Author: lindseyhemonc

Freedom from Cancer

Fireworks_Fourth of JulyThis Fourth of July holiday, we’re not only celebrating the red, white and blue that honors the independence and freedom of our country, but also freedom from cancer and the cancer “blues.” Feeling this sense of freedom may mean that you’re cancer-free or that you’re unwilling to let a cancer diagnosis define you.

To be cancer-free means that tests show no evidence of any cancer remaining in the body, a term coined “complete remission.” In some cases, it is possible to complete treatment but still have some evidence of the cancer. This is called “partial remission.”

At Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, many of our patients and their families experience a wide range of emotions during and after treatment for kidney, prostate, bladder and testicular (genitourinary or “GU”) cancers. Often, freedom from cancer is both something to celebrate and something that comes with an air of caution. That’s because the joy of being cancer-free may be accompanied by fear that the cancer may return.

Some cancers can and do come back after treatment. This is called “recurrence.” Recurrence can depend on several factors, including the type of cancer, whether it has spread from the original source and how the cancer responded to treatment. While there is no foolproof way to keep cancer from coming back, there are many things you and your healthcare team can do to monitor what’s going on in your body.

You may feel differently than you did before treatment, both physically and mentally. And that’s okay. It’s important to be in tune with your body and your new normal so that you can be mindful of any bodily changes.

It’s also important for cancer patients and survivors to lead a healthy lifestyle. This includes eating a healthy diet, being physically active (under the supervision of your healthcare team), and regularly following up with doctors’ appointments and routine medical tests. Cancer survivors can live very long and full lives, so routine medical tests and appointments aren’t limited to following up with your oncologist and getting scans and imaging tests. It’s important to also get regular physical exams and monitor other markers for diseases such as cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

Routine follow-up tests may also identify the recurrence of cancer even before symptoms develop. Since cancer can come back in the same part of the body or in another part of the body, signs and symptoms may differ from those involved with your original diagnosis. For instance, an increase in fatigue, the development of new pain or worsening of existing pain, weight loss, urinary changes (including blood in urine), and other changes in the way you feel should be discussed with your physician, especially those that persist.

This Independence Day, as you enjoy time with your family, watching fireworks, and celebrating other traditions, take a moment to think about independence from cancer. Our support groups can help by providing a safe space and community for prostate cancer and kidney cancer survivors, patients and their families.

Have a wonderful holiday!

Moonshot Summit: Changing Cancer As We Know it

DAVID NANUS, MD

DrNanus_Cancer Moonshot Summit
Photo credit: Ira Fox

On June 29, Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital joined more than 270 institutions across the country in holding a Moonshot Summit. These summits were held in conjunction with Vice President Biden’s Moonshot initiative to fight cancer. On this national day of action, cancer experts throughout our institution, survivors, and advocates came together to share their ideas for increased collaboration and cures.

The summit conversation started with a constructive dialogue about clinical trials and the unfortunate fact that for many cancer types, the “standard of care” chemotherapies are not good enough. At Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian, immunotherapies and precision medicine are opening new doors in cancer treatment, but sadly not all patients currently have access to these types of cutting-edge treatments.

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A packed room at the Weill Cornell Medicine/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital Cancer Moonshot Summit (photo credit: Ira Fox)

Clinical trials may have gotten a bad rap in the past, but they are a powerful tool to access innovative treatments. The speakers agreed that clinical trials should be easily accessible to all patients, but at times there are obstacles. These range from lengthy forms that deter enrollment, to bureaucracy that slows the timeline for opening new clinical trials, to disinterest and concerns about the treatments’ effectiveness. On a global scale, there has been a lack of adult participation in cancer clinical trials, while for children we actually see the opposite trend – very high enrollment. What can we learn from this information?

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(L-R) Dr. Gail Roboz and Dr. Susan Pannullo speaking at the Cancer Moonshot Summit (photo credit: Ira Fox)

One of my colleagues Dr. Gail Roboz wisely stated, “I always tell my patients, be afraid of the disease, not the treatment.” She’s right in that we need to reframe the conversation to focus on making strides in increasing cure rates through new research that leads to new treatment breakthroughs across disease states.

We also talked about access to care. Not all patients are able to get a correct diagnosis quickly. This can be due to a variety of reasons including a lack of access to specialists, living in a rural area, or financial limitations. By increasing government research funding, as well as making it easier for patients to reach quality care, we can remove some of these barriers nationally. If we increase the number of people who are diagnosed with cancer early on, we can increase the cure rates. Additionally, as a country, we need to provide comprehensive care for patients and families and always put the interests of patients first. This includes offering supportive services beyond just the best medical care.

I felt so empowered by my colleagues and our patients’ great ideas about how we can overcome the challenges we face in cancer care. The Cancer Moonshot initiative is giving high hopes to many and will help ultimately change the world of cancer care as our country stands together with common goals and a renewed commitment to collaboration. By bringing everyone together at an event like this, we hear diverse perspectives and glean new insights. The fight against this terrible disease truly unites us all.

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Photo credit: Ira Fox

Finding Support in the Kidney Cancer Community

ANA MOLINA, MD

This past Saturday, we hosted our June Kidney Cancer Support Group meeting. This month’s featured speaker was Helen Clark, RN, a clinical nurse educator at the Novartis healthcare group. Every other month I host and facilitate the Weill Cornell Kidney Cancer Support Group to provide a forum to come together, and to learn and talk about a wide-range of topics related to kidney cancer.

At our latest meeting, we discussed several subjects, including two oral medications commonly used in advanced kidney cancer treatment, Votrient (pazopanib) and Afinitor (everolimus). It was a lively conversation about how these medications work, how to cope with and manage common side effects, and how pharmaceutical companies can help with financial issues related to treatment. Additionally, we talked about the process for FDA approval, open clinical trials and other kidney cancer treatments Weill Cornell Medicine has to offer.

The purpose of our support group is to provide a community and outlet for patients and their families and friends, as well as resources and a safe space for sharing and addressing concerns. There is great power in connecting with others who have been there before, and often, it is fellow kidney patients and loved ones who can be the best source of support.

Ana Molina MD
Dr. Molina, Host of the Weill Cornell Kidney Cancer Support Group

Thank you to everyone who came this month! We always like to see new and familiar faces and hope you’ll join us at our next meeting in September. Stay tuned for an update on the date, topic and featured speaker for this session.