Today, cancer prevention has become more sophisticated, and City of Hope will be leading the way thanks to our new Precision Prevention and Early Detection Program, which launches in Orange County with $1 million in seed funding from the Stanley W. Ekstrom Foundation.
We all know that the best way to treat cancer is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Today, cancer prevention has become more sophisticated, and City of Hope will be leading the way thanks to our new Precision Prevention and Early Detection Program, which launches in Orange County with $1 million in seed funding from the Stanley W. Ekstrom Foundation.
Precision prevention is based on the premise that everyone's genetic code is unique and can be studied to assess their genetic risk for cancer. This type of precision could not have been realized even a decade ago, but thanks to advances in genomics and other areas of cancer research, City of Hope is pioneering the science of stopping cancer in at-risk individuals even before it occurs.
At City of Hope, this program will benefit a broad spectrum of the Orange County community. Currently healthy individuals at high or unknown risk can undergo a thorough genetic analysis. If the analysis indicates only average risk, the patient and family will be reassured that enhanced surveillance and screening are unnecessary, saving them from personal anxiety and unnecessary medical expenses. For those who are found to have elevated risk, medications or other procedures may be prescribed.
All patients will be thoroughly counseled on their range of options and receive individualized "health blueprints" and monitoring plans designed by our specialists.
"The Stanley W. Ekstrom Foundation's generous support will benefit so many people in Orange County, providing them with the best gift of all in return — the peace of mind of knowing they have been proactive in taking effective measures to address their cancer risk," says Annette Walker, President, City of Hope Orange County.
Steve Silverstein, president and chair of the Board for the Stanley W. Ekstrom Foundation, says the foundation is thrilled to support City of Hope Orange County's efforts in cancer prevention. "We would like anybody who has the ability, who wants to make a donation that they know is going to be for a good cause, to seriously consider City of Hope," he added. "It will feel good when you see healthy people walking out of the facility — or healthy people driving by the facility because they don't have to drive in."