Cancer Horizons: Recent Episodes
CURE Talks Cancer
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Last week we saw some FDA approvals come through, as well as research that explored the psychosocial outcomes of individuals who survived pediatric rhabdosarcoma. And finally, we’ll discuss another cancer vaccine clinical trial that got the green light from the Food and Drug Administration.
FDA Approved Besponsa for Children With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
The first FDA approval of last week was one in the pediatric cancer space. The agency approved Besponsa for children who are at least 1 year old and have relapsed or refractory CD22-positive precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia., also known as ALL.
The approval is coming after findings from a single-arm study involving 53 children. Of which, 22 — that’s 42% — achieved a complete response from the therapy, with the median duration of complete response being 8.2 months. Additionally, the majority of patients who achieved a complete response also had minimal residual disease negativity, which indicates that there were 5% or less blasts found in the bone marrow and no cancer cells detected in the blood.
Having a new treatment option for children with ALL is particularly exciting, as ALL is one of the most common pediatric cancers, according to the American Cancer Society.
FDA Approves Opdivo Plus Chemo for Unresectable or Metastatic Bladder Cancer
Last week, the FDA also approved an immunotherapy/chemotherapy regimen for certain patients with bladder cancer. Specifically, the agency OKed Opdivo plus cisplatin and gemcitabine for the frontline treatment of adults with unresectable or metastatic urothelial carcinoma.
This approval was backed by findings from the CheckMate-901 trial, which showed that the Opdivo-chemotherapy regimen improved overall survival (which is the time patients live before death of any cause) and progression-free survival (which is the time patients live without their disease worsening) compared to those who did not receive Opdivo. The median overall survival was 21.7 months for those who received Opdivo compared to 18.9 months for those who did not, while progression-free survival was 7.9 and 7.6 months, respectively.
FDA Approves Brukinsa, Gazyva Combo for Relapsed, Refractory Follicular Lymphoma
Last week, the Food and Drug Administration also approved Brukinsa plus Gazyva for patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma after findings from the ROSEWOOD trial showed that not only did more patients respond to the two-drug treatment compared to Gazyva alone, but also at a median follow-up of 19 months, more patients were still responding compared to the Gazvya arm as well.
Rhabdomyosarcoma Survivors May Have Poor Psychological Outcomes
A study published in the journal, Cancer, found that survivors of rhabdomyosarcoma — which is a rare cancer affecting soft tissues — may face increased risk of psychological challenges, especially if they were exposed to previous radiation therapy or have a history of smoking.
Researchers examined neurocognitive impairment, emotional distress and health-related quality of life in survivors compared to their siblings. Results showed higher rates of issues like memory impairment and emotional distress among survivors, with smoking linked to poorer outcomes. The CURE® team spoke with study author, Ellen van der Plas on the findings. Here is what she had to say.
Ovarian Cancer Vaccine Trial Gets FDA Clearance to Proceed
The FDA has given the green light for a clinical trial of a vaccine designed to treat advanced ovarian cancer. Known as Innocell, this personalized therapy utilizes cells from the patient's own tumor which is inactivated via riboflavin and UV light. The drug is being manufactured at City of Hope in Los Angeles, and the trial aims to assess the vaccine's safety and effectiveness in stimulating immune response.
This is one of the many cancer vaccines being explored and developed in the oncology space. Check back on prior CURE® coverage for updates on vaccines to treat breast, lung, skin and other cancers.
For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here.
In addition to a breakthrough therapy designation for a lung cancer drug, this week we’ll be talking a lot about additional side effects and health conditions that may come with a cancer diagnosis, and how to manage them.
We heard from an expert about using cannabis during cancer care, took a look at a patient population that may be more prone to cardiometabolic conditions after cancer treatment and we’ll highlight a study that’s looking at preventing infection and GVHD in patients with blood cancer who underwent a stem cell transplant.
Patients Should ‘Have the Conversation’ About Cannabis With Care Teams
The use of cannabis seems to be growing when it comes to mitigating side effects from cancer treatment, though it is important that patients talk to their providers if they are using these products or have questions about them, explained Dr. Brooke Worster from Thomas Jefferson University.
I recently spoke to Woster about the conversations patients with cancer should be having if they’re using or considering using cannabis. Namely, she discussed seeking guidance and having open discussions with the care team, but also remembering that cannabis is not a proven cure for any kinds of cancer.
Drug Gets Breakthrough Therapy Designation for HER2-Mutant Lung Cancer
A novel drug, BAY 2927088 received a breakthrough therapy designation for treating HER2-mutant non-small cell lung cancer. This designation, granted by the FDA, signifies a potential advancement in treatment options for patients with this specific type of lung cancer, which happens in approximately 2% to 4% of advanced NSCLC cases. Now that the drug has a breakthrough therapy designation, its review will be fast tracked.
BAY 2927088, an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has shown promising results in a phase 1 trial, with a focus on safety, efficacy and patient outcomes. The drug works by blocking HER2, which can contribute to lung cancer proliferation.
Hispanic/Latino Survivors May Be Higher Risk for Cardiometabolic Comorbidities
A recent study found that Hispanic/Latino cancer survivors have higher rates of cardiometabolic comorbidities — meaning health conditions that affect the heart and/or metabolic system — such as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease, which can complicate cancer treatment and post-treatment health management.
The study showed that survivors with cardiometabolic conditions experienced lower health-related quality of life and had unmet supportive care needs, particularly in terms of emotional and physical well-being. The research also found that socioeconomic factors, such as income levels, were also linked to the prevalence of cardiometabolic conditions among Hispanic/Latino survivors, highlighting the importance of access to health care and healthy lifestyle behaviors in managing these health challenges. The study emphasized the need for holistic approaches to health that consider environmental influences and support policies promoting heart-healthy behaviors within communities.
Trial Evaluates Reduced Chemo Post-Stem Cell Transplant in Blood Cancers
Patients with blood cancers can talk to their cancer care team about possible enrollment in the OPTIMIZE trial, which is investigating a lower dose of post-transplant cyclophosphamide — also referred to as “PTCy” — to reduce infection risk post-stem cell transplant while preventing graft-versus-host disease in patients who underwent a stem cell transplant from a partially matched unrelated donor.
This phase 2 trial aims to enroll 190 patients across cancer centers across the United States, and is expected to conclude in June 2026. By exploring reduced PTCy dosages, researchers hope to enhance patient survival and quality of life by minimizing toxicities associated with standard dosing.
For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here.
Last week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved four different therapies in the oncology space — one of which, Amtagvi, marks the first cellular therapy for the treatment of solid cancers.
The week’s first approval (an Onivyde regimen for metastatic pancreatic cancer) was covered in last week’s episode, but here’s a list of what has happened since that last recording.
FDA Approves Tepmetko for Metastatic NSCLC Subtype
Patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer that has MET exon 14 skipping alterations may soon have a new treatment option, as the FDA approved Tepmetko in this indication.
Notably, this full approval is coming three years after the agency’s accelerated approval of the agent back in February 2021. Follow-up clinical trial data showed that 57% of previously untreated patients responded to therapy with Tepmetko, with 40% having a duration of response that lasted a year or longer.
FDA Approves Amtagvi for Pretreated, Advanced Melanoma
On Feb. 16, the FDA approved Amtagvi for patients with advanced melanoma who had previously been treated with an immunotherapy or targeted therapy. Notably, Amtagvi is a cell-based therapy and is actually the first cell-based treatment to be approved in the solid tumor space.
According to trial results that led to the approval, 31.5% of patients responded to therapy. Now this is a pretty exciting number, considering that this heavily pretreated population tends to have low response rates. Not to mention, TIL therapies like Amtagvi — while upfront they require about a three-week hospital stay — may set patients up for years without having to undergo more treatment, according to Dr. Rodabe Amaria from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, who I spoke with after the approval.
Tagrisso Plus Chemo Approved by FDA for EGFR-Mutated NSCLC
In the lung cancer space, we saw the approval of Tagrisso plus platinum-based chemotherapy for patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer whose tumors have EGFR exon 19 deletions or exon 21 L858R mutations.
Findings from the FLAURA 2 trial led to this approval, as data showed that progression-free survival was 25.5 months for patients who received Tagrisso plus chemotherapy, compared to 16.7 months for patients who received Tagrisso alone. Overall survival data is still immature at this point — meaning that the researchers just don’t have enough data to calculate averages — so stay tuned for more on that.
For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here.
Last week, we saw some FDA approvals for a new drug regimens, as well as some expert opinion about cancer vaccines. Additionally research touched upon the potential benefit of concurrent ctDNA and tumor testing, and physical activity for pain reduction in cancer survivors.
FDA Approves Onivyde as First-Line Treatment of Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer
On Tuesday, the Food and Drug Administration approved Onivyde plus oxaliplatin, fluorouracil and leucovorin — a regimen referred to as NALIRIFOX — for the frontline treatment of patients with metastatic adenocarcinoma. The approval was based on findings from the NAPOLI 3 trial, which showed that the drug combination improved overall survival (which is the time after treatment patients live before death of any cause) and progression-free survival (time they live before their disease worsens) compared to a combination of gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel.
While this approval provides a new, promising treatment for this patient population, Dr. Anthony Shields of the Karmanos Cancer Center in Detroit mentioned that the Onivyde-containing regimen is not a cure.
“In our patients with advanced disease, this is not a curative therapy at this point,” Shields said in an interview with CURE®. “It clearly improves survival. It's still got its share of toxicities, though. … We need better drugs, despite the improvements. If patients get this regimen is the first line, inevitably if they're doing OK we will give gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel (combination) as the second-line regimen. But we really don't have a third line regimen.”
Cancer Vaccine Could Go ‘Above and Beyond Standard of Care’ For Patients
The oncology community is on the cusp of a sea change regarding cancer vaccines, as one expert told us.
“Current vaccines have a dismal record, and minimal evidence of efficacy,” said Dr. Jeffrey S. Weber, deputy director of the NYU Langone Perlmutter Cancer Center and Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Professor of Oncology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, via email.
Weber was among the researchers on recent KEYNOTE-942 study investigating mRNA vaccine mRNA-4157 (V940) and Keytruda versus standalone Keytruda for the treatment of patients with advanced-stage melanoma.With a median follow-up of 23 and 24 months, the recurrence or death rates were 22% and 40% and the 18-month recurrence-free survival rates were 79% and 62%, respectively.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation to the combination for the post-surgical treatment of patients with high-risk melanoma in 2023 based on the results of KEYNOTE-942.
“This mRNA vaccine would be the first approved cancer vaccine with clear cut evidence of efficacy in a well-done phase 3 trial [which was recently initiated],” Weber said of mRNA-4157.
Pharmaceutical companies Moderna and Merck have initiated V940-001, a phase 3 study evaluating mRNA-4157 and Keytruda as postsurgical treatment for stage 2B to 4 melanoma, announcing in June of 2023 that global patient recruitment had begun following primary analysis of the findings of KEYNOTE-942.
Tumor Testing, ctDNA Finds More Patients Eligible for Personalized Drugs
Circulating tumor DNA and tumor tissue-based testing can both help identify cancer characteristics that may point a patient toward a more targeted treatment regimen. Oftentimes, patients undergo only one of these two tests, but recent research showed that undergoing both of these tests may improve patients’ chance of identifying targetable mutations.
Now, some patient populations — such as those with non-small cell lung cancer — may already be undergoing both tests in accordance with NCCN guidelines. The findings support that other groups in particular, such as those with breast cancer, may benefit from the dual testing modality.
In an interview with CURE, one of the study authors noted that the two tests can be “highly complementary,” and patients should talk to their health care teams about which test to undergo.
Physical Activity May Help Reduce Pain in Cancer Survivors
Increased physical activity may be able to lessen pain in cancer survivors, according to one study.
Specifically, the researchers wrote, “Meeting or exceeding physical activity guidelines was associated with less pain intensity compared to being physically inactive. People who remained active longer term, were previously physically active or became active also reported less pain than those who remained inactive.”
These benefits were also seen in patients who were previously active but then became inactive — highlighting the possibility that the when it comes to pain reduction, the benefits of being active can stretch long-term. But interestingly, the was no association between physical activity and painkiller use.
For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here.
Last week, we saw a few moving parts in the regulatory space, from new NCCN guidelines for pediatric neuroblastoma treatment to FDA Fast Tracks and Priority Reviews. Also last week, we covered research showing that a lower dose of an anti-emetic drug could have similar efficacy — and fewer side effects — than the standard, higher dose.
NCCN Guidelines Give Framework for Childhood Neuroblastoma Treatment
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network recently published guidelines for the treatment of pediatric patients with neuroblastoma. This resource is geared toward mitigating unnecessary side effects and over treatment in patients with low-risk disease, while also developing the best treatment plans for high-risk patients.
CURE® spoke with Dr. Rochelle Bagatell, professor of Pediatrics and Solid Tumor Section Chief at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and Chair of the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) Panel for Neuroblastoma, who emphasized that while these guidelines can influence treatment strategies, conversations between patient families and clinicians and even insurance coverage, each patient’s care should be as personalized as possible.
“There may be specific cases where the nuances of a particular patient's case means that you have to adjust your thinking from what's written on those nice, clear lines,” Bagatell said. “But the general guidance about how to think about the risk of recurrence, what general type of therapy would be appropriate, how much chemotherapy when to do surgery. Those are the kinds of things that patients and families can look at and bring to their doctor and discuss.”
FDA Fast Tracks ARV-471 for Metastatic Breast Cancer
Last week the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted a Fast Track designation to ARV-471, a novel drug being studied for the treatment of patients with ER-positive, HER2-negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. Specifically, this indication of ARV-471 is for patients who previously underwent endocrine therapy.
Fast Track designations are given to drugs that show promise in treating serious conditions and fill an unmet need. The goal is to speed up the review and potential approval of these therapies.
ARV-471 is being studied in the phase 3 VERITAC-2 clinical trial, which is comparing ARV-471 to Faslodex in this patient population. Preclinical studies showed that the drug induced tumor shrinkage and degradation.
FDA Grants Priority Review for Alecensa in Some ALK-Positive NSCLC
Also in FDA news from last week, the agency granted a priority review to Alecensa as a postsurgical treatment for patients with early-stage ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer.
The priority review is based off findings from the phase 3 ALINA trial, which showed that the drug led to a 76% reduction in the risk of disease recurrence or death compared with chemotherapy treatment. Findings from this study also showed that at two years, 93.8% of patients taking Alecensa experienced disease-free survival (which is the time after treatment when patients do not have symptoms of complications from their cancer), compared with 63% in the chemotherapy group. At three years, disease-free survival rates were 88.3% and 53.3%, respectively.
With the priority review, the FDA said that they plan on making an approval decision on Alecensa on or by May 22, 2023, though those dates can always change.
Lower Dose of Nausea, Vomiting Drug Controls Chemo Symptoms
Finally, research showed that a lower dose of a nausea and vomiting drug could be just as effective as the higher, standard dose when it comes to controlling chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
A study published in The Lancet Oncology found that a 2.5-milligram dose of olanzapine is not inferior (meaning it is no less effective) than a 10-milligram dose. Specifically, the researchers looked at the use of rescue medications, vomiting episodes and mild nausea over the course of 120 hours.
Notably, this lower dose can also lead to a decrease in side effects related to the drug, such as feeling of lethargy and drowsiness.
For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here.
Last week, we saw some research regarding how a popular tool used to plan breast cancer treatment may be misguiding therapy for Black women, as well as an update on when we can expect to see a new cancer vaccine be readily available for patients.
And on the FDA front, we’ll discuss a priority review for Enhertu for patients with HER2-positive solid cancers, as well as a fast track designation for a new drug duo in the lung cancer space.
Cancer Vaccine Likely ‘Several Years’ Away From Wide Availability
ELI-002 is a vaccine being investigated for the treatment of patients with KRAS-mutant pancreatic or colorectal cancers. While cancer vaccines have been in the headlines a lot in recent months, this one, at least, is still a ways away from being readily available for patients across the United States.
Findings from a phase 1 trial showed that the vaccine could be beneficial for this patient population, and now, a phase 2 trial recently started that will evaluate the efficacy of an injection version of ELI-002, compared to observation. The first patient was dosed in the trial in January 2024, so it could still be several more years until the drug is available, Dr. Christopher Haqq, chief medical officer and vice president, head of research and development at Elicio Therapeutics, said in an interview with CURE®.
“We'll be talking to the regulators like the US Food and Drug Administration and others around the world to align on the data that we'll need to provide for a marketing application. And so, we haven't had that input yet. So I can't give an exact answer for you (on when the vaccine will be commercially available). But we'll work as fast as possible. It's even possible that the type of evidence that we gather in this randomized study could serve that purpose. But we won't know until we have further discussion,” he said.
Test May Be ‘Misguiding’ Breast Cancer Treatment for Black Women
A recent study showed that the 21-gene breast recurrence score may lead clinicians away from prescribing chemotherapy to Black women who may benefit from the treatment.
The 21-gene breast recurrence score is the standard test to help guide treatment decisions for patients with estrogen receptor-positive (also known as ER-positive) disease. Most patients with ER-positive cancer undergo hormone therapy, but the outcomes for this test may help decide if a patient would benefit from additional chemotherapy, too. Now, findings from a recent study discovered that Black women — and younger Black women, in particular — may be missing out on chemotherapy that they could potentially benefit from.
Now, this research team is conducting further research looking at potential molecular differences in breast cancer in Black women, as well as how other social disparities could be playing into an increased risk of breast cancer death in these women.
FDA Grants Priority Review to Enhertu for HER2-Positive Solid Cancers
The Food and Drug Administration granted a priority review for a supplemental biologics license to Enhertu for the treatment of patients with previously treated metastatic HER2-positive solid tumors that cannot be removed via surgery. Basically what that means is that the drug showed promise in a clinical trial, and now the FDA will work with the pharmaceutical company developing the drug to expedite the review and potential approval of the agent. The agency plans on making its decision on whether or not Enertu will be approved some time in the second quarter of this year.
Enertu is an antibody drug conjugate, which is a type of drug that works by finding and binding to certain proteins found on cancer cells — in this case, the HER2 protein. The drug was previously approved for patients with lung cancer and metastatic breast cancer, and now, the phase 2 DESTINY-PanTumo02 trial will help determine if it will be approved for patients with endometrial, cervical, ovarian, bladder, biliary tract, pancreatic or other cancers that are HER2 positive.
FDA Grants Fast Track Designation to Avutometinib-Lumakras Combo
Also in the regulatory space, the FDA granted a fast track designation to a two drug combination consisting of Lumakras and the novel agent, avutometinib for patients with KRAS G12C-mutant metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. The intended patient population for the regimen is those who have been treated with at least one systemic therapy and have not received a KRAS G12C inhibitor.
The regimen is being investigated in the ongoing phase 1/2 RAMP 203 trial, which will analyze the effectiveness of the drug, as well as the overall response rate — which is the percentage of patients whose cancer decreases from the drug — and safety. Findings from the second phase of the trial, which is specifically looking at patients who have not received or did not respond to a KRAS G12-inhibitor are expected to be published some time in the first half of 2024.
For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here.
It’s been a busy few weeks here at CURE® and in the oncology space as a whole, as the last two weekends had back-to-back meetings: the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium, and then their Genitourinary Cancers Symposium.
Here are some highlights from the conference, but as always, you can find all of our coverage at curetoday.com.
Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium
Imfinzi, Avastin, TACE May ‘Set a New Standard of Care’ in Liver Cancer
For patients with liver cancer whose disease is not eligible to be removed via surgery, adding Imfinzi and Avastin to transarterial chemoembolization — also known as TACE — tended to lengthen the time patients lived before their disease got worse, according to findings from the EMRALD-1 trial. These improvements in progression-free survival over TACE alone could lead to a new standard of care for this patient population, according to the lead study author, Dr. Riccardo Lencioni.
More specifically, patients who received Imfinzi and Avastin plus TACE lived for a median of 15 months before death or disease worsening, compared to 8.2 months for patients who received TACE alone. This correlates to a 23% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death, and benefits were seen across different patient subgroups.
Notably, the researchers on EMRALD-1 are still monitoring how the addition of the two drugs impacts overall survival. Once those data become more clear, it is possible that the drug manufacturers could submit this regimen to the FDA for approval, thereby officially shaking up the standard of care of TACE, which has remained the main treatment in this setting for about two decades.
Cancer in Bloodstream May Predict CRC Outcomes
Circulating tumor DNA — also known as ctDNA — was another hot topic at the Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium. So ctDNA measures little fragments of cancer that are found in the bloodstream after cancer treatment.
Now, findings from the BESPOKE trial highlight the fact that ctDNA may offer insight into the recurrence risk in patients with stage 2/3 colorectal cancer who underwent surgery and then chemotherapy. The researchers used ctDNA to help determine minimal residual disease, or MRD, status. Essentially, patients with disease still detected in the blood stream were MRD positive, while those without detectable cancer were MRD negative. Findings showed that those with MRD negativity tended to live longer without experiencing relapse or death compared to patients with MRD positivity.
Genitourinary Cancers Symposium
Survival Benefits with Keytruda and Padcev in Advanced Urothelial Cancer
Back in December, the Food and Drug Administration approved Padcev plus Keytruda for patients with previously treated locally advanced or metastatic bladder cancer. The approval was based on primary findings from the EV-302 trial. Now, updated findings from that trial are showing that the drug duo continues to outperform chemotherapy when it comes to progression-free survival — that’s the time patients live before their disease gets worse — as well as overall survival, which is the time patients live before death of any cause.
Notably, these survival benefits were seen across patient subgroups, such as those with visceral metastases and lymph node-only disease. According to the lead study author, Dr. Michiel S. Van Der Heijden, this could result in a new standard of care in patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma.
Many Patients Miss Out on Testing to Guide Prostate Cancer Treatment
On the prostate cancer front, a study found that many people with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer are not undergoing germline or somatic testing. Now this is really important because back in 2020, two PARP inhibitors were approved in this setting. These are targeted drugs approved for patients whose cancers have certain characteristics, which can be determined by these types of tests.
Rates of germline and somatic testing have increased since the FDA approvals, but according to the study — which looked at real-world evidence of patients being treated in community cancer and urology centers — about 40% of patients did not undergo standard-of-care testing.
Study author, Dr. Neal Shore, said that this indicates the need for improved education on the importance of germline and somatic testing.
For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here.
Last week, we saw some big headlines in the oncology space, from Dexter Scott King’s death from prostate cancer and MLB Hall-of-Famer Ryne Sandberg announcing that he was diagnosed with the disease.
The FDA also requested a label update for CAR-T cell therapies that would warn patients and providers about secondary malignancies that have been reported from the treatment. Also, we took a look at laughter therapy, and how it could help patients and caregivers.
We’ve also been busy covering two conferences — ASCO’s Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium, as well as their Genitourinary Cancers Symposium, so tune in later this week for a special podcast episode highlighting some major research from those events.
Dexter Scott King Dies of Prostate Cancer, Ryne Sandberg Diagnosed With the Disease
Last Monday, Jan. 22, we saw two big stories in the prostate cancer space. First, Dexter Scott King, the son of the Civil Rights activist, Martin Luther King, Jr., died of prostate cancer. He was 62 years old.
At the time of his death, King was the Chairman of the King Center, which is an organization focused on educating the world about the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dexter Scott King was also the president of the King estate.
In a statement announcing King’s death, his wife, Leah Weber said, “He transitioned peacefully in his sleep at home with me in Malibu. He gave it everything and battled this terrible disease until the end.”
And on the same day Dexter Scott King died, Major League Baseball Hall-of-Famer, Ryne Sandberg, announced that he was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer.
The 64-year-old — who was a 10-time All Star during his tenure for the Chicago Cubs, which ran from 1982 to 1997 — announced his diagnosis on Instagram. He said that received the diagnosis a week earlier and has started treatment. He asked that fans keep him in their thoughts and prayers.
FDA Requests Warnings on CAR-T Cell Therapies, Citing Secondary Cancers
The investigation into CAR-T cell therapies continues. Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requested that approved BCMA- or CD19-targeted CAR-T cell therapies update their labeling to include a warning of reports of T-cell malignancies, including CAR-positive lymphomas, which have been reported in patients who use this type of therapy.
Back in November, the FDA announced that it was investigating reports of secondary diseases in patients who underwent CAR-T cell therapy. The available data shows that these diseases are extremely rare, and researchers are still looking into what, exactly, is causing them.
Now, the FDA wrote letters to the manufacturers of five CAR-T cell therapies, requesting that they include a Boxed Warning — which is the highest safety-related warning for drugs — outlining the potential risks of CAR-T cell products. The companies must respond to the FDA within 30 days of receiving the letters, which were sent out on Jan. 19.
Laughter Therapy May Improve Mood, Decrease Pain in Patients With Cancer
And on a much lighter note, we covered recent research showing that laughter therapy can decrease mood disturbances in patients receiving palliative care for late-stage cancer, as well as their loved ones. The findings, which were published in the journal, Cancer Nursing, also found that the laughter therapy reduced pain perception in patients and decreased levels of burnout in caregivers.
Laughter therapy refers to alternative and complementary therapy using humor to help relieve stress and pain, in addition to potentially improving a patient’s sense of well-being, according to the National Cancer Institute. In this instance, it consisted of five 20- to 30-minute sessions held over five consecutive days. The participants introduced themselves using funny tools to relieve tension, and moved their bodies in laughing rhythms.
“This indicates that our palliative care patients and family caregivers would have a positive view of the use of laughter or humor in their palliative circumstances,” the researchers wrote.
For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here.
Often, receiving a cancer diagnosis can require a crash course in oncology that few patients ever expected to take.
For colorectal cancer specialist Dr. Dustin Deming, the ACI/Schwenn Family associate professor in the division of hematology, medical oncology and palliative care at UW School of Medicine and Public Health, a diagnosis of rectal cancer two weeks after receiving his first faculty appointment required an education of a different sort.
Deming, a gastrointestinal oncologist and laboratory researcher for UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center, told CURE®, needed to learn how to be a patient.
“For me, the crash course was in being able to allow my medical friends to be my doctors,” said Deming. “So, that was the part that I really had to wrap my head around. I knew what we needed to do. I knew I knew what I was about to go through. But I hadn't sat in the patient chair before. And so, the crash course that I had to enter was the crash course in what it's like to be a patient.”
Deming was 31 at the time of his diagnosis in 2012, married and with a 12-week-old daughter who he’d brought to his colonoscopy appointment. Treatment with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation followed, with Deming working as he was able to do so.
While colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer diagnosis in the United States, only 2% of new cases occur in patients ages 20 to 34, with the majority of cases (25.5%) occurring in patients ages 65 to 74, according to the National Cancer Institute.
“It’s obviously extremely ironic, and (was) potentially life-shattering at the time,” Deming said. “You know, when I was diagnosed, I had a 12-week-old daughter who came to the colonoscopy with me. Getting that kind of news at 31, I don't think anybody's prepared for. Having been a colon cancer doctor and researcher was helpful in that it provided me in insight into what we needed to do. But it was also terrifying, in that I knew all the dirty secrets.”
After being cancer-free for eight and a half years, Deming experienced a recurrence in 2020. He received further chemotherapy, radiation and surgery, followed by a second recurrence about a year later that was treated with surgery and chemotherapy. Approximately 10 months after his latest surgery, he has no evidence of cancer.
Dustin spoke with CURE’s “Cancer Horizons” podcast about his cancer journey, the connections it’s created with his patients and his continuing dedication to treating others.
“Having been a patient myself, I feel like — now, I don't know how it feels for each individual patient, but I know how it feels for me — I know how it feels to hear the ‘cancer’ word, I know how it feels to have to go through chemo, radiation and multiple surgeries,” Deming said. “So, every time I meet a patient for the first time, I sit down and tell the patients kind of where I've been so that they know where I'm coming from and also (to) make sure that they know that I now get it and that I'm actually truly honored to be part of the team helping take care of them.
“I know what it means to trust oncologists with your care, and I'm so glad that I'm here to be able to help more patients.”
For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here.
It wasn’t even two weeks into the new year when the Food and Drug Administration made their first FDA approval. In this case, it was a Keytruda regimen for certain patients with gynecologic cancers. We at CURE® spoke with an the primary investigator on the study leading to the approval about what patients need to know about the latest new indication.
Also last week, we highlighted the Lymphedema Treatment Act and spoke to an expert about the new law.
Another story in the regulatory space: the FDA granted a Fast Track designation to speed up the review of a novel drug used to treat patients with relapsed or refractory CLL or SLL.
Finally, research from the American Cancer Society showed that Medicaid expansion states tended to have improved post-surgical outcomes in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
Keytruda Plus CRT Offers ‘Better Chance of Cure’ in Advanced Cervical Cancer
The Food and Drug Administration has granted approval for Keytruda (pembrolizumab) in combination with chemoradiotherapy for the treatment of stages 3 to 4A cervical cancer, marking the first approval of an anti-PD-1 therapy with chemotherapy for this patient population and the third FDA approval for treating cervical cancer with Keytruda.
This week, I spoke with Dr. Linda R. Duska, a gynecologic oncologist and principal investigator on the study leading to the approval, who discussed the KEYNOTE-A18 trial, which enrolled 1,060 patients and demonstrated a 30% decrease in progression for those receiving the combination of Keytruda and chemotherapy. The overall survival data is not yet mature, but the treatment showed a 41% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death. While Dr. Duska emphasized that cervical cancer is preventable thanks to a safe and effective vaccine, she said that for patients with the disease, this new regimen is particularly exciting.
January is also Cervical Cancer Awareness month, so definitely stay tuned to curetoday.com for more of our coverage on the disease.
Medicare Must Now Cover Lymphedema Treatment Garments
The Lymphedema Treatment Act, signed into federal law on Dec. 23, 2022, is now in effect as of Jan. 1, 2024, allowing Medicare coverage for doctor-prescribed compression supplies for patients experiencing. The bill encompasses standard and custom-fitted gradient compression garments and other approved items prescribed by healthcare professionals to treat lymphedema. Now basically what that means is that patients insured by Medicare Part B can now have their lymphedema garments covered by insurance.
This coverage is expected to ease financial burdens on patients, especially as these garments can be expensive.
I spoke with Joanna Fawzy Doran, CEO of Triage Cancer, who emphasized the importance of patient and provider awareness about coverage rights, appealing denials and navigating the process. Although the law does not mandate private insurers to cover compression sleeves for lymphedema patients, Doran noted that Medicare's coverage sets a precedent for broader access in the future.
