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April 2022
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April is Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month. Esophageal cancer is a rare cancer, making up only about 1% of all cancer cases in the US. The two most common types of esophageal cancer are adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Barrett’s Esophagus, a condition that can run in families and is linked to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), can lead to esophageal adenocarcinoma - the type of esophageal cancer most prevalent in the United States. Further, recent data show esophageal cancer incidence is rising in people under 50 years of age, referred to as early-onset esophageal cancer.
The Esophageal Cancer Action Network (ECAN), a MyPART advocacy partner, raises awareness and provides resources for patients with esophageal cancer not only in April, but throughout the year. ECAN offers information and support resources for the esophageal cancer community and hosts events to share the latest updates in esophageal cancer research. Last April, ECAN held a virtual meeting on early-onset esophageal cancer featuring patient stories and clinician researchers leading esophageal cancer research. MyPART is pleased to continue its partnership with ECAN with the shared mission of spreading awareness of esophageal cancer and finding treatments to improve the lives of people with this rare cancer. ECAN President and CEO, Mindy Mordecai says, “Perhaps the most heart-breaking cases of esophageal cancer we see are among young patients – sometimes as young as 16 – and we are seeing these cases much more often. That’s why we are working to make sure healthcare providers understand that this is not just an “old man’s disease” and are so grateful for our partnership with MyPART.”
Learn more about ECAN here.
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Dr. Karlyne Reilly, Co-leader of MyPART and researcher in the NCI Center for Cancer Research Pediatric Oncology Branch (POB), was recently interviewed by AACR and was featured for her work in rare tumors. Dr. Reilly has been researching rare tumors, specifically rare nervous system tumors, since her post-doctoral position at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She received the AACR-Sidney Kimmel Foundation for Cancer Research Fellowship in Basic Research in 2000 to support her research. Today, as a scientist in the POB, she continues to lead basic research in nervous system tumors and helps lead MyPART. She is also the director of the NCI Rare Tumors Initiative, which seeks to bring basic researchers and clinicians together to drive discoveries in research and treatments for rare tumors.
Read the AACR feature here. Read more about Dr. Reilly and her research here.
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April is Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month. Learn more from MyPART partner, Esophageal Cancer Action Network (ECAN) here.
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April 4-8: Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Awareness Week. Follow us on Twitter at @NCI_CCR_PedOnc for news and resources. Visit the MyPART website for support resources specifically for AYAs with cancer here.
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April 4-8: Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week. MyPART and the POB celebrate each of our graduate students and fellows for their dedication to research and training as the next generation of scientists! Thank you to our POB graduate and professional students and fellows! Learn more about training opportunities in the POB here.
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April 8-13: AACR Annual Meeting. MyPART Executive Director, Dr. Abby Sandler and Chordoma Foundation Executive Director, Josh Sommer, will participate in a session entitled, “NCI Consortia Initiative: Response to Cancer Moonshot Recommendation to Establish a Network for Direct Patient Engagement.” View the AACR Annual Meeting program here.
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