CANCER BUZZ

Fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 isoform IIIb (FGFR2b) is an emerging biomarker present in about 38% of patients with advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Nataliya Uboha, MD, PhD, a medical oncologist at University of Wisconsin Health, about current recommendations for biomarker testing in this population, emerging biomarkers such as FGFR2b, and how multidisciplinary collaboration can ensure patients receive timely biomarker testing. CANCER BUZZ also interviews Wendi Waugh, BS, RT(R)(T), CMD, ODS, FACCC, administrative director of cancer services and ambulatory infusion at Southern Ohio Medical Center, about care coordination strategies and lessons learned from her team's experience administering biomarker testing. Finally, Kristina A. Matkowskyj, MD, PhD, pathologist at Mayo Clinic, explains the vital role of pathologists in identifying biomarkers and strategies for success in biopsies.

"We have to work closely with our pathology colleagues to make sure that all of the tests are done quickly and so that they are readily available by the time the patient is seen in clinic." - Nataliya Uboha, MD, PhD

"Tracking, knowing what and when new things come out, being able to mine your data to find those things, I think is going to be uber critical." - Wendi Waugh, BS, RT(R)(T), CMD, ODS, FACCC

"I believe that the precision medicine testing that we're doing today... is going to change the face of cancer care." - Wendi Waugh, BS, RT(R)(T), CMD, ODS, FACCC

"As a pathologist, if I was able to stress one thing, it would be to collect as many biopsies as is safely possible for that particular patient." - Kristina A. Matkowskyj, MD, PhD

Guests:

Nataliya Uboha, MD, PhD

Medical Oncology

University of Wisconsin Health

Madison, WI

Wendi Waugh, BS, RT(R)(T), CMD, ODS, FACCC

Administrative Director of Cancer Services & Ambulatory Infusion

Southern Ohio Medical Center

Portsmouth, OH

Kristina A. Matkowskyj, MD, PhD

Pathologist

Mayo Clinic

Rochester, MN

In metastatic breast cancer, resistance to therapy remains one of the most challenging aspects to care. A key driver of resistance in hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative disease is the ESR1 mutation, a genetic change that alters the estrogen receptor and limits the effectiveness of certain standard therapies. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Eleonara Teplinsky, MD, FASCO, head of breast and gynecologic medical oncology at Valley-Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Care, about how the ESR1 mutation shapes treatment decisions and explains communication strategies, such as the "lock-and-key" model. Then CANCER BUZZ speaks with Maimah Karmo, president and CEO of Tigerlily Foundation about the importance of communicating with patients in ways that foster clarity and compassion through relatable analogies.

Guest:

Eleonora Teplinsky, MD, FASCO

Medical Oncologist

Valley Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Care

Paramus, NJ

Maimah Karmo

President/CEO

Tigerlily Foundation

"If you had molecular testing of your tumor done at the time of diagnosis, that may not be enough. If there is disease progression, we might need to repeat it. So it's really important to stress that there are points in the disease course where we're going to be checking for these biomarkers." - Teplinsky

"The more that we can know about the tumor, how it's going to behave, what treatment it may or may not respond to, really can help us." - Teplinsky

"Having a physician that is a true partner with the patient, that has a relationship, that's trusted, and that feels safe and secure, it's really, really critical." - Karmo

Resources:

Unlocking the Conversation: Navigating ESR1 Mutations in Metastatic Breast Cancer

Una Hopkins, DNP, MSN, FNP-BC, NE-BC, RN, FACCC, president of the Association of Cancer Care Centers (ACCC) designated her theme for the 2025-2026 year as Designing Oncology Care to Meet the Needs of a Growing Patient Population in response to forecasts predicting both patient and survivor populations will grow in coming years. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Dr. Hopkins about the importance of peer-to-peer mentorship in workforce development and empowerment, particularly for nurses, and why retired nurses are well-equipped to provide this mentorship.

Later in the episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Josephine Lisowski, RN, BSN, OCN, PRN nurse at Advocate Health, who came out of retirement to fill a new role reducing burnout and increasing retention of oncology nurses. Throughout her career, Lisowski identified that a strong culture rooted in quality, patient safety, and excellence in nursing must be nurtured to avoid burnout. Upon retirement, she felt a pull to return towards mentoring and supporting younger oncology nurses to improve retention and job satisfaction. Lisowski will discuss how using a retired nurse for this mentorship role at Advocate Health lifted the burden on the main work force and combined generational strengths to enable nurses to provide the best care possible to patients.

"We have to create spaces that are more psychologically safe for both our patients and our providers. I think that once we do that, we will see burnout change" - Dr. Hopkins

"When you bring a retired nurse back again, it's meeting them where they are. They still want to share that knowledge that they have." - Dr. Hopkins

There's so much new innovation coming every day. But peer-to-peer, we can knock things between each other... It educates me and it educates them." - Lisowski

"I'm trying to encourage hospital management to keep the older nurses on at some point and not just have a whole new crew... In oncology, experience counts." - Lisowski

Una Hopkins, DNP, MSN, FNP-BC, NE-BC, RN, FACCC President, Association of Cancer Care Centers Director for Research and Evidence-Based Practice Montefiore Medical Center Bronx, New York

Josephine Lisowski, RN, BSN, OCN PRN Nurse Advocate Health Park Ridge, Illinois

Resources:

Healthcare Burnout: An Epidemic Among Oncology Nurses

Burnout Prevention & Education

Mentoring Those New to Oncology

Onboarding Experienced Non-Oncology Nurses to Address Staffing Shortages

A Perfect Fit: Mentoring Experienced RNs to Meet Oncology Clinic Demand

This podcast is part of a special series featuring ACCC members committed to the 2025-2026 ACCC President's Theme: Designing Oncology Care to Meet the Needs of a Growing Patient Population.

