CindyA

It’s normal for someone diagnosed with cancer to experience feelings of sadness, fear, anger and grief. It’s when those feelings prevent you from functioning in your everyday life and you feel emotionally paralyzed in your situation for an extended period od time that you need to seek help. Cancer patients experience depression two times more than the general population and studies have shown that mental health and social well-being can affect the success of treatment. Those diagnosed with cancer have life plans that are interrupted, a change in physical activity and ability, role changes in relationships, and career, may experience a loss of self-image or sense of self. They also experience fears about the cancer growing within their bodies, anxiety about the success or failure of treatments, worry over their families and caregivers and may fixate on the possibility that their lives will be cut short from their disease. Those diagnosed with lung cancer have an additional set of issues facing them. Some may experience the stigma associated with the disease and experience anger or guilt, isolation or shame depending on whether or not they had a smoking history and whether or not they feel they are getting adequate medical and emotional support from their local communities. Lung cancer survivors may also feel outrage, anger and a sense of being forgotten because of lack of public awareness and support of the disease in the media, limited treatment options available for the disease and sparse funding that goes to research the disease. Depression is more than just the normal feelings of sadness. Depression is when an individual experiences at least one of the following symptoms for more than two weeks: Feeling sad most of the time Loss of pleasure and interest in activities you used to enjoy Changes in eating and sleeping habits Nervousness Slow physical and mental responses Unexplained tiredness Feeling worthless Feeling guilt for no reason Decreased concentration ability Thoughts of death or suicide Getting help for your depression can help your cancer experience feel less challenging; it may help your relationships with the people around you may give you back some sense of control over certain parts of your life. Visit the National Cancer Institute for more information on depression in cancer patients and call your doctor if you feel like you may be suffering from depression. ______________________ Did you experience depression with your lung cancer diagnosis? Share your tips on how you dealt with your depression by commenting below.

Podcasts, Videos and Webinars Squamous Cell NSCLC: Growing Understanding and Expanding Treatment Options Join us for a webinar on November 12 Space is limited. Click to reserve your webinar seat now. GRACE and LUNGevity are very pleased to offer another webinar, on Tuesday, November 12, at 2-3 pm Eastern, 11 am - noon Pacific, on a topic that has been building momentum based on an emerging focus as a subject of clinical research. We're happy to welcome back Dr. David Spigel, lung cancer expert at the Sarah Cannon Cancer Center in Nashville, TN, and Director of the Clinical Research Program to discuss current and evolving management issues in squamous cell carcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma represents 20% to 25% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in North America and approximately a third of cases in Europe, but over the last decade more of the developments in NSCLC have focused on patients with an adenocarcinoma or the broader range of "non-squamous" NSCLC. However, over the last few years, we have seen some new treatment options that include or even focus on patients with squamous NSCLC, ranging from standard chemotherapy to new potential targets to immunotherapy platforms that may be especially active in patients with squamous NSCLC. Dr. Spigel will review some basic issues in the biology of squamous cell carcinoma, how it differs in clinical behavior from adenocarcinoma, and how new research avenues are focusing on this large but historically understudied group of lung cancer patients. Though we'll make the content of the program available as a series of podcasts after the program, we encourage you to sign up for the live event, where you'll have the chance to ask questions and follow Dr. Spigel's dynamic presentation in real time. As always, registration is free, so sign up today! After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Welcome BDAddy52, I'm sorry you have a reason to be here, however we are here for you and your family. LUNGevity has an "Ask the Experts" page on the foundations web site where you can search previously asked questions &/or you can submit your own. Here is the link http://expertblog.lungevity.org/ask-the-experts/ We also have a few pages on Facebook where we post information almost as fast as we receive it, The pages names are LUNGevity Foundation, Lung Cancer Support Community, Survivors Resource Center & Caregiver Resource Center. We are also on Twitter and Google+. However you like to communicate we are pretty much there. Please keep posting and keeping us updated on how you and your son are. We are here to support you both however we can. Sincerely,

