October 2024

Jake Dawson and his wife, Taylor, have created a fundraising movement that represents not only a personal triumph but a collective effort to support ongoing research and bring hope to others affected by neuroendocrine cancer. Good Scan Cans is an easy, fun, and meaningful way to support Jake and so many other people with neuroendocrine cancer.

Jake was diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer in 2021. He had surgery and additional treatment—a difficult road but Jake received good news with his post-surgery scan. He realized he should be celebrating these milestones. Jake and Taylor founded the "Good Scan Cans" initiative to celebrate each good scan result by sharing a can of their favorite beverage. The campaign will raise funds for NETRF to support vital research in neuroendocrine cancer.

This simple act has blossomed into a community-supported movement, with friends and family joining in to celebrate Jake's victories. "The first time we did it, I posted a photo on social media, and soon enough, my inbox was flooded with messages of support. It turned into something much bigger than we imagined," Jake says. He will host a "Good Scan Cans" fundraiser in Omaha, Nebraska, on World NET Cancer Day, November 10, 2024.

Jake and Taylor are all in for this campaign. In fact, he now has a Good Scan Cans tattoo!

You can be a part of Good Scan Cans! Just raise a can of any beverage, post a selfie with the hashtag #GoodScanCans4NETRF, make a gift to NETRF, and challenge others to join you. Celebrate Jake’s scan, your good scan, a friend or family member’s good scan, or the progress made against neuroendocrine cancer. Or, toast to a future free of neuroendocrine cancer. 

Read more about Good Scan Cans. 

Lately, there’s been a lot of talk about immunotherapy, which has transformed treatment for patients with some kinds of cancer. So far, patients with neuroendocrine cancer have largely been excluded from these developments. But there’s hope that the benefits of immunotherapy could one day extend to neuroendocrine neoplasms. Listen to this episode of NETWise as we explore current research into immunotherapy and what it might mean for neuroendocrine cancer. 

For this month’s NETRF NET Thrivership Series, we dive into finding balance while navigating a neuroendocrine cancer journey. We’ll explore the challenges of life balance, why it’s essential for well-being, and share practical strategies to foster a healthier, more balanced life. Watch this practical and helpful discussion on thriving, not just surviving with neuroendocrine cancer!

Think NENs, a new education program for primary care physicians has been launched by the International Neuroendocrine Cancer Alliance (INCA). This free program provides essential information that primary care physicians need to know about diagnosis, treatment, and care for their patients with neuroendocrine cancer. You can help your physicians Think NENs! Read more here.

Research funded by NETRF has unveiled key molecular insights that could transform the treatment landscape for lung neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Yotam Drier, PhD, of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and his colleagues identified three distinct subtypes of lung NETs—proneural, luminal-like, and HNF+—each with unique regulatory elements and molecular drivers. The investigators also identified two biomarkers associated with the subtypes that could pave the way for more precise diagnostic tools. Read more.

A NETRF-funded study has revealed that certain bone marrow cells may absorb more radiation during radiopharmaceutical therapy (RPT) than previously believed. This finding could explain unexpected side effects like reduced blood cell counts that some neuroendocrine cancer patients experience. Susanne Kossatz, PhD, and her team at the Technical University Munich, found that key cells in the bone marrow can absorb higher levels of radiation, even when overall doses appear safe. Read more.

Using PRRT with 177Lu-DOTATATE before surgery is both safe and effective for certain patients with non-functioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, according to the results of the NEOLUPANET trial. Read more about this trial here. 

The investigational drug cabozantinib (CABOMETYX®) has extended progression-free survival (PFS) for both pancreatic and extra-pancreatic NETs, providing a much-needed option for patients whose cancer has progressed after previous treatments. Read more about the recently published results of the Phase 3 CABINET trial.

On October 19, Jim Jungsten and his community gathered for the third annual “Night to Celebrate Sheryl Sorem.” The special event is a heartfelt tribute to Jim’s late fiancé, Sheryl, who passed away from neuroendocrine cancer in 2021, and a powerful show of support for NETRF. To honor Sheryl’s incredible spirit, many attendees wore Hawaiian shirts, reflecting Sheryl’s vibrant personality.
 
The event featured an exciting live auction, offering travel packages and sports tickets, while the online auction showcased over 50 hotel packages, sparking lively bidding.
 
We are deeply grateful to Jim, his family, and friends for raising an amazing $60,000 to advance NETRF-funded research. This generous support is a lasting and meaningful legacy to Sheryl.

Great news! Give Freely is now available on your iPhone so all of your mobile shopping can help support the NEUROENDOCRINE TUMOR RESEARCH FOUNDATION!

Give Freely, co-founded by NETRF board member Steve Kaufer, is a mission-driven company that harnesses the collective power of online commerce for charitable good. Give Freely’s coupon finder is a simple and automatic way to support NETRF every time you shop online at no cost to you. 

Just add Give Freely to your Chrome browser or iPhone, and it will automatically find coupons for your online shopping AND donate a percentage of the sale to NETRF. It's a win-win!

NET Research Foundation
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(617) 946-1780 info@netrf.org

The mission of the Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation is to fund research to discover cures and more effective treatments for neuroendocrine cancer. NETRF is the largest global funder of neuroendocrine research and a preeminent resource for expert patient education and support.



NETRF is a 501(c)(3) organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.