Synopsis: Live this week from the ACCC 42nd National Oncology Conference (NOC), CANCER BUZZ speaks with Dr. Deirdre Saulet, who discusses highlights from Friday morning's panel session: Women Leaders in Oncology: Exploring Successful Dyad Models.

Guest:

Deirdre Saulet, PhD

Chief Strategy Officer

Jasper Health

Resources:

ACCC 42nd National Oncology Conference Agenda

Live this week from the ACCC 42nd National Oncology Conference (NOC), CANCER BUZZ catches up with attendees who highlight takeaways from this year's hot topic sessions.

Guests:

Laura Kuzma

Administrative Director

FirstHealth of the Carolinas

Brittany McArn, OPN-CG, CPPN

Financial Navigation Manager

Outpatient Oncology Services

FirstHealth of the Carolinas

Resources:

ACCC 42nd National Oncology Conference Agenda

Live this week from the ACCC 42nd National Oncology Conference (NOC), CANCER BUZZ shares highlights from the President's Fireside Chat, where Una Hopkins leads a dynamic conversation with oncology providers from 3 cancer programs that are designing innovative care models to meet the needs of a growing patient population.

Speakers:

Dr. Una Hopkins

President, ACCC

Director, Nursing Research

Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center

Karla Bowen

Director, Nursing Operations

Orlando Health Cancer Institute

Brian Lasonde

Advanced Practice Clinician Manager for Medical Specialties

Sutter Health - Palo Alto Medical Foundation

Charles Shelton, MD

Radiation Oncologist, Medical Director Cancer Center

Outer Banks Health

Resources:

ACCC 42nd National Oncology Conference Agenda

Live this week from the ACCC's 42nd National Oncology Conference (NOC), CANCER BUZZ speaks with ACCC Board of Trustees member Jennifer Bires, who details the highlights from the Wednesday panel discussion she led, "POPS: Navigating Quality Integrative Cancer Support Resources."

Guest:

Jennifer Bires, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C, FACCC

Executive Director, Life with Cancer and Patient Experience

Inova Health System, Fairfax Hospital

Inova Schar Cancer Institute

Fairfax, VA

Resources:

ACCC 42nd National Oncology Conference Agenda

Live this week from the ACCC's 42nd National Oncology Conference (NOC), CANCER BUZZ speaks with ACCC Executive Director Meagan O'Neill, MS, who previews the week.

Guest:

Meagan O'Neill, MS

Executive Director, Association of Cancer Care Centers

Resources:

ACCC 42nd National Oncology Conference Agenda

Since 2010, the Association of Cancer Care Centers (ACCC) has produced an annual Trending Now in Cancer Care report, highlighting the biggest challenges, solutions, and opportunities in oncology. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Lindsey Causey, DNP, APRN, ANP-BC, AOCNP, nurse practitioner at Cone Health Cancer Center, about part 2 of the 2025 trend report. She shares takeaways from the in-person discussions at the ACCC Annual Meeting & Cancer Center Business Summit (AMCCBS) that informed this report, as well as how she uses the information from ACCC's trend reports at her own cancer center.

Part 2 of the 2025 Trending Now in Cancer Care report focuses on payer-driven challenges and solutions, comprehensive cancer care services, research and clinical trials, and mobile screening to engage communities in cancer prevention and education. The full article can be found in Oncology Issues, the official journal of ACCC.

Lindsey Causey, DNP, APRN, ANP-BC, AOCNP Nurse Practitioner Cone Health Cancer Center Greensboro, NC

"Many patients come into my clinic and they say, I just feel like a piece of me goes to one office, a piece of me goes to another office. I don't want to be seen as pieces of a whole person. I want to be seen as the whole person and know what to do and feel like I have all my answers in one place. "

"[The trend report] really allows you to reflect on what the current state is first and then understand what might need to happen to be able to bring some of these things to fruition."

"Early palliative care is essential, not just because it helps with patients and improving their symptoms and wellbeing, it also increases their survival, but it can also help reduce provider burnout by partnering with palliative care."

Resources:

• 2025 Trending Now in Cancer Care: Part 1

• 2025 Trending Now in Cancer Care: Part 2

• Archived Reports

• CANCERBUZZ episode: 2025 Trending Now in Cancer Care: Part 1

Since 2010, the Association of Cancer Care Centers (ACCC) has produced an annual Trending Now in Cancer Care report, highlighting the biggest challenges, solutions, and opportunities in oncology. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Calliope Bodenhorn Payne, MHA, virtual care coordinator at Texas Oncology, about part 1 of the 2025 trend report. She shares takeaways from the in-person discussions at the ACCC Annual Meeting & Cancer Center Business Summit (AMCCBS) that informed this report, as well as how these ideas have impacted the standard of care for patients of Texas Oncology.

Part 1 of the 2025 Trending Now in Cancer Care report focuses on AI and BI solutions, navigating tech enablement, strategic partnerships and affiliations, and growth opportunities in oncology. The full article can be found in Oncology Issues, the official journal of ACCC.

Calliope Bodenhorn Payne, MHA Virtual Care Coordinator Texas Oncology

"Technology in health care is changing as rapidly as technology in other sectors, and so we have to be prepared to adopt these new emerging technologies as they're coming along."

"It's so helpful for others to be able to see what steps have been taken by practices all across the United States, and it doesn't matter what size the practice is. It is just a bunch of us who want the best patient care and are looking for innovative ways to make that happen."

Resources:

· 2025 Trending Now in Cancer Care: Part 1

· 2025 Trending Now in Cancer Care: Part 2

· Archived Reports