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Brielle Benyon, Assistant Managing Editor for CURE®, has been with MJH Life Sciences since 2016. She has served as an editor on both CURE and its sister publication, Oncology Nursing News. Brielle is a graduate from The College of New Jersey. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, CrossFit and wishing she had the grace and confidence of her toddler-aged daughter.
From a contestant on “Queer Eye” dying of cancer to a string of brain cancers in former Philadelphia Phillies players, here’s what’s happening in the oncology space this week.
“Queer Eye” star Tom Jackson died of cancer.
Tom Jackson, a former contestant on the Netflix show “Queer Eye” died of metastatic adenocarcinoma, according to a statement from his family. He was 63 years old.
Jackson appeared in the first episode of the Netflix relaunch of the show in 2018. He was joined by the “fab five” for a makeover and discussed his struggles with lupus and still being in love with his ex-wife.
A post on the show’s Instagram page read, “It’s with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to a member of our Queer Eye family. Rest in peace, Tom Jackson.”
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated the public on cancer cases found in the scar tissue around breast implants.
According to a statement, the FDA is aware of 19 cases of squamous cell carcinoma — a type of cancer that develops in the squamous skin cells — found in the capsule around breast implants. The agency noted that the disease is rare, and the cause, incidence and risk factors still remain unknown.
The FDA urged individuals who are considering breast implants to discuss the risks and benefits with their health care providers.
“The FDA continues to ask health care providers and people with breast implants to report cases of (squamous cell carcinoma), lymphomas, or any other cancers around breast implants to the FDA. In addition, we continue to collaborate with other regulatory authorities, scientific experts, breast implant manufacturers and registries to gather all available information on cancers in the capsule around breast implants,” the FDA said.
Katie Couric said she was heartbroken about Kirstie Alley’s death.
Journalist Katie Couric — who announced her own cancer diagnosis in September 2022 — said that she was heartbroken about actress Kirstie Alley’s death from colon cancer.
"I think anyone we lose before their time from a preventable disease is a tragedy. And that's what I always wonder when I see someone who's died of colorectal cancer. I wonder, 'Gosh, if they had been screened or if they were screened, and did this really have to happen?'” Couric said in an interview with People.
Colon cancer-related deaths particularly hit home for Couric, aged 66, as her husband, Jay Monahan, died from the disease.
The Anaheim Ducks’ assistant coach was diagnosed with melanoma.
Mike Stothers, the assistant coach to the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks, received a diagnosis of stage 3 melanoma and is being treated at the University of California Irving Health.
In a statement released last weekend, the 61-year-old thanks his friends, family and Ducks organization, and urged others to seek care if they feel that something is off.
"If I could share one simple message to all: Listen to your body. If you notice something unusual, or don't feel like yourself, consult a doctor immediately. Please do not wait. It could be the best decision you ever make,” he said.
An expert urged for an investigation of Veterans Stadium after six former Philadelphia Phillies died of brain cancer.
Dr. Marc Siegel, an internal medicine specialist from NYU Langone Health, recently spoke out about the rate of former Philadelphia Phillies baseball players who died from glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer.
Studies conducted on old pieces of Veterans Stadium turf found multiple chemicals that have been associated with the development of cancer.
“It’s a cluster, and it needs to be examined,” he said on an interview with Fox and Friends. “The amount of incidents of deadly brain cancer are about three out of 100,000. This is three or four times that or more.”
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