Edward Yang, best director winner at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival, died Friday at his Beverly Hills home from complications of colon cancer. He had been battling the disease for seven years but kept his condition private. He was 59.

Yang, an American citizen born in Shanghai, first made a career for himself as a computer engineer. On his 30th birthday, he decided to change directions. He became a filmmaker.

Known for his realistic movie portrayals of modern Taiwan, Yang favored stories set in the Taiwanese capital, Taipei. He is responsible for the 1991 film A Brighter Summer Day. First-time actor Chang Chen worked on this film and then went on to star in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, the Ang Lee kung fu hit.

The Colorectal Cancer Coalition will visit the New York Stock Exchange tomorrow -- Monday, March 5, 2007 -- and will ring in the start of the business day.

Executive director Carlea Bauman will ring the NYSE Opening Bell in honor of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and you don't have to be in New York to witness the wonder of it all. Just click here and follow instructions for viewing a live webcast of The Opening Bell. It all begins at 9:25 AM Eastern Standard Time. You can also tune it to CNBC for coverage of the event.

The Colorectal Cancer Coalition, also known as C3 and headquartered in Washington DC, pushes for research to improve screening, diagnosis, and treatment of colorectal cancer; for policy decisions that make the most effective colon and rectal cancer prevention and treatment available to all; and for increased awareness that colorectal cancer is preventable, treatable, and beatable.

National Cancer Institute director John Neiderhuber worries the NCI 2007 budget could be slashed by five to 10 percent. And he worries that key cancer research will inevitably come to a halt as a result.

Worries stem from budget cuts proposed by President Bush. Cuts would cost the NCI between $36 million and $4.7 billion -- but Bush reports that NCI funding has doubled in the past 10 years and would still remain relatively high. And due to the recent American Cancer Society announcement that cancer deaths dropped for the second straight year, White House spokesman Tony Fratto says, "We're proud of the significant investment that we have made in cancer research. We're also proud of the results showing that researchers are delivering on that investment."

But researchers still worry. They worry cuts will undermine their successes. They feel like the rug is being pulled out from under them, just as they are making significant progress. They suspect 95 clinical trials could be postponed or cancelled, 3,000 patients could miss the opportunity of joining a trial, and some cancers will be completely eliminated from studies.

"There is a real cost in human life," says Allen Lichter, executive vice president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, of the more-than-monetary toll budget cuts will take on NCI research efforts.

One study already on hold, pending funding decisions, is the next phase of a study evaluating whether a class of drugs called aromatase inhibitors, can prevent breast cancer. Another research group has opted to stop studying brain tumors. This is a huge loss to patients with this type of cancer, says Lichter.

It's a huge loss to all of us really -- because cancer will affect each of us in some way, some day. And so with cut budgets come cut hopes, cut dreams, and sadly -- cut survival.

On December 20, founder of L.A.'s Circle West theater company and member of the off-Broadway Circle Repertory Company in New York, playwright and screenwriter John Bishop passed away from cancer during his stay at a clinic in Bad Heilbrunn, Germany.

Marshall W. Mason, founding artistic director of the Circle Repertory Company is quoted as saying, "John was one of our major writers. I think next to Lanford Wilson, he was our most prominent writer; he wrote many plays for us. Bishop had a remarkable insight into the dark side of human nature, which he saw in both a comic and satiric way. All this served him very well when he came to Hollywood because of that sardonic view, and also he was very into action. He made a good screenwriter as a result."

Bishop's credits are many, both as a playwright and screenwriter. Plays produced on Broadway included The Trip Back Down, The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, Elmer Gantry, Borderlines, The Great Grandson of Jedediah Kohler, Winter Signs and The Harvesting. He directed The Beaver Coat, El Salvador, Florida Crackers, and Empty Hearts. His screen credits included Drop Zone, The Package, Sliver and Beverly Hills Cops III. Described by the New Yorker as "one of our best dramatists," Bishop was 77.

