In The News

Anju Nair, M.D., Texas Oncology–Medical City Dallas Building C, discussed how early detection of all types of cancer is a matter of relaying concerning symptoms to a primary doctor and following up closely, noting that breast cancer is often top of mind for women, but it is also important for women to know the signs and symptoms of other cancers that commonly affect women, like colorectal, lung, cervical, skin, and ovarian cancers in women.

Surgery for breast cancer depends on several factors including the size and location of the tumor, stage of cancer, treatment options, and individual goals and preferences, all of which can have a profound impact on the treatment decisions a woman makes – especially in cases where breast surgery may play a pivotal role in their overall treatment plan. Common surgical procedures used to treat breast cancer include breast-conserving surgery and mastectomy; additional procedures include sentinel lymph node biopsy, lymph node dissection, and breast reconstruction surgery, which can be part of treatment after breast-conserving surgery or mastectomy.

If prostate cancer is detected early and before the cancer spreads, patients have a nearly 100% chance of survival after five years. Proton therapy delivers extremely precise, high doses of radiation directly to tumors, working to eliminate cancer cells while minimizing exposure to non-targeted, healthy tissue. This precision benefits patients that require treatment to the prostate gland only or to larger target volumes such as those involving lymph nodes.

Back-to-school season can be hectic, especially for parents and caretakers with cancer. Kelli Volcik, breast cancer patient of Thomas J. Harris, M.D., Texas Oncology–Groesbeck and Waco, shares with KCEN-TV how she managed treatment while still being present. With her family, friends and community surrounding her, Volcik has been able to make it through the hardest times and still take care of her children, especially when it comes to going back to school. Now she wants to help others.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death among Hispanic and Latina women. Sylvia Jaramillo, M.D., medical oncologist and hematologist Texas Oncology–Austin North Suite 300, discusses the impact of breast cancer on this community, ways to prevent breast cancer, and the importance of mammograms for the screening and early detection of this cancer type.

Noelle G. Cloven, M.D., Texas Oncology–Fort Worth Cancer Center was featured in a video on SurvivorNet discussing the ovarian cancer landscape. Dr. Cloven joined SurvivorNet and dove into the evolving ovarian cancer treatment space discussing topics from the latest guidance on PARP inhibitors, how the new drug Elahere is providing hope to cancer patients, folate receptor⁠–⁠alpha positive ovarian cancer, mirvetuximab soravtansine and more.

Since December 2022, Keith Westmoreland, patient of Christopher R. Oxner, M.D., FACS, USN, Texas Oncology Surgical Specialists-Austin Central, Cedar Park and South Austin, has been diagnosed with skin cancer four separate times, with two spots on his head and two on his chest. Both Keith and Dr. Oxner joined KVUE-TV (ABC, Austin) to discuss the risks of skin cancer, its symptoms and why this diagnosis is on the rise. In fact, incidence rates for melanoma have been rising rapidly over the past few decades, and in Texas, 4,998 cases of melanoma of the skin are expected in 2023, up 3.2% from 2022.

Helen Dinkelspiel Eshed, M.D., Texas Oncology-Austin Central and South Austin was featured in various videos on SurvivorNet discussing the ovarian cancer landscape. Dr. Eshed joined SurvivorNet and dove into the evolving ovarian cancer treatment space discussing topics from the latest guidance on PARP inhibitors, how the new drug Elahere is providing hope to cancer patients, folate receptor⁠–⁠alpha positive ovarian cancer, mirvetuximab soravtansine and more.

Robert L. Coleman, M.D., FACOG, FACS, Texas Oncology-The Woodlands spoke with Targeted Oncology about the NOVA trial, how it improves survival in BRCA wild-type ovarian cancer and the real-world findings from this trial, which evaluated second-line maintenance niraparib in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer.

Heading back to school with all of the stresses that come with managing a cancer diagnosis is a daunting challenge. No matter if you’re a student or parental guardian of someone in school, learn how proper planning and support can help make it possible to create the right balance between successfully continuing one’s studies and undergoing cancer treatment.