CURE Talks Cancer

After many years of interviewing celebrities on E! News and the red carpet, and while also starring in her own reality tv show, Giuliana Rancic was faced with one of the most challenging moments in her life: a breast cancer diagnosis amidst trying to undergo her third round of in vitro fertilization.

While many supporters continually told her to be strong throughout her journey, Giuliana also told herself one key thing to help her get through the tough times – this too shall pass.

Now cancer-free, Giuliana shared her experience, inspiring many at the Extraordinary Healer Award for Oncology Nursing Award ceremony. Before the event, we sat down with Giuliana to learn more about her journey and how oncology nurses changed her life.

For this month's episode of the CURE Talks Cancer Podcast: Nursing Edition, we'll hear from Caitlin Cohen, M.S.N., RN, CPNP-AC, CPHON, a nurse practitioner at the University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital, in Illinois. Cohen was given the 2019 Extraordinary Healer Award in Oncology Nursing. 

From ensuring that her patients have the fuel they need to heal to always providing emotional support, Cohen goes above and beyond to ensure the best possible care for patients and their families.

Ninety percent of patients with cancer enter their first oncology appointment with a nutritional issue; however, Savor Health, who works in conjunctions with Merck’s Your Cancer Game Plan, has set out to combat just that.

In this week’s episode of CURE Talks Cancer, founder and CEO of Savor Health, Susan Bratton discussed the importance of nutrition for patients and caregivers before, during and after treatment.

For more information, visit savorhealth.com, and to read some of the organization’s recipes, visit our Spring issue of Heal.

You’d think that, after being the drummer in a multi-platinum rock and roll band that has sold more than 40 million albums and DVDs since bursting onto the music scene in the mid-80’s, life would be “Nothin’ But a Good Time” for Poison drummer Rikki Rockett.

However, back in 2015, Rikki received a throat cancer diagnosis that would change his life.

This week, we’re kicking off the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance’s 21st annual Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week with Rikki, who opened up about his experience with HPV-attributed throat cancer, how immunotherapy made a difference in his treatment , and why individuals should “Open Up and Say Ahh” at free oral, head and neck cancer screenings around the country this week. 

To find a free screening location in your area and to learn more about Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week, visit www.headandneck.org.

In the face of a cancer diagnosis and learning she was positive for Lynch Syndrome, wife and mother Heather Tolley-Bauer used comedy as an outlet to cope with her diagnosis and raises awareness for colon cancer.

Also the founder of Hyphen-Up, the “stay-at-home mom and a kick-ass cancer survivor” hopes to help others embrace who they are.

To read more about Tolley-Bauer, visit curetoday.com.

What do a 16-year-old advocate, one patient’s “tear catcher” and a Moon Shot doctor all have in common? They were all recognized by CURE as the 2019 Ovarian Cancer Heroes for their innovative research and dedication to raising awareness for patients with the disease. 

In this week’s episode, we spoke with ovarian cancer advocate Ryan Mitstifer Walton, gynecologic oncology nurse Paula Anastasia, RN, MN, AOCN, and Shannon Westin, M.D., M.P.H., of The University of Texas MD Anderson.

To read more about the Ovarian Cancer Heroes event, visit curetoday.com.

As the most decorated Olympic gymnast in American history, Shannon Miller has faced countless long days of training and a vast amount of success throughout her career. But it was a rare ovarian cancer diagnosis that stood to be a challenge and a life-altering reward for her to help others with the disease.

Now cancer free, Shannon strives to live her best each and every day, while also serving as a strong advocate for awareness and early detection of ovarian cancer.

Before speaking at CURE’s second annual Ovarian Cancer Heroes gala, Shannon sat down with us to talk about her ovarian cancer journey, how she continues to help educate women and her advice on why it is important to stop and smell the roses.

Read more about the event at curetoday.com.

Patricia Jakel, RN, MN, AOCN, thought that she was doing perfectly fine in her career as an oncology nurse. Until she was diagnosed with breast cancer. 

In the first-ever CURE Talks Cancer Podcast: Nursing Edition, hear what Jakel has to say about how her experience as a patient shaped the way she performs her job as a clinical nurse specialist at UCLA.

This week, we spoke with Linda Tantawi, CEO of Susan G. Komen Greater New York City, about the organization and how it serves as the “pink ribbon connecting the community” to help educate women about breast cancer screening and treatment.

“We are the pink ribbon that runs around throughout the greater New York City area, connecting hospitals and other advocacy organizations as well as the community groups on the ground who are doing the work. In addition, we are a thought leader and a convener in the breast cancer space,” she said.

To learn more, visit komennyc.org.

After a routine physical led to his kidney cancer diagnosis, one patient advocate and survivor has cherished every day he’s had with his family and uses this as motivation to help raise awareness during Kidney Cancer Awareness month.

“Renal cell carcinoma is like a phantom in your body,” said Ed, who was treated as part of a clinical trial at Fox Chase Cancer Center after he had exhausted all other surgical options.

Now in remission, Ed has one piece of advice for others facing this diagnosis: Keep on keeping on.