FDA Grants NX-5948 Fast Track Designation for R/R CLL, SLL
The FDA has granted Fast Track designation to NX-5948, a novel drug, for adults with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma who have previously undergone two lines of therapy, including a BTK inhibitor and a BCL2 inhibitor.
Fast Track designation aims to expedite the development and review of drugs addressing serious conditions with unmet medical needs.
NX-5948 is currently in a Phase 1a/1b clinical trial, with initial findings presented at the 2023 American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting indicating safety, tolerance, and clinical activity. The drug showed no dose-limiting toxicities or treatment-related side effects leading to discontinuation, and the most common side effects were purpura/contusion, nausea, and thrombocytopenia.
Medicaid Expansion May Decrease Early Mortality in Some With NSCLC
States with Medicaid expansion tended to have a significant decrease in early, postoperative mortality from non-small cell lung cancer, according to recent research.
The research focused on nearly 15,000 patients undergoing surgery for NSCLC, with 62.1% residing in states supporting Medicaid expansion. The study found notable reductions in 30-day and 90-day postoperative mortality in patients with stages 1, 2, or 3 NSCLC in expansion states. Patients in non-expansion states were found to be younger, non-Hispanic Black, uninsured, and with comorbidities.
The study also evaluated changes in early mortality before and after the Affordable Care Act (ACA) implementation, showing a decrease in the 30-day mortality rate in expansion states from 0.97% to 0.26% after the ACA. Now, advocates, including the American Cancer Society, continue to emphasize the importance of expanding Medicaid eligibility to improve health outcomes.
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This week in oncology news, we saw a few decisions from the Food and Drug Administration, ranging from the agency agreeing to review a drug and potentially grant it a full approval to their citing manufacturing concerns for a gastric cancer drug.
Additionally, a small study showed 100% disease control rate in a subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and a clinical evaluation of a new prostate cancer drug will continue to enroll patients.
FDA Accepts sBLA For Tivdak in Recurrent or Metastatic Cervical Cancer
The Food and Drug Administration has accepted a supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) to Tivdak for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer that has progressed after first-line therapy. Tivdak, the first antibody-drug conjugate for this patient population, received accelerated approval in 2021. Now, the sBLA is for the continued approval, which is contingent upon clinical benefit verification in confirmatory trials.
Results from the phase 3 innovaTV 301 trial presented at the 2023 ESMO Congress demonstrated that Tivdak reduced the risk of death by 30% compared to chemotherapy as a second- or third-line treatment for this patient population. The trial also showed improvements in overall survival, progression-free survival, and confirmed objective response rate. Treatment-related side effects were observed in a majority of patients, with anemia and nausea being the most common.
The FDA plans on making a decision on the approval by May 9, 2024.
FDA Cites Manufacturing Concerns in Missed Gastric Cancer Drug Deadline
Also in FDA news from the week, the agency will not meet the Jan. 12, 2024, deadline for approving zolbetuximab, a drug designed for the treatment of unresectable or metastatic HER2-negative, CLDN 18.2-positive gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.
The FDA attributed the delay to "unresolved deficiencies following its pre-license inspection of a third-party manufacturing facility" and issued a complete response letter to Astellas, clarifying that no clinical concerns, including safety and efficacy, were identified.
Zolbetuximab, a monoclonal antibody targeting the CLDN 18.2 protein overexpressed in certain gastric cancers, has shown promise in preclinical studies by inducing cell death in cancer cells. The drug had received a priority review from the FDA based on positive outcomes in the phase 3 SPOTLIGHT clinical trial and the GLOW clinical trial. Astellas, the manufacturer of the drug, is now collaborating with the FDA and the third-party manufacturer to address the identified issues and establish a timeline for resolving them.
Enrollment Continues in Study Evaluating ONCT-534 For Advanced Prostate Cancer
Patients are still being enrolled in an assessment of the novel drug, ONCT-534, for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer that has relapsed or is refractory to approved androgen receptor pathway inhibitors (ARPIs).
The study's first two cohorts received daily oral doses of 40 mg and 80 mg of ONCT-534, while the third and fourth patients, part of the third cohort, will be administered a 160 mg daily oral dose.
The ongoing phase 1/2 ONCT-534-101 study aims to determine the drug's safety, tolerability and preliminary antitumor activity, with a total of 27 patients in the first phase and two cohorts of 16 patients each in the second phase.
The study is anticipated to conclude in January 2028.
Novel Drug Shows 100% Disease Control Rate in WM
And finally, a novel drug, iopofosine I 131, showed a 100% disease control rate in patients with Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia, according to topline findings from the CLOVER WaM study.
The CLOVER WaM trial investigated iopofosine I 131 in 50 WM patients who had undergone at least two prior lines of therapy, including a BTK inhibitor. In an efficacy evaluable population of 41 patients who received a total dose of 60 mCi 60 or more days ago, the trial met its primary endpoint with a major response rate of 61%. The overall response rate in evaluable patients was 75.6%, with 100% experiencing disease control and 76% not experiencing disease progression at an average follow-up of eight months. Notably, 8% of patients achieved a stringent complete remission.
Now we should note, however, that this is a small study sample size of only 50 patients, so we would expect to see future studies evaluating this drug in a larger patient population.
For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here.
Kate Rice is proof of the power of persistence and positivity while navigating a cancer journey.
Rice, an award-winning journalist, received a diagnosis of stage 4 anaplastic thyroid cancer in October 2021 — and quickly applied the same dogged dedication that had served her reporting in support of her own survival.
“When I was a reporter, none of my sources or desired sources could escape me. Sooner or later, they were going to have to talk to me, I just have that kind of determination,” Rice said. “And it wasn't so much that I wanted to find out about the cancer I got diagnosed with; I wanted to find out who could cure it.”
Years before receiving her thyroid cancer diagnosis, Rice had learned there were what doctors described as “indeterminant” nodules on her thyroid and was told to monitor them. She noticed small lumps on her neck in June 2021 and was told she would have to wait six months or so to be examined.
Rice, who had previously had a benign tumor removed from her neck and a case of melanoma, searched for doctors who could see her sooner — and, upon finally receiving her diagnosis, was told “I’ll pray for you” by a surgeon.
Anaplastic thyroid cancer, according to the American Thyroid Association, occurs in less than 2% of patients with thyroid cancers, but it is one of the fastest-growing and most aggressive of all cancers overall. The disease’s average survival rate is six months, and just approximately one-fifth of patients live longer than a year after receiving a diagnosis.
Immediately after receiving her diagnosis, Rice began sourcing for potential solutions, starting with a group text to her inner circle of loved ones.
“My cousin, who had been one of the first people I'd sent (a message to when I) cast that wide net out to try to get information, had promptly gone online and found that (The University of Texas) MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston had a clinic that specialized in this very rare (cancer) … and actually cured people with it. So, I got my diagnosis, I think, at two o'clock Friday afternoon, I was walking home up Columbus Avenue, I guess, and on the phone with MD Anderson, to get in there because I can jump on the phone with both feet.”
Within days of receiving her diagnosis, Rice left New York City for Houston, Texas, seeking treatment from the Facilitating Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer Specialized Treatment Team at MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Such determined self-advocacy, Rice said, is “absolutely essential.”
“You have to stand up for yourself, you have to recognize that your doctors are specialists in whatever it is they're specialists in, but you're the specialist in your body,” she said. “And I knew something was going on. I mean, something was happening with my thyroid. Thyroid cancers, in general, are not the scariest cancers out there. They’re serious cancers, and the treatment for a whole bunch of different thyroid cancers is not fun. But I knew this was something that was potentially a very big deal.
“And so when the first doctors I saw in New York were very relaxed and I couldn't get in to see a doctor I've been seeing for years because I had what are called indeterminate nodules on my thyroid — (which are) not malignant, but (they’re) not benign, either — they were like, ‘Yeah, well, we can't get you in for six months, but that's OK,’ I'm like, ‘No, not OK.’ Even before I got the diagnosis, I was a pushy patient and we all have to do that. And the thing is, you're like, ‘Oh, I don't want to be much trouble. These guys are the pros, they know.’ But really, you've got to listen to your body and stand up for yourself.”
Following treatment at MD Anderson Cancer Center, Rice said she’s “fine.” Now a radio disc jockey and ski instructor in Park City, Utah, she returns to Houston every six weeks for immunotherapy treatments at MD Anderson. She also documented her cancer journey in the 2023 book “Cured: A Tale of Badassery.”
She has advice for fellow patients facing the long haul of a stage 4 cancer diagnosis.
“Stay positive. Realize we all have to fight this cancer trauma that understandably, many people in this country, in this in the world, carry because we've seen terrible things happen to people we love, when my dad died of prostate cancer,” Rice said. “But, the thing to remember is so many cancers now are either curable or treatable and manageable. The whole thing is getting to the right place in time, which is a challenge with our healthcare system. But you really have to remember there is no such thing as false hope there is only hope.”
For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here.
The year 2024 is now underway. After a busy 2023, we’re now looking back at some of the oncology headlines from the new year.
Notably, we have a clinical trial hold for a lung cancer drug, a trial that showed that a CAR-T cell therapy is cost-effective — though far from cheap — for lymphoma treatment, and a novel drug that’s showing promise for the treatment of myelofibrosis.
FDA Places Hold on Trial Evaluating TIL Therapy in NSCLC
The Food and Drug Administration placed a clinical hold on the ongoing IOV-LUN-202 trial, evaluating LN-145 TIL for patients with non-small cell lung cancer. With the clinical hold, new patients will not be able to enroll on the trial, and those who were previously treated will continue to be monitored.
The FDA placed the hold on the trial after the death of a patient. According to the FDA, the agency has the power to request that a trial be stopped, and then the sponsor — that’s the organization or company running the study — can reply via a response letter addressing the concerns. The FDA then has 30 days to respond, and potentially allow for the trial to resume.
Breyanzi Cost Effective As Second-Line R/R DLBCL Treatment
Research published in the journal, Blood Advances, found that the CAR-T cell therapy, Breyanzi, was found to be a promising and cost-effective treatment option for patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma — also known as DLBCL.
The study found that the incremental cost-effective ratio of the drug was just over $99,000 per quality-adjusted life-year from a health care perspective, and just over $68,000 from a societal perspective. Both these numbers are lower than the assumed social willingness to pay up to $100,000 per quality-adjusted life-year gained, as established by the American Society of Hematology.
While Breyanzi was deemed to be cost effective, CAR-T cell therapies are still far from inexpensive. In fact, the drug cost rose by 9% since its initial approval for DLBCL in 2022. In a CURE® Speaking Out® video series, Lee Greenberger, the chief scientific officer of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, expressed concern about the price of these drugs.
“Some of that the government is going to have to pay, some insurance is going to have to pay, but some of it the patients are going to have to pay as well. And the price tags are going to be significant. How are we going to manage that?
Phase 2 Trial Shows Fibrosis Reduction in Some With Myelofibrosis
Also in the blood cancer space, findings from the phase 2a trial found that a novel drug, GB2064, reduced fibrosis in the bone marrow, thereby slowing cancer progression in patients with myelofibrosis who were previously treated with Jakafi.
Myelofibrosis is a disease that affects the body’s production of blood cells in the bone marrow. The disease causes scar tissue to grow there — a process called fibrosis. By decreasing the amount of fibrosis that occurs, GB2064 has the potential to improve outcomes. For this patient population.
However, we should note that this trial was completed in only a small number of patients — 10, to be exact. Six patients had a decrease of fibrosis after receiving GB2064 for six months.
For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here.
The year 2023 has come and gone, and we figured that now is the perfect time to look back on some of the top cancer-related stories from the year.
Vitamin D May Impact Colorectal Cancer Outcomes
In June, we spoke to an expert about research that analyzed 14 studies on vitamin D and colorectal cancer outcomes. Findings showed that people who had a vitamin D deficiency tended to have poorer mortality outcomes than those who supplemented with vitamin D.
Laura Bolte, of the department of gastroenterology and hepatology at the University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen, explained that the use of corticosteroids and being underweight or malnourished — which are all things that can happen during cancer treatment — can increase the risk of vitamin D deficiency, so it is essential that patients speak with their health care team to determine if a vitamin D supplement will be appropriate and beneficial to them.
Jimmy Buffett Dies of Cancer at 76
Every now and then, major celebrity news makes cancer headlines. On Sept. 1, “Margaritaville” singer, Jimmy Buffett died of cancer at the age of 76.
Buffett had a rare and aggressive type of skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma, which is much more common to spread to other parts of the body, and can be very difficult to treat if it spreads, according to the American Cancer Society.
Shortly after Buffett’s death, we spoke to Dr. Manisha Thakuria, who is the director or Merkel cell carcinoma at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. She said, “It's always hard to see any silver linings in losses. I am glad to see Merkel cell having a little bit of a spotlight on it, and I hope that (the media interest) will increase research funding for Merkel cell carcinoma and help more patients,” said Thakuria.
Chemo Drug Shortage Requires a ‘Holistic Solution’
Perhaps one of the biggest headlines in the cancer space from 2023 was the chemotherapy shortage. The shortage of cisplatin and carboplatin required a “holistic solution,” according to Dr. Anjan J. Patel.
In a June article, I spoke with Dr. Patel and other oncology experts about the shortage, what it meant for patients taking these drugs and what was needed from a systemic level to ensure that these types of shortages never happened again.
Patients Using Cannabis Experienced Worse Symptoms, Perceive Less Harm
Patients with cancer who use cannabis reported more severe symptoms and perceived less potential harm from cannabis than patients with cancer who did not use the drug within the last 30 days, according to study findings published this summer.
Findings showed that study participants who used cannabis experienced significantly poorer physical and social functioning as well as higher pain intensity, pain interference, fatigue and sleep disturbances.
“People are using it, we should study it, and we need to know more to be able to guide physicians and cancer patients and survivors as well,” Gregory Giordano of the department of psychology and neuroscience at the University of Colorado Boulder told CURE®
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The FDA is certainly staying busy as 2023 comes to a close, approving three treatments for patients with cancer last week alone.
Additionally, exciting study findings were released regarding a cancer vaccine for the treatment of melanoma.
FDA Approves Iwilfin for High-Risk Neuroblastoma in Adults and Children
The FDA approved has Iwilfin (eflornithine) for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with high-risk neuroblastoma who have shown at least a partial response to a previous multiagent modality therapy, which includes anti-GD2 immunotherapy.
Notably, the FDA reported that this drug is the first approval of a therapy used to reduce the risk of relapse in children with high-risk neuroblastoma. Neuroblastoma, as the National Cancer Institute explained on its website, is a cancer of immature nerve cells that most typically occurs in children, and often begins in the adrenal glands.
The FDA said the major efficacy outcome measure behind the approval was event-free survival (EFS; time after treatment when cancer does not come back or worsen; disease progression), while other notable findings included overall survival (OS; length of time from diagnosis or start of treatment when a patient is still alive).
FDA Approves Welireg for Advanced Kidney Cancer Subtype
The FDA approved Welireg ((beluztifan) for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) who have been previously treated with a programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) or programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitor, and a vascular endothelial growth factor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (VEGF-TKI).
The approval was based on findings from the LITESPARK-005 trial. Trial findings presented earlier this year at the European Society of Medical Oncology Annual Congress (ESMO) showed that at a median follow-up of 18.4 months, patients treated with Welireg experienced objective response rates (patients whose disease responded partially or completely to treatment) of 21.9%, compared with 3.5% among patients treated with Afinitor (everolimus), and 12-month progression-free survival (PFS; the time a patient lives without their disease spreading or
worsening) rates were 33.7% on Welireg versus 17.6% with Afinitor, and 18-month PFS rates were 22.5% and 9%, respectively.
FDA Approves Padcev-Keytruda Combo in Advanced Bladder Cancer
The FDA has additionally approved Padcev (enfortumab vedotin-ejfv) plus Ketruda (pembrolizumab) for patients with locally advanced or metastatic bladder cancer. Alongside this, the FDA previously granted an accelerated approval for this patient population who are unable to be treated with cisplatin-containing chemotherapy.
In the recent EV-302/KN-A39 trial, both OS and PFS showed significant improvements among the Padcev plus Keytruda group of patients, as the median overall survival for these patients was 31.5 months, while a cohort treated with chemotherapy experienced a median OS of 16.1 months.
Regarding progression-free survival, the median was 12.5 months for the Padcev-Keytruda combination group and 6.3 months in the chemotherapy group.
Cancer Vaccine Plus Keytruda Reduces Risk of Recurrence or Death in Melanoma
Patients with advanced-stage melanoma continue to experience reduced risk of recurrence or death following treatment with a combination of mRNA vaccine mRNA-4157 (V940), an investigational individualized neoantigen therapy (INT), and Keytruda, according to recent study findings.
The mRNA-4157 (V940) and Keytruda combination reduced the risk of recurrence or death by 49% and the risk of distant metastasis or death by 52% when compared with treatment with Keytruda alone in patients with stage 3 or 4 melanoma with high risk of recurrence following complete resection, as determined by the phase 2b KEYNOTE-942/mRNA-4157-P201 study, according to a news release from drug manufacturers Moderna and Merck.
The latest findings, from a median planned follow-up of approximately three years, build on previously announced primarily analysis data from a median planned follow-up of approximately two years which showed that the combination reduced the risk of recurrence or death by 44% and the risk of distance metastasis or death by 65% when compared with Keytruda alone.
Based on the trial’s findings, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation to the combination for the post-surgical treatment of patients with high-risk melanoma earlier this year.
Moderna and Merck have also announced the phase 3 INTerpath-001 (V940-001) clinical trial to evaluate the combination as an adjuvant treatment for patients with resected, high-risk stage 3B to 4 melanoma, which is currently enrolling participants, as well as a phase 3 trial for the treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with the combination regimen.
For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here.
This past weekend, the CURE® staff was busy covering the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting.
ASH is the largest blood cancer conference in the country, and thousands of abstracts were presented. Now, we’re bringing you some of the highlights from the conference.
And, to view all of our conference coverage, be sure to check out curetoday.com/conference
Navitoclax Plus Jakafi Improves Spleen Volume Reductions in Myelofibrosis
Spleen enlargement is a common and often problematic symptom of myelifbrosis. However, recent findings from the phase 3 TRANSFORM-1 trial found that combining the novel drug, navitoclax with Jakafi was successful in reducing spleen volume in this patient population.
The main outcome that the researchers were looking at in this study was the percentage of patients who had a spleen volume reduction of 35% or more at certain time points. Findings showed that by week 24, 64.2% of patients who had the navitoclax regimen experienced this level of spleen reduction, compared to only 31.5% of patients who received placebo plus Jakafi — that’s a significant overall difference of 31%.
Navitoclax is not currently approved in any indication, but AbbVie, the pharmaceutical company behind the agent, plans to submit the drug for FDA approval in 2023, pending study results.
Brukinsa Lengthens Time to Progression in Relapsed/Refractory CLL, SLL
There are currently three BTK inhibitors for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL and SLL, respectively), though a lack of research exists that compares these drugs head-to-head.
Now, the phase 3 ALPINE trial was the first study to directly compare two BTK inhibitors, Brukinsa and Imbruvica, in patients with relapsed or refractory CLL or SLL. Findings showed that after about 39 months of follow-up, patients given Brukinsa tended to live longer before death or disease progression — a statistic experts refer to as “progression-free survival.” In the general patient population, Brukinsa reduced the risk of disease progression by 32%, and for patients with 17p deletion and/or TP53 mutations — subtypes that typically indicate aggressive disease — there was a 48% reduction in the risk of disease progression.
Abecma May Improve Quality of Life in Previously Treated Myeloma
The phase 3 KarMMA-3 trial showed that Abecma significantly improved symptoms, functioning and health-related quality of life in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who previously underwent two to four prior treatments.
Abecma is a CAR-T cell therapy, which is a newer type of treatment for blood cancers. It involves taking patients’ blood out, and re-engineering their T cells to find and fight cancer. After they’re multiplied, those new T cells are infused back into the patient.
Findings from the KarMMA-3 trial showed that Abecma led to improvements in fatigue and pain compared with other standard regimens in this patient population.
The last week was a busy one for us here at CURE® and across the oncology space in general. There were two major meetings we covered: the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium and the American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting.
The San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium — also known as SABCS — features breast cancer research conducted around the globe. We had editors on the ground in San Antonio, as well as back in our office covering the meeting. Here are some highlights from SABCS.
And, to view all of our conference coverage, be sure to check out curetoday.com/conference
Kadcyla Is the ‘First Therapy to Show Improved Survival’ in a Breast Cancer Subset
For in patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer that still had remaining invasive disease after undergoing neoadjuvant therapy Kadcyla outperformed Herceptin when it came to overall survival, which is the time until death of any cause, and invasive disease-free survival, which is the time patients live without experience metastases or invasive disease.
The findings, which come out of the KATHERINE trial, mark the “first therapy to show an improved survival after post-surgical therapy in patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer and residual invasive disease after neoadjuvant therapy,” according to study author, Dr. Sibylle Loibl, who presented the findings at SABCS.
More specifically, at the 8.4-year follow-up mark, 70.1% of patients in the Kadcyla group and 62% in the Herceptin group were still alive. Also at that point, 32.2% given Kadcyla did not develop invasive disease, compared with 19.7% of patients in the Herceptin group.
Keytruda, Chemo Show Early-Stage Breast Cancer Event-Free Survival Benefits
Findings from phase 3 KEYNOTE-522 trial showed that presurgical Keytruda plus chemotherapy, followed by postsurgical Keytruda led to improved event-free survival — that’s time a patient lives without complications from their disease — in patients with high-risk, early-stage triple-negative breast cancer.
At a median follow-up of 63.1 months, the five-year event-free survival rate was 81.3% with neoadjuvant Keytruda/chemotherapy followed by adjuvant Keytruda compared with 72.3% in those who received placebo/chemotherapy and then placebo. These findings, according to Dr. Peter Schmid, further support the use of this Keytruda regimen as the standard of care for this patient population.
Tecentriq Plus Perjeta, Herceptin, Chemo Does Not Improve pCR in HER2+ Breast Cancer
Another phase 3 trial — the APTneo Michelangelo — showed that adding Tecentriq and Herceptin to Perjeta and chemotherapy actually did not lead to a statistically significant improvement in pathologic complete response (that’s the disappearance of cancer) when given in the presurgical setting for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer.
The study found that while Tecentriq and Herceptin-containing regimens did lead to a higher number of pathologic complete responses, these difference between the two treatment groups was not statistically significant, meaning that the researchers could not definitively say that one therapy was the result of better outcomes.
No Racial Difference in Recurrence-Free Survival in HR+, HER2- Breast Cancer
While research has shown that Black and White patients with HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer tend to have different survival outcomes, research presented at SABCS found that three-year recurrence-free survival is actually comparable between the two groups.
“More aggressive treatment can improve outcomes for (patients with HR-positive, basal-type tumors), as demonstrated by improved (overall survival) in (those who) achieved pathologic complete response,” study investigators stated in the poster. “These data highlight the importance of genomic testing to help optimize treatment and reduce outcome disparities in Black women.”
Blood cancer treatments — and one treatment type, in particular — were the point of much discussion last week. The FDA said that it is investigating instances of secondary malignancies in patients with blood cancers treated with CAR-T cell therapy. Also, the drug manufacturer for a novel CAR-T cell therapy submitted an application to introduce the treatment into the United States market.
Blood cancers will continue to be a hot topic this week, as later in the week we’ll be covering the American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting. And before that, we’ll also be covering the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.
Chance or CAR-T: Expert Weighs in on FDA Investigation
One of the biggest headlines in the cancer space last week was that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that they are investigating instances of T-cell malignancies — such as CAR-positive lymphoma — occurring in patients with blood cancers that were treated with CAR-T cell therapy.
CAR-T cell therapy is a newer type of blood cancer treatment that involves extracting patients’ blood and reengineering their immune T cells to find and fight cancer. Those new T cells are then multiplied and infused back into the patient. Since the first CAR-T cell product was approved in 2017, this treatment modality has drastically improved outcomes for patients with certain types of blood cancers.
It’s worth mentioning that the FDA’s Nov. 28 report about T-cell malignancies did not definitively say that CAR-T cell therapies are directly causing secondary diseases. They also did not mention the frequency at which these T-cell malignancies are occurring. I spoke with Dr. John Lister, who said that perhaps it’s the manufacturing process that could be the root cause, but perhaps it is also just chance, as research has shown that many patients with cancer hold a higher risk of developing a second cancer. For now, we’re just going to have to wait and see what further data tells us.
FDA Biologics License Application Filed for Obe-Cel for Adult R/R B-ALL
Also in CAR-T cell therapy news, last week a pharmaceutical company submitted a Biologics License Application to the FDA for their CAR-T cell therapy, obe-cel to be used for patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
When a pharmaceutical company files a Biologics License Application to the FDA, they’re essentially asking the agency to allow them to bring the drug to the market. The company submitting the drug must provide the FDA with multiple pieces of information, including findings from preclinical and clinical studies showing that the drug is safe.
In this instance, the pharmaceutical company cited data from the FELIX study, from which, early data showed that 76% if patients responded to the therapy, including 54.3% who had a complete response, meaning that their disease essentially disappeared. Now, updated findings from the trial will be presented at the upcoming ASH Annual Meeting happening next week.
For patients with cervical cancer who are negative for high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) with normal or low-grade cytology, a prolonged follow-up interval of six months could be offered six to 24 months after receiving fertility-sparing surgery, according to the findings of a recent study.
Researchers, writing in a study published in The Lancet Oncology, noted that patients who are negative for high-risk HPV and have normal or low-grade cytology — a type of screening that collects cervical cells to be checked for changes caused by HPV that may turn into cancer, as explained by the National Cancer Institute — make up 80% of patients who receive fertility-sparing surgery, and that a 12-month interview “seems to be safe” following two consecutive negative high-risk HPV tests and an absence of high-grade cytology, which applies to 75% of all patients who receive fertility-sparing surgery.
Current guidelines in both the United States and Europe, researchers explained, recommend a six- to 12-month interval between follow-up visits for two years after fertility-sparing surgery, with a total follow-up of five years.
Learn more: HPV Causes Multiple Cancers, Though Knowledge on the Connection Is Lagging
“The development of a tailored surveillance strategy after fertility-sparing surgery could contribute to improved efficiency of follow-up in patients with cervical cancer and subsequently reduce costs in health care,” wrote the researchers behind the population-based retrospective cohort study, which utilized data from the Netherlands Cancer Registry and the Dutch Nationwide Pathology Data Bank on more than 1,400 patients ages 18 to 40 with cervical cancer who received fertility-sparing surgery between Jan 1, 2000 and Dec 31, 2020.
Kate Weissman, a cervical cancer survivor, welcomes such research advancements.
“(It's) well overdue and certainly something that the cervical cancer community is owed, given that it's something that has not been paid attention to for so long,” she said. “It's always been really just (about) luck of the of the draw in who your oncologist is and who your team of doctors are to even discuss your fertility. So, I think that this is really long overdue, and I'm glad that the attention is on it, finally, for women.”
When Weismann received a diagnosis of stage 2B cervical cancer in 2015 at the age of 30, two years after being diagnosed with HPV, she was also told by her oncologist that she would not be able to carry children.
Kate began IVF, froze nine embryos and received treatment via 55 rounds of radiation, 17 rounds of chemotherapy and surgery before being declared cancer-free in 2016. She and her husband, Matt, eventually had a daughter, Louella, via surrogacy.
Now an ambassador for Cervivor, a community of patient advocates working with those affected by cervical cancer, and a 2023 Cervivor Champion Recipient, Weissman is also the Massachusetts State Lead Ambassador for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.
Learn More: Why Patients Need to Remain Vigilant, Even When Dealing With Scanxiety
“When I ended my treatment in 2016, I was initially going for scans every three to six months. And then, after a couple of years, I was slowly able to extend those scans out, so now I go annually,” she said. “I will tell you, the anxiety is always with you. It never loosens its grip; you are always worried about (the cancer) coming back. And even though I'm lucky to only have to deal with scanxiety — as we call it in the cervical cancer community and really the cancer community in general once a year — it's really intense and I still have to keep up-to-date on my antianxiety medications and my therapy sessions and everything.
“Now that I have a child it's really made that anxiety of the cancer coming back all that more intense, and it feels like a lot more is at stake. But I am lucky that I survived, and it's a once-a-year thing for me. … I have access to a medical team that is going to always watch me and look out for me, and I'm aware of my own body and everything I need to be on the lookout for too in the years post-treatment. So, that's been certainly something that it never loosens its grip on you. Even when you find out (that) you're cancer-free, you're in this for the rest of your life.”
For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here.
The end of the year typically brings a number of FDA approvals, and 2023 is no different. Last week, the Food and Drug Administration approved a new drug, Augyro (repotrectinib) for the treatment of patients with ROS1-positive non-small cell lung cancer.
Also making oncology headlines this week, is an expert update on the cancer drug shortage, research about how the severity of diabetes can impact colorectal cancer outcomes and how vitamin D may be able to mitigate the severity of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.
FDA Approves Augtyro for Patients With NSCLC Subset
Another week, another FDA approval. This time, the agency approved Augtyro for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic ROS1-positive non-small cell lung cancer.
The drug works by targeting ROS1 oncogene fusions, which can be responsible for the growth of cancer. The approval was based off findings from the phase 1/2 TRIDENT-1 clinical trial, which showed that 79% of patients responded to therapy with the drug, including 6% who experienced a complete response, which is when all signs of cancer disappear.
Bristol Myers Squibb, the pharmaceutical company that manufacturers Augtyro, expects the drug to be available to patients in mid-December.
FDA Approves Keytruda plus Chemo for Advanced HER2-Negative Gastric, GEJ Cancers
Also in FDA news last week, the agency approved the immunotherapy drug, Keytruda, in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of patients with advanced unresectable or metastatic HER2-negative gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.
The approval came after findings from the KEYNOTE-859 trial showed that the immunotherapy-chemo combination improved overall survival) that’s time from treatment until death of any cause); progression-free survival (time from treatment until death or disease worsening) and response rate compared to a group that received placebo plus chemotherapy.
