Showing posts with label retinoblastoma. Show all posts
Showing posts with label retinoblastoma. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
Retinoblastoma Discovered in 2-Year-Old's Eye with Mom's Cell Phone
http://www.ibtimes.com/what-retinoblastoma-rare-cancer-discovered-2-year-olds-eye-moms-cell-phone-photo-1917291
Saturday, February 1, 2014
Philadelphia Salon Hosting Fundraiser For Indonesian Child With Rare Cancer
By Chelsea Karnash of CBS Philly
[Source Link: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2014/01/29/philadelphia-salon-hosting-fundraiser-for-indonesian-child-with-rare-cancer/]
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A little boy is fighting for his life, and one local salon is trying to help.
Pieter, a two-year-old from Indonesia, is battling a rare form of eye cancer called bilateral sporadic retinoblastoma. The cancer already caused him to lose his left eye shortly after birth; now, the disease has reappeared in his right eye.
Luckily for Pieter, his parents were able to bring him to the United States to undergo treatment at Philadelphia’s Wills Eye Institute. Unfortunately, they had to sell their home in Indonesia and use most of their savings
to pay for that treatment – over $50,000, with almost $25,000 more still needed to finish Pieter’s treatment.
That’s where Laurentius Purnama, owner of Philadelphia’s well-known Laurentius Salon and a native of Indonesia himself, comes in.
Purnama, who met Pieter and his family at the Church St. Thomas Aquinas in South Philadelphia where his son, Jude, goes to Sunday School, was touched by the family’s story and decided he wanted to host an event to help fund the boy’s treatment.
On Sunday, February 9th, Laurentius Salon will be donating the entire day’s proceeds to Pieter’s family so that they can continue his treatment here in Philadelphia. Customers can make an appointment for any service – cut, color, blowouts, manicures and pedicures – and the cost will go towards Pieter’s battle with cancer.
Additionally, Laurentius will host a silent auction for several mint condition designer handbags, including a Louis Vuitton Mary Kate bag and an Yves Saint Laurent Mombasa bag, as well as other great prizes.
For those unable to attend the one-day fundraiser, Laurentius has also set up a kickstarter fund for Pieter and his family.
“No donation is too small, and each and every donation adds one more ray of hope for Pieter,” the page says.
So far, online donors have contributed nearly $13,000, but more is still necessary to ensure Pieter is able to continue receiving treatment.
“If it’s determined on February 5th that Pieter needs additional treatment, or if another retinoblastoma appears,” Purnama writes, “Pieter’s family has no more options.”
To donate to Pieter’s cause online, visit: www.gofundme.com/6c11os. Or, to make an appointment for the Feb. 9th fundraiser at Laurentius Salon, visit: http://laurentiussalon.com/contact-us.
[Source Link: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2014/01/29/philadelphia-salon-hosting-fundraiser-for-indonesian-child-with-rare-cancer/]
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A little boy is fighting for his life, and one local salon is trying to help.
Pieter, a two-year-old from Indonesia, is battling a rare form of eye cancer called bilateral sporadic retinoblastoma. The cancer already caused him to lose his left eye shortly after birth; now, the disease has reappeared in his right eye.
Luckily for Pieter, his parents were able to bring him to the United States to undergo treatment at Philadelphia’s Wills Eye Institute. Unfortunately, they had to sell their home in Indonesia and use most of their savings
to pay for that treatment – over $50,000, with almost $25,000 more still needed to finish Pieter’s treatment.That’s where Laurentius Purnama, owner of Philadelphia’s well-known Laurentius Salon and a native of Indonesia himself, comes in.
Purnama, who met Pieter and his family at the Church St. Thomas Aquinas in South Philadelphia where his son, Jude, goes to Sunday School, was touched by the family’s story and decided he wanted to host an event to help fund
the boy’s treatment.On Sunday, February 9th, Laurentius Salon will be donating the entire day’s proceeds to Pieter’s family so that they can continue his treatment here in Philadelphia. Customers can make an appointment for any service – cut, color, blowouts, manicures and pedicures – and the cost will go towards Pieter’s battle with cancer.
Additionally, Laurentius will host a silent auction for several mint condition designer handbags, including a Louis Vuitton Mary Kate bag and an Yves Saint Laurent Mombasa bag, as well as other great prizes.
For those unable to attend the one-day fundraiser, Laurentius has also set up a kickstarter fund for Pieter and his family.
“No donation is too small, and each and every donation adds one more ray of hope for Pieter,” the page says.
So far, online donors have contributed nearly $13,000, but more is still necessary to ensure Pieter is able to continue receiving treatment.
“If it’s determined on February 5th that Pieter needs additional treatment, or if another retinoblastoma appears,” Purnama writes, “Pieter’s family has no more options.”
