affiliate Coordinator.  This organization became a part of her life after her brother passed away from pancreatic cancer.  Since his death three years ago, she has been involved in a number of events that help to raise both money for research as well as awareness for pancreatic cancer.

As someone who understands the loss of a close loved one from this terrible disease, I got to talk to Annette not just about her story, but also about mine.  We talked a lot about the way the person fighting the disease changes and starts to slip away as the disease progresses.  We agreed that watching this happen and being unable to do anything about it was one of the most difficult aspects.

Although I have spoken to friends and family about the loss of my mom, it is very different talking to someone who knows the way you feel and has seen what you have seen.  Not everyone realizes the deteriorating conditions that happen when this disease claims the life of a loved one and the image that is etched in my mind of my mom's final days are forever with me, whether I try to forget them or not.

Annette and I talked a lot about moving on with life after such a loss and the everyday struggles that we both face.

Overall, the experience of this interview was a good one for me.  I made a new friend and learned that everyone struggles with moving on.  Three years later or thirteen years later, life is still different and you just have to adjust to it.

The New and Improved Pancreatic Cancer Research & Education Act (S 362/HR 733)

So I talked before about the Pancreatic Cancer Research and Education Act and how it was denied.  But people are fighting back, and this post is about the new and improved Pancreatic Cancer Research and Education Act.

The House of Representatives 733 is sponsored by Representative Anna G. Eshoo of California.  This act was introduced on 2/16/2011.  The committees involved include the House Energy and Commerce.  The latest major action happened on 2/28/2011 when the act was referred to the House subcommittee.  It's current status is that it is being referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Here is a list of cosponsors supporting this act:

Rep Ackerman, Gary L. [NY-5] - 3/11/2011
Rep Berkley, Shelley [NV-1] - 3/11/2011
Rep Capuano, Michael E. [MA-8] - 3/11/2011
Rep Cooper, Jim [TN-5] - 3/11/2011
Rep Costa, Jim [CA-20] - 3/11/2011
Rep Cummings, Elijah E. [MD-7] - 3/4/2011
Rep Davis, Susan A. [CA-53] - 3/17/2011
Rep DeGette, Diana [CO-1] - 3/16/2011
Rep Dicks, Norman D. [WA-6] - 3/14/2011
Rep Fitzpatrick, Michael G. [PA-8] - 3/15/2011
Rep Gerlach, Jim [PA-6] - 3/8/2011
Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22] - 3/11/2011
Rep Holt, Rush D. [NJ-12] - 2/28/2011
Rep Israel, Steve [NY-2] - 3/11/2011
Rep Lance, Leonard [NJ-7] - 2/16/2011
Rep Latham, Tom [IA-4] - 3/9/2011
Rep Lee, Barbara [CA-9] - 3/11/2011
Rep Lewis, John [GA-5] - 3/14/2011
Rep Lofgren, Zoe [CA-16] - 3/11/2011
Rep Lowey, Nita M. [NY-18] - 3/15/2011
Rep Lynch, Stephen F. [MA-9] - 3/17/2011
Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. [NY-14] - 3/14/2011
Rep McGovern, James P. [MA-3] - 3/17/2011
Rep McKinley, David B. [WV-1] - 3/17/2011
Rep McNerney, Jerry [CA-11] - 3/15/2011
Rep Moore, Gwen [WI-4] - 3/15/2011
Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8] - 2/28/2011
Rep Napolitano, Grace F. [CA-38] - 3/4/2011
Rep Neal, Richard E. [MA-2] - 3/11/2011
Rep Norton, Eleanor Holmes [DC] - 3/15/2011
Rep Pallone, Frank, Jr. [NJ-6] - 3/14/2011
Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15] - 3/14/2011
Rep Reichert, David G. [WA-8] - 2/16/2011
Rep Ross, Mike [AR-4] - 2/28/2011
Rep Sarbanes, John P. [MD-3] - 3/8/2011
Rep Schakowsky, Janice D. [IL-9] - 3/14/2011
Rep Schiff, Adam B. [CA-29] - 3/14/2011
Rep Turner, Michael R. [OH-3] - 3/14/2011
Rep Yarmuth, John A. [KY-3] - 3/9/2011 

The Senate 362 is being sponsored by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island.  This act was also introduced on 2/16/2011.  The committees involved include Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.  The latest major action took place on 2/16/2011 when the act was referred to the Senate Committee.  The current status is that the act has been read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pension.  The list of cosponsors include the following:

Sen Begich, Mark [AK] - 2/16/2011
Sen Brown, Sherrod [OH] - 2/16/2011
Sen Casey, Robert P., Jr. [PA] - 2/28/2011
Sen Collins, Susan M. [ME] - 2/16/2011
Sen Franken, Al [MN] - 3/15/2011
Sen Inouye, Daniel K. [HI] - 2/16/2011
Sen Johnson, Tim [SD] - 3/7/2011
Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] - 2/16/2011
Sen Lugar, Richard G. [IN] - 2/16/2011
Sen Menendez, Robert [NJ] - 2/28/2011
Sen Merkley, Jeff [OR] - 3/1/2011
Sen Reed, Jack [RI] - 3/14/2011

Relay For Life

So, even though Relay For Life is not specific to pancreatic cancer, it's still very important.  The Relay For Life is hosted by the American Cancer Society.  It is an event that involves walking or running around a track or path, depending on the location, for up to 24 hours in length.  Teams are formed and sponsored in order to raise money, but you don't have to be on a team to participate.  The amazing thing about Relay For Life is that it occurs in many different locations throughout the year.  It is something that I have personally participated in both before my mom was diagnosed and after.  Although I never formed a team, I always made a t-shirt and spent as much of those 24 hours at the track that I could.  There are many things to do at Relay.  There are baskets to buy tickets for, live music, games, and food.  But one thing about Relay that I love the most is the Luminaria.  As the sun sets, light shines on in the form of illuminated bags, each bearing the name of someone who has battled cancer.  Some celebrate survivors, some honor those who lost the fight.  Everyone is given a candle and a silent lap is dedicated to all who have battled cancer.  A display of luminarias is set up and shines in the shape of the word "HOPE."  Hope is a word that is very important to those who have been touched by cancer.  Without hope, you don't have anything.
Click Here for the list of Relay For Life events in the area.
WVU's Relay For Life takes place on April 15, 2011 with registration taking place at 6pm and the WVU Track opening at 7pm.  38 days left.  $17,691.21 raised so far.  What will you do?