Stand Up To Cancer … Tonight!

By: Katie Couric
Topics: Katie Couric

(CBS)

It's been a whirlwind of activity for weeks now, preparing for a program that's been more than a year in the making. Usually we're competitors – but now I'm happy to say my network colleagues Brian Williams and Charlie Gibson will join me for this a landmark TV event called "Stand Up To Cancer."

We've designed it as a special time in which Americans can come together for a commercial-free hour to help raise the money needed to eradicate this disease, which claims more than half a million lives in this country every year – that's one American who dies every second.

On the show tonight, you'll see everything from entertainment to scientific breakthroughs. We'll have musical performances (James Taylor and Sheryl Crow to name a couple) and show you the future of cancer research, including some cutting-edge innovations.

So, check it out on any of the three networks tonight (though of course you'll be tuned to CBS!) at 8 p.m. ET/PT or 7 p.m. CT. Or you can learn more about our exciting endeavor anytime StandUp2Cancer.org.

See you tonight!

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by jamesq3 September 10, 2010 8:32 PM EDT: Read what Senator Arlen Specter says about Jack Kemp and cancer.

Specter has the answer for curing cancer!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlen_Spector; Reply to this comment


by bobo2854-2009 September 8, 2008 6:55 PM EDT: Its a shame that this program was used as a tool as a political soapbox instead of staying on the subject at hand; Reply to this comment


by Lisaizme2 September 6, 2008 11:07 PM EDT: It seems that you cannot use the correct spellings and names for certain female organs without getting the ****.

What a sad commentary on our society.

My apologies to anyone who might think I was trying to type dirty words. I wasn''t. I was using the correct anatomical expressions instead of slang words that might have gotten past the censors.

We need to grow up as a society.; Reply to this comment


by Lisaizme2 September 6, 2008 11:00 PM EDT: I have to agree with the previous poster, Dr. Jennifer Young, at shock of not mentioning pap smears as a way of preventing cancer.

I am also shocked and dismayed at the complete and total lack of mentioning ANY of the gynecological cancers that women can have.

Why was this not done? Were the networks afraid that the FCC would come down on them if they mentioned the words Uterus, Cervix, ***, ***, Ovary? Why in the world is it OK to talk about Prostates, but not women''s organs??

I can remember when Breast cancer was a big taboo subject and now we talk about it everywhere. Please let''s do the same for women and gyn cancers.

From a woman who hopes to be a uterine cancer survivor in 4 more years.; Reply to this comment


by Lisaizme2 September 6, 2008 10:57 PM EDT: I have to agree with the previous poster, Dr. Jennifer Young, at shock of not mentioning pap smears as a way of preventing cancer.

I am also shocked and dismayed at the complete and total lack of mentioning ANY of the gynecological cancers that women can have.

Why was this not done? Were the networks afraid that the FCC would come down on them if they mentioned the words Uterus, Cervix, ***, ***, Ovary? Why in the world is it OK to talk about Prostates, but not women''s organs??

I can remember when Breast cancer was a big taboo subject and now we talk about it everywhere. Please let''s do the same for women and gyn cancers.

From someone who hopes to be a uterine cancer survivor. 1 year down and 4 more to go.; Reply to this comment


by survivorlv September 6, 2008 10:03 PM EDT: I had been anticipating this show for weeks. It was all so close to home. Watching loved ones die,watching friend''s kids struggle thru treatments for leukemia, and my own personal battle with breast cancer - a bilateral mastectomy and chemo. I was so impressed that all these celebrities were giving their time. Kimmel was awesome. The stats were staggering. But then I was shocked when I realized that one of the main reasons for this program (and perhaps THE main one) was a POLITICAL agenda. You took what was obviously an OFTEN rehearsed PRIVATE interview with Obama in bright vivid colors and contrasted it with an UNREHEARSED public interview with McCain in faded hues. Shame on the press for bringing politics to what should have been an entirely cancer focused show. This was totally inappropriate.

Note: NEITHER candidate said HOW they would accomplish anything or had a plan broken on how anything would be paid for, but the segment that was used with Obama''s interview said absolutely nothing better just because it was rehearsed. If they had reversed the venues in favor of McCain, it would have been just as offensive.

I have to admit, I was disillusioned and disheartened. Once again cancer took a back seat and the press took what could have been a tremendous opportunity and turned it into a political cartoon. No matter what your politics, this kind of blatant manipulation is insulting and killed what should have been the true message - we need to find a cure for cancer now. Sigh...; Reply to this comment


by ellensee-2009 September 6, 2008 7:20 PM EDT: Katie,

I watched the show last night and I was completely moved and encouraged. To see so many celebrities, networks, and influential people working together to end Cancer is truly motivating. I have lost two Grandparents to Lung Cancer, and my Dad is now fighting Renal-Cell Cancer - to say I am passionate about ending Cancer%u2019s reign, is an understatement.

I would like to donate to SU2C, but I hesitate to because I want to be sure I am donating to the right cause. For example, I notice that the first two pieces of advice for %u201CWhat You Can Do [to End Cancer]%u201D are smoking related - Stop, and Never Start - which I whole-heartedly support. Because %u201CSU2C is committed to identifying the most promising opportunities and leveraging its fiscal and management resources to achieve a paradigm shift in clinical cancer research%u201D, will you be researching new, psychological methods to encourage people to either Stop, or Never Start smoking?

Psychology is a science, so I am hopeful that this is an option. If so, I have two suggestions for how to accomplish such endeavors.; Reply to this comment


by ter1952 September 6, 2008 4:46 PM EDT: Katie,
Thank you and your colleagues the wonderful, informative and moving show last night.
It is so good to know so many advancements are being made in the fight agaisnt cancer. My Mom passed away 18 years ago today (6th); if she were here today she would have been right there cheering all the advances that are being made.
This also brought home to me the importance with screenings, I have put off my colonoscopy a couple of years now and I will be calling my Dr. this coming week to schedule one.....Thanks again for last night.
Ter1952; Reply to this comment


by dammons1 September 6, 2008 2:32 PM EDT: katie, THINK YOU !! For last nite; I have had many members of my family die of cancer. Starting with dad in 1981. I was only 10 yaers old; the program,last nite brought me to tears.Right now Iam unemployed;due to the hardtimes here in columbus Ohio . I do go to columbus state and will donate 10% of my student loan this fall to stand up for cancer. Derrick Ammons/O.G.; Reply to this comment


by joannameyers September 6, 2008 5:06 AM EDT: The children need the research...the dollars...the funding. Help the children. These kids fight hard every day...with no relief.... www.caringbridge.org/visit/paigestibgen; Reply to this comment