WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon

Greg and Brenda are Gerry Callahan’s brother and sister in low and Greg has been a big supporter of cancer research as he has ridden the Pan Mass Challenge for many years. Shea Concrete is donation $200 for every Red Sox save so far this season.

Peter was diagnosed in February 2015 with melanoma on his neck and also later diagnosed with prostate cancer. He had noticed a lump on his neck and after a biopsy learned it was melanoma. He was told without treatment he would not live. He underwent 2 surgeries on his neck and then started chemotherapy. He is still undergoing treatment for the tumors on his neck, abdomen and lungs all of which reducing or staying the same. He is treated with new immunotherapy agents, called checkpoint inhibitors, which take the breaks off the body’s immune system so that it can recognize and fight the cancer. This is the type of groundbreaking therapy that has produced dramatic remissions in patients that had previously untreatable disease. He is a retired bank officer and V.S. Naval officer; three of his grandchildren are in the service, Navy, Army and Coast Guard. He has been married for 63 years and has 4 children and 7 grandchildren. His hobbies include traveling, exercise and spending time with his family. He has been using rowing machine since a heart attack in 1990 and continues to do so at the rate of 1000 kilometers/year. He rows for a U.S. Navy Virtual team. Dr. Elizabeth Buchbinder can speak to how Dana-Farber is leading the way in immunotherapy agents, called checkpoint inhibitors, which take the breaks off the body’s immune system so that it can recognize and fight the cancer. It’s exactly the type of groundbreaking therapy that Dana-Farber is pushing and which has produced dramatic remissions in patients that had previously untreatable disease.

Zoe met Gerry and Kirk during their visit to the Jimmy Fund Clinic and they talked about dogs. She was diagnosed in May 2015 with a brain tumor after an incidental finding. She underwent surgery to remove the tumor and she is scheduled to complete her 14 months of chemotherapy in the middle of August 2016. Zoe is an 8th grader at Brimmer and May school in Chestnut Hill. She loves reading, playing with animals, and participating in musical theater. She has two moms, Joy and Becky, as well as a twin brother Ben.

Jen speaks about the Just for Teens Program & working with adolescent & young adult populations in the JFC. There are 2 parts of the Teen Program: In clinic (Teen Area in clinic, special daily age appropriate activities, FACES & FLASHES groups); and outside of clinic (trips). The point of the program is to facilitate patients connecting with each other – those who “get it” (peers supporting peers) – and to help make teens and young adults feel comfortable by helping them become aware that there are other kids their age in the Clinic, too, and that it’s not just all younger kids. Teen oncology patients have unique needs—specific support programs to help this unique patient population is critically important. Teens supporting one another is its own type of medicine.

Our friend Curt Schilling joins John, Gerry and Kirk to talk about his fight with cancer, why he regrets chewing tobacco, and why he feels for these families with children that have been diagnosed. . Help #KCANCER. Call 877-738-1234 to donate now!

Carol was training for a marathon in 2009 when she was diagnosed with invasive Stage 3 breast cancer. She underwent a mastectomy, 4 months of heavy duty chemotherapy and 7 weeks of radiation. In 2014, on the 5th anniversary of her breast cancer diagnosis, she was diagnosed with an unrelated, stage 3 thyroid cancer. She underwent a total thyroidectomy followed by radiation. Despite battling 2 forms of cancer, Carol hardly slowed down. An avid and competitive runner, Carol ran 7 marathons during those 6 years, including 4 Boston Marathons. Last year, she was diagnosed with a metastatic breast cancer recurrence and this winter she learned that her thyroid cancer had spread as well. Her doctors have told her that she is the only patient they know of with 2 different types of stage 4 cancer. When she shared this unfortunate news of her stage 4 recurrence to her 4 children, they paused for a few moments of fear and sadness, and then in unison, asked ‘Does this mean you won't be able to run Boston next year?’ Carol quickly reassured them that she would be out there on the course running and trying her best. Despite daily chemotherapy, monthly injections, infusions, and follow-up blood tests, Carol completed this year's Boston Marathon once again. While cancer hasn’t been able to keep her from running, it has changed her from a competitive runner to a philanthropic one. She has raised tens of thousands of dollars for cancer research while she has been running. Her amazing spirit and perseverance in the face of 2 difficult cancers has earned Carol her the moniker of "wonder woman" at Dana-Farber.

Celtics owners Wyc Grousbeck and Steve Pagliuca join John, Gerry and Kirk to during the WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio Telethon to talk about the off-season and to help #KCANCER. Call 877-738-1234 to donate now!

Dana Katz, President of Milton’s, joins John, Gerry and Kirk during the WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio Telethon to help #KCANCER. Call 877-738-1234 to donate now!

Dr. Benz will step down after 16 years as Dana-Farber's president and CEO in October, however, he will continue to do research in his lab. Dr. Laurie Glimcher has been named the new president and CEO of Dana-Farber. Over the past 16 years, Dana-Farber has enjoyed numerous accomplishments. Under Dr. Benz’s extraordinary leadership, Dana-Farber has: Tripled in size, with a broadened research agenda and the opening of several off-campus satellite facilities; Completely revitalized its Longwood Campus ensuring the infrastructure necessary to advance ground-breaking research and patient care initiatives now and into the future, including: opened Yawkey Center for Cancer Care (2011), made extensive improvements to the Dana Building, expanded Jimmy Fund Clinic and the new Longwood Center for research (2015); Named the top-ranked cancer hospital in New England by U.S. News and World Report for 16 consecutive years, and is the only cancer center in the country ranked in the top 4 for both adult and pediatric cancer programs; Expanded into area suburbs and developed partnerships with community clinics, delivering cancer screenings and support to traditionally underserved areas; Maintained its unique 50/50 balance of research and patient care and commitment to the signature “total patient care” philosophy envisioned by founder Dr. Sidney Farber that continues to make Dana-Farber a special place today.

Hudson’s dad is New England Patriot and cancer survivor, Nate Solder. Nate felt a lump in Hudson’s side and after an ultrasound the next day they were admitted to the hospital. In October 2015, Hudson was diagnosed with bilateral kidney tumors, or Wilms tumors, and had surgery to put in a power port, an implantable port for chemotherapy. Hudson started chemotherapy 2 days later. Since October, Hudson has undergone 21 chemotherapy treatments. His parents selected Dana-Farber after much research and a second opinion and concluded that is it the best place in the world for their son to be treated. Hudson loves to play with his toys, hang with mom and dad. He loves the beach and his doggies, Walter and Lily, and his cat, Cheese. Robert and Jonathan Kraft call in to talk with the guys and to help #KCANCER.