MsC1210

Sheri I am so sorry to hear about your dad. Please know you and your family are in my prayers. Chris

Lots of prayers for you all, Andrea. Chris

Mendy I am so happy the surgery went well. Sending prayers and positive thoughts for continued good news. Please keep us posted. Chris

Lori My prayers continue for you and your family. Chris

Adding my prayers and positive thoughts to the others.. Chris

Deb My sincere condolences and sympathy on the loss of your mother. Chris

Such great news, Thank you!

What a beautiful gesture on behalf of the doctor as well as your family. My prayers continue for you all Chris

Kat, Adding my prayers and positive thoughts to the others. Please keep us posted on things and remember to let us know how we can help.. Hugs Chris

Kat, Adding my prayers and positive thoughts to the others. Please keep us posted on things and remember to let us know how we can help.. Hugs Chris

Lung Cancer Alliance Hails Court Decision Nailing Tobacco Companies With Racketeering And Conspiracy 19 Aug 2006 The Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA) hailed yesterday's court decision in United States v. Philip Morris USA, Inc. After a lengthy trial, a federal court in Washington, DC found that major tobacco companies engaged in racketeering and conspiracy for decades in a massive scheme to addict people to smoking "without regard for the human tragedy or social costs" that resulted. Laurie Fenton, president of Lung Cancer Alliance, hailed the court's decision as, "An important step toward correcting decades of stigmatization of lung cancer patients as not worthy of compassion, and the deliberate underfunding of the disease of lung cancer as not deserving of public health research dollars." "For years, the public health establishment has justified its underfunding of lung cancer research and early detection on the willful behavior of smokers," continued Fenton. "Now we have the DC District Court recognizing that, for 50 years, the tobacco companies lied, misrepresented and deceived the American public, including smokers, and the young people they avidly sought as 'replacement smokers.'" While the court's ruling placed new marketing restrictions on tobacco companies, the court read a previous appellate court decision to rule out stiff monetary remedies. Said Fenton: "We urge the federal government to appeal on the scope of remedies available under the RICO statute, all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary, to make these companies accountable for the tragic results of their deliberate, decades-long conspiracy to deceive the public about these lethal products." The Lung Cancer Alliance ( http://www.LungCancerAlliance.org) is the only national organization dedicated solely to patient support and advocacy for lung cancer patients, their caregivers and those at risk for the disease. Lung Cancer Alliance http://www.LungCancerAlliance.org Article URL: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medical ... wsid=49987

Hi Betty GREAT news on the scan! Love to hear news like that. So sorry about the kids and the colds. Seems like a right of passage from summer into the new school year. Happens up here every year, too. Hope you are back on your feet and feeling great soon. Will keep you all in my prayers. Chris

