what comes to mind when you hear the word cancer what lives in your head
word cancer what lives in your head
word cancer what lives in your head about cancer is it fear if so fear of
about cancer is it fear if so fear of
about cancer is it fear if so fear of what chemotherapy surgery radiation hair
what chemotherapy surgery radiation hair
what chemotherapy surgery radiation hair loss pain does it make you think about
loss pain does it make you think about
loss pain does it make you think about loved ones a parent a partner a sibling
loved ones a parent a partner a sibling
loved ones a parent a partner a sibling do you think about children unborn
do you think about children unborn
do you think about children unborn children children dying death and dying
children children dying death and dying
children children dying death and dying from cancer it makes me think about
from cancer it makes me think about
from cancer it makes me think about these children these children are all
these children these children are all
these children these children are all sisters and brothers or first cousins
sisters and brothers or first cousins
sisters and brothers or first cousins and all of their fathers several of
and all of their fathers several of
and all of their fathers several of their mothers and many of them died of
their mothers and many of them died of
their mothers and many of them died of cancer the team girl in the middle is my
cancer the team girl in the middle is my
cancer the team girl in the middle is my mother my mother and two of her brothers
mother my mother and two of her brothers
mother my mother and two of her brothers were diagnosed with cancer and died so
were diagnosed with cancer and died so
were diagnosed with cancer and died so when I think about cancer I think about
when I think about cancer I think about
when I think about cancer I think about my mother and my uncles and the
my mother and my uncles and the
my mother and my uncles and the destruction of a family by cancer this
destruction of a family by cancer this
destruction of a family by cancer this also comes to mind when I think about
also comes to mind when I think about
also comes to mind when I think about cancer my background is that I’m a
cancer my background is that I’m a
cancer my background is that I’m a pediatric surgeon and my passion my
pediatric surgeon and my passion my
pediatric surgeon and my passion my clinical niche is caring for kids with
clinical niche is caring for kids with
clinical niche is caring for kids with cancer in the most technical sense I
cancer in the most technical sense I
cancer in the most technical sense I remove tumors from the chest and abdomen
remove tumors from the chest and abdomen
remove tumors from the chest and abdomen of small babies and children so when I
of small babies and children so when I
of small babies and children so when I think about cancer I think of the
think about cancer I think of the
think about cancer I think of the disruption that it causes to the lives
disruption that it causes to the lives
disruption that it causes to the lives of my patients and their families and
of my patients and their families and
of my patients and their families and all those things that you are feeling I
all those things that you are feeling I
all those things that you are feeling I feel them to sadness anger fear but
feel them to sadness anger fear but
feel them to sadness anger fear but those are not my only reactions to the
those are not my only reactions to the
those are not my only reactions to the word cancer I am mostly inspired when I
word cancer I am mostly inspired when I
word cancer I am mostly inspired when I hear that word I am overcome with an
hear that word I am overcome with an
hear that word I am overcome with an enormous sense of ambition and intention
enormous sense of ambition and intention
enormous sense of ambition and intention it is a trigger word for me it incites
it is a trigger word for me it incites
it is a trigger word for me it incites me I think it is because of my family
me I think it is because of my family
me I think it is because of my family history with this disease and it is also
history with this disease and it is also
history with this disease and it is also because of this child this is an x-ray
because of this child this is an x-ray
because of this child this is an x-ray of a ten year old who developed a cough
of a ten year old who developed a cough
of a ten year old who developed a cough that didn’t go away and after multiple
that didn’t go away and after multiple
that didn’t go away and after multiple visits to and from emergency departments
visits to and from emergency departments
visits to and from emergency departments an emergency room doctor obtained this
an emergency room doctor obtained this
an emergency room doctor obtained this chest x-ray it shows a space occupying
chest x-ray it shows a space occupying
chest x-ray it shows a space occupying mass in the right chest it’s
mass in the right chest it’s
mass in the right chest it’s neuroblastoma the most common cancer
neuroblastoma the most common cancer
neuroblastoma the most common cancer outside of the brain and children it is
outside of the brain and children it is
