For many years Don and Betty Anderson have made vital contributions to enhance bladder cancer research programs at Levine Cancer Institute. This week we had the pleasure of welcoming the Andersons to the Foundation, where they heard from Earle F. Burgess, MD, a medical oncologist specializing in bladder cancer at Levine Cancer Institute, about advancements made possible through the Anderson family’s generosity. The Don and Betty Anderson Fund for Bladder Cancer Research has grown to more than $100,000 since its establishment in 2013 with the family’s initial gift of $35,000. This funding supports important new clinical trials and related research activities that are helping researchers identify optimal clinical pathways to standardize and improve the treatment of metastatic bladder cancer. Further, these bladder cancer research programs, led by Steven Riggs, MD, and Earle Burgess, MD, aim to identify biomarkers that will serve as effective means for earlier detection of bladder cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society, over 73,000 people will be diagnosed with bladder cancer this year. In fact, bladder cancer is the 5th most commonly diagnosed cancer in the U.S. In light of these statistics and the impact on those fighting the disease, the Don and Betty Anderson Fund for Bladder Cancer Research meets a growing medical need right here in our own community.
The Anderson family’s contributions represent their ongoing commitment to advance healthcare and educational initiatives at Carolinas HealthCare System.