Wonderful news!! Chris

Gift Of $6.5 Million To Establish Hereditary Cancer Center At Georgetown University 18 Aug 2006 As scientists continue to uncover the lifestyle and genetic factors that play a role in who develops cancer, a newly established center at Georgetown University may help current and future patients better understand their own genetic risk. A $6.5 million gift from the Robert M. Fisher Memorial Foundation, Inc. will allow Georgetown to strengthen its position as one of the leading hereditary cancer research, treatment and educational programs in the country. The establishment of the Jess and Mildred Fisher Center for Familial Cancer (Fisher Center) will substantially expand both the clinical and research programs at Georgetown's Vincent T. Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, allowing the cancer center to conduct more research on genetic predisposition to cancer, provide increased clinical trial opportunities and allow physicians to evaluate and treat more patients. Of the $6.5 million gift, $1.5 million will endow the Cecilia F. Rudman Arts and Humanities Program Fund, substantially expanding the reach and scope of the cancer center's current arts therapy program. This is the largest gift to Lombardi's arts and humanities program in its history. On the Cutting Edge of Cancer Research, Prevention and Treatment The Fisher Center will be co-directed by Claudine Isaacs, MD, and Marc Schwartz, PhD, associate professors of medicine and oncology at Georgetown. Both Isaacs and Schwartz are nationally recognized cancer researchers, particularly in the area of genetic predisposition and susceptibility for breast cancer, one of the most common hereditary cancers. "The Fisher Center at Lombardi will be a pioneer in understanding, treating and preventing hereditary cancer. Through prevention, screening and early-detection trials, our ultimate goal is to prevent high-risk patients from ever developing cancer," Isaacs said. As part of the gift, Lombardi will be among the first cancer centers in the country to have every new patient complete an automated familial risk profile upon patient registration. This service will allow doctors to more easily identify and counsel individuals who have a high possibility of developing cancer at an earlier stage, leading to prevention of new cancer cases and detection of potential cancer patients at early and pre-clinical stages. As part of the Fisher gift, Lombardi will be among the first cancer centers in the country where every new patient will complete an automated familial risk profile upon patient registration. This service will allow doctors to more easily identify and counsel individuals who have a high possibility of developing cancer at an earlier stage, leading to prevention of new cancer cases and detection of potential cancer patients at early and pre-clinical stages. The gift specifically allows Lombardi to expand its research and clinical programs in a number of hereditary cancers, including colorectal, prostate, melanoma and renal cell cancer. This expansion will provide the ability to conduct direct clinical research to enhance the medical, behavioral and psychosocial outcomes of high-risk individuals. "By combining clinical, family registry and research into one comprehensive program, Lombardi will stay on the cutting-edge of cancer research and treatment. We will continue to provide the highest standards and most integrative care," Schwartz said. Gift Enhances Unique Lombardi Arts Program Lombardi's Arts and Humanities Program is one of the oldest and most distinguished arts in healthcare programs in the United States. The $1.5 million gift is unprecedented in the field of arts therapy and is by far the largest gift the program has ever received. "This gift enables us to provide arts resources for every cancer patient and caregiver. We will be able to educate our staff, medical students and oncology fellows about providing compassionate care through the arts," said Nancy Morgan, director of the program. "Our initiatives will impact the entire Lombardi and Georgetown University Hospital community and beyond." Through research and clinical practice the program contributes to an emerging and growing field of arts in healthcare evidence that the arts are a safe, cost-effective intervention that complements traditional medicine and enhances treatment compliance. This gift will build upon Lombardi's nationally recognized program by expanding it to provide patients, family members and caregivers with activities, resources, education and environments that encourage a creative and constructive response to illness, and offering a number of activities and events for patients including expressive writing, quilting, painting, dance and drama. The program is designed to show the value of the arts as tools for self expression, coping and communication. Emotional coping is a significant issue for both patients and caregivers. "When we meet emotional needs, our patients find the strength and courage to transcend the effects of cancer," Morgan added. "We are very grateful to the Foundation for their generosity and sensitivity to the needs of cancer patients and those who care for them." Expanding Education at Lombardi The gift also establishes the Jess and Mildred Fisher Cancer Genetics Fellowship for newly graduated genetic counselors to train at Georgetown for an intensive three-month summer program. The fellowship will combine training in clinical cancer genetics, behavioral science and exposure to basic science and clinical medicine with Lombardi faculty mentors. Honoring a Longtime Volunteer The Robert M. Fisher Memorial Foundation, Inc. gift honors Cecilia "Cookie" Fisher Rudman, a volunteer at Lombardi for nearly eight years, who died Oct. 2, 2002, at the age of 58. A major part of her volunteer work included working on a landmark clinical trial, the P1 Prevention Trial, which led to the FDA approval of the use of tamoxifen as a preventative treatment for breast cancer. Dr. Isaacs, new co-director of the familial cancer program, was the principal investigator of the clinical trial and worked closely with Rudman. "Cecilia would come twice a week for four hours. I could trust her do anything . . . and [she] was great with the patients," said Joy Dritschilo, RN, a clinical research nurse at Lombardi who worked with Rudman on the clinical trial. "She was a wonderful, giving person and a close friend." "Lombardi was an important part of Cookie's life," said John Schofield, one of the trustees of the Robert M. Fisher Memorial Foundation. "I have heard a number of physicians, nurses, administrators and staff speak about Cookie's involvement at Lombardi, and we knew that a gift such as this was something she would want." Rudman also volunteered with the Lombardi Gala Women's Committee. Her other philanthropic activities included serving on the Washington Board of Directors of the Anti-Defamation League and the Board of Directors of the Washington Ballet. She was also a mentor with the Washington, DC, public school system. Upon her passing, Rudman left nearly $1 million to Lombardi to establish a Distinguished Professorship in Breast Cancer Research to support the Nina Hyde Center for Breast Cancer Research and Lombardi's pediatric programs. ### About Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center The Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of Georgetown University Medical Center and Georgetown University Hospital, seeks to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer through innovative basic and clinical research, patient care, community education and outreach, and the training of cancer specialists of the future. Lombardi is one of only 39 comprehensive cancer centers in the nation, as designated by the National Cancer Institute, and the only one in the Washington, DC, area. For more information, go to http://lombardi.georgetown.edu. Contact: Laura Cavender Georgetown University Medical Center Article URL: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medical ... wsid=49791

