Home to some of the world's best cancer researchers, the Masonic Cancer Center advances knowledge about the causes, prevention, detection, and treatment of cancer, and enhances care of cancer patients and their families. The mission of the Masonic Cancer Center is to apply that knowledge to improve quality of life and to share our discoveries with other scientists, students, professionals, and the community. The Masonic Cancer Center also provides community outreach and public education.

Contact Information

 
Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota

Mayo Mail Code 806
420 Delaware Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455

Telephone: (612) 626-5456
Information Line: 1-888-CANCER MN (1-888-226-2376) or (612) 624-2620
Fax: (612) 626-5135
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Web site: www.cancer.umn.edu

About Cancer

Anyone, at any time, can be affected by cancer. Cancer is not one particular disease but rather a group of diseases in which abnormal cells grow in an irregular way.  In Minnesota alone, more than 20,000 people annually are diagnosed with cancer each year.

The human body is made of billions of normal cells that are like the bricks and mortar of a building. Each tiny cell has a specific job to do, whether it's relaying messages to the brain, digesting food or pumping blood.

Normal cells grow and divide in an orderly fashion and respect the boundaries of neighboring cells. A cancer usually develops from a normal cell that has changed or mutated. The change may have occurred because of a virus, chemical, or radiation injury, a family predisposition, or unknown causes. This abnormal cell grows without following the rules that directed it. Some cancers grow quickly, others grow slowly. As the cancer grows, it can invade normal organs causing normal body functions to be compromised or stopped. Tumors can squeeze organs or block passages. This will eventually cause symptoms or problems.

Resources for Individuals and Caregivers

The Masonic Cancer Center offers a wide variety of resources for persons with cancer and their caretakers. Those resources include: 

Employee/Individuals Resources

• Cancer information line, 1-888-CANCER MN (1-888-226-2376) or (612) 624-2620, is staffed by an oncology nurse to help provide personalized answers to your questions that will assist you in making decisions about cancer care.
  
  
• Educational seminar series: Cancer U: Ask the Expert.
  
• Support groups held monthly at various locations.

Caregiver Resources

• Educational seminar series: Cancer U: Ask the Expert
  

Resources for Employers and Communities

The Masonic Cancer Center offers the following resources for employers and the community at large:

Employer Resources

• Speakers (free of charge for groups of 25 or more). Topics include: 
          o Scientific Breakthroughs. 
          o Preventing Cancer. 
          o Tobacco's Deadly Residue. 
          o Gene Therapy. 
          o Children & Cancer. 
          o The Importance of Hope.
          o Blood & Marrow transplantation. 
          o Clinical Trials. 
          o Cancer in Families. 
          o Colon Cancer: The Preventable Killer. 
          o Speakers on specific cancer types such as lung, prostate and breast.
   
• Health fair participation.

Community Resources

• Educational seminar series: Cancer U: Ask the Expert