Director Robert Altman, one of the most influential forces in American cinema, died of complications from cancer on Monday. He was 81.

A five-time Academy Award nominee and 2006 Lifetime Achievement Oscar recipient, Altman just recently directed A Prairie Home Companion -- while at the same time battling the cancer that just took his life.

Altman worked while fighting cancer for last 18 months. No one expected he would die. His death was a surprise.

Not surprising is the collection of quality work Altman had under his belt. He is known for his work on the dark war comedy M-A-S-H, the Hollywood farce The Player, and the British murder mystery Gosford Park. Altman is also known for his method of assembling large casts and weaving in and out of storylines. A Prairie Home Companion modeled this approach, featuring a cast including Lily Tomlin, Meryl Streep, Woody Harrelson, Kevin Kline, and Lindsay Lohan.

Altman was born in 1925, served as a World War II pilot, and studied engineering before entering the film business. Married three times, Altman is survived by his wife, Kathryn Reed Altman, and six children. He also has 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Twenty years from now, no one will die of cancer and heart disease, according to an expert in Perth, who believes advances in genetic technology will one day leave death by cancer in the dust.

Professor John Shine, director of the Garvan Institute for Medical Research in Sydney, says people will still get cancer -- they just won't die from it. He shared last week at a genetics conference in Perth, "I think there's no doubt death from cancer will be confined to the annals of history, And I think a very similar thing will apply to heart disease."

Despite reservations from some about genetic technology, Shine believes the desire to combat cancer -- once and for all -- will prevail over political opinion. And so that leaves only technical obstacles in the way. It's just a matter of time before these scientific hurdles are no longer issues.

Shine, known as the father of cloning, pioneered gene research in the 1970s when he identified the genes for insulin and the human growth hormone.

Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC) -- a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering all women affected by breast cancer to live as long as possible with the best quality of life -- recently began offering a new resource for breast cancer survivors, for both the newly diagnosed and those with metastatic disease.

"The first few weeks after diagnosis can be extremely difficult emotionally, and women with advanced disease often do not get the support and resources they need," said Jean Sachs, LBBC executive director. "We want to give them an understanding of their choices to help them make informed decisions regarding their physical and emotional health."

This understanding comes in the form of a 28-page brochure -- What to expect . . . today, tomorrow and beyond: Steps for coping with the medical, emotional and practical concerns of breast cancer -- available free on the Internet or by request. This guide, a road map, addresses topics such as coping with the news of a new diagnosis, telling family and friends, understanding pathology reports, choosing a medical team, asking for help, and finding support.

LBBC offers multiple addidtional resources -- including specialized navigation tools on its website that lead to a wealth of information. Visitors can Learn More about LBBC. They can Stay Informed through news, message boards, and other resources. They can Participate in events and programs. And they can Support LBBC through volunteer efforts and financial donations.

LBBC was founded in 1991 by a radiation oncologist who focused exclusively on meeting the needs of women post-treatment. She ran the organization out of the third floor of her home using volunteers. Few resources existed for women affected by breast cancer at the time, and so she tried to fill the void. In 1986, an executive director came on board, increased the LBBC budget from $100,000 to $1.8 million per year, expanded all programs and services, and worked to secure LBBC as a solid, dependable resource for all women, of all stages of breast cancer and in all phases of treatment and recovery. And now, in 2006, that is exactly what it is.

Pink Pony is the catch phrase for Ralph Lauren's initiative in the fight against breast cancer. Not only does Ralph Lauren support the fight by donating 10 percent of the proceeds from Pink Pony products to charity, but he has his own charity -- The Pink Pony Fund for Cancer Care and Prevention.

The Pink Pony Fund is a worldwide philanthropic effort. In the United States alone, Pink Pony recipients include Women's Cancer Research Institute at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and Breast Cancer Research Foundation in New York City, Prevención, Inc., and Nina Hyde Center, both in Washington, D.C.

