The James Cancer-Free World Podcast

The James Cancer Diagnostic Center has quickly become a valuable resource for the Central Ohio community and beyond. “Since we opened [in June 2020] we’ve had about 7,000 total visits … and about 40 percent have been diagnosed with some type of cancer,” said Tina Sowers, the Center’s administrator. In this episode we are joined by Raquel Reinbolt, MD, medical director of the Center, Sowers, and Ru...

There has been a lot of news and some confusion in recent months about the connection between alcohol consumption and cancer risk. In this episode, Dionisia Quiroga, DO, PhD, a James breast cancer specialist, explains the recent findings of the U.S. Surgeon General, what they mean and what people need to know to reduce their cancer risk. “One of the data findings was that most Americans don’t know...

“Ten years ago, there were relatively few treatment options [for bladder cancer] compared to what we have today which is a relative wealth of options,” said Debasish Sundi, MD, a James urologist and bladder cancer specialist. In this episode, Dr. Sundi explained the function of the bladder (storing urine), the different types of bladder cancer (contained within the bladder and metastatic), how new...

Cancer impacts the entire family of a patient, including the children. To help parents help their children through these difficult time periods, the James has created a team of certified child life specialists (CCLS). “We help parents navigate these situations and conversations,” said Sami Rundo, CCLS. The help comes in many forms, Rundo explained. “It starts with understanding the medical situati...

Because there are no symptoms in the early stages of pancreatic cancer “about 75 to 80 percent of patients are diagnosed in the later stages of the disease,” said Somashekar Krishna, MD, a James physician scientist who specializes in the early detection and screening of pancreatic cancer. Krishna and the team of pancreatic cancer experts at the James are using enhanced screening and artificial int...

“Primary care physicians are your first line of defense against cancer,” said Matthew Farrell, M.D., an Ohio State Wexner Medical Center primary care physician and a clinical associate professor of family and community medicine. Prevention, screenings and early detection are crucial and begins with a patient’s family history with cancer and other medical issues. “We are thorough and ask about thei...

Colorectal cancer can affect anyone, but healthy choices and timely testing can help reduce risk. Ohio State gastroenterologist Peter Stanich, MD, explains how lifestyle choices like diet and exercise, combined with screening and genetic testing, can help everyone reduce their risk of colorectal cancer. Learn more about colon cancer, including risks, symptoms and treatment: cancer.osu.edu/coloncan...

The reach of the James Cancer Hospital extends far beyond Central Ohio. As part of Ohio State’s Global One Health Initiative (GOHi), Robert Baiocchi, MD, PhD, is leading the research, vaccination and treatment efforts in Ethiopia for patients with lymphoma. “Lymphoma, a cancer of the white blood cells, is far more common in Sub-Saharan Africa, and afflicts people at a younger age” said Baiocchi, a...

David Cohn, MD, described one of his goals for patients of the James. “When a patient and a family say we didn’t want to be diagnosed with cancer and we didn’t want to be at the James Cancer Hospital, but after this experience there’s nowhere else we’d rather be and that is the end result of empathetic care and compassion in the delivery of that care,” said Cohn, the interim chief executive office...

“We’re so fortunate to have so many individuals come to us and want to share their time and help our patients and families,” said Kathleen Kiene of the 300 James Cancer Hospital volunteers. Kiene is the Administrative Associate Director of System-Wide Volunteer Services, and she recruits, trains and mentors her small army of volunteers, who include a large number of former James patients … such as...

The James Cancer Hospital is a leader is helping cancer patients deal with the pain that can be associated with treatment. “Our inpatient oncology rehabilitation service is the first in Ohio, the second in the United States and the third in the world to be accredited,” said Whitney Luke, MD, medical director of oncology rehabilitation at Ohio State. “We now have an inpatient and an outpatient onco...

Scientists have known for many years that smoking tobacco products greatly enhances the lung cancer risk and is the number-one cause of this deadly disease But what about vaping and electronic cigarettes? “Vaping is so new, and it takes years and years for lung cancer to develop so we don’t yet know the effects,” said Marisa Bittoni, PhD, MS, BS, an Ohio State scientist whose research focuses on h...

The OSUCCC -James is a leader in the treatment of pancreatic cancer, with the utilization of robotic Whipple surgery, the use of chemotherapy and radiation before surgery, multiple clinical trials designed to find even better ways to treat patients and a large multidisciplinary pancreatic cancer clinic.“We’re always thinking about what’s the next step and about the patient of tomorrow, that’s a hu...

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men, behind only skin cancer. In recent years, advances in screening, surgery and radiation treatment have improved outcomes and led to an increase in what is known as active surveillance after the initial diagnosis of prostate cancer. “The goal of active surveillance is to maximize the quality of life for patients while at the same time preservi...

Liquid biopsies and circulating tumor DNA are changing and improving the way cancer is detected and treated. In this episode, Sameek Roychowdhury, PhD, MD, explains the basics of circulating tumor DNA, how it’s being used at the James, his lab’s clinical trials, and the promising future. “When a normal cell and a cancer die they sheds fragments of their DNA,” he said. “Cancer can be detected in th...

The James Center for Tobacco Research “is truly one of the largest, if not the largest centers in the country and we clearly have the greatest breadth and depth of tobacco research in the country,” said Ted Wagener, PhD, director of the Center. Since the adoption of the 2009 Tobacco Control Act, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has regulated the tobacco industry. Wagener compared this to “wha...

“I see myself as an educator first and foremost,” said Bridget Oppong, MD, an OSUCCC-James surgical oncologist who specializes in breast cancer surgery at the Stefanie Spielman Comprehensive Breast Center and is also the deputy director of the James Center for Cancer Health Equity. In this episode, Oppong shares her wealth of knowledge about the importance of self-examinations and breast cancer sc...

“Cell division is fundamental to the growth of every living thing and when it goes wrong and is out of control this is the basis for all cancers and understanding this process is important,” explained Sir Paul Nurse. When it comes to understanding the fundamentals of cell division and the cancer connection, Sir Paul is a world-renowned expert and pioneer. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiolo...

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer, and melanomas are the most serious form of this disease. “And we project an increase every year of 20 to 30 percent more cases,” said Merve Hasanov, MD, a James skin cancer and melanoma expert whose research focuses on how melanomas metastasize and spread to the brain. In this episode, Hasanov describes how exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun i...

The Pelotonia Institute of Immuno-Oncology (PIIO) continues to grow and develop novel new cancer treatments since it was created in 2019 with the help of a $104 million funding commitment from Pelotonia. “I think that historic moment showed the collective commitment of the [OSUCCC – James] and the entire community to make huge progress in the field of immune-oncology,” said Zihai Li, MD, PhD, foun...

Two James physicians are part of an international clinical trial that utilizes an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm to better determine the risk factor of a patient’s colon cancer and whether or not chemotherapy is necessary after surgery. “The algorithm determines if a patient is high, medium or low risk category,” said Eric Miller, MD. Miller is a radiation oncologist who specializes in tre...

The mission of Chyke Doubeni, MD, MPH, is clear. “I believe everyone deserves the right and opportunity to get the best care possible and I believe people who have socioeconomic and other barriers need not be prevented from getting that care,” said the Wexner Medical Center’s Chief Health Equity Officer and the OSUCCC- James Associate Director for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. “All of us at the...

The OSUCCC-James has one of the largest and most comprehensive blood and bone marrow transplant (BMT) and cellular therapy programs in the country, led by Marco de Lima, MD. “You want to cure everyone, period and we work toward that,” de Lima said, as he explained what drives him to find better treatment options for patients. “That’s the motivation and the only currency that matters, and that’s he...

The James has one of the largest head and neck cancer departments in the country, featuring experts in robotic and reconstructive surgery, proton radiation, chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatments, as well as cutting-edge clinical trials. “The key is you need a huge support network [of nurses, therapists and other specialists] to get patients through surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and immunoth...

Breast screenings saves lives, and the James Cancer Hospital’s Stefanie Spielman Comprehensive Breast Center is a world leader in providing screenings, such as mammograms. “I really care about each and every patient and I want to make sure every woman has access to good health care and knows that we’re here to help then through this,” said Amy Kerger, DO, a diagnostic radiologist and mammogram exp...