Continued prayers and well wishes to you both. Chris

Lori Just sending you prayers for strength. I am so sorry this situation has gotten so difficult. Hugs Chris

Thanks for mentioning that. I was not sure how it worked, just thought it might be worth asking about. Chris

Melinda I am so very sorry about this latest news. I have no advice to offer just many, many prayers. I hate this disease, I hate what it does to everyone it touches. Please know I am thinking of you and your family. Hugs Chris

Hi Tami Just a thought and you may have already checked into it, but would there be any chance of Social Security disability benefits kicking in for this? I wish I could give you some better information or suggestions.. Sending prayers and tons of positive thoughts Chris

Hello Elaine I am sorry you had reason to find this site but very glad you have posted and introduced yourself. As you explore the site and read some of the stories of others, you will see this is just a great bunch of people. We will be here to help you as much as we can. Ask whatever questions you have and I am sure someone will be along to offer suggestions and advice. Keep us posted, Chris

Nancy, You are so welcome! Think of you all the time and hope things are MUCH better for you and soon! Hugs Chris

Poniard Pharmaceuticals Completes Enrollment In Picoplatin Phase 2 Small Cell Lung Cancer Clinical Trial 18 Aug 2006 Poniard Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: PARD), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on oncology, today announced that the Company has completed enrollment in a Phase 2 open-label, multi-center clinical trial evaluating picoplatin for the treatment of small cell lung cancer (SCLC). All 75 patients targeted for enrollment have been treated with picoplatin, the Company's lead product candidate. "With patient enrollment now complete, we expect that clinical data from this Phase 2 trial, including preliminary median overall survival data, will be available in the fourth quarter of this year," said David A. Karlin, M.D., senior vice president of clinical development and regulatory affairs of Poniard. "We will evaluate these clinical trial data, along with several other factors, in consideration of initiating a Phase 3 pivotal trial of picoplatin in the first quarter of 2007. Such a trial would be conducted in SCLC patients who have been previously treated with platinum-based chemotherapy but have progressed or relapsed and would evaluate overall survival as the primary endpoint." Picoplatin is an intravenous chemotherapeutic agent designed to overcome platinum resistance associated with the treatment of solid tumors. Testing in more than 500 patients in Phase 1 and 2 safety and efficacy studies indicates that picoplatin may have a more manageable safety profile with fewer side effects than currently available platinum-based therapies. In addition to the Phase 2 clinical trial in patients with SCLC, picoplatin is being studied in clinical trials in patients with colorectal and prostate cancers. Poniard has received orphan drug designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for picoplatin for the treatment of SCLC. SCLC is currently treated with platinum therapies, but many patients do not respond or relapse within a short time of treatment. According to the 2006 National Comprehensive Cancer Network practice guidelines in oncology, the median survival for patients who receive second-line chemotherapy is approximately 16 to 20 weeks, while median survival for patients who progress or relapse and do not receive second-line chemotherapy is approximately 14 weeks. "New agents are needed that are active in SCLC and that can overcome the drug resistance associated with currently available platinum compounds," said Alan B. Glassberg, M.D., chief medical officer of Poniard. "To date, picoplatin has shown activity in platinum-sensitive, -resistant and -refractory cancers with fewer side effects than currently available platinum- based chemotherapeutics. We believe that picoplatin could be an important potential treatment option for patients with SCLC." Phase 2 Study Details The Phase 2 trial is designed to confirm the clinical activity of picoplatin as