'Michigan Matters' Health Focus: Actor Billy Baldwin Comes To Motor City To Join Army Fighting War On Cancer
By Carol Cain
CBS Detroit
Actor Billy Baldwin recently visited the Motor City to help a firm working on a new device intended to make diagnosing breast cancer easier and talked about how the disease impacted his family.
Carol Baldwin, mother to Billy, Alec and two other sons— known for their impact on Hollywood in movies and TV roles as well as two daughters -- was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1990.
"When my Mom was diagnosed we all got together to find a way to help," Baldwin said during taping of "Michigan Matters."
"She beat it and has been cancer free," he said. "We learned the importance of early detection."
Hence they started the Carol Baldwin Foundation to work with groups around the nation in raising awareness and money for breast cancer research.
Baldwin is working with local entrepreneur Paul Angott, president of First Sense Medical Technology, who has created the new device .
Both men talked about their efforts on the show.
Baldwin and Angott will also headline a special vignette produced by Paul Pytlowany, Chief Videographer for CBS 62, about their efforts during the multi-network "Stand Up to Cancer" star-studded special airing 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 5 on CBS 62.
Dr. Craig Stevens, Beaumont Health System's Chairman of Radiation Oncology, also talked about the fight against cancer on "Michigan Matters."
Stevens moved here from Tampa, Fla. last October because of "Beaumont's incredible reputation."
Beaumont is one of 34 institutions that has a NCI Community Oncology Research Program grant. It allows more patients to have access to the latest research which can help in their fight against the disease., he explained.
His advice to people hoping to avoid getting lung cancer –one of the biggest killers of people in Michigan.
"When it comes to lung cancer, it's three fold: Stop smoking, stop smoking and stop smoking," he said.
Monica-Amit Mishra, Volunteer Detroit Advocacy Chair for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in Detroit, also appeared and discussed the need for more research dollars for pancreatic cancer.
She talked about her mother, who died of the aggressive cancer, 11 years ago.
She passed away within a year of her diagnosis, Mishra said.
"PANCAN is working to give people hope," she added.
Mishra visited Washington D.C. earlier this year with hundreds of other PANCAN volunteers to visit with leaders there to talk about the importance of dedicating more dollars for research.
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You can hear the rest of the conversation by watching "Michigan Matters" at its special time of 8:30 a.m. Sunday on CBS 62.
Carol Cain is the Emmy-winning Senior Producer/Host of "Michigan Matters." She also writes about politics and business for Sunday's Detroit Free Press. She can be reached at clcain@cbs.com.
