Cancer Talk - Roswell Park Cancer Institute

Esophageal cancer is rare and complex. We believe every patient is unique and our esophageal cancer experts approach cancer treatment on an individual and personal basis. Our gastrointestinal team also treats many patients with Barrett’s esophagus, a condition that may lead to esophageal cancer. In this informative podcast, Christos Fountzilas, MD, discusses the need for Esophageal Cancer Awareness, and the promising new therapies and efforts to develop an organoid/spheroid approach, allowing for testing of new esophageal cancer drugs.

When cancer develops, it alters our genes in a way that leaves a permanent trace. For so long, these traces were a disguise that helped cancer to hide itself and evade our attempts to eradicate it from the body. But now, thanks to very rapid advances in technology, it is possible to sequence the entire human genome within a short period of time, yielding a trove of information that can help us to predict, understand and exploit these neoantigens through targeted immunotherapy with vaccines. In this amazing podcast, discover this emerging area of cancer research and how neoantigens contribute to cancer immunotherapy research and help make cancer vaccines a possibility! Joining the show is Dr. Kunle Odunsi, Executive Director, Center for Immunotherapy at Roswell Park, as he explains the role of neoantigens in immunotherapy for cancer.

You have about 30,000 genes in your body. Every day they regulate the work of different types of cells to keep things running smoothly — repairing your bones, carrying oxygen throughout your body, fighting bacteria and managing all the processes that make you tick. Most of the time they work the way they’re supposed to. But sometimes the genes that control cell growth go out of whack, enabling cells to multiply out of control. That’s how cancer begins. In this fascinating podcast, Joyce Ohm, PhD, from the department of Cancer Genetics and Genomics at Roswell Park, gives a rare look into the exciting and mysterious world of genetics and cancer research going on at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center .

Men have more reason than ever to be aware of their family medical history. A recent study reveals that men who have a mutation (change) in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes have a "significantly higher" risk of getting cancer than the rest of the population. Men with BRCA mutations who took part in the study were diagnosed with eight times as many cancers as normally occur in the general population. Because those mutations are strongly linked to breast and ovarian cancer, they have been studied more widely in women than in men. The new study reinforces the message that BRCA mutations are associated with many types of cancer and that men are also at risk. In this podcast June Mikkelson, MS, CGC, Genetic Counselor at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses how important it is that you know Your family history and how women and men with BRCA mutations face higher cancer risk and whether you might be a candidate for a genetic evaluation.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer worldwide. It is usually caused by excessive exposure to sunlight or other sources of ultraviolet light, such as tanning beds. The rarest but deadliest form of skin cancer is melanoma, which is aggressive and can spread rapidly if not detected and treated early. Newer targeted treatments like immunotherapy have emerged in recent years and appear to be not only more effective than conventional therapy but also better tolerated, because unlike chemotherapy and radiation, these newer approaches are designed to kill cancer cells without damaging healthy ones. In this fascinating segment, Igor Puzanov, MD, MSCI, FACP, Chief of Melanoma, Director of the Early Phase Clinical Trials Program, discusses the latest advances and the new combination treatment for advanced Melanoma.

PT plays an essential part in the recovery from cancer treatment. At Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, physical therapists not only help patients with recovery but also preparation for their treatment with a process called prehabilitation. Roswell Park Physical Therapist Carolyn Miller joins the show to discuss the importance of prehabilitation,(prehab) to improve outcomes after procedures.

Any patient with cancer needs a functioning gastrointestinal (GI) tract to sustain proper absorption of nutrition and medications. Unfortunately, patients with cholangiocarcinoma often have obstructed bile ducts that limit GI tract functionality and can potentially lead to infections if they have stents or drains in their bile ducts. Cholangiocarcinoma is quite rare. However, intrahepatic bile duct cancer (meaning cancer in the bile ducts inside your liver) is actually increasing in incidence. Joining the show to discuss Cholangiocarcinoma, and to help you understand this rare disease is Renuka Iyer, MD. She is a Professor of Oncology, Co-Director of the Liver and Pancreas Tumor Center Section and Chief for Gastrointestinal Oncology at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Borderline ovarian tumors represent a small subset of epithelial ovarian tumors. Because it's an uncommon and unfamiliar diagnosis, it's often misunderstood. Joining the show to discuss the prognosis for a low malignant potential ovarian tumor, and treatment options available, is Peter Frederick, MD. He is a Gynecologic Oncologist with Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.

When we look at a mammogram, one of the first things we look at is breast density – the amount of fibroglandular tissue in the breast compared to the amount of fat. The higher proportion of breast tissue to fat, the denser the breast. Why does breast density matter? On a mammogram, fat looks dark grey or black whereas breast tissue looks white. That white area can be an issue because many small breast cancers also appear as white, so it’s harder to detect them in dense breasts. In this important segment, Marie Quinn, MD, Assistant Professor of Oncology in the Department of Diagnostic Radiology at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses why women should know if they have dense breasts and how breast density can affect cancer risk.

As kids grow, their muscles, tendons and ligaments grow as well. So when they complain about aches and pains, it's often due to the rapid pace of their developing bodies. Two out of every five kids get growing pains, and it happens right around the time of their growth spurts – during the toddler and pre-teen years. It can cause achy thighs, calves and knees. However, if your child complains about persistent pain or the pain is coupled with other ailments, it might be something more serious. Joining the show to offer tips on the best ways for parents to tell the difference between normal aches and pains, and something more serious, is Denise Rokitka, MD, MPH. This is an important segment that all parents should hear.