September 18th, 2013 - by Margery Jacobson This is a tribute to the LUNGevity Foundation Scientific Advisory Board. As LUNGevity’s Research and Program Services Manager, I handle the day-to-day aspects of the research program. This includes attending the semi-annual research meetings—the Fall strategy meetings and the Spring study sections. I come away from each of these meetings exhilarated by what has been accomplished and the ultimate progress these accomplishments will represent to the lung cancer community, and the Scientific Advisory Board is the reason I feel this way. A little bit first about the SAB and what it does: The SAB includes leaders in epidemiology, biostatistics, immunology, thoracic surgery, and other areas relevant to the research we support, and most of them focus on lung cancer in their own work. Currently, there are 18 regular members from 14 institutions nationwide. In addition, there are eight non-voting members, recipients of the LUNGevity Career Development Award who are members of the SAB during their award term. At the Spring study section, SAB members, joined by a group of outside experts, discuss the best of the research proposals that have been received, using specific assessment criteria. These include the overall impact of the project on the field, the likelihood of the project increasing understanding of early detection or treatment, the merits of the research approach, the strength of the researcher/research team, and the merits of the research environment. Funding is limited, but the number of excellent proposals we receive is not, so these discussions are absolutely critical to making sure that we fund the best of the best. At the Fall strategy meetings, SAB members discuss various research program issues relevant to the upcoming grant cycle, in order to ensure the program is having the biggest impact possible. In the context of how the science and funding around lung cancer is evolving overall, they might discuss: What research areas should be funded? What should be the value of the awards? Should we change the criteria for eligibility? Should we change the criteria for assessment? Should cross-institution research proposals be favored over single-institution research proposals? Should we offer continuation funding at the end of an award term in cases where the researcher’s progress would recommend it? Typically, an SAB member also presents an update on his/her own work or on a more general topic relating to lung cancer. Once a year, current awardees also present their progress to the scientific advisors and take questions around their LUNGevity-funded projects. In addition to helping assess whether the work is on track or there are new, unexpected findings, these sessions also provide a forum for identifying opportunities for collaboration and problem-solving with researchers from other institutions. The researchers can also receive recommendation for how to improve the impact and productivity of their work. These meetings are intense and lengthy. So why do I come away so excited? Three simple reasons: SAB members know, they care, and they collaborate. At these meetings, SAB members display a profound understanding of the field and what is required for there to be progress that will make the most difference in the lives of lung cancer patients; they care deeply that LUNGevity can fund the research that will do this; and they engage in a civil way that allows for honest discussion, including a readiness to consider and accept points of view that were not theirs originally, all toward realization of their shared goal to fund the best research.

The Perfect Meal to Celebrate the End Summer – Roasted Halibut with Lime and Papaya and Avocado Salsa This recipe is bold and pretty enough that it could be served in a Mexican restaurant, especially when made into tacos or tostadas, as in the variation. Halibut is rich in beneficial omega-3s; plus, it has a meaty texture and mild flavor, which makes it great for kids or anyone who’s a little leery of fish. The marinade contains lime zest, cumin, cilantro, and cayenne, bathing the halibut in a sea of yum, and the Papaya and Avocado Salsa provides a tasty crescendo. Makes 4 servings For the Roasted Halibut with Lime: 3 1/2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice 1 teaspoon grated lime zest 1/4 teaspoon sea salt 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin Pinch of cayenne 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh cilantro 4 (6-ounce) halibut fillets Papaya and Avocado Salsa Combine the lime juice, lime zest, salt, cumin, cayenne, olive oil, and cilantro in a small bowl and whisk until thoroughly blended. Spread 3 tablespoons of the marinade evenly over both sides of the fillets. Reserve the remaining marinade. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly oil an ovenproof pan large enough to accommodate all of the fillets in a single layer. Pat the fillets dry with paper towels and put them in the prepared pan. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the flesh is opaque and flakes easily.To be certain the fish is cooked through, push a two-pronged kitchen fork straight down into the flesh; the fish is done when it is no longer translucent. Drizzle the reserved marinade over the fillets and top each with a generous dollop of the salsa. Serve immediately. For the Papaya and Avocado Salsa: The name of this dollop alone is enough to make you sigh.Avocado and papaya—do
I really need to say more? Papaya’s key enzyme, papain, is a superb digestive aid and is often used in tenderizing blends. I designed this sweet, creamy salsa, which looks like edible confetti, to go with halibut, but it will take any fish or chicken dish from ballast to bling. Makes 2 cups 1 cup diced papaya 1 cup diced avocado 3 tablespoons finely diced red bell pepper 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
Pinch of cayenne Put all the ingredients in a bowl and stir gently to combine. For optimal flavor, cover and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving. Variations: Substitute mango, pineapple, or tomato for the papaya. Substitute pomegranate seeds for the red bell pepper. http://meals-to-heal.com/blog/the-perfe ... ado-salsa/

