Bill Walsh, builder of an NFL dynasty with his 49ers of the 1980s, died of leukemia Monday at his San Francisco Bay. Walsh, known as The Genius for his innovative, pass-oriented attack, was 75.

Walsh was 102-63-1 with the 49ers and won three Super Bowls and six divisional titles in just 10 years. He was named Coach of the Year in 1981 and 1984 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993. He served twice as the 49ers' general manager and coached at Stanford after leaving the 49ers.

"His coaching accomplishments speak for themselves, but the essence of Bill Walsh was he was an extraordinary teacher," says NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. "If you gave him a blackboard and a piece of chalk, he would become a whirlwind of wisdom. He revolutionized the game with his offense and will always be remembered as one of the most influential people in NFL history."

Radioactive cancer patients attending this weekend's Super Bowl in Miami could be in for an alarming experience when they pass through radiation detectors designed to signal the presence of dirty bombs. Such cancer patients -- who have received treatment using radioisotopes and still may have tiny amounts of radioactive material in their bodies -- may want to come armed with letters from their doctors explaining their precarious set of circumstances.

The use of radioisotopes in medicine is growing -- and so is the use of radiation detectors in our security-conscious nation, which means patients are triggering alarms when they are not even aware they are being scanned, doctors and security officials say.

Nearly 60,000 people a day in the United States undergo treatment or tests that leave traces of radioactive material in their bodies, according to the Society of Nuclear Medicine. These traces are not enough to hurt anyone, but they are enough to trigger radiation alarms for up to three months.

Radioisotopes are commonly used to diagnose and treat certain cancers and thyroid disorders, to analyze heart function, and to scan bones and lungs. And many doctors already know to equip their patients with travel cards because of the problems they can encounter in public places.

Nearly 20 million nuclear medical procedures were performed in the United States in 2005 -- up 15 percent from 2001. Clearly, the number of people who could be mistaken for terrorists is quite large. So if you are one of these people -- with the power to create a buzz in a public setting -- get your papers in order so you can quickly confirm your identity as nothing more than a cancer patient.

Some women opt to remove their ovaries to prevent breast cancer recurrence. I considered it -- and then decided I would not take such an extreme measure when I wasn't all that sure I was done having children.

Now, ovary removal may not be necessary -- because a new chemical equivalent of surgery allows women to temporarily shut down their ovaries while preserving their fertility.

The shutdown of the ovaries is called chemopause, and women who choose to go this route receive monthly injections -- considered a super-hormone treatment -- of a drug that blocks the male hormone testosterone and is often used to treat prostate cancer.

Chemopause has big advantages. It doesn't require surgery. And it's not permanent. Women who want to have children can stop the treatment in order to conceive. And women who have trouble with side effects can discontinue use of the surgery-sparing drugs.

The ovary-suppressing drugs -- triptorelin, goserelin, leuprolide, and buserelin -- can be used in place of or on top of standard chemotherapy and hormone therapy and are showing promise in their ability to decrease incidences of breast cancer recurrence.

Medical professionals agree there is value in ovarian suppression. Studies show women whose periods do not return after chemotherapy -- which often causes early menopause -- have lower relapse rates than women whose periods resume. So shutting down the ovaries and stopping menstruation may not be such a bad idea -- and not such an extreme measure either.

Lamar Hunt, the man who owned the Kansas City Chiefs and coined the term Super Bowl, died Wednesday night of complications from prostate cancer. He was 74.

Hunt had been battling cancer for several years. But he learned just before Thanksgiving while hospitalized for a collapsed lung that his cancer had spread.

A founder of the American Football League and driving force behind the AFL-NFL merger, Hunt grew up in Dallas and attended a private boys' prep school where he served as captain of the football team. He loved sports -- and earned the nickname Games -- and went on to play college football. While he didn't excel much as an athlete, he did soar to great heights as an owner and promoter of teams in professional football, basketball, baseball, tennis, soccer, and bowling.

Hunt's achievements are plentiful. He started the first organized effort at a pro tennis tour, helped bring pro soccer to the United States, owned Hunt Sports Group which manages Major League Soccer franchises in Dallas, Kansas City, and Columbus, Ohio, and was the last remaining original owner of the Chicago Bulls basketball franchise,

Inducted into eight halls of fame, Hunt is clearly one accomplished man.

