Friday Frontline: Cancer Updates, Research and Education on August 23, 2019

Aretha Franklin’s estate has helped to fund research for neuroendocrine tumors, just one year after her passing. With the Detroit’s Women’s Informal Network, the Queen of Soul’s estate held a benefit to donate money to the Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation (NETRF), which established the Aretha Franklin Fund for Neuroendocrine Cancer Research. “The Aretha Franklin Family is honored to partner with the NETRF to help raise funding for education and research of this devastating disease that takes our loved ones much too soon,” Sabrina Owens, Aretha Franklin’s niece and representative of the family, said in a statement.

After being diagnosed with leukemia earlier this year, Cleveland Indians' pitcher Carlos Carrasco returned to the mound for the first time since his diagnosis. Marking the start of his comeback, Carrasco started a minor-league rehab assignment at the Double-A level. In his first game since May 30, the right-hander threw a 97 mile per hour fast-ball to kick off his return. It is unofficial when Carrasco will return to the major leagues, but he says, “"I'm ready to go,” according to TMZ Sports.

In getting ready to donate one of her kidneys to her son, a Florida woman attributes this effort to saving her life after receiving an early-stage breast cancer diagnosis. During a mammogram before the transplant surgery to donate her kidney to her 2-year-old son, doctors discovered Lisa Chesson’s breast cancer. "Even my oncologist and the breast doctor both said if it wasn't for you getting it done so early it could have spread and he essentially did save your life," Chesson said.

The GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer partnered with Belong.Life to improve treatment management. Through the partnership, patients and caregivers will have access to treatment updates, access to GO2's suite of educational materials, an appointment tracker, an area to store medical documents and peer-to-peer support, according to the foundation.

"We're delighted to introduce our community to the Belong social network," Laurie Fenton Ambrose, co-founder, president and CEO of the GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer, said. "Open communication is such a meaningful way to share information, inspire action, and spread comfort. The Belong platform has been impressive in both its user engagement and ability to analyze real-world data. This partnership will allow us to both support and learn from more patients and caregivers as we transform lung cancer survivorship."

Paula Deen’s brother, Earl “Bubba” Wayne Hiers Jr., died from pancreatic cancer at the age of 65. The entrepreneur served as Deen’s business partner and was also a cookbook author.

“Bubba was the greatest brother who was loved by so many people,” Deen said in a statement to People. “We will miss him dearly.”