LUNGevity Foundation, the largest lung-cancer focused funder of research in the U.S., announced that it has awarded $400,000 in new lung cancer research funds to two outstanding researchers through its Lung Cancer Early Detection Research program. WASHINGTON, Sept. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- New Early Detection Awards bring total number of LUNGevity-funded grants to new milestone LUNGevity Foundation, the largest lung-cancer focused funder of research in the U.S., announced that it has awarded $400,000 in new lung cancer research funds to two outstanding researchers through its Lung Cancer Early Detection Research program. These awards are in addition to the six other 2013 translational awards granted through LUNGevity's Career Development and Targeted Therapeutics programs that were announced earlier this year. The work of these researchers will help ensure continued progress against this cancer that kills more people than the next four cancers combined. The additional two grants bring LUNGevity grant-funding to the milestone of 100 grants awarded in 23 states since 2002. LUNGevity's Early Detection Awards for Translational Research program support research projects directed at new approaches to improve clinical methods for the detection of primary tumors. 2013 Early Detection Awards for Translational Research were made to: -- Feng Jiang, MD, PhD, University of Maryland, Baltimore, for "Sputum biomarkers for the early detection of lung cancer" -- Ignacio Wistuba, MD, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, for "Identification of biomarkers for the detection of SCLC" "While colorectal, breast, and prostate cancers all have effective methods to detect those diseases early in their progression when they are most treatable, and even curable, lung cancer, which accounts for 27% of all cancer deaths in the U.S., does not. LUNGevity researchers are working to ensure that an early diagnosis of lung cancer will become a reality, with thousands of lives saved," said Andrea Ferris, President and Chairman of LUNGevity. The 2013 Career Development and Targeted Therapeutics Awards in Translational Research were made to: Timothy Burns, MD, PhD, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, for "Targeting KRAS-mutant NSCLC through inhibition of mTOR and Hsp90" David Kozono, MD, PhD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, for "Biomarkers for NSCLC radiosensitization by proteasome inhibition" Meredith Tennis, PhD, University of Colorado Denver, for "Biomarkers for targeted lung cancer chemoprevention" Balazs Halmos, MD, Columbia University Medical Center, for "Identification of predictive biomarkers of chemoradiotherapy in lung cancer" Lecia V. Sequist, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital, for "Determining mechanisms of resistance to next-generation EGFR inhibitors" Frank J. Slack, PhD, Yale University, for "Targeting KRAS mutations in lung cancer" Special thanks to Genentech and our other donors for supporting the LUNGevity Scientific Research Program. The Foundation works with its Scientific Advisory Board, eighteen prominent and leading scientists and researchers, and additional experts to ensure that grants are awarded to the proposals with the greatest potential for saving lives. Under the guidance of the Advisory Board, chaired by Dr. Pierre Massion, Director of Thoracic Program and, Professor of Medicine and Cancer Biology in the Division of Allergy, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, LUNGevity has become the nation's premier private grant-making organization funding research for the early detection and effective treatment of lung cancer. About LUNGevity Foundation LUNGevity Foundation is firmly committed to making an immediate impact on increasing quality of life and survivorship of people with lung cancer by accelerating research into early detection and more effective treatments, as well as by providing community, support and education for all those affected by the disease. Our vision is a world where no one dies of lung cancer. For more information about the grants or LUNGevity Foundation, please visit www.LUNGevity.org. About Lung Cancer -- 1 in 14 Americans is diagnosed with lung cancer in their lifetime -- More than 226,000 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with lung cancer this year -- About 60% of all new lung cancer diagnoses are among people who have never smoked or are former smokers -- Lung cancer kills more people than the next four cancers (colorectal, breast, pancreatic, and prostate) combined -- Only 16% of all people diagnosed with lung cancer will survive 5 years or more, BUT if it's caught before it spreads, the chance for 5-year survival improves dramatically SOURCE LUNGevity Foundation Copyright © 2013 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

No Shame in Crying September 12th, 2013 - by Kenneth Lourie Nor is it a crying shame. But something has changed, dare I say affected my tear duct production. I can’t say with certainty – or even specify a particular moment in time for sure – when the tears began to flow more easily, but I’ll guess the change occurred sometime on or around February 27, 2009, the day I first met my oncologist; the day I was diagnosed with a terminal disease, stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), “prognosed” to live 13 months to two years. If that kind of shocking, terminal-type news doesn’t upset your apple cart – permanently, “You’re a better man than I am, Gunga Din.” And so it has, as reflected in my frequent “salty discharge” (to quote Jerry Seinfeld). How this “upset” has manifested itself has been in my emotional reactions to things. On a wide range of subjects, when discussions conjure any kind of heartfelt, semi emotional connection/reaction, my voice weakens, quivers, shakes, cracks and then becomes almost inaudible as I try to string together the words in my brain that I’m trying to vocalize through my mouth. Invariably the words get out, but in a halting type of hesitation rather than the firm kind of expression with which I’m accustomed. I used to be confident in what I said; now I’ve become confident in what I can’t say. Moreover, if the circumstances described in the previous paragraph occur in a semi private place, or where I feel a bit more at ease, my eyes will begin to water and tears will form. I can usually prevent my cheeks from getting wet by rubbing my eyes and clearing my throat, but at that point, the damage is already done: I have been walloped emotionally, almost unexpectedly, given the usually unrelated-to-my life story line mentioned. Once again however, the cancer – in my opinion, has reared its ugly, figurative head. It’s not exactly as if I’m crying over spilled milk, but I seem to be crying over and about thoughts, memories, expressions, references, etc., not necessarily relating to cancer and rarely connecting to me. It’s as if my reaction stabilizer (as if there is such a thing) has been compromised somehow. (You think?) I can’t control or even prevent these very public displays of being affected. Apparently, my immune system is so focused on fighting/fending off the cancer – internally/physically, that it has lost its ability to thwart off the external. It seems that the words I see, hear and feel upset me more than the metastatic tumors I know I have in my lungs do. I’m definitely different now. I can’t always keep my feelings to myself. The tears give me away. It’s not embarrassing – to me. It’s nothing about which I’m ashamed. It is however, something for which I have no off switch. And though I may have thought – about myself, going into this cancer life, that I was fairly sturdy and together emotionally, perhaps these tears are evidence to the contrary. Or maybe it’s simply my body’s way of coping with an extremely demanding and hostile intruder: cancer.

