Cancer and Groundbreaking Research

The mission of the AACR is to prevent and cure cancer through research, education, communication, and collaboration. Through its programs and services, the AACR fosters research in cancer and related biomedical science; accelerates the dissemination of new research findings among scientists and others dedicated to the conquest of cancer; promotes science education and training; and advances the understanding of cancer etiology, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment throughout the world. Watch a video about the importance of basic science in cancer research: http://www.youtube.com/user/AACRNews#p/a/u/2/fPB0NrxJ1eo

The AACR is the authoritative source of information about advances in the causes, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cancer, and publishes six peer-reviewed scientific journals: Cancer Research; Clinical Cancer Research; Molecular Cancer Therapeutics; Molecular Cancer Research; Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention; and Cancer Prevention Research, as well as CR, a magazine for cancer survivors, patient advocates, their families, physicians and scientists.

Dynamic interactions and exciting science characterize all of the AACR’s meetings, conferences and educational workshops. The Annual Meeting, the largest of its kind in the world for cancer researchers, attracts more than 17,000 researchers from over 60 countries. In addition to the Annual Meeting, the AACR holds several large conferences that focus on the latest developments and advances in Molecular Diagnostics, Frontiers in Cancer Prevention, Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics (joint meeting with EORTC and the NCI), Cancer Health Disparities, and Translational Cancer Medicine. Eight to 12 Special Conferences focus on emerging areas of cancer research each year. Similar conferences are held overseas in conjunction with international cancer research organizations. The AACR also conducts a unique series of educational workshops that offers young scientists the latest scientific information along with critical skills that include mentoring, networking and career development opportunities.

Watch a video about AACR meetings: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxNa3_DEC5o&feature=player_embedded

Building upon the AACR’s longstanding commitment to fostering partnerships with survivor advocates—and to fulfill its goal of significantly expanding these relationships—the association’s Survivor and Patient Advocacy Program is dedicated to fostering mutually beneficial and enduring partnerships among leaders of the cancer survivor, patient advocacy and scientific communities. Additionally, the AACR’s office of Science Policy and Government Affairs advocates for strong federal research funding.

Influenza

Influenza, or more commonly referred to as the flu, is a virus that affects many people every day all over the world. Influenza is characterized by an infection which develops mainly in the respiratory system. Mainly, those who have influenza experience fever, sore throat and headaches, among many other possible symptoms. These symptoms should pass if the influenza is properly taken care of with available treatment. Sometimes the flu can remain with you for weeks. An exhausting experience, influenza effects many people and can lead to pneumonia if it is untreated. There is a vaccine available to those who would like to receive it, in order to prevent the virus from affecting them. The vaccine’s effectiveness will vary from person to person but it is mainly effective in prevention of influenza.In addition, the influenza vaccine must be taken each year for proper prevention. The reason for this is because the virus that causes people to get influenza is always changing or mutating and as such, the vaccine needs to adapt to those changes in order to keep up the prevention of the symptoms.  Prevention plays an important role when it comes to avoiding the miserable experience of the flu. Influenza is a tiring and laboring experience for your body and you can follow some basic guidelines for prevention of this ordeal. Here are some basic tips to follow for the prevention of influenza:

-Prevention by Knowledge. Utilize the internet to conduct a search to read up on the virus, how it works and where it attacks. There are a whole host of reliable websites that will provide you with the information you need to stay healthy.

-The Vaccine. Prevention can be continually updated each year with a flu vaccination. The vaccine changes every year, as does the virus, so keep going back to the doctor to get the vaccine.

-Keep Healthy.Prevention begins with good health. If you are keeping your body healthy by providing it with all the nutrients it needs your immune system and body will be better able to fight off any viruses, especially the flu.

-Keep clean. Make it a steady practice to wash your hands consistently throughout the day, especially when you come into close contact with someone else. If you touch an object make sure you are washing your hands with anti-bacterial soap and warm water to kill any germs. In addition try not to touch your self, especially the nose and mouth.

-Stay away. Other people may not be as health conscious as you are. Avoid coming into contact with people who are sick. The flu will spread quickly when you come into contact with someone who has it, you do not even have to touch them. You could just be in the same room with someone who has the flu and contract it yourself, since it is contagious. By following these simple tips you can decrease your chances of getting the flu dramatically. Once you do have the flu there are plenty of options in terms of managing the illness.

Cystic Fibrosis

Considering the amount of genetic information that is passed from parent to child during conception and the ensuing pregnancy, it is no wonder that certain diseases that a parent may have will pass to their offspring. The genetic factor plays an important role not only in what your children will look like but what their health condition will be based on due to the genetic link between parent and child. Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disease that is passed from parent to child. It affects the human secretory glands. These glands are used to function when it comes to sweating and creating mucous. The genetic factor in this disease causes children to develop Cystic Fibrosis. Both parents of a child with cystic fibrosis will pass a dysfunctional CF gene which will cause the disease to develop. The glands will overly produce sweat and cause a mucus build up in the lungs and even in some of the other organs of the body. There are two ways to test to see if your child has developed this genetic disease. In addition your own genetic information can be analyzed in a test to see if you carry a faulty CF gene, before you decide to have children. Here are the two tests that can be taken to determine whether or not you have this genetic disease:

1.) Sweat test. This test is conducted because when someone has Cystic Fibrosis the overactive secretory glands will produce a larger and saltier amount of sweat. The test is designed to stimulate the glands in order to measure sweat and its salt content. If the salt content is high enough and the amount is high as well, you may have Cystic fibrosis. This is a simple test that will provide almost immediate results, so it is used more often when it comes to helping doctors diagnose this genetic disease.

2) Genetic Test. The genetic test is conducted by collecting a tissue or blood sample. This sample is then sent to a lab for testing to find out if the faulty Cystic Fibrosis gene can be detected from the genetic material in the sample.

There is no cure for cystic fibrosis but there are ways to manage this disease. First, those with this disease can maintain a healthy diet of foods that will help them with their needs. Those who have CF need to develop a diet of foods that will be able to help them manage their overall health while fighting this disease. There are also several different drugs offered to help deal with Cystic Fibrosis, in addition to various therapies that have been developed to help CF patients cope and live a more healthy and pain free lifestyle. The best way to deal with Cystic Fibrosis once you have been diagnosed is to follow the care and advice that your physician provides you with. There are also a number of facilities that are designed to help those with Cystic Fibrosis monitor and improve their symptoms in order to function better and improve overall health.