Latest news with #DaveSims
Telegraph
22-07-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
‘My brother achieved so much after his cancer diagnosis aged 15'
Dave Sims and his identical twin brother Mark were always close. Inseparable in childhood, they spent their teenage years on hiking adventures together and looked forward to a happy, productive future – both dreamed of becoming doctors. But in 2003, their carefree lives changed forever when Mark was diagnosed with melanoma. He was just 15 when his barber drew attention to a birthmark on his head – it had changed into a dark, raised lump. It turned out to be nodular melanoma, a type of skin cancer known for its tendency to spread, and two surgeries followed. But the prognosis was bleak. The family were told Mark had just a 50 per cent chance of surviving five years. 'Luckily, Mark was a very positive person who just got on with life,' says Dave, now an emergency medicine consultant. 'We both went on to medical school, and Mark never let that initial diagnosis define him – he passed that five-year mark, graduated and continued to lead a happy, healthy life.' But in January 2015, Mark developed a cough and abdominal pain while working as a junior doctor. Just before his 27th birthday, scans showed the melanoma had spread to his liver, lungs and spleen. 'We were absolutely destroyed,' says Dave. 'Both being doctors, we knew the implications and that Mark would probably die. It was a terrible time for our family. 'But then we discovered how much melanoma treatment had moved on in the 12 years since Mark's first diagnosis. His doctors first thought he might die within weeks, but after giving him a new targeted cancer drug, he quickly felt much better. 'Mark had an increased risk of developing melanoma due to having a mutation in a gene called BRAF. Cancer Research UK co-funded research that identified and characterised BRAF mutations in cancer and paved the way for industry to develop treatments, including one that Mark received. Today, more than eight in 10 people who receive cancer drugs in the UK receive a drug developed by or with Cancer Research UK*, often giving them more time with the people they love. 'The benefits lasted a year, then immunotherapy worked for a while. We got nearly two extra years with Mark, and he achieved so much in that time. He went back to work, fell in love, got engaged and was best man at my wedding – something that meant so much to both of us." 'Mark was determined to do whatever he could to help others, fundraising for Cancer Research UK and achieving his target of raising £100,000 a few weeks before he died,' continues Dave. 'That extra time was invaluable. It gave us special memories and a better sense of closure – and we have the advances in treatment to thank for that.' Mark was treated at the Royal Marsden NHS Trust. Around six months before he died, Mark was told about the pioneering Cancer Research UK-funded PEACE study (Posthumous Evaluation of Advanced Cancer Environment). This project invites people with advanced cancer to give informed consent for tissue samples to be collected before and after their death. These donations enable the PEACE team to study how cancer spreads and why treatments stop working in the final stages of cancer 1. Professor Samra Turajlic led the melanoma team at the Marsden 2 and supported patients like Mark to take part in the study. Her lab's subsequent work at the Francis Crick Institute identified key aspects of how melanomas evade immunotherapy by profoundly altering their genome, giving them many paths to treatment resistance. But it didn't stop there. The PEACE study has since provided even more insights. One finding relates to the ability of melanoma to lose genes necessary for immunotherapy to work. The role genes play is of particular interest to Dave, as his family is genetically predisposed to the disease – several of them have successfully had melanomas surgically removed, including him. The PEACE study results present the most detailed picture yet of what melanoma looks like in the final stages of life and could pave the way for more targeted treatments in future. 'Evidence shows that immunotherapy could be a transformational treatment for up to half of people diagnosed with advanced melanoma,' says Professor Turajlic, now director of the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute. 'However, for the remaining 50 per cent, we urgently need to understand why treatments don't always work. The PEACE study provides a unique opportunity to do so, because of the ability to study tumours throughout the body and piece together the puzzle of their evolution. We as clinical and research teams are extremely humbled by the willingness of patients and families to consider research at such a difficult time, and we honour their commitment by conducting meaningful work in the PEACE programme.' For Mark, there was no hesitation when he was asked to donate samples. 'There was no question,' says Dave. 'He was so grateful for the advances that allowed him to extend his life and the people who made that happen. And by then, his main focus was reducing the risk of skin cancer for others.' Mark died on 19 January 2017, aged 28, surrounded by his family and friends. 'Everyone wants to feel that their life has meaning and taking part in the PEACE study definitely gave Mark an extra sense of purpose,' says Dave. 