October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and we recently connected with Dr. Juan Antonio Santamaria on his latest research initiatives. His focus? Inclusivity. Here is what he had to say:

"Clinical trials can be the best way to treat cancer; however, minorities are underrepresented in clinical trials due to cultural biases, poor cancer literacy, financial/insurance issues, language barriers, geography, and lack of knowledge, trust, and access to clinical trials. Our proposition is that a culturally and linguistically adept breast cancer Lay Patient Navigation Program will increase Hispanic minorities participation in breast cancer clinical trials in the Omaha metro area. There will be a training curriculum for the lay navigators, social media engagement, community collaborations, and support groups. At the same time, women of minorities will increase the use of screening mammograms in our area. Our goals are to mitigate and eliminate this negative social determinant of health among our area minorities and pursue permanent funding for the programs long-term sustainability."

We're thrilled to be supporting Dr. Santamaria on this intiative and are grateful to have he and his team in the fight against cancer.

The University of California, Irvine today announced a gift from the John Wayne Cancer Foundation that will support advances in research, teaching and service activities in surgical oncology through the creation of an endowed chair and a fellowship in the School of Medicine. The donation will establish the John Wayne Cancer Foundation Endowed Chair in Surgical Oncology and also fund the UCI John Wayne Cancer Foundation Endowed Fellowship in Surgical Oncology.

“This gift leverages the unique benefits of an academic medical center like UCI, which offers clinical care, education and research. Our doctors have access to cutting-edge technologies, resources and therapies for treating patients and are also making groundbreaking discoveries in the lab. The partnership with the JWCF supports all of those efforts as we continue to make strides in the battle against cancer,” said Dr. Michael J. Stamos, dean of the UCI School of Medicine.

The JWCF was established by actor John Wayne’s family in 1985 and supports a nationwide network of John Wayne alumni fellows who are advancing research and treatment in a variety of surgical specialties. According to Stamos, many John Wayne alumni fellows have completed clinical rotations in surgical oncology at UCI Health.

“The team at the John Wayne Cancer Foundation and I are thrilled to partner with the amazing staff at UC Irvine’s School of Medicine. One of our earliest initiatives, Block the Blaze, was created on campus there, and it truly feels full-circle to be launching our latest surgical oncology fellowship program there too. We’re looking forward to years of continued research and progress in the fight against cancer,” said Ethan Wayne, JWCF director.

“This gift demonstrates our shared commitment to education and training,” Stamos said. “We are preparing the next generation of doctors who will shape the future of cancer care and revolutionize treatment.”

The chair holder will be either the chief of surgical oncology or a clinician research scientist in the field of surgical oncology.

Looking for a John Wayne Alumni Fellow in your area? Click here to see the map. Select a pin to view the doctor’s information.

In 2019, we asked, “Are you tough enough to hit the trails and help in the fight against cancer?” You responded to the challenge by running and walking in honor of those who have gone before us and those who are currently fighting cancer. The John Wayne Grit Series was born from your courage, strength and grit. The first 2 fun runs and walks were in October. The first one was located Lone Pine, CA and the second one was located in Ridgway, CO. There was something for everyone on the courses that were suited to all fitness levels. You ran and walked through the ranches and country where The Duke’s most famous movies were filmed. And, along the way you helped those fighting cancer, because every step you took benefited the John Wayne Cancer Foundation. You helped make it possible to give patients a fighting chance to beat the odds. We can’t wait to announce the John Wayne Grit Series 2020 locations, so stay tuned by checking our social media and website regularly. Thank You and Let’s make 2020 the year we end cancer.

JOHN WAYNE CANCER FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH TROPICSPORT!

JWCF has partnered with leading sunscreen brand, TropicSport, to provide a co-branded mineral facesticks to thousands of junior lifeguards JWCF’s Block the Blaze program educates youth about skin cancer awareness and the importance of prevention.