Of his influence in the world in football, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says, "you'd be hard-pressed to find anybody that's made a bigger contribution (to the NFL) than Lamar Hunt."

Hunt is survived by wife Norma, children Lamar Jr., Sharron Munson, Clark, and Daniel; and 13 grandchildren.

When a question or concern or worry related to breast cancer pops into my head, I typically find myself parked in front of my computer in search of instant answers, instant comfort, instant wisdom. There are several different websites I consult -- each one different from the others, each one complementing the others. They are my reference tools, my handbooks, my encyclopedias. They offer me a clear picture of a confusing, cloudy disease. And here they are -- seven super websites that have been become staples in my life.

Writer Richard Morris of www.breadandmoney.com coins the word nutritainment in a recent article about foods that are hyped to magically make us healthy -- foods that can cancel out cancer and wipe out heart disease. Nutritainment is nutritional news delivered in entertainment-like fashion, designed to urge consumers to buy into the latest, greatest super foods. Yet making small changes in diet -- what most consumers will do -- to incorporate these so-called powerful products is unlikely to do much good, Morris says. And he offers some thoughts on why the media continues to force this news down our throats and why we continue falling for their tactics.

Morris says human nature and marketplace economics motivate those engaged in nutritional sciences to strive for media attention and exposure. As a result, bits and pieces of nutritional studies make their way to medical journals and then land in media's lap through press releases. Some will even ghostwrite nutrition articles to promote products. These articles end up in the hands of the media and spread like wildfire to the public, in as-is format. Consumers may be left with the notion that these bits and pieces are important, relevant, non-biased research -- when this is not the case.

Morris says knowledgeable health experts who have the time to accurately report on important nutrition news are scarce. And when they do have time to share words of wisdom that really do matter, the packaging of the news is often technical and not so sensational. A headline that reads, Pomegranate juice packs power to prevent cancer will bury a scientific -- yet more accurate -- headline. Catchy headlines grab readers, and readers buy products. But headlines can be misleading -- and pomegranate juice alone is not likely to have many health benefits.

There are also issues with advertising and editorial content, according to Morris, who compares overall good nutrition to car maintenance. "Just like changing the air freshener in your car won't prevent a breakdown if the car desperately needs a tune-up, adding one item of magical food to your diet won't protect you from a breakdown either," he says and shares that a complete dietary makeover is what's necessary for good health -- that and stress reduction, physical activity, emotional balance, and life fulfillment. A quick dose of pomegranate juice may not do the trick. But a steady, consistent dose of these items will.

I have made on-line visits to Wikipedia many times -- mostly for information on cancer. And what I've found are endless resources, thoroughly-covered topics, and material that is easy to read and easy to understand. Wikipedia, a free on-line encyclopedia -- where readers can participate in editing and changing content -- offers information on just about any topic you can imagine. And here are seven stops you might make in pursuit of cancer-related material.

I read something yesterday written by a reporter who is fed up with the treatment of celebrities in the media. She is tired of the spectacular headlines about babies born to celebrities and adoptions by celebrities and every-day struggles of celebrities that blur the fact that these same things happen to real people -- non-celebrities -- and are rarely covered in the news. Sure, some of the celebrity coverage may lead to awareness. The fact that Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are talking of adopting another child may encourage others in the world to reach out to homeless children. But where is the news about hoards of women who gather and walk in search of a cure for breast cancer? And why was the coming-out announcement by former In Sync band member Lance Bass the top news story on CNN the other day? Because people pay attention to announcements like these -- and however disturbing it may be -- is causes a stir. And perhaps, like this reporter says, others will gain some strength from Bass and will tackle their own sexual orientation more openly.

A news story caught my attention the other night. Not because of the news -- initially -- but because of the names that were thrown around. Names like Kelly Ripa and Lindsey Lohan and Molly Shannon -- names that were not all that important in the scheme of the story I would eventually hear. But they hooked me. And then I learned about a great event that took place last Saturday in an effort to raise funds for ovarian cancer.

