In one feature of the series, Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee, Assistant Dean of Medicine at Columbia University and author of last year’s explosive tome, “The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer,” (which everyone should go read) asked his peers to define the breakthrough “cancer stem cell theory.” This stem cell research may explain why certain cancers, such as leukemia or lymphoma, appear to respond to treatment, only to recur after a period of remission.

The threat that cancer can return, even after apparently successful chemotherapy and radiation, remains terrifying. The answer as to why certain cancer recurs, it turns out, may lie in our understanding of stem cells. In humans, stem cells essentially contain the most basic characteristics of all the cells in the body. This means they have the ability to become, divide, and renew virtually any type of cell: a liver cell, a kidney cell, a blood cell. Previous cancer models assumed that all cancer cells are capable of generating tumors, but according to this new theory, cancers cells (for certain cancer subtypes, at least) exist on a hierarchical spectrum with stem cells on top. If therapy doesn’t manage to kill this mother cell, the disease could be regenerating even while medical tests show that the cancer is in remission.

Dr. Lewis Cantley, Professor of Cell Biology at Harvard University, explains: “Some of the therapies that look like they’re working beautifully because [they] reduce the total number of cells by 98% [are not] killing the ones that are keeping this tumor going, so that is why there is so much excitement about this. We need to get therapies that hit the cancer stem cells, not just the ones that are descendants of it.”

“The question is, can any cancer cell lead to a recurrence?” asks Dr. Harold Varmus, Director of the National Cancer Institute. If only certain cells have this ability, “it’s not enough to measure the total bulk of cancer cells.” Suddenly it is cell quality, not quantity, which matters.

But the research of how to actually target these cancer stem cells is still in its early stages, making this new revelation as unsettling as it is thrilling to both patients and doctors alike. Especially since these stem cells are tough. “It’s thought that those are the cells that are resistant to therapies,” adds Varmus. “One facet [of this] is so called drug resistance, which is a huge problem in cancer therapy today.”

If you aren’t familiar with Big Think, they have quite an extensive library of video interviews with breast cancer survivors, physicians, and researchers. Did you know, for instance, that Ruth Porat, the “most powerful woman on Wall Street” persevered through treatment while continuing to go to work? See here for a whole host of interesting video footage.

This new research represents a major shift in strategy for breast cancer treatment options. The study found that about 20 percent of patients (40,000 women in the United States each year), who met certain criteria, showed no advantage in removal of cancerous or potentially cancerous nodes. For many women, this surgery is a painful option. Learning that it may no longer be necessary for some patients can provide new hope, not just for them but for the men and women who have someone in their lives that has been diagnosed.

While this research reported on findings in women with specific conditions, there are still a lot of unknowns and the current research does not apply to all patients. It’s important for women to consult with their physician and find out whether the new surgical options apply to them.

While it may take some time for this new study to completely change current medical practice, it demonstrates how important it is to support and fund ongoing research. The Pink Agenda is committed to raising money and awareness for research to continue taking steps closer to a cure. Our efforts have supported the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the Greater New York City affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute’s program for Young Women with breast cancer. With your support, one day we’ll reach our goal to eradicate breast cancer.

Luckily, I’ve found some solutions from Thread Social – a fabulous brand not only for their support of The Pink Agenda, but also for their festive & fun designs. I think I’ve found something for each occasion.

I need something on-trend, but not too fussy, for the downtown soirees. Here is my top choice:

Later in the month, I’m attending a company party. I want to look professional but festive, and this option allows me to do both. I love the jacquard fabric and work-friendly silhouette.

Finally, I’ll celebrate the holidays with my family and I can’t go an entire holiday season without wearing pink! I adore one-shoulder dresses, and the pink and gold color combination is tremendously merry.

Whatever you wear, we wish you a very happy and healthy holiday season! We’d love to know what you’re planning to wear in the comments.

TPA “thinks pink” year round, but never more so in October. A few companies have joined us in our effort to make breast cancer history. We’ll hope you’ll support them — and us. Shop. Donate. Make a difference.

WHAT: Baking for Good’s Irresistible Baked Treats

WHEN: The Pink Agenda is Baking for Good’s featured charity during the month of October, but your purchases can benefit TPA year round.

WHERE: www.bakingforgood.com

WHY: When you choose The Pink Agenda as your cause of choice, 15% of every purchase you make goes to TPA.

