Podcasts about mayo clinic cancer center

In a conversation with CancerNetwork® during Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, Tanios S. Bekaii-Saab, MD, spoke about various developments in the pancreatic cancer treatment field. Throughout the discussion, Bekaii-Saab weighed the benefits of currently available chemotherapeutic regimens for patients with metastatic disease, discussed research on the potential for precision medicine in those with KRAS wildtype pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), and detailed ongoing initiatives to improve outcomes among those with RAS mutations and other targetable genomic alterations. Bekaii-Saab is the David F. and Margaret T. Grohne Professor of Novel Therapeutics for Cancer Research, chair and consultant in the Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, and co-leader of Advanced Clinical and Translational Science at Mayo Clinic Cancer Center. Given the prevalence of RAS mutations and other alterations in patients with pancreatic cancer, Bekaii-Saab especially emphasized the use of genomic analysis to inform personalized treatment decision-making in the field. Screening patients to detect aberrations such as microsatellite instability-high tumors, BRAF 600E mutations, KRAS G12C mutations, and NRG1 fusions can open the door for the development and use of targeted agents, which may consequently improve patient outcomes.  Looking ahead, Bekaii-Saab noted the need to adapt the therapies that have shown activity in the later stages of the disease to earlier treatment settings. Although “great work” has been achieved with chemotherapy and surgical techniques, he highlighted the importance of bringing targeted agents to earlier lines of therapy to further increase the likelihood of positive outcomes for patients.  “I have never been more optimistic. I'm always the eternal optimist, but I'm even more optimistic today that we're going to move the needle for our patients with pancreatic cancer and continue to enhance that likelihood of living longer, having a better quality of life, or even increasing the level of a cure for this cancer,” Bekaii-Sabb stated. “Certainly, the future looks bright. We're chipping away, one drug at a time. We can now remove that whole concept of nihilism in pancreatic cancer and look quite optimistically on the future.”

Dr Tanios Bekaii-Saab from the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center in Phoenix, Arizona, and Dr John Strickler from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, review clinical data supporting the application of HER2-targeted therapies for patients with gastrointestinal cancers.

Dr Tanios Bekaii-Saab from the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center in Phoenix, Arizona, and Dr John Strickler from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, review clinical data supporting the application of HER2-targeted therapies for patients with gastrointestinal cancers.

Dr Tanios Bekaii-Saab from the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center in Phoenix, Arizona, and Dr John Strickler from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, review clinical data supporting the application of HER2-targeted therapies for patients with gastrointestinal cancers.

Dr Tanios Bekaii-Saab from the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center in Phoenix, Arizona, and Dr John Strickler from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, review clinical data supporting the application of HER2-targeted therapies for patients with gastrointestinal cancers, moderated by Dr Neil Love. Produced by Research To Practice. CME information and select publications here (https://www.researchtopractice.com/InsideTheIssue2024/HER2GI).

Visit https://i3health.com/relapsed-refractory-multiple-myeloma to book a live or virtual meeting at your own institution and hear more expert perspectives from Dr. Kumar or other esteemed multiple myeloma faculty! Currently, Dr. Shaji Kumar, Professor of Hematological Malignancies at the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, is the chair of Optimizing Treatment Sequencing for Patients With Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma, a continuing medical education/nursing continuing professional development (CME/NCPD)–accredited live or virtual meeting series provided by i3 Health. In this interview, Dr. Kumar provides a glimpse into the exciting developments in multiple myeloma research that are covered in the program, including breaking updates from the 2022 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting.

This week, CancerNetwork turns to the second part of its 3-part series focused on colorectal cancer. Tanios Bekaii-Saab, MD, a gastrointestinal cancers (GI) medical oncologist at the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, continues the conversation with Kristen Ciombor, MD, MSCI, a GI medical oncologist and associate professor of medicine at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, and John Strickler, MD, a GI medical oncologist, associate professor of medicine, and co-leader of the Molecular Tumor Board at Duke University School of Medicine. This episode's discussion turns to the GOZILA platform and its international collaboration. The experts expand on this platform, what it means for drug development, and examine genetic testing in GI malignancies. Tune in next week for the third and final part of this conversation on colorectal cancer. Don't forget to subscribe to the “Oncology Peer Review On-The-Go” podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere podcasts are available.