FDA Approves Truqap Plus Chemo for Some With HR-Positive, HER-Negative Breast Cancer
Additionally, the FDA has approved Truqap with chemotherapy fulvestrant for the treatment of adults with HR-positive or HER2-negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer with one or more PIK3CA/AKT1/PTEN-alterations and who have progressed on at least one endocrine-based regimen in the metastatic setting or recurred at or within one year of completing adjuvant therapy. And now this approval was based on the results of the CAPItello-291 trial
where among patients with these altered tumors, the median progression free survival was 7.3 months in the Truqap and chemotherapy cohort and 3.1 months in the placebo and chemotherapy cohort.
FDA Approves Xtandi for High-Risk Prostate Cancer
And the FDA approved Xtandi for the treatment of patients with non-metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer, with a high risk of biochemical recurrence, meaning a recurrence that is determined by rising prostate specific antigen levels. According to Pfizer, the manufacturer of the drug, and notably, this marks the first approval of an androgen receptor signaling inhibitor that is FDA approved for this patient population.
The approval is based on findings from the randomized phase 3 EMBARK clinical trial were five-year metastasis free survival, which is the time from treatment until metastatic disease was 87.3% in the Xtandi arm, compared with 71.4% and the leuprolide-only group and 80% in the monotherapy group, according to findings that were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Drug Shortages Continue to Be a ‘Serious Problem’ in Oncology
While the shortage of the chemotherapy drugs, cisplatin and carboplatin, seems to be improving, drug shortages, in general, are not a new problem and likely are not going anywhere soon, according to Corey McEwen, the director of oncology pharmacy services at Massachusetts General Hospital in Bostin.
McEwen explained that most of these drugs are manufactured outside of the United States. The FDA will approve certain locations to make the drugs, which then are shipped to the wholesaler, then the cancer treatment center or clinic and finally, to the patients. However, at no point during that process is there an obligation to be transparent about drugs that are in shortage or at risk to be in shortage.
Additionally, with increased demand and decreased supply, the price of these therapies can go up. At Mass. General, McEwen said that the institution will oftentimes take on the financial burden of the increased cost, because they are mainly focused on getting the drugs in the first place. However, that may not be the case in all cancer treatment centers, leading to more disparities and financial burdens from cancer care.
Diabetes Severity Associated With Poor Colorectal Cancer Survival
Research published in the journal, Cancer, analyzed outcomes for patients with diabetes and colorectal cancer who underwent surgery for their cancer. Findings showed that patients with more severe diabetes tended to have poorer survival outcomes. This was particularly the case for patients who were female or in their earlier stages of cancer.
The researchers theorized that the relationship between diabetic severity and cancer prognosis may be explained by three mechanisms:
· Diabetes can lead to increased levels of insulin-like growth, which can accelerate tumor growth
· High blood sugar levels may result in poor response to chemotherapy
· The potential increased accumulation of genetic mutations that result from the high inflammatory burden caused by diabetes
Vitamin D May Help Prevent Chemo-Induced Neuropathy
Once again, vitamin D made oncology headlines last week. This time, findings published in the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network found that patients who were deficient in vitamin D before starting treatment with paclitaxel had higher rates of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy than patients with sufficient vitamin D levels.
Peripheral neuropathy is a common side effect from certain types of chemotherapy drugs that presents as numbness, tingling or a stabbing feeling in the hands and/or feet. Eventually if the neuropathy gets so bad, patients can have a higher risk of falls or become unable to perform some essential everyday tasks, such as preparing food or getting dressed. There is currently no cure for the condition, so potential prevention or mitigation strategies — like getting enough vitamin D — are particularly important.
I spoke with study author Dr. Dan Hertz who said that while more research is needed in this space, it is worth it for patients to check their vitamin D levels and take a supplement, if needed.
It’s been a decade since Thom Filicia, acclaimed interior designer and former co-star of “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,” served as a bone marrow donor for his brother, Jules, who had received a diagnosis of myelofibrosis.
“It was a disease I knew nothing about, I’d never even heard of it before,” Filicia told CURE®. “So that, in and of itself, was a very unusual situation, to have to navigate that. … In (Jules’) situation, we needed to move very quickly. And, in his case, the most appropriate (treatment) at that time, was a bone marrow transplant, so that's what we needed to do.”
Myelofibrosis, as explained by the MPN Research Foundation, is a type of chronic blood cancer that involves the formation of excessive scar tissue in the bone marrow, impairing the patient’s ability to produce normal blood cells. It is part of a category of blood cancers known as myeloproliferative neoplasms, or MPNs.
“Myelofibrosis is a challenge, because first of all, it’s (a) very rare disease, we’re talking about 25,000 people in the United States have this, maybe one in 500,000 people worldwide have this disease, so it’s a very rare disease,” explained Dr. Andrew Kuykendall of the department of malignant hematology at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa.
The presentation of myelofibrosis can also vary from patient to patient, as Kuykendall explained.
“People can either present with just abnormal blood counts, they can present with painful abdominal pain or splenomegaly, where their spleen is enlarged or other organs can be enlarged, (or) it could be from having fevers, chills, night sweats, bone pain, a lot of symptoms that bring them to that healthcare,” Kuykendall said. “And so, it's one of those things where all those people could come with a variety of symptoms yet receive the same diagnosis. And I think that that's challenging because it doesn't necessarily present in one way. There's no kind of map. We often say, ‘The disease doesn't read the textbook,’ and that's very true when it comes to myelofibrosis.”
A decade after the bone marrow transplant, Filicia says his brother is in great health, and he looked back on the transplant process as a “pretty seamless” experience.
“It was a good experience for both of us and a positive outcome, which is really great,” Filicia said. “I would say what it does in terms of (our relationship), we're blood brothers at a level that is very different than just being brothers because we now share the same DNA. And we've gone through this experience together, and it was a pretty impactful experience.”
Filicia has now partnered with biopharma company GSK to launch the online initiative Mapping Myelofibrosis, dedicated to raising awareness about the disease with input from organizations including the MPN Research Foundation and MPN Advocacy and Education International.
The initiative’s website, mappingmf.com, includes educational and informational materials as well as podcast episodes and stories from members of the myelofibrosis community of patients and loved ones, Filicia among them.
“To be a resource or to be impactful in that situation, you really need information, and you need to know that you're not the only person going through it, you need to understand what other people are going through, you need to be able to connect with a doctor like Dr. Kuykendall where they can explain things to you in a way that you understand it,” Filicia said.
“And that gives you hope, and that gives you the ability to, I would imagine, move forward in a positive, thoughtful, empowered way where you feel like you're making the best decisions that you can make, for your situation, with the best guidance that you feel comfortable with.”
Filicia and Kuykendall spoke with CURE®’s “Cancer Horizons” podcast about myelofibrosis, persistent misconceptions regarding bone marrow donation and the motivation behind the Mapping Myelofibrosis.
For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here.
Last week was Veterans’ Day, and for some individuals in the armed service, that means reflecting back on their service, as well as the potential cause of their cancer. For both print and web-first features, CURE® spoke with veterans about their cancer journeys, including one Iraq veteran whose cancer was likely caused by exposure during his deployment overseas.
Regarding new drug indications last week, the FDA seemed to be working in the gastrointestinal space: we saw a new drug approved for certain patients with colorectal cancer, and other indication in the gastric cancer space slightly changed from the way it was originally approved a few years ago.
Finally, it is the open enrollment period for people who are eligible for Medicare. We heard from an expert at City of Hope about why patients with cancer should do their research before choosing a plan.
Veteran, Colon Cancer Survivor Explains Importance of PACT Act
Last year, President Joe Biden signed the bipartisan Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act into law last year, with the White House calling it “the most significant expansion of benefits and services for toxic exposed veterans in more than 30 years.”
More than 4.1 million veterans received free toxic exposure screenings through the VA, with the government processing nearly half a million PACT Act claims and delivering more than $1.85 billion in PACT Act-related benefits to veterans and survivors, including $215 million in benefits to veterans with cancer, during the first year of the PACT Act, the White House stated.
Under the PACT Act, for example, all gastrointestinal cancers are considered toxic exposure presumptive conditions — meaning veterans do not have to prove that the cancer started during or worsened because of their military service — for veterans from the Gulf War and post-9/11 eras such as Dan Nevins, a U.S. Army Reserve veteran and stage 3 colon cancer survivor who served in Iraq.
Read more: Veterans On The Front Lines of Lung Cancer
Dan is a bilateral, below-knee amputee living with a traumatic brain injury as a result of his service, and he received his cancer diagnosis in late 2021.
Spoke with us about his experiences being exposed to burn pits in Iraq.
FDA Approves Fruzaqla for Previously Treated Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Last week came with another Food and Drug Administration approval in the oncology space. Fruzaqla for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer that has been previously treated with certain chemotherapy drugs, anti-VEGF therapies, and — if the patient has RAS wildtype disease and its medically appropriate — an anti-EGFR therapy.
The approval, which was announced on Wednesday night, was based on findings from two clinical trials: FRESCO and FRESCO-2, which both showed that Fruzaqla improved overall survival (time from treatment until death of any cause) compared to placebo in this patient population.
Of note, Fruzaqla is an oral drug that is not a chemotherapy agent, which may help patients avoid an abundance of clinics for treatment, as well as some of the side effects associated with chemotherapy, though we should note that Fruzaqla, like all drugs, does have its own set of potential side effects.
FDA Amends Keytruda Approval for Gastric, GEJ Cancer
Also on the FDA front, the agency announced on Thursday that it was revising the approval indication of Keytruda plus Enhertu and chemotherapy for the frontline treatment of locally advanced unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.
The Keytruda-containing regimen was originally approved in May 2021 and was for patients regardless of their cancer’s PD-L1 status. PD-L1 is a protein found on the surface of tumor cells and acts as a kind of cloak of invisibility from the immune system. Checkpoint inhibitor drugs like Keytruda inhibit the function of PD-L1, thereby allowing the immune system to find and fight the cancer.
With the amended approval, the FDA is now stating that this Keytruda regimen should only be used in patients whose cancers have that PD-L1 protein, as determined by a companion diagnostic test.
This change came after follow-up data from the KEYNOTE-811 trial were presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress a couple of weeks ago. The findings showed that while the Keytruda plus Enhertu and chemotherapy improved outcomes over placebo plus Enhertu and chemotherapy, the benefit was particularly better for those whose disease was PD-L1 positive.
When It Comes to Cancer Care, Not All Medicare Plans Are the Same
The Medicare open enrollment period has officially begun and will run until Dec. 7.
In a CURE® exclusive article penned by Dr. Harlan Levine of the City of Hope, a popular type of Medicare — Medicare Advantage — is outlined, along with their potential pros and cons when facing a cancer diagnosis. For example, did you know what while Medicare Advantage tends to be a more affordable option, it may not cover research medical centers that provide patients with cancer access to advanced treatments and clinical trials?
Dr. Levine and others are advocating for Medicare Advantage to cover treatment at comprehensive cancer centers, but until then, he warns individuals to be weary of the plans that they choose and always read the fine print.
For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here.
Last week brought the approval of two new cancer therapies, as well as some data about the ongoing cancer drug shortage and which groups of patients may be affected most. Also, CURE® spoke to an expert about how sexual activity — while not a requirement — may help follow-up exams be more comfortable for cervical cancer survivors.
In this episode we’re looking back at the top oncology news from last week, and brining patients the information they need to know.
Patients on Medicaid Disproportionately Affected by Drug Shortage
Despite initiatives from the federal government, the shortage of chemotherapy drugs — namely cisplatin and carboplatin — continues. Now, a recent survey from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network found that patients who are insured by Medicaid are three times more likely to be affected by the chemo shortage than individuals who get their health insurance through their provider. Findings also showed that 38% of patients who experienced delays in treatment had delays that lasted a month or more, while 35% said that they had difficulty getting insurance to fill a prescription related to a shortage, such as a substitute drug.
Back in September, the White House outlined steps that they’re taking to mitigate the ongoing drug shortage, such as collaborating with health care providers and drug manufacturers.
FDA Approves Loqtorzi Regimens for Advanced Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
The first of two FDA approvals last week happened on Monday, Oct. 30, when the agency approved Loqtorzi plus the chemotherapy drugs, gemcitabine and cisplatin, for the treatment of patients with metastatic or recurrent locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The drug was also approved on Monday as a single agent — that means given alone — for patients with unresectable, recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma that got worse on or after platinum-based chemotherapy.
The Loqtorzi/chemotherapy combination was based off findings from the JUPITER-02 trial, while the POLARIS-02 trial led to the single-agent approval. The former found that the Loqtorzi-containing regimen improved progression-free survival (time from treatment until disease worsens or death) compared to placebo plus the chemo drugs, while the latter showed improved response rates with Loqtorzi.
FDA Approves Keytruda Plus Chemo for Locally Advanced, Metastatic Biliary Tract Cancer
On Wednesday, the FDA approved the immunotherapy drug, Keytruda, plus two chemotherapy drugs — gemcitabine and cisplatin — for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or unresectable metastatic biliary tract cancer.
Findings from the phase 3 KEYNOTE-966 clinical trial, which showed that overall survival (time from treatment until death of any cause) was better with the Keytruda-containing regimen than it was for the chemotherapy duo alone. Notably, there was no significant difference in progression-free survival between the two regimens. Essentially, that means that patients tended to experience disease worsening at around the same rate or time, however, those in the Keytruda group tended to live longer. Trial results also showed that there was a higher percentage of patients in the Keytruda group whose disease completely disappeared.
Follow-Up Exams More ‘Tolerable’ With Sexual Activity After Cervical Cancer
In the gynecologic cancer space, recent research presented at the American Society for Radiation Oncology Annual Meeting found that cervical cancer follow-up appointments may be more comfortable or tolerable for patients who are sexually active.
CURE® spoke with one of the study authors, Dr. Kathrin Kirchheiner, who mentioned that sexual activity is by no means necessary for this patient population. She understands that the disease and its treatments can affect libido or make sex physically uncomfortable. However, if patients with gynecologic cancer are experiencing sexual side effects, they should certainly bring it up to their health care providers.
For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here.
Meet Dr. Ulka Vaishampayan* – an oncologist and leading expert in treating people with kidney cancer, including renal cell carcinoma (RCC) which is the most common type of kidney cancer in adults.
She understands all too well how scary and overwhelming hearing the words “you have cancer” can be for anyone – especially when facing an advanced diagnosis in RCC. In these cases, Dr. Vaishampayan believes that information is power and people can feel better prepared to move forward if they have a support system and strong patient-doctor communication.
On today’s episode of the Cancer Horizons podcast, Dr. Vaishampayan shares information that's important to understand about RCC and navigating a diagnosis, key questions patients and caregivers should ask their doctor, and insights into a potential dual immunotherapy treatment option for certain patients.
When it comes to making a treatment plan, Dr. Vaishampayan believes in involving her patients closely in the process. “In my practice I tend to explain what options are available to someone, including the pros and cons of each, and I sometimes make a recommendation about a treatment approach if I feel that’s appropriate in their case,” she explains. “I would still explain the reasons for my choice. My intention is that either way it’s a discussion, as it should be a joint or shared decision-making process.”
Terry Broussard, a man who was diagnosed with advanced RCC, also shares advice from his experience. In Terry’s case, his doctor recommended the dual immunotherapy treatment combination Opdivo® (nivolumab) plus Yervoy® (ipilimumab), which is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for certain newly diagnosed adults whose kidney cancer has spread (advanced renal cell carcinoma) and have not already had treatment for advanced RCC. It is the first and only combination of two immunotherapies of its kind approved to treat advanced kidney cancer, or RCC.
To learn more, listen to the podcast, visit www.Opdivo.com and see below for Important Safety Information.
Dr. Vaishampayan is a paid consultant of Bristol Myers Squibb. Dr. Vaishampayan's statements/opinions are those solely of Dr. Vaishampayan and are not necessarily those of Bristol Myers Squibb. Individual results/experiences may vary.
Terry is an actual patient who has been compensated by Bristol Myers Squibb. Terry's results may not be typical. Medication may not work for everyone.
Indication*
OPDIVO® (nivolumab) is a prescription medicine used in combination with YERVOY® (ipilimumab) to treat adults with kidney cancer in certain people when your cancer has spread (advanced renal cell carcinoma) and you have not already had treatment for your advanced RCC.
It is not known if OPDIVO is safe and effective in children younger than 12 years of age with melanoma or MSI-H or dMMR metastatic colorectal cancer.
It is not known if OPDIVO is safe and effective in children for the treatment of any other cancers.
OPDIVO (10 mg/mL) and YERVOY (5 mg/mL) are injections for intravenous (IV) use.
Important Safety Information for OPDIVO® (nivolumab) + YERVOY® (ipilimumab)
What is the most important information I should know about OPDIVO + YERVOY?OPDIVO and YERVOY are medicines that may treat certain cancers by working with your immune system. OPDIVO and YERVOY can cause your immune system to attack normal organs and tissues in any area of your body and can affect the way they work. These problems can sometimes become severe or life-threatening and can lead to death. These problems may happen anytime during treatment or even after your treatment has ended. You may have more than one of these problems at the same time. Some of these problems may happen more often when OPDIVO is used in combination with another therapy.
Call or see your healthcare provider right away if you develop any new or worse signs or symptoms, including:
Lung problems: new or worsening cough; shortness of breath; chest pain
* Intestinal problems: diarrhea (loose stools) or more frequent bowel movements than usual; stools that are black, tarry, sticky, or have blood or mucus; severe stomach-area (abdominal) pain or tenderness
* Liver problems: yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes; severe nausea or vomiting; pain on the right side of your stomach area (abdomen); dark urine (tea colored); bleeding or bruising more easily than normal
* Hormone gland problems: headaches that will not go away or unusual headaches; eye sensitivity to light; eye problems; rapid heart beat; increased sweating; extreme tiredness; weight gain or weight loss; feeling more hungry or thirsty than usual; urinating more often than usual; hair loss; feeling cold; constipation; your voice gets deeper; dizziness or fainting; changes in mood or behavior, such as decreased sex drive, irritability, or forgetfulness
* Kidney problems: decrease in your amount of urine; blood in your urine; swelling in your ankles; loss of appetite
* Skin problems: rash; itching; skin blistering or peeling; painful sores or ulcers in the mouth or nose, throat, or genital area
* Eye problems:* blurry vision, double vision, or other vision problems; eye pain or redness.
Problems can also happen in other organs and tissues. These are not all of the signs and symptoms of immune system problems that can happen with OPDIVO and YERVOY. Call or see your healthcare provider right away for any new or worsening signs or symptoms, which may include:
* Chest pain; irregular heartbeat; shortness of breath; swelling of ankles
* Confusion; sleepiness; memory problems; changes in mood or behavior; stiff neck; balance problems; tingling or numbness of the arms or legs
* Double vision; blurry vision; sensitivity to light; eye pain; changes in eye sight
* Persistent or severe muscle pain or weakness; muscle cramps
* Low red blood cells; bruising
Getting medical help right away may help keep these problems from becoming more serious. Your healthcare team will check you for these problems during treatment and may treat you with corticosteroid or hormone replacement medicines. Your healthcare team may also need to delay or completely stop your treatment if you have severe side effects.
Possible side effects of OPDIVO + YERVOY
OPDIVO and OPDIVO + YERVOY can cause serious side effects, including:
See “What is the most important information I should know about OPDIVO + YERVOY?”
* Severe infusion reactions. Tell your healthcare team right away if you get these symptoms during an infusion of OPDIVO or YERVOY: chills or shaking; itching or rash; flushing; shortness of breath or wheezing; dizziness; feel like passing out; fever; back or neck pain
* Complications, including graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), of bone marrow (stem cell) transplant that uses donor stem cells (allogeneic).* These complications can be severe and can lead to death. These complications may happen if you underwent transplantation either before or after being treated with OPDIVO or YERVOY. Your healthcare provider will monitor you for these complications.
The most common side effects of OPDIVO, when used in combination with YERVOY, include: feeling tired; diarrhea; rash; itching; nausea; pain in muscles, bones, and joints; fever; cough; decreased appetite; vomiting; stomach-area (abdominal) pain; shortness of breath; upper respiratory tract infection; headache; low thyroid hormone levels (hypothyroidism); constipation; decreased weight; and dizziness.
These are not all the possible side effects. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. You are encouraged to report side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Before receiving OPDIVO or YERVOY, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
* have immune system problems such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or lupus
* have received an organ transplant
* have received or plan to receive a stem cell transplant that uses donor stem cells (allogeneic)
* have received radiation treatment to your chest area in the past and have received other medicines that are like OPDIVO
* have a condition that affects your nervous system, such as myasthenia gravis or Guillain-Barré syndrome
* are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. OPDIVO and YERVOY can harm your unborn baby.
* are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if OPDIVO or YERVOY passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment with OPDIVO or YERVOY and for 5 months after the last dose of OPDIVO or YERVOY.
Females who are able to become pregnant:
Your healthcare provider should do a pregnancy test before you start receiving OPDIVO or YERVOY.
- You should use an effective method of birth control during your treatment and for 5 months after the last dose of OPDIVO or YERVOY. Talk to your healthcare provider about birth control methods that you can use during this time.
- Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant during treatment with OPDIVO or YERVOY. You or your healthcare provider should contact Bristol-Myers Squibb at 1- 844-593-7869 as soon as you become aware of a pregnancy.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the- counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Please see U.S. Full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for OPDIVO and YERVOY.
Charlene Wexler has turned profound grief into a world of stories.
Wexler is the Chicago-based author of seven books as well as several short stories. Inspiration for what would become her 2014 debut novel, “Lori,” arrived following the loss of her son, Jeffrey, who received a diagnosis of leukemia in 1977 at the age of eight and died in 1981 at the age of 12.
“I always wrote for myself, and writing fiction is a new career. I started about 10 years ago,” said Wexler, who is now 80 years old.
“Cancer has been in our family for years: aunts, uncles, my mother, my grandfather, I had ovarian cancer, right now I have skin cancer. And we've dealt with all of them,” she explained. “And the cancer that really knocked us out was when my 8-year-old son, my firstborn, was diagnosed with leukemia. And we fought at Children's Memorial (Hospital, now known as Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago). We dealt with that, we fought the cancer for four and a half years before he died.
“And during that whole time, I wrote, I kept journals. And then after he died, I was devastated and (I) really couldn't get out of bed.”
Then, Wexler started writing.
“I took all my stuff together that I had been writing about him, and I wrote a story,” she said. “And I sent it to my sister who reads anything I write, who was there for me the whole time. And she said, 'This is great, but it's too devastating.' She said, 'Why don't you try again? Nobody's going to want to read this. It's just too grief ridden.'”
More survivor stories: Former Opera Singer Shares Bone Cancer Journey in New Book
Wexler shifted her writing from the first-person to the third-person and moved from memoir into the realm of fiction.
“I found (that), my God, I could change it,” she said. “And instead of making him a boy, I made her a girl. And when I first started writing, I thought, 'I'm going to make her survive it.’ That (even though) Jeffrey didn't, I'm going to make Julie, the girl in my story, live. But then, as I started writing, I realized I wanted to add what happened to me and how I survived — and how I didn't survive in the beginning.
“And then, after I wrote the first draft, I realized the book needed more than just a child dying from leukemia. And all of a sudden, the character Lori became stronger than the child that died. And I felt like there are a lot of issues I can deal with. A third of the book deals with the cancer, and it deals with surviving afterwards.”
Also from the “Cancer Horizons” podcast: Mother with Stage 4 Breast Cancer and Her Family 'Focus on the Living'
For Wexler, a former teacher who also spent time working in her husband’s dental office, “Lori” became the start of the four-book Laughter and Tears series, and her work is currently being re-released via Speaking Volumes.
Wexler spoke with CURE®’s “Cancer Horizons” podcast about her cancer journeys, her path to becoming an author and the different challenges faced by patients and caregivers.
For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here.
Last week, the European Society of Medical Oncology (EMSO) held their annual Congress in Madrid. The conference brought together cancer researchers from around the globe, who presented their clinical trial data — some of which has the potential to change the way cancers are treated.
For example, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves therapies based on study data that proves that the regimen in question is safe, effective and superior to what is currently being used in that indication. While we don’t have a crystal ball and can’t say for sure if and when the FDA will approve a regimen, we can reflect on data presented at ESMO that we know the agency is considering and give our audience some potential oncology approvals that they should look out for.
Welireg Outperforms Afinitor in Advanced Clear Cell Kidney Cancer
The FDA is currently reviewing the phase 3 LIFESPARK-005 trial, comparing Welireg to Afinitor for patients with pretreated advanced clear cell renal carcinoma. Data from LIFESPARK-005, which were presented at the ESMO Congress, showed that Welireg outperformed Afinitor when it came to progression-free survival (that’s the time a patient lives after treatment without their disease worsening) and objective response rate (which describes the percentage of patients whose disease shrinks or disappears from treatment). However, there was no significant difference in overall survival (time from treatment unitl death of any cause) observed between the Welireg and Afinitor groups. The FDA is set to make their decision on this Welireg indication by Jan. 17, 2024.
Keytruda Plus Chemoradiotherapy Bests Standard of Care in Advanced Cervical Cancer
Also on the FDA’s docket for review is findings from the phase 3 KEYNOTE-A18 trial, investigating the addition of Keytruda to external beam radiotherapy — known as EBRT — and concurrent chemotherapy and followed by brachytherapy, for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed, high-risk locally advanced cervical cancer. Study findings, which were presented at the ESMO Congress, showed that adding the immunotherapy agent to the regimen improved progression-free survival, overall survival and response rates. One expert, Dr. Bradley J. Monk, even commented, “This is a celebration for patients because we’re challenging a treatment paradigm that has stood for more than two decades.” The FDA stated that it plans to make its approval decision of Keytruda in this indication by Jan. 20, 2024.
Data Supporting FDA Approval of Pre- and Postsurgical Keytruda for Advanced Lung Cancer Presented
Days before ESMO, the FDA also approved Keytruda for the pre- and postsurgical treatment of patients with resectable (able to be removed via surgery) stage 2, 3A or 3B non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
The approval is based off findings from the phase 3 KEYNOTE-671 trial, which compared treatment with presurgical Keytruda plus chemotherapy followed by postsurgical Keytruda against presurgical placebo plus chemotherapy, followed by placebo.
According to the FDA, overall survival (the time from treatment until death of any cause) was not reached in the Keytruda group, meaning not enough patients in that cohort had died to determine an average time until death. The median overall survival time was 52.4 months in the placebo group.
Study findings presented at EMSO showed improvements in event-free survival (the time a patient lives without any disease-related occurrences, such as a recurrence/relapse or death), which was also not yet reached among patients in the Keytruda arm of the study.
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For patients with metastatic breast cancer, the annual October observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month can bring a complex mix of emotions.
“I think a lot of the messaging in October tends to focus on pink, and it almost looks a little sparkly,” said Sally Joy Wolf, who first received a diagnosis of breast cancer eight years ago before learning it had metastasized five years ago.
Wolf, to be clear, doesn’t think there is any malicious intent behind what she described as the “sea of pink” in October.
“I really like to believe that everyone who is trying to wait raise awareness or trying to do anything on behalf of anything, any cause, any cancer — but in my case, breast cancer — the intentions are good,” she said. “But there are many points in life where good intentions may not have the intended results simply because people don't have a level of intimate awareness that that comes from being on the inside.”
In the U.S., there will be an estimated 297,790 new cases of breast cancer, comprising 15.2% of all new cancer cases, and 43,170 deaths from breast cancer, or 7.1% of all cancer deaths, in 2023 among female patients with breast cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute, which also stated that metastatic breast cancer (cancer which has spread to other parts of the body and is also referred to as stage 4 breast cancer) has a five-year survival rate of 31%.
“For me, every month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month,” said Wolf. “Because I am dealing with an appointment or a scan, or medicine refill or an insurance mistake. So even though I am thriving, and really I am flourishing, and living a life that I love and I consider myself healthy … when I'm then looking out at a landscape where everything is pink … it's a little bit like a celebration of how far we've come, of how curable this is, of how early detection is great. And that's all true, decades of awareness have benefited all of us, including me because I'm on medicines that might not otherwise exist, but it's also easy for someone in my shoes to look at the month of October and feel like we don't quite fit. We're not celebrating being cured.”
Dr. Dawn Mussallem, a lifestyle medicine and integrative breast cancer specialist at the Robert and Monica Jacoby Center for Breast Health at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, explained how she has observed the ways in which her patients with metastatic breast cancer have felt left out of the broader breast cancer community.
“When meeting these women for the first time, they share with me exactly what you are alluding to: the lack of supervised, positive support available for women with metastatic breast cancer, or a community they can belong to with other likeminded women going through the same thing,” Mussallem told CURE® via email. “The narrative shared with these women is different than for women with early-stage breast cancer.
“You see (for) women with early stage 1 to 3 breast cancer, the medical team informs them (that) cancer cure is likely/probable with appropriate treatment; however, women with metastatic breast cancer get told something no one should ever hear because it can, in some situations, dampen any sense of hope: ‘You have stage 4 breast cancer and this is something we can’t cure.’”
Mussallem, a cancer survivor as well as a bone marrow and heart transplant recipient, pushes back against such messaging.
“We can’t change the circumstances of a cancer diagnosis,” she said. “It isn’t going to just go away. Once it is there, it is there until it is gone. We can succumb to the diagnosis, or we can use it as a springboard of growth, an opportunity to look deeply inward and make each and every breath mean something bigger and better than we ever imagine. It is a shame it takes cancer to do this, but cancer is a magical teacher of life. There is no better way to embrace one’s aliveness then to hear those words, ‘You have cancer.’ I know because I am a 23-year stage 4 diffuse B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma survivor. My cancer journey allows me to talk openly about the fear of dying and the glory of living now.”
Wolf, a longtime New York media executive, is now focused of advocating for wellbeing as a coach, advisor and speaker through LightWorks, where she is the founder and CEO.
“Sometimes it's a harder choice than others, but when we choose to see that light, even just like the tiny spark that may exist in a day, it is so helpful, because we come to realize that nothing is unilaterally light or dark or good or bad or all these labels we like to put on them and put on our lives as humans,” she said. “And even cancer, even in a metastatic cancer situation that I wish I weren’t in but I am, I can lean into meaning, lean into purpose, lean into gratitude and light. … ‘And I can say, this isn’t the life I expected to be leading. And yet, how grateful am I? How fortunate am I to get to live this life and get to make this impact with this card that I’ve been dealt?’ And I’m proud of how I’m playing it, so to speak.”
