Cancer Horizons

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 we...

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...

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...

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,...

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 cance...

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 gy...

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 Ca...

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 Canc...

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 c...

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...

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 Valva...

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...

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 typ...

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, un...

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 bri...

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 cell...

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 an...

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 a...

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 e...

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 Stoma...

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 Ma...

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 (o...

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 whe...

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...