The report includes comprehensive data on trends over the past several decades for all major cancers. The long-term decline in overall cancer death rates continued through 2003 for all races and both sexes combined. The declines were greater among men (1.6 percent per year from 1993 through 2003) than women (0.8 percent per year from 1992 through 2003).

Death rates decreased for 11 of the 15 most common cancers in men, and for 10 of the 15 most common cancers in women. The authors attribute the decrease in death rates, in part, to successful efforts to reduce exposure to tobacco, earlier detection through screening, and more effective treatment. Continued success will depend on maintaining and enhancing these efforts.

Overall cancer incidence rates (the rate at which new cancers are diagnosed) for both sexes and all races combined have been stable from 1992 through 2003. Overall rates for men were stable from 1995 through 2003, while rates for women increased from 1979 through 2003. Notably, incidence rates for female breast cancer stabilized from 2001 through 2003. Whether this first indication of a changing trend is real or a random fluctuation cannot be determined until data reporting in the next few years is complete. Also, the data suggest a small increase in the female lung cancer incidence rate from 1991 through 2003, much slower rate of increase than in prior years.

Mrs. Dodson designated the gift for cure-focused research in two diseases that dramatically impacted her family. Her two brothers died from complications of diabetes, and she herself was a lung cancer survivor. The afflictions of these illnesses fueled her passion to give back. Mrs. Dodson died just 24 days short of her 101st birthday. The quiet and unassuming woman lived frugally, and managed to nurture and grow the modest legacy left to her by her late husband, Joseph Enloe Dodson.

This gift has enabled Sylvester to create two endowed chairs, the Dodson Chairs in Cancer Research, awarded to Glen N. Barber, Ph.D., and Eli Gilboa, Ph.D. Dr. Gilboa also will lead the Dodson Interdisciplinary Immunotherapy Institute, which will allow Sylvester to greatly enhance its multidisciplinary Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Research Program, aimed at preventing and curing different types of cancers. 

“This gift will allow us to make a quantum leap forward in our research efforts,” said Sylvester director, W. Jarrard Goodwin, M.D., F.A.C.S.  “Mrs. Dodson’s wonderful example will inspire the entire Sylvester family. I am thrilled to have Dr. Gilboa on board to lead our efforts in cancer immunotherapy."

Jamie carried the Flag of Hope to the mountain's summit — the flag was signed by Four Seasons employees honoring the names of friends, co-workers, and loved ones who are living with, or have passed away from cancer.

The Flag of Hope, one of five fundraising events Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach hosted this past year in memory of Terry Fox, raised nearly $11,000 in employee donations and outside contributions in only two weeks. A total of $27,000 was raised and donated from these events to support cancer research at Sylvester.

Since July, there have been more than 600 visits by patients receiving chemotherapy or infusion services.The CTU will expand to 11 chairs later this year when the size of the Deerfield Beach facility more than doubles. Sylvester will occupy the entire first floor and a share of the second floor, expanding to well over 20,000 square feet. Plans are for more treatment and procedure rooms including an endoscopy suite, a pain management area, and a Diagnostic Imaging Center with MRI, CT, and PET scans, digital mammography, nuclear medicine, bone densitometry, ultrasonography, and radiography.

Currently, 26 doctors treat patients at Sylvester at Deerfield Beach, 11 of whom joined the facility during 2006. (Many of these doctors are not new to Sylvester, but to the Deerfield Beach facility.)

''This project was born out of a strong obsession to do something different and more meaningful to humanity,'' said Nasir Kassamali, who emigrated from Kenya to Miami with his wife 33 years ago. "Cancer is a story that can be told in every family, friendship or workplace. We wanted to make a difference, even if it's just for a single life.''

Mahmet Bayraktar purchased one of the auctioned puppies at the event and gifted the work of art for Sylvester to display on-site.

The sold-out crowd of more than 900 of South Florida’s most generous philanthropists and community leaders joined Grand Gala Chairs Constance & Mike Fernandez, Honorary Chairs Doree & Malcolm Fromberg, Legacy Chair Allan Shore, Gala Chairs Fredi Consolo, Gail Gidney, and Elsie Sterling Howard, and 2006 Caroline W. Halpern Award recipients Denny and Paul Feinsilver.

