A word from the president
Summer 2014 : Hope is in sight
Hope is in sight
Popp family raises funds for a rare and deadly eye cancer
Ted Popp Jr. and Ted Popp Sr.
Ted Popp Jr. was diagnosed with cancer three years before his father. The difference: Popp Sr. was in total remission after 18 weeks of treatment at MD Anderson, while Popp Jr. continues to fight metastatic uveal melanoma, a rare type of eye cancer that isn’t preventable, curable or treatable.
While melanoma’s biggest risk factor is exposure to UV light, uveal melanoma doesn’t appear UV-related, although most diagnosed have lighter skin and eyes. More than 99% of funding for melanoma supports skin melanoma, and none of the treatments developed have had a significant effect on uveal melanoma.
“Funding for uveal melanoma is practically nonexistent,” says Popp Sr. “Ted Jr. was convinced increased funding could make a difference.”
The father-son team partnered with Scott Woodman, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor in Melanoma Medical Oncology. Through a letter writing campaign and personal contributions, they’ve donated $235,000 to his research.
“I was under the impression that to do anything meaningful you had to have millions of dollars,” says Popp Jr. “I learned that you can do impactful research at lower levels of support, and we’re already seeing the difference it’s making.”
Despite the challenges facing those with metastatic uveal melanoma, there’s hope. It's a “homogeneous” cancer, meaning mutations are similar. Homogeneous cancers are easier to treat because similar mechanisms drive tumors, so a therapy that intervenes has a widespread effect.
Popp Jr.’s life depends on the research he’s supporting. Although he’s in good health, he’s already survived three times longer than the average patient. The Popps’ aid has led to the discovery of new potential therapeutic targets.
“Techniques that permit us to analyze small sample sizes help us better understand the molecular nature of metastatic uveal melanoma,” Woodman says. “I’m hopeful that we’ll make strides in controlling and eliminating the disease and providing therapies that delay or eliminate its emergence.”
Yet, Popp Jr.’s disease has metastasized.
“My son’s passionate about increasing awareness and funding to make a difference, even if it doesn’t benefit him,” says Popp Sr. “Hopefully in the near term there could be some miraculous discovery. You can always hope.”
More Stories From Promise
Born to beat cancer
Melanoma survivor: 'He took all my cancer away'
Fueled by philanthropy
One person, one family, one foundation can change the future of cancer discovery
Putting cancer research on the fast track
Sid and Dawna Mauldin of Pampa, Texas, wanted to show their MD Anderson support.
iPromise
Jan Levit Silver, of Bellaire, Texas, is an executive vice president for Grocers Supply Co. Inc. Jan has been an MD Anderson patient and serves as an associate member of the MD Anderson Cancer Center Board of Visitors. Jan's late father, Milton Levit, was a BOV member, and her uncle, Max Levit, is a senior BOV member. Generous donations from the Levit family support the Joe and Dora Levit MRI Center and the Levit Family Learning Center at MD Anderson.
Survivors Say
Paula Schuetz, of Pearland, a Houston suburb, is the mother of three children (ages 24, 19 and 16). She enjoys photography, gardening and crafting. Her mantra as a caregiver, cancer patient and survivor: Never, never, never give up!
Avon Foundation walks for a world without breast cancer
Grant ensures nurse navigators for underserved patients
When life gives you lemons
Young 'Sparkle Sisters' share proceeds from cool drinks and cookies
A Conversation With a Living Legend® raises more than $1 million
Brit Hume leads interview with Condoleezza Rice
Insperity Invitational
A hole in one for cancer prevention awareness
Polo on the Prairie
World-class polo, West Texas style
American Society of Clinical Oncology recognizes MD Anderson's extraordinary contributions to cancer care
Cancer research and treatment have evolved significantly in the past five decades.
Allison shares inaugural Tang Prize for his cancer immunotherapy innovation
The first Tang Prize for Biopharmaceutical Science has been awarded to Jim Allison, Ph.D., chair of Immunology at MD Anderson, and Tasuku Honjo, M.D., Ph.D., of Japan's Kyoto University, for research leading to cancer immunotherapy.
Notable AAAS Award goes to MD Anderson researcher
Li Ma, Ph.D., is co-winner of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Martin and Rose Wachtel Cancer Research Award.
Diane Barber receives MD Anderson's highest nursing honor
Arceneaux Award honors outstanding clinical research oncology nurse
Biology to bedside
Mining molecular data for cancer prognosis
Study ties obesity to higher risk of breast cancer deaths
Scientists have long believed that obese women who developed estrogen-positive (ER+) breast cancer were at higher risk for death from illness than lean women with the same diagnosis.