Health

Health: Stand Up To Cancer Financial Benefit

PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ― Every 60 seconds, someone dies from cancer. Now three of the major television networks are joining forces to fight the biggest killer of Americans.

It's called Stand Up To Cancer, a unique fundraiser that will air September 5 at 8 p.m.

Medical Reporter Stephanie Stahl explains how the money will change the face of cancer treatment.

Kids with cancer learn to live with masks, being bald, and enduring pain.

Stephanie Caro, 15, is getting chemotherapy for leukemia.

"It's hard, it's really hard. There are times where I just can't take it anymore," said Stephanie.

To help Stephanie and millions of patients like her, cancer researchers are trying to find better treatments. Funding that research is what Stand Up To Cancer is all about.

"It's an extremely exciting national initiative," said Dr. Thompson, the head of the University of Pennsylvania's Abramson Cancer Center.

He and his colleagues are investigating ways to fight cancer with a patient's immune system.

Dr. Thompson was on the committee that designed the innovative funding model for Stand Up To Cancer. Money raised will go to what are being called research dream teams around the country.

"What we haven't had is a mechanism for all of us to work effectively. To throw the common ideas into a pot and really start to use that information. Take the best people and not compete for grants anymore, but to collaborate for grants," said Dr. Thompson.

The Stand Up To Cancer funding will get to the researchers faster because there will be less red tape. And it will pay for more high risk projects that usually aren't so easily funded.

"This is the first time anything like this has ever been done," said Dr. Margaret Foti, the Chief Executive Officer of the Philadelphia based American Association for Cancer Research, the worlds largest scientific organization, which will oversee money raised from Stand Up To Cancer.

"We can provide a credible, fast nimble peer review process that will get the funds out to the appropriate places as soon as possible," said Dr. Foti.

All of the money raised from the Stand Up To Cancer show will go to research and projects that are expected to save lives.


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Stand Up To Cancer

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