To donate to Pieter’s cause online, visit: www.gofundme.com/6c11os. Or, to make an appointment for the Feb. 9th fundraiser at Laurentius Salon, visit: http://laurentiussalon.com/contact-us.
Saturday, December 7, 2013
Family Eyes the Right Ingredients
A FAMILY in the Esperance region has found the right ingredient for successful fundraising.
The
Kershaw family donated proceeds from their country cookbook toward the
purchase of a new piece of ophthalmology diagnostic equipment at
Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH).
The
$100,000 cutting-edge Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) equipment
recently donated to PMH enables doctors to take non-invasive 3D
cross-sectional images of the interior of the eyes, in particularly the
retina, producing pictures significantly more precise and accurate
compared to those produced by conventional diagnostic equipment.
Brett and Shona Kershaw, from West River, donated $20,000 of proceeds from their cookbook, Lexie's Look and Cook Recipe Book,
to the PMH Foundation to go towards purchasing the pioneering
equipment, which will assist doctors in diagnosing eye conditions and
diseases such as retinoblastoma, the type of eye cancer their daughter,
Lexie, was diagnosed with in 2011.
The
family was inspired to fundraise for PMH Foundation after Lexie was
diagnosed and successfully treated for aggressive retinoblastoma at the
hospital, after her parents kept noticing a strange silvery-white
appearance in Lexie's right eye pupil in photos.
Catching
the cancer before it spread to her optic nerve, Mr and Mrs Kershaw made
the decision to have Lexie's right eye removed to prevent the return of
the disease.
Mr and Mrs Kershaw said Lexie is now a happy, healthy three-year-old.
The family said their fundraising effort was aimed at raising awareness about retinoblastoma.
"Since
the start we knew every single dollar of the proceeds from our cookbook
would go towards PMH Foundation and would help raise awareness about
retinoblastoma," Mrs Kershaw said.
"We're
absolutely delighted to have helped fund the purchase of this particular
new ophthalmology equipment, because it's a quicker way of diagnosing
children's eye conditions, and for the kids it's non-invasive and a bit
of fun, like a giant camera that they peek into.
"More
than anything we want to thank all of the people who have supported us
and made this possible, who have bought the cook book and helped raise
awareness about eye cancer."
"My message to
other parents is don't hesitate if you have a fear or something
niggling you, even if you feel stupid. Go have it checked."
Mrs
Kershaw said her family had been overwhelmed by community support
across WA for their fundraising initiative, with Lexie's Look and Cook Recipe Book raising an impressive $43,000 so far.
[This article continues at this source link:
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Retinoblastoma: New Type Discovered in Babies
Sent from my Samsung smartphone on AT&T
| Cancer researchers discover new type of retinoblastoma in babies ... Not all forms of retinoblastoma, a pediatric cancer of the eye, may be inherited, a discovery that would spare children years of medical evaluations and offer the ... communications.medicine.iu.edu/.../cancer-researchers-discov... |
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Daisy's Eye Cancer Fund Retinoblastoma Resource Retinoblastoma
Sent from my Samsung smartphone on AT&T.
Retinoblastoma is cancer of the eye that manifests in infants and toddlers. It leads to necessary enucleation or removal of the eye(s). Sometimes it returns once the victim is an adult as in musician Jeff Healy. Hopefully, with the discovery below and continued studies there will be a way to save the vision and more importantly the lives of these young people. ~K
Retinoblastoma is cancer of the eye that manifests in infants and toddlers. It leads to necessary enucleation or removal of the eye(s). Sometimes it returns once the victim is an adult as in musician Jeff Healy. Hopefully, with the discovery below and continued studies there will be a way to save the vision and more importantly the lives of these young people. ~K
| Daisy's Eye Cancer Fund Rb Resource – MYCNA Retinoblastoma A small number of children with retinoblastoma have two normal copies of the RB1 gene in tumour. Their cancer is caused by too many copies of MYCN the ... www.daisyfund.org/rb/care/genetics/mycna.html |
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Childrens Hospital Los Angeles Awarded $1 Million Grant to Begin Clinical Trials on Eye Reservoir for Cancer Drug Delivery
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Vision Center at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles has been awarded a $1 million grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to conduct a clinical trial on a ne drug delivery system to treat young children diagnosed with retinoblastoma. The device is designed to deliver chemotherapy through a tiny silicone cup sealed to the outer surface (sclera) of the eye, which can more directly target cancer cells and greatly reduce the side effects caused by current chemotherapy treatments.
