Breast cancer patient Tammy Surdo of New Egypt and her husband, Joe, talk to Dr. Robert Somer, a medical oncologist, in Willingboro. (DOUGLAS BOVITT/Courier-Post)

This week, the Courier-Post published an article about breast cancer focusing on what happens after a patient is diagnosed. Patients and their families are encouraged to educate themselves about the best treatment options available and where they can receive treatment.

“One of the biggest advancements in treatment has nothing to do with new medicines developed in labs; it has to do with treatment being more of a team effort among doctors, who take their marching orders from the patient,” said Robert A. Somer, MD, Associate Director, Breast Program at Cooper Cancer Institute. “That means more options, but it also means the patient needs to take time to educate herself.”

To read the complete article visit courierpostonline.com.

Support Cooper Cancer’s Institute’s fight against breast and gynecological cancers by taking part in this fun event while supporting local merchants and chefs!

Participating restaurants and shops in Collingswood, NJ have generously agreed to donate a portion of their sales to Cooper Cancer Institute as part of our Pink Roses Teal Magnolias fundraising event.

You must mention that you are shopping for “Pink and Teal.”

A percentage of the proceeds will benefit the Cooper Cancer Institute

Date: Thursday, September 23, 2010

Time: Noon to 8 p.m.
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Robert A. Somer, MD

The July issue of South Jersey Magazine published an article about a startling new statistic indicating that cancer deaths could double in the next 20 years. According to the United Nations World Health Organizations International Agency for Research on Cancer, the number of annual diagnoses will increase from 12.7 million in 2008 to 21.4 million in 2030; the number of deaths will increase from 7.6 million to 13.2 million.

Robert A. Somer, MD, oncologist at Cooper, says that part of the reason those numbers appear so drastic is because of success in defeating other common health problems.

“What isn’t highlighted is the fact that my colleagues and other medical sub-specialties do such a good job of keeping patients alive longer,” says Somer. “We’re no longer dying from early heart disease, from stroke deaths, or from infectious disease, and we as doctors are better at screening for malignancies earlier, so people are living longer. As a function of that, more people are anticipated to be diagnosed with cancer.”

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On Saturday, June 5, more than 750 cancer survivors and their caregivers attended the annual Cooper Cancer Institute Survivors’ Day celebration at Cooper – Voorhees. The annual celebration has quickly become the largest of its kind in the state.

Attendees enjoyed fun activities including bingo, a fancy hat contest, sing-along, creative art therapy, therapeutic chair massage, a child’s medical play station and creations from balloon artists. Lunch and other treats were served to the participants on this fun filled day.

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The Philadelphia Inquirer published an article about Mr. Chris Koniers and his wife Franny, both breast cancer survivors, who participated in this year’s walk for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Philadelphia.

Last Mother’s Day, Mr. Koniers was just a bystander, supporting his wife as she walked during the annual event. This year, he was a part of the race as a breast cancer survivor himself, walking along side of his wife and thousands of other women fighting for a cure. Read the full story