This week, CancerNetwork looks at the final part of its 3-part series focused on colorectal cancer. Tanios Bekaii-Saab, MD, a gastrointestinal cancers (GI) medical oncologist at the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, concludes his conversation with Kristen Ciombor, MD, MSCI, a GI medical oncologist and associate professor of medicine at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, and John Strickler, MD, a GI medical oncologist, associate professor of medicine, and co-leader of the Molecular Tumor Board at Duke University School of Medicine. This conversation focuses on resistance to targeted therapies in metastatic colorectal cancer, and the importance of addressing it. The experts also discuss EGFR resistance, EGFR rechallenging after prior progression, and rising HER2 amplification. Thanks for tuning in to this series on colorectal cancer from CancerNetwork. Visit cancernetwork.com to catch up on any episodes you missed and to read more about these topics published in the journal ONCOLOGY. Don't forget to subscribe to the “Oncology Peer Review On-The-Go” podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere podcasts are available.

This week, CancerNetwork kicks off the first of a 3-part podcast series focused on colorectal cancer. Tanios Bekaii-Saab, MD, a gastrointestinal cancers (GI) medical oncologist at the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, leads a conversation with Kristen Ciombor, MD, MSCI, a GI medical oncologist and associate professor of medicine at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, and John Strickler, MD, a GI medical oncologist, associate professor of medicine, and co-leader of the Molecular Tumor Board at Duke University School of Medicine. This conversation focuses on the current molecular treatment landscape of advanced colorectal cancer and the need for the COLOMATE platform. Among other things, the experts detail this platform and expand on its impact for patients, as well as the evolving world of colorectal cancer. Make sure to tune in next week for part 2 of this conversation on colorectal cancer. Don't forget to subscribe to the “Oncology Peer Review On-The-Go” podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere podcasts are available.

The Department of Medicine, which is the largest department at Mayo Clinic, is helping lead the transformation of health care. Important innovations include moving to digital and virtual care to meet patients where they are, and addressing health equity, all while keeping patients front and center."Patients are our North Star," says Dr. Vijay Shah, chair of the Department of Medicine at Mayo Clinic. "We're all about patients all day, every day. So, all of our strategies cascade out of that."Dr. Shah explains those strategies include practice innovations, digital transformation and internal and external partnerships. Internal partnerships include working alongside the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, the Center for Digital Health, Mayo Clinic Platformand others focused on improving patient care and developing cures.These partnerships are leading to innovations in teleheath and at-home care models, as well as new ways to use health data to improve treatments. And at the core of it all?"The most important pillar is our people and our culture," explains Dr. Shah. "Because our people are our greatest asset, and we're nowhere without them."  On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Shah and Natalie Caine, associate administrator, discuss the innovations happening in the Department of Medicine at Mayo Clinic.

A cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming, and patients often have many questions about what their cancer journey will entail. At Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, patient navigators help guide patients through the health care system.Patient navigators are active members of the health care team, assessing and addressing a patient's immediate needs and identifying obstacles that might prevent them from getting the care they need. Patient navigators help patients and their families access cancer information, find resources to meet day-to-day needs, and offer emotional support. "Our role as patient navigators is to support with a lot of the nonclinical sides of their cancer journey, whether that's logistics, transportation or issues with lodging when they're coming to a Mayo Clinic site for care," explains Laura Kurland, a Mayo Clinic Cancer Center patient navigator. "Oftentimes, we're helping them understand the finances, whether that's insurance, or other things that are going to be coming up that are going to be financial stressors for them as they're going through their cancer care. And certainly, we're there to lend an ear and offer support as they're learning how to truly navigate the medical system."The Mayo Clinic Cancer Center has both general patient navigators who assist all patients and patient navigators who serve specific cultural patient populations. Mayo Clinic currently has navigators on staff serving these communities: Hispanic/Latino, American Indian/Alaskan Native and African descent. Kurland serves the Hispanic/Latino population and explains the important role the culture-specific patient navigators play."The patient populations that we work with come with different experiences," says Kurland."So our goal is to understand the values they bring and support them with what their needs are. Whether there are language barriers, or there are just gaps in cultural misunderstandings, our role is to help bridge those gaps, clarify misunderstandings and also be advocates to those populations."On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Kurland discusses the importance of patient navigators, why culture-specific navigators are needed, and how she helps patients access the care and support they need.

