Insