Answer Cancer Foundation, in collaboration with Us TOO International Prostate Cancer Education & Support Network, The Broad Institute and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, offers a virtual presentation on the Metastatic Prostate Cancer Project. Dr. Eliezer Van Allen, the project’s Principal Investigator, introduces and explains the project with slides and responds to questions from the panel and written questions from the audience.
Panel
Dr. Eli Van Allen, Dana Farber Cancer, Principal Investigator
Professor Bill Burhans, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Project Participant
Len Sierra, Retired Research Pharmacist, Project Participant
Jake Hannam, Project Participant
Chuck Strand, Us TOO CEO, Co-Moderator
Rick Davis, AnCan Founder, Co-Moderator
The MPCP is a nationwide genomic research study for men with advanced or metastatic prostate cancer. It seeks to generate the most comprehensive database to be shared with the entire research community to accelerate discoveries. MPCP focuses cutting edge genomic science squarely on people living with metastatic prostate cancer. This project was designed and has been implemented collaboratively with metastatic prostate cancer patients, patient advocates, cancer researchers, physicians, and clinical specialists.
If you are a metastatic prostate cancer patient who has not yet participated, Dr. Van Allen explains the simple process via www.mpcproject.org.
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Dr. Eliezer Van Allen is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, a clinician at Dana-Farber/Partners Cancer Care, and an Associate Member at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.
His research focuses on computational cancer genomics, the application of new technologies such as massively parallel sequencing to precision cancer medicine, and resistance to targeted therapeutics.
Originally from Los Angeles, CA, he studied at Stanford University, obtained his M.D. from UCLA, and completed a residency in internal medicine at UCSF before coming to Boston and completing a medical oncology fellowship at the Dana-Farber/Partners Cancer Care program.
Has sleep become an issue since your cancer diagnosis?? … or perhaps it was before?
Is it the cancer or the treatment …. or just you?
Do you struggle to get to sleep or wake up and can’t get back to sleep?
Are you wondering why you have brain fog or depression since your diagnosis?
Much of our ‘wellness’ & good health stems from a good night’s sleep. One of the greatest, unspoken and untreated conditions arising from cancer is a reduction in the quality of sleep …. in fact, as you will learn, this a massive and burgeoning health crisis facing all society.
Dr. Rubin Naiman is a sleep specialist and clinical assistant professor of medicine at the University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, directed by Dr. Andrew Weil. He has spearheaded the development of integrative medicine approaches to sleep and dreams, creatively weaving medical and neurophysiological perspectives with psychological and spiritual views. Dr. Naiman is the author of several groundbreaking works on sleep, including Healing Night, Healthy Sleep (with Andrew Weil), The Yoga of Sleep, and Hush: A Book of Bedtime Contemplations, as well as professional book chapters and articles. He also blogs about sleep and dreams for the Huffington Post; see http://www.drnaiman.com.
Listen in and follow the slide presentation as Dr. Naiman offers tips on how to get a better night’s sleep.
Questions address topics as varied as restless leg syndrome and sleeping alone to melatonin and cannabis.
Along my journey, I have consistently told my multiple doctors I want to focus on the quality of my remaining days, not the quantity. I don’t want to die in a bed, unconscious and unresponsive under the influence of drugs, completely unaware of my surroundings. From the very beginning of this journey I have been worried about how I will die.
Donna Wilson has graciously agreed to answer additional questions – click here to reach her directly.
Answer Cancer Foundation is delighted to welcome Clinical Fitness Specialist Donna Wilson, a qualified pulmonary nurse and personal trainer and the mainstay of Memorial Sloan Kettering’s formidable cancer exercise programs at the Bendheim Integrative Medicine Center.
Donna has been a firm proponent for exercise to improve cancer outcomes and mitigate side effects, long before it was as fashionable as it is today. Through a couple of our regular AnCan participants, we have enjoyed working with Donna over the past several years; in fact AnCan was a catalyst to set up her PEX program.
The PEX class pays attention to the unique needs male patients and survivors share: to rebuild their muscle strength, improve balance and increase endurance. Through cardio sequences and weight training, PEX offers men of all ages and stage of treatment a fun and challenging workout that improve their health, physically and mentally.
In addition to her very busy professional life, Donna captains the MSKCC Empire Dragon Boat Racing Team for Cancer Survivors – a program that has proven inspirational to many.
Don’t miss the opportunity to hear how regular exercise can significantly improve living with cancer …. not just from Donna Wilson but from those whose lives Donna has changed!
After working as a pulmonary clinical nurse specialist for a number of years, Ms. Wilson transitioned into her current position as a nurse and clinical fitness specialist at the Bendheim Integrative Medicine Center in Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Here, she is responsible for the overall health and personal training sessions for both cancer patients and other healthcare professionals. In addition to individual consults and educational lectures, Donna conducts daily group classes focused on different cancer patient populations.
Ms. Wilson is a registered nurse and also holds a Master of Science in nursing, as well as membership in the Association of Fitness and Aerobics. Outside of her work, she is the captain of the Empire Dragon Boat Team, a racing team comprised solely of breast cancer survivors. Together, they compete in six dragon boat festivals in the northeast region of the U.S. She is proud to be a part of a team that works to maintain and support healthy lifestyles.
Rick Davis’ break-out presentation at PCRI Conference, Sept 2017 LAX Marriott. Rick discusses how to exploit internet resources to help you on your prostate cancer journey.
Dr. Mark Moyad of the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center addresses 2017 changes in the treatment of prostate cancer and answers questions. From ginseng to immunotherapy and everything in between, everyone will learn something from listening to this excellent session – thank you Dr. Moyad and our Aussie brothers for facilitating.
Greta Macaire RD of UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center gives her excellent slide illustrated presentation on how to eat right for prostate cancer. For more information go to https://www.ancan.org/prostate-cancer
Bipolar Androgen Therapy- hear Dr. Sam Denmeade, Johns Hopkins 2/20/17 – 8pm EST
Bipolar Androgen Therapy (BAT) is one of the hottest topics in prostate cancer right now for men with metastatic disease. Counter intuitive as it is, trials have shown large doses of testosterone followed by hormone therapy or chemotherapy appear to be very effective for some men in reducing PSA – for an excellent commentary by Mike Scott on Prostate Cancer International, click here.
Dr. Sam Denmeade at Johns Hopkins Medicine is in the forefront of this research. On Monday, February 20 at 8pm EST, Dr. Denmeade explained his research and open clinical trials on Answer Cancer Foundation’s UsTOO Hi-risk/Recurrent/Advanced Prostate Cancer Virtual Support Group meeting.
To review Dr. Denmeade’s slide presentation, click here
Listen to and watch the the whole presentation here.
If interested in contacting Dr. Denmeade for more information on BAT trials or your suitability, please e-mail him at denmesa@jhmi.edu .
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And an update ….. here’s a link to a UroToday interview between Chuck Ryan and Sam Denmead and Michael Schweitzer in Autumn, 2019.
Plenary AnCan session with guest speakers Dr. Phil Febbo, Chief Medical Officer at Genomic Health, speaking about the OncotypeDX test, and David Marshak, Patient Advocacy Manager at Foundation Medicine discussing their available assays.
Dr. Rubin Naiman