While some adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients with cancer receive care in pediatrics, the majority are cared for in adult cancer systems. One of the challenges is that people in the AYA group don't fit well with either patient population. "If you think about the kinds of things that people in this age group are going through, there's a lot of life transition happening there," explains Dr. Allison Rosenthal, a Mayo Clinic hematologist and oncologist. "So this group really has a lot of unique needs as far as psychosocial development."AYA patients are 15-39. They may be students in high school or college, may be living on their own, and often are caught between losing coverage under parental health insurance and finding their own. Another common issue is the desire to start a family as fertility can be impacted by cancer and its treatment, which makes conversations about fertility preservation very important."There's never a convenient time to be diagnosed with cancer, but particularly inconvenient in this group," says Dr. Rosenthal. "And they often get overlooked because I think people just don't recognize that cancer is really common in this age population as well."Dr. Rosenthal is leading an effort at Mayo Clinic Cancer Center to change that. The adolescent and young adult cancer center program aims to help AYA patients receive access to age-appropriate care and support. This multidisciplinary approach will include not only cancer specialists but also social workers, health psychologists, and financial and vocational counselors. Another important piece is helping AYA patients transition from pediatric to adult care and plan for cancer survivorship."One of the most important things is having survivorship care that focuses on the needs of these patients as they move forward," says Dr. Rosenthal. "We're really fortunate that the majority of young adult patients who get cancer care are going to do well. Thankfully, there are going to be a lot of long-term survivors." April 4-10 is Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Week. On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Rosenthal discusses the needs of AYA patients with cancer.

Guests include:Trudie Jackson, Patient Navigator for American Indians and Alaska Natives at the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center in ArizonaKami Ortiz and Loren Bahe, Prevention Specialists at Phoenix Indian Center, will tell us about the Safeguarding Medications 101 programand we'll chat with Adrian D Thomas and Cody Bruguier, two members of the band One Way Sky, a chill-hype alternative rock band from the Gila River and Tohona O'odham NationsSupport the show (https://www.nativehealthphoenix.org/donate/)

Dr. Cheryl Willman was named executive director of Mayo Clinic Cancer Programs, and director of the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center in May. In this role, Dr. Willman is leading the expansion and strategic development of Mayo Clinic Cancer Center locations in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota, as well as newly developing Mayo Clinic global cancer programs in London and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.Mayo Clinic Cancer Center is designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) as a comprehensive cancer center. At comprehensive cancer centers, staff coordinate innovative cancer care delivery for patients; conduct team-based cancer research to develop better means to prevent, detect and treat cancer; involve communities and patients in research; and train the next generation of cancer health professionals. Mayo Clinic Cancer Center offers its patients access to hundreds of clinical trials in all phases that test new and improved cancer treatments. "We have a menu of over 300 cancer clinical trials every year that are testing new drugs and bringing treatments to patients," says Dr. Willman. "Cancer clinical trials are essential to advancing our knowledge in cancer care."Work is underway at Mayo Clinic Cancer Center to grow the Cancer Care at Home program and engage local communities, which can help address disparities in health care. Other initiatives include making advances in radiation therapy techniques and using genomics to develop individualized care for patients.Mayo Clinic Cancer Center also is expanding the use of patient navigators, allowing cancer patients to have one point of contact to help them navigate the complexities of cancer care that often involves many specialists. "For a breast cancer patient, for example, that would include breast cancer surgeons, medical oncologists who give chemotherapy, radiation oncologists who give radiation, but also physical medicine and rehabilitation, nutrition, psychosocial support, and access to clinical trials," says Dr. Willman. "A patient navigator becomes the primary contact person for a patient we're caring for and truly navigates them through all of their providers."On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Willman discusses the innovations taking place at Mayo Clinic to improve cancer care for patients.