Wolf spoke with CURE’s “Cancer Horizons” podcast about her cancer journey so far, her life as a patient with metastatic breast cancer and the importance of life’s silver linings.
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For opera singer Kathleen Watt, a life-changing cancer journey began during an otherwise routine trip to her family dentist.
In January of 1997 when Watt was 43 years old, the examination of a bump in the gumline at the back of her upper jaw eventually led to Watt receiving a diagnosis of the bone cancer osteosarcoma, which would be followed by treatment that included chemotherapy and a decade-long process of facial reconstruction.
“A small corps of medical elites convened to excoriate my diseased bones with surgical wizardry and lethal toxins,” as Watt described on her website, “and stayed on to restore me to myself through a brutal alchemy of kindness and titanium screws.”
Watt had recently begun her third season in the chorus of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City when she received her diagnosis.
Approximately 1,000 new cases of osteosarcoma are diagnosed in the United States each year, and approximately only half of those cases are among adults, according to the American Cancer Society. Osteosarcomas account for approximately 2% of childhood cancers, “but they make up a much smaller percentage of adult cancers,” the American Cancer Society reported.
“I think it's common for people who are facing catastrophic illness or in a period of illness that you enter it thinking, ‘This is going to be a hiatus in my life, this is going to be something I'll get through and then I'll get back to my life,’” Watt told CURE®. “If you have a short illness or short, dramatic catastrophe and get it taken care of and you're done with it, it's easy to consider that a hiatus and then you get back to everything.
“I think that the fact that my definitive reconstruction was so protracted over so many years, things kept going wrong, things kept not working, or they would work but not come to complete fruition, (it) was just never definitive, and kept me in a limbo for this long, long trajectory. And I had to think change my thinking from the fact that this was a hiatus or some kind of blank space that would (be) taken out of the flow of my life to a feeling that that this is part of life. Long or short, you're on a train that's taking you through your life, it's a view (that) is part of the landscape that you traveled through on the vehicle of your own energy that propels you (with) the propulsion of life along a track through a landscape which is going to change from catastrophe to joy to resolution to discovery, (it) is all one ride.”
Watt shares her story in her new memoir, “Rearranged: An Opera Singer’s Facial Cancer and Life Transposed,” which is set to be released on Oct. 10 by Heliotrope Books. That same day, she returns to the stage for a cross-country book tour launching at P&T Knitwear in New York City. (For a full list of tour dates and more information on “Rearranged,” visit kathleenwatt.com.)
“In the years since I was onstage all the time, I really did not notice how much I had retreated into my naturally shy disposition, content to express myself through my kids’ Halloween or Spirit Week costumes, etc., avoiding the camera myself,” Watt said. “Then, in the selfie-revolution, and during the pandemic when everyone in the world took to Zoom, I felt myself shrinking from being seen on screen, becoming hyper-aware of my facial difference, such as it is. The ramp-up to this book tour has forced me to get off the dime, get over myself and just show up. I’m reminded of the time-worn advice to young singers, that no one in the audience has come to watch you be frightened, nervous or apologetic. They show up because they want to buy what you’re selling. They don’t want to see you be nervous or apologetic; they expect to see you succeed. They show up and pay for a ticket because they intend to be moved by what you have to offer.
“This live book tour has required me to call up my performer chops and dust them off, because honestly, I think this cancer journey is actually a success story that people are going to want to hear, and I am privileged to be able to tell.”
In this episode of CURE’s “Cancer Horizons” podcast, Watt speaks about the importance of remaining present during treatment and how the notes she and her loved ones took during her cancer journey resulted in “Rearranged” decades later.
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For Andrew McMahon, a singer-songwriter and cancer survivor, the act of forgetting an anniversary was a good thing.
Alongside his band, Andrew McMahon and the Wilderness, he was set to play the inaugural Adjacent festival on the beach in Atlantic City, New Jersey on May 27, part of a daily lineup that included Paramore, Jimmy Eat World and Bleachers.
The date of the festival coincided with a landmark moment in his cancer journey, which began in 2005. Before the end of a tour as part of Jack’s Mannequin, he received a diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), for which he eventually underwent treatment with chemotherapy, radiation and a stem cell transplant.
“About an hour and a half before the show, I'm working on the setlist,” McMahon told CURE®. “And every day, I do the setlist and then at the top of the setlist I put the city and the date. And I asked somebody, like, ‘What's the date today?’ And they said, ‘It's the 27th,’ then as I'm typing the date, I realize, ‘Oh, that's the anniversary of when I was put in the hospital.’
“And we were in Atlantic City, and I had been between New Jersey and New York when I did the initial blood work that ended up leading to my hospitalization and eventually my diagnosis. Historically, that has been a very fraught anniversary for me. In the early years … even when I wouldn't realize the anniversary was coming up that weekend, inevitably, I was a mess. … So, being in a place now where I can actually forget those anniversaries, like they can almost pass me by and there's no trigger there, I'm on a healthy footing and that's pretty miraculous.”
McMahon founded the Dear Jack Foundation in 2006. The organization supports young adult cancer patients and survivors “through programs that provide support and community to a demographic far too often forgotten,” according to the Dear Jack Foundation website.
In this episode of the “Cancer Horizons” podcast, McMahon speaks with CURE®about life nearly 20 years after receiving his cancer diagnosis, shares the advice he has for patients who have recently received a diagnosis of their own and discusses his newfound love of surfing.
“The beauty of surfing is that you just have to you take what you get, right? A lot of it is about learning how to understand what the natural environment around you is doing and then using that to get yourself into just about the greatest feeling that you can have on Earth, which is riding a wave,” McMahon said. “And so, I think it's been very good for me in the sense that it has really hammered home how valuable and how important it is to commune with the natural world.
“And it's also one of just the very few spaces I can think of where whatever's happening in my life and whatever's going on in my business, or things that I might be worried about or afraid of, or whatever, I just don't carry those things into the water with me. And it's not really a conscious thing. It's just once I'm there, you're just present. And I definitely, at this stage of my life — I've always been pretty good about keeping the phone at bay, and I'm not a huge social media guy, I'm not so plugged in, but I'm way more plugged in than I have ever been in my life — having a space where nobody can reach me and I can just do something that so akin to just play playing, I think as adults we don't play as much as we ought to is really good for the brain and I've found a lot of peace in the water for sure.”
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It’s been more than 35 years since Peter Kahan and Dr. Ravi Munver first met. Back then, they were a teacher and his student, respectively. These days, the two men remain connected, but their relationship has evolved — Munver is now a key member of Kahan’s bladder cancer care team.
“To have to have a somebody who really looks upon you as a friend as (your) doctor, (who) really can see you as more than just another patient is great,” said Kahan, who described his connection with Munver, a urologic oncologist and vice chair of the department of urology at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey, as “completely” crucial to his cancer journey.
“You know, there are a lot of physicians who are phenomenal,” said Munver. “But when you meet them, to them you're a patient, and they care for you as a patient. It's very different when you either have a personal relationship with a physician, or you have a physician who literally has a motto that says ‘I treat all of my patients like my friends and family,’ meaning if Peter walked in the door or a family friend walked in the door or a distant family member walked in the door, I would treat them all exactly the same. One would not get more time or better treatment than another. So, when you have physicians that have that model where they treat every patient as if they were their own family member or friend, you just get a different feel flavor and level of care.”
Kahan was Munver’s honors physics teacher at the Dwight-Englewood school in northern New Jersey in 1987, where he noted that Munver was “one of my best students. … He was extremely meticulous and careful in his work.”
“Of all the sciences that I took — biology, chemistry, physics — physics really came easy to me, because it was math-based,” Munver said. “And I just remember obviously trying to do well in the class, but also enjoying the material. You have a great teacher, a teacher who teaches the material, who loves the material and has a passion for it, it makes that class that much easier and more fun and enjoyable, especially when you're first semester senior applying to college. And once I'd gotten into college, obviously, it was just a continuation of just more fun and learning. So, I really enjoyed class and I think what I remember most about it was it was a topic that was easy for me but enjoyable and very different from all of the other natural sciences.”
The two men re-connected years later at a memorial service for a former teacher at Dwight-Englewood. Kahan, retired from teaching and living in upstate New York, discovered blood in his urine in 2019, and he subsequently received a diagnosis of high-grade non-muscle invasive bladder cancer from his local urologist.
Treatment with the immunotherapy bacillus calmette-guerin (BCG) and the chemotherapy mitomycin inserted directly into the bladder followed. When his cancer recurred, Munver’s doctors recommended he seek a cystectomy, or removal of the bladder and prostate, at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.
Kahan reached out to Munver, looking for a second opinion.
“As director of minimally invasive and robotic urologic surgery, I'm always looking at novel techniques, novel therapies that can offer patients good results, as well as a great quality of life,” said Munver. “And when Peter had told me about the traditional therapies that were being used, we use them as well. We use BCG. … When BCG fails, many urologists will jump to the next step, which is removal of the bladder. And that's what I learned in residency 22 years ago, and that's what people learned 30 years ago, and that’s what people learned 50 years ago, it was that was the only algorithm.
“However, a lot has changed, and I wanted to make sure that if he needed his bladder out, that (that) was the right thing to do. And it didn't have to be (done by) with me with robotic surgery, it could have been at any other institution of his choice. But at least I wanted to offer him a second opinion from someone who is in the academic space and knows all of the latest therapies out there.”
Munver surgically removed the tumor and treated him with the immunotherapy combination of BCG and interferon. When the tumor returned, Hackensack had received approval for the novel chemotherapy drug combination of gemcitabine and docetaxel, administered in liquid form directly into the bladder.
“In combination, the two medicines would really have a cancer cell destroying effect, and the clinical trials have been going on for years but we weren't able to accrue enough patients across the country and across the world to really see a demonstrable effect, we needed at least several year(s’ of) data to be able to say, ‘Yes, this works compared to our traditional therapies,’” Munver said.
“It's a massive undertaking to bring a new therapy to our patients, and we’d been working on it for months,” Dr. Nitin Yerram, director of urologic research at Hackensack, said in a statement. “Right when we were about to go live, Peter was looking for options.”
Studies have shown that up to half of patients respond to this novel therapy and are able to avoid surgery, Yerram said.
Kahan began treatment with the chemotherapy combination in January 2022, and he tells CURE® it has been approximately a year and a half since any tumors were found, through florescence in situ hybridization (FISH) tests, which check for chromosomal multiplications, have come back positive. “It's not necessarily that there are cancer cells, but there are cells that have a tendency to increase their proliferation. And we often see those in cancer cells,” Munver said.
“We have several patients who are on this therapy right now, and several of the patients do have a positive urine test, but there's visibly no evidence of tumor I can see,” said Munver. “And I can see tumors as small as one to two millimeters. … As I mentioned to Peter, if the tumors return, basically the bladder cancer will declare itself and to this point, it is not, and we are just monitoring him very closely. And you know, we cross our fingers and hope that this therapy keeps him with a really good quality of life for many years to come.”
In this episode of the “Cancer Horizons” podcast, Kahan and Munver speak with CURE about the importance of their friendship and their decision to embrace a new treatment option.
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Bill C. Potts, author of the book “Up for the Fight,” lends his experiences and knowledge about cancer to his readers as a five-time cancer survivor.
“In September of 2020, I woke up from surgery to remove a really painful tumor in below my right hip,” Potts told CURE® during an exclusive interview. “And I had an emotional breakdown, when I was waking up from the surgery in the recovery room, and they called in the pastor and we talked through a lot of things, including the reasons why I should continue to fight the battle. And at the end of that conversation, the pastor told me that I should turn my pain into purpose and write a book to help others.”
In 2002, at 42 years old, Potts received a diagnosis of thyroid cancer. Since then, he has experienced four cases of lymphoma and, most recently, received a diagnosis of prostate cancer. Potts knew he needed to share his story with others, so during chemotherapy treatments, he picked up his laptop and began writing. He grasped the opportunity to urge fellow patients to advocate for themselves, as he learned to do.
Potts, at 63 years old, recently celebrated two years in remission and chooses to live in the moment, spending each day doing what he wants to do.
In this episode of the “Cancer Horizons” podcast, Potts speaks with CURE about his cancer journey and his book “Up for the Fight.”
“I'd kept my cancer (a) secret until the book came out. And now that the book is out, it's challenging at times, because it's hard to talk about,” he said. “Sometimes it can be triggering to talk about it, but mostly what I find is that it's rewarding, and the impact that it's having on other cancer patients. So, I would say that it's a responsibility.”
Since sharing his story through writing his book, others with similar experiences have also picked it up, which Potts said was encouraging. It further motivated him to promote his book as a guide for patients and their families. Potts told CURE that he especially wanted to promote the book to patients experiencing cancer right after being diagnosis, “so that it can make a difference in their journey.”
Potts explained that he didn’t have guides to turn to when he was first diagnosed, and emphasized how this book was one he wished someone else had written for him. Or, as he describes it, “there really wasn’t that how-to guide out there, like ‘What to Expect When You’re Expecting,’ but for cancer.”
Now, the book has become Potts’ purpose.
Potts admitted that he didn’t “own his journey” when he was first diagnosed with thyroid cancer. “I let the doctors tell me what to do, and that that decision still may cost me my life,” he said. “So, the first thing is that you have to create the mindset, that this is me, it's my job. And the key part is the job part, to get better and to own the journey, that it's a little bit counterintuitive to a lot of people that you own your journey, not the healthcare team. But the healthcare team appreciates a patient that owns their journey.”
In “Up for the Fight,” Potts stresses to his readers that owning their journeys and advocating for themselves is necessary. He told CURE some tips that worked for him: research potential cancer treatment centers, get a second opinion, take notes during appointments, build relationships with care teams, communicate with doctors and care teams, research the drugs and treatments that will be used and ensure proper mental and emotional support.
“I do that through groups on Facebook, which is super helpful, but professional help, like therapists, things like that is also a great way to own your journey,” Potts said during the interview. “And I really have been lucky to get to know a lot of people through the book (who) are owning their journey and that also inspires me (and) gives me hope.”
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It’s been nearly a decade since Christina McAmis began her journey with stage 4 breast cancer. At the time, she was a 32-year-old married mother of three, including twin boys and a baby daughter, and had recently begun studying at a California law school.
“All sorts of positive, amazing things were coming together into what I thought was going to be the happiest time of my life,” she told CURE®.
While breastfeeding her six-month-old daughter, McAmis found a lump, approximately half of the size of a grain of rice, close to her sternum. Given her family history of breast cancer, McAmis began seeing Dr. Claudia DeYoung, an internist specializing in breast health who runs the Center for Breast Health at the South Sacramento Kaiser Permanente Medical Center.
“We had done an ultrasound and determined that it seemed like just a lymph node, I was still nursing so having a lymph node swollen in that area was not surprising,” McAmis said. “I had just started law school, so my nursing schedule had been completely changed because of that (and) my daughter never did ever take a bottle. … And so, we had decided to watch that and if there were changes to let Dr. DeYoung know.”
McAmis became wrapped up in law school, and a couple of weeks before midterms she received an emergency phone call while picking up her sons from school.
“I needed to come home right away, my townhouse was on fire,” she said. “And literally the townhouse next door burnt down to the ground, we were lucky enough just to sustain some really heavy smoke damage. I spent that night with my 12-month-old — who does not sleep well at other people's houses — at my friend's house.”
McAmis had to wake up at 6 a.m. the next day for an appointment with DeYoung, but she was in no mood to do so.
“I was like, ‘I'm not doing this. I'm not doing this,’” she said. “But somewhere in the back of my brain was just like, ‘You've got to do this, it needs to just happen.’ So, I pulled on my big girl boots and trumped off to Dr. DeYoung's office. And we decided to biopsy at that point, because the mass had not gotten really much bigger, but also had not gone away at all.”
Testing determined that McAmis had breast cancer, that the disease was in her lymph nodes and she a lesion on her breastbone, just above her heart.
“At that point, we decided to stop playing, (that) this was stage four, that it had metastasized,” she said.
Chemotherapy, then surgery to remove her breasts and ovaries, followed. McAmis, now working as an attorney, and DeYoung have reconnected via the Cancer Survivorship Program following McAmis’ completion of active treatment as she transitioned to maintenance therapy.
“You know, that grain of (rice), pea-sized lump that Christina and her husband had felt, looked on imaging (to be) benign,” DeYoung said. “But it wasn't. … That follow-up is crucial. That follow up by Christina, that follow up by her care team. And so, I'm glad we stayed on it.
“And again, there's always hindsight and (you could say) ‘Coulda, woulda, shoulda,’ (but) the fact of the matter is we made the best decision at the point in time with the evidence that we had, with the agreement that we're going to monitor this and if it goes away, then great (and) if it doesn't or if it changes then we're going to go down a different route. And we were true to that plan. And thank goodness we were.”
In this episode of the CURE “Cancer Horizons” podcast, Christina and Dr. DeYoung discuss her cancer journey and Christina shares how she and her family have navigated it together for the last nine years.
“I … told (my children) that right now, we're living,” McAmis said. “I am living, and we're going to focus on the living.”
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The work continues, and evolves, for the team at Latinas Contra Cancer as the service and advocacy organization working with Latino patients with cancer approaches its 20th anniversary later this year.
“The needs have changed,” executive director Darcie Green, who has been with the organization for five years, told CURE®. “It's important for organizations to do this continuous check-in to see, 'Is our mission still needed? Have parts of it been accomplished, have the needs of the people we're serving changed?'”
Founded in 2003 by journalist and cancer survivor Ysabel Duron and based in San Jose, California, Latinas Contra Cancer has, according to its website, “educated over 7,500 individuals about cancer, resulting in hundreds of preventive screenings and many early detections.”
The organization piloted a patient navigator program at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center Sobrato Cancer Center which was purportedly the first of its kind in 2010, trained more than 200 community health educators across the country, hosted National Latino Cancer Summits and opened a wig and prosthesis boutique.
Green’s connection to the work of Latinas Contra Cancer is deeply personal.
“My grandmother passed away of breast cancer, and while she was battling breast cancer and looking for a support community, she was in the very first support group ever held by LCC,” Green said. “And so, I know firsthand how important that work was at the time, and how really revolutionary it was, even defiant in a way, that patients deserved access to care in their language and in ways that weren't just based out of hospital settings and clinic settings, which can be traumatic for some people, you know, in itself.”
Green said that although Latinas Contra Cancer’s original mission of health education, research and fostering relationships between patients and providers was largely focused on individual behavior, and that work remains, in the modern medical landscape “the language around culturally and linguistically competent care is very normalized, at least here in the area where we're at. We know there are other places in the country that are lagging far behind. But for where we where we are, it's normalized, and many organizations have patient navigators.”
The overall mission, however, has “changed pretty radically” during her time with the organization, as Green explained.
“We have evolved to focus much more on systems and still holding up the importance of individual behavior but recognizing that you really can't individual behavior your way out of health injustice and systemic health disparities, that these are less about the problems with patients and more about a healthcare system that is just not adequately meeting the needs of all of its patients,” she said.
“And so, as we have started to look more at systems, and how we could have patients doing everything right — like my grandmother, right, everything was healthy: healthy lifestyle, maintaining a healthy diet, didn't smoke, drink, didn't do any of those things — and (they) still got breast cancer. … We're still doing service providing, we're still doing health education and patient navigation and patient advocacy, and all of those programs have evolved as you would expect. And we've added this other space of programming that is our first venture into what's not service providing outside of research. And so, we are full speed ahead into this area of patient organizing.”
In this episode of CURE’s “Cancer Horizons” podcast, Green tells us about the evolving mission of Latinas Contra Cancer and story of the organization’s Defensoras health advocacy cohort, a 10-week training program launched in 2021.
“As an organization, we have been very much changed by the (COVID-19) pandemic, because our population is the medically vulnerable, immunocompromised folks, and Latino and low-income,” Green said. “And in this area, we know that the Latino community was hit the hardest economically as well. And so ethically, our response to that has been: 'It's not enough just to help people navigate health disparity. It's not enough just to help people navigate what we know to be a completely predictable, preventable injustice. We have to eliminate it.' And not we as LCC, not we the individual employees at LCC, we have to start holding space for patients to become powerful, and to eliminate those disparities for themselves.”
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William S. Laird gives readers an enlightening, inspiring and unflinching look at his journey with appendiceal cancer in the memoir “Not Me, Cancer,” now available via Archway Publishing.
“I wrote this book when I was on chemo,” Laird tells CURE. “And I told my wife one day, I said, ‘I'm gonna write a book about this experience.’ And of course, I got a pump on my side, and she's looking at me like I'm a little bit crazy, because I'm not an author. And she was kind of like ‘Oh well,’ or not kind of believing it.
“But two weeks later, I started typing and I journaled my story, and not my whole story but I took it to a point where I felt I made my points. And I felt like God tapped me on the shoulder to write this book. He helped me write it. And I think there's good messaging in it.”
Laird first received a diagnosis of appendiceal cancer in 2015. In the nearly decade since, he has undergone 35 rounds of chemotherapy and counting as well as procedures including a surgical debulking via HIPEC (hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy) — or, as he puts it: “Basically you’re cut open, pelvis to sternum, and they take all your insides out, and if there's anything in there they don't like they take it out, and they kind of put you back together and run 107 degree chemo therapy through your abdomen for an hour and a half with nurses pushing on your abdomen to get it in every crack and crevice.”
In this episode of the “Cancer Horizons” podcast, Laird speaks with CURE about his decision to share his story, his cancer journey so far and the importance of perseverance.
“Now, it's a rare cancer, I don't know if it ever goes away, I'm gonna try to outfight it,” he said. “But I never look at the situation like this is the end of me. I don't. It's just (that) this is a bump in the road, it's supposed to be part of my life, and I deal with it.
“I'll get chemo, sometimes I'll be at work the next day. And people see I really push. And so I don't do things traditionally. And I even see it when people find out I've got cancer, they are ‘Oh, no,’ like, ‘Oh, that's the end,’ but to me, it isn't. It's just part of my life, and I'm a fighter.”
Early in “Not Me, Cancer,” Laird makes a clear case for sharing his story of survivorship, writing that “all of what we know and experience from others can have a personal impact on each of us if we are faced with the same cancer challenges.”
“I'm a human, I care about my fellow humans,” he tells CURE, “and if I can have an impact on this planet, and make a difference for people, which I believe I can, then I feel like I'm kind of gifted a little bit. … If by my example I can help others, to me, that's the most important thing that I can do in my lifetime.”
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Mike Peters, the singer and guitarist of Welsh rockers The Alarm, gives fans an inside perspective of his cancer journey on “Forwards,” the band’s new album arriving via The Twenty First Century Recording Company on June 2. Peters wrote his band’s latest LP while hospitalized for leukemia — often using members of his care team as an unofficial sounding board for the new material.
Peters’ two-month hospital stay in 2022 was the latest chapter of his cancer journey. He received a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 1995, then chronic lymphocyte leukemia in 2005, which relapsed in 2015.
In this episode of the “Cancer Horizons” podcast, Peters tells CURE® about his cancer journey, the creation of “Forwards” and returning to the North Wales Cancer Centre, the hospital where he was treated, to film the music video for “Next.”
This episode features excerpts from the singles “Forwards,” “Next” and “Whatever” by The Alarm from the Twenty First Century Recording Company release “Forwards.”
There’s no stopping Dr. Dawn Mussallem.
Mussallem — a lifestyle medicine and integrative breast cancer specialist at the Robert and Monica Jacoby Center for Breast Health at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida — is a cancer survivor, a recipient of both bone marrow and heart transplants, a mother and a marathon runner.
Mussallem explained to CURE® how her own life experiences have helped her connect with patients on health journeys of their own.
“Going through what you go through, it really gives you the ability to connect with people,” she said. “It's such a gift, that ability to connect, and really kind of be able to have a good sense or intuition, if you may, of where they're at in their cancer journey, and just to be able to be there with them, and that time of vulnerability. And so, it's given me the ability to have a good pulse on exactly where I need to be with a patient.”
When she was 26 and in the early months of medical school, Mussallem began experiencing shortness of breath and fatigue. One doctor told her she had asthma, another concurred and a third said it was all in her head. A few days later, she collapsed on her way home from class — she was in cardiogenic shock, and her heart wasn’t pumping.
Doctors found a 16-centimeter mass in her chest wrapped around her heart that had collapsed her left lung. She was diagnosed with stage 4, large diffuse B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and was told she had three months to live if she didn’t start treatment immediately, she recounted.
Surgery, chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant followed. And life continued for her. She began her career in medicine, gave birth to a daughter who’s now 19 and, three weeks later, began experiencing heart failure.
Mussallem spent 18 years in heart failure. During that time, she stayed as active as possible, worked with her patients and volunteered at the National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer operated by the DONNA Foundation, an organization which financially assists and supports patients with breast cancer and funds breast cancer research.
“I remember working here in the Breast Center with my breast cancer patients and volunteering at the DONNA Marathon because I couldn't run — I couldn't walk it with the heart failure,” Mussallem said. “And I remember just thinking, ‘Oh, my gosh, I would give anything one day to be able to run this. If or when I get a transplant, I'll be good enough to do that.’”
The transplant happened in February of 2021, and exactly one year to the day later, Mussallem crossed the marathon’s finish line.
In this episode of the “Cancer Horizons” podcast, Mussallem talks with CURE® about her DONNA Marathon training experience her connection with her patients and the importance of physical activity for patients during their cancer journey.
“For 18 years, I wanted to do what I did … but I had to hold back because I knew I only had so much to give,” she said. “And now I can just give and give and give because I feel great. I gotta get rid of my energy.”
For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here.
It took a 15-minute doctor’s appointment to change Shannon Miller’s life.
Miller, a two-time Olympic gymnast who earned seven medals, was diagnosed with a rare form of ovarian cancer in January 2011. She first had surgery to have a baseball-sized tumor removed from her ovary before undergoing aggressive chemotherapy.
Throughout this experience, she tapped into her competitive and hardworking nature as an athlete to get her through the experience.
“There are so many lessons that I learned through sport that applied very directly to my cancer journey. I think goal setting was a big part of that,” Miller, who was also the keynote speaker at the 2023 Extraordinary Healer® award, said in an interview with CURE®. “They give you a sense of accomplishment along the way.”
READ MORE: Abbey Kaler, M.S., APRN, FNP-C, CMSRN, Wins CURE®’s 2023 Extraordinary Healer® Award
However, when treatment ended, that did not mean the cancer experience was over, Miller explained.
“(During) that next phase post-treatment … part of that journey of trying to figure out this new normal, and figuring out how to make sure not only I was mentally prepared for the next phase, but people around me around me were prepared for that as well,” Miller explained. “Because it's not like you finish treatment and the next day, you're 100% you have to give yourself some grace, give yourself some time to heal and try to figure out your next steps.”
In this episode of the Cancer Horizons podcast, Miller discussed her cancer diagnosis, how she took her athlete mindset to cancer and beyond and one oncology nurse who helped her through it all.
For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here.
Before being diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer at the age of 34, Jennifer Broxterman was constantly told that she was young and healthy — but the registered dietitian knew that something was off.
At the time of her cervical cancer diagnosis in 2015, Emily Lynn Paulson was involved in a multi-level marketing (MLM) company — a business where individuals sign up to sell products, and then are encouraged to recruit others to distribute under them.
“When I got the diagnosis, I thought ‘OK, I’m going to have to step back and take a break from this,” Paulson said in an interview with CURE®. “I was really encouraged by the people in my upline (saying), ‘Use this to your advantage. You’re going through this thing. People love personal stories, people love vulnerability.’”
After Paulson was diagnosed, others in the company encouraged her to use her diagnosis to sell more products; she said that this type of emotional manipulation was not an uncommon tactic to make more money.
READ MORE: The Dark Side of Cancer and Social Media
Meanwhile, Paulson underwent a trachelectomy (cervix removal) and was working on getting sober after her bout with cancer. Two years later, she received a second diagnosis, which led to a hysterectomy, and more doubt about the company she was working for. Eventually, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, she said she realized how predatory these sales tactics were and left the company to become a sobriety coach and author of the book, “Hey Hun: Sales, Sisterhood, Supremacy, and the Other Lies Behind Multilevel Marketing.”
“Being in an MLM, you really target people’s pain points… there’s a solution to every pain point; it’s just a very predatory design,” she said.
In this episode of the “Cancer Horizons” podcast, Paulson discusses her cancer experience, life in the MLM, sobriety and more.
For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here.
Teri Griege completed an Ironman triathlon in 2009, and less than a month later received a stage 4 colorectal cancer diagnosis. In this episode of Cancer Horizons, she shared her story.
In this episode of the “Cancer Horizons” podcast, “Rabbi G” discusses his global travels to teach breathwork to children with cancer, and gives an exercise listeners can use to decrease their pain and anxiety.
Lung cancer survivor Terri Conneran shares her story of creating a non-profit to help connect with fellow patients and survivors who have the KRAS biomarker.
A childhood cancer survivor now works raising funds for Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the same hospital where she received treatment for Ewing sarcoma at 12 years old.
When Sean Korbitz was a 20-year-old college student, his life trajectory changed with a rare cancer diagnosis, resulting in the removal of 40 tumors; fifteen years later, a new drug made him feel like a “medical miracle.”
After Marshall Morris was diagnosed with a rare cancer and given only six months to live, he created a charity that empowers people with terminal illness and provides them with counseling and support.
A nurse shares what it was like when her daughter was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A 17-year survivor shares her experience getting diagnosed with mesothelioma, a rare and deadly cancer, at 36, when people with this cancer are typically diagnosed at a much older age and given months to live.
For Tara Rolle, the treatment was the easy part of her cancer experience.
Diagnosed with small-cell neuroendocrine cervical cancer, a rare and aggressive form of cancer, at 37, Rolle was initially shocked but then jumped into planning mode. She rallied her family for support, figured out the most appropriate way to explain the situation to her teenage daughter and even managed to continue her job as a San Francisco school superintendent while undergoing treatment.
At The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Rolle received overlapping cancer treatment. After undergoing six rounds of chemotherapy, 30 rounds of external-beam radiation and three brachytherapies (when radioactive sources are placed inside the patient to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors), Rolle was officially declared free of cancer in July 2020 — five months after first being diagnosed.
While Rolle’s family was relieved and ready to move on, Rolle was unable to join them.