“Over two years of planning has reaped fabulous rewards for cancer research in Miami tonight,” said Gala Chair Fredi Consolo. Other well-known civic and community leaders included Sylvester director W. Jarrard Goodwin, M.D. and Dean of the Miller School of Medicine Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D.;  previous Gala Chairs Fran & Mel Harris,Cynthia Davis Carr, and Gloria & Bob Kolikof; and committee members B & Don Carlin, Arlyn & Stephen Cypen, Peggy & Joseph Armaly, Selma & Jeff Newman, Susan & David Strauss, Joan & David Scheiner, Irma & Norman Braman, and Roberta & Harvey Chaplin. As co-chairs of the commemorative journal, Jennifer Kaplan and Sarah Harrelson, crafted a truly beautiful book highlighting the best of Sylvester, and raised more than $70,000. Corporate response was greater than ever before and included: Macys; Southern Wine and Spirits; FMS Bonds, Inc.; Buchanon, Ingersol, PA,; and Smith Barney, among many others. Traveling from Palm Beach County were Palm Beach County Chairs Jayne & Chris Malfitano, Jeanne & Richard Spring, and Barbara Pessel, President of the Papanicolau Corps for Cancer Research.

Denny and Paul Feinsilver received the Caroline W. Halpern Award presented by last year’s recipient, Elsie Sterling Howard, for their exemplary commitment to raising support and funds for our community’s only university-based cancer center. Denny and Paul have been instrumental in creating significant fundraising initiatives at Sylvester, including helping to found Friends for Sylvester, Coupons for a Cure, and their annual Sunday Supper Cultivation. The Feinsilvers are Grand Founders at Sylvester-- a select group of donors whose commitment exceeds $100,000.

4/19/07 – William Harrington Jr., M.D., Division of Hematology-Oncology
10/11/07 – Joseph D. Rosenblatt, M.D., Director of Clinical & Translational Research
11/8/07 – Raymond J. Leveillee, M.D., Department of Urology
12/13/07 – Eli Avisar, M.D., Department of Surgery

The Pap Corps is a volunteer fundraising organization comprised of 17,000 members throughout Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties with funds supporting cancer research at Sylvester. 

The purpose of the annual Miami Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival is to promote the sport and tradition of dragon boat racing, sharing this dramatic aspect of Asian culture with the greater Miami community. A  portion of the festival's proceeds will benefit breast cancer research at the Braman Family Breast Cancer Institute at Sylvester. We are thankful for Austin’s continued dedication in creating this amazing partnership.
 
We are recruiting breast cancer survivors to race at this empowering event. If you are interested, please call Jeanne Kushner at 305-243-2378. NO experience is needed!

Through the years, funds raised by Coupons for a Cure have helped support the many research projects at Sylvester that have resulted in scientific publications, presentations at medical symposia worldwide, and ultimately a greater understanding of cancer diagnostics and treatments. By using Coupons for a Cure, everyone has the ability to become a donor at Sylvester; and, by supporting South Florida’s only university-based cancer center, you become part of the team leading the way towards a cancer cure.

Ian recovered without a transplant, but over the last 11 years the brothers’ Kids That Care non-profit (www.kidsthatcare.net) has raised more than $100,000 for cancer research and programs helping critically ill children. Now, Ian not only raises money for cancer, but is enrolling in the University of Miami’s highly competitive undergraduate honors program in medicine.

Younger brother Kyle may follow Ian's footsteps. “I’m still in high school but when I graduate I’d like to go to medical school,” Kyle says. “When my brother first got sick, even though I was just a little kid, I saw first-hand some of the issues children face when diagnosed with cancer. I want to do all I can.”

During the last two years, the Amber brothers have presented checks totaling $25,000 to Sylvester director, W. Jarrard Goodwin, M.D., F.A.C.S., and Joseph D. Rosenblatt, M.D., Sylvester's Associate Director of Clinical and Translational Research.

And, in December, the brothers toured the laboratory of Izidore S. Lossos, M.D., a hematologist-oncologist and member of the Leukemia, Lymphoma, and Myeloma Site Disease Group at Sylvester. Lossos recently published a landmark study in the New England Journal of Medicine identifying for the first time six genes that can predict a lymphoma patient’s response to standard treatment. Kids That Care became a member of Friends for Sylvester, a giving society at Sylvester.

Jeff Peck, son of Gene and Althea Peck, co-chair of the Miami Dolphins Foundation Fishing Tournament, has been spearheading this initiative since its inception in 1996.  Part of the gift was made to promote breast cancer awareness, and the other for the purchase of an auto fluorescent bronchoscope at Sylvester.