“Five years ago, Duke University announced it had found the holy grail of cancer research. They’d discovered how to match a patient’s tumor to the best chemotherapy drug. It was a breakthrough because every person’s DNA is unique, so every tumor is different. A drug that kills a tumor in one person, for example, might not work in another. The research was published in the most prestigious medical journals. And more than a hundred desperately ill people invested their last hopes in Duke’s innovation.

In 2010, we learned that the new method was a failure. But what isn’t widely known, until tonight, is that the discovery wasn’t just a failure, it may end up being one of the biggest medical research frauds ever – one that deceived dying patients, the best medical journals and a great university.”

Researchers studying a rare, lethal childhood tumor of the brainstem discovered that nearly 80 percent of the tumors have mutations in genes not previously tied to cancer. Early evidence suggests the alterations play a unique role in other aggressive pediatric brain tumors as well.
The findings from the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital – Washington University Pediatric Cancer Genome Project (PCGP) offer important insight into a poorly understood tumor that kills more than 90 percent of patients within two years. The tumor, diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), is found almost exclusively in children and accounts for 10 to 15 percent of pediatric tumors of the brain and central nervous system.
“We are hopeful that identifying these mutations will lead us to new selective therapeutic targets, which are particularly important since this tumor cannot be treated surgically and still lacks effective therapies,” said Suzanne Baker, Ph.D., co-leader of the St. Jude Neurobiology and Brain Tumor Program and a member of the St. Jude Department of Developmental Neurobiology. She is a corresponding author of the study published in the January 29 online edition of the scientific journal Nature Genetics.

This was an incredible year for Nitalia’s Blankets and The Purple Society. As many of you know, this was the first time that the blankets were delivered without Nitalia being right there to hand them out…well let me tell you, she showed herself at EVERY delivery!!! Purple was popping up EVERYWHERE during the deliveries! Purple balloons, kids dressed in Purple, Purple parking lots, and  so much more! We are so happy to know that Nitalia was there with us and all of the kids. This year was our best year EVER! We delivered WAY OVER 1000 blankets, booties, hats, scarves, socks, and pillows to oncology children all over the country! We can’t thank you enough for the volunteers that gave time, money, blankets, scarves and so much more for this years delivery. You have all given love, smiles and warmth to children that need it most. We have been blessed to have you all in our lives and our foundation!

OUR GOAL FOR 2012 IS 1500 PURPLE PACKAGES FOR CHILDREN ALL OVER THE US!!!! LETS GET STARTED TODAY CREATING, MAKING AND COLLECTING BLANKETS, HATS, BOOTIES, SCARVES, AND SOCKS!!!

You can send blankets to: The Purple Society 6104 E. Clinton St., Scottsdale, Arizona 85254.
REMEMBER: Blankets must be NEW. They can be hand made or store bought. Please only give NEW SOFT blankets. The children that are going through active cancer treatments have low immunine systems and sensitive skin.

All Our Love,

The Conti’s

 
A very close friend and advisor of The Purple Society, Dr. Peter Cohen (Mayo Clinic), is making history with the research and advancement of a breast cancer vaccine. He and his collaborators, Dr. Gendler and Dr. Geert-Jan Boons, are proceeding to get this new cancer vaccine into human trials. The Purple Society and all the children around the world look forward to the day that this enemy will be eradicated! We salute you for dedicating you life to a cure!

An Article I wrote that appeared in The Arizona Republic and AZCentral.com - Arizona Republic Opinions Pages Dec 2011

Three things widely reported and publicized but rarely seen.

Did you know that when you Google childhood cancer, you get over 52 million websites containing something about the subject? Have you noticed all the ad campaigns on TV and radio touting new cancer centers and treatment options? Cancer centers seem to be going up faster than strip malls!

The fact is, cancer is big business and our children are being lost to the bottom line of a ledger sheet.

For the first time since the National Cancer Act of 1971 was signed and made the conquest of cancer a national priority, cancer-research funding is being cut. This, as we watch a conspicuously new industry flourish and swell before our eyes; investing billions into construction, staff, advertising and marketing. How can billion-dollar building and marketing budgets be approved while slashing cancer-research budgets?

Over the last 3 years, (every Christmas season) we deliver thousands of blankets to childrens hospitals across the country. Nitalia started this when she was a patient at St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. This season, we continue her mission of delivering blankets to children in treatment…but with an added bonus! This year we are adding PURPLE SCARVES for the kids! It all started when Nitalia’s sister Aviona was given a scarf by her teacher at Cocopah Middle School. She loved the scarf so much that we are adding them to this years PURPLE PACKAGES!!!  The kids at the hospitals are going to LOVE these!

We are now recruiting teams of crocheters to help make the blankets, scarves,booties, and hats. If you or someone you know can volunteer to help contact us by clicking here. Kids and adults alike can participate in the creation of Nitalia’s Blanket’s.