Winter 2014 : Up in smoke
Up in smoke
Anniversary of surgeon general's report highlights anti-tobacco efforts
In 1964, the U.S. Surgeon General’s Report on Smoking and Health identified cigarettes as a major public health hazard, causally linking smoking to lung cancer. Charles LeMaistre, M.D., who became MD Anderson’s second full-time president in 1978 and served as American Cancer Society president in 1986, served on the advisory panel that issued the landmark report. It changed public attitudes and led to mandatory health warnings on tobacco products and the 1969 ban of smoking ads on TV and radio.
Over the past 50 years, MD Anderson has led efforts against lung cancer, including:
- 2000: Established ASPIRE (A Smoking Prevention Interactive Experience), an evidence-based, multimedia tobacco prevention and cessation program for middle and high school students, with funds from the National Cancer Institute and the George and Barbara Bush Endowment for Innovative Cancer Research
- 2008: Established the Duncan Family Institute for Cancer Prevention and Risk to study how to predict and reduce cancer risk
- 2011: Launched the Lung Cancer Screening Program to screen heavy smokers for lung cancer
- 2012: Launched the Moon Shots Program, initially focusing on dramatically reducing deaths from eight cancers, including lung cancer
Ongoing research at MD Anderson continues to help uncover information toward successful smoking and tobacco-cessation efforts, focusing on:
- Investigating neurological links to determine what brain mechanisms trigger smoking
- Examining genetic predispositions that make people more susceptible to smoking
- Strengthening behavioral counseling methods
- Increasing health care provider involvement in antismoking efforts
- Targeting groups more susceptible to smoking
More Stories From Promise

A message from Dr. DePinho
A word from the president.

Washington, D.C. event honors James A. Baker, III
Tribute to global statesman raises $4.5 million

Race to accelerate an end to cancer
Grand Prix of Houston

Cancer in the rearview mirror
Professional athlete celebrates with an Ironman

iPromise
Lyle Lovett, 56, is a Grammy Award-winning country singer-songwriter and
actor. When Lovett isn't traveling, he lives on the family farm where he
was raised in Klein, just outside of Houston. He recently demonstrated
his talents behind the wheel at the Grand Prix of Houston's Celebrity
Go-Kart Race benefiting MD Anderson.

Survivors Say
Angel "Angie" Jimenez, 82, is the founder and former owner of
Mclean Cargo Specialists, an international freight forwarding and export
packer. An active community volunteer, he served as the Rotary Club of
Houston's president in 2012-2013, the organization's centennial year.
Jimenez came to MD Anderson as a prostate cancer patient seven years ago
and later was treated for bladder cancer. He's proud that, with the help
of "MD Anderson's great Urology team," he's a two-time survivor.

Moon Shots Program
How team science aims to beat cancer

My Moon Shot
Donald Lowd is a retired Air Force veteran whose civilian career landed
him at a retina practice in Houston. Diagnosed with prostate cancer in
2009, he refused to accept the dismal odds he was initially given. He
turned instead to MD Anderson and Christopher Logothetis, M.D., chair of
Genitourinary Medical Oncology, to help him win "the Super Bowl of life."

A million and more
Dallas/Fort Worth event meets legendary fundraising goal

Basketball greats star in San Antonio Living Legend
Luncheon a slam dunk for ovarian cancer research

Milestones met, miracles celebrated
Palm beach gala inspires almost $2 million gift

The Little Galleria
Breakfast with Santa

Cattlemen for Cancer Research Hero Award
Central Texas organization fights cancer in its own backyard

Kinder Foundation commits $1 million for MCL research
Houston-based philanthropists seek better treatments for rare,
aggressive blood cancer

Susan G. Komen bestows highest honor for breast cancer research
Gordon Mills receives award, delivers keynote at annual symposium

Accolades for cancer immunotherapy and its mastermind
Work pioneered by MD Anderson's Allison honored as breakthrough of the year

A round of applause
Patrick Mulvey receives Lifetime Achievement Award

New AAAS Fellows
Four MD Anderson leaders honored for distinguished science

Waun Ki Hong and Helen Piwnica-Worms elected to Institute of Medicine
MD Anderson IOM membership now totals seven

Imaging concerns
Study looks at unnecessary procedures for early-stage breast cancer patients

We really click together
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