'He may have had a relatively short life, but he achieved so much and made a huge contribution to the world. I'm so proud of what Mark did.' Cancer Research UK is the world's largest charitable funder of cancer research. Through the work of more than 4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses, it carries out world-class research into the prevention, detection and treatment of more than 200 types of cancer. For over 100 years, Cancer Research UK has been working to beat cancer. Its research into innovative, kinder and more effective treatments has changed millions of lives around the world. Launching some of the earliest studies into risk factors, it has continued to lead the field — uncovering key drivers of skin cancer and paving the way for more targeted therapies. But there's so much more to do. The charity wants to bring about a world where everybody lives longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer. References:
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Yankees Announcer Fires Back at Former NFL MVP Over Early Criticism
Yankees Announcer Fires Back at Former NFL MVP Over Early Criticism originally appeared on Athlon Sports. When the New York Yankees traveled to California for a May series against the Athletics, they had a notable name missing from their traveling party—and, luckily for their sake, it wasn't Aaron Judge or Max Fried. Advertisement First-year Yankees radio announcer Dave Sims took that series off and instead flew to Seattle, the Yankees' next stop on their West Coast road trip, to spend time with his son. Sims rejoined the Yankees several days later for their three-game set against the Mariners. At the time, longtime NFL quarterback and New York radio host Boomer Esiason slammed Sims for taking a series off '40 games into his career' as the Yankee announcer. Although Esiason clarified that he enjoys Sims' work, the 1988 NFL MVP also wondered how and why a first-year play-by-play would skip a series so early in the season. 'You just took the Yankee job!' Esiason said then. 'It's supposed to be the job of your life.' Sims fired back on the 'Awful Announcing Podcast,' explaining that the Yankees and WFAN approved his decision beforehand. Advertisement Former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason in 2023Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK 'If you look at the schedules of just about every broadcaster in the major leagues, they take time off,' Sims said. 'It's not like I took time off Labor Day in the middle of a pennant race. 'It was May — almost middle May — and I wanted to see my son,' Sims continued. 'And it was the only time we were going to be going out west, and we had some things we had to take to him ... I wasn't going to make my wife do that.' Neither Esiason nor WFAN had commented at publication. WFAN airs Esiason's morning show and also holds the Yankees' local radio rights. Related: Jazz Chisholm Jr. Has Unexpected 2025 Home Run Derby Odds This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Post
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Yankees announcer Dave Sims fires back at Boomer Esiason over games he ‘blew off'
Yankees radio announcer Dave Sims has no regrets about taking time off in May to see his son, despite his WFAN colleague's dismay. Sims, in his first year in the Yankees booth after taking over for the retired John Sterling, addressed Boomer Esiason criticizing him for taking the Yankees-A's series off just more than a month into his first season calling Bombers games. 'People in our business — in this line of business — take time off,' Sims, who was the Mariners' TV play-by-play voice for the previous 18 years, said on the Awful Announcing podcast. 'I have a son in Seattle. And the three games I blew off were in Sacramento. If you look at the schedules of just about every broadcaster in the major leagues, they take time off. It's not like I took time off Labor Day in the middle of a pennant race. It was May — almost middle May — and I wanted to see my son. And it was the only time we were going to be going out west, and we had some things we had to take to him, yada, yada, yada. I wasn't going to make my wife do that. Yankees radio announcer Dave Sims (r.) talks to manager Aaron Boone (l.) Getty Images 'The radio station said, 'Fine, you have X amount of days off. If those are the days you want to take off, hey, you're good. We got you covered for it. Safe travels.'' Esiason was in disbelief that Sims, 72, would take a series off at the time. 'I've worked with Dave, great guy,' Esiason said on the 'Boomer and Gio' show on May 12. 'We love Dave Sims, but I'm gonna call it out as I see it. You just got started as the Yankee announcer, and he's 40 games into his career as the Yankee announcer, and he decided to take off.' There is 'plenty of time in the offseason' to be with family and friends, Esiason went on. Boomer Esiason Getty Images 'What are you doing? You just took the Yankee job! It's supposed to be the job of your life,' Esiason said. 'If he had been here as long as John Sterling had been here — if John wanted to take a weekend off later on in his career, totally acceptable.' Esiason and his radio partner, Gregg Giannotti, were out last week on vacation.