Chadi welcomes back Rafael Fonseca, (@Rfonsi1), MD, interim director of Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, and Aaron Goodman (@AaronGoodman33), MD, hematologist, University of California San Diego, to debate whether smoldering multiple myeloma should be treated. They begin by agreeing on a definition of the disease, listing patient characteristics that may warrant consideration for early intervention, and stating the importance of improving the ability to predict progressing disease. The trio then debate treatment in specific example circumstances and the overall consensus within the myeloma world, the practicality of clinical trials for smoldering disease, and so much more in this testy and thought-provoking dialogue.

June is National Cancer Survivor Month, and National Cancer Survivors Day was recognized on Sunday, June 6. Both events recognize and celebrate the millions of adults and children in the United States who have experienced a cancer diagnosis. According to the National Cancer Institute, there are nearly 17 million cancer survivors in the U.S. Each one experiences cancer survivorship differently. Sometimes cancer survivorship means a cure. Sometimes it means living with the cancer. In other cases, survivorship involves a new normal that requires adapting to the permanent side effects of cancer treatment. Cancer survivorship is as unique as each cancer survivor. On this Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Kathryn Ruddy, associate director of Patient and Community Education and co-chair of the Symptom Control/Survivorship Cross-Disciplinary Group at Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, discusses the needs and concerns of cancer survivors of all ages.

Primary brain tumors originate in the brain or tissues close to the brain, such as in brain-covering membranes, cranial nerves, or the pituitary or pineal glands. There are many types of primary brain tumors, and over 84,000 people will receive a primary brain tumor diagnosis in 2021, according to the National Brain Tumor Society. The median age for these diagnoses is 60. The most common cancerous, or malignant, brain tumor is the glioblastoma, a type of glioma that begins in the brain or spinal cord. The most common primary noncancerous, or benign, brain tumor is the meningioma, which arises from the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. May is Brain Tumor Awareness Month. On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Alyx Porter, co-chair of the Central Nervous System Tumor Disease Group at Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, discusses the various types of brain tumors and how they are diagnosed and treated.

The most effective treatments are often out of reach for patients. Big news came from the FDA announcing the approval of CAR-T therapies for multiple myeloma patients, but drug assessments from third-party groups are concerning. Will patients be able to access these life-saving treatments?Multiple myeloma oncologist Dr. Rafael Fonseca highlights the benefits of CAR-T therapies, the future of these advanced technologies, and the impossible task of putting a dollar value on patient quality of life. We also hear from multiple myeloma patient and advocate Dale Hopkins on how designer drugs like CAR-T could be a game-changer for his treatment regimen. Guest:Rafael FonsecaInterim Director, Mayo Clinic Cancer CenterRafael Fonseca, M.D., is the interim director of Mayo Clinic Cancer Center and the director for Innovation and Transformational Relationships at Mayo Clinic's Arizona campus.Dr. Fonseca has a broad range of research interests, including clinical trials for the treatment of myeloma and related conditions, a better understanding of the genetics of myeloma and related conditions (including the clinical implications), new drug development (including harnessing the cells' metabolism to develop effective therapies), myeloma bone disease, pharmacoeconomics, and policy. The cumulative research efforts of Dr. Fonseca's laboratory have led to a better understanding of myeloma and related diseases, and unlocked novel treatment options for patients and provided context for the pharmacoeconomic implications of new therapies.Links:Dr. Rafael FonsecaDale Hopkins BlogFDA Approves First CAR-T Cell Therapy for Multiple Myeloma ICER’s Review on Multiple Myeloma Limiting Medicaid Access to Accelerated Approval Drugs: Costs and ConsequencesPatient Correspondent: Megan Claire-ChasePatients Rising Concierge Need help?The successful patient is one who can get what they need when they need it. We all know insurance slows us down, so why not take matters into your own hands. Our Navigator is an online tool that allows you to search a massive network of health-related resources using your zip code so you get local results. Get proactive and become a more successful patient right now at PatientsRisingConcierge.orgHave a question or comment about the show, want to suggest a show topic or share your story as a patient correspondent?Drop us a line: podcast@patientsrising.orgThe views and opinions expressed herein are those of the guest(s)/ author(s) and do not reflect the official policy or position of Patients Rising.