From Gumdrop and Lollipop Land to Opryland; Living with Lung Cancer September 16th, 2013 - by Jill Feldman For me, Gumdrop and Lollipop Land is Camp, in Culver Indiana. Culver is where I went to overnight camp as a child, where I worked in the summers during college, where three of my kids go to camp now, and where I have worked (round 2) the past two summers, with my best friend from camp whom I met 30 years ago. Culver is my happy place ~ Gumdrop and Lollipop Land. Being a camper was the greatest gift from my parents; it was an experience like no other. Camp was also my safe place, a reprieve from some hard times at home. My dad died in May, when I was 13, and I couldn’t wait to get back to Culver where I could escape reality and pretend my life was normal for a few months. Now, 30 years later, I feel the same. When I’m at camp I get a “breather” from lung cancer. People know I have lung cancer, and we talk about it at times, but I don’t have scans, doctors, events, advocacy, etc. Lung cancer is such a small part of my everyday life at camp that I am able to, physically and emotionally, put it far, far away and just live, in Gumdrop and Lollipop Land. Two weeks after coming home from camp this year, LUNGevity hosted the Red Carpet Live event at the National Women’s Survivor Convention in Nashville, Tennessee, and I was honored to be their special guest. To ‘re-enter’ reality from camp that quickly was tough, but I was looking forward to Nashville and my stay at Opryland! The National Women’s Survivor Convention was the inaugural event hosted by National Women’s Survivor Alliance. Its purpose was to empower, educate and connect women with all cancers. It had great energy and was very organized, but I was a bit frustrated that lung cancer only represented 1% of the participants (9 out of 900), despite being the number one cancer killer among women. Reality check #1; back to reality! The empowerment sessions at the convention were informative and well lead by experts, celebrities and patients. I chose to attend the sessions about Survivorship over Managing Treatment or Fear of Recurrence because I figured the later didn’t apply to my situation since I’m not currently in treatment and I’ve already experienced recurrence a few times. Reality check #2; neither did the former! Survivorship was about life after cancer, not life with chronic cancer. I feel great and look healthy, but I was reminded shortly after I returned from Nashville that what I feel is less valid than the scan that shows active disease. Despite the scan, my appointment was positive: The radiation seems to be working on the nodule treated in May, there continues to be changes, but no significant growth in the other nodules, and most importantly, there weren’t any new nodules! So why was that appointment so hard? Reality check #3; I still have lung cancer and always will. Every appointment is a harsh reminder of the actuality that lung cancer will be a lifelong roller coaster ride. Of course I have perspective, and I am grateful for so much in my life, but I am still learning to live with lung cancer, and what exactly that means. It could mean a lot of things, but for me it’s accepting that I have lung cancer, and then being able to escape that reality when I get the chance. I think I am realistic, pragmatic and have a good sense of what makes sense; but do I? I bought a shirt at Opryland that says, “Denial is my happy place.” I do realize that denial contradicts acceptance, but denial for me is escaping reality. That is how I live with lung cancer, by living in the moment when I can. It’s a conscious decision and it’s easier said than done, but all of the scary uncertainties and worries in the unpredictable future are completely out of my control. That means living with constant fear and anxiety (which can be paralyzing) isn’t going to change what that future will be! Lung cancer has beaten me down time and time again and it now has control over my body. It has definitely taken a toll on me, but I refuse to let it control my emotions, steal my joy, take away precious time with my kids, or dictate how I live. Lung cancer will always be my reality and so I will continue to speak, write, support, advocate, and do as the doctor says, but until I’m told otherwise, I will also continue to escape when I can, especially to Gumdrop and Lollipop Land. It doesn’t have to be lung cancer. Everyone is fighting a hard battle and it’s all relative to our personal lives ~ Life can be hard! To quote Kenny Chesney’s song, Reality, “Everybody needs to break free, from reality!”

Funding Research September 9th, 2013 - by Cheryl Delby Cheryl DelbyMy dad quit cigarette smoking cold turkey after 30 years. He tried a number of times before that but something about that particular day that no one will ever understand, he stopped cold. I was so proud! At the age of 71, 25 years after he quit, my dad was diagnosed with lung cancer. He died four months later. I went with my father to several doctors’ appointments and the question “Were you a smoker?” came up each time. And when I revealed the cause of my father’s death at his wake, his smoking was often mentioned. The question and references annoyed me. Yes, he smoked, but he also quit 25 years ago! For some reason, that achievement didn’t seem relevant. There were no references to other carcinogens, such as those typically found in the auto parts he hauled as a truck driver. No one asked about the mysterious pesticide sprayed by our local farmer that killed the grape vines in my father’s garden. My dad wasn’t asked about many other things – just smoking. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that smoking is a good thing. My dad knew it wasn’t – he quit – but the last thing he needed in his final days was the guilt trip he inevitably felt from the doctors who seemed to blame him for his disease. In the period after my father’s diagnosis, I did a lot of research. While that research didn’t change his fate, I learned a lot. I was shocked to learn that lung cancer kills more people than breast cancer, prostate cancer and colon cancer combined. Even so, funding to fight the disease pales in comparison to the fund-raising efforts for many other cancers. My research led me to meet a woman, a non-smoker with no exposure to second hand smoke, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer while in her late forties. She led a healthy lifestyle and was shocked to learn of her diagnosis. Even so, she admitted to being embarrassed and judged as she shared her diagnosis with others. Although they had no proof, others seemed to believe that if she had lung cancer, she must have done something to cause it. While my experience with my father and my friend isn’t a substitute for scientific evidence, it’s clear in my mind that the stigma attached to this disease has negatively impacted the survival rate of lung cancer victims. To fight this injustice, it became important to me to fund lung cancer research. Miraculously, my friend survived for five years. Given her young age, she was able to sustain aggressive treatment and participate in several clinical trials. She also became involved in and introduced me to LUNGevity Foundation. After contributing to a few LUNGevity events and learning more about their commitment to increased survival rates, I enrolled in their sustaining donation program. Under this program, I take comfort each month in knowing that I’m contributing to moving this valuable research forward. Doctors will and should continue to ask about the smoking and lifestyle habits of their patients. With improved lung cancer research, however, I’m hoping that a broader level of questions will be asked to help remove the stigma associated with this disease and to improve early detection and survival rates.