Los Angeles Times
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Why is Dodger Stadium SO LOUD? ‘It's just all part of an entertainment show'
The two New York teams dropped by Dodger Stadium a couple of weeks ago, first the Yankees and then the Mets, and broadcasters for each team made sure to complain about how loud it was. 'The Dodger Stadium center field speakers are in full assault mode,' Yankees radio voice Dave Sims tweeted. On the ESPN Sunday night broadcast from Dodger Stadium that week, Karl Ravech introduced an in-game interview with the Dodgers' Tommy Edman this way: 'He's in center field now, being blasted by, I think, arguably the loudest speaker system I have ever heard in my life.' Notwithstanding the audacity of New Yorkers whining about someone else's volume, the broadcasters did lend their distinguished voices to a long-running debate among Dodgers fans: Is it loud at Dodger Stadium, or is it too loud? 'It's just all part of an entertainment show,' Mookie Betts said. 'There is no 'too loud.'' Organists Helen Dell and Nancy Bea Hefley soothed generations of fans, but the traditional soundtrack to a Dodgers game has gone the way of $10 parking and outfield walls free of advertisements. The fan experience now includes a finely choreographed production at virtually every moment except when the ball is in play, and that includes recorded music, cranked up. 'We don't make it louder just to make it louder,' said Lon Rosen, the Dodgers' executive vice president and chief marketing officer. 'It's all part of what fits in the presentation.' And the players, the ones whose performance determines whether the Dodgers win or lose, love the presentation. 'I think it's great,' Clayton Kershaw said. 'Even on the road, I'd rather have that than quiet. St. Louis was just really quiet. It almost felt like golf at times. 'The louder, the more fun, the better. The Dodgers have the best sound system out there. So why not use it?' Said former Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen: 'When I used to come out to 'California Love,' that thing used to bang. The bass they have, you can feel that thing shake in your chest.' Just how loud is it at the ballpark? To find out, I downloaded a decibel meter and visited Southern California's three major league ballparks during an eight-day span this month. At Dodger Stadium, I walked around the ballpark, and up and down to different levels, but the readings were relatively consistent no matter where someone might be sitting. Bottom line: It's pleasant at Angel Stadium, lively at Petco Park, booming at Dodger Stadium. Caveat: Even with all other things equal, it always will be louder at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers sell 50,000 tickets to a game more often than not; no other major league ballpark even holds 50,000. At 60 and 30 minutes before game time, as fans settled into the ballpark, Angel Stadium and Petco Park registered in the 65-75 dB range, roughly the sound of a normal conversation on the low end and household appliances on the high end. The introduction of the home team lineup registered in the 80-85 dB range at Angel Stadium, 85-90 dB at Petco Park, and 90-95 dB at Dodger Stadium, roughly the sound of a noisy restaurant at the low end and power tools on the high end. The high-end levels would be hazardous if sustained throughout the evening, but sounds ebb and flow as the game does. (Decibel levels are measured logarithmically, so an increase of 10 dB means sound is heard 10 times louder and an increase of 20 dB means sound is heard 100 times louder.) The highest levels at any stadium occur not when a voice pleads 'Get loud!' or 'Everybody clap your hands!' but organically, as the result of a big moment in the game. My decibel meter hit 100 dB twice during my three test games: immediately after the Angels' Travis d'Arnaud homered in Anaheim, and as the Dodgers' Will Smith slid safely into home plate with the tying run at Dodger Stadium, as the opposing catcher tagged him but dropped the ball. What distinguishes the Dodger Stadium experience is the hour or so before the game starts. The Angels offer music, spotlight fans on the video board, and 'invite you to enjoy the hospitality of Angel Stadium.' The Dodgers impose a relentlessly loud pregame show, with hype guys and hype girls, pounding away well above the 65-75 dB levels in Anaheim and San Diego, with dB readings into the 80s. The Dodgers' pregame show attempts to force anticipation upon the audience, as if that is somehow necessary. It's not. You're about to see Shohei Ohtani! There is always something happening before the game in the center field plaza: a band, product giveaways, Instagram-worthy photo opportunities, the live pregame broadcast for SportsNet LA. You can get hyped there, if you like. Or you can enjoy a conversation with your friends in your seats, instead of getting a headache before the game even starts. Tyler Anderson, who pitches for the Angels now and used to pitch for the Dodgers, said he finds no fault in the traditional way of presenting the game, or in the Dodgers' way. 