“Help take a chomp out of cancer”
"YOU HAVE CANCER" The above are but three simple words. However, when they are placed into the sequence as noted, they become three very horrific words. I know, because last August the doctors at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston spoke those three words to me. Unfortunately, those words were then followed by the term ‘Multiple Myeloma’, something that I had never heard of before. I quickly learned that Multiple Myeloma is a very rare type of cancer that actually develops in one’s bone marrow. Only about 30,000 people in the United States contract this type of cancer annually. So, in the big picture of cancers being diagnosed every year, this is relatively small. There is no known cause for this disease and unfortunately, at this time, there is also no known cure. After receiving this news from the oncologist, and after consultation with family and friends, we decided that I would enter into a Phase II Clinical Trial being conducted by Dr. Irene Ghobrial at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. Much has happened in the past year that has caused me to think a lot about life. I think that this challenge has, in a way, made me a far better person. I now see each day as a blessing and realize that I’m extremely lucky to have the love and support of so many family members and outstanding friends. My wife, Pam has been my true hero and my rock. She and my wonderful children, Patrick and Meagan, have been at my side each and every step of the way. It is because of what our family has witnessed at Dana Farber that we have decided to give back to the outstanding team at Dana- Farber Cancer Institute to help find that elusive cure for Multiple Myeloma. Recent advancements in the use of a new class of immunotherapy drugs that are being used in tandem with more traditional medications and other therapies such as stem cell transplants, along with a deepened understanding of the role genes play in combating cancer, point to the fact that there is great hope for the future. However, in order to find a cure for this type of cancer, with the hope that it will unlock the cure for other blood related cancers, there must be continued and extensive research. On October 28, 2016, we will be hosting our first event to both recognize the outstanding research being conducted by Dr. Ghobrial and her colleagues at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and to help raise funds to continue this necessary effort. I respectfully ask that everyone please consider attending and/or making a donation for this special evening. With your continued love and support, we will beat this and we all will make a difference! Sincerely, Jay Foran |