Hi Ronnie, I saw the Light a Candle has been updated. Did you see yours? Cindy

Welcome 2doglover, I posted a reply to you in the other message board place. With LUNGevity, there are several resources to help you, your family and your Dad. I hope you will visit our foundations website for support and guidance. I'm glad you found us. Here is a link to our Support & Advocacy page on our website. Caregivers http://events.lungevity.org/cg/index.html We also have pages on Facebook, if you are on there. LUNGevity is our main one, Lung Cancer Support Community, Caregiver Resource Center, Survivor Resource Center. We also like a Fur baby friendly one called PAWS Against Lung Cancer. I hope you will find this message board as a place where the doors are always open and warm hugs are waiting for you. Cindy A.

Hi 2doglover, I know your Dad is going through this and it is hard on you too. I feel like if I were in your shoes and I wanted to cry everyday, I would. Please understand that it is hard for him too. Maybe if you see him soon you can tell him how you feel, there is no reason to feel embarrassed or ashamed for what you feel. I know everyone might expect you to "be strong" but you are human. We feel emotions. I wonder if/when you tell your Dad how you have been feeling you will feel better and he will understand because he may be feeling the same way too. I wish I would've told my Grandfather how I felt when he was losing his life. I felt like I was always "too busy". Maybe I was, just so I didn't have to feel anything. Now, I have to live with that choice. Ask yourself if being with him and being open is more important than not being around him? I'd love to hear back from you, Cindy A.

Good news! Katie replied as fast as lightning. She said there was a system upgrade and this may be something that did not automatically upgrade. She will look into it. If I see your posts then I'l post here to let you know it has upgraded. Thanks again Ronnie & Michelle. Take care, Cindy A.

Free screenings for lung cancer Sharon, Pa. Sharon Regional Health System is offering free lung- cancer screenings as part of an ongoing community effort to aid in the early detection of lung cancer. To be eligible to participate in the screenings individuals must have a primary-care physician and meet the following criteria: between 55 and 74 years old, smoke at least 30 packs of cigarettes per year, or be a former smoker who quit in the last 15 years and not be under a doctor’s care for a lung condition. Free Lung Cancer Screening sponsored by Sharon Regional’s Cancer Care Center in conjunction with The Great American Smokeout. Date: Saturday, November 17, 2012 Time: 7 a.m. Who: Ages 55-75; Current 30+ pack per year smoker; Former smoker who quit in the last 15 years Location: Sharon Regional Diagnostic and Imaging Center 2435 Garden Way, Hermitage The screening includes a free low-dose CT scan of the lung for detecting cancerous lung tumors early, when they are most treatable. Information on smoking cessation classes will be available. Registration is required. Call 724-983-5518 or 800-346-7997 to schedule your appointment.

Hi Ronnie, This is Cindy, Katie's assistant. I personally do not know how to update that area, however I will pass on this message to Katie. Stay tuned for an update from one of us. Thanks for your patience and continued support of the message board.

