Obama’s grandmother, Madelyn Dunham sadly died of cancer on the eve of the election. Dunham was also known as Toot, which comes from the Hawaiian term for grandparent tutu which Obama shortened to Toot for his beloved grandmother. In a press release Barack Obama and his sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng said “She was the cornerstone of our family, and a woman of extraordinary accomplishment, strength, and humility. She was the person who encouraged and allowed us to take chances. She was proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and left this world with the knowledge that her impact on all of us was meaningful and enduring. Our debt to her is beyond measure.”

They ask that in lieu of flowers, supporters make a donation to any worthy organization in search of a cure for cancer. So takepart and make a donation to The American Cancer Society.

Pink Floyd keyboardist Richard Wright is dead at age 65.  A founding member of the enormously successful British Rock band, Wright passed away today at his home ending a battle with cancer.   His family did not want to disclose any more details regarding his passing at this time.

Like many an adolescent boy, back in the day I was a huge fan of Pink Floyd, a band always guaranteed to bring a little extra something something to nights already pushed into excess.   For my money, Richard Wright was the unsung hero of the band, contributing the completely innovative keyboard parts that made these masters of the studio album stand apart from the competition.   Plenty of bands can write depressing lyrics.   Many rhythm sections can handle their instruments as well or better than Roger Waters (bass) and Nick Mason (drums).   Although David Gilmour (guitar) unquestionably had a very special sound, there were a lot of guys in the 70’s that knew how to make a guitar wail and scream in their guitar solos.   But Wright was nearly without peer in his day in the depth of sound he brought to the Pink Floyd’s classic recordings.  

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The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, an agency I didn’t know existed until right now, had the very unenviable task Monday of informing people in a region of Northwest Pennsylvania that the area is home to a cluster of polycythemia vera (PV), a rare blood cell cancer. The area, about 80 miles outside Philadelphia, is also home to many Superfund sites and a waste-powered coal plant.

People in the 20-mile stretch considered to contain the cluster are four times as likely to develop PV as people in the rest of the country. Though some residents blame the cancer on the waste sites in the area, researchers made clear that that connection had not officially been made.

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1) Stand Up 2 Cancer (SU2C) PSA (I’m not sure why but every time I watch this PSA I tear up..)

For the Cinema YouTube Video of the Day, Click here>>

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Be on the lookout for both types of veggies...

Remember when tomatoes got linked to a salmonella outbreak? Turns out the real culprit may have been serrano jalapeño peppers.

The AP has more on the story.

In the meantime — now that vegetables are apparently trying to kill us — it’s time for some carbo-loading.

takepart by getting together with your friends to host a bake sale to benefit child cancer care patients at Cupcakes for a Cause

Some disturbing news is out today about cholesterol drug Vytorin, news that says the drug failed to meet it’s main goal of improving cardiovascular outcomes in a closely-watched heart study. Don’t know which drug I’m talking about? (there are so many.. it’s understandable)

This commercial may jog your memory:

According to The New York Times Vytorin actually seems to have very little effect:

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Actor, director, and philanthropist Paul Newman is battling cancer, his longtime neighbor and business partner said Wednesday.

A.E. Hotchner, who partnered with Newman to start Newman’s Own salad dressing company in the 1980s, said the 83-year-old actor told him about the disease about 18 months ago. He doesn’t say what kind of cancer but said Newman is in active treatment.

“I know that it’s a form of cancer,” Hotchner said. “It’s a form of cancer, and he’s dealing with it.”

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Before you make your next cell call, you may want to read this article at http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/06/05/healthscience/sncell.php. The piece warns about cellular phone dangers saying:

Last week, three prominent neurosurgeons told the CNN interviewer Larry King that they did not hold cellphones next to their ears. “I think the safe practice,” said Dr. Keith Black, a surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, “is to use an earpiece so you keep the microwave antenna away from your brain.” [International Health Tribune]

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Really, everyone is standing up to cancer:

The Big Three television networks NBC, CBS and ABC have never done anything like it before. On Friday, Sept. 5, their news anchors Brian Williams, Katie Couric and Charles Gibson, respectively will sit on one set for a commercial-free, prime-time simulcast entitled Stand Up to Cancer. [MSNBC]

Major League Baseball is teaming up with entertainers, foundations, businesses and three of the top four television networks — ABC, CBS and NBC — in the quest to find a cure for cancer.

The new initiative, called “Stand Up To Cancer,” was introduced on Wednesday morning on all three networks and at press conferences at the Paley Center for Media in New York. It will also be introduced in Beverley Hills later today.

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On tonight’s Rock of Love reunion show there was lots of screaming, lots of fighting, and lots of cleavage. But the show wasn’t all about rowdy drama and really low cut tops, the show also served as a PSA for the American Liver Foundation in memory of contestant Destiney’s father who sadly passed away in March from cancer. Destiney’s father had appeared on the program and those clips were featured on the reunion show as well as a link to the American Liver Foundation.

and donate to liverfoundation.org which promotes education about liver wellness, provides assistance to those affected by and at risk for liver disease, and works to find cures and better treatments for all diseases of the liver.