“It also offers the promise of inexpensive treatment for thousands of children in developing countries who now die of this childhood eye cancer, because their families cannot afford traditional chemotherapy”
The grant, given to Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, is part of an RC3 ARRA grant of $2.7 million awarded to 3T Ophthalmics, Inc. by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The Phase I clinical trial will start enrolling patients in July 2011 under the direction of A. Linn Murphree, MD, director of the Retinoblastoma Program in The Vision Center. Dr. Murphree is also professor of ophthalmology and pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California and attending physician at both the Doheny Eye Institute and the Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center at USC.
The new delivery system, called the episcleral drug reservoir or eye port, is a small silicone cup about 8mm to 10mm in size and can hold the chemotherapy for slow sustained drug delivery to the eye. The eye port isolates the medication targeted to the eye from being absorbed into the blood stream. This new delivery system is a simple way to deliver medications to the interior of the eye over weeks to months.
Currently eye doctors use drops, injections around the eye and even injections directly into the eye to place medications where they are most needed. All of these methods, however, deliver the drug for only a few hours. Several other “slow delivery†systems are being tested but they all require major eye surgery and the risks of complications are high.
The eye port, in contrast, is firmly attached to the outside of the eye under the thin, filmy conjunctiva, or covering of the eyeball. The eye port slowly releases the drug to pass through the wall of the eye, where it reaches the retina and vitreous. The device is so small the patient should feel little or no discomfort, and it does not hinder normal vision.
“The new device could fundamentally change the delivery of medications to the eye for diseases such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, uveitis, endophthalmitis, retinopathy of prematurity and retinoblastoma. Children receiving chemotherapy could potentially return home wearing the device and avoid most of the complications of standard chemotherapy,†says Dr. Murphree.
The Vision Center at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles will partner with three other U.S. retinoblastoma centers to conduct the clinical trials; The Retinoblastoma Center of Houston (a joint program of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center/University of Texas and Texas Children’s Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine); Memphis’ St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital; and Philadelphia’s Scheie Eye Institute.
"While we are beginning this protocol with the eye, this type of device could potentially be implanted on a variety of internal organs and could fundamentally change the way we treat many types of cancer,†said Dr. Murphree.
“Currently, when we use I.V. chemotherapy to treat retinoblastoma in young children, we give high doses to ensure the medicine gets into the eye. Most of it, however, affects other parts of the body, causing nausea, a reduction in white cell count and depression of the immune system. With the eye port, we will be giving much less chemotherapy, but far more will reach the cancer cells,†said Dr. Murphree. “It also offers the promise of inexpensive treatment for thousands of children in developing countries who now die of this childhood eye cancer, because their families cannot afford traditional chemotherapy,†he added.
The three-year grant will enroll 36 patients in the Phase I (Year I) trial and an additional 24 patients in Phase II. Only patients with unilateral advanced intraocular retinoblastoma that have received no previous treatment will be eligible for clinical trial enrollment.
About Childrens Hospital Los Angeles: Founded in 1901, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles is one of the nation’s leading children’s hospitals and is acknowledged worldwide for its leadership in pediatric and adolescent health. Childrens Hospital Los Angeles is one of only seven children’s hospitals in the nation – and the only children’s hospital on the West Coast – ranked for two consecutive years in all 10 pediatric specialties in the U.S. News & World Report rankings and named to the magazine’s “Honor Roll†of children’s hospitals. The Saban Research Institute at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles is among the largest and most productive pediatric research facilities in the United States, with 100 investigators at work on 186 laboratory studies, clinical trials and community-based research and health services. The Saban Research Institute is ranked eighth in National Institutes of Health funding among children’s hospitals in the United States. Childrens Hospital Los Angeles is a premier teaching hospital and has been affiliated with the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California since 1932.
“It also offers the promise of inexpensive treatment for thousands of children in developing countries who now die of this childhood eye cancer, because their families cannot afford traditional chemotherapy”
The grant, given to Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, is part of an RC3 ARRA grant of $2.7 million awarded to 3T Ophthalmics, Inc. by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The Phase I clinical trial will start enrolling patients in July 2011 under the direction of A. Linn Murphree, MD, director of the Retinoblastoma Program in The Vision Center. Dr. Murphree is also professor of ophthalmology and pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California and attending physician at both the Doheny Eye Institute and the Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center at USC.
The new delivery system, called the episcleral drug reservoir or eye port, is a small silicone cup about 8mm to 10mm in size and can hold the chemotherapy for slow sustained drug delivery to the eye. The eye port isolates the medication targeted to the eye from being absorbed into the blood stream. This new delivery system is a simple way to deliver medications to the interior of the eye over weeks to months.
Currently eye doctors use drops, injections around the eye and even injections directly into the eye to place medications where they are most needed. All of these methods, however, deliver the drug for only a few hours. Several other “slow delivery†systems are being tested but they all require major eye surgery and the risks of complications are high.