One of the premiere services provided by the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention is the patient navigator -- a concept created by Dr. Harold Freeman, medical director of the Center. Navigators assist patients and family members with access to health-care services and help them move with ease through the medical system. Navigators help patients with communication barriers, financial concerns, insurance difficulties, emotional issues, and more.

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to the pink pony. It is not merely a fashion statement that happens to kick a few dollars toward breast cancer research. It is a statement of true compassion and concern and commitment. It is a symbol of one man's hard work over the past 15 years to make a difference in the lives of women everywhere.

Geralyn Lucas, author of the memoir Why I Wore Lipstick to my Mastectomy can see the pages of her book come to life on the television screen this October -- during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month -- when Lifetime TV airs her story and spreads her word for all to see. Headlining in this Lifetime Original Movie are Sarah Chalke (Scrubs) and Jay Harrington (Desperate Housewives) whose performances will capture Lucas' struggle after a breast cancer diagnosis at age 27 and with a mastectomy, six months of chemotherapy, and a job she maintained throughout it all. Her job -- as an assistant story editor for the TV news program 20/20 -- kept her sane. While her physical world was falling apart, her mind was still working. And that -- along with a promotion during the same time -- kept her focused.

After her 1995 diagnosis, Lucas found herself working as Lifetime's own programming director. She also found herself as mom of post-cancer daughter Skye, and then found herself in the midst of writing a book. It wasn't her goal to write a book really -- but she took a writing class which prompted her to jot down her personal breast cancer story. And the rest is history -- and coming soon to a television screen near you. So stay tuned for October's programming schedule -- and find out why exactly Lucas wore lipstick to her mastectomy.

Internationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano Lorraine Hunt Lieberson died Monday in Santa Fe, New Mexico at the age of 52. Hunt Lieberson battled breast cancer in the recent past and had canceled performances in 2005 and 2006 due to back problems -- yet no one was prepared for her death, which occured at her home with her husband by her side. The music world is shocked by her passing. There were no obvious warning signs because Hunt Lieberson often kept her health matters private. No public announcement regarding cause of death has been released.

Known for her beautiful voice -- and a repertoire that ranged from Baroque to contemporary -- the singer, a native of the San Francisco Bay area, began her career as a violist and later became a recitalist, a concert singer, and an operatic performer. She was powerful and polished in her unconventional opera delivery, says Richard Gaddes, director of the Santa Fe opera. She could take her audiences to depths so intense and so true, and her level of commitment will be very difficult to match. She was in a class of her own.

"A composer is a guy who goes around forcing his will on unsuspecting air molecules, often with the assistance of unsuspecting musicians." -- Frank Zappa

Frank Zappa -- intelligent and articulate; gifted and prolific as a rock musician and composer; guitarist, singer/songwriter, film director, and satirist -- lost his life to prostate cancer in 1993. During his musical career, he gained a cult-like following of fans by pushing the iconoclastic envelope and by mastering the technology needed to create his complex musical compositions.

One of Frank's sons, Dweezil Zappa, wants to set the record straight about his father. According to Dweezil, "There are so many things that are misunderstood or not recognized about my father's music because they've been filtered by people who work for magazines like Rolling Stone.

For example, Rolling Stone recently printed a poor, artist-rendering of Frank holding a joint.

Frank has always been well-known for being anti-drug yet they would rather continue to perpetuate a false image of him, even after death. It's irresponsible, it's obnoxious and offensive. I think it's time people know what Frank was really about, and they should discover it through his music."

To that end, Dweezil, with his brother Ahmet, are touring Zappa Plays Zappa and introducing a whole new generation to Frank Zappa's music. You can follow the tour at the Zappa Plays Zappa blog.