Fears of cancer recurrence plagued her, and she found herself taking long walks and writing down these thoughts, which she dubbed “the white noise of survivorship,” in an attempt to give them less power over her mindset.
Realizing that these long messages could help communicate her feelings of anxiety to her family and help other survivors in similar situations, Rolle decide to put them into a book, “The White Noise of Survivorship: and Other Unsolicited Lessons I Learned From Cancer.”
In today’s episode of the “Cancer Horizons” podcast, Rolle shares the unexpected upsides of undergoing cancer treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic, why she chose to not initially go public with her diagnosis, how writing her book helped process her fears of cancer recurrence and more.
For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here.
Kelly Thomas wasn’t expecting to be on this side of the breast cancer experience.
Thomas worked in finance and the company she was employed at regularly partnered with the American Cancer Society. Throughout the years, she routinely volunteered to collect donations for the American Cancer Society during breast cancer walks.
Despite not having a family history of breast cancer, she remained diligent about self-exams but never noticed anything. Everything changed one December morning in 2017, when she sat down to watch TV and felt a large lump on her left breast. Thomas, who was 33 at the time, immediately made an appointment to see her gynecologist who then referred her to get a mammogram. A week later, she was diagnosed with stage 3 triple-negative breast cancer.
In today’s episode of the “Cancer Horizons” podcast, Thomas breaks down her journey from volunteer to patient to advocate, the isolation she felt navigating breast cancer as a younger woman, starting an Instagram account to promote positive stories of patients living with triple-negative breast cancer and more.
For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here.
Has anyone ever thought that reading the fine print of a document would save their life?
When David Sturges, an attorney from New Ulm, Minnesota, went to the doctor for a CT scan to assess his risk for heart disease, he wasn’t expecting a lung cancer diagnosis. After all, he had quit smoking almost 20 years ago and was only 53 years old.
However, when the scan came back with a footnote noting there was a mass on the lobe of his right lung, Sturges immediately went in for a biopsy. In February 2002, he was diagnosed with stage 1A non-small lung cancer and shortly after, had a lobectomy (the removal of the lower lobe of the right lung).
A year later, his doctor noticed a new suspicious mass and recommended another surgery. When Sturges sought a second opinion, the new oncologist stated that he did not recommend surgery at that time. With regular screening that monitored the growth of the tumor, Sturges was able to avoid another surgery until 2017.
On today’s episode of the “Cancer Horizons” podcast, Sturges, who is now 75, shares how cancer treatments have changed in the past 21 years, his advocacy work with the Lung Cancer Foundation of America (a research foundation based in New Ulm, Minnesota), the importance of seeking genetic testing, decreasing the stigma around smokers getting lung cancer and more.
For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here.
Jeffery Battles, a 53-year-old with stage 4 lung cancer, says that he feels lucky for having a rare genetic mutation.
The father of three from Connie Lake, Pennsylvania, wasn’t expecting lung cancer to become part of his life. Even when he started experiencing chest pains in February 2021, Battles originally dismissed the pains as lingering symptoms from an earlier case of COVID-19.
Once he finally saw his doctor, he was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer, the most common type of lung cancer. He then immediately underwent genetic testing, which revealed that Battles had an EGFR exon 20 insertion mutation — information his doctors used to modify his cancer treatment.
EGFR exon 20 insertion mutation is a mutation in the cells that increases the growth of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a protein on cells that helps cancer cells grow. Of note, cancers with an EGFR exon 20 insertion mutation doesn’t respond to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), the typical treatment for EGFR-positive lung cancer.
In today’s episode of “Cancer Horizons,” Battles describes how he feels fortunate to know the status of his mutation, and how it helped him be proactive with his cancer treatment, finding support from his family and online communities.
What do you do when your professional training tells you that something might be off with your body, but your doctors disagree?
That’s the position Kate Laseter found herself in last August. As a histology technician — someone who is trained to turn tissue samples into microscopic slides for a pathologist to read for research or diagnostic purposes — Laseter was very diligent with her health. And since she worked for a lab in Golden, Colorado, that specialized in breast cancer research, she noted she was diligent with self-breast exams. She was also well informed about Ki-67, a protein that is expressed when tumor cells divide. A high Ki-67 index indicates aggressive tumor growth. The median Ki-67 score is 15%.
After finding a lump, she tried to get a mammogram but was denied due to her age (she was 29 at the time). When doctors dismissed the findings of her ultrasound and said to wait three to six months to get a biopsy, Laseter had to fight to get it done right away. Eight weeks after finding the lump, Laseter was diagnosed with HER-2 positive stage 2 invasive ductal carcinoma with a grade 3 histological score and a Ki-67 score of 65%.
Of note, grade 3 histological score indicates abnormal cancer cells that may spread more aggressively. After receiving chemotherapy and a double mastectomy, she was declared cancer-free in March 2022.
In today’s episode of the “Cancer Horizons” podcast, the 30-year-old Thornton, Colorado, resident shares her cancer journey, how her job as a histology technician helped guide her through her diagnosis and treatment, the important role Ki-67 scores can play in breast cancer treatment, the significance of self-advocacy as a patient with cancer and more.
For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here.
A patient with metastatic breast cancer shares how she learned that her disease was recently reclassified as HER-2 low, and what it was like to first learn about the FDA-approved drug years before she would be prescribed the treatment.
On the final day of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, CURE® revisited Micah Bernstein, an 11-year-old, three-time survivor of neuroblastoma, whom we last interviewed in 2018.
In this episode of “Cancer Horizons”, Micah and Jeff provide an update on their lives since 2018, discuss how the childhood cancer space has changed over the past 10 years, their ongoing advocacy efforts and partnering with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation to raise over $100,000 for neuroblastoma awareness and research.
While Micah continues to use her voice to help other children with cancer, she said she also hopes to carve an identity for herself outside of cancer as a “normalish” child who eats snack food, plays clarinet and works on a novel. She shares tips for dealing with fears of cancer recurrence, what she wishes people knew about childhood cancer survivors and more.
For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here.
When Angelia Carpenter was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma in 2009, she thought she knew what to expect. After all, her mother was diagnosed with the same cancer just four years ago. She went to the doctor and followed the recommended steps.
But everything changed seven years later, when she noticed what she thought was just a pimple on her breast.
In this’s episode of “Cancer Horizons,” the 62-year-old Missouri resident recounts her experience of being diagnosed with secondary angiosarcoma after undergoing breast cancer treatment, traveling to multiple oncologists to seek treatment for her extremely rare cancer, writing a book with her family about her experiences and more.
For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget tosubscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here.
Christine Whelchel wasn’t going to let breast cancer slow her down. The Tennessee native and piano teacher was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2021 and less than a year later, she was a “Jeopardy!” champion.
Whelchel made headlines in March when she appeared in the Feb. 28, 2022, episode of “Jeopardy!” without her wig to normalize what cancer recovery looks like. This decision was applauded by “Jeopardy!” fans and cancer survivors around the world.
On her decision, Whelchel said, “My hair had just gotten to that point where I was more comfortable. I was getting less self-conscious about it, but then the idea of being on national TV with (my short hair) was a big step. I'm thinking, do I really want to do this? ... I decided this is something I need to do. This is something that people need to see, that this is what we (cancer survivors) go through.”
Whelchel won four consecutive games and racked up $73,602 in winnings.
On today’s episode of Cancer Horizons, Whelchel discusses her cancer and “Jeopardy!” journeys, as well as what it was like to audition for “Jeopardy!” the day before her double mastectomy and much more.
For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here.
After being diagnosed with kidney cancer — which was a possible result of exposure to the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City – Steven Edwards realized that he had to be his own advocate. Pivotal to his advocacy was asking questions and getting as many professional opinions as possible.
“I probably would consider whether it was the right doctor for me in the first place if a doctor was upset about getting a second opinion, because it’s all about gathering education and becoming educated yourself,” Edwards said in an interview with CURE®.
Edwards went through multiple different treatments, including the participation on a clinical trial, and continues to push for better outcomes for himself and other survivors through being an advocate for the Kidney Cancer Association and KidneyCAN.
Through cancer setbacks like a diagnosis of metastatic disease in 2017, classifying Edwards’ disease as stage 4, he continues to seek information in this rapidly changing field. After all, “There’s only way to go, and that’s forward,” Edwards said.
For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here.
Sara Montiel was 36 when she received a diagnosis of breast cancer. She recalls that genetic tests to identify any targetable mutations came back negative. And so, Montiel, a wife and mother of a daughter, made the decision to undergo a double mastectomy.
Montiel described her choice as wanting to only pass through this journey once, which she says is ultimately why she went with a double mastectomy.
At the time, she decided she was going to undergo breast reconstruction surgery after the double mastectomy. However, Montiel developed an infection and after consultations with her care team, made the choice to go flat.
In this episode of the “Cancer Horizons” podcast, Montiel discusses the body image issues she developed after her double mastectomy and subsequent infection, but she also concludes by saying how cancer was ultimately a blessing in disguise.
“Having cancer is a blessing,” Montiel said in an interview with CURE®. “Because if you have the opportunity to find yourself again, we (then) have the opportunity to love ourselves from the inside. And I think that … when this love emerges again, then the outside will glow also. It doesn’t matter if we lose our hair; doesn’t matter if we lose one boob or two boobs … (as long as we are) glowing from the inside, that is the value.”
In this episode of the “Cancer Horizons” podcast, the founder of Jack’s Caregiver Coalition, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting men throughout the caregiving experience, explores the layered sociological factors which can affect men in unique ways when they are supporting a loved one with cancer.
On this episode of the “Cancer Horizons” podcast, former NFL linebacker Chris Draft discusses his wife’s experience with cancer, which led to her untimely death, and describes why advocacy is so important in the cancer world, especially with Cancer Moonshot bringing disparities to the forefront.
On this episode of the “Cancer Horizons” podcast, a cancer nurse explains how her son’s leukemia diagnosis transformed her work, her research and her outlook on life.
In this episode of the “Cancer Horizons” podcast, a woman living with colorectal cancer who was diagnosed 14 years ago at age 29 discusses what it was like to be the youngest person in the treatment room, and how she found another community of young survivors.
In this episode of the “Cancer Horizons” podcast, a cervical cancer survivor and advocate explains how she navigated being given six to 24 months to live as a single mother of three children and no health insurance.
In this episode of the “Cancer Horizons” podcast, a physician assistant recalls his experience as a frontline health care worker during the COVID-19 pandemic and what it was like to get diagnosed with multiple myeloma during such a chaotic time.
In this episode of the “Cancer Horizons” podcast, an expert unpacks cancer risks for individuals with Down syndrome and analyzes the results of a recent study about mortality risks for childhood survivors later in life.
On this episode of the “Cancer Horizons” podcast, a colorectal cancer survivor explains how she was the last patient to receive a colonoscopy leading to her stage 3 diagnosis as her doctor’s office shut down because of COVID-19 in March 2020.
On this episode of the “Cancer Horizons” podcast, LeVar Burton sits down with CURE® to talk about the importance of MPN awareness and the power of storytelling in advocacy.
On this episode of the “Cancer Horizons” podcast, a woman with multiple myeloma shares how she made the best of her cancer treatment process by channeling her emotions through fashion expression.
On this episode of the “Cancer Horizons” podcast, a man explains how his late wife’s breast cancer diagnosis changed his life and his understanding of the disease.
On this episode of the “Cancer Horizons” podcast, an expert from the Huntsman Cancer Institute explains how physical exercise can help patients with cancer and potentially reduce side effects.
On this episode of the “Cancer Horizons” podcast, actress and comedian Jessica St. Clair and writer Dan O’Brien share their cancer stories and how they channeled their emotions through creativity.
On this episode of the “Cancer Horizons” podcast, a young mother living with lung cancer shares the story of her cancer diagnosis and describes the once-in-a-lifetime coincidence of learning her neighbor has the same cancer type and mutation.
Each year, CURE is presented with the unique opportunity to recognize individuals who have made a difference in the lives of those with lung cancer.
CURE, Takeda, and the advocacy community are bringing together the lung cancer community to end the stigma, inform, connect, and empower anyone who has been impacted by lung cancer.
Together as one community, we can raise awareness of lung cancer, and most importantly, recognize and celebrate the esteemed individuals contributing to improving the lives of lung cancer patients, our Lung Cancer Heroes: Heidi Nafman-Onda, Dr. Hossein Borghaei, and Dr. Kenneth Rosenzweig.
In this episode, CURE spoke to its Lung Cancer Heroes about what the honor means to them and bringing the lung cancer community together.
On this episode of the “Cancer Horizons” podcast, CURE® contributor Amanda Ferraro describes what it was like to receive a cancer diagnosis at 28 years old with a 3-year-old child and discusses the importance of mental health for cancer survivors.
An expert from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society breaks down the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine in patients with blood cancers on this episode of the “Cancer Horizons” podcast.
“We tried very hard, my daughter and I, to have a daughter-father relationship, not a daughter-doctor relationship,” said Dr. Michael Weiner on this episode of the “CURE® Talks Cancer” podcast, in which he discussed his career, his own cancer journey and his daughter’s diagnosis.
One survivor explains how joining a clinical trial for an experimental drug saved his life after he was informed that he only had four weeks to live. Keith Taggart shares his story in this episode of the “CURE® Talks Cancer” podcast.
A woman explains how she received a lung cancer diagnosis while she was caring for her sick husband and what it was like to lose him in this episode of the “CURE® Talks Cancer” podcast.
It is vital to find support when your child has cancer. In this two-part episode of the “CURE® Talks Cancer” podcast, a family shares how they were able to remain strong as their 9-year-old was treated for neuroendocrine cancer.
Where do you turn when your child is diagnosed with a rare cancer? In this two-part episode of the “CURE®Talks Cancer” podcast, a family shares the harrowing experience of learning their nine-year-old had neuroendocrine cancer.
Dr. Spira is a director at the Virginia Cancer Specialists Research Institute, Co-Chair of the US Oncology Thoracic Oncology Committee, and a faculty member at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine where he serves as Assistant Professor of Oncology. Dr. Spira explains the science of the KRAS gene and introduces KRASRegeneration.com, a website for HCPs that builds awareness of the KRASG12C mutation.
Gerald “Jerry” Sanford dedicated his life to serving the citizens of New York City for more than 30 years — first as a police officer and then as a firefighter.
After 29 years of service as a New York City firefighter — the last nine of which he served in the department’s press office — Sanford retired in 1997. Three years later he and his wife would move to Naples, Florida to live out their retirement years. However, as Sanford recalls, retirement life wasn’t for him. He found a second calling working at the North Naples Fire Control and Rescue District, which coincidentally would lead him down a path to returning to the city he served for more than three decades one day prior to the devastating Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
In honor of the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, CURE® spoke with Sanford for this special edition of the “CURE® Talks Cancer” podcast about the antique firefighter helmet that led him back to Ladder 42 in the Bronx on Sept. 10, 2001, the immediate aftermath of 9/11 and why he volunteered to return to his old post in the press office. We also talk with Sanford about his several bouts of lung cancer — which may be attributed to his exposure to the air around ground zero — and what advice he would offer others facing a cancer diagnosis.
An expert from Mount Sinai shares his account of Sept. 11, 2001, and describes how the toxins released as a result of the attacks have long-term health impacts.
Before listening to this podcast, please note that it contains a personal account of 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City that may be unsettling or triggering. Listener discretion is advised.
On Sept. 11, 2001, Judy Meyers was on a train into New York City where she worked as a commercial real estate paralegal. While the day started like many others, the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center made that fateful Tuesday one of the deadliest days in American history.
While Meyers was able to miss being at the site of the attacks – which she credited to luck and timing – she was soon back at work in lower Manhattan, breathing in air that she said smelled horrible but was reportedly safe. Years later in 2019, she was diagnosed with stage 3b non-small cell adenocarcinoma that was linked to her exposure following the 9/11 attacks.
In this special edition episode of the “CURE® Talks Cancer” podcast, Meyers shares her story.
Dr. Curtis Mack shares the story of his cancer diagnosis and treatment journey in this episode of the “CURE® Talks Cancer” podcast. The oncologist describes the way it impacted his patient care.
In this episode of the “CURE® Talks Cancer” podcast Mel Mann discusses his participation in the clinical trial for Gleevec and how it changed the trajectory of his life.
In this episode of the “CURE® Talks Cancer” podcast, Olympic triathlete Kevin McDowell discusses his cancer journey and shares some insight on his experiences at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
In this special edition, CURE spoke with Dr. Laura Michaelis, a specialist in hematology and oncology at Froedtert Hospital and Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee and also a recipient of the 2019 MPN Heroes Award.
Michaelis has a mission statement to live up to when she’s treating patients: “deliver superb care in a compassionate, individualized manner.” As an MPN Hero, Michaelis has gone above and beyond to offer outstanding healthcare in and outside of the clinic, regularly speaking to MPN patient support groups to provide important information and answers in a more personal setting.
She spoke with CURE about how far we’ve come in the MPN space, how we can address current challenges moving forward, and what being an MPN Hero means to her.
CURE® is now accepting nominations for its ninth annual MPN Heroes Awards! CURE and Inctye are proud to honor heroes who have made a significant impact in the lives of those affected by MPNs. For more information or to nominate your hero today, visit, www.curetoday.com/award-events.
In this special edition, CURE spoke with Rose Gerber, Director of Patient Advocacy & Education at the Community Oncology Alliance and a breast cancer survivor, about disparities in cancer care, and what we can do to address them moving forward.
CURE® is now accepting nominations for our inaugural Metastatic Breast Cancer Heroes™ Awards! For our inaugural celebration, we are proud to present two separate awards honoring heroes who have made a significant impact in the lives of those affected by metastatic breast cancer. For more information or to nominate your hero today, visit, https://www.curetoday.com/award-events.
In this episode of the “CURE® Talks Cancer” podcast, the hosts of the ‘Stage 4 Clinger’ podcast share the story of their cancer and caregiver journeys and how it led to the conception of their podcast.
In this episode of the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with Dr. Naveen Pemmaraju, associate professor of Leukemia at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, who recently conducted research on disease awareness in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs).
Many patients with MPNs reported going to the internet to seek out information about their disease; however, many still did not know about some of the common markers of their disease. While the internet can be a great source of information, there is plenty of misinformation available, too, so it is always important that patients take what they find online and talk to their providers about it.
Read more: https://www.curetoday.com/view/how-to-find-reliable-cancer-information-online
In this episode of the “CURE® Talks Cancer” podcast, a cancer survivor who served in the Vietnam War shares the story of his Agent Orange exposure and bladder cancer.
In this episode of the “CURE® Talks Cancer” podcast, Joey Renick opens up about his cancer journey and explains how he went on to bike 100 miles for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
In this episode of the “CURE® Talks Cancer” podcast, a woman explains how she underwent surgery and chemotherapy for cancer just months before competing in American Ninja Warrior.
In this episode of the “CURE® Talks Cancer” podcast, a cancer survivor explains how she took a lighthearted and comedic approach to her cancer treatment process and went on to create a coloring book based on the funny thoughts she had.
Will patients be given a placebo? Are clinical trials safe? An expert answers these questions and more.
In this episode of the “CURE® Talks Cancer” podcast, Dr. Thomas Marron of the Tisch Cancer Institute and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York discusses the exciting future of cancer vaccines.
In this episode of the “CURE® Talks Cancer” podcast, Colin Jackson explains how he was able to complete a marathon even after cancer treatments that called for surgical removal of part of his femur, hip and surrounding muscle.
Steve Kelley is a professor, public speaker, grandfather and avid biker, among other things. But he is also living with central nervous system lymphoma, a rare cancer that his doctors told him is incurable and inoperable. After being unable to find peers facing a similar diagnosis, Kelley decided to share his story in the book, “Cancer R.I.P.: The Ultimate Fight.” In this episode of the “CURE® Talks Cancer” podcast, Kelley opens up about his cancer journey and offers others advice on how to get through life after receiving such a shattering diagnosis.
Tomika Bryant is a breast cancer survivor, patient advocate and blogger, among other things. She uses her platform and experiences with cancer to support others going through the journey and raise awareness and funding for research. In this episode of the “CURE® Talks Cancer” podcast, Bryant shares her story, offers advice and discusses her blog, Life in Pumps, as well as her advocacy work. “Write, journal, because it's therapeutic,” Bryant said. “Don't go to sleep with all that on your mind. It's hard to get rest as is just from dealing with all of the complications and side effects that come from being a cancer patient. But clearing your mind is one of the best ways for when you lay down and go to sleep. So for me, my blog also became that.”
In this episode of the “CURE® Talks Cancer” podcast, Nicole Body discusses her cancer journey and shares how she found the strength to persevere through treatments and accept the difficult truths.
Dr. William Breitbart is the chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), where he’s been for 37 years. Breitbart recently spoke on the Cancer Straight Talk podcast from MSK about the impact on mental health brought about by the COVID-19 world. In this episode of the “CURE® Talks Cancer” podcast, Breitbart discusses the toll the pandemic has had on patients, survivors and caregivers and ways for them to manage their stressors. “For cancer survivors, death is more real and more difficult to deny and avoid,” said Breitbart. And so, during the pandemic, this enhanced death salience that bombards us at almost every moment from wearing the mask to being restricted in your social interactions to turning on the TV and hearing how many people have COVID and how many people have died. It's inescapable. And so, what it produces is this sense of really intense death anxiety.”
In this episode of the “CURE® Talks Cancer” podcast, Maria Ciesla, an ovarian cancer survivor, and her daughter Alex Cornwell discuss Ciesla’s cancer journey and how it led them to do genetic testing that revealed they were both carriers of the BRCA1 mutation.
In this episode of the “CURE® Talks Cancer” podcast, Leanne Burnham, Ph.D., discusses the research she’s working on to address health disparities in Black men with prostate cancer after being inspired by her father’s diagnosis, and shares her own cancer survival story.
When U.S. beach volleyball Olympic medalist April Ross was just 19 years old, she lost her mother, Margie, to metastatic breast cancer. Despite this devastating loss, Ross drew inspiration from Margie’s unwavering spirit and continued to pursue her goals, ultimately winning a spot in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. In this week’s episode of the “CURE® Talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with Ross about how the time she was able to spend with her mother motivates her to make the most of her time now, and why it’s so important for individuals who are undergoing cancer treatment to have a strong support system.
This week on the CURE® Talks Cancer podcast, we’re chatting with an ovarian cancer survivor and teacher about how she maintained her sense of humor through treatment and why it’s important to remain connected to your friends and family, especially during your darkest moments.
One pair – Dr. John Marshall and his wife, Liza – have been surrounded by cancer since John became an oncologist early on in their marriage. The duo never imagined the disease would dramatically change their world when Liza was diagnosed with stage 3 triple-negative breast cancer. John was without a doubt impacted by the unexpected diagnosis as he had to learn how to juggle between playing a caregiver and being a doctor at the same time, while Liza, the matriarch of the family who was always in charge of her own health, leaned on her husband for support and medical advice. In the book “Off our Chests: A Candid Tour Through the World of Cancer,” both John and Liza Marshall alternate sharing their perspectives on this challenging time. CURE and OncLive sat down with John and Liza to go beyond the pages in the book, as the couple discussed their journey – both together and separately – as well as the deep appreciation they now have for other, patients and their oncologists. “Off Our Chests: A Candid Tour Through the World of Cancer” will be released in hardcover format on April 6, 2021. Visit: https://www.amazon.com/Off-Our-Chests-Candid-Through/dp/1646870484.
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In 2017, Sonia Su was a 24-year-old graduate student at Georgetown University who dreamed of travelling abroad and working for the government.
During that time, she started experiencing chest pains. As her symptoms began to worsen, Su decided to visit the campus’ health center where she eventually received a diagnosis of costochondritis — inflammation of the cartilage that connects a person’s rib to their breastbone. Su was prescribed something for the pain, but her symptoms continued.
Su, who recently spoke with CURE®, said she was amid finishing finals and decided to wait until she was done to get a second opinion at an urgent care facility. After multiple tests — which included CT scans, X-rays and a biopsy — Su received a diagnosis of stage 2 primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma. The journey that would follow, according to Su, taught her many life lessons that will stick with her.
In this week’s episode of the “CURE® Talks Cancer Podcast,” she discusses how her disease recurred while she was on a fellowship in Taiwan and how her experiences led her to establish a nonprofit organization — called Kits to Heart — to give back to others who are also going through cancer.
“I was really inspired by my time when I was admitted for my final treatment two years ago ….,” she said. “I saw a care package that was left on my bed, and I had just assumed that it was, you know, part of the welcome package from the hospital. But it turns out, it was from a former patient who had been treated at that very unit one year prior and was doing well again. And so just seeing that message of hope really inspired me and motivated me to keep going. And I told myself right then and there that I would do the same thing once I got out of there. And so, I essentially took that idea to help solve those problems that I myself witnessed as a patient and founded what is now called Kits to Heart.”
In this episode of the“CURE® Talks Cancer” podcast, we’re honoring Multiple Myeloma Awareness Month by speaking with Dr. Andrew Yee about the signs and symptoms of this rare form of cancer, what the current treatment paradigm looks like and what advice he has for newly diagnosed patients.
This week on the “CURE® Talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with lymphoma survivor Nina Luker about what it was like to receive a diagnosis at age 24, and how sharing her story with nearly 200,000 supporters on TikTok and Instagram led her to find purpose with the Lymphoma Research Foundation.
This week on the“CURE® Talks Cancer” podcast, to kick off Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, we spoke with colon cancer survivor April Schack about what it was like to be diagnosed at age 36 and how she’s working with Fight CRC on a new campaign that aims to raise awareness about the disease, so that no one has to go through what she did.
In this episode of the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with a gynecologic cancer expert about how her sister’s journey with ovarian cancer provided her with a different perspective that would lead to raising awareness for others.
This week on the“CURE® Talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with Evofem Biosciences founder and CEO Saundra Pelletier about what it was like to go through the shock of receiving a cancer diagnosis while also navigating a career, and explaining how her product, which is now FDA-approved, can help patients with cancer and survivors improve their sexual quality of life.
This week on the“CURE® Talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with someone who was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia 11 years ago. We discussed how her life changed as a result of her treatment and why she now lives life to the fullest.
In this episode of the “CURE® Talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with a patient who was blindsided by her stage 3 ovarian cancer diagnosis several years ago. We talk about how she spent months going from specialist to specialist before finally receiving her diagnosis, and why she dedicates much of her time to advocating for others.
Lorelei Colbert and her military husband were preparing for a move to a base in Japan when a routine physical exam would eventually lead to a surprising diagnosis of grade 3 triple-negative breast cancer.
As a military spouse, Colbert said, the physical was to simply “check the box” that would indicate she didn’t need specialized care when the couple arrived at the new base thousands of miles away. During her exam, she asked the physician about birth control. After the physician – an OBGYN – looked at Colbert’s medical chart, the physician said she’d do a PAP smear but that a breast exam was not needed. However, the nurse who was in the room at the time questioned that decision. At that time, Colbert felt there was a reason the nurse was there and asked for her breasts to be examined.
The physician found a lump and after further tests, Colbert received her diagnosis in September. Since then, she has received several rounds of dose-dense chemotherapy. After coming to the realization that the chemotherapy journey was going to knock her down, she started the Chemo to Kindness Challenge to help lift her spirits while undergoing treatment and honor the nurse who, Colbert says, saved her life.
“The idea was to inspire others to do acts of kindness and tell me about it (and) lift me up by paying it forward to others,” she said in an interview with CURE®. “This is a really dark time in my life. What makes me the happiest; it's not going to be a gift. It's going to be knowing that you did something good in the world.”
To learn more about the Chemo to Kindness Challenge, and to share your act of kindness, visit loreleicolbert.com.
This week on the“CURE® Talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with Martha Raymond, of The Raymond Foundation, about how providers can ensure patient safety to increase trial enrollment during the COVID-19 pandemic, and what she and her colleagues are doing to provide better trial access to all patients with cancer.
In this episode of the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with Jeffrey Wittig, who has undergone 41 surgeries and physically debilitating treatments during his more than 15-year journey with several cases of skin cancer. We discussed his cancer journey, and why, as he starts a new treatment after his most prior therapy failed, he’s focused on quality rather than quantity of life.
Despite having different lung cancer journeys, two patients and a caregiver found similar hope in support. Ron Simmons is a two-time cancer survivor who was first diagnosed with stage 1 colorectal cancer in 2013. When routine bloodwork led him to visit a pulmonologist in January of 2017, he was diagnosed with what was thought to be a collapsed lung. The following December, Ron fell ill and further chest scans led to his stage 3 non-small cell lung cancer diagnosis. Through his experience, he is a firm believer in getting a second opinion. Heidi Nafman-Onda is a health educator and fitness trainer who always led a healthy lifestyle. Because of symptoms for an ovarian cyst, her physician ordered her to undergo a CT scan of her chest, abdomen and pelvis to rule out anything worrisome. It was then that they found a mass in her upper left lobe of her lung as well as malignant lymph nodes in the middle of her chest. Despite having no symptoms for lung cancer, Heidi was diagnosed with stage 3a adenocarcinoma and her pulmonologist told her to get her affairs in order. She and her husband, Pierre, were in complete shock, as Heidi said she started to feel hopeless. Shortly thereafter, Heidi also underwent further scans to see if she had any metastases. Her scans showed no signs that the disease had spread and, in turn, she began to feel the pendulum of emotions swing toward hope. In this week’s episode, we spoke with Ron, Heidi and Pierre about their experiences, feelings of hope and the value of a second opinion.
In this episode of the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with Mark Hoffman, a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), about his diagnosis and treatment journey. Mark Hoffman, 53, a tech salesman in San Diego, started to experience swollen lymph nodes that weren’t going away. He finally sought a specialist who did a lymph node biopsy, determining Mark had CLL. Mark has a 17p deletion in addition to other high-risk genetic markers. At first, he was under watch and wait for his disease, but his white blood cell count peaked at 90,000 (the normal range is 4,500 to 11,000 per microliter). Luckily, in 2017, Mark began a clinical trial combining Imbruvica (ibrutinib) with Venclexta (venetoclax).
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a blood cancer that starts in the bone marrow, accounts for almost 20,000 new cases of cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. It is one of the most common types of leukemias in adults; however, the disease comprises only about 1% of all cancers. There are a variety of treatment options available for patients with AML, with more clinical trials evaluating new therapies in the pipeline. In this episode of the “CURE talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with Dr. Dan Pollyea, from the University of Colorado School of Medicine, about these treatment options.
