Rapper Berner Diagnosed With Cancer, Hasbro CEO Dies After Leave of Absence for Cancer Treatment and More

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From Berner’s cancer diagnosis to lipstick art for cancer fundraising, here’s what’s happening in the cancer landscape this week.

Berner, a San Francisco rapper, shared that he was diagnosed with cancer.

Berner, a San Francisco-based rapper, recently announced via social media that he has been diagnosed with cancer. He shared that a blood test revealed traces of cancer three weeks ago. After a procedure this week, which he thought he would “get off easy” from, he learned that he has a “major fight” ahead of him.

Berner did not reveal the exact diagnosis he received, but did share that he is now going to focus on treatment, eating healthy, spending time with family and friends and finishing his album, “Gotti.”

“As I am strong and want to have as much faith as possible, I also am being realistic,” he wrote on Instagram.

The rapper also encouraged people to pay attention to their bodies and get screened, especially if their family has a history of cancer.

“It’s time for the biggest challenge of my life and I’m ready!” he wrote. “… Love you guys, it’s time to fight.”

Brian Goldner, CEO of Hasbro, died this week soon after taking a leave of absence for cancer treatment.

The CEO and chairman of Hasbro, Brian Goldner, died this week, according to a statement from the company. Goldner was 58 at the time of his death and had previously announced that he was taking a leave of absence for cancer treatment.

"Since joining the Company more than two decades ago, Brian has been the heart and soul of Hasbro," said the company's interim CEO Rich Stoddart. "As a charismatic and passionate leader in both the play and entertainment industries, Brian's work brought joy and laughter to children and families around the world."

Goldner had joined the company in 2000 and became CEO in 2008.

"Brian was an exceptionally dedicated member of our Board, whose guidance and leadership played a key role not only in the combination of Viacom and CBS but in the execution of the vision that has significantly shaped the company and will take us well into the future," said Shari Redstone, chair of ViacomCBS in a statement.

A Vietnam veteran received a donated motorcycle after cancer caused him to give away his old one.

Ken Fields, a Vietnam veteran and avid motorcyclist, had to give away his motorcycle after his prostate cancer returned. He had been riding motorcycles since the age of 15 but was unable to ride his due to cancer.

He decided to give his two-wheeled motorcycle to another veteran in Third Watch, a law enforcement motorcycle club.

“He’s the kind of guy that he’ll give you the shirt off his back and he won’t expect anything for it,” said Steve Burgher, president of Third Watch.

Then, Fields was surprised by the club, who donated a three-wheeled motorcycle to him that he’d be able to ride.

“We thought he had it beat and then he had some issues come back and they had to do a bunch of radiation on his jaw,” Burgher said. “He lost all of his teeth because of it. He’s lost equilibrium. He’s lost most of his balance, a lot of dexterity, and just a lot of heart is gone because of it. You take all of that away and it takes a man’s heart so we’re hoping we can give this to him and bring some of that back.”

Fields shared that he was in disbelief when he received the gift.

“That’ll get me back on the road and back in the wind,” he said.

An artist paid tribute to breast cancer survivors and raised awareness and money through special artwork.

Katherine Mason, a Houston, Texas-based artist, created artwork with donated lipstick to honor women in treatment for breast cancer.

"Sometimes, I leave the studio and I smell like lipstick," Mason said.

She uses the lipstick like a crayon to create art pieces depicting the female body, flowers and various objects. The artwork was coined the “Lipstick Series” and has become a network to bring women together and raise money for research.

"I don't want to leave behind pretty pictures," Mason said. "I want to leave behind impact, I want to help other people."

She shared that many women across the country have written her letters to express their gratitude and share their stories.

"There's been lots of tears and hugs in my studio," Mason said.

She was inspired to begin her artwork after a close friend was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer in 2016. According to Mason, her friend would apply lipstick before her chemotherapy appointments, “And it made her feel so much better, strong, beautiful and powerful.”

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