outside of the brain and children it is a cancer of the nervous tissue
a cancer of the nervous tissue
a cancer of the nervous tissue apparently in the adrenal gland or
apparently in the adrenal gland or
apparently in the adrenal gland or nervous tissue of the neck chest abdomen
nervous tissue of the neck chest abdomen
nervous tissue of the neck chest abdomen or pelvis and as a senior trainee in
or pelvis and as a senior trainee in
or pelvis and as a senior trainee in pediatric surgery I was consciously this
pediatric surgery I was consciously this
pediatric surgery I was consciously this patient and his mother and when we
patient and his mother and when we
patient and his mother and when we explained to his mother that in order to
explained to his mother that in order to
explained to his mother that in order to give him his best shot at survival we
give him his best shot at survival we
give him his best shot at survival we needed to try to remove the mass but in
needed to try to remove the mass but in
needed to try to remove the mass but in doing so we could harm his lungs his
doing so we could harm his lungs his
doing so we could harm his lungs his heart and the major blood vessels to and
heart and the major blood vessels to and
heart and the major blood vessels to and from his brain his mother was overcome
from his brain his mother was overcome
from his brain his mother was overcome with grief when we made it to the
with grief when we made it to the
with grief when we made it to the operating room just as we were about to
operating room just as we were about to
operating room just as we were about to make the opening incision my mentor
make the opening incision my mentor
make the opening incision my mentor looked up to me and said this tumor is
looked up to me and said this tumor is
looked up to me and said this tumor is coming out today let’s go it was us
coming out today let’s go it was us
coming out today let’s go it was us against the most natural of disasters an
against the most natural of disasters an
against the most natural of disasters an anatomic catastrophe invading the
anatomic catastrophe invading the
anatomic catastrophe invading the delicate organs of a small child
delicate organs of a small child
delicate organs of a small child threatening his hope for a future we
threatening his hope for a future we
threatening his hope for a future we were awakened and inspired by a survival
were awakened and inspired by a survival
were awakened and inspired by a survival and by his life and seven hours later
and by his life and seven hours later
and by his life and seven hours later there was out of his chest and on its
there was out of his chest and on its
there was out of his chest and on its way to the pathologist for review we
way to the pathologist for review we
way to the pathologist for review we then had the privilege of going out to
then had the privilege of going out to
then had the privilege of going out to the waiting room and celebrating with
the waiting room and celebrating with
the waiting room and celebrating with his mother that we have removed the
his mother that we have removed the
his mother that we have removed the tumor in its entirety without any damage
tumor in its entirety without any damage
tumor in its entirety without any damage to any normal structures this time his
to any normal structures this time his
to any normal structures this time his mother was overcome with joy the next
mother was overcome with joy the next
mother was overcome with joy the next morning our young patient had many
morning our young patient had many
morning our young patient had many questions for us when could he eat when
questions for us when could he eat when
questions for us when could he eat when would the tubes come out what about
would the tubes come out what about
would the tubes come out what about school what about basketball could
school what about basketball could
school what about basketball could friends visit and then in a most
friends visit and then in a most
friends visit and then in a most composed and courageous way he looked
composed and courageous way he looked
composed and courageous way he looked right at me and said what causes
right at me and said what causes
right at me and said what causes neuroblastoma and why do I have it and
neuroblastoma and why do I have it and
neuroblastoma and why do I have it and is there a cure those questions changed
is there a cure those questions changed
is there a cure those questions changed me they changed me because we had no
me they changed me because we had no
me they changed me because we had no answers we don’t know what causes this
answers we don’t know what causes this
answers we don’t know what causes this cancer and to look into the hopeful eyes
cancer and to look into the hopeful eyes
cancer and to look into the hopeful eyes of a ten-year-old and saying in all of
of a ten-year-old and saying in all of
of a ten-year-old and saying in all of modern medicine no you are not cured
modern medicine no you are not cured
modern medicine no you are not cured it’s deeply troubling and I couldn’t do
it’s deeply troubling and I couldn’t do
it’s deeply troubling and I couldn’t do it and in that quiet moment of questions
it and in that quiet moment of questions