Super Saturday is a day-long summer fundraising event for the entire family -- created by Donna Karan and sponsored by In Style magazine. The day features a designer garage sale with more than 200 designers, a raffle, a carnival for kids, food and refreshments, and goodie bags. All proceeds -- from ticket sales and the garage sale and raffles -- go to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. Last year's event raised $2 million. And this year, the tally for the ninth annual event that took place in the Hamptons, is yet to be reported. What was reported is that the event was a success -- and celebrities were in attendance. And that made me pay attention.

If'n books are introducing The Cancerpants Journal. This humorous blank journal is exclusively for cancer patients so they can have an outlet to write down their thoughts and feelings. The journal's hand screen printed designs are by Grammy-nominated illustrator Jesse LeDoux.

Deb Dormody, owner of If'n books states "Most people I know who have been through cancer have been able to bear the crazy process by welcoming humor into their healing; and a fun journal can be an integral part of that course."

The Cancerpants Journal also comes with the Superfuntime Kit. The kit contains a pencil, tattoo, sticker and postcard. It also contains journal tips to help put the journal to practical use.

One dollar from every sale of the journal will be donated towards a cancer-related charity. This quarter they are giving the proceeds to The Lance Armstrong Foundation.

Makeup artist Lori Ovitz has taken her twenty years of cosmetics experience in making celebrities and top models look beautiful, and written Facing the Mirror with Cancer, a book of tips and techniques to help cancer patients look less tired and create a natural glow at a time when cancer treatments can take a physical toll.

Ovitz began volunteering at University of Chicago hospitals working with cancer patients to teach them how to enhance their personal appearance using makeup. According to Ovitz, "Makeup is a very accessible, inexpensive way to make significant changes to your appearance. The tremendous gratitude that I've received from each patient I've worked with inspired me to write Facing the Mirror with Cancer -- A Guide to Using Makeup to make a Difference."

To publish her book, Ovitz and her husband Bruce, a 35 year cancer survivor, created Belle Press -- named to honor the memory of her grandmother Belle Michel -- so that 50 percent of the profits from the book could go to cancer research.

"Cancer does not have to rob you of self-esteem or beauty. By teaching cancer patients how to apply makeup, I've seen firsthand what an incredible transformation occurs in their appearance and how much better they feel about themselves. I've written this book because I want to reach cancer patients everywhere so they can learn the tricks of my trade," Lori Ovitz states with assurance.

You can order Facing the Mirror with Cancer, a 200-page book featuring step-by-step tips and techniques for dealing with appearance issues during cancer treatment and beyond, here.

Hopefully this doesn't happen too often, but one hour after Observer sports writer Bill Elliott was diagnosed with prostate cancer, his wife Val was diagnosed with breast cancer. That a couple would both be diagnosed with cancer within an hour of each other is stunning, but equally stunning is the lack of sameness when it comes to cancer treatments in National Health Service priority funding and the tally in quality of life and human costs. Unfortunately, the difference in treatments appears to be common.

Colleague Health Editor Jo Revill, in Both have cancer. But why can't one get the best care? takes a look at the difference between the treatment Elliot will receive for his prostate cancer compared to the treatment Val will receive for her breast cancer.

According to Revill, breast cancer currently enjoys ten times more funding than prostate cancer. From very glamorous campaigns, such as Ralph Lauren's Fashion Targets Breast Cancer, supported by models such as Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Helena Christensen and Giselle Bundchen. She muses that pictures of men in underpants highlighting prostate cancer do not have quite the same appeal as sexy women in white T-shirts.

After a lumpectomy, Val was put on an expensive and successful chemoprevention drug to prevent breast cancer recurrence. 

However, for Bill, the options offered are limited. The treatment that his physician recommended that gives him the best odds of survival -- a brachytherapy -- was denied because of costs. Brachytherapy is a proven therapy where 100 radioactive seeds are implanted within the prostate gland in order to kill cancer cells through radiation. The alternative? Radical prostatectomy -- the surgical removal of the prostate with two major side effects -- impotence and incontinence.

Bill could pay privately for brachytherapy, but he wonders what happens for men who cannot afford the better treatment. You can read about Bill and Val's story in depth here. You can listen to Bill and Val talk about the outrage they feel over the inequities in cancer treatment as they speak with Jo Revill in an audio interview here.

