A Prostate Cancer Researcher’s Unique Perspective as A Cancer Survivor

Leanne Burnham, Ph.D., is a prostate cancer researcher with a goal of addressing health disparities in Black men and advancing treatment options. But Burnham’s story with cancer extends far beyond her inspiring work: her dad has prostate cancer and she herself is a survivor of stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

In this episode of the “CURE® Talks Cancer” podcast, Burnham discusses the research she’s working on to address these health disparities, shares how she was inspired by her father’s diagnosis and details her own survival story.

“It does give me something to be able to relate to individuals when I am in the community,” said Burnham, who is a postdoctoral fellow in the City of Hope Division of Health Equities. “I can't tell you how many times I hear men say, ‘Well, I don't know that I need to be screened, I feel fine.’ And I let them know my dad felt totally fine. He found out he had prostate cancer on accident in the emergency room for something completely unrelated to prostate cancer. And even with myself, you know, it's not like you go to sleep one night and then you wake up the next morning with cancer. It’s something that happens over time.”

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