Dear Lucas,
Sunday, February 4 is World Cancer Day – a day for each of us to
take action to help reduce the impact of cancer on the lives of patients
and their families.
For the Shapoo family, their daughter’s experience with cancer spanned
continents, demonstrating that the fight against this disease is truly
a global effort.
Myrrah Shapoo was six years old when she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic
leukemia (ALL), a cancer of the bone marrow and blood. Her family was
living in New Delhi, India at the time, where she endured a year of intense
treatment. When Myrrah showed no sign of cancer in her blood, the family
celebrated with a trip to Europe.
Then, in January 2015, the Shapoo family received devastating news: Myrrah’s
cancer had returned. This time, her doctors said there was nothing more
they could do. Desperate for hope, Myrrah and her father traveled to the
Columbia University Medical Center in New York to continue the fight.
There, internationally renowned, LLS-funded researcher Dr. Andrew Kung
led the charge against Myrrah’s rare form of ALL. Dr. Kung employed
a groundbreaking precision medicine approach, which involved giving her
targeted therapies based on a particular genetic mutation. After a year
of treatment and an immune-boosting bone marrow transplant from her older
brother Ruhayl, Myrrah had no detectable signs of cancer.
Today, Myrrah is thriving in school and enjoys art and cooking. She is
just one reason why LLS committed an additional $46 million this year
to support innovative science around the world, bringing us to 254 active
research projects across nine countries.
World Cancer Day is an important reminder that even a small action can
make a big difference. Join us this Sunday and help us find cures. Donate
to LLS, volunteer in our efforts, or sign up for one of our fun and inspiring
fundraising events.
Thank you,
Louis J. DeGennaro, Ph.D.
President and CEO