HER2 as a New Target in NSCLC: Common Enough, Effective Enough to be Paid For? August 17th, 2013 - by Dr. Jack West A new report published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology reports that HER2/neu (HER2) mutations are seen in 1.7% of patients with non-small cell lung cancer and that HER2 inhibitors may be an effective treatment, at least transiently, for many of these patients. But is this enough to make HER2 mutations a practical target? How are we going to address a growing list of very uncommon and relatively understudied potential targets? What if insurers are unwilling to pay for them? To dig a little deeper in the paper, it comes from multiple centers in France, Switzerland and Spain, collaborating to test 3800 patients with NSCLC, early or later stage. Altogether, 65 patients, or 1.7%, were found to have a HER2 mutation (mutation in the HER2 gene, as opposed to the potentially more common but perhaps less relevant finding of over-expression of the HER2 protein). Interestingly, this group was comprised entirely of patients with adenocarcinomas and was disproportionately women (45:20, 69%) and never-smokers (52%). In all but one case, HER2 was the only “driver” mutation identified, so patients didn’t also have an EGFR mutation, ALK rearrangement, etc. Within that group of 65 patients, 33 had stage IV disease, and 16 of them received at least one HER2 inhibitor therapy along with standard chemotherapy, and a few received more than one over several lines of treatment. Altogether, 22 different cases of anti-HER2 therapy were given to stage IV patients, and partial responses (PRs) were seen to 11 of them, for a PR rate of 50%, with 7 showing stable disease (SD, 32%) and progressive disease (PD) in 4 cases (18%). In most cases, particularly with Herceptin (trastuzumab), this treatment was given along with standard chemotherapy.The median duration of progression-free survival (PFS) in patients receiving first-line anti-HER2 therapy was 5.1 months. Taking a step back, we need to ask what this really means. While seeing responses to anti-HER2 therapy in patients with a HER2 mutation is very promising, it’s worth noting that in most cases this was given with chemotherapy, and the response rate to chemotherapy is 20-35% in most trials. Moreover, the median PFS of 5.1 months isn’t remarkably promising compared to the PFS of other targeted therapies like EGFR TKIs for people with an EGFR mutation or XALKORI (crizotinib) for those with an ALK rearrangement, in whom we expect to see a median PFS of 9-13 months, and we routinely see a median PFS of 3-5 months with standard chemotherapy. So once the smoke clears and we recognize that these results are not in and of themselves especially remarkable, we’re left with the question of whether HER2 testing should be commonplace or standard, and whether anti-HER2 therapies like Herceptin should be regularly administered to the 1-2% of patients who are found to have a HER2 mutation. As exciting as the concept of more targets and targeted therapies is, I think many (most?) insurers will be disinclined to pay for testing or for the treatments that may have some modest benefit but are not well studied and are clearly not yet considered a standard of care. Even if covered to some degree, I can envision insurers saying that for such an unproven therapy, a patient may be responsible for a significant fraction of the cost. What do these results mean to you? If not covered, do you think these results are promising enough to pay for the testing or the anti-HER2 therapies like Herceptin, which can amount to many thousands of dollars per month? Or would you want to see further testing done to establish a clear benefit before HER2 becomes a more established treatment and routinely covered for the minority of patients who have a HER2 mutation?

Healthy Herb How-To Za’atar is a special combination of dried herbs, lemon juice and sesame seeds used as a marinade rub. This easy, yet exotic blend can turn ordinary chicken breast into an inspired dinner. Sesame seeds add a little fiber, iron, magnesium and heart-healthy fats. Chicken is a good lean protein source and an excellent canvas for trying out different herbs and spices. Pair with a leafy green salad for a delicious meal. Za’atar Chicken 2 Tbsp. sesame seeds (use unhulled, if available) 1 Tbsp. dried oregano 1 Tbsp. dried thyme 1/2 tsp. sea salt 2 tsp. fresh lemon juice 2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil, mild and fruity 1 large onion, thinly sliced 4 chicken breast halves (1.5 lbs total), with the rib, skinned Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. For za’atar, set cast iron or other heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add sesame seeds to dry, hot pan. Lift pan and hold it just above burner, moving it to swirl seeds until they start popping and color lightly, 2-3 minutes. Immediately spread toasted seeds on a plate to cool. Place fully cooled sesame seeds in a mortar and pestle and crush lightly. Add oregano, thyme and salt, and work mixture just to blend. Mix in lemon juice then oil. Or, seal sesame seeds in plastic sandwich bag and crush using rolling pin, then place in small mixing bowl. Adding herbs, rub them between your fingers, a teaspoon at a time, and crumble them into bowl. Add salt, lemon juice and oil. In baking dish just large enough to hold chicken pieces, spread onion slices over bottom. Make 2 diagonal slits in each chicken breast, cutting almost to the bone. Arrange chicken in baking dish. Using your fingers, coat chicken with za’atar, pushing some into slits. Cover baking dish with foil, sealing edges. Bake chicken for 30 minutes, or until an instant-read thermometer registers 160 degrees F. Let baked chicken sit for 10 minutes, or cool until warm or room temperature before serving. To serve, place a chicken breast on each of 4 dinner plates, accompanied by onions. Pass pan juices separately, in a pitcher. Or, cool chicken and serve it in slices, with cooled onions and reserving liquid for cooking vegetables or for a flavorful addition to soups and sauces. Or tear it into pieces for chicken salad. Makes 4 servings. Per serving: 258 calories, 12 g total fat (2 g saturated fat), 6 g carbohydrate, 30 g protein, 2 g dietary fiber, 304 mg sodium.

HI everyone I just wanted to introduce myself again. My name is Cindy. I'm 33 years old. I live in Texas with my Husband of almost 10 years, our 7 year old daughter and our 5 year old son. I previously helped in the message board, took a break but now I'm back! Here is my story. I lost my grandfather Thomas Payne R. in 1998 and was by his side through his c-word journey. I was the one who stayed by his and my grandmothers (Olga) side when everyone else couldn't. During his tx my grandmother had a heart attack and had a triple by pass. For awhile I helped them both out, sleeping in their rooms doing everything I could to keep them both comfortable. My Grandmother is still living. She's doing well for her age. I also lost my Grandma Tommie to lung and brain cancer. She lived 5 hours away from me so I couldn't be there for her as much as I wanted to. I feel like now she is looking down on me from Heaven smiling. So although I do not know a lot (I'm still learning), my hope is that anyone here will feel free to connect with me if you'd like. I'm here in the GENERAL/HEALTHY RECIPES, on Facebook (CALMENDAREZ@lungevity.org), on Twitter (@CALungevity) and reachable via e-mail. Are there any new members here? Thanks for carving time out of your day to read this. Cindy

