Author Archives: LauraSavageau

The IsoFlow Catheter: Giving Tumors a Taste of Their Own Medicine

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I came across an article the other day regarding a new medical device that just obtained marketing clearance from the FDA.  It’s called the IsoFlow Infusion Catheter and is designed by Vascular Designs, a company founded by Robert Goldman.  Mr. Goldman had no prior experience inventing medical equipment and had already made his money selling intellectual property in the late 1990’s. It was his sister’s cancer diagnosis that inspired him to start researching various cancer treatments…, which spawned the idea of the IsoFlow Catheter.  This device allows direct delivery of drugs to a targeted area such as

Ted Kennedy Remembered: Liberal Lion of the Senate

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Edward Moore Kennedy, better known as Teddy Kennedy was born on February 22, 1932, the youngest of Joseph and Rose Kennedy’s nine children.  Teddy was first diagnosed with brain cancer in May 2008 after having a seizure and battled it for a year before it claimed his life at age 77.   Teddy was no stranger to cancer as his son was diagnosed with bone cancer at age 12,  and his sister-in-law Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis lost her life to cancer in 1994. It’s not a secret that he endured a great deal of family tragedy over the years; however Teddy had…

Know Cancer Bracelet Giveaway – The Results are in!

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A couple of weeks ago we decided to run a little contest and give away some Know Cancer Bracelets. The deal was…you had to provide us with feedback on how we can improve the site. Needless to say, the Know Cancer Bracelet Giveaway was a huge success!  First, we would like to extend thanks to all that participated. We received some great feedback…..so great that we had to select TWO winners! And the winner’s are….drum roll please……HeatherIrvin & Jody19!!! These two lovely community members… offered us the following feedback: •    Provide a  list of organizations/programs available to help uninsured

The Marrow Miner, Making Donating Bone Marrow an Easier Process

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I think that anyone who has donated Bone Marrow knows what a painful and insidious procedure it is. However, because this procedure can save a life… it’s endured. Daniel Kraft, a pediatric oncologist and stem-cell researcher at Stanford University, has a great deal of experience harvesting bone marrow. Through his experience and research, Dr. Kraft developed a device called the Marrow Miner. This device quickly harvests bone marrow with minimal pain to the donor and may actually enable you to bank your own marrow stem cells… when you’re young, in the unfortunate case you would need them later. I don’t

Beads of Courage – Encouraging Positive Coping Strategies for Children with Cancer

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Seeing a child go through a battle with Cancer is heartbreaking. It’s hard to know what to say or do as they are going through the tough emotions and confusion that comes with this fight. How do you help them cope and find meaning in their illness? Well, Beads of Courage, an organization that implements evidence-based supportive care programs in children’s hospitals has developed a program to do just that. Colorful beads, each having a meaning are given to a child marking big milestones throughout their treatment; blue ones represent each trip to the cancer clinic, white for chemotherapy…

Nanotechnology takes those Pesky Cancer Cells by Storm

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Nanoscience and nanotechnology got started in the early 1980’s and if you can believe it, the first use of its concepts was in a talk given by physicist Richard Feynman on December 29, 1959 called “There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom”. This technology can be used in a broad range of applications such as electronics and medicine. The National Cancer Institute’s Alliance for Nanotechnology in cancer has put together a video giving you a look at this revolutionary approach to cancer treatment. The science of building small is changing the way we look at cancer treatment… as doctors

Incredible Dance Routine on the Impact of Breast Cancer

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It can be hard to put into words the impact breast cancer has had on so many.  With that said, Tyce Diorio…, a choreographer from So You Think You Can Dance put together a powerful dance piece displaying the impact it’s had on him.  It’s incredibly touching, and dancers Melissa and Ade performed it beautifully commanding your attention to this very hard-hitting topic. Enjoy! (…and don't forget your tissues)