'It's like you're trying to turn that venue into one of the best bars in town, where you just go to the bar and listen to loud music and people are having a good time,' Anderson said. 'I think that's the atmosphere they're trying to create. It's a fun atmosphere for the fans too. 'And then some places are more family-based. They'd rather have kids and older families, and young kids and grandkids coming to games. They probably have less of a party atmosphere and less of a bar kind of atmosphere. 'There is no right or wrong way.' In his ESPN in-game interview, Edman called the Dodgers' sound system both 'absolutely absurd' and 'great.' I asked Edman about that seeming contradiction. 'That was one of the things that stuck out to me my first time playing here, just how loud the speakers are,' he said. 'You can't hear yourself think.' He got used to it, and to how he need not be distracted because the sound shuts off 'once the play actually starts.' He likes it now. 'It makes it more fun,' he said. 'It's like a big league game.' The Dodgers' game presentation is creative and compelling. And, instead of eliminating the beloved organ, the Dodgers include talented organist Dieter Ruehle as part of the show. Really, just tone down the pregame hour, and we're good. Rosen shrugged off the notion that the Dodgers should tone down anything. If fans did not enjoy the production, he wondered, why would they keep packing Dodger Stadium? 'It's really not any louder than any other of the more popular stadiums,' Rosen said. He might be onto something. Veteran baseball columnist Bob Klapisch reported that, during last month's Yankees-Mets series at Yankee Stadium, 'the decibel levels at the stadium routinely reached the mid-90s.' That, Mr. Yankee Announcer, would be 'full assault mode.'
New York Post
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Yankees radio voice Dave Sims missing Subway Series finale: ‘Laryngitis sent me to the IL'
Yankees broadcaster Dave Sims announced he would not be on the call for the series finale between the Mets and Yankees. Sims is dealing with laryngitis and the illness became too much of an issue to deal with for him to be behind the mic in The Bronx on Sunday night. 'Anyone listening to Saturday's game on WFAN heard my voice on its way out,' Sims wrote on X. 'No amount of gargling, inhaling steam, hot tea with honey, or chicken soup has made the difference. First time laryngitis sent me to the IL in my 23 years calling baseball. Bummed to miss the rubber match of the Subway Series I. Go Yankees!' 3 Aaron Boone of the New York Yankees and Dave Sims talk before the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Yankee Stadium on March 27, 2025 in New York, New York. Getty Images The post was accompanied by a photo of Sims holding his head over a pot of presumably hot water, with a large cup of tea next to him. Sims is in his first year calling games as the radio voice of the Yankees after legendary broadcaster John Sterling retired last season. Emmanuel Barbari joined Suzyn Waldman in the booth. Sims' name had been in the headlines less than a week ago after he was ripped by WFAN morning show host Boomer Esiason for skipping broadcasts ahead of his first trip back to Seattle, where he had been calling games previously for the Mariners. 'I've worked with Dave, great guy,' Esiason said on the 'Boomer and Gio' show. 'We love Dave Sims, but I'm gonna call it out as I see it. You just got started as the Yankee announcer, and he's 40 games into his career as the Yankee announcer, and he decided to take off.' 3 Broadcaster Dave Sims of the Seattle Mariners looks on before a game against the New York Yankees at Safeco Field on July 10, 2010. Getty Images 3 Broadcaster Dave Sims of the Seattle Mariners talks with New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi before a game at Safeco Field on July 23, 2012 in Seattle, Washington. Getty Images He later added: 'What are you doing? You just took the Yankee job! It's supposed to be the job of your life. If he had been here as long as John Sterling had been here — if John wanted to take a weekend off later on in his career, totally acceptable.' Sims will have a few days to heal up with the Yankees not playing again until Tuesday, when they welcome the Rangers to Yankee Stadium.
