In the midst of a lumpectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation for breast cancer, Dianne Austin thought finding a wig to cover her balding head would be easy. She quickly learned otherwise. As a Black woman, Austin desired a wig that resembled her tightly coiled, kinky and curly hair. This was 2015, and although several hospitals near … Read more
Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is a common respiratory virus. RSV symptoms are similar to the common cold – congestion, runny nose, fever, and sore throat. RSV infection is usually mild, but it can be severe for infants, older adults, and individuals with immunocompromising conditions, including cancer. In infants, it can lead to pneumonia or … Read more
In 2023, Denise “Necee” Regis was brought face to face with her old art studio building on Brookline Avenue. As she walked by, she was able to identify the window that belonged to the room where she once spent the late 70s and early 80s working on a Master of Fine Arts at the Massachusetts … Read more
RAS is an oncogene, which is a gene that when mutated causes cancer. RAS (which is a family of genes including KRAS, HRAS, and NRAS) is commonly mutated in cancer. RAS mutations, usually in the KRAS protein, occur in about one in four cases of lung cancer. These gene mutations are found only in the cancer … Read more
RAS is an oncogene, which is a gene that when mutated causes cancer. RAS (consisting of a family of genes including KRAS, HRAS, and NRAS) is commonly mutated in cancer. Approximately 92 percent of pancreatic cancers have a KRAS mutation. These gene mutations are found only in the cancer cells and cause the RAS protein, … Read more
RAS is an oncogene, which is a gene that when mutated causes cancer. RAS — an abbreviation for rat sarcoma — is the most commonly mutated oncogene in human cancer. RAS mutations are found in 20% of all cancers and account for an estimated 260,000 cases per year in the U.S. and 3.4 million cases … Read more
Brown fat is a specialized tissue that has developed a host of important functions over the course of evolution. One of the most critical: the ability to produce heat in response to low temperatures by burning energy. Many animals can maintain their body temperature even in cold environments through the unique capabilities of brown fat. … Read more
Zip codes didn’t exist until 1963 and were established to help speed the delivery of mail. Today, we rely much less on paper mail but strangely, zip codes play a bigger role. They define our neighborhoods, which define our schools, food stores, health centers, even our risk of cancer. There are many factors that influence … Read more
Dana-Farber physician-scientists presented results of more than 100 research studies at the 66th American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting. Scientists shared findings across a range of hematologic disorders, underscoring the Institute’s dedication to innovation in hematologic oncology research, advances in early disease detection and intervention, and improving patient outcomes. ASH is the world’s most comprehensive hematology … Read more
Dana-Farber strongly encourages patients to get vaccinated for COVID-19 to protect themselves from serious infection of the virus. Family members, caregivers, and frequent household contacts also should also stay up to date with vaccinations to protect those around them. COVID-19 vaccines have been given to millions of people and have proven safe and effective at … Read more
Roberta “Bert” Green is a woman with a full and busy life. When not driving across the country with her husband, Ralph, in their RV, she alternates between paddle boarding, walking, e-biking, and skiing with the changing seasons around her rural Vermont home. Retired after a long career as a school neuropsychologist, she also makes … Read more
Flu season starts in the fall and ends in the spring – and people with chronic health conditions, such as cancer, are at a higher risk of getting the flu.
The Dana-Farber lab of Kira Bona, MD, MPH, has uncovered an alarming reality: children from low-income households are more likely to experience cancer relapse and face lower survival rates compared to their more privileged peers, despite receiving treatment on highly standardized clinical trials at top academic centers. The number of children for whom these data … Read more
Just like genetic and lifestyle factors, the composition of breasts can affect a person’s risk of developing breast cancer in their lifetime. Although it’s not yet known why, people with dense breasts have a higher risk for breast cancer. Breast density is a measure of how much glandular and fibrous tissue there is in the … Read more
Over the last decade, significant strides have been made in understanding the molecular underpinnings of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) in adults, which has led to better drugs and better treatment outcomes for patients. This shifting landscape now makes it possible for cancer researchers and providers to ask, “How can we do better?” Dana-Farber medical oncologist … Read more
Ann-Margaret Ferrante likes a good fight. The daughter and granddaughter of Gloucester, Mass. fishermen has long devoted herself to helping those in and around her hardy hometown, first as a lawyer, and since 2009 as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. For the last three years, however, Ferrante has had to balance her … Read more
Between 2000 and 2021, breast cancer rates in people under 50 of Asian or Pacific Islander decent rose by nearly 50%, from 36 to 55 cases per 100,000, with sharper increases between 2020 and 2021. Rates of breast cancer in young people are known to be rising in general, but this rate increase, according to … Read more
A recent analysis of pancreatic cancer statistics in the United States has found that the incidence of pancreatic cancer is increasing faster in younger adults than among older adults. Though this finding is cause for further investigation, the incidence overall remains low. “This is still a rare cancer in young people,” says Asaf Maoz, MD, … Read more
Dana-Farber’s Centers for Early Detection and Interception, founded in 2023, aim to detect cancer early, when there is a greater chance of treating and curing that cancer. The Centers also serve as a hub for research, with investigators seeking to better understand cancer risk and how it can be reduced. “Dana-Farber has always been the … Read more
Clinicians and researchers have recognized a disturbing trend in recent years: colorectal cancer (CRC) in young people is skyrocketing. In individuals under the age of 50, the incidence of CRC has increased about 2% each year since the 1990s, and, according to the American Cancer Society, is now the leading cause of death in males … Read more