Vincent Rajkumar, (@VincentRK), MD, hematologist at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN), joins the show to guest host a debate between Sagar Lonial (@SagarLonialMD), MD, FACP, chief medical officer of Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, and Rafael Fonseca, (@Rfonsi1), MD, interim director of Mayo Clinic Cancer Center. These multiple myeloma “gurus” dive into imaging, smoldering disease, endpoints, maintenance, minimal residual disease, and so much more.

Rafael Fonseca (@Rfonsi1), MD, interim director of Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, shares with Chadi his picks for the most clinically applicable multiple myeloma studies coming out of the ASH virtual meeting, including notes on transplantation, frontline therapy, the “belle of the ball” bispecific antibodies, CAR-T therapies, and MRD monitoring.

With an estimated incidence of 8,000 new cases per year, cholangiocarcinoma is a rare and aggressive tumor type that accounts for only 3% of all gastrointestinal cancers. Outcomes are poor, with 5-year survival rates ranging from 24% to as low as 2%. In this episode of Oncology Data Advisor, Mitesh J. Borad, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Director of the Liver and Biliary Cancer Research Program at the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center in Phoenix, Arizona, joins i3 Health for a discussion that covers the efficacy and adverse events of FGFR inhibitor therapy, ongoing research related to additional therapeutic targets, and the increasing role of precision medicine in the treatment of patients with cholangiocarcinoma.

Cancer. It's a word that nobody wants to hear. It's a difficult diagnosis that can leave you and your family members scared and confused. Finding guidance along the journey can help. On this episode of Mayo Clinic Q&A, Jeri Lensing and Angela Young discuss the important role of patient navigators at the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center.

James M. Foran, MD, FRCPC, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Jacksonville, FL Recorded on May 28, 2020

Innovation demands trialing and attempts to change entire industries with novel approaches. By nature, innovation is immersed in unusual levels of risk and failure. Typically, we associate entrepreneurs with the ability and fearlessness of facing risk and failure to build innovative technology solutions and companies. But building and leading an innovative future-reaching healthcare organization within a system also requires a certain fearlessness and a similar spirit or an INTRApreneurial spirit.  An intrapreneur is defined as “a person within a large organization who takes direct responsibility for turning an idea into a profitable finished product through assertive risk-taking and innovation.”  But unlike an entrepreneur, an intrapreneur doesn’t own the product or service that they innovate; the system or organization owns the creative ideas and end products created by the individual(s). INTRApreneurs in healthcare organizations often do this work as part of a calling to help society, create solutions, change industries and impact humanity. This episode’s guest is an Intrapreneur working on the cutting edge of healthcare innovation and has spent her career matching her passion of caring for patients with a desire to implement novel technology solutions to create tools for better patient care at the right time and place. Dr. Tufia Haddad is an Associate Professor of Oncology at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, and a Consultant in the Department of Oncology. Her clinical practice and research program is dedicated to breast cancer. She currently serves as the Chair of Digital Health for the Department of Oncology and Chair of the Breast Medical Oncology Practice at Mayo Clinic Rochester. She is the Medical Director of Remote Patient Monitoring services for the Mayo Clinic Center for Connected Care, and she is a member of the Mayo Clinic Advisory Board to the Office of Augmented Human Intelligence. As an oncologist and clinical investigator, she is an active member of the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Women’s Cancer Research Program, and she has received federal funding in support of biomarker discovery and early phase clinical trials in drug-resistant breast cancer. In the field of digital health, her interest is in the transformation of healthcare delivery models and development of clinical decision support with novel connected health and artificial intelligence technology solutions.  Dr. Haddad has authored over 50 peer-reviewed manuscripts, book chapters, and editorials. Dr. Haddad received her Bachelor of Sciences degree in Biology, magna cum laude, from Marquette University. She completed medical school at Creighton University and is an Alpha Omega Alpha honor society member. Her Internal Medicine residency was completed at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minnesota), and her fellowship in Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation at the University of Minnesota. She received student humanitarian, individual excellence in medicine, and teaching awards throughout her training, as well as several educational excellence awards while on faculty at the University of Minnesota and the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science.

On the Mayo Clinic Radio program, Dr. Shakila Khan, a Mayo Clinic pediatric hematologist/oncologist, discusses childhood leukemia. Also on the program, Dr. Kaiser Lim, a Mayo Clinic pulmonary and critical care physician, explains chronic cough and how it can be treated. And Jeri Lensing and Angela Young discuss the important role of patient navigators at the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center.

