News in brief 9.28.12

Researchers have identified four genetically distinct types of the breast cancer, which is fundamentally reshaping the scientific understanding of the disease.  Within those types, they discovered genetic changes that are driving many cancers.

Lawrence Tyler and Carol Brown have been friends since high school but recently joined forces to create a photography business, Tyler Brown Photography, in York, PA. They do it all- weddings, parties, portraits. But, recently, they’ve created a special project about something that has touched both of their lives deeply: cancer.

It’s easy for someone to feel alone after a cancer diagnosis when there are more than 900 different types of cancer, various stages of recovery, countless treatment options and multiple emotional struggles that one might endure.

Entire months are dedicated to bringing awareness to certain types of cancers, but what about those cancers that don’t affect as many people?

A special group of cancer survivors look forward to what life has in store for them.  And, many hope to use their own wisdom to help others navigate their experience with facing cancer.  Watch this video for inspiration and please let us know what you’re looking forward to in a comment.

This June, I celebrated my 70th birthday.  Not unusual in itself; lots of folks do.  But, I am a 4-time cancer survivor.

(Baltimore) -- Sometimes the fight against cancer cannot be won - no matter how tough the cancer patient is. Plenty of people have called Ron Smith "tough" over the years. Last week, the Baltimore Sun columnist and long-time conservative radio show host at WBAL announced on the air that he was abandoning chemotherapy to treat his stage-four pancreatic cancer.

A majority of those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer will succumb to the disease. But, Dr. Dennis Johnson, a surgical oncologist in York, PA says that there are long-term survivors and treatment shouldn't be dismissed when a person is diagnosed.  Norma Warfel, one of Dr. Johnson’s patients, has survived for ten years and is looking forward to another ten.

For Jerod Bangert and his mother Abby Shireman, the Highmark Caring Place provided hope and healing after the loss of Jerod’s dad to pancreatic cancer.