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      Heroes of Cancer Care

      Heroes of Cancer Care

      Advancing cancer care requires more than just science. It’s a collective effort driven by passionate individuals and organizations quietly working to make a difference for those living with and affected by cancer. This collection celebrates those unsung heroes. Many, though not all, are finalists and winners in the Cancer Community Awards, and every one of their inspiring, grassroots stories reinforces a single truth: cancer care should no longer be an individual burden; it should be a community effort.

      This series was produced for AstraZeneca by Scientific American Custom Media, a division separate from the magazine's board of editors.

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      Catalyzing Change in Cancer from All Sides
      Health

      Catalyzing Change in Cancer from All Sides

      The finalists in the fourth-annual Cancer Community Awards are taking holistic approaches to improving cancer care for Americans in need.

      Inspiring Approaches to Cancer Care
      Health

      Inspiring Approaches to Cancer Care

      Redefining cancer care takes a community. Winners of the 2022 Cancer Community Awards are finding ways for communities to get access to the best care available.

      Bringing Supportive Therapies to More Cancer Patients
      Health

      Bringing Supportive Therapies to More Cancer Patients

      Starting as a small regional nonprofit, Unite for HER now provides supportive services—from cooking classes and meal deliveries to professional counseling, meditation, and yoga—to patients with breast and ovarian cancer across the country...

      • — Sue Weldon, Founder and CEO of Unite for HER
      Elevating Mental Healthcare for People with Cancer
      Health

      Elevating Mental Healthcare for People with Cancer

      In addition to the physical effects of cancer, the psychosocial impacts can be just as challenging for patients.

      — Margaret Stauffer, LMFT Chief Mission Officer for Cancer Support Community San Francisco Bay Area

      Bringing Supportive Therapies to More Cancer Patients
      Health

      Bringing Supportive Therapies to More Cancer Patients

      Starting as a small regional nonprofit, Unite for HER now provides supportive services—from cooking classes and meal deliveries to professional counseling, meditation, and yoga—to patients with breast and ovarian cancer across the country...

      — Sue Weldon, Founder and CEO of Unite for HER

      The National Cancer Act Started Ongoing Overhaul of Cancer Therapies
      Health

      The National Cancer Act Started Ongoing Overhaul of Cancer Therapies

      Supporting Cancer Care with Home Cooking
      Cancer

      Supporting Cancer Care with Home Cooking

      Through delicious and nutritious homemade meals, Sparrow’s Nest of the Hudson Valley makes life a little easier for cancer patients and their families.

      October 19, 2022

      Connecting with the Community to Educate about Cancer Screening
      Cancer

      Connecting with the Community to Educate about Cancer Screening

      When caught early, colorectal cancer can usually be treated effectively. Charles R. Rogers of the Medical College of Wisconsin takes every opportunity to spread the word.

      Building Cancer Care Partnerships Across the Mountain West
      Health Care

      Building Cancer Care Partnerships Across the Mountain West

      The wide expanses in some western states separate rural towns from cancer treatment. The Center for Health Outcomes and Population Equity reduces the disparities by connecting healthcare experts and communities...

      Combining Research and Legislative Advocacy to Expand Access to Precision Care
      Policy

      Combining Research and Legislative Advocacy to Expand Access to Precision Care

      At Ochsner Health in New Orleans, Marc R. Mantrana combines advocacy with research to bring cutting-edge molecular diagnostics and therapies to all cancer patients in Louisiana.

      Helping Young People With Cancer Recover and Plan For Their Future
      Health Care

      Helping Young People With Cancer Recover and Plan For Their Future

      Douglas Fair of the University of Utah balances cancer care and supporting the future plans for children in young patients.

      A Source of Integrative Support for Breast and Ovarian Cancer Patients
      Health

      A Source of Integrative Support for Breast and Ovarian Cancer Patients

      Through massage, acupuncture, counseling, reiki, supportive fitness, mediation/yoga, and nutrition, Unite for HER offers breast and ovarian cancer patients physical and emotional support while undergoing medical treatments and beyond...

      Fueling Patients' Drive to Treatment
      Health

      Fueling Patients' Drive to Treatment

      The financial burden of cancer can make simple trips for treatment prohibitive. Tomma Hargraves makes sure that lung cancer patients can pay for the trip.

      Y<u>OUR</u> Cancer Community Bulletin Volume 1
      Cancer

      YOUR Cancer Community Bulletin Volume 1

      In this online magazine, the editors at Scientific American Custom Media shine a light on unsung heroes and organizations working to advance cancer care.

