Mike Hennessy Jr.

New cancer treatments are minimizing the need for radical surgeries by introducing organ-sparing therapies and improving survivorship care and patient support.

For countless patients over the years, a cancer journey has involved surgery. Radical surgeries to remove the affected organ were the standard of care for many cancers, from rectal and bladder to certain types of stomach and uterine cancers. Although these surgeries offered a chance for a cure, they often came at a significant cost. Patients faced life-altering side effects, including issues with digestion, sexual function, fertility and overall quality of life.

However, a new era in cancer treatment is dawning, as we detail in this seasonal issue of CURE. Advancements in research and technology are allowing doctors to offer patients more options than ever. We explore the growing field of organ-sparing therapies, which use systemic treatments such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapies to shrink tumors or control the disease, potentially eliminating the need for surgery.

In this issue, you will find insight from Joanna Fawzy Doran, CEO of the nonprofit organization Triage Cancer and a CURE advisory board member, about what patients can do if they face the common issue of insurance denials during their cancer journey.

Additionally, we examine real-world data on the use of Carvykti (ciltacabtagene autoleucel) in the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma and spotlight treatment advancements for triple-negative breast cancer as part of our “Speaking Out” discussion series.

Furthermore, we speak with a pair of experts about what the “new normal” may be like for someone entering cancer survivorship.

“Often it’s kind of a series of physical adjustments,” Dr. Kevin Billingsley of Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital in New Haven, Connecticut, told us. “It takes weeks to months to recover from the physical rigors, often of a combination of chemotherapy and surgery. Even young, healthy people ... need to rebuild themselves, often with a program involving exercise under the guidance of a trainer or physical therapist, as well as some nutritional consultation.

“It can take longer than people expect. There [are] also the emotional adjustments of getting back into the normal flow of life and dealing with the uncertainty that [accompanies] a cancer diagnosis. … This is because even when treatments are highly successful, people live with the uncertainty that cancer may return at some point, which can be quite stressful.”

Patients in remission enter a “survivorship care period,” as Frank J. Penedo of Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center in Miami told us. “The [National Cancer Institute] defines a cancer survivor as somebody from the day of diagnosis through the balance of their life,” said Penedo, who leads teams in cancer survivorship, translational behavioral sciences, and supportive care, and the psychophysical mechanisms and health out-comes lab, at Sylvester. “Survivorship care is the care that a person is receiving in addition to their medical treatment post completion of their primary treatments. In that survivorship care, it’s really critical that the patient remains very involved with their care team for a variety of reasons.”

For all the up-to-the-minute oncology updates, stay tuned to curetoday.com. There, you will find everything from breaking news on the latest Food and Drug Administration approvals to expert context on major cancer news and much more.

Our goal is to empower our readers with knowledge and provide patients with the information they need to make informed decisions about their cancer care. Throughout these pages, you will find personal stories and expert insights. As always, we hope you find them inspirational and informative. Thank you for reading.

For more news on cancer updates, research and education,

don’t forget to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here.

Articles

Advancements in cancer treatment are shifting from radical surgeries to organ-sparing therapies, utilizing systemic treatments like chemotherapy and immunotherapy. This approach aims to reduce life-altering side effects and improve quality of life. Insights from experts highlight the challenges of insurance denials, the evolving landscape of cancer survivorship, and the importance of survivorship care. Real-world data on Carvykti for multiple myeloma and advancements in triple-negative breast cancer treatment are also discussed. The focus remains on empowering patients with knowledge for informed decision-making in their cancer care journey.

New advancements in cancer treatment are reducing the need for radical surgeries, offering organ-sparing therapies and enhancing survivorship care and support for patients.

The Dawn of a New Era in Cancer Treatment

Have cancer-related questions? CURE Educated Patient Summits are a great way to present these questions to experts in the field.

, we remain steadfastly dedicated to providing our readers with answers.

’s Educated Patient Summits, held throughout the year, offer both the chance to hear experts discuss the big issues at the heart of this field and the opportunity to present questions to some of those experts.

One example of the latter can be found in this seasonal issue of 

, as we speak with Dr. Jyoti Malhotra, director of thoracic medical oncology at City of Hope Orange County, in California, and a presenter at the Educated Patient Lung Cancer Summit, to get answers to 10 of the most commonly asked patient questions in the lung cancer space.

You’ll find Malhotra’s insights on treatment options, monitoring and more.

Elsewhere, you will hear from a member of our advisory board — Dr. Michael K. Wong, physician in chief at the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, New York — who has some helpful and actionable advice on how patients can get the most out of the online portals used to communicate with their care team.

Additionally, we report on advancements in the field of antibody-drug conjugates and speak with two patients with breast cancer who have benefited from these treatments.

“After two failed clinical trials, I experienced severe despair, but I have gained hope through this new drug,” one patient, 

. “The previous trials had significant side effects … but this new medication has been much easier to tolerate, with only slight appetite loss and fatigue. If there are other patients in a similar situation, I would strongly recommend it.”

