Sharing Hope

When stage four lung cancer threatened to take Brenda Davis from her family, Michigan Medicine's emergency services team helped her and her family share one last, important moment.

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network has priorities each year based on needs in Michigan and other states. Additionally, researchers across the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center advocate for patients of all cancer types at the statewide and national level.

#Hailstones were the Rogel Cancer Center’s way of thanking frontline staff; from our custodians to doctors, respiratory therapists to nurses and everyone who comes in every day to help our patients. The project is over. We want to thank everyone who participated -- including many of our Rogel staff -- in this showing of solidarity with our frontline staff.

While researchers at the U-M Rogel Cancer Center and elsewhere continue to pursue scientific insights into pancreatic cancer and develop new therapeutic approaches, surgeons on the front line of patient care are also working hard to improve outcomes.

Kunle and Angela Ogunde remember their daughter, Tara, a University of Michigan Law student, who died from breast cancer in 2019. They traveled to Michigan from their home in Pennsylvania to join others at the annual U-M Rogel Cancer Center Memorial. The memorial -- which includes talks, music, readings and a display of photos and mementos -- is also an opportunity for families to come together with each other, and to experience how they are not alone in their journeys with cancer. For the Ogundes, it proved an opportunity to speak their daughter's name.

Kevin Harrington loves his job delivering packages for United Parcel Service Inc. The 52-year-old husband and father of two from Howell, Michigan, is also a safety co-chair, training other drivers on the UPS mantra to stay safe “one stop at a time.” He applies the same philosophy to another important role: mentoring newly diagnosed bladder cancer patients at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center.

Marty Marchak was diagnosed with stage I non-Hodgkin skin lymphoma, which then began his chemotherapy and radiation journey at the U-M Rogel Cancer Center. Fortunately, after his second chemotherapy session in early December 2018, doctors informed Marchak that the treatments worked and that the remaining chemotherapy and radiation could be discontinued. At first, Marchak had no pain or side effects from his treatment except for being more tired than usual. But then, suddenly, unusual symptoms started to appear.

Thanks to a generous donation to the Department of Radiation Oncology from former patients, a colorful rock garden lines the pathway to inspire patients before they even walk in the door. As one patient, Hannah Thomas, says, "It’s a reminder the people in there have your back and are there to support you during the worst time.”

In October 2018, Amy Short-Ashworth prepared for an advanced cancer procedure involving both surgery and chemotherapy, her chance to get rid of the rare and often fatal stage IV adrenal cortical carcinoma she had been treating for more than two years.

Chris Zimmer thought he was in perfect health when he turned 50. But when he went in for his first routine colonoscopy, he was stunned to learn he had a large tumor. More than that, the tumor was stage 4 rectal cancer. While the treatment wasn't easy, Zimmer believes his love of the outdoors and exercise helped him get through the difficult times.