News Release Archive

How One Woman Made Impeccable Strides, and How Her Spirit Continues This Work

A cross-country delivery of a technology some think will revolutionize radiation therapy for some cancer patients will make its way to St. Louis and the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine.

When one of Cathy Wilcoxen’s best friends was diagnosed with breast cancer, Cathy tapped the power of thousands of friends, family and even strangers who united to fight the disease. This team effort ultimately grew into a generous gift of more than $140,000 to The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital. These gifts to support the Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine are leading to breakthroughs in breast cancer treatment.

As an avid golfer, a successful bank president and father of three, Bruce Harris, of Fulton, Mo. wouldn’t let a possible bronchial infection slow him down. But when antibiotics didn’t help after several weeks, Harris’ doctor recommended a chest X-ray. The shocking results drove him to an oncologist in nearby Columbia.

In March, Helen Kunshek completed a four-week stay at the Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, in which she received daily chemotherapy treatment to attack her leukemia. She was anxious to get home to her husband and three young children but couldn’t leave until her platelet count increased.

A draft recommendation by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force calling for an end to routine PSA testing for healthy men age 50 and older goes too far, says a prostate cancer expert at the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine.

A new partnership between the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine and the St. Louis Rams will allow fans at the Edward Jones Dome to fight cancer – from their seats at the game.

While prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in men, the most common way of screening for the disease is under question from many in the medical community. In looking at the data, physicians at the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine recommend patients talk directly with their physician about what’s right for them.

Steve Steffan focused on the things he could control in life and let go of the things he could not. This outlook brought him through good and bad times. It also helps his family persevere in his absence.

The bone marrow and stem cell transplant program at the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine is one of the nation’s oldest and largest programs and recently achieved an important clinical landmark – 5,000 transplants. Physicians performed the milestone transplant July 18.