For all of the up-to-the-minute oncology updates, be sure to stay tuned to curetoday.com. There, you will find everything from breaking news on the latest FDA approvals to expert context on major cancer news and much more.

Throughout these pages, you’ll find personal stories and expert insights. As always, we hope you find them inspirational and informative. Thank you for reading.

Mike Hennessy Jr.
President and CEO
MJH Life Sciences

For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to 

subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here.

At CURE, we remain steadfastly dedicated to providing our readers
with answers about cancer research. 

Delivering Answers to Pressing Questions About Cancer

Common Metastatic Breast Cancer Questions Answered by Oncologists

Receiving a cancer diagnosis at any age is a life-altering experience, but for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) already navigating a potentially tumultuous time of life, the challenges can be amplified.

 such as Stacy Leung who, at just 23 years old, received a diagnosis of stage 2 triple-negative breast cancer. She received a second diagnosis of breast cancer 12 years later, as she was preparing for her wedding. Leung said she found empowerment in planning.

“I was at a point where I was working with a wedding event planner, I [already] got my dress and I’m like, ‘OK, this is what’s happening,’” Leung explained. “Having the unknown was the hardest part. Once I had a game plan, it was fine because I knew exactly what the moves were and what was going to happen.”

Leung’s is the latest among countless stories we have had the privilege to report on during the first 25 years of MJH Life Sciences®.

Since we started quarter century ago with a single brand, we have launched thousands of video programs, developed cutting-edge conferences and held thousands of virtual and live events, all while tirelessly covering health care news in print and online.

The driving force behind our evolution remains our passion for improving health care. We are grateful to you, our readers, for joining us on this journey.

Elsewhere in this issue, we take a deep dive into some of the 

latest treatment advancements for small cell lung cancer

, offer insights into how best to prepare for a virtual visit with your physician and feature 

answers to patients’ questions on breast cancer

In this Fall issue of CURE, we focus on AYAs with cancer, latest treatments in small cell lung cancer, preparing for a virtual visit and answering common questions about breast cancer.

Choices About Cancer Treatment During a Tumultuous Time

“It’s not due to a lack of rest — additional rest does not alleviate this fatigue. When people have pervasive fatigue, it could be mental fatigue or physical," Luke Peppone, of the University of Rochester in New York, said about cancer-related fatigue. 

This September, MJH Life Sciences, the parent company of 

, celebrates our 25th anniversary. The innovation in health care over the past 25 years has been nothing short of miraculous! Together, we have witnessed significant advances that have provided new cancer treatments. Throughout these changes and into the future, MJH Life Sciences is committed to providing high-quality information and education.

Cancer-related fatigue is a common side effect most survivors experience after receiving treatment. This kind of fatigue is felt physically, mentally and emotionally, which can significantly affect one’s quality of life. It creates a challenge for all aspects of everyday life, including work, relationships with loved ones and even the completion of daily tasks, such as laundry. Focusing energy on cancer-related fatigue is crucial, and this fall issue of Heal dives into how survivors can help manage that side effect.

“Cancer-related fatigue is a fatigue that is pervasive throughout the body,” says Luke Peppone, of the University of Rochester in New York. “It’s not due to a lack of rest — additional rest does not alleviate this fatigue. When people have pervasive fatigue, it could be mental fatigue or physical.”

We hear two survivors’ stories about how they’ve learned to 

by taking breaks and making the most of energy spurts. Elsewhere in this feature, we speak with a director of cancer rehabilitation who emphasizes the importance of exercising, especially when the fatigue is intense, and the steps to take to start noticing an improvement.

Also in this issue, the side effect of hearing loss from chemotherapy is explored. We speak with a distinguished professor from the University of South Florida about what survivors can do to maintain their hearing and what to avoid.

, a comedian and metastatic breast cancer survivor, discusses her nine-year experience with the disease and how she cultivates a community on social media. Sharing short-form videos on Instagram and TikTok has given her a chance to share the good, the bad and the ugly, which can be “the most healing part.”

 to spice up your cookbook. These dishes are packed with essential vitamins and minerals, providing you with the sustenance your body needs. If you’d like to cozy up on a rainy day, I encourage trying the turmeric ginger latte.

As always, we hope you find our stories inspirational and informative. Thank you for reading.

MJH Life Sciences celebrates its 25th anniversary, highlighting significant healthcare advancements, particularly in cancer treatment. The issue addresses cancer-related fatigue, a common post-treatment side effect affecting survivors' quality of life. Experts and survivors share strategies for managing this fatigue, emphasizing exercise and energy management. The issue also explores chemotherapy-induced hearing loss and offers advice on maintaining hearing health. A survivor spotlight features Annie Bond, a comedian with metastatic breast cancer, who uses social media to share her journey. Additionally, new fall recipes are provided to support nutritional needs.

Cancer-related fatigue is felt physically, mentally and emotionally, which can significantly affect one’s quality of life. 

Mike Hennessy Jr.

The Dawn of a New Era in Cancer Treatment

Delivering Answers to Pressing Questions About Cancer

Choices About Cancer Treatment During a Tumultuous Time

Powering Through Fatigue After Cancer

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