it and in that quiet moment of questions in chaos the dream was shaped I could
in chaos the dream was shaped I could
in chaos the dream was shaped I could see it I could feel it among all the
see it I could feel it among all the
see it I could feel it among all the patients and all the problems this was
patients and all the problems this was
patients and all the problems this was it there was something special about
it there was something special about
it there was something special about this problem something about this cave
this problem something about this cave
this problem something about this cave that grabs me and wouldn’t let go you
that grabs me and wouldn’t let go you
that grabs me and wouldn’t let go you see what he had just taught us was yeah
see what he had just taught us was yeah
see what he had just taught us was yeah we could diagnose the complex problem
we could diagnose the complex problem
we could diagnose the complex problem perform an elegant operation safely but
perform an elegant operation safely but
perform an elegant operation safely but there remained the fact that cancer
there remained the fact that cancer
there remained the fact that cancer would recur and neuroblastoma was likely
would recur and neuroblastoma was likely
would recur and neuroblastoma was likely still lurking in his blood vessels and
still lurking in his blood vessels and
still lurking in his blood vessels and in his lymph nodes that fact we didn’t
in his lymph nodes that fact we didn’t
in his lymph nodes that fact we didn’t change not with our surgery and not with
change not with our surgery and not with
change not with our surgery and not with chemotherapy therefore his direct
chemotherapy therefore his direct
chemotherapy therefore his direct questions and his curiosity had just
questions and his curiosity had just
questions and his curiosity had just reminded us this was not enough it was
reminded us this was not enough it was
reminded us this was not enough it was not enough because he was not cured and
not enough because he was not cured and
not enough because he was not cured and in our conversations with him what
in our conversations with him what
in our conversations with him what happened and maybe this has happened to
happened and maybe this has happened to
happened and maybe this has happened to you too I realized that in order to
you too I realized that in order to
you too I realized that in order to stand in this full space this full space
stand in this full space this full space
stand in this full space this full space of healing we really needed to be open
of healing we really needed to be open
of healing we really needed to be open to what was in fact an evolution we had
to what was in fact an evolution we had
to what was in fact an evolution we had to flat-out accept the challenge receive
to flat-out accept the challenge receive
to flat-out accept the challenge receive the directive to not just stay on the
the directive to not just stay on the
the directive to not just stay on the field but
field but
field but take up the battle in that moment and
take up the battle in that moment and
take up the battle in that moment and probably many others prior to that led
probably many others prior to that led
probably many others prior to that led to this my goal and my dream is to cure
to this my goal and my dream is to cure
to this my goal and my dream is to cure cancer my team and I have set out to
cancer my team and I have set out to
cancer my team and I have set out to make discoveries and to develop a cancer
make discoveries and to develop a cancer
make discoveries and to develop a cancer treatment that will obtain curative
treatment that will obtain curative
treatment that will obtain curative outcomes for children with neuroblastoma
outcomes for children with neuroblastoma
outcomes for children with neuroblastoma I accept responsibility and
I accept responsibility and
I accept responsibility and accountability for this problem it is a
accountability for this problem it is a
accountability for this problem it is a part of me I think about it when i wake
part of me I think about it when i wake
part of me I think about it when i wake up in the morning and i think about it
up in the morning and i think about it
up in the morning and i think about it before i go to sleep at night the
before i go to sleep at night the
before i go to sleep at night the message from that young patient was this
message from that young patient was this
message from that young patient was this why aren’t we aspiring for the
why aren’t we aspiring for the
why aren’t we aspiring for the extraordinary and couldn’t we at least
extraordinary and couldn’t we at least
extraordinary and couldn’t we at least try isn’t that all we can do is take
try isn’t that all we can do is take
try isn’t that all we can do is take clues from our personal and professional
clues from our personal and professional
clues from our personal and professional experiences and allow them to move us to
experiences and allow them to move us to
experiences and allow them to move us to inspire us maybe it is about freeing
inspire us maybe it is about freeing
inspire us maybe it is about freeing ourselves in those magical moments and
ourselves in those magical moments and
