Latest Developments in Cancer Care at Holy Cross

There is a tremendous amount happening at the Bienes Cancer Center. We have opened our first Phase 1 trials and are beginning an advertisement campaign to inform the community that these trials are available for patients who have exhausted all other means of treatment for certain types of cancer. Our first focus area is on lung cancers. This will be followed shortly by clinical Phase 1 trials for other disease types.

Additionally we hosted our first physician directed oncology seminar on 10/17/09. It was titled – “New Directions in Cancer Treatment: Targeted Therapies”. World renowned speakers from places including Mass General Cancer Center, the National Cancer Institute and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center were on hand to present the latest developments in molecular and genetic identification and therapies in oncology care. It was quite exciting. One attendee said to me that she felt badly for any cancer patient whose doctors “either did not know about these developments or did not know the speakers to be able to access that information.” We plan to follow up with a second symposium next winter.

As you see and hear more advertising for our cancer center please let us know – we want to be sure we are targeting the needs of our community.

Tags: cancer clinical trials, cancer research, cancer research trials, cancer treatment, clinical trials, genetic identification, lung cancer phase 1 clinical trials, lung cancer research trials, molecular identification, oncology care, oncology seminar, phase 1 trials, targeted cancer therapies
Posted in General Medical, Lung Cancer, Research and Genetics |

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Hands to Work, Hearts to God

The wonderful Shaker expression “Hands to work, hearts to God,” came into my mind when a visitor entered my office to offer the handiwork of a group of women from St. Jerome’s: “prayer shawls,” lap robes, and caps for our cancer patients. I took the samples she offered me and received a positive response wherever I showed them. What a pleasure it is to have the community beyond our walls so intimately involved in bringing comfort to those who come to us for care!

Since then I have received additional beautifully made items from the group, each piece infused with the prayers of its maker as it was knitted or sewn as a loving gift for a patient to treasure.

One of the prayers placed with the prayer shawls is this:

“God in the clicking of the needles;

God in the yarn,

God in the intentions.

God in the Ewe.

God in the weaving, for the sake of Your Peace.

God’s Peace in the making

Christ’s Peace in the giving

The Spirit’s peace in the receiving.

Amen, Amen, Amen”

(Author: Vicky Dawson)

May God’s Peace be with those who pray, as well as those who receive! Thanks to all whose hearts and hands are called to this ministry.

Posted in Spirituality |

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Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

In my last post, I began talking with you about cancer survivorship. Cancer survivorship is one of the most popular topics in oncology care and rightfully so. Today there are over 12 million cancer survivors. The increase in cancer survivorship occurred because of the many advances that we have made in oncology care in areas such as early cancer detection and treatment. The National Cancer Institute reported that of the 12 million cancer survivors, the highest percentage of cancer survivors are breast cancer survivors, who represent 23% followed by prostate cancer at 20%. For more information on the total breakdown, please visit cancer.gov.

For me it is more personal than that. I live with a cancer survivor—my mom. She celebrated her 10th anniversary as a breast cancer survivor. In August 1999, she was diagnosed with breast cancer had a mastectomy followed by radiation treatments. I was reminded again about the power of the word “cancer” when one of my closest friends called me two months ago to tell me she had too just been diagnosed with breast cancer. I remember the fear and dread in the sound of her voice. Despite the fact that more women survive with breast cancer today partly owing to early diagnosis, the announcement of the diagnosis is no less frightening to hear. Other people have different responses to a diagnosis of cancer as well. I remembered when one of my sister-in-laws was diagnosed with breast cancer; she was calm and accepting saying, “it is God’s will and I will not question him.” The differences in handling our life’s crisis are unique to us but it is important to remember in all of this that there is help and hope surrounding us as well. For more information on cancer survivorship support, visit canceradvocacy.org.

Breast Cancer affects 192,370 annually according to the American Cancer Society (2009). October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Holy Cross Hospital and the Bienes Comprehensive Cancer Center, in recognition of this are the Gold Sponsor for the American Cancer Society’s Annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer (MSABC). For more information about our cancer center, please visit The Bienes Comprehensive Cancer Center’s website. We hope you will join us at the Huizenga Park in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, October 10th for MSABC. For more information on MSABC, please check out or the American Cancer Society’s website.

Tags: american cancer society, breast cancer, cancer advocacy, cancer survivorship, making strides against breast cancer
Posted in Breast Cancer Surgery, Cancer Support, General Medical, Spirituality |

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