With all that the Department of Louisiana Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary does to support veterans in our state, it found time to support cancer research.

For the second time, the Auxiliary made a generous donation to the Louisiana Cancer Research Center.  Former Auxiliary President Wanda Farbe personally presented a check for over $3,300 to LCRC Scientific Co-directors Augusto Ochoa, MD and Prescott Deininger, PhD and Chief Administrative Officer Sven Davisson.  

Afterwards, Ms. Farbe discussed the importance of cancer research in Louisiana, explaining that it is a disease that touches so many veterans, including members of her own family.  “We need as much research as we can because it is so devastating to families,” she said.

Dr. Ochoa reiterated the commitment of LCRC institutions LSU Health New Orleans, Tulane University School of Medicine, Xavier University of Louisiana and Ochsner Health to bring cutting-edge research to patients in Louisiana. “There is no reason why patients should have to travel out of state [for cancer treatment.]”

Dr. Deininger explained the LCRC’s unique collaborative nature that advances cancer research. “We have teams of people whose research overlaps and they can help each other.  You have people looking from different aspects … to create that kind of synergy.”

Sven Davisson pointed to recent LCRC webinars on accessing cancer clinical trials in Louisiana and an update on smoking-related cancers, as examples of LCRC resources to support cancer patients and their families.

Since its establishment in1934, the Department of Louisiana V.F.W. Auxiliary has played a vital role in helping the V.F.W. serve Louisiana’s veterans and their dependents. According to its website, they have been instrumental in working alongside their V.F.W. counterparts at the Post level in getting the work done on all the V.F.W. programs as well as their own special VFW Auxiliary programs and projects.