Every year since 2014 George Maurer has gone on an epic bike ride to raise funds for cancer research in memory of his friend Carolyn Held who died from cancer in 2012.  In that time he has raised 45,000 dollars for research at the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center.  George names his cycling adventures using his age and the destination so in 2016 it was 50 across Iceland and in 2017 it was 51 across Sri Lanka.  This year it will be 52 across Canada.  You can learn more about his adventures at georgemaurer.com.  George Maurer, welcome to The Pursuit Zone.

Ramesh K. Ramanathan, MD, of the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Phoenix Campus, discusses new advances in treating patients with pancreatic cancer.

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center are jointly hosting the 10th annual Spirit of EAGLES: Changing Patterns of Cancer in Native Communities conference, to be held Sept. 21–24 in Niagara Falls, New York.Rodney Haring, PhD, who serves on American Indian and Alaska Native Health Research Advisory Council, is here to discuss the conference and why do cancer disparities exist within Native American societies?

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center are jointly hosting the 10th annual Spirit of EAGLES: Changing Patterns of Cancer in Native Communities conference, to be held Sept. 21–24 in Niagara Falls, New York.Rodney Haring, PhD, who serves on American Indian and Alaska Native Health Research Advisory Council, is here to discuss the conference and why do cancer disparities exist within Native American societies?

Dr. Cheryl Willman was named executive director of Mayo Clinic Cancer Programs, and director of the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center in May. In this role, Dr. Willman is leading the expansion and strategic development of Mayo Clinic Cancer Center locations in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota, as well as newly developing Mayo Clinic global cancer programs in London and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.Mayo Clinic Cancer Center is designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) as a comprehensive cancer center. At comprehensive cancer centers, staff coordinate innovative cancer care delivery for patients; conduct team-based cancer research to develop better means to prevent, detect and treat cancer; involve communities and patients in research; and train the next generation of cancer health professionals. Mayo Clinic Cancer Center offers its patients access to hundreds of clinical trials in all phases that test new and improved cancer treatments. "We have a menu of over 300 cancer clinical trials every year that are testing new drugs and bringing treatments to patients," says Dr. Willman. "Cancer clinical trials are essential to advancing our knowledge in cancer care."Work is underway at Mayo Clinic Cancer Center to grow the Cancer Care at Home program and engage local communities, which can help address disparities in health care. Other initiatives include making advances in radiation therapy techniques and using genomics to develop individualized care for patients.Mayo Clinic Cancer Center also is expanding the use of patient navigators, allowing cancer patients to have one point of contact to help them navigate the complexities of cancer care that often involves many specialists. "For a breast cancer patient, for example, that would include breast cancer surgeons, medical oncologists who give chemotherapy, radiation oncologists who give radiation, but also physical medicine and rehabilitation, nutrition, psychosocial support, and access to clinical trials," says Dr. Willman. "A patient navigator becomes the primary contact person for a patient we're caring for and truly navigates them through all of their providers."On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Willman discusses the innovations taking place at Mayo Clinic to improve cancer care for patients. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