John Wayne Cancer Foundation + John Wayne Stock & Supply Join Forces with Project Angel Food to Feed L.A. Cancer Patients During Pandemic.

Never on to back down from a fight for what’s right, John Wayne battled cancer twice – and made sure that his kids knew he wanted them to continue the battle, in his name. They’ve done just that at the John Wayne Cancer Foundation since 1985.

Now, the John Wayne Cancer Foundation team is saddling up and joining forces with Project Angel Food to fight on a new front – ensuring that cancer patients in Los Angeles continue to receive much-needed free meal deliveries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

John Wayne Stock & Supply, an online store that sells branded John Wayne merchandise, is now offering a special t-shirt to support this effort, with 50% of proceeds going to Project Angel Food (25% of the PAF’s clients are cancer patients). The “Quote Tee” is a unisex style and is available in black or white with one of John Wayne’s most famous and inspiring quotes — “Give the American people a good cause and there’s nothing they can’t lick.” — emblazoned on it.

“My dad would be proud of this campaign, as he was always a champion for cancer patients and those who needed help most,” said Ethan Wayne, John Wayne’s son and Chairman of the John Wayne Cancer Foundation. “Our tea, in partnership with John Wayne Stock & Supply and Project Angel Food, is ready to ride into this battle and fight for some of the people who are most vulnerable in the COVID-19 pandemic.”

It’s estimated that roughly 1.8 million people are diagnosed with cancer in the United States annually. Some forms of cancer can be prevented! While what is known about cancer prevention is still evolving, it’s fairly well-accepted that our chances of developing cancer are affected by the lifestyle choices we make.

So if you’re interested in preventing cancer for you and your family, take comfort in the fact that simple lifestyle changes can make a difference.

Skin cancer is the most common cancer, with 1 in 5 Americans diagnosed annually. The good news is that it’s highly preventable. Sun damage is cumulative, so the sooner youth learn this life-saving information the better. In fact, preventing this common form of cancer happens to be one of John Wayne Cancer Foundation’s flagship programs.

Through our Block The Blaze program, we educate youth about the 5 Sun Safe Tips to decrease their risk of developing skin cancer while providing them with the tools to implement sun safety immediately. Along with prevention, youth learn the ABCDE’s of melanoma and are encouraged to go on Mole Patrol (self-screening) once a month.
Take a look at our 5 suns safe tips, helpful for all ages:

Apply Sunscreen.
Put on a hat.
Wear sunglasses.
Wear protective clothing.
Seek shade.

Education is key to prevention, and Block The Blaze is leading the charge for youth! If skin cancer is the diagnosis, John Wayne Cancer Foundation seeks to help with healing through research. JWCF provides grants to further research treatment.

In fact, Dr. Mark Faries, an JWCI Alumni Fellow, is a recent grant recipient for his proposal: Evaluation of Lymph Nodes as Immune Sentinels in Melanoma. “This support from the Foundation for our study on the earliest interactions between melanoma and the immune system will open new avenues for progress and treatment,” says Dr. Faries, “We’re extremely grateful for that support and the Foundation’s tireless efforts to support awareness, prevention and treatment of this difficult disease.”

No child or their parents should have to face skin cancer diagnosis. The good news is that donors like you are making a tangible difference in the lives of our youth and their families. Together we can help younger generations to block the blaze and protect themselves from skin cancer.

Schools might have gone virtual for most of 2020, however select junior lifeguard programs and camps were given the green light to have socially distanced programming throughout the state, and we are grateful for the out-of-state programs who presented on our behalf. Although some programs were smaller and looked different this year, over 9,000 youth were provided with Block the Blaze education, water resistance natural mineral sunsticks and Block the Blaze trucker hats. It’s important that Block the Blaze not only teaches sun safety, but provides the tools to implement sun safety immediately. Now that summer is wrapping up and schools are starting, Block the Blaze will pivot to virtual classroom presentations.