By sharing her personal family story with the media in an effort to raise awareness for a cancer that devastated her family, Blythe Danner has partnered with The Oral Cancer Foundation by Bristol-Myers Squibb and ImClone Systems Incorporated to speak out about head and neck cancer. Danner shares that she lost her husband Bruce Paltrow to oral cancer. "When Bruce's voice became hoarse, we didn't realize this was a sign of this disease. By the time we spoke to a doctor, his cancer was very advanced," states Danner. She wants to educate the public to the signs and symptoms of head and neck cancers in the hope that other families will not have to suffer the same loss of a loved one.

Most people probably do not know that the death rate for oral cancer is higher than cervical cancer, brain cancer, liver cancer, testicular cancer, kidney cancers, or skin cancer. Tobacco use in all its forms is the number one risk factor. Biological factors include viruses and fungi, which have been linked to oral cancers. The human papilloma virus, particularly HPV16 and 18, have been implicated in some oral cancers. A diet low in fruits and vegetables can be a risk factor. Head and neck cancers are usually not diagnosed in the earliest stages because it is so easy to miss or dismiss. What might appear as a simple white or red patch of tissue in the mouth or a common canker sore can be nothing more than a temporary irritation -- or it can be an early sign of cancer. Other cancer symptoms can include: a lump or mass which can be felt inside the mouth or neck; pain or difficulty in swallowing, speaking, or chewing; any wart like masses; hoarseness which lasts for a long time; or numbness. Other than the lips, the most common areas for oral cancer to develop are on the tongue and the floor of the mouth. You can hear Blythe Danner at Speak Out Learn About, read the Speak Out Learn About Head and Neck Cancer Fact Sheet -- available as a PDF document -- or visit The Oral Cancer Foundation for more information.

"James Birrell was a good kid. He was a cheerful voice on the phone and a diligent penpal who was a big fan of Space ships and railroad trains. When Neuroblastoma took James away, that word was new and ugly." -- Tom Hanks

James Birrell, diagnosed with cancer at the age of three, was a little boy with big dreams. During the eight years before cancer took his life, his family attempted to make each and every one of James dreams a reality. Syd Birrell, father of James, shared updates on his son's progress in his battle with cancer by email. The emails were forwarded around the world, and eventually became a book called, Ya Can't Let Cancer Ruin Your Day - The James Emails.

While James was still alive, the Birrell family desperately looked for anything to save the life of James, including the founding of The James Fund for Neuroblastoma Research at SickKids. Today, it is a leading institution for neuroblastoma research.

James declared Tom Hanks to be his favorite star. I agree with James about Hanks. Hanks is actively involved with the Birrell family and the foundation. About the book, Hanks said, "And yes, some days and nights were so painful that you would not wish them on anyone. But there are other times -- magical days and God-given nights of love, beauty, laughter, and awe -- that will make you wish that you were one of the Birrell family." Hanks is the Honorary Patron of the James Fund to fight neuroblastoma.

Scientists attending a cancer research conference question the realism of the prediction of a cancer cure by 2015. Back in 2003, when Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach was director of the National Cancer Institute, he announced a goal for eliminating death and suffering from cancer by 2015. Dr. von Eschenbach, who is a cancer survivor and a personal friend of the Bush family, spent 25 years at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Prominent researchers say the goal is merely a gimmick that gives patients false hope and distorts scientific reality. Others say it is simply a publicity stunt aimed at manipulating the media and public as a means to raising funds for cancer research.

Matthew Chayes, the Chicago Tribune newspaper reporter who wrote the article Cancer cure goal praised, criticized, states that a dozen cancer researchers and physicians who were interviewed during the cancer research conference, laughed off the idea that cancer deaths and suffering could be eliminated by 2015. They were not willing to be quoted directly, or go on the record with any remarks because they feared reprisal from the head of a federal agency that controls the purse strings for cancer research. Common sense should rule when it comes to proclamations made by the government, especially when such lofty goals are announced, but still, it seems especially heartless to raise hopes for the motivating purpose of raising money.