Lung Cancer

Over the last 60 years, the American Cancer Society has enrolled millions of volunteers in long-term studies that helped identify smoking, obesity, and air pollution as contributors to various cancers. Now, the organization is conducting its most ambitious cancer-prevention study ever. But finding enough participants hasn't been easy. "To a certain extent, we're seeing a generational shift," said Alpa Patel, director of the latest study. "People are busier, and their lifestyles have changed.

Peter Douglas, 69, the longtime head of the California Coastal Commission who spent decades fighting to preserve 1,100 miles of the state's coastline, died Sunday at his sister's home in the desert resort town of La Quinta, said commission spokeswoman Sarah Christie. Mr. Douglas, who had been battling lung cancer, retired in November from the agency he founded. "He was a remarkable person and a wonderful spirit," Christie said. "His name is synonymous with the coast. " In the 1970s, Mr. Douglas cowrote a ballot initiative that created the coastal commission, and he later helped draft legislation that would become the nation's most stringent coastal protections.

BOXING'S ALREADY exclusive club of unforgettable characters became a bit more so on Sunday with the death of Bert Randolph Sugar, 75, the raconteur/historian known as much for his one-liners and ever-present fedora and cigar as for the 80 books he authored. Coming a little more than 7 weeks after another true original, Angelo Dundee, passed away at 90, the loss of "The Hat" is enough to sadden anyone who has been around long enough to understand that outsized personalities such as theirs are as close to irreplaceable as it ever gets in the fight game.

MOUNT KISCO, N.Y. - Bert Sugar, an iconic boxing writer and sports historian who was known for his trademark fedora and ever-present cigar, died Sunday of cardiac arrest. He was 75. Jennifer Frawley, Sugar's daughter, said his wife, Suzanne, was by his side when he died at Northern Westchester Hospital. Sugar also had been battling lung cancer. "Just his intelligence and his wit and his sense of humor," Frawley said when asked what she will remember about her father.

They came together to help a coworker in need, but Saturday was all about bright faces, sunshine, and upbeat music at Wilson Farm Park in Chesterbrook. One of the smiling faces making her way through the crowd of about 700 was Lizanne Dathe, a wife, mother, and employee at IFM Efector, a control-systems company in Exton. Dathe, 45, is also battling cancer. IFM Efector, where Dathe is a corporate editor and production manager, sponsored Saturday's event - the first Big Orange Run. IFM is one of the world's largest electronic-sensor manufacturers, with branches across the country and its parent company in Germany.

They came together to help a co-worker in need, but Saturday was all about bright faces, sunshine and upbeat music at Wilson Farm Park in Chesterbrook. One of the smiling faces making her way through the crowd of about 700 people was Lizanne Dathe, a wife, mother and employee at IFM Efector, a control systems company in Exton. Lizanne, 45, is also battling cancer. IFM Efector, where Lizanne works as corporate editor and production manager, sponsored Saturday's event - the First Annual Big Orange Run. IFM is one of the world's largest electronic sensor manufacturers, with branches across the country and a parent company in Germany.

Is food packaging compromising the effectiveness of your child's vaccines? A recent Harvard School of Public Health study suggesting that it might be has rocked parents and pediatricians nationwide. The study looked at PFCs - perfluorinated compounds - a group of chemicals that are used in many kinds of food packaging. They're useful because they resist heat, oil, stains, grease, and water. They keep the microwave popcorn inside the bag and the pizza cheese inside the box instead of leaking out and staining your car seat.

Penn State's athletic department will pay much of the cost for the memorial services and public viewings for Joe Paterno, a school spokesman confirmed, with the university paying the remainder. An initial estimate is expected to be available Friday after tabulations are made by departments across the campus, such as the police and physical plant. The Paterno family will pay for the cost of the funeral, said Jeff Nelson, the assistant director for athletic communications.

STATE COLLEGE - It's almost as if Joe Paterno were speaking from beyond the grave, even if the 85-year-old former Penn State coaching icon, who died Sunday of complications from lung cancer, has yet to be interred. The private burial won't take place until this afternoon in this college town he so came to love. But for those not among the select few family members and close friends who can gain entry to the cemetery, there were public viewings yesterday and this morning at the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center on campus.

AL GOLDEN played for Joe Paterno at Penn State and also coached next to him. Golden's memories of the legendary Paterno are fond and the lessons he learned remain. Paterno, 85, died Sunday of lung cancer. "Walter Payton once said, 'Always remember that every opportunity you have to meet someone is an opportunity to leave a piece of yourself,' " Golden, the University of Miami coach, said in a statement. "Joe Paterno not only fulfilled a promise he made to his father by making an impact, he left an indelible piece of himself with everyone he touched.