Mercy hospital in Maine, is offering $275 scans (800) 293-6583 Maine Docs Embracing C-T Screenings for Lung Cancer http://ow.ly/

Hi Mike, I did a little research and found that a clove is a sufficient amount. Here is the article I found: The World Health Organization’s (WHO) guidelines for general health promotion for adults is a daily dose of 2 to 5 g of fresh garlic (approximately one clove), 0.4 to 1.2 g of dried garlic powder, 2 to 5 mg of garlic oil, 300 to 1,000 mg of garlic extract, or other formulations that are equal to 2 to 5 mg of allicin. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/fact ... prevention As far as a great way to prepare food with garlic, Here is my suggestion: Summer medley of vegetables - (sliced and and cut in half) zucchini, squash, cherry tomatoes, red onion, baby carrots & your favorites) Topped with a few minced cloves of garlic, thyme, & oregano (I like smoked cayenne & dill also) sprinkled with extra virgin olive oil. Mix them all around in a baking pan then Roast in the oven at 350 degrees until the veggies appear to have a nice toasted look. Please update me if you try this or any other recipe with garlic. Thanks for replying to my post. Chat with ya later. Cindy

Potential Targets, Potential Treatments, and the Debate About What Will be Covered August 9th, 2013 - by Dr. Jack West I recently met with the folks from Foundation Medicine, who offer a comprehensive molecular marker testing platform for lung cancer and potentially other cancers that looks not only for commonly recognized molecular targets for which established targeted therapies exist, but also potentially identifies a huge range of mutations that may be a driver of the cancer, and for which less established treatment options might be effective. As this type of molecular interrogation of cancers becomes increasingly available, not only from Foundation Medicine but also from other private vendors and academic centers, we will increasingly encounter situations in which the identification of a possible important molecular target is accompanied by a list of suggestions of treatment options that are available based on varying amounts of evidence, sometimes quite minimal. While more information is better than less information, it’s important that we know what to do with that information. In the case of Foundation Medicine reports, and many others, the report of results is typically accompanied by a list of potential treatments that includes clinical trials with agents for that specific target, as well as agents that may be approved for that particular cancer or are commercially available as a treatment for a different kind of cancer. For example, a patient with NSCLC that has a rare BRAF V600E mutation may have a melanoma treatment of Zelboraf (vemurafenib ) suggested. That may well prove to be effective, but it isn’t a recommendation based on evidence that the treatment has worked for lung cancer. Historically, sometimes treatments for a molecular target established as effective for one cancer prove to be effective for another, such as the finding that Herceptin (trastuzumab), an established antibody against a target called HER2/neu that is overexpressed in about 1/4 of breast cancers, is also effective in gastric cancers that overexpress HER2, and it appears to be active in the small minority of patients with NSCLC that harbors a HER2 mutation. Unfortunately, however, there are also many examples of potentially active targeted therapies that have completely failed when tested in other cancer types, even when that marker has been present. The question of how much evidence is needed to favor an unproven therapy is subject to a great deal of judgment, but in a world in which many of these treatments cost $5-10,000 per month, we are about to encounter a great challenge over whether insurers can or should pay for treatments that might possibly be helpful but don’t have evidence yet to demonstrate significant efficacy. If not covered, would a patient and their family choose to spend that kind of money on a possibly effective treatment? I might envision an insurer agreeing to cover only a very limited fraction or perhaps none of the cost of treatments that are recommended based on a concept but no strong clinical evidence in the same patient population. One other point that is raised from this line of work is that it will only become more important to offer these options in clinical trials, where patients can not only gain access to these appealing treatment options but also generate some of the evidence that will be needed to clarify whether these good ideas really translate into significant benefits. We’ll need more of these trials and a more user-friendly clinical trials system to enable patients with rare molecular markers to come from faraway patients to the few places offering such trials. Molecular oncology is revolutionizing how we deliver cancer care, but there is always instability in a revolution. I welcome your thoughts about how we might navigate this process. http://expertblog.lungevity.org/

Eating raw garlic twice a week could potentially halve the risk of developing lung cancer, according to a study published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research. Researchers from the Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention in China carried out a population-based case control study between 2003 and 2010, to analyze the link between raw garlic consumption and lung cancer. The researchers collected data from 1,424 lung cancer patients, alongside 4,543 healthy controls. Data was compiled through face-to-face interviews with the participants, who were asked to answer a standard questionnaire disclosing information on diet and lifestyle habits, including how often they ate garlic and whether they smoked. Results of the study showed that participants who consumed raw garlic on a regular basis as a part of their diet (two or more times a week), had a 44% decreased risk of developing lung cancer. The study authors say: "Protective association between intake of raw garlic and lung cancer has been observed with a dose-response pattern, suggesting that garlic may potentially serve as a chemo-preventive agent for lung cancer." Lung cancer is the second most common type of cancer in both men and women. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 205,974 Americans were diagnosed with lung cancer in 2009. Long-term smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer, found to account for 9 out of every 10 cases of the disease. Interestingly, when looking specifically at participants who smoked, researchers found that eating raw garlic still decreased their risk of lung cancer by around 30%. The researchers say that the link between garlic and lung cancer prevention warrant further in-depth investigation. Previous research has also shown that consumption of garlic may have preventive properties against certain forms of cancer. A study from the New York Presbyterian Hospital and Weill Cornell Medical Center suggested that a compound found in garlic, selenium, may possess an anti-cancer property Other research from the Medical University of South Carolina, found that organosulfur compounds found in garlic may play a part in killing brain cancer cells. The widely used herb has also been cited as preventing and treating other ailments, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. Written by Honor Whiteman http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/264599.php