With the sale of a designer logo t-shirt, Fashion Targets Breast Cancer, launched in the UK by Breakthrough Breast Cancer, is celebrating its tenth year as the UK's leading fashion charity breast cancer campaign. The fundraiser began after Ralph Lauren's friend, fashion editor of the Washington Post, Nina Hyde, died from breast cancer. While Ms. Hyde was still battling cancer, she asked Lauren to promise he would do something to raise awareness for breast cancer. Fashion Targets Breast Cancer and the designer logo t-shirt is his promise fulfilled.

Fashion Targets Breast Cancer is a worldwide campaign with celebrity spokespersons such as Saffron Aldridge, Yasmin Le Bon, Gisele Bundchen, Helena Christensen, Jodie Kidd, Elle Macpherson, Jade Jagger, Lily Cole, Eva Herzigova, Claudia Schiffer, Jasmine Guiness, Yasmin Le Bon, Laura Bailey, Erin O'Connor and Jerry Hall.

To support breast cancer charity, you can purchase a Fashion Targets Breast Cancer designer t-shirt here. In addition, by submitting a photo of you and your best dressed friends to the 10 best dressed gallery you are entered in a contest to win tickets to the London Fashion Week this coming September.

Victoria's Secret international supermodel, television and film actress Helena Christensen was in Dublin Ireland last week to launch Fashion Targets Breast Cancer campaign to raise money for programs supporting young women under 45 diagnosed with breast cancer. All money raised through the sale of the t-shirts go to Action Breast Cancer, a project of the Irish Cancer Society and Europe Donna Ireland, the Irish Breast Cancer Campaign.

Christiansen told the Irish Medical Times that it is important that women practice self-exams for early signs of breast cancer -- and that women don't ignore any warning signs out of fear. "My doctor from an early age told me to touch myself around the breasts and under the armpits, and not feel weird about it! Especially when you're young, you get a little bit intimidated by your body. It's going through so many changes."

Last year, the sale of Fashion Targets Breast Cancer designer t-shirts raised €240,000 for services provided to young women in Ireland facing breast cancer. Christiansen added that women who felt worried should see their physician and not leave their health to chance. "I've always thought it's better to go to the doctor one too many times than to postpone it."

During the Great American Eat Right Challenge, Weight Watchers is releasing its new cookbook, Super Foods, featuring recipes using fruits, vegetables, whole grains and other foods that focus on weight loss and nutritious cancer prevention. For each Super Foods cookbook sold, Weight Watchers will contribute $1 dollar -- up to $150,000 dollars -- to the American Cancer Society to help raise awareness for cancer prevention and educate people about cancer risk, prevention, treatment, and support.

Weight Watchers offers these nutrition tips in healthy eating for weight control and cancer prevention:

• Maintain a caloric intake that prevents weight gain.
• Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes.
• Limit consumption of processed and red meats.
• Limit alcoholic beverages to no more than 2 per day for men, and 1 for women.
• Eat a variety of whole foods rather than taking supplements for powerful antioxidant cancer prevention.
  

The Super Foods and In No Time cookbook bundle is available for sale in participating Weight Watchers meetings rooms across the country. You can visit the Weight Watchers website for free recipes published online.

When researchers transplanted white blood cells from a strain of  cancer-resistant mice into ordinary laboratory mice with advanced cancers, the transplant cured the cancers. According to Wake Forest University School of Medicine researchers, even highly aggressive forms of cancer with extremely large tumors were destroyed. This is breaking news. It gets better. After the white cell transplant from the super cancer-resistant mice wiped out the cancer, the white cells also protected the ordinary mice from any new deadly cancers. And it keeps getting better.

Previous studies showed that cancer-resistance in mice can be inherited. The current cancer-resistant mice all come from a single mouse discovered seven years ago. The researchers said that the cancer resistance trait has been passed to more than 2,000 descendants in 14 generations. The white cell transplant that killed the cancer came from these mice. When they can figure out how to translate all of this to the benefit of humans, the possibility for cancer cure is amazing. Truly amazing.