      A Force For Equity in Cancer Care
      Health

      A Force For Equity in Cancer Care

      All too often, race, gender, geography or social status determine the quality of an individual’s cancer care. Finalists for the 2021 Catalyst for Equity Award, part of the annual Cancer Community Awards, are standing up against such disparities...

      A Heroic Stand Against Cancer
      Cancer

      A Heroic Stand Against Cancer

      The finalists for the third-annual Cancer Community Awards are working to bring the highest-quality cancer care to those across the U.S. who need it most.

      The National Cancer Act Started Ongoing Overhaul of Cancer Therapies
      Cancer

      The National Cancer Act Started Ongoing Overhaul of Cancer Therapies

      Fifty years ago, President Richard Nixon signed the National Cancer Act into law to restructure the country’s way of dealing with a leading cause of death and suffering. Here, Jeff Allen — president and CEO of Friends of Cancer Research — describes new approaches to accelerate the testing of new drugs, including advanced applications of circulating tumor DNA...

      Reaching the Root of Disparities in Cancer Care
      Health

      Reaching the Root of Disparities in Cancer Care

      Not all patients have equal access to quality cancer care. Equal Hope has spent more than a decade identifying and addressing the sources of such disparities in the Chicago area, with remarkable results...

      How Next-Generation Sequencing Can Enable Precision Oncology
      Health

      How Next-Generation Sequencing Can Enable Precision Oncology

      At the University of Washington and the Brotman Baty Institute, Colin Pritchard is translating next-generation genomic sequencing into a tool to match patients to precision cancer therapies...

      A Lifelong Quest to Improve Mental Health Among Cancer Patients
      Health

      A Lifelong Quest to Improve Mental Health Among Cancer Patients

      Over three decades, Margaret Stauffer has worked to build a network in the San Francisco Bay area to help patients bear the mental burden of cancer. More than 50,000 patients and their families have benefited...

      Putting Precision Oncology into Everyday Practice
      Medicine

      Putting Precision Oncology into Everyday Practice

      While many community oncology clinics struggle to use the most advanced tools, Lincoln D. Nadauld, MD, makes advanced genomic testing the standard of care — with astonishing results...

      Engineering an Oncology Work-Around
      Medicine

      Engineering an Oncology Work-Around

      Instead of making immune-compromised cancer patients suffer long and potentially dangerous waits in the emergency room, Richard Dean, PhD, envisioned and championed a better solution.

      Using the Buddy System to Ease the Strain of Chemotherapy
      Medicine

      Using the Buddy System to Ease the Strain of Chemotherapy

      Volunteers from Chemo Buddies help patients feel at home during treatment.

      Bringing Cancer Care Close to Home
      Medicine

      Bringing Cancer Care Close to Home

      To bring advanced cancer care to the Navajo Nation, Lynette Bonar developed the first cancer center on native lands.

      Inside View: An Ecosystem To Improve Cancer Care
      Medicine

      Inside View: An Ecosystem To Improve Cancer Care

      Cancer is not a disease fought alone. The stronger the community, the better the outcomes for all.

      October 27, 2020

      In DNA, Clues to Lung Cancer Treatment
      Biotech

      In DNA, Clues to Lung Cancer Treatment

      Barbara Gitlitz, MD and Geoffrey Oxnard, MD give new hope — based on genomics and precision medicine — to non-smokers under age 40 with lung cancer.

      May 2, 2019

      When Stories Spark Early Cancer Detection
      Public Health

      When Stories Spark Early Cancer Detection

      Ovarian Cancer Research Association’s (OCRA) Survivors Teaching Students educates medical students about disease symptoms — before it’s too late.

      May 2, 2019

      A Physician Powered by Purpose
      Biotech

      A Physician Powered by Purpose

      Keith Winfrey, MD, brought quality healthcare and early cancer detection to one of New Orleans most underserved communities.

      May 2, 2019

      Inside View: Can a Community Invigorate Cancer Care?
      Medicine

      Inside View: Can a Community Invigorate Cancer Care?

      Turns out, bringing together patients, caregivers, advocates and researchers could lead to better outcomes. Here’s how to begin.

      January 31, 2019

      Celebrating the Role of Community in Cancer Care
      Health

      Celebrating the Role of Community in Cancer Care

      A new awards program honors amazing achievements in communities across the United States. Get a first glimpse at the finalists.

      May 2, 2019

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