second-line therapy in patients with platinum-sensitive, -resistant or -refractory SCLC who have failed a prior platinum-based chemotherapy. Several efficacy endpoints are being assessed, including response rates, progression-free survival, overall survival, improvement in disease-related symptoms and disease control (defined as complete response, partial response and stable disease). The trial is being conducted at clinical sites in North America and Eastern Europe. About Small Cell Lung Cancer SCLC is the most aggressive and deadly form of lung cancer and accounts for approximately 20 percent of all lung cancer cases. The estimated incidence of lung cancer was 383,900 in Europe in 2004, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, and 174,500 in the United States in 2006, according to the National Cancer Institute. Platinum-containing combination chemotherapy is currently considered standard therapy. However, toxicity, failure to respond to treatment (refractory SCLC) or early relapse (resistant SCLC) can affect treatment outcomes. After the failure of combination chemotherapy, there is currently no available therapy that offers significant benefit to patients who have refractory or resistant disease. About Poniard Pharmaceuticals Poniard Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative oncology products to impact the lives of people with cancer. Picoplatin, the Company's lead product candidate, is a new generation platinum therapy that provides a differentiated spectrum of activity and an improved safety profile. An intravenous chemotherapeutic agent, picoplatin is designed to overcome platinum resistance associated with the treatment of solid tumors. Picoplatin currently is being studied in clinical trials for the treatment of small cell lung, colorectal and hormone-refractory prostate cancers. As part of the Company's strategic goal of building a diverse oncology pipeline, the Company also is collaborating with the Scripps Florida Research Institute on the discovery of novel, small-molecule, multi-targeted protein kinase inhibitors. For additional information please visit http://www.poniard.com. This release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the Company's planned research and development programs and clinical trial activities. The Company's actual results may differ materially from those indicated in these forward looking statements based on a number of factors, including uncertainties associated with research, development, clinical trials and related regulatory approvals, future capital needs and uncertainty of additional financing, competition, uncertainties associated with intellectual property, dependence on third-party manufacturers, suppliers and collaborators, lack of sales and marketing experience, loss of key personnel, uncertainties associated with market acceptance, technology change and government regulation, and the other risks and uncertainties described in the Company's current and periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2006. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward- looking statement to reflect new information, events or circumstances after the date of this release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Poniard Pharmaceuticals, Inc. http://www.poniard.com Article URL: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medical ... wsid=49892

Hello Sharon and welcome! I am so sorry to read about all the adversities you have had to face. I am very glad you posted and have joined this wonderful family. You will find that this group of people is just incredible when it comes to answering questions and giving advice and sometimes, most importantly, support and HOPE! It sounds as if your treatments are working pretty well for you. Your attitude and fighting spirit are, no doubt, helping you very much as well. Please ask any and all questions you have, and know that someone will be along shortly with a reply. Sending you prayers of strength and lots of positive thoughts! Chris

Kathleen I cannot add to the wonderful advice you have gotten. I am sending you prayers for strength and comfort, Hugs Chris

Wonderful news, congratulations and best wishes for many, many more~ Chris