June is National Cancer Survivor Month, and National Cancer Survivors Day was recognized on Sunday, June 6. Both events recognize and celebrate the millions of adults and children in the United States who have experienced a cancer diagnosis. According to the National Cancer Institute, there are nearly 17 million cancer survivors in the U.S. Each one experiences cancer survivorship differently. Sometimes cancer survivorship means a cure. Sometimes it means living with the cancer. In other cases, survivorship involves a new normal that requires adapting to the permanent side effects of cancer treatment. Cancer survivorship is as unique as each cancer survivor. On this Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Kathryn Ruddy, associate director of Patient and Community Education and co-chair of the Symptom Control/Survivorship Cross-Disciplinary Group at Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, discusses the needs and concerns of cancer survivors of all ages. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Primary brain tumors originate in the brain or tissues close to the brain, such as in brain-covering membranes, cranial nerves, or the pituitary or pineal glands. There are many types of primary brain tumors, and over 84,000 people will receive a primary brain tumor diagnosis in 2021, according to the National Brain Tumor Society. The median age for these diagnoses is 60. The most common cancerous, or malignant, brain tumor is the glioblastoma, a type of glioma that begins in the brain or spinal cord. The most common primary noncancerous, or benign, brain tumor is the meningioma, which arises from the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. May is Brain Tumor Awareness Month. On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Alyx Porter, co-chair of the Central Nervous System Tumor Disease Group at Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, discusses the various types of brain tumors and how they are diagnosed and treated. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ that sits just beneath the liver, on the right side of the abdomen. Slender tubes that carry bile fluid also are also located in that area. Because of the relatively hidden nature of the gallbladder and bile ducts, cancers can grow without being detected. Late detection can mean a poor prognosis. Dr. Kabir Mody, former co-chair of the Hepatobiliary Disease Group at Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, says February is the awareness month set aside to educate people about these rare cancers. In this Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Mody talks about symptoms, detection, surgical interventions and treatments for gallbladder and bile ducts cancers. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Almost half of all people in the U.S. are at risk of developing some form of cancer in their lifetime, according to the National Cancer Institute. For women, it's often breast cancer. For men, it's prostate cancer. For both populations lung cancer and colorectal cancer are common. Dr. Paul Limburg, a Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist and cancer researcher with the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, says you can lower your risk of cancer by knowing your personal and family medical histories, as well as developing a healthy lifestyle that includes exercise. He also says researchers are studying healthy people to see whether medications or supplements could help modify cancer risk. "It's called chemo prevention," says Dr. Limburg. "It goes back to the biologic development of cancers, precancers. For example, inflammation seems to be an important contributor to the development of cancer, so could anti-inflammation medications help reduce cancer risk?" In this Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Limburg talks more about cancer research at Mayo, including new technologies and the possibility of a single blood test to screen for multiple cancers. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Approximately 1.5 % of adults will be diagnosed with leukemia at some point during their lives, according to the National Cancer Institute data. Leukemia is cancer of the body's blood-forming tissues, including the bone marrow and the lymphatic system, and it usually involves the white blood cells. Your white blood cells are potent infection fighters. They normally grow and divide in an orderly way, as your body needs them. But in people with leukemia, the bone marrow produces an excessive amount of abnormal white blood cells, which don't function properly. Some forms of leukemia are more common in children. Other forms of leukemia occur mostly in adults. In this Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr.  James Foran, chair of the Acute Leukemia and Myeloid Neoplasms Disease Group at Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, discusses the different types of leukemia, signs and symptoms, treatment strategies, future research, and Mayo Clinic efforts to address health care disparities for some patients battling leukemia. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

HPV is the most common cause of cervical cancer. And during January, Cervical Health Awareness Month, women are encouraged to receive the HPV vaccine. They also are encouraged to schedule a screening that can find precancerous conditions of the cervix. HPV infection and early cervical cancer don't cause noticeable symptoms, so regular screenings can detect changes in the cervix that might lead to cancer. In this Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Kristina Butler, a gynecologic oncologist and co-chair of the Gynecologic Disease Group at Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, talks about good cervical health and the importance of the HPV vaccine for protection. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is an early form of a non-invasive breast cancer that begins as abnormal cells inside the milk ducts in the breast. It typically doesn't show signs or symptoms and it's estimated that up to 40% of cases eventually become invasive if not treated. The current standard treatment is to perform a lumpectomy or a mastectomy in more extreme cases. Clinical trials are underway to determine if some patients with ductal carcinoma in situ might be able to avoid surgery. "In addition to considering proton therapy to target the cancer, Mayo Clinic is conducting a clinical trial that involves a vaccine that could boost immunity against the HER2 receptor," says Dr. Amy Degnim, a surgeon with the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center. "HER2 is a protein that in some cases is on the outside of cancer cells and for women with ductal carcinoma in situ, these receptors are present in about 50% to 60% of the cases." In this Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast Dr. Degnim, and one of her patients, Helen Gagoud, discuss receiving a ductal carcinoma in situ diagnosis and determining treatment, as well as the hopeful vaccine research at Mayo Clinic. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Cancer. It's a word that nobody wants to hear. It's a difficult diagnosis that can leave you and your family members scared and confused. Finding guidance along the journey can help. On this episode of Mayo Clinic Q&A, Jeri Lensing and Angela Young discuss the important role of patient navigators at the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