ourselves in those magical moments and allowing the disruption in the chaos to
allowing the disruption in the chaos to
allowing the disruption in the chaos to set our goals to drive us to our purpose
set our goals to drive us to our purpose
set our goals to drive us to our purpose I did that for neuroblastoma and when I
I did that for neuroblastoma and when I
I did that for neuroblastoma and when I did that you know what I found that it
did that you know what I found that it
did that you know what I found that it is the absolute perfect cancer to study
is the absolute perfect cancer to study
is the absolute perfect cancer to study poised for a curative discovery here’s
poised for a curative discovery here’s
poised for a curative discovery here’s an example of why cancer is no longer a
an example of why cancer is no longer a
an example of why cancer is no longer a secret because the entire human genome
secret because the entire human genome
secret because the entire human genome has been mapped we know what normal
has been mapped we know what normal
has been mapped we know what normal looks like and we also know what the
looks like and we also know what the
looks like and we also know what the cancer genome looks like so cancer
cancer genome looks like so cancer
cancer genome looks like so cancer researchers have been discovering all
researchers have been discovering all
researchers have been discovering all the DNA mutations that turn a normal
the DNA mutations that turn a normal
the DNA mutations that turn a normal cell into a tumor cell there has never
cell into a tumor cell there has never
cell into a tumor cell there has never been a more exciting time to study
been a more exciting time to study
been a more exciting time to study cancer and what is even more compelling
cancer and what is even more compelling
cancer and what is even more compelling about neuroblastoma which is why we need
about neuroblastoma which is why we need
about neuroblastoma which is why we need to do this work right now is that unlike
to do this work right now is that unlike
to do this work right now is that unlike most cancers only a few DNA alterations
most cancers only a few DNA alterations
most cancers only a few DNA alterations have been discovered in neuroblastoma
have been discovered in neuroblastoma
have been discovered in neuroblastoma tumors even more exciting the presence
tumors even more exciting the presence
tumors even more exciting the presence of these DNA alterations are the single
of these DNA alterations are the single
of these DNA alterations are the single most
most
most predictor as to whether or not children
predictor as to whether or not children
predictor as to whether or not children with neuroblastoma would die could this
with neuroblastoma would die could this
with neuroblastoma would die could this mean that if we understand how DNA
mean that if we understand how DNA
mean that if we understand how DNA alterations leads to chemotherapy
alterations leads to chemotherapy
alterations leads to chemotherapy resistance could that be a clue and
resistance could that be a clue and
resistance could that be a clue and carry neuroblastoma DNA is the heart of
carry neuroblastoma DNA is the heart of
carry neuroblastoma DNA is the heart of a tumor cell we know that mutations
a tumor cell we know that mutations
a tumor cell we know that mutations happen when DNA damage occurs DNA damage
happen when DNA damage occurs DNA damage
happen when DNA damage occurs DNA damage from normal metabolic processes UV light
from normal metabolic processes UV light
from normal metabolic processes UV light and chemotherapy chemotherapy causes DNA
and chemotherapy chemotherapy causes DNA
and chemotherapy chemotherapy causes DNA damage in DNA strand breaks and the cell
damage in DNA strand breaks and the cell
damage in DNA strand breaks and the cell responds by either repairing its DNA or
responds by either repairing its DNA or
responds by either repairing its DNA or instructing selda could it be that the
instructing selda could it be that the
instructing selda could it be that the road or the answer or perhaps even our
road or the answer or perhaps even our
road or the answer or perhaps even our hypothesis is that a tumor cell gains
hypothesis is that a tumor cell gains
hypothesis is that a tumor cell gains resistance by repairing its own DNA we
resistance by repairing its own DNA we
resistance by repairing its own DNA we already know that resistant tumors the
already know that resistant tumors the
already know that resistant tumors the ones that relapse somehow figure out a
ones that relapse somehow figure out a
ones that relapse somehow figure out a way to patch up their DNA so our lab is
way to patch up their DNA so our lab is
way to patch up their DNA so our lab is interested in these very special tumor
interested in these very special tumor
interested in these very special tumor cells the ones that can recognize the
cells the ones that can recognize the
cells the ones that can recognize the broken DNA and a fish efficiently put
broken DNA and a fish efficiently put
broken DNA and a fish efficiently put the ends back together again we think
the ends back together again we think
the ends back together again we think this allows the tumor to grow imagine if