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WHAT: Martini’s Sparkling Rose

WHEN: Through October 31

WHERE: www.facebook.com/drinkmartini

WHY: Martini will match every $5 donation, up to $35,000 made on its Facebook page

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WHAT: H.Bloom’s Bundle of Pink Garden Roses

WHEN: Through October 31

WHERE: www.hbloom.com

WHY: H. Bloom will donate 20% of the purchase price to The Pink Agenda

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WHAT: Tiny Prints’ Breast Cancer Awareness Collection

WHEN: Through October 31

WHERE: www.tinyprints.com/bca

WHY: Tiny Prints will donate 100% of the proceeds from the sale of any greeting card in this collection to TPA

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WHAT: Thread Social

WHEN: Through October 31

WHERE: www.facebook.com/ThreadSocial

WHY: Enter PINK at checkout to get 15% off your purchase with a portion of proceeds donated to TPA

The story is about Hallie Leighton, a 39 year old woman who went into her doctor to get a mammogram. She had a history of breast cancer in her family, and was taking the appropriate steps to monitoring her own health. She receieved a clean bill of health from her doctor following her visit.

A year later, Leighton went in for an annual checkup, at which her doctor found a large lump in her breast. The frightening part: “Leighton says her breast surgeon told her the tumor was probably there when she’d had the mammogram the year before.”

This article helps to stress the important of self-testing and setting up regular appointments with your doctor that include breast exams. The reason that the mammogram may have missed the cancer in Hallie Leighton’s breast is because she has dense breast tissue, which made it harder to spot the cancer using the machine. While the mammogram machines are powerful, all breasts are not created equal, which means that a lump can be missed.

Please take time today to check yourself and set up an annual visit with your doctor if you don’t have one scheduled already.

For more on Hallie Leighton, and a checklist to know when a mammogram might not be enough for you, please read the CNN.com article.

Tiny Prints and The Pink Agenda are joining forces to raise money for our favorite cause — Breast Cancer Awareness.

Send some love to your favorite breast cancer survivor or fighter and 100% of the proceeds from the Tiny Prints collection of breast cancer awareness cards will benefit The Pink Agenda.

As Tiny Prints says, “With themes ranging from gratitude to faith, courage and love, these designs are perfect for anyone committed to the fight against breast cancer. Plus, when you shop between now and October 31, you’ll save $1 off every breast cancer awareness card you send with the coupon code BCA2010.”

Order now!

As card carrying New Yorkers we all rushed out to see SATC2 with the rest of the glitterotti, but when we saw our beloved Samantha downing hormones to offset the symptoms of menopause we were upset.  Hormone replacement therapy is avoided at all costs in breast cancer survivors as it is known to increase the chance of recurrence.  See what CNN’s Dr.Gupta had to say about the “bad medicine” and what our partners at Komen have to say about hormone replacement therapy for survivors.

P.S. Still grab your girls and see the movie asap, just skip Samantha’s medical advice!

Exercise Benefits for Chemo PatientsWho has the energy to exercise regularly? Well, to be sure, not me and I am by no means a lazy person. (Just to give you a little bit of insight into my life, I have marathon running listed under ‘interests’ on my resume). I therefore CANNOT imagine what kind of motivation it must take to exercise for someone who is undergoing chemo for breast cancer.
While exercise has been the subject of many studies on how to prevent cancer, a new study, done by Professor Kerry Courneya at University of Alberta (Canada), is taking a look at exercise on the post-diagnosis side.
He recruited over 200 women with breast cancer who were beginning chemo and grouped them into 3 categories: resistance training, aerobic exercise and “usual care” (aka nothing). The most novel finding was the group that was doing weight resistance training actually increased their ability to complete chemo on time.
The reasoning behind why the weight resistance might have helped the patients is unknown, but Courneya speculates that workouts boost white blood cell counts. As he mentioned to a HealthDay reporter earlier this month, “If white blood cell counts fall during chemo, the chemotherapy sometimes has to be delayed or the amount of the drug given is reduced”
Both exercise groups also showed improvement in overall self esteem, an important issue when undergoing chemo because of hair loss and other concerns. So, even though it may be counterintuitive to exercise while undergoing treatment, there may be noticeable benefits.
Obviously, all cancer patients considering exercise should consult their doctor first.