In this episode of the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with r. Asher Chanan-Khan about current standards of care for Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia, also known as WM. WM is a rare, incurable disease. Its current standards of care available consist of Rituxan (rituximab), Imbruvica (ibrutinib) combinations or monotherapy in the first- and second-line setting. However, there are no treatments currently approved for the third line. Chanan-Khan discussed these options, as well as a novel agent, CLR 131, that is being evaluated in a phase 2 study.
This week on the“CURE® Talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with renowned street artist James Cochran about one of his art projects that was commissioned to symbolize the creativity and commitment of those who work tirelessly to eradicate cancer.
This week on the“CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, we discuss the power of community with The Breasties co-founders Brianna Majsiak and Allie Brudner Brumel and how their own breast cancers journey brought them together.
In this episode of the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with a teenager who was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. We talked about her cancer journey, what it was like to receive treatment during the pandemic, and more.
In this week’s episode, sponsored by Regeneron and Sanofi Genzyme, we spoke with Dr. Ezra Cohen from UC San Diego Health, as well as two patients with advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. To start, Cohen helped us to understand how common the disease is and what treatment options are available for patients. We also spoke with Josh, who was diagnosed in 2017 after having a spot on his forehead removed using MOH’s surgery. However, the growth returned, and after a second opinion in 2019, he was referred to The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Following his experience, Josh offered advice for other patients with advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Lastly, we talked to Bud, who was diagnosed previously with basal cell carcinoma and has also received a diagnosis of advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. He now gets radiation and immunotherapy to treat his cancer and hopes that other patients will learn about their disease in order to advocate for themselves.
Janice and Rex Cowden have been married for 41 years, and the couple have shared many life experiences together, including two bouts of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).
While Rex had just retired, and the couple was selling one house and moving into another, Janice was diagnosed with stage 1 TNBC in 2011. The couple placed their plans to travel on hold and tackled the disease together.
Five years later, Janice’s disease would return. She was diagnosed with stage 4 TNBC in the summer of 2016, and the couple continued to attack the disease as a team.
In this week’s episode of the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, Janice and Rex Cowden discuss what it was like to be there for each other during those cancer journeys, offer advice to other couples who may find themselves in a similar situation, and more.
“Sometimes fear can produce emotions that … comes out as anger. I see a lot of relationships fail, marriages fail as a result of this diagnosis, some people simply can't handle it,” Janice said in an interview with CURE®. “I think getting therapy is a wonderful thing that you can do. And I also think it's important for you to learn as much as you can about your disease and to share that information with your caregiver ... because I think lack of knowledge makes us feel even more helpless and anxious.”
Cancer treatments come with the possibility of a plethora of side effects, some of which are deemed more serious than others.
While many patients are informed on countless occasions of what to be on the lookout for both during and after treatment, in certain situations, some side effects might not get as much attention as they should.
“I think if somebody is in a setting where they're fortunate enough to have a dental team at their (treatment center), and that dental team has done a really good job of cross collaboration, then I think it's almost an immediate,” Dr. Samuel Zwetchkenbaum, dental director in the oral health program at the Rhode Island Department of Health, said in an interview with CURE®.
“In my previous life, (when) I was at University of Michigan, we had a dental team and we attended tumor boards. We really tried to have a presence, but it's a little bit harder, especially in a community like Rhode Island, where we don't have the same presence. Then it requires these one on one relationships.”
In this week’s episode of the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, Zwetchkenbaum discussed some of the more common oral side effects patients may experience, provided insight into how patients can go about preventing them from occurring, and more.
Television journalist Katie Couric and Susan G. Komen CEO Paula Schneider share a common experience in their experiences with cancer: There is a lot of advice they would offer their former selves. One a caregiver and the other a patient, Katie and Paula have teamed up for Your Cancer Story – a platform designed to share patient stories to ensure an individual affected by a cancer diagnosis never feels alone. “Keep your head up and keep walking forward. You never know where the path will take you,” Paula wrote in her letter to herself. To help highlight breast cancer awareness month, Katie and Paula shared their stories and noted how the program can help raise awareness around breast cancer. Interested in sharing your cancer story? Visit yourcancerstory.com.
On October 15, CURE recognized five individuals for their contributions to the lung cancer space and raising awareness to end the stigma, inform, connect, and empower anyone who has been impacted by lung cancer. During the inaugural virtual event, four individuals — two physicians, a nurse and a patient turned advocate — were awarded for their contributions to the lung cancer community. The program also recognized one Lifetime Achievement award winner. In this episode of the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with Bonnie J. Addario, Carolyn Baggett, Dr. Jennifer Garst, Dr. Fred Hirsh and Deborah Pickworth about their contributions and why bringing the lung cancer community is vital in raising awareness around the disease.
In this episode of the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with Dr. Matthew Davids about the results of a clinical trial that assessed the addition of Copiktra (duvelisib) to fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and Rituxan (rituximab) in the frontline setting for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) aged 65 years and younger.
Davids, director of clinical research in the Lymphoma Program at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, also provides insight into the current CLL landscape and discusses what he refers to as a swing in the pendulum of CLL research over the last 10 years, and how that pendulum swing has created a slight gap for the assessment of younger patients with the disease.
“As the novel agents have come of age here in the last decade, that as a field, we've gotten better at kind of shifting the studies into older patients,” Davids explained in an interview with CURE®. “… One kind of gap that I can see right now in the field is that because the pendulum has swung, I think appropriately toward the older population in terms of the trials, we actually do seem to have fewer trials kind of focused on the young fit patients compared to the old days. And so that is an area I think of interest for sure is the novel agent-based approaches in the young patients.”
As the population grows, so too does the need for research and specialized treatment in the field of geriatric cancer. But there is much to be studied in this patient population, according to one expert.
In this week’s episode of the CURE® Talks Cancer podcast, we discuss the current research and treatment landscape involving elderly patients with cancer. To comment on the developments involving this patient population, as well as how research is starting to get out of the shadows of an evidence gap, we spoke with Dr. Grant Williams, a geriatrician and medical oncologist at UAB Medicine.
When it comes to the field as it stands, Williams says, “I think there's a big evidence gap, that I think we're slowly trying to fill and improve our understanding of. And we're starting to see specific intervention studies in this population that that are suggesting that these personalized approaches really do help.”
When 13-year old Jelena Colasurdo started experiencing intense headaches and nausea, a brain tumor was the last thing on her and mom Andrea’s minds. Unfortunately, as they soon found out, it was in fact true, and Jelena had to begin treatment, just at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On this week’s episode of the “CURE® Talks Cancer” podcast, Jelena and Andrea join us to talk about what it was like facing cancer and a pandemic at the same time, and how they were excited to partner with St. Baldrick’s to raise money for pediatric cancer research.
In this week’s episode of the CURE® Talks Cancer podcast, we’re chatting with Dr. Tanja Gruber, the Chief of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation at Stanford Children’s Health, about how pediatric cancer treatment is evolving thanks to advances in treatments like immunotherapy, and what parents should do after their child receives a diagnosis.
In this episode of the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with Dr. Guru Sonpavde about the current landscape of penile cancer.
An extremely rare disease, penile cancer, according to estimates from the American Cancer Society, will affect approximately 2,200 men in 2020 in the United States.
Sonpavde, director of the Bladder Cancer Program at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, provides insight into this rare cancer and discusses why it’s difficult to treat patients with metastatic disease, as well as why research in this field is severely lacking.
“It’s tough, logistically, to open a trial globally for a rare cancer, because what it means is you really have to open it in a lot of sites, a lot of institutions, to capture all these patients,” said Sonpavde in an interview with CURE®. “So, that obviously raises the issue of costs. Can you really open a trial in a thousand institutions that will only enroll a small number of patients?”
After he received a diagnosis of advanced lung cancer, Larry Whipple knew his chances were not good. But after his initial consultation near home left him with few options, Whipple became his best own advocate by asking the right questions and seeking the best experts – which meant finding a second opinion nearly 1,500 miles from his hometown.
This week on the CURE Talks Cancer podcast, we spoke with Whipple – who’s been cancer free for two years – about how his insistence on the best care lead to results he could only dream of, and how other patients with cancer can take an active role in their own care, too.
When it comes to how his fighting spirit worked in his favor after his diagnosis, Whipple laughed, “One of my daughter-in-law’s closest friends, when she heard that I was diagnosed with cancer, she said ‘Oh, I feel so sorry for cancer’, because I’m a fighter and I don’t give up!”
The treatment landscape looks bright for patients with skin cancer, especially with the medicine, technology and innovation going on in the space, according to Dr. Jeremy Brauer. In this week’s episode, CURE spoke to Brauer, a spokesperson for the Skin Cancer Foundation, about the current treatment strategies in skin cancer, and how immunotherapy and targeted agents have been a “game changer” for those with advanced disease. “Immunotherapy and targeted therapies, more of these are going to be made available to individuals with metastatic melanoma as well as advanced squamous cell carcinoma,” he said, adding that patients should be sure to become educated about their disease and treatment options. “Knowledge is power. A great resource is your board-certified dermatologist, and also the resources available on reputable web sites like the Skin Cancer Foundation and all of the literature they have available. Within dermatology, there is the American Academy of Dermatology and other societies that are great resources. I do believe it begins with education.”
In this week’s episode of the CURE Talks Cancer podcast, surgical oncologist Dr. Margo Shoup sheds some light on retroperitoneal sarcoma and shares her thoughts on what patients need to know about its diagnosis and treatment.
In this episode of the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with Dr. Dan Tran, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon at VCU, about his journey with cancer and how his experience influenced his career in medicine.
Tran, who was in residency and about to begin a five-month rotation in anesthesia in the fall of 2017, developed back pain that was so excruciating it started to affect his ability to walk.
Within months, Tran started experiencing numbness in his legs when he decided to go to the emergency room to get checked out. After several tests, and just days before Christmas, Tran was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer at the age of 30.
Now, three years out from his diagnosis, Tran discusses what his journey was like, what it has been like to be a medical professional with cancer, and what advice he offers his patients who are coming in for treatments as a result of oral side effects of cancer treatment.
“Everyone gets dealt a different set of cards and I got delta a crappy hand,” said Tran in an interview with CURE®.“But, it kind of depends on what you do with it. I've always had a pretty laid-back kind of personality and understood that there's things that I can control and things I can't control. This is something I could not control, but I can control what I do with it.”
Myeloproliferative neoplasms, or MPNs, are not a common type of blood cancer, occurring in approximately 300,00 individuals in the US, according to Dr. Ruben Mesa. In this episode of the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with Mesa about an MPN diagnosis, what patients need to know and why it is important to become informed in order to improve patient-physician conversations. “My biggest piece of advice is to learn a lot about your disease and also to make notes for yourself both in terms of what you have, what they expect, what questions you have so that you can relay those to your health care provider and really help to overcome that gap in knowledge and understanding,” he said, adding that MPNs are a type of cancer often not known about. “I find that there can be tremendous distress for individuals because of their lack of familiarity with such a disease,” Mesa explained. “For many individuals, when they are diagnosed with this, it's the first time they've heard about it and they have never known anyone else that has had the disease. So they don't have a good frame of reference. That creates a tremendous amount of uncertainty and distress. The more we can alleviate that, the more individuals are able to come to at least a comfortable understanding of their disease and work to try to move past that.”
Good nutrition is important for patients with cancer, as it can help them proactively manage treatment related side effects, prevent weight loss, and reduce the risk of cancer recurrence. However, treatment and its side effects can often cause a range of issues that affect a person’s ability to maintain a healthy diet.
On this week’s episode of the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, we’re chatting with Rachel Wong, an oncology dietitian from the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center about what dietary modifications can be made to maintain nutrition, and how supplements can be used safely to help patients get the vitamins and minerals they need to stay healthy.
In 2015, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan had only been in office for five months when he was diagnosed with an advanced, aggressive form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Then, after achieving remission, he was diagnosed with a common form of skin cancer in 2018. But thanks to an attentive health care team, and the help of his friends, family, and fellow patients, today he’s cancer-free and sharing his story.
In this week’s episode of CURE Talks Cancer, Hogan spoke with us about what it was like to go through cancer not once but twice, and why he considers every day a gift.
Cancer can throw a person’s life into turmoil and take the focus off a patient’s career for a time. But what rights does a patient have when it comes to the workplace? In this week’s episode of the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, Monica Bryant, chief operating officer of Triage Cancer, joins us to discuss the various legal rights patients and their caregivers have when seeking reasonable accommodations to maintain their employment. Additionally, Bryant, a cancer rights attorney, highlights how patients can go about navigating their jobs, as well as the rights they have amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chemotherapy-associated hair loss is an unfortunate side effect of cancer treatment that many patients receiving treatment sadly face. However, devices known as cold caps, which have been shown to safely help patients receiving treatment for solid tumors keep a significant percentage of their hair, have grown in popularity as of late.
In this week’s episode of the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with Dr. Julie Nangia, an assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine, about how cold caps work, as well as how effective the product is and what, if any, side effects patients should expect to experience.
“A lot of people used to think that breast reconstruction was optional because it was cosmetic, but data showed that it had a huge psychological impact,” Nangia said in the interview. “The same kind of data are emerging about chemotherapy-induced alopecia.”
Additionally, Nangia, who is a breast cancer specialist, highlights how the management of hair loss in a patient receiving treatment for cancer is more important than was once thought.
Just six weeks after getting married, Whitney O’Connor was 30 years old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer for the first time. After going through treatment that involved chemo, surgery, and more, Whitney found herself facing breast cancer a second time just a few years later, thanks to a rare genetic condition called Li-Fraumeni Syndrome, which predisposes her to developing cancer.
This week, Whitney took a break between proton beam therapy sessions to talk with CURE about what it was like to face breast cancer twice, and how this journey taught her to create her own silver linings – and led to the creation of an organization that aims to empower other women going through breast cancer, too.
The treatment paradigm for metastatic urothelial carcinoma has shifted significantly over the last decade with immunotherapy and precision medicine. In this episode of the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with Dr. Elizabeth Plimack, chief of the Division of Genitourinary Medical Oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple Health, and Dr. Sumanta (Monty) Pal, from City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, about metastatic urothelial. The experts discussed the treatment landscape for this disease, how patients can learn more about their options and what they have to look forward to on the horizon.
In this episode of the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, sponsored by Regeneron and Sanofi Genzyme, we spoke with Dr. Jonathon Leventhal about skin cancer and what individuals should know about the disease. The Yale School of Medicine expert discussed the different types of skin cancer, signs and symptoms of the disease, and certain causes to be aware of.
While it’s true that telemedicine has become more widely used as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, all signs are pointing to it being a part of the new normal as we look to the future. With that, genetic counselors are now being trained to meet with patients virtually to ensure those with a genetic predisposition to cancer are still being taken care of despite the lack of face-to-face visits.
In this week’s episode of the CURE Talks Cancer podcast, we spoke with Dana Farengo Clark, a genetic counselor at UPenn’s Basser Center for BRCA, to discuss the work being done at the center for genetic counseling, and how telemedicine is just as important now, more than ever, in identifying an individual’s risk for cancer and exploring their options once they have that information.
Many patients who are currently receiving treatment for cancer, or are in remission, are aware of some of the crippling side effects associated with treatment. However, as one breast surgical oncologist notes, many patients are unaware of the gynecologic health side effects that are associated with not just breast cancer treatment, but for other cancer treatments as well.
In this week’s episode, we spoke with Dr. Kristin Rojas, a breast surgical oncologist and gynecologic surgeon, who recently led a discussion during Susan G. Komen Greater New York City’s Sex and Breast Cancer Conference about the gynecologic changes patients experience during and after cancer treatment.
Rojas, who is also director of the Maimonides Urogenital, Sexual Health And Intimacy Center (MUSIC) Program, addresses why the topic of gynecologic health is a taboo subject when it comes to cancer treatment, as well as what patients can do to treat those changes. Additionally, she offers advice to patients who may be hesitant to discuss the symptoms with their health care provider.
After experiencing what he described as “debilitatingly itchy skin” in 2009, former professional soccer player and “Survivor: Africa” winner Ethan Zohn went from winning the ultimate prize on the popular reality show to taking on a rare form of Hodgkin lymphoma not once, but twice. But thanks to a regimen of intense treatments and two stem cell transplants from his brother, Zohn was declared cancer-free in 2013 and went on to return to the 40th season of “Survivor” earlier this year in the Winners At War competition. This week, we’re talking with Zohn about how his time on “Survivor” helped him take on cancer multiple times – and about how he never lets a crisis go to waste.
Many patients who are diagnosed with cancer and receive subsequent treatments experience life-altering side effects including fatigue, sleep disturbances and changes in appetite and taste. However, one such change patients can experience, decreases in libido and sexual desire, doesn’t always receive as much attention as the others.
In this week’s episode, we spoke with Dr. Elizabeth Poynor, a gynecologic oncologist and advanced pelvic surgeon, who recently led a discussion during Susan G. Komen Greater New York City’s Sex and Breast Cancer Conference about how patients can work to improve their sexual health while facing cancer and its treatments.
Poynor, who discussed how a breast cancer diagnosis can impact a patient’s libido, encourages her patients not just to survive, but thrive by speaking with their doctors.
“We want to have a healthy life and a joyful life and for many women, not all, their sexuality is a component of it,” Poynor said in an interview with CURE®.
In conjunction with Skin Cancer Awareness Month, we spoke with two doctors on the basics of the disease. Dr. Ali Hendi, a Maryland based dermatologist and spokesperson for The Skin Cancer Foundation, helped to educate individuals about the common causes, myths, and signs associated with the disease, as well as how to conduct self-exams. Moreover, Dr. Jeremy Brauer, a spokesperson for the Skin Cancer Foundation, was a part of a survey that found a lack of awareness specifically around cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, discussing why this may be the case.
Patients with cancer and survivors know firsthand how important sleep is to the recovery process in treatment and beyond. But as many people are currently learning, rest is sometimes hard to come by, particularly while navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. This week, we spoke with Dr. Kathryn Ruble, director of the Life Clinic and Leukemia Survivorship Program at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, about the role that sleep plays in recovery from cancer, and how to practice good sleep hygiene to mitigate the impact of life-changing events like cancer and pandemics, and to get some much-needed rest.
For some, a cross-country trip consists of many stops to marvel at the breathtaking views found at any of the many national monuments found along the way. For one patient with ovarian cancer, however, a cross-country trip that began in Oregon and ended in Maine meant so much more than just taking in the sights.
In this week’s episode, we spoke with Donna Wiegle, a cervical cancer survivor who is currently living with ovarian cancer, who, last summer, trekked across the country on a teal and white Harley Davidson motorcycle to raise awareness about ovarian cancer.
It took Wiegle almost two and a half years to receive her ovarian cancer diagnosis, and as she notes, the sooner the cancer is detected the better. As a result of her experience, she wanted to find a way to inform as many women as possible about the symptoms of ovarian cancer so others could be diagnosed sooner rather than later.
By the end of her journey, Wiegle had rode more than 6,000 miles, handed out more than 700 pamphlets on the symptoms of ovarian cancer, and raised more than $55,000 for ovarian cancer charities.
While much of the country remains on lockdown as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, nutrition has become an increasingly important area of focus, particularly for patients with cancer and survivors. This week on the CURE Talks Cancer podcast, we spoke with Rachel Wong, an oncology dietician from Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, who offered some tips on how to shop safe and smart, and shared some of her go-to recipes with us.
In sports, there is a particular passion for winning. ESPN college basketball broadcaster Dick Vitale shares that same passion for winning, but off the court. As a longtime champion to achieve victory over cancer, Dick has been helping the V Foundation in its mission for a cure since the beginning, focusing his efforts specifically on pediatric cancer research. After helping the late Jim Valvano on to the stage at the 1993 ESPYS to make his iconic speech to never give up, Dick has since raised millions of dollars for pediatric cancer research – helping the V Foundation in awarding nearly $50 million specifically to the cause. In this episode, Dick spoke to CURE about Jimmy V and his involvement with the V Foundation, how inspiration from his 5-year old neighbor diagnosed with brain cancer has furthered his mission to fight pediatric cancer, and why others, too, should never give up in fighting the disease. For more information, visit www.v.org.
Research has found that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender – or LGBT – communities are disproportionately affected by cancer. And now that the COVID-19 pandemic is adding stress to an already vulnerable population, organizations like the National LGBT Cancer Network are here to help educate and advocate for this at-risk group. This week, we’re speaking with Deputy Director Scout about what he and his team are doing, not just to help shed light on the unique issues faced by LGBT patients with cancer, but to help them navigate life through a global pandemic, too.
In this episode of the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, sponsored by Regeneron and Sanofi Genzyme, we spoke with Dr. Anthony Rossi, a Moh’s surgeon at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, about the different types of skin cancer and how individuals can be proactive about screening. The type of skin cancer a person gets is determined by where the cancer begins. The three major types of skin cancers are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma – which are grouped together as non-melanoma skin cancers – and melanoma. Other types of skin cancer include cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, Merkel cell carcinoma and Sebaceous carcinoma. Basal cell carcinoma, the most common type of skin cancer, can look like a flesh-colored round growth or a pinkish patch of skin, while squamous cell carcinoma can look like a red firm bump, scaly patch. Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, can develop within a mole that is already on the skin or it can appear suddenly as a dark spot on the skin that looks different from the rest. Rossi highlighted the importance of early detection of each of these skin cancer types by knowing the ABCDE’s – asymmetry, border, color, diameter and evolvement of moles.
Metastatic breast cancer has allowed Susan G. Komen Central and Southern New Jersey board member Melissa Surdez to find purpose not just in inspiring others with cancer, but in helping them cope with the COVID-19 pandemic as well.
After being treated for aggressive triple positive stage 3 metastatic breast cancer in 2010 at the age of 40, Surdez thought her experience with cancer was complete, until two years later, when pain that she attributed to her gall bladder turned out to be the return of her cancer.
But thanks to immediate and aggressive treatment that she remains on to this day, she is here eight years later, “living her best life with stage four breast cancer”. Here, Surdez talked with us about how Komen helped her find a community, and how her experience as a patient has prepared her for navigating treatment and making connections through a global pandemic.
This week, we spoke with voice actor Rob Paulsen, who was diagnosed with stage 3 metastatic squamous cell carcinoma in 2016 after discovering a lump on his neck. Known for his roles on animated series like Animaniacs, Pinky and the Brain and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Paulsen has made a living with his voice for more than three decades. But he wasn’t about to let throat cancer stop him from bringing happiness to people of all ages with his portrayal of characters like Yakko, Pinky, and Donatello.
Now cancer-free, Paulsen is stepping into a new role as the 2020 Head and Neck Cancer Alliance celebrity spokesperson with the same enthusiasm that has made him a voice acting legend in his own time. He plans to raise awareness about the disease by sharing how his experience helped him find a reason to smile, even when times get tough.
Myeloproliferative neoplasms, or MPNs, are a type of blood cancer that is often not heard about, which is why it is important for patients to speak with their doctors to learn more. MPNS – essential thrombocythemia, myelofibrosis and polycythemia vera – begin with an abnormal change, or mutation, in a stem cell in the bone marrow, which leads to an overproduction of any combination of white cells, red cells and platelets. In this special edition of the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, we teamed up with our sister publication “OncLive on Air” to speak with a patient-doctor duo on the disease. Learn more from Dr. Ruben A. Mesa, director of the Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson, and Antje Hjerpe, a patient diagnosed with essential thrombocythemia in 1992. The pair discuss myeloproliferative neoplasms – what they are, how they’re treated and how patients can talk to their doctors to be their own best advocates.
A strong support system can make a world of difference when someone is battling cancer. Just having the right people and volunteers in someone’s corner cheering them on can elevate their spirits and help them push through their grueling treatments.
In this week’s episode of the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with Brandon Stevens, a testicular cancer survivor who chronicles his experience and how those around him helped him get through his grueling chemotherapy treatments.
Stevens, who was originally diagnosed not long following his high school graduation, is now a student within the professional pilot program at Kansas State University Polytechnic Campus training for his pilot’s license.
After positive experiences with therapy dogs during his treatment, Stevens decided to use his training to become a pilot to give back to dogs in need and is volunteering for Pilots N Paws, a nonprofit organization that facilitates transportation for rescue animals and animals in need. Stevens also said he hopes to start a nonprofit of his own for children with cancer.
“I think it's just a natural psychological thing that happens and for me, I just think everyone has done so much for me and I see a lot of the good people who are going out of their way, not getting paid to help you, and they genuinely want to help and I think it's natural in us to want to do that and I can't think of better ways to give back to the community.”
At the age of 45, Dr. Angela Nicholas’s husband was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer. Just five years later, he passed from the disease. As an advocate, Nicholas works to raise awareness around earlier screening for the disease, as well as alternative options for screening. For example, findings from a new colorectal cancer screening study found consistently high adherence (71%) with an at-home, stool-based, multi-target DNA test among Medicare beneficiaries, an above-average adherence rate compared to other screening tools. In this episode of the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, she shared her journey as her husband’s caregiver, as well as information on screening for colorectal cancer.
In the midst of the current opioid epidemic, pain management is taking center stage in many healthcare settings, and oncology is no different. It is crucial that patients have their pain – both acute and chronic – managed, while avoiding the potential of drug misuse. Add in barriers to care and other roadblocks, and things become even trickier. The good news is that oncology nurses can help by educating patients on proper opioid use, and advocating that they seek physical and occupational therapy as well. Judith A. Paice, PhD, RN, director of the Cancer Pain Program at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, discusses all that and more in this month’s podcast.
After Aki Smith’s father was diagnosed with advanced stage stomach cancer in December of 2013, limitations were being placed by her father's health insurance company and lack of research left the family questioning what to do. At the time, Aki had decided to become her father’s full-time caregiver. Her father is now in remission and Aki and her husband have started the non-profit Hope for Stomach Cancer. The organization aims to “…find hope for all Stomach Cancers. Take a stand together. Take hope to a new level and make change happen.” In this episode of the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with Aki about her father’s cancer journey, how she turned to resources as a caregiver and what she hopes other patients with stomach cancer and their loved ones can take away from the organization. For more information, visit stocan.org.
Each year, the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) hosts its Laugh for Life event, which aims to educate, empower and inspire individuals to raise awareness and funds for multiple myeloma research. Ahead of its even, CURE spoke with Tina Rettig, a caregiver for her husband,d who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2010. Tina serves as a co-chair for the event, which will be held on May 6, help to fund groundbreaking research initiatives like the MMRF’s most recent Direct to Patient Registry, a cornerstone of its CureCloud. “One of the big takeaways from (Laugh for Life) is the information that we put out there…(It raises) money, and money leads to research, and research leads to testing new treatments that can be approved,” Rettig said. “And there's no one treatment that fits everybody. So it's important that we have different levels of treatment, and that you can (live with) this disease.” In addition, we spoke with Andrew Marcelle, and his father, Peter, who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2016. Marcell will be receiving the “Spirit of Hope” award at this year’s event for his work in fundraising for the MMRF. “It's such a big organization and there's so many people involved with it…(receiving this award) is very humbling and I'm excited for the event,” Marcelle said. For more information, visit themmrf.org.
While the treatment landscape for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) continues to evolve, there is a heavy emphasis on discovering new targeted therapies for patients. Because of this, it is key for patients to have their tumors tested for biomarkers to determine if they have a mutation, like EGFR, ROS1, ALK, BRAF, that could determine what treatment they should undergo. For example, Tagrisso (osimertinib) is approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat patients with NSCLC with an EGFR mutation. In this episode, we spoke with Andrew Ciupek, manager of clinical research at the Go2 Foundation for Lung Cancer, to learn more about biomarker testing and the various treatment options available for patients with NSCLC.
For this month’s episode, we spoke with Katherine Crew, MD, an associate professor of medicine and epidemiology at the Columbia University Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center. Crew discusses her recent research on genetic testing in young women with breast cancer. While she was happy to see that the testing rates were not much different between ethnic groups, there were some differences when it came to the results. Crew also offers advice for nurses in discussing genetics with their patients, as well as easing the worry of not knowing what some genetic testing results may mean.
In this week’s episode of the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with Lainie Jones, who has found her purpose in helping others after being diagnosed with five separate primary cancers before the age of 35 because of a rare genetic condition that predisposes her to develop the disease.
It all began when Jones was diagnosed with adrenal cancer as an infant. Since then, she has come face-to-face with five separate cancers before the age of 35: breast cancer at 24, melanoma at 25, thyroid cancer at 26, and most recently sarcoma. In her search for answers, Jones discovered she has Li-Fraumeni syndrome, which affects just 500 individuals in the United States.
Now cancer-free, Jones has turned her experience into a positive by sharing her story and helping others.
At the age of 3, Bishoy Tadros received a diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and immigrated to the United States with him family to receive treatment. After moving to Los Angeles and then to Long Island, New York, Tadros underwent varios aggressive surgeries and entered remission on his 13th birthday. However, it wasn’t until 2017 that he was inspired to share his story. He pushed away from his comfort zone, entering to run the New York City Marathon and raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society – all of which helped him to realize the power of his personal story. Tadros wrote a memoir, titled “Break Barriers,” to help individuals learn that setbacks are never instilled to define oneself, and that patience, perspective and purpose are key.
Although many have never heard of them, pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma are two types of rare cancers that are not news to Matthew Capogreco and his family. With a long list of relatives – nine to be exact – who were diagnosed with these two tumor types, Capogreco himself was 25 when he demanded his physician test him for the disease after feeling symptoms his father had already experienced before his own diagnosis. He was first diagnosed with bi-lateral carotid paragangliomas asymptomatic and has since had multiple bouts of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma. With this, his motto has turned to “seven times down, eight times up.” “The person that preserveres is the one who gets up that one last time,” Capogreco. “That’s what we have to do. We have no choice. If we’re down at the end and we don’t back up, there’s no coming back from it.” Now cancer free, Capogreco serves as the president of the Board of Pheo Para Alliance, which aims to empower patients with pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma, their families and medical professionals through advocacy, education and a global community of support, while helping to advance research that accelerates treatments and cures. “The question is why should other people care about this rare disease that will never touch your life?” he said. “My response to that is this small disease has so many components we know about…if you could solve one small piece of the cancer puzzle it will have a great effect on all of the other puzzle pieces.” For more information, visit pheopara.org.