this allows the tumor to grow imagine if
this allows the tumor to grow imagine if that is the missing puzzle tumor cells
that is the missing puzzle tumor cells
that is the missing puzzle tumor cells with a special ability to repair their
with a special ability to repair their
with a special ability to repair their own DNA imagine further that we could
own DNA imagine further that we could
own DNA imagine further that we could block that process if we are right
block that process if we are right
block that process if we are right perhaps children no longer dying of
perhaps children no longer dying of
perhaps children no longer dying of neuroblastoma and if we are wrong then
neuroblastoma and if we are wrong then
neuroblastoma and if we are wrong then we are positioned to be guided to the
we are positioned to be guided to the
we are positioned to be guided to the next question to do this we have
next question to do this we have
next question to do this we have assembled an interdisciplinary
assembled an interdisciplinary
assembled an interdisciplinary multidisciplinary team and we have rally
multidisciplinary team and we have rally
multidisciplinary team and we have rally believers in our work and last summer we
believers in our work and last summer we
believers in our work and last summer we wrote to the federal government about
wrote to the federal government about
wrote to the federal government about the DNA repair capacity of neuroblastoma
the DNA repair capacity of neuroblastoma
the DNA repair capacity of neuroblastoma that happens in the form of an ro1 grant
that happens in the form of an ro1 grant
that happens in the form of an ro1 grant the pinnacle of one’s academic career we
the pinnacle of one’s academic career we
the pinnacle of one’s academic career we spent days and hours scrutinizing each
spent days and hours scrutinizing each
spent days and hours scrutinizing each experiment
experiment
experiment analyzing each data piece crafting each
analyzing each data piece crafting each
analyzing each data piece crafting each word to carefully convince the NIH that
word to carefully convince the NIH that
word to carefully convince the NIH that our idea was the next best step to
our idea was the next best step to
our idea was the next best step to understanding the curates in
understanding the curates in
understanding the curates in neuroblastoma on this first submission
neuroblastoma on this first submission
neuroblastoma on this first submission they didn’t accept our grants but you
they didn’t accept our grants but you
they didn’t accept our grants but you know I think that it’s because I know
know I think that it’s because I know
know I think that it’s because I know that I have been uniquely guided to do
that I have been uniquely guided to do
that I have been uniquely guided to do this work we immediately start to
this work we immediately start to
this work we immediately start to strategize how we would send the grant
strategize how we would send the grant
strategize how we would send the grant right back we would address each
right back we would address each
right back we would address each weakness one by one and how really all
weakness one by one and how really all
weakness one by one and how really all we needed to do was a few more
we needed to do was a few more
we needed to do was a few more experiments learn a few more techniques
experiments learn a few more techniques
experiments learn a few more techniques but the one thing we knew is that we
but the one thing we knew is that we
but the one thing we knew is that we weren’t giving up so I think the message
weren’t giving up so I think the message
weren’t giving up so I think the message in all of this is multifold our personal
in all of this is multifold our personal
in all of this is multifold our personal and our professional experiences they
and our professional experiences they
and our professional experiences they shape our dreams they lead us to our
shape our dreams they lead us to our
shape our dreams they lead us to our destiny our challenge is to be open to
destiny our challenge is to be open to
destiny our challenge is to be open to the clues the quiet nudge that moves us
the clues the quiet nudge that moves us
the clues the quiet nudge that moves us to our life’s purpose and when that
to our life’s purpose and when that
to our life’s purpose and when that happens is our fight in the battle
happens is our fight in the battle
happens is our fight in the battle unshakable unyielding because we know
unshakable unyielding because we know
unshakable unyielding because we know that we have been brilliantly guided to
that we have been brilliantly guided to
that we have been brilliantly guided to this place and then that one magical
this place and then that one magical
this place and then that one magical moment preceded by many magical moments
moment preceded by many magical moments
moment preceded by many magical moments will be that one critical milestone on
will be that one critical milestone on
will be that one critical milestone on our journey with the extraordinary thank
our journey with the extraordinary thank
our journey with the extraordinary thank you for your time
”
Be First to Comment