While some adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients with cancer receive care in pediatrics, the majority are cared for in adult cancer systems. One of the challenges is that people in the AYA group don't fit well with either patient population. "If you think about the kinds of things that people in this age group are going through, there's a lot of life transition happening there," explains Dr. Allison Rosenthal, a Mayo Clinic hematologist and oncologist. "So this group really has a lot of unique needs as far as psychosocial development."AYA patients are 15-39. They may be students in high school or college, may be living on their own, and often are caught between losing coverage under parental health insurance and finding their own. Another common issue is the desire to start a family as fertility can be impacted by cancer and its treatment, which makes conversations about fertility preservation very important."There's never a convenient time to be diagnosed with cancer, but particularly inconvenient in this group," says Dr. Rosenthal. "And they often get overlooked because I think people just don't recognize that cancer is really common in this age population as well."Dr. Rosenthal is leading an effort at Mayo Clinic Cancer Center to change that. The adolescent and young adult cancer center program aims to help AYA patients receive access to age-appropriate care and support. This multidisciplinary approach will include not only cancer specialists but also social workers, health psychologists, and financial and vocational counselors. Another important piece is helping AYA patients transition from pediatric to adult care and plan for cancer survivorship."One of the most important things is having survivorship care that focuses on the needs of these patients as they move forward," says Dr. Rosenthal. "We're really fortunate that the majority of young adult patients who get cancer care are going to do well. Thankfully, there are going to be a lot of long-term survivors." April 4-10 is Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Week. On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Rosenthal discusses the needs of AYA patients with cancer. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

A cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming, and patients often have many questions about what their cancer journey will entail. At Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, patient navigators help guide patients through the health care system.Patient navigators are active members of the health care team, assessing and addressing a patient's immediate needs and identifying obstacles that might prevent them from getting the care they need. Patient navigators help patients and their families access cancer information, find resources to meet day-to-day needs, and offer emotional support. "Our role as patient navigators is to support with a lot of the nonclinical sides of their cancer journey, whether that's logistics, transportation or issues with lodging when they're coming to a Mayo Clinic site for care," explains Laura Kurland, a Mayo Clinic Cancer Center patient navigator. "Oftentimes, we're helping them understand the finances, whether that's insurance, or other things that are going to be coming up that are going to be financial stressors for them as they're going through their cancer care. And certainly, we're there to lend an ear and offer support as they're learning how to truly navigate the medical system."The Mayo Clinic Cancer Center has both general patient navigators who assist all patients and patient navigators who serve specific cultural patient populations. Mayo Clinic currently has navigators on staff serving these communities: Hispanic/Latino, American Indian/Alaskan Native and African descent. Kurland serves the Hispanic/Latino population and explains the important role the culture-specific patient navigators play."The patient populations that we work with come with different experiences," says Kurland."So our goal is to understand the values they bring and support them with what their needs are. Whether there are language barriers, or there are just gaps in cultural misunderstandings, our role is to help bridge those gaps, clarify misunderstandings and also be advocates to those populations."On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Kurland discusses the importance of patient navigators, why culture-specific navigators are needed, and how she helps patients access the care and support they need. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The Department of Medicine, which is the largest department at Mayo Clinic, is helping lead the transformation of health care. Important innovations include moving to digital and virtual care to meet patients where they are, and addressing health equity, all while keeping patients front and center."Patients are our North Star," says Dr. Vijay Shah, chair of the Department of Medicine at Mayo Clinic. "We're all about patients all day, every day. So, all of our strategies cascade out of that."Dr. Shah explains those strategies include practice innovations, digital transformation and internal and external partnerships. Internal partnerships include working alongside the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, the Center for Digital Health, Mayo Clinic Platformand others focused on improving patient care and developing cures.These partnerships are leading to innovations in teleheath and at-home care models, as well as new ways to use health data to improve treatments. And at the core of it all?"The most important pillar is our people and our culture," explains Dr. Shah. "Because our people are our greatest asset, and we're nowhere without them."  On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Shah and Natalie Caine, associate administrator, discuss the innovations happening in the Department of Medicine at Mayo Clinic. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy