Cancer Newsline - Audio

In this episode, Dr. Jeffrey Gershenwald explains why this is such an exciting and unprecedented time in the area of melanoma treatment and offers suggestions on how people can reduce their sun exposure.

Rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare type of cancer. Although associated with children, the disease is also present in adults where it poses unique treatment challenges. In this episode of Cancer Newsline, Andrea Hayes-Jordan, M.D., talks about rhabdomyosarcoma in both pediatric and adult patients.

Traditionally focused on end-of-life, supportive care is an increasingly important feature of treatment earlier on, even in an outpatient setting. In this episode of Cancer Newsline Eduardo Bruera, M.D., describes the services available at MD Anderson's Supportive Care Center.

In this episode Dr. David Hong explains how immunotherapy and targeted therapy work, how they are different and areas where the two overlap.

In this episode, professor of genomic medicine John Mendelsohn, M.D., explains how treatment can be personalized to target a specific patient's cancer. Part 1 of 2.

In this episode, professor of genomic medicine John Mendelsohn, M.D. talks about how biomarkers are used to determine which patients are candidates for personalized treatment and gives advice for patients seeking clinical trials. Part 2 of 2.

In this episode of Cancer Newsline Dr. Sarah Prinsloo explains the process for mapping the brain and how neurofeedback can be used to treat chemotherapy side effects.

In this episode of Cancer Newsline we discuss meningioma, a benign brain tumor that can cause side effects ranging from decreased hearing to problems with mobility.

In this episode of Cancer Newsline we discuss melanoma when it metastasizes to the brain and the types of therapies used to treat melanoma brain metastases.

In this episode of Cancer Newsline we talk about smoldering myeloma - what it is, how it is detected and how it is being treated at MD Anderson.

Immunotherapy harnesses the power of the immune system to fight cancer. In this episode of Cancer Newsline, Dr. Elizabeth Mittendorf talks about how successes with immunotherapy in melanoma are being applied to breast cancer treatment.

Immunotherapy harnesses the power of the immune system to fight cancer. In this episode of Cancer Newsline, Dr. John Heymach explains why he believes immunotherapy is the future of lung cancer treatment.

Immunotherapy harnesses the power of the immune system to fight cancer. Some of the earliest successes have come in the treatment of melanoma. In this episode we take a closer look at how immunotherapy is being used to treat metastatic melanoma, from how immunotherapy works to how the side effects differ from chemotherapy.

While cancer itself can result in remodeling or weakening of the bone and lead to fractures, some cancer treatments can also adversely affect bone health. In this episode, Dr. Mimi Hu explains the factors related to cancer and cancer treatment which can affect the bone as well as steps patients can take to support good bone health.

Instances of testicular cancer have been on the rise throughout the world over the last several decades. In this episode, Dr. Matthew Campbell discusses the current state of testicular cancer diagnosis and treatment, as well as the disease's effect on fertility.

For those who suffer from lymphedema, compression therapy is not always successful in alleviating symptoms. In these cases, lymphovenous bypass surgery offers another option. In this episode, Dr. Mark Schaverien discusses this supermicrosurgery that is helping people with lymphedema.

A chronic condition involving swelling of the extremities, lymphedema affects patients whose lymph nodes were removed as part of their cancer treatment. In this episode MD Anderson's Leslie Ballah-Massy discusses treatment, including self care options, for this chronic but manageable disease.

Scrambler therapy is an exciting new advance in treating neuropathic pain. By scrambling the information injured nerves send to the brain, this new form of therapy reduces the amount of pain sensation patients experience, particularly those suffering from chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy. In this episode, Salahadin Abdi, Ph.D., M.D., explains the science behind this technique.

Dr. Salahadin Abdi discusses pain assessment tools and how they are used to tailor a treatment plan for cancer patients, treatment options that go beyond opioids, and the effects of new advances in surgery with regards to cancer treatment pain.

A chronic condition involving swelling of the extremities, lymphedema is most commonly associated with breast cancer but affects patients with other forms of cancer. In this episode, Dr. Mark Schaverien discusses the causes and effects of this disease which affects 16% of cancer survivors and 1 in 1,000 people in the general population.

A common side effect during cancer treatment, nausea can have many causes. In this episode of Cancer Newsline Alicia Gilmore, a supervisor in Clinical Nutrition at MD Anderson, discusses causes and remedies for nausea as part of cancer and cancer treatment.

In this episode of Cancer Newsline, Lois Ramondetta, M.D., discusses prevention and cancer treatment related to cancer of the cervix. Cervical cancer is one of six types of cancer related to the Human papillomavirus, or HPV. For information on MD Anderson's HPV Moon Shot, visit https://www.mdanderson.org/cancermoonshots/cancer-types/HPV_related_cancers.html. Request an appointment at MD Anderson online at https://my.mdanderson.org/RequestAppointment or by calling 1-888-512-7249.

Should you delay cancer treatment if you are pregnant? In this episode, Jennifer Litton, M.D., dispels myths about receiving treatment for cancer during a pregnancy and offers advice to pregnant women who receive a cancer diagnosis. Request an appointment at MD Anderson online at https://my.mdanderson.org/RequestAppointment or by calling 1-888-512-7249.

Ablative therapy is used to destroy tumor tissue. In this episode, Sujit Prabhu, M.D., and Ganesh Rao, M.D., describe a new form of ablation called Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (or LITT) and explain its uses in brain surgery at MD Anderson Cancer Center.

MD Anderson's cancer Moon Shots Program is a comprehensive and ambitious effort to reduce the incidence and mortality of cancer. Several new cancers recently were added to the program, including Gliobastoma. In this episode, professors of neurosurgery Amy Heimberger, M.D., and Frederick Lang, M.D., discuss glioblastoma and how this Moon Shot aims to increase survival and early detection in this deadly cancer.

MD Anderson's cancer Moon Shots Program is a comprehensive and ambitious effort to reduce the incidence and mortality of cancer. Several new cancers recently were added to the program, including B-cell lymphoma. In this podcast, the co-leaders of the B-cell Lymphoma Moon Shot, Michael Wang, M.D., professor of Lymphoma/Myeloma, and Richard Champlin, M.D., chair of Stem Cell Transplantation, explain why this disease was chosen for the Moon Shots Program.

MD Anderson's cancer Moon Shots Program is a comprehensive and ambitious effort to reduce the incidence and mortality of cancer. Several new cancers recently were added to the program, including high risk multiple myeloma. In this podcast, Robert Orlowski, M.D., Ph.D., professor of Lymphoma and Myeloma, explains what high risk multiple myeloma is and outlines the goals of the moon shot focused on this disease.

MD Anderson's cancer Moon Shots Program is a comprehensive and ambitious effort to reduce the incidence and mortality of cancer. Several new cancers recently were added to the program, including those related to the human papillomavirus, or HPV. In this podcast, Cathy Eng, M.D., professor of GI Medical Oncology, and Erich Sturgis, M.D., professor of Head & Neck Surgery, outline the goals of the HPV Moon Shot in detecting and treating several cancers caused by the virus.

MD Anderson's cancer Moon Shots Program is a comprehensive and ambitious effort to reduce the incidence and mortality of cancer. Several new cancers recently were added to the program, including colon cancer. In this podcast, Scott Kopetz, M.D., explains how, despite advances in early detection and treatment, the Colon Cancer Moon Shot seeks to further decrease the number of colon and rectal cancer deaths.

MD Anderson's cancer Moon Shots Program is a comprehensive and ambitious effort to reduce the incidence and mortality of cancer. Several new cancers recently were added to the program, including pancreatic. In this podcast, Anirban Maitra, M.B.B.S., professor of Pathology, explains the goals of the Pancreatic Cancer Moon Shot and why there's hope for those diagnosed with this type of cancer.

Although rare, with 500-800 new cases reported in the United States each year, anaplastic thyroid cancer is aggressive, grows rapidly and is not treatable with surgery. In this episode, anaplastic thyroid cancer expert Maria Cabanillas, M.D., associate professor of endocrine neoplasia at MD Anderson Cancer Center, explains the importance of early detection and treatment for this unique cancer.

In this episode, Richard Champlin M.D., Chair of Stem Cell Transplantation at MD Anderson Cancer Center, explains what stem cells are and describes how MD Anderson uses stem cell transplants to help patients with leukemia and other blood cancers.

A new study of MD Anderson patients diagnosed with colon cancer before age 35 found that certain genetic factors can raise the lifetime risk of that disease, from the average 5% to as high as 80%. Eduardo Vilar Sanchez, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of Clinical Cancer Prevention, explains the study's findings, outlines the genetic syndromes associated with the higher risk of colon cancer, and lists “red flags” that would suggest a person should undergo genetic testing for colon cancer.

It isn't easy to quit smoking, and often it takes more than one approach to be successful. In this episode, Maher Karam-Hage, M.D., professor of Behavioral Science, outlines several tools available to those who want to quit smoking for good.

Neurofibromatosis describes a series of disorders involving tumors developing around the nerves. While these tumors are often benign, their presence in small spaces can cause serious side effects and health risks as they grow. In this episode, Dr. John Slopis describes MD Anderson's comprehensive neurofibromatosis program and explains how the research being done there is providing information about cancer.

Explaining to a child that he or she has been diagnosed with cancer is difficult for parents. In this podcast, MD Anderson Child Life Specialist Kelly Wagner shares information, advice and different approaches for how to talk to children of all ages about their cancers.

MD Anderson radiation oncologists have found that a shorter course of radiation treatment for women with early stage breast cancer results in fewer toxic side effects and improved quality of life compared to those who undergo a longer course of treatment. The findings published in JAMA Oncology by Simona Shaitelman, M.D., and Benjamin Smith, M.D., indicate that women should be made aware of this option when making treatment decisions.

While most people have heard about the health danger resulting from exposure to second-hand smoke, few may be aware of third-hand smoke. In this podcast, MD Anderson’s Alex Prokhorov, M.D., Ph.D., professor in Behavioral Science, shares the causes of third-hand smoke, the danger it poses, and how to protect yourself and your loved ones from its effects.

Children as young as five years old can experience body image issues. When children are treated for cancer, these concerns may be amplified by changes such as weight gain, hair loss, or amputations. In this episode, MD Anderson child life specialist Morinsola Keshinro provides insight into the challenges young children, adolescents and teens face with their body image, as well as ways their parents and caregivers can help.

Oncofertility is a fairly new field of cancer medicine dedicated to helping patients preserve their ability to have children. MD Anderson oncofertility experts Deborah Holman and Donna Bell explain their proactive approach to counseling men, women, and the parents of children with cancer on saving their fertility before treatment begins.

A phase three clinical trial studying whole brain radiation treatment (WBRT) has found that in patients with brain metastases, WBRT has a negative impact on memory recall and verbal fluency. Study leader and MD Anderson radiation oncologist Paul Brown, M.D., presented his findings at the 2015 meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncologists. Brown says the impact of whole brain radiation on patients' quality of life far outweigh its effectiveness as a treatment.

Some women with known BRCA genetic mutations are having their fallopian tubes and ovaries removed to lower the risk of ovarian cancer. MD Anderson gynecologist Denise Nebgen, M.D., Ph.D., is principal investigator of a clinical trial that is studying risk-reducing outpatient surgery options and their effectiveness at preventing ovarian cancer.