As the man who started the University of Nebraska Medical Centers liver
transplant program in 1985, Byers (Bud) Shaw, M.D., has used his skillful
hands to save the lives of countless patients. Now, faced with his own
battle with non-Hodgkins lymphoma, Dr. Shaw is hoping to get a little
help from his friends.
An avid cyclist, Dr. Shaw is planning to ride his bike in the Ride Fore
Recovery fund-raising event for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The
two-day event features a bike ride Saturday, Sept. 7 at NP Dodge Park followed
by a four-man, best-ball scramble golf tournament Sunday, Sept. 8 at River
Wilds Golf Club in Blair.
The fact that Im able to go through chemotherapy treatment and still
ride my bike speaks for how good they have become at treating this disease,
said Dr. Shaw, who is professor and chairman of the UNMC department of
surgery. But, the scientists need more money to continue their research
and thats why this fund-raising event is so important.
Dr. Shaw was first diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma on July 25.
Fortunately, he noticed a small lump in his groin a couple weeks before,
and the diagnosis was made while the disease was still in its initial stage.
To help generate more funds for the event, Dr. Shaw has challenged his
oncologist to ride in the bike ride with him. The oncologist — James Armitage,
M.D. — is not much of a bike rider, but he gladly accepted the invitation
to ride.
Im doing this because its Bud. Hes my friend, Dr. Armitage said.
The focus should be on Bud — not on me. Not only is he arguably the worlds
best liver transplant surgeon who has built this incredible program, but
he also has a wonderful wife, Chris, who is a nurse, and three children.
Hes a big league biker and a pilot. Hes really quite a guy.
Dr. Armitage started the UNMC/NHS bone marrow transplantation program
in 1983 and is considered one of the leading experts in the world in the
treatment of lymphoma. He presently serves as dean of the UNMC College
of Medicine.
With two of UNMCs leading physicians riding in the bike ride, the University
of Nebraska Foundation has stepped to the plate and offered to assist in
the fund-raising effort.
We want to help, said Tom Thompson, University of Nebraska Foundations
Director of Development for the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center. With Dr. Shaw’s
recent diagnosis, we’ve embarked on this project during the final stages
of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s event. UNMC will be joining the
efforts of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as a sponsor of the event
and has pledged to raise money through the University of Nebraska Foundation
for this event and for further research at seems to be a win-win for The
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center.”
Pledges can be made by calling the University of Nebraska Foundation
at (402) 595-2302. For people wishing to participate, entry fee for the
bike ride is $40 and the golf tournament is $60. For more information on
these events, contact The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at (402) 344-2242.
Dr. Shaw, who rode his bike in the event last year when he didnt have
a personal stake, is busy spreading the word through the news media. He
has joined with Lowell Petersen, an Omaha police officer who is a leukemia
survivor and creator of the Ride Fore Recovery event. They will be doing
several mid-day newscast interviews at Omaha television stations along
with interviews with radio stations and print media.
In throwing down this challenge, I am asking those who know of Dr.
Armitages unmatched contributions to finding a cure for lymphoma, and
who recognize his continuing contributions to the Omaha community, as well
as those who call him a friend, to support him in answering my challenge,
Dr. Shaw said.
To honor his position as the best of the best, we must ensure that
he raises more money than any other rider. He has set a personal goal of
riding at least 10 miles on Sept. 7, so were hoping that lots of people
will come out that day and either ride with us or cheer him on.
Dr. Shaw will furnish Dr. Armitage with a bike and helmet to allow him
to participate in the bike ride.
As for himself, Dr. Shaw is hoping to ride at least 50 and maybe as
far as 100 miles on Sept. 7. Obviously, it will depend on how Im feeling,
but thats my goal.
Having completed the first of four cycles of chemotherapy, Dr. Shaw
expects to complete his treatment regimen before the end of the year.
Were very optimistic about his prognosis, said Dr. Armitage. He
has a disease we can cure and we certainly intend to.
Dr. Shaw, meanwhile, continues to work and see patients, but he doesnt
plan to perform any transplants until after he completes his treatment.
The only other thing that has changed, Dr. Shaw joked, is that for
now, Im using it (his disease) as an excuse to get out of night call.
UNMC is the only public health science center in the state. Its educational
programs are responsible for training more health professionals practicing
in Nebraska than any other institution. Through its commitment to research,
education, outreach and patient care, UNMC has established itself as one
of the country’s leading centers in cancer, cardiovascular diseases, bioterrorism
preparedness, genetics, neurodegenerative diseases, transplantation biology,
biomedical technology and arthritis. In the past year, UNMCs research
funding increased by 23 percent and now exceeds $50.8 million.
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Non-Hodgkins lymphoma on the rise
People come to the University of Nebraska Medical Center/Nebraska Health
System for treatment of lymphoma from all over the world. The majority
of patients are cured by the initial treatment course, but when that fails
they come to UNMC for bone marrow transplants or peripheral stem cell transplants.
The peripheral stem cell transplant procedure was pioneered by UNMC/NHS
oncologist, Anne Kessinger, M.D., during the 1980s.
Since the UNMC/NHS bone marrow transplant program began in 1983,
more than 1,100 patients have received transplants at UNMC for non-Hodgkins
lymphoma. Each year about 70 more non-Hodgkins lymphoma patients receive
transplants.
Here are some other facts about non-Hodgkins lymphoma from the
American Cancer Society:
· About 53,900 Americans (28,200 men and 25,700 women) are expected
to be diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2002.
· It is the fifth most common cancer in this country, excluding
nonmelanoma skin cancers.
· Since the early 1970s, incidence rates for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
have nearly doubled. The increase was a result of both better methods of
detection and an actual increase in the number of new cases.
· Although some types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma are among the
most common childhood cancers, more than 95 percent of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
cases occur in adults. The average age at diagnosis is in the early 40s.
· The risk of developing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma increases throughout
life, and the elderly have the highest risk. The increasing average age
of the American population is expected to contribute to the increase in
non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma cases during the next few years.
· Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is more common in men than in women.
Whites are affected more often than African Americans or Asian Americans.
· Approximately 24,400 Americans (12,700 men and 11,700 women)
will die of this cancer in 2002.
· Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is cancer that starts in lymphoid tissue.
The lymphatic system is important for filtering germs and cancer cells
as well as fluid from the extremities and internal organs. Lymphomas start
in the lymphoid tissue and can spread to other organs.