The eye port, in contrast, is firmly attached to the outside of the eye under the thin, filmy conjunctiva, or covering of the eyeball. The eye port slowly releases the drug to pass through the wall of the eye, where it reaches the retina and vitreous. The device is so small the patient should feel little or no discomfort, and it does not hinder normal vision.
“The new device could fundamentally change the delivery of medications to the eye for diseases such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, uveitis, endophthalmitis, retinopathy of prematurity and retinoblastoma. Children receiving chemotherapy could potentially return home wearing the device and avoid most of the complications of standard chemotherapy,†says Dr. Murphree.
The Vision Center at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles will partner with three other U.S. retinoblastoma centers to conduct the clinical trials; The Retinoblastoma Center of Houston (a joint program of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center/University of Texas and Texas Children’s Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine); Memphis’ St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital; and Philadelphia’s Scheie Eye Institute.
"While we are beginning this protocol with the eye, this type of device could potentially be implanted on a variety of internal organs and could fundamentally change the way we treat many types of cancer,†said Dr. Murphree.
“Currently, when we use I.V. chemotherapy to treat retinoblastoma in young children, we give high doses to ensure the medicine gets into the eye. Most of it, however, affects other parts of the body, causing nausea, a reduction in white cell count and depression of the immune system. With the eye port, we will be giving much less chemotherapy, but far more will reach the cancer cells,†said Dr. Murphree. “It also offers the promise of inexpensive treatment for thousands of children in developing countries who now die of this childhood eye cancer, because their families cannot afford traditional chemotherapy,†he added.
The three-year grant will enroll 36 patients in the Phase I (Year I) trial and an additional 24 patients in Phase II. Only patients with unilateral advanced intraocular retinoblastoma that have received no previous treatment will be eligible for clinical trial enrollment.
About Childrens Hospital Los Angeles: Founded in 1901, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles is one of the nation’s leading children’s hospitals and is acknowledged worldwide for its leadership in pediatric and adolescent health. Childrens Hospital Los Angeles is one of only seven children’s hospitals in the nation – and the only children’s hospital on the West Coast – ranked for two consecutive years in all 10 pediatric specialties in the U.S. News & World Report rankings and named to the magazine’s “Honor Roll†of children’s hospitals. The Saban Research Institute at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles is among the largest and most productive pediatric research facilities in the United States, with 100 investigators at work on 186 laboratory studies, clinical trials and community-based research and health services. The Saban Research Institute is ranked eighth in National Institutes of Health funding among children’s hospitals in the United States. Childrens Hospital Los Angeles is a premier teaching hospital and has been affiliated with the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California since 1932.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Interferons and Interleukin 6 Suppresses Phosphorylation of the Retinoblastoma protein
Interferons and interleukin 6 suppress phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein in growth-sensitive hematopoietic cells.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Diego Martinez Named 2009 Li'l Wrangler
A friend, mskathy, has sent you an e-mail link to a story on the Tyler Paper's Web site.
Your friend says, retinoblastoma
http://www.tylerpaper.com/article/20090524/FEATURES01/905210335
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Ben Underwood
I'd found a video about Ben and was trying to relocate it to post here when I found out that Ben Underwood passed away in January. Here is the link to the web site his mom started about him.I will continue to look for the video as kids who are blind due to retinoblastoma are often amazing in their use of echolocation. One of my former students could skateboard and ride a bike as he snapped his fingers while another used to play hide and seek with me while stretching out her hands and listening for me breathing and sniffing the air for my location. She now teaches braille to the deaf-blind and is raising her own little girl.
Ben had retinoblastoma which is a cancer that attacks the eyes of babies and toddlers. His eyes were removed when he was three-years old. I first saw a news story on him about three years ago. Last year I read where the cancer had returned but I was not aware that he'd passed this past January. Click HERE to go to the web site Ben's mom has started about him. Meanwhile, I will be on the lookout for that amazing video.
Oh, yes! There's a place to send condolences and donations to Ben's family. I will certainly be sending up my prayers for them. I am comforted that Mrs. Underwood and her son were saved and that she sheds no tears in knowing where he is.
Ben had retinoblastoma which is a cancer that attacks the eyes of babies and toddlers. His eyes were removed when he was three-years old. I first saw a news story on him about three years ago. Last year I read where the cancer had returned but I was not aware that he'd passed this past January. Click HERE to go to the web site Ben's mom has started about him. Meanwhile, I will be on the lookout for that amazing video.
Oh, yes! There's a place to send condolences and donations to Ben's family. I will certainly be sending up my prayers for them. I am comforted that Mrs. Underwood and her son were saved and that she sheds no tears in knowing where he is.
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