Cancer Horizons

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 H...

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 diffic...

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 r...

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....

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...

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 wh...

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...

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,...

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 eve...

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 abou...

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...

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 help...

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...

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...

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...

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 Com...

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 dir...

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 tal...

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, Ji...

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 hi...

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 di...

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...

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 abou...

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 “...

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 joi...