CURE Talks Cancer

While most think colorectal cancer is a disease that occurs in older adults, it is in fact increasingly being diagnosed in young adults. In fact, 11% and 18% of colon and rectal cancer diagnoses, respectively, occur in those under 50. While research has not yet identified why this increase is occurring, there is still a clear need to raise more awareness around the topic. In particular, educating young adults, as well as primary care physicians, on the rise in early-age onset colorectal cancer occurrence, is a way to start the conversation. In this week’s episode, CURE offers a sneak peak into its Speaking Out video series featuring the Colon Cancer Foundation (CCF). We spoke with Dr. Zsofia Stadler, a co-director of the CCF’s annual EAOCRC Summit, on the rising incidence of colorectal cancer occurring in adults younger than age 50. “(A young adult facing a colorectal cancer diagnosis) is not alone,” Stadler said. “They are not alone as patients. They are not alone in the field that is trying to study this.”

Learning of one’s increased risk for cancer can be an overwhelming experience, but imagine also being told of the wrong results from your genetic testing. Maureen Boesen and Connie Busch are forever connected to one another. After they participated in a genetics study at Creighton University led by Dr. Henry Lynch in the mid-1990s, both of their test results actually came back wrong. Maureen, who tested BRCA-positive and underwent preventive surgeries, was in fact negative for the genetic mutation, while Connie tested negative and only learned much later she was actually positive with an increased risk for cancer. In this week’s episode, we feature a conversation between the pair, who discussed the revelation that changed both of their lives. “Is there any advice that you would offer?” Maureen asked. “Don't be afraid of information,” Connie responded. “For me, knowing is better than not knowing. Sticking your head in the sand is not going to get you anywhere. If you have the information upfront, you're making the decision, you’re not letting cancer make that decision for you.” Maureen agreed, adding “For you, your family, your children and their children. It goes far beyond just us.”

In recent years, immunotherapy agents have shown amazing success in treating patients with melanoma. For this special-edition podcast, we teamed up with our sister publication, Oncology Live, to bring the viewpoints of 2 melanoma experts on the importance of multidisciplinary care when managing immune-related adverse events (irAEs). You’ll hear from Grace Cherry, NP, of UCLA’s Melanoma Program, and Omid Hamid, MD, chief of research, immune-oncology and co-director of the cutaneous malignancy program at the Angeles Clinic and Research Institute. They discuss their team approach to handling irAEs, as well as offer tips on establishing an open line of patient and provider communication to ensure that toxicities are reported – and handled – in a timely manner. 

A blood cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming – whether you are a patient, caregiver, family member or friend. However, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) has a variety of resources available for those affected by blood cancer. In this week’s episode, we spoke with, the associate director of the Information Resource Center at LLS – an organization that pioneers groundbreaking research in blood cancer, as well as resources like financial support, support groups for patients and caregivers, as well as the LLS Patient Community. As part of this community, patients can join online chats or speak with a counselor. “What you need when you are first diagnosed may not be what you need in a month or two. So, it changes. And this is why we encourage people to reach out to us,” said Rajotte. “First, it’s important to understand what you are dealing with…being able to reach out and get that information and support so that you don’t feel like you’re going through this alone. The more support you get the easier it will be for you to get through (your blood cancer journey).” For more information, visit lls.org, call 1-800-955-4572 or email [email protected].

With an already close bond, Felicia Robinson and her daughter’s relationship became even closer following Felicia’s breast cancer diagnosis.  While her daughter was a 22-year-old college senior, she served as Felicia’s caregiver – an experience the duo chronicled in their book, titled “Surviving Pink.” “Surviving pink offers information, inspiration, and encouragement for a life altering diagnosis,” Robinson said. “Mine was breast cancer, but it could cancer, heart conditions, diabetes, anything that knocks you off your journey that you have planned. You have to keep going and keep going forward.”

Dr. Cesar Rodriguez has spent the last seven years dedicated to advancing the field of multiple myeloma – which he discussed in this week’s episode of the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast. Rodriguez highlighted advances with precision medicine in the multiple myeloma treatment landscapes, and common questions patients have for their physicians.  Moreover, he also highlighted his recent trek to Patagonia with Moving Mountains for Multiple Myeloma, an effort partnered by CURE and the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. Through the trek, Rodriguez was able to meet with patients and their caregivers about a disease he has spent his career dedicated to finding more treatments for. For more information, visit movingmountainsformultiplemyeloma.com.

While a lung cancer diagnosis can be a lot to understand, genomics is a new aspect of the disease that patients should better understand, as it can affect treatment decisions as well.  In this week’s episode of the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with Dr. Ed Kim to better understand genomics in lung cancer. To start, he explained a common misunderstanding in the lung cancer space – what exactly is the difference between genetic and genomic testing in cancer. In this episode, Kim also focuses on what biomarker testing consists of and how patients can learn more about genomics to become better informed.

In the United States, there are specific laws in place to protect those who have received a cancer diagnosis as well as for those who are at an increased risk for hereditary cancer. In this week’s episode of the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with Lisa Schlager, from Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered (FORCE), to help break down the types of legal protections in place for these individuals.

About 10,000 Americans turn 65 each day, bringing on what some call a "silver tsunami" of geriatric patients flooding the healthcare system. However, less than 1% of nurses are geriatric certified. 

For this month's episode, we'll hear from  Carolina Uranga, MSN, BSN, RN, AGCN-BC, OCN, WCC, ONS, clinical nurse specialist at City of Hope, and Paola Bueno, RN, clinical nurse at City of Hope, about a program they used -- as well as other resources -- to improve their care of geriatric patients, a skill that nearly all oncology nurses will need to have.

When a 20-something med student started to experience overwhelming fatigue and organ failure out of nowhere, he eventually took matters into his own hands. Dr. David C. Fajgenbaum, who is now an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in the Center for Study & Treatment of Castleman & inflammatory Lymphadenopathies, was diagnosed with Castleman disease — a deadly illness that presents like a mix of cancer and an autoimmune disorder. After relapsing four times after his initial diagnosis and realizing after chemotherapy that the available treatments were not going to be enough, Fajgenbaum eventually evaluated his own samples to find a cure for his rare disease. With his radical approach to conducting original medical research, he identified and prescribed himself his own treatment that has brought about a lasting yet tentative remission. Fajgenbaum went on to co-found and become the executive director of the Castleman Disease Collaborative Network, which uses a network of physicians, patients and other stakeholders to crowdsource ideas about what should be studied in clinical trials and who would be best suited to conduct the research. He also recently authored a memoir, titled “Chasing My Cure.” More recently, he served as the special guest speaker at CURE’s MPN Heroes celebration, held to honor those individuals who excel in their efforts to raise awareness and education around myeloproliferative neoplasms. To read more about Fajgenbaum and the event, visit curetoday.com.