Eating raw garlic twice a week could potentially halve the risk of developing lung cancer, according to a study published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research. Researchers from the Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention in China carried out a population-based case control study between 2003 and 2010, to analyze the link between raw garlic consumption and lung cancer. The researchers collected data from 1,424 lung cancer patients, alongside 4,543 healthy controls. Data was compiled through face-to-face interviews with the participants, who were asked to answer a standard questionnaire disclosing information on diet and lifestyle habits, including how often they ate garlic and whether they smoked. Results of the study showed that participants who consumed raw garlic on a regular basis as a part of their diet (two or more times a week), had a 44% decreased risk of developing lung cancer. The study authors say: "Protective association between intake of raw garlic and lung cancer has been observed with a dose-response pattern, suggesting that garlic may potentially serve as a chemo-preventive agent for lung cancer." Lung cancer is the second most common type of cancer in both men and women. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 205,974 Americans were diagnosed with lung cancer in 2009. Long-term smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer, found to account for 9 out of every 10 cases of the disease. Interestingly, when looking specifically at participants who smoked, researchers found that eating raw garlic still decreased their risk of lung cancer by around 30%. The researchers say that the link between garlic and lung cancer prevention warrant further in-depth investigation. Previous research has also shown that consumption of garlic may have preventive properties against certain forms of cancer. A study from the New York Presbyterian Hospital and Weill Cornell Medical Center suggested that a compound found in garlic, selenium, may possess an anti-cancer property Other research from the Medical University of South Carolina, found that organosulfur compounds found in garlic may play a part in killing brain cancer cells. The widely used herb has also been cited as preventing and treating other ailments, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. Written by Honor Whiteman http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/264599.php

As the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women in the United States, lung cancer claims more than 160,000 lives annually. Even though most of these deaths are related to the effects of cigarette smoking, there had not been, until recently, a proven method for early lung cancer detection. As a result, most lung cancers were being diagnosed in later stages when they are more difficult to treat. Today, patients with a history of cigarette smoking can benefit from reliable screening for early lung cancer detection in the form of the low-dose computed tomography (CT) scans now being offered in the Outpatient Imaging Department at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital. “We are very excited to finally have a screening test for a disease that takes the lives of so many people,” says Dr. Michael Pritchett, a board certified pulmonologist at Moore Regional and Pinehurst Medical Clinic. “The current data from studies shows that we can avoid some lung cancer deaths through screening. This could potentially cure 20,000 deaths per year if these screenings are widely implemented. However, that’s still only 13 percent of the 160,000 people who die yearly from lung cancer.” A lung CT screening works basically the same way as a CT screening for any other body part. The patient lies beneath the scanner, which captures high-resolution images of the lungs. The image is then read by a board certified radiologist, and the results are shared with the patient in a written report. A scan, which is done without the use of dyes or contrasts, is painless and takes only a few minutes. Patients get only slightly more radiation than they would get from a traditional X-ray. An influential group of government advisers recently endorsed the use of CT lung cancer screenings for certain current and former smokers. To be considered for a screening, says the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, people should: * Be 55 through 79 years of age * Have smoked a pack of cigarettes a day for 30 years or the equivalent, such as two packs a day for 15 years People who should not be screened include: *Those younger than 55 or older then 79 * Those who smoked less or less often than those previously described * Those who quit smoking 15 or more years ago * Those too sick or frail to tolerate lung cancer treatment * Those who have had a chest CT sometime in the previous 18 months The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force also recommends that the best way to evaluate the scans is through a multidisciplinary approach, such as the one offered by FirstHealth’s Chest Center of the Carolinas, which is located in Reid Heart Center. According to Pritchett, who serves as Chest Center medical director, 75 percent of lung cancers are found at an advanced stage (III or IV) when the prognosis is not good. “When found early, the cure rate can be as high as 92 percent,” he says. A physician referral is not required for a lung cancer screening, but the patient must have an established relationship with a primary care provider who can receive the test results. Insurance plans do not currently cover the $180 screening cost, which is payable at the time of the exam. For more information on the lung cancer screening program currently being offered at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital, call (910) 715-2258. Here is the link if you want to view the source. http://www.thepilot.com/news/article_26 ... 0f31a.html

Hi Truke! Welcome to the board, It may seem a little tricky at times or maybe even confusing. Please feel free to ask a question on any board. We have a great group here of helpful folks. It warmed my heart to see that you are looking forward to 60. Happy early birthday! It's been almost a month since we have heard from you. How are you doing?