While most think colorectal cancer is a disease that occurs in older adults, it is in fact increasingly being diagnosed in young adults. In fact, 11% and 18% of colon and rectal cancer diagnoses, respectively, occur in those under 50. While research has not yet identified why this increase is occurring, there is still a clear need to raise more awareness around the topic. In particular, educating young adults, as well as primary care physicians, on the rise in early-age onset colorectal cancer occurrence, is a way to start the conversation. In this week’s episode, CURE offers a sneak peak into its Speaking Out video series featuring the Colon Cancer Foundation (CCF). We spoke with Dr. Zsofia Stadler, a co-director of the CCF’s annual EAOCRC Summit, on the rising incidence of colorectal cancer occurring in adults younger than age 50. “(A young adult facing a colorectal cancer diagnosis) is not alone,” Stadler said. “They are not alone as patients. They are not alone in the field that is trying to study this.”
Learning of one’s increased risk for cancer can be an overwhelming experience, but imagine also being told of the wrong results from your genetic testing. Maureen Boesen and Connie Busch are forever connected to one another. After they participated in a genetics study at Creighton University led by Dr. Henry Lynch in the mid-1990s, both of their test results actually came back wrong. Maureen, who tested BRCA-positive and underwent preventive surgeries, was in fact negative for the genetic mutation, while Connie tested negative and only learned much later she was actually positive with an increased risk for cancer. In this week’s episode, we feature a conversation between the pair, who discussed the revelation that changed both of their lives. “Is there any advice that you would offer?” Maureen asked. “Don't be afraid of information,” Connie responded. “For me, knowing is better than not knowing. Sticking your head in the sand is not going to get you anywhere. If you have the information upfront, you're making the decision, you’re not letting cancer make that decision for you.” Maureen agreed, adding “For you, your family, your children and their children. It goes far beyond just us.”
In recent years, immunotherapy agents have shown amazing success in treating patients with melanoma. For this special-edition podcast, we teamed up with our sister publication, Oncology Live, to bring the viewpoints of 2 melanoma experts on the importance of multidisciplinary care when managing immune-related adverse events (irAEs). You’ll hear from Grace Cherry, NP, of UCLA’s Melanoma Program, and Omid Hamid, MD, chief of research, immune-oncology and co-director of the cutaneous malignancy program at the Angeles Clinic and Research Institute. They discuss their team approach to handling irAEs, as well as offer tips on establishing an open line of patient and provider communication to ensure that toxicities are reported – and handled – in a timely manner.
A blood cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming – whether you are a patient, caregiver, family member or friend. However, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) has a variety of resources available for those affected by blood cancer. In this week’s episode, we spoke with, the associate director of the Information Resource Center at LLS – an organization that pioneers groundbreaking research in blood cancer, as well as resources like financial support, support groups for patients and caregivers, as well as the LLS Patient Community. As part of this community, patients can join online chats or speak with a counselor. “What you need when you are first diagnosed may not be what you need in a month or two. So, it changes. And this is why we encourage people to reach out to us,” said Rajotte. “First, it’s important to understand what you are dealing with…being able to reach out and get that information and support so that you don’t feel like you’re going through this alone. The more support you get the easier it will be for you to get through (your blood cancer journey).” For more information, visit lls.org, call 1-800-955-4572 or email infocenter@lls.org.
With an already close bond, Felicia Robinson and her daughter’s relationship became even closer following Felicia’s breast cancer diagnosis. While her daughter was a 22-year-old college senior, she served as Felicia’s caregiver – an experience the duo chronicled in their book, titled “Surviving Pink.” “Surviving pink offers information, inspiration, and encouragement for a life altering diagnosis,” Robinson said. “Mine was breast cancer, but it could cancer, heart conditions, diabetes, anything that knocks you off your journey that you have planned. You have to keep going and keep going forward.”
Dr. Cesar Rodriguez has spent the last seven years dedicated to advancing the field of multiple myeloma – which he discussed in this week’s episode of the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast. Rodriguez highlighted advances with precision medicine in the multiple myeloma treatment landscapes, and common questions patients have for their physicians. Moreover, he also highlighted his recent trek to Patagonia with Moving Mountains for Multiple Myeloma, an effort partnered by CURE and the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. Through the trek, Rodriguez was able to meet with patients and their caregivers about a disease he has spent his career dedicated to finding more treatments for. For more information, visit movingmountainsformultiplemyeloma.com.
While a lung cancer diagnosis can be a lot to understand, genomics is a new aspect of the disease that patients should better understand, as it can affect treatment decisions as well. In this week’s episode of the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with Dr. Ed Kim to better understand genomics in lung cancer. To start, he explained a common misunderstanding in the lung cancer space – what exactly is the difference between genetic and genomic testing in cancer. In this episode, Kim also focuses on what biomarker testing consists of and how patients can learn more about genomics to become better informed.
In the United States, there are specific laws in place to protect those who have received a cancer diagnosis as well as for those who are at an increased risk for hereditary cancer. In this week’s episode of the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with Lisa Schlager, from Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered (FORCE), to help break down the types of legal protections in place for these individuals.
About 10,000 Americans turn 65 each day, bringing on what some call a "silver tsunami" of geriatric patients flooding the healthcare system. However, less than 1% of nurses are geriatric certified.
For this month's episode, we'll hear from Carolina Uranga, MSN, BSN, RN, AGCN-BC, OCN, WCC, ONS, clinical nurse specialist at City of Hope, and Paola Bueno, RN, clinical nurse at City of Hope, about a program they used -- as well as other resources -- to improve their care of geriatric patients, a skill that nearly all oncology nurses will need to have.
When a 20-something med student started to experience overwhelming fatigue and organ failure out of nowhere, he eventually took matters into his own hands. Dr. David C. Fajgenbaum, who is now an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in the Center for Study & Treatment of Castleman & inflammatory Lymphadenopathies, was diagnosed with Castleman disease — a deadly illness that presents like a mix of cancer and an autoimmune disorder. After relapsing four times after his initial diagnosis and realizing after chemotherapy that the available treatments were not going to be enough, Fajgenbaum eventually evaluated his own samples to find a cure for his rare disease. With his radical approach to conducting original medical research, he identified and prescribed himself his own treatment that has brought about a lasting yet tentative remission. Fajgenbaum went on to co-found and become the executive director of the Castleman Disease Collaborative Network, which uses a network of physicians, patients and other stakeholders to crowdsource ideas about what should be studied in clinical trials and who would be best suited to conduct the research. He also recently authored a memoir, titled “Chasing My Cure.” More recently, he served as the special guest speaker at CURE’s MPN Heroes celebration, held to honor those individuals who excel in their efforts to raise awareness and education around myeloproliferative neoplasms. To read more about Fajgenbaum and the event, visit curetoday.com.
In this week’s “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, we speak with Tony Bossis, PhD, head of the Cancer Anxiety Project, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry, and director of palliative care at NYU.
Bossis is one of a handful of scientists leading the so-called "research renaissance" into psychedelics like psilocybin -- the psychoactive ingredient found in magic mushrooms.
In clinical trials, psilocybin is getting remarkable results with patients who take it in guided sessions alongside a therapist. Many patients claim that the experience ranks among the most important of their lives and that it brings profound new perspective on living and dying that helps ease stress and anxiety.
In this episode, you'll learn about the history of psilocybin research, what we've learned, what we still need to figure out, and what's in store for patients looking to find meaning amid their suffering.
In this week’s “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with Michelle Velez, a married mother of two and news anchor in Las Vegas, who developed a rare gynecological cancer following a molar pregnancy. “When we went back for another ultrasound to check and see how things have progressed, that’s when my doctor took one look at the screen, turned around and asked me, ‘How do you feel?’ And I said, ‘I feel awful and sick all the time.’ And he said, ‘Well, that's because you didn’t have a miscarriage. You have a molar pregnancy.’ We had no idea what that was. I'd never heard of it in my life.” A molar pregnancy occurs in 1 out of every 1,000 pregnancies and is a result of a genetic error during the fertilization process that leads to a growth of abnormal tissue within the uterus, according to the American Pregnancy Association. Velez had never heard of her type of cancer and felt alone as she was coping with the diagnosis and the loss of a baby. Listen as she details the emotional journey that led to her choriocarcinoma diagnosis and how she found strength.
As palliative care becomes a bigger part of a patient’s treatment journey, oncology nurses need to understand the realities and benefits of palliative care and help make their patients understand these as well. Which is why in this month’s episode of the “CURE Talks Cancer Podcast: Nursing Edition,” we had the chance to talk with Betty Ferrell, FAAN, FPCN, MA, PhD, director of the Division of Nursing Research and Education at City of Hope, and discuss the important differences between palliative care and end of life care and how nurses can advocate for proper palliative care for their patients.
After putting off a trip to the doctor, Grammy-winning songwriter and vocal producer Kuk Harrell was devastated to learn that he had prostate cancer, like his father before him. However, with his characteristic positive attitude and the help of his family, friends, and health care team, Harrell is now cancer-free, and spreading a message of hope to others who may find themselves in a similar situation. On this week’s episode of the CURE Talks Cancer podcast, we talk with Kuk about what it’s like to be “on the other side” of his diagnosis, and how he’s using his platform to shine a light on prostate cancer with the No Shaver November campaign in partnership with City of Hope.
In this episode of “CURE Talks Cancer,” we spoke with Dr. Mark Socinski to learn more about stage 3 lung cancer and what others should know about the disease.
In this episode of the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with Kassandra Alcaraz, PhD, MPH, about a new phenomenon that's gaining traction across the healthcare universe. It’s called the Social Determinants of Health. It may not be the catchiest phrase, but its implications on our health are absolutely enormous. According to research, the social determinants of health are responsible for 80% of our overall wellbeing.
So what are the social determinants of health? They’re the neighborhood where you grew up. They’re the school you went to. They’re the depth of your personal relationships— the social determinants of health are all of the social factors that impact how you feel.
This week on the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, we’ll take a closer look at what's being done to incorporate the social determinants of health into cancer care.
In this episode of the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with Dr. Donald Sullivan, associate professor of medicine at Oregon Health and Science University and the VA Portland healthcare system, about his research into palliative care and prolonged survival in patients with cancer. As Dr Sullivan points out, the topic of palliative care is complicated because it’s mired in misconceptions and tends to get an undeserved bad rap. Many patients associate palliative care with end-of-life care or hospice, but that assumption is inaccurate. If we focus on the truth amid all the noise and speculation, we can see that palliative care can be a useful practice that can help patients with cancer improve their health. Before we take a closer look into this murky, often unfamiliar portion of the cancer journey, we’ll politely ask our listeners to leave their preconceived notions about palliative care at the door. This week on the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, we’ll check our baggage and come together on a journey with an expert who has made his life’s work about improving the quality and the quantity of life for patients with cancer—all through palliative care.
Fifteen years ago, at the age of 31 and just married about a month prior, Scott Petinga and his wife had discovered he had stage 1 testicular cancer – a disease he was severely overtreated for. After 16 rounds of radiation, Petinga was left with one less testicle, infertile and unable to properly produce hormones – all things that affect him still today. As a result, Scott has become a patient advocate and philanthropic entrepreneur to help raise awareness for others by founding organizations like the TH!NK DIFFERENT Foundation, the Fairy Foundation and the Center of Advocacy for Cancer of the Testes International (CACTI). This week, CURE spoke with Petinga about his journey with testicular cancer, why getting a second opinion is key and how community can help patients and their loved ones navigate the new normal after a cancer diagnosis.
After being diagnosed with bone cancer, Dana Vaughns refused to own his cancer, and instead triumphed over the disease. Now a 10-year survivor, he recently joined 109 of his colleagues from Bristol-Myers Squibb in riding 225 miles each as part of the V Foundation’s Coast 2 Coast 4 Cancer ride. “(Participating in events like this is) important because we ensure that we're staying in front of this thing called cancer,” Vaughns said. “…We have to find a way to be able to come up with solutions for cancer, whether they be cured, whether they be better treatments, we just have to ensure that we stay out there because the next person that may be diagnosed is going to rely on that…It is very important that we're not just doing this for now, but we're doing it for tomorrow.” In this week’s episode, CURE spoke with Vaughns about his journey with cancer and his triumph over the disease – including his recent trek that he considers exhilarating.
In this month’s episode of CURE Talks Cancer Podcast: Nursing Edition, we had the chance to follow up with Chasity M. Washington, MPH, CHES, director of the Center for Cancer Health Equity at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, after sitting down with her at the 3rd Annual School of Nursing Oncology to discuss her presentation on health equity. In this episode, we were able to talk more in-depth on how the social detriments of health affect patients with cancer and how nurses can not only advocate for their patients but their fellow nurses as well.
After being diagnosed with grey zone lymphoma – a very rare type of cancer – Jenna Benn Shersher was isolated due to her compromised immune system. However, it didn’t take long for thousands to join her on her journey when a video of her doing the twist in the ICU went viral. Following her experience, she founded Twist Out Cancer, an organization that provides psychosocial support to individuals touched by cancer through creative arts programming. It pairs those touched by cancer with an artist, who creates a unique piece of artwork that reflects on their individual journey with cancer, through its Brushes with Cancer program. “It's all about storytelling and empowering people with their story so that they feel comfortable moving forward and also educating the public in the process,” Shersher said. In this week’s episode, we spoke with her about her journey with cancer, as well as why organizations like Twist Out Cancer can help those affected by a cancer diagnosis – whether it be a patient, survivor or loved one. For more information, visit twistoutcancer.org.
In less than 48 hours, Nancy Cohen was given news that would change the rest of her life: She went to the doctor thinking (and hoping) she had pneumonia, but instead received a lung cancer diagnosis. Cohen, a non-smoker, says she was also exercising more regularly to lose weight and did not see her diagnosis coming. “I was literally in the best shape of my life. So I was just in disbelief,” she adds. “(After receiving my diagnosis), I joked with my friends and family that it's the special kind (of lung cancer) that white women who never smoke get, which unfortunately is becoming more and more prevalent.” With this, Cohen plans to share her lung cancer journey with fellow patients and their caregivers at the CUREÒPatient-Focused Sessions at the New York Lung Cancers SymposiumÒ on Nov. 9, serving as the keynote speaker for the event.
In this episode, we spoke with Cohen to discuss her “new normal” with lung cancer and what she hopes others take away from her keynote lecture.
For more information on the CURE Patient-Focused Sessions at the New York Lung Cancers Symposium, visit www.curetoday.com/events.
In this week’s episode of the “Cure Talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with Joan DelFattore, Ph.D., about how she overcame the physician bias she encountered during her cancer treatment.
DelFattore may not have a spouse or children, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have the fighting spirit of a pack of wolves. Over a long career in academia, she’s built deep, meaningful connections with extended family members, friends and colleagues. They were the ones she tapped to support her following the cancer surgery that saved her life. But when DelFattore needed follow up chemotherapy, she ran into a roadblock when her oncologist found out that despite her robust network of non-familial connections, she didn’t have a spouse or children to care for her.
Was this implicit bias or was it best practice on the physician’s part? Was this happening to other patients or was this an anomaly? DelFattore pored through scientific studies to find out and she answers those questions in her new essay Death By Stereotype? Cancer Treatment in Unmarried Patients.
In this week’s episode of the “Cure Talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with Benjamin Breyer, M.D., about a phenomenon that’s raising big questions, big concerns and big money across the cancer landscape: crowdfunding.
As cancer progresses and financial alternatives grow fewer, many diagnosed patients in the US are turning to online crowdfunding to soften the financial blow and make ends meet. A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association’s Internal Medicine issue paints a stark portrait: since the popular crowdfunding platform GoFundMe.com launched in May of 2010, patients, advocates and caregivers have piloted more than 37,000 fundraising campaigns specifically geared toward overcoming cancer’s monetary challenges. For Breyer, an associate professor at the University of California, San Francisco’s Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and the lead author of the study, mapping and understanding the crowdfunding phenomenon is an important step in the journey toward increasing advocacy for reduced healthcare costs. “I became really interested in hearing some of these people’s stories,” Breyer said in an interview with CURE. “The more we read their narratives and understood what they were going through, it really stood out to us that for a lot of people, getting care for cancer can be financially devastating.”
For this month’s CURE Talks Cancer Podcast: Nursing Edition, we’re diving in to an important – but unfortunate – reality in the world of healthcare: workplace violence. We’ll hear from Christine Pontus, MS, RN, COHN-S/CCM, of the Massachusetts Nurses Association about how the changing healthcare system may be leading to more violence against nurses and other practitioners. We discuss the warning signs that patients or caregivers present before becoming violent, as well as steps that institutions, policy makers, and nurses themselves can take to prevent abuse from happening.
For more on violence in nursing: https://www.oncnursingnews.com/web-exclusives/violence-against-nurses-a-major-issue-in-healthcare
Many have grown up in the sun without ever really thinking of the long-term, and at the time unknown, consequences from such exposure - namely skin cancer. Ron Manilof, someone who grew up on the Long Island beaches, was diagnosed with skin cancer in his 30’s - a disease that has recurred multiple times over the following 30 years of his life. Most recently, in October 2018, while recuperating from a skin graft that he had received only weeks earlier as treatment for yet another skin cancer, Ron realized his condition was more serious: Tumors had nearly covered the top of his head, had raised and were painful to the touch. Just one month later, he was diagnosed with advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Ron found hope in learning that less invasive treatment options were available to himand now. Wants people like him, who have experienced multiple skin cancers, to investigate all forms of treatment available because there may be alternatives. His biggest piece of advice for others: Listen to your mother about skin cancer prevention!
After years of expensive and emotionally taxing screenings, finding a lump and learning more about her family risk for cancer, Kristen Carbone underwent a preventative mastectomy followed by silicone implant reconstruction. Years later, following a common issue associated with her surgery, Kristen realized she wasn’t alone in her experiences and wanted to broaden the scope of breast cancer navigation. This week, we spoke with Kristen about her family history with cancer and also how her experience led to her founding Brilliantly – a site for women who are seeking community and believe they can feel whole after an experience with breast cancer. For more information, visit brilliantly.co.
After a car accident, and experiencing what he thought was a stroke, Matt Newman was diagnosed with brain cancer at the age of 39 – an experience he found strength and courage in. With a wife and three children at home, as well as a cancer partner in his father-in-law facing his own pancreatic cancer diagnosis, Matt immediately went into fight mode. He utilized fitness and exercise to get through his craniotomy recovery, and went on to write “Starting At The Finish Line,” which tells his personal story. “I’ve earned my legacy and cancer had nothing to do with it,” he says.
With no symptoms besides a lump in his neck, Jason Mendelsohn was devastated to discover he was being diagnosed with stage 4 HPV-related throat cancer at the age of 44. Determined to raise awareness about these types of cancers, as well as their vaccines, screening and treatments, Jason created a website called SupermanHPV.comand recently joined a congressional briefing to help others understand the elimination of HPV-related cancer is within reach.
Oncology nurses can make the world of a difference when it comes to patient care, and it is crucial that they work together with other memebers of the treatment team to ensure the best outcomes, according to Sally Werner, MSHA, BSN, RN, senior vice president, affiliate relations at Cancer Support Community. In this month’s episode, Werner – an oncology nurse by trade – discusses how nurses can be the best advocates for their patients, how to navigate life in the era of “Dr. Google,” and more.
Following his stage 3 melanoma diagnosis, Patrick called upon what he had learned to find hope. His first thought: Ok, what’s next? In this week’s episode, we spoke with Patrick, who is now a three-year melanoma survivor, about the importance of community and human connection to build hope after a cancer diagnosis.
After losing her mother, grandmother and great aunt to breast cancer, Allyn Rose, a former Miss USA and Miss America contestant, chose to undergo a prophylactic double mastectomy. She went on to become the first woman who had undergone a mastectomy to be featured by Sports Illustrated. In this week’s episode, we spoke with Allyn about her family history with cancer and her advocacy work with the AIRs Foundation - a non-profit dedicated to financially helping women who have had a mastectomy to pay for breast reconstruction who could not otherwise afford it. “Having the opportunity to know your family history is a gift…and it is the best way to arm yourself moving forward,” she said.
For more information about the AiRS Foundation, visit airsfoundation.org.
In this week’s episode of the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with a caregiver about support needed for others taking care of a loved one with cancer: They need it, too, she says. In a letter to her younger self – through Merck’s Your Cancer Game Plan “With Love, Me” campaign – Kristi, a caregiver to who her husband who was diagnosed with stage 3 HPV-related tonsil cancer in 2013, addressed the labels associated with a cancer diagnosis and the support she hopes others receive when caring for a loved one with the disease. “Nothing about cancer is going to be by the book – there is no book,” she says. “You can talk to other people who have experienced similar cancers, but just as every person is unique, so is their cancer. Inconsistency is going to become the only consistency.”
Rolf Benirschke was a placekicker for the San Diego Chargers when he was faced with a life-threatening challenge off the field: battling ulcerative colitis. Returning to the NFL, he went on to not only be the first NFL player ever to wear an ostomy appliance, but also a grateful patient. Since, Rolf has dedicated his life to patient advocacy and supporting the research and innovation that leads to new therapies for all diseases. He co-founded a patient engagement company as well as the Grateful Patient Project to continue to improve patient outcomes. In this week’s episode, we spoke with Rolf about his work to improve patient engagement and his advice on how individuals facing their own diagnosis can choose to become the victim or the victor in fighting their disease.
When he retired in 2010 after 30 years as a referee for the National Hockey League, Kerry Fraser looked forward to hanging up his skates and spending some well-earned time with his family. But seven years later, he was body checked by something he didn’t expect: a diagnosis of essential thrombocythemia, a rare blood cancer. In this episode of CURE Talks Cancer, we talk with Kerry about his diagnosis, his advocacy work, and how he uses the lessons he learned on the ice and works with his winning team to conquer each day.
After being inspired by one of her patients, Harding Cranford, RN, OCN, an oncology nurse at the Levine Cancer Institute, wanted a way to connect the community with the patients she treated on the oncology unit.
So, the nurse started "Bravery Bags," a program where people can donate items to those going through cancer that can act as a pick-me-up during treatment. What started as a small grassroots campaign spanned into donations coming from across the nation, brightening the days of hundreds of patients.
Read more: https://www.oncnursingnews.com/web-exclusives/educating-the-community-while-helping-patients-with-cancer
One pediatric oncology nurse’s experience came full circle when she herself was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2010, and went on to serve as her husband’s caregiver for the same disease just six years later. In a letter to her younger self – through Merck’s Your Cancer Game Plan “With Love, Me” campaign – Karen opened up about her experiences as both a patient and caregiver, and how outside support helped. “And then one day, complete shock and disbelief. After two years, you’ll become the caregiver as your husband is diagnosed with bladder cancer. You’ll both realize this new journey is paved by what you learned and experienced,” she wrote.
It was one man’s passion for music that actually led to his multiple myeloma diagnosis. In 2012, Ryan Anthony received his cancer diagnosis at just 43 years of age – something that was sparked by chronic aches and pains while playing his trumpet. With this passion, he and fellow musicians created the Cancer Blows event, designed to raise both awareness and money to encourage research for cancers with a focus on blood cancers and multiple myeloma. For more information, visit cancerblows.com.
If you had the chance to write a letter to your younger self, what would you say? One melanoma survivor wishes just one thing: “I wish I knew what cancer would do forme, not tome.” In this week’s episode, we spoke with Trena – who recently participated in Merck’s Your Cancer Game Plan campaign, called “With Love, Me” designed to offer insights from patients and caregivers about the emotional, health and communication challenges of living with cancer. To learn more about the campaign, visit yourcancergameplan.com.
Information about myeloproliferative neoplasms – or MPNs – is hard to come by. Even a simple internet search about this rare group of blood cancers turns up little. But the MPN Research Foundation’s myMPN Patient Registry aims to change that. This week on CURE Talks Cancer, we spoke with Robyn M. Scherber, Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Department of Hematology and Oncology at the UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center; Lindsey Whyte, myMPN Project Manager of the MPN Research Foundation; and Michelle Woehrle, Executive Director of the MPN Research Foundation about their work with the registry, and about a recent patient data analysis that is helping to shed new light on this family of diseases.
Barbara Bittner, RN, OCN, is an oncology nurse navigator at AdventHealth in Florida. But to her, nursing is much more than just a career.
Bittner cares deeply for all of her patients, and even helped establish Charlene's Dream, a resource center for women with cancer, after her friend and Colleague, Charlene, passed away from the disease.
In this week’s episode of the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with a caregiver who found hope in the darkness after losing her son to lung cancer at just 29 years old.
In this week’s episode, we spoke with a patient and his doctor about genomic testing and how it can change treatment outcomes for patients with cancer.
In this episode of “CURE Talks Cancer,” we spoke with a patient, an advocate and a doctor to learn more about bladder cancer and what others should know about the disease.
With the approval of the first chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapyin 2017, the stars aligned just in time for one woman diagnosed with a rare lymphoma. Following what was a stubborn cough and many misdiagnoses, Caitlin Buchanan was told she hadprimary mediastinal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. After chemotherapy failed to work, she was given a second chance with CAR T-cell therapy – which is when immune cells are taken from a patient, re-engineered so that they seek out and destroy cancer, and are then re-introduced into the patient to treat their cancer. In this week’s episode of “CURE Talks Cancer,” Caitlin – who is now cancer-free – talked about her diagnosis, the shock of being told she had cancer and how CAR T-cell therapy changed her life.
In 1997, Katie Couric’s life changed forever when her husband was diagnosed with advanced colorectal cancer, and then just four years later, her sister with pancreatic cancer. Now, 20-plus years later, Couric is working with Merck’s Your Cancer Game Plan to offer her younger self advice.
A new program called “With Love, Me” features a series of heartfelt letters written by caregivers and cancer survivors to their newly diagnosed selves and other caregivers, touching upon what they wish they had known when they were diagnosed and/or first giving care.
Couric’s advice to herself? “You may feel alone, but you’re not alone.”
For more information, visit withloveme.com.
A passion for running and helping her patients has led Angela Hammack, BSN, RN, OCN, to do great things. In 2017, Hammack, a charge nurse and clinical educator with Jackson Oncology Associates, ran a 100-mile race for cancer research and patient care. Her efforts continued after that, and to-date, she has raised over $100,000 for the cause.
For this month’s episode, we’ll hear from Hammack—who was also a finalist for CURE’s 2019 Extraordinary Healer Award—about what keeps her motivated.
Imagine overcoming a breast cancer diagnosis and its treatment, yet in choosing reconstructive surgery with textured implants, finding out you may be at risk for a rare type of lymphoma.
Renee Ridgeley found herself in that exact situation.
Following the recent controversy with a Food and Drug Administration panel not banning these implants that are to blame for causing breast implant-associated anaplastic large-cell lymphoma, many women are speaking out about the issue.
In this week’s CURE Talks Cancer podcast, we spoke with the patient advocate about her own experience and how women can learn more about their reconstruction options.
Read more about the FDA's panel in March at curetoday.com.
After receiving a testicular cancer diagnosis at just 26 years old, Jonny Imerman sought mentorship from someone else who had endured a similar situation but came up short.
In turn, he founded the cancer support community Imerman Angels, created to provide personalized connections to enable one-on-one support among cancer fighters, survivors and caregivers.
In this week’s episode, we spoke with Imerman about his cancer journey and how his organization helps individuals affected by cancer worldwide.
For more information, visit imermanangels.org.
The middle – an area many adolescent and young adults (AYAs) with cancer find themselves.
While their physical and emotional needs tend to be quite different, many institutions fail to focus on the specific needs of AYAs who don’t fall under either the pediatric or adult checklist.
In this week’s episode of CURE Talks Cancer, we spoke with a young adult who was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, as well as a child life specialist about a program at CHOC Children’s Hospital designed to address the specific needs of AYAs affected by cancer.
After many years of interviewing celebrities on E! News and the red carpet, and while also starring in her own reality tv show, Giuliana Rancic was faced with one of the most challenging moments in her life: a breast cancer diagnosis amidst trying to undergo her third round of in vitro fertilization.
While many supporters continually told her to be strong throughout her journey, Giuliana also told herself one key thing to help her get through the tough times – this too shall pass.
Now cancer-free, Giuliana shared her experience, inspiring many at the Extraordinary Healer Award for Oncology Nursing Award ceremony. Before the event, we sat down with Giuliana to learn more about her journey and how oncology nurses changed her life.
For this month's episode of the CURE Talks Cancer Podcast: Nursing Edition, we'll hear from Caitlin Cohen, M.S.N., RN, CPNP-AC, CPHON, a nurse practitioner at the University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital, in Illinois. Cohen was given the 2019 Extraordinary Healer Award in Oncology Nursing.
From ensuring that her patients have the fuel they need to heal to always providing emotional support, Cohen goes above and beyond to ensure the best possible care for patients and their families.
Ninety percent of patients with cancer enter their first oncology appointment with a nutritional issue; however, Savor Health, who works in conjunctions with Merck’s Your Cancer Game Plan, has set out to combat just that.
In this week’s episode of CURE Talks Cancer, founder and CEO of Savor Health, Susan Bratton discussed the importance of nutrition for patients and caregivers before, during and after treatment.
For more information, visit savorhealth.com, and to read some of the organization’s recipes, visit our Spring issue of Heal.
You’d think that, after being the drummer in a multi-platinum rock and roll band that has sold more than 40 million albums and DVDs since bursting onto the music scene in the mid-80’s, life would be “Nothin’ But a Good Time” for Poison drummer Rikki Rockett.
However, back in 2015, Rikki received a throat cancer diagnosis that would change his life.
This week, we’re kicking off the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance’s 21st annual Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week with Rikki, who opened up about his experience with HPV-attributed throat cancer, how immunotherapy made a difference in his treatment , and why individuals should “Open Up and Say Ahh” at free oral, head and neck cancer screenings around the country this week.
To find a free screening location in your area and to learn more about Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week, visit www.headandneck.org.
In the face of a cancer diagnosis and learning she was positive for Lynch Syndrome, wife and mother Heather Tolley-Bauer used comedy as an outlet to cope with her diagnosis and raises awareness for colon cancer.
Also the founder of Hyphen-Up, the “stay-at-home mom and a kick-ass cancer survivor” hopes to help others embrace who they are.
To read more about Tolley-Bauer, visit curetoday.com.
What do a 16-year-old advocate, one patient’s “tear catcher” and a Moon Shot doctor all have in common? They were all recognized by CURE as the 2019 Ovarian Cancer Heroes for their innovative research and dedication to raising awareness for patients with the disease.
In this week’s episode, we spoke with ovarian cancer advocate Ryan Mitstifer Walton, gynecologic oncology nurse Paula Anastasia, RN, MN, AOCN, and Shannon Westin, M.D., M.P.H., of The University of Texas MD Anderson.
To read more about the Ovarian Cancer Heroes event, visit curetoday.com.
As the most decorated Olympic gymnast in American history, Shannon Miller has faced countless long days of training and a vast amount of success throughout her career. But it was a rare ovarian cancer diagnosis that stood to be a challenge and a life-altering reward for her to help others with the disease.
Now cancer free, Shannon strives to live her best each and every day, while also serving as a strong advocate for awareness and early detection of ovarian cancer.
Before speaking at CURE’s second annual Ovarian Cancer Heroes gala, Shannon sat down with us to talk about her ovarian cancer journey, how she continues to help educate women and her advice on why it is important to stop and smell the roses.
Read more about the event at curetoday.com.
Patricia Jakel, RN, MN, AOCN, thought that she was doing perfectly fine in her career as an oncology nurse. Until she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
In the first-ever CURE Talks Cancer Podcast: Nursing Edition, hear what Jakel has to say about how her experience as a patient shaped the way she performs her job as a clinical nurse specialist at UCLA.
This week, we spoke with Linda Tantawi, CEO of Susan G. Komen Greater New York City, about the organization and how it serves as the “pink ribbon connecting the community” to help educate women about breast cancer screening and treatment.
“We are the pink ribbon that runs around throughout the greater New York City area, connecting hospitals and other advocacy organizations as well as the community groups on the ground who are doing the work. In addition, we are a thought leader and a convener in the breast cancer space,” she said.
To learn more, visit komennyc.org.
After a routine physical led to his kidney cancer diagnosis, one patient advocate and survivor has cherished every day he’s had with his family and uses this as motivation to help raise awareness during Kidney Cancer Awareness month.
“Renal cell carcinoma is like a phantom in your body,” said Ed, who was treated as part of a clinical trial at Fox Chase Cancer Center after he had exhausted all other surgical options.
Now in remission, Ed has one piece of advice for others facing this diagnosis: Keep on keeping on.
For 25-plus years, we’ve watched Scott Foley in a variety of acting roles – on shows like “Felicity,” “Scandal” and now “Whiskey Cavalier” – but many don’t know about his role as a caregiver to his mother after she received an ovarian cancer diagnosis when he was just 11.
Following his experience, Scott has teamed up with Tesaro as part of the Not on My Watch movement to share his story in hopes of educating others about treatments advances in ovarian cancer and why women no longer have to just watch and wait if their disease recurs.
With each share of Scott’s public service announcement, Tesaro will donate $5 to ovarian cancer patient organizations and support programs. For more information and to watch the video, visit notonmywatch.com.
After receiving a stage 4 neuroblastoma diagnosis at 15 months old, Candace Stevens beat the odds, and has used her experience to shape her career choice today.
Stevens was treated at St. Jude, and now participates in the institution’s LIFE program – research that brings long-term childhood cancer survivors back to St. Jude for regular health screenings throughout their adult lives. The findings from this research are helping survivors learn more about their individual health needs and also providing researchers with novel insights into the late effects of cancer therapy.
In this week’s episode, we spoke with Candace about growing up as a cancer survivor, why programs like St. Jude LIFE are helping other children moving forward, and why everyone should keep believing in miracles.
With the flood of information available on genetic testing for hereditary cancer risk, there is still an abundance of misinformation that exists regarding at-home tests.
Lisa Schlager, vice president of community affairs and public policy at FORCE, helped to dispel some of the misconceptions associated with at-home genetic testing, and why it is still vital to include a genetic counselor in this process.
For more information, visit www.facingourrisk.org.
As CURE gears up for its very first patient-focused meeting held in conjunction with this year’s
Miami Breast Cancer Conference on March 9, CURE Talks Cancer invited meeting faculty members Patrick Borgen, M.D., and patient advocate Stephanie Seban in to our studios here in New Jersey.
The pair discussed their journey as patient and doctor, and also why they are looking forward to helping to educate patients and their loved ones on the everyday issues they face following a cancer diagnosis.
For more information about CURE’s patient focused meeting at the Miami Breast Cancer Conference, visit https://www.curetoday.com/miami-breast-conf.
For this week’s episode of the CURE Talks Cancer podcast, we’re speaking with Maria Falzone, a safer sex educator and comedienne who is living with advanced cholangiocarcinoma – a rare cancer of the liver bile ducts.
After a recurrence in the summer of 2018, Falzone decided to forego chemotherapy and instead make the most out of whatever time she had left. To her, that meant making amends with others who may have hurt her, telling friends and family that she loved them, traveling the world and, of course, maintaining a great sense of humor.
To read more about Maria Falzone, visit https://www.curetoday.com/publications/cure/2018/bonus-2018/a-grateful-heart-after-a-cancer-diagnosis
Two doctors with very different journeys were honored by CURE for their efforts to improve the quality of life for those affected by chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).
At the 2018 CLL Heroes Award ceremony, John C. Byrd, M.D., a researcher and clinical specialist at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center-James Cancer Hospital, and Brian Koffman, M.D.C.M., a family doctor who has been diagnosed with CLL and co-founded the CLL Society, were both honored at the event.
This week, both winners tell us more about what they have accomplished in this space, and why being a CLL Hero is important to them.
For more information, visit: curetoday.com.
For this week's episode, hear from some of CURE's 2018 MPN Heroes. These Heroes are patients, survivors, caregivers, advocates or health care professionals with a passion for improving the lives and outcomes of patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms.
To read more, visit https://www.curetoday.com/articles/cure-honors-nine-who-help-people-with-rare-blood-cancers
In 1991, two mothers faced every parent’s worst nightmare: their two infant daughters were undergoing treatment for cancer. With advances in research, both of their daughters survived; however, both mothers' journeys did not end there.
Melissa Helms and Risa Tramel founded the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to fund research that will lead to the elimination of childhood cancer worldwide.
Now, many years later and after much success, we caught up with Melissa to discuss the foundation. We also spoke with two families who have benefitted from the research being done in this area.
Laurie was no stranger to cancer after she faced a bout with stage 3b non-Hodgkin lymphoma back in 1977, but her second diagnosis of breast cancer left her with a very tough decision on how she wanted to move forward with treatment.
After her oncologist recommended she us a diagnostic test, called the Oncotype DX assay, that helps make informed, individualized treatment decisions, Laurie was able to forgo chemotherapy treatment when she received a recurrence score that indicated that she had a relatively low risk of her cancer returning.
This week, we spoke with Laurie about her treatment decisions, and how this diagnostic test gave her what she calls “a piece of her life back.”
Following the launch of the CURE Talks Cancer podcast on March 1, the CURE team took a look back on its favorite episodes from its first season.
In this podcast, you’ll hear about the episode that kicked this all off – Barbells for Boobs – while also learning more about our interview with “McDreamy” himself, Patrick Dempsey; an advocacy group that will “knock” your socks off – Knitted Knockers; a 7-year-old with big aspirations, Micah; and NFL Hall of Fame quarterback, Jim Kelly.
Thanks for listening, and we look forward to season 2!
Evan Ruggiero, who grew up tap dancing, was in college when he faced one of his biggest hurdles yet – a diagnosis of osteosarcoma that eventually led to a leg amputation. When he received this news, doctors told him of all the aspects of life he would eventually be able to re-learn and participate in: walking, running, driving, swimming and so on. But one of Evan’s biggest goals was to tap dance again.
In this week’s episode of CURE Talks Cancer, we sit down with Evan and hear about his journey and the path he took to get back on stage.
Dating back to 1860 in Poland, three sisters’ journeys with the BRCA mutation isn’t exactly the claim to fame they were hoping for.
Kathryn (Winn) Buckley, Bridget (Winn) Stillwell and Maureen (Winn) Boesen’s family was one of eight studied at Creighton University in the 1980s, and at one point, the most significant history of breast and ovarian cancer ever documented in the United States.
As they prepare for their book, titled “Nipples Optional,” to come out next year, the sisters sat down with CURE Talks Cancer to walk us through their family health history. They also discussed how the BRCA mutation has affected their lives and how they’ve talked about their family health history with their children.
In 2012, former NFL head coach Chuck Pagano started to feel fatigued – a feeling most would associate with the long two-a-days of any given football preseason – but it was when unexplained bruises started to appear that he visited with the team’s medical staff and was eventually diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia.
Since, he looks back on his journey and feels there was a reason he faced a cancer diagnosis – something he says is way bigger than football.
This week, we spoke with Chuck about his cancer journey, and why speaking with patients, advocates and health care professionals at CURE Magazine’s first-ever CLL Heroes event was so important to him.
Writeup: Receiving a cancer diagnosis can be terrifying–Olympic gold medalist Scott Hamilton knows that firsthand. However, after the shock wears off, it’s possible to use cancer as a motivation to do better in the world. That’s what Scott Hamilton did by starting the Scott Hamilton CARES foundation, which is dedicated to improving the future of cancer care.
In this week’s episode, we spoke with Hamilton about his personal bouts with testicular cancer and a brain tumor, as well as losing his mother to breast cancer. The former professional ice skater also touches upon why he wanted to be involved in CURE’s 2018 MPN Heroes event.
Following their own journey with breast cancer, a mother-daughter duo has set out to help other families navigate the difficulties associated with a cancer diagnosis.
In this week’s episode of CURE Talks Cancer, we spoke with two-time breast cancer survivor Kimberly Jewett and her daughter, Kalli, about their experiences, and how they’ve used their journey to help other families during this difficult time.
The advocacy duo offers advice for both parents and children dealing with a cancer diagnosis, and discusses a new app, called the Magic Tree, to help during these challenging times.
This week on the _CURE_ Talks Cancer podcast, we spoke with Andy Steinfeldt, who looks at cancer “as a motivation rather than a destination." After taking up running at age 63, Andy was diagnosed with prostate cancer a few years later in 2013. But he didn’t let it slow him down.
Since his initial diagnosis, Andy has faced a host of other health challenges – as well as a recurrence he just finished radiation treatment for. But despite all this, Andy has completed two full marathons, earned numerous medals in the Senior Games, takes classes at a local college and has even taken up singing to prove that anything is possible – even with cancer.
For this week’s CURE Talks Cancer podcast, we’re continuing on the theme of Family Caregivers Month. We spoke with Peg Myrick, a colon cancer survivor and former cancer caregiver, as well as Martha Raymond, the founder and CEO of the Raymond Foundation.
The two women talk about the ins and outs of caregiving, including some of the aspects that they weren’t expecting when first taking on the role. They also give practical advice for caregivers, and discuss some resources that care providers can turn to.
Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, and every moment is a gift, no matter what that moment looks like, says Jill Kelly, wife of Pro Football Hall of Fame Quarterback Jim Kelly.
Jill is very familiar with the caregiver role – first helping her son Hunter, who was diagnosed with a fatal nervous system disease in 1997, and now with her husband, who was diagnosed with his third bout with head and neck cancer earlier this year.
In conjunction with National Family Caregivers Month, we spoke with Jilly Kelly about her husband’s journey with cancer, and how she copes as a caregiver through her family, journaling and her faith.
To hear more, visit curetoday.com.
People always hear about the research being done in laboratories and academic centers. But now, with the click of a button, patients can pave the way for lung cancer research, too.
To help kick off Lung Cancer Awareness Month, we spoke with Sandra Shaw – director of the lung cancer patient registry at The Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation (ALCF) – as she explains what the registry is and why it is important for patients to participate.
For more information, visit lungcancerfoundation.org.
Known as one of the New York Giants rushing leaders in franchise history, Tiki Barber knows the trials and tribulations of battle both on and off the football field.
In late 1996, Tiki’s mother Geraldine was diagnosed with bilateral invasive ductal carcinoma while he and his brother, Ronde, were both highly successful members of the University of Virginia football team. His mother is now a 22-year survivor, and since, Tiki has become deeply involved in the cancer community.
On Nov. 8, Tiki will deliver the keynote address at the 36th Annual Chemotherapy Foundation Symposium, held in New York City, to share his mother’s journey with breast cancer and the impact it had on his life.
Actress, director and ovarian cancer survivor Cobie Smulders – best known for her roles in How I Met Your Mother and The Avengers series – has partnered with TESARO to launch the national movement, Not on My Watch, to help empower the ovarian cancer community.
At the age of 25, Cobie was diagnosed with ovarian cancer after advocating for herself to get an ultrasound that led to her diagnosis. Now, recurrence-free more than 10 years later, she knows that the majority of women with ovarian cancer will see the disease return. So, she is working to educate women to let them know they no longer have to just "watch and wait."
Through the initiative, TESARO will donate $5 to ovarian cancer patient organizations every time Cobie’s public service announcement video is shared. To learn more or to share the video, visit https://www.notonmywatch.com/
Storytelling can help others feel empowered and encourages the narrative around hope for many.
Last month, Tesaro partnered with The Moth, an organization that promotes the art and craft of storytelling, to host a special event called “Our Way Forward: Stories that Illuminate the Ovarian Cancer Experience.”
In this episode of CURE Talks Cancer, we caught up with all three storytellers from the event who shared their experiences with recurrent ovarian cancer.
While most know her for her role on Bravo TV’s “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” some may not know that Camille Grammer’s tag line should actually include “below the belt cancer advocate.”
At the age of 43, and a third generation women in her family to be diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer, Camille was treated for stage 2 uterine cancer. Now in remission, Camille’s goal is to educate women about cancers “outside of the bra.”
In this week’s special edition of CURE Talks Cancer, we spoke with Camille about her journey with cancer, and her most recent work with the Foundation for Women’s Cancer during their annual race to help raise awareness for women’s cancers.
Eleven years ago, Stephanie Hosford received two pieces of life-changing news within the span of three days: she was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer and she found out she was pregnant – all while going through an adoption process at the same time.
After a whirlwind of days, Stephanie discovered she could undergo treatment at City of Hope and still safely carry out her pregnancy. Today, Stephanie is happy, healthy and raising three children in California.
Following her experience, Stephanie wrote a book titled Bald, Fat and Crazy to help share her story with others, while adding in a little humor too. We spoke with her about the book and her advice for others going through their own whirlwind with cancer.
To read more, visit curetoday.com.
After receiving a breast cancer diagnosis and being unable to have reconstructive surgery, Barbara Demorest was devastated. Then she discovered an alternative to traditional breast prosthetics that not only made her feel whole again, but changed her life, too.
In this week’s episode of CURE Talks Cancer, we spoke with Demorest, the founder of KnittedKnockers.org, about how her cancer journey helped her create a sense of community for women with breast cancer all around the world with Knitted Knockers.
For more information, visit KnittedKnockers.org.
In 2010, history was made when a Congressional resolution was passed to declare the first-ever National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week and National Previvor Day to raise awareness about hereditary cancer.
Millions of people carry an inherited mutation or have a family history of cancer but many don't know about their risk. National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week and Previvor Day aim to change that.
In this special edition of the CURE Talks Cancer, we spoke with president and CEO of My Gene Counsel, Ellen Matloff, and founder of Proactive Genes, Shannon Pulaski, to help kick off National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week and Previvor Day. In this episode you’ll hear about their resources and how each can help others learn more about their hereditary risk.
We’re wrapping up Childhood Cancer Awareness Month by talking to Micah Bernstein, a 7-year-old, three-time survivor of neuroblastoma, and his father, Jeff.
Micah and Jeff discussed their experiences with the disease, as well as Micah’s participation in clinical trials, being a “tester for the drugs,” as he put it. Now that Micah has no evidence of disease (NED), he hopes that he can inspire other children who face a cancer diagnosis, and one day hopes to become a doctor.
Head and neck cancer accounts for about 4 percent of all cancers in the United States, with more than 64 thousand people who have or will develop the disease this year.
In this week’s episode of CURE Talks Cancer, we spoke with Elizabeth Langdon, vice president of strategic communications and development at the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance, about how the organization helps to raise awareness for the prevention, early detection and research of head and neck cancer.
For more information, visit the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance's pageon curetoday.com.
For Colleen Johnson, running is more than just exercise. In fact, the 63-year-old endometrial cancer survivor recently completed a 100-mile ultramarathon to raise awareness for the disease.
“I’m just a single person. I don’t have money. I don’t have political influence. What I do have is my running shoes,” she said during the interview.
Johnson also advocated for the establishment of National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines for the treatment of the disease. In this week’s episode, we talk with her about her experiences with cancer, what drove her to become a distance runner and why she is passionate about spreading the word about endometrial cancer.
As a young mother, Rose Gerber faced a HER2-positive breast cancer diagnosis at an early stage in life – and during a time where this disease had poorer outcomes. Despite this feat, Rose used her personal experience, in combination with her professional skillset, to help other patients with cancer through the Community Oncology Alliance Patient Advocacy Network (CPAN).
Since, Rose – who is the director of patient advocacy at CPAN – has met with legislators on Capitol Hill to discuss cancer policy issues and has also assisted in developing programs across the country.
In this week’s episode of CURE Talks Cancer, we speak with Rose about her experience with breast cancer, how she became an advocate and how her journey helped her to see beyond the cancer experience.
To learn more, visit the CPAN site on curetoday.com.
Imagine learning of your mother’s cancer diagnosis, and then too, facing the reality that maybe you inherited the same gene that caused that cancer? One advocate decided to take affirmative action to reduce her hereditary risk, and is now helping to empower children to learn about their family’s health history.
This week, we spoke with author and avid patient advocate, Shannon Pulaski, as she talks about the launch of her new online resource tool, called Proactive Genes – an initiative designed to empower children to learn their family’s health history – and about her new children’s book, “Mom’s Genes,” written to help start these conversations.
For more information, visit www.proactivegenes.com.
Jim Kelly is a decorated NFL Hall of Fame quarterback who led the Buffalo Bills to four consecutive Super Bowl appearances and six divisional championships from 1988 to 1995.
In 2013, Jim was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in his upper jaw and has since experienced two recurrences. While looking to the four Fs (faith, family, friends and the fans) to help him through his cancer journey, Jim lives by making the difference today for someone who is fighting for their tomorrow. It is because of this, Jim was honored with the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance at this year’s ESPY Awards.
In this special edition of CURE Talks Cancer, we spoke with Jim about his experience with head and neck cancer, and the humbling experience of winning the Jimmy V award.
In this week’s episode of CURE Talks Cancer, Eli D. Bebout, a former republican state senator in Wyoming, discussed the two coincidences that ultimately led him to discover his cancer diagnoses: a Wyoming gubernatorial-election loss and an eventual swallowed fish bone that led him back into the doctor’s office.
He also discussed how he stayed motivated during his bouts with the disease and how his personal health issues influenced his politics.
Ethan Hawes was a college student, studying abroad in Spain. Having returned home to the states after running the Madrid Marathon, Ethan thought he was experiencing lingering leg and hip pain from training, but in reality, it was actually something much different: a multiple myeloma diagnosis.
In this week’s episode of CURE Talks Cancer, we spoke with Ethan about his experience as a 22-year-old diagnosed with a rare cancer, and his advice for others going through a similar journey.
Usually, sitting down to watch tv for most is considered one’s down time. But when Dr. Erich Voigt was watching “Beach Front Bargain Hunt” on HGTV, he put his expertise to use and ended up saving a woman’s life.
In this week’s episode of CURE Talks Cancer, we spoke with Voigt about how he noticed a lump in a woman’s neck while watching tv and utilized the power of social media to find her – which ultimately led to a thyroid cancer diagnosis.
Breakthroughs in immunotherapy continue to advance in the treatment landscape for cancer, but patients do not always understand what these therapies are and how they work.
This year, the Cancer Research Institute (CRI) is hosting five Immunotherapy Patient Summits for patients, caregivers, and advocates to meet, and for them to learn valuable information from health care experts to learn more about how new breakthroughs in immunotherapy are changing standards of care for all cancers.
In this week’s episode of CURE Talks Cancer, we spoke with a patient who underwent CAR-T cell therapy in a clinical trial, as well as CRI’s CEO, who offered more information about what these summits consist of and why they’re so helpful.
Learn more at:
https://www.cancerresearch.org/
https://www.cancerresearch.org/patients/immunotherapy-patient-summit-series
Living with cancer, from diagnosis through treatment and in to survivorship, can be a struggle in and of itself. To add to that, returning to work afterwards can be its own challenge.
To help individuals facing this exact dilemma, Jeff Bares, a return to work case manager at Allsup Employment Services, offers tips and advice to help return to work after treatment.
In this episode, we explore the “new normal” and what to expect when returning to work, the victories that come along with it, and accommodation requests to know and ask Human Resources about.
To learn more, visit curetoday.com
A cancer diagnosis can have a variety of effects on patients, survivors and caregivers. So, what better way to express one’s stress or feelings associated with a diagnosis than to talk to someone else going through the same thing? This is where support groups come in.
In this episode of CURE Talks Cancer, we spoke with a patient, survivor, caregiver and two social workers about the benefits of joining a support group and how they can help individuals through a cancer journey.
Paying for cancer treatment while keeping up with student loans can be difficult for many survivors. But, a new bill was introduced to Congress that, if passed, would defer student loans until after the person finishes active treatment.
This week, we spoke to Erin Price, a state leader for the Young Survival Coalition and board member for Critical Mass, about the H.R. 2976 bill, which she recently advocated for at Capitol Hill.
Moving Mountains for Multiple Myeloma (MM4MM) is a collaboration to raise awareness
and funds for myeloma research where patients, caregivers, doctors, nurses and loved ones
take on challenging mountain climbs throughout the year. On this year’s domestic hike, a team of 20 explored the Havasu Falls region of the Grand Canyon.
In this week’s episode, we spoke with two climbers: Jamie Tinschert, who received a multiple myeloma diagnosis in June 2012, and Chris Seal, a marketing director for an oncology brand at Amgen – who also sponsored the Havasu Falls climb – about their experience and why the MM4MM treks are key to raising awareness for multiple myeloma.
While many are aware of the way immunotherapy has revolutionized how we treat cancer today, most don’t know about the trials and tribulations faced by the pioneers behind this new way of thinking.
So, veteran journalist Neil Canavan set out to tell the story of 25 investigators – which included their failures, “dark night” and “aha” moments and their ultimate success – through his book A Cure Within: Scientists Unleashing the Immune System to Kill Cancer.
This week, we spoke with Canavan about the inspiration for the book, why immunotherapy may be the new “darling of oncology” and why individuals with cancer should give it a read.
To learn more, visit: http://www.curetoday.com/link/108
Anyone who has been through cancer knows what a vital role the oncology nurse plays in the delivery of care. For this week's podcast, we sat down with Christine Stone, M.S.N., RN, OCN, the 2018 winner of CURE's Extraordinary Healer award, which honors oncology nurses across the nation.
To read more about Christine and our Extraordinary Healer program, visit http://www.curetoday.com/link/107
While never easy, opening the line of communication with children about a parent or caregiver’s cancer diagnosis can help children understand the process, and instill trust and empowerment throughout this journey.
In this episode of CURE Talks Cancer, we spoke with colorectal cancer survivor Danielle Ripley-Burgess and childhood development specialist Leslie Welch about how parents or caregivers facing a cancer diagnosis can have these tough conversations with children of any age – starting with a communication plan that entails the who, what, where, when, why and how.
To read more, visit CURE Today.
In this week’s episode of CURE Talks Cancer, we spoke with lung cancer survivor Taylor Bell Duck about her cancer journey and celebrating survivorship.
At the age of 21, Taylor, who was a never-smoker and a division I soccer player, was diagnosed with lung cancer, and has since fought to stomp the stigmas surrounding the disease with Your Cancer Game Plan. Today, as she recently celebrated her 10-year anniversary, Taylor talks about how she embraces her new life, and how others can relish in the big victories of ever day life, big and small.
“Celebrate big and do the things that you love,” she said. “It is important to have a day to celebrate your life, and the journey patients go through is so important…so go eat cupcakes and have champagne!”
To read more about Talyor’s cancer journey, visit: http://www.curetoday.com/link/105
In this week's episode of CURE Talks Cancer, we spoke with blogger, advocate and CURE contributor, Justin Birckbichler. Justin has managed to mostly steer clear of doctors' offices until a few years ago when he found a lump on his testicle, and heard the words, "you have testicular cancer."
Shocked to receive a cancer diagnosis in his mid-20s, Justin, a schoolteacher, turned to writing as an outlet to document his journey, as well as advocate for men's health. Now, he is conducting a study to see how frequently testicular health is discussed at medical appointments.
This week, CURE Talks Cancer spoke with “Good Morning America” and soon-to-be “20/20” news anchor and breast cancer survivor Amy Robach about her journey, from learning about her diagnosis following a mammogram on live television, to survivorship and living each day to its fullest.
Robach learned of her disease after having a mammogram on live television in Times Square with millions of people watching — something the then 40-year-old was initially reluctant to do because she had no history of the disease in her family and felt she was too young to possibly be affected. But she now credits this to saving her life.
In this episode, Robach shares her experience with having breast cancer, how she has changed her lifestyle since, and her advice for others going through their own cancer journey.
In this week’s episode of CURE Talks Cancer, we spoke with Matt Lashey, creator and CEO of the chemoWave app, which is designed to manage cancer symptoms and conditions by keeping track of a patient’s overall well-being to understand how their experiences may be related to feeling better or worse during treatment.
Matt explains why this app is helpful for patients and their caregivers, and, that at the end of the day, you do have control of your cancer treatment.
Read more at: https://www.curetoday.com/articles/chemowave-propels-patients-to-take-back-control-in-cancer-treatment
While at-home genetic testing becomes more popular, given its convenience and low cost, people should still access proper resources and talk to genetic counselors who can offer clear advice on the results and what you need to know about these tests.
In this week’s episode of CURE Talks Cancer, we spoke with Whitney Ducaine, who is the director of cancer genetics services at InformedDNA, to help explain exactly what you need to know about the FDA-approved 23AndMe test and why you should consult a genetic counselor about concerns and how to digest genetic testing results.
Read more at: http://www.curetoday.com/link/102
For this week's episode of CURE Talks Cancer, we spoke with MLB Hall of Famer and former Phillies player, Mike Schmidt.
Schmidt was diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma, which eventually metastasized, but he held his head high throughout his cancer journey. Listen in to see how he stayed positive, as well as what he's now doing to promote sun safety for sports fans in Philadelphia.
In March, we honored four women for their contributions in the “teal army” fight against ovarian cancer.
During the inaugural Ovarian Cancer Heroes gala, held in New Orleans ahead of the 49th Society of Gynecologic Oncology Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancers, four individuals — a physician, nurse navigator and two patient-turned-advocates — were awarded for the contributions they have made to increase awareness and advance research and education for ovarian cancer.
Hear more from Carolyn Berson, RN, MSN, Sue Friedman, DVM, Susan Leighton and Laurel Rice, M.D., about what inspires them to increase ovarian cancer awareness, and what exactly being nominated for the Ovarian Cancer Heroes Award meant to them.
Former professional football player Elijah Alexander was enjoying life as a retired linebacker until his health took a turn for the worse in 2010. At first, his symptoms were written off as the result of years of wear and tear on his body from being an athlete, until one doctor finally ran more tests and diagnosed him with multiple myeloma.
Elijah eventually passed away from the disease, but his wife, Kimberly, remains vocal about telling his story and spreading awareness about myeloma, which affects a higher proportion of African Americans than any other race. But still, many people are unfamiliar with the disease.
Now, Kimberly is trying to change that, and encourages people to be more proactive about their health, not only during Minority Health Month, but throughout the year.
Patrick Dempsey, actor, cancer advocate and Breakaway from Cancer® Ambassador, sat down with CURE to discuss how cancer impacted his life after his mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
Dempsey, who was the keynote speaker at the 2018 Ovarian Cancer Heroes Gala, expressed his gratitude for the patients, survivors, caregivers and advocates who are making a difference in the world of cancer. He also talked about the Dempsey Center, which he created for patients and their loved ones, as well as what's in store for the actor's future.
For more information, visit http://www.curetoday.com/link/101
Many sports fans probably know Ed Randall best for his work as a longtime radio and TV personality and published author. But, following his own journey with cancer, Randall now utilizes his sports connections to help men across the United States get screened for prostate cancer – all through his nonprofit organization Fans for the Cure, which has helped thousands of men over an 11-year span.
What do Bill Nye the Science Guy, fashion designer Michael Kors and one very special prostate cancer advocate all have in common? Blue jackets, a runway and the ultimate goal of raising awareness for prostate cancer.
In this week’s episode, you’ll hear from patient advocate-turned-model Todd Seals as he tells us about making his catwalk debut at this year’s second annual Blue Jacket Fashion Show, held Feb. 7 during New York Fashion Week.
The learn more, visit: http://www.curetoday.com/link/97
The DONNA Foundation hosted its 11th annual DONNA Marathon Weekend in Jacksonville, Florida this past February – all with one specific mantra in mind: Choose love over fear. In this episode, we’ll talk with founder Donna Deegan herself about the foundation and its efforts, as well as the foundation’s executive director Amanda Napolitano on how much they have raised so far, and we’ll hear from one very inspiring participant Hollis Youngner.
Read more at: http://www.curetoday.com/link/94
Ryan Hamner has battled Hodgkin lymphoma four times since the age of 5, and has had some interesting hobbies since - from gardening to metal detecting.
But for Hamner, two things stuck: music and creativity.
In this week's episode, we discuss Hamner's journey with cancer, the tools he used to get through it and his creative successes.
Hamner is also a CURE contributor. To read more, visit http://www.curetoday.com/link/93
Tony Beasley has spent years in the MLB as a third-base coach for the Texas Rangers. Little did he know his competitive nature and critical thinking would come in to play in his fight against stage 2 colorectal cancer. Since, Beasley has teamed up with Fight CRC as part of their One Million Strong Campaign to help others do one thing: Develop a mentality to fight.
Read more at: http://www.curetoday.com/link/89
What happens when a 20-something finds a cancerous lump in her breast and is told to come back for a mammogram at the age of 40? For one group of CrossFit fanatics, it meant the launch of a nonprofit to raise money and spread awareness about breast cancer.
Read more: http://www.curetoday.com/link/88