cancer

Seattle Woman Experiences Financial Devastation Following Cancer Diagnosis

Ruby de Luna — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 19:21:17 +0000

June 2 is National Cancer Survivor Day. But surviving the disease is just one challenge facing cancer patients. A recent study by Seattle’s Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center showed that cancer patients are two-and-a-half times more at risk for filing bankruptcy compared to people without cancer.

Seattle Study Shows Cancer Can Lead To Bankruptcy

Ruby de Luna — Thu, 16 May 2013 00:15:11 +0000

Medical debt is one of the leading causes of bankruptcy, according to a study published online today in the journal Health Affairs. There are plenty of anecdotes of people who have used up their savings, borrowed from friends or filed for bankruptcy following a serious illness like cancer. Now researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle have documented exactly how great the risk of bankruptcy is for cancer patients.

Who Should Get A Genetic Test For Breast Cancer?

Sara Lerner — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:55:48 +0000

Correction 5/15/2013: A previous version on this story stated that Jolie had a one in 87 chance of getting breast cancer when in fact she had an 87 percent chance.

Now, the public knows about Angelina Jolie’s double mastectomy. She wrote in the New York Times that, thanks to genetic testing, she believed there was an 87 percent chance she’d get breast cancer, so she went for it.

Tuesday, Dr. Julie Gralow, director of breast medical oncology at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance spoke with KUOW's Sara Lerner. Dr. Gralow says, “The majority of breast cancer in the United States is not gene-mutation cancer.”

Seattle Children’s Hospital Opens Nation’s First Cancer Clinic For Young Adults

Ruby de Luna — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 23:25:18 +0000

Every four weeks, Anna Stephens comes to Seattle Children’s Hospital for chemotherapy. But she’s not a child. Stephens is 23 years old, and she’s one of thousands of young people with cancer who wind up being treated in facilities that typically deal with much younger or much older patients.

Seattle Children's New Cancer Treatment Program For Teens, Young Adults

Ruby de Luna — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 23:38:26 +0000

Seattle Children’s Hospital is opening a new cancer unit Sunday specifically designed for teens and young adults.

When young cancer patient age 15 to 29 goes in for treatment, they end up either in a pediatric or adult facility. A designated place for this age group could play a crucial role in their survival, according to Dr. Becky Johnson.

The Case For Not Having Kids

Steve Scher — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 17:00:00 +0000

In Seattle, more people have cats than have kids. Same goes for dogs. In fact, Seattle is the second-most childless city in the US, just behind San Francisco. Deciding to have a child is a big decision; so is deciding not to. Seattle Times columnist Sharon Pian Chan recently addressed the issue in an editorial titled “Why I’m Not Having Kids.” Have you made the same decision? What conversations did you and your partner have? What reaction did you get from friends and relatives? We'll talk with Sharon Pian Chan and hear your take. Call us during the program: 206.543.5869 or write to weekday@kuow.org

Teen With Leukemia Cares For Other Kids With Cancer

Antonia Dorn and RadioActive Youth Media — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 17:53:28 +0000

Maga Barzallo-Sockemtickem, 17, has been battling leukemia since she was 15 years old.

Before being diagnosed, Maga would do anything that let her run, especially play soccer.

Then one day, Maga felt weak and had to lean on a bus stop near her school. She found out she had a rare form of leukemia.

Seattle Children's Hospital Tries New Treatment For Leukemia

Ross Reynolds — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 19:15:01 +0000

Leukemia is said to be the most common form of cancer found in children. Now Seattle Children’s Hospital says it is ready to try a brand new method of treatment. Leukemia is usually treated with a bone marrow transplant, but researchers say that there might be a better way to fight off the disease.

Ross Reynolds talks with Dr. Rebecca Gardner, assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Washington and an attending physician at Children’s Hospital about the latest in leukemia treatments.

Science Finds Evidence Of "Zombifying" Parasites

Marcie Sillman — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 17:00:00 +0000

A parasite worms its way into a host, hijacks its nervous system and begins to control their behavior. Sounds like T.V. or the movies, but scientists have long known that parasites can take over and manipulate invertebrate and some vertebrate hosts. We talk with Dr. Shelley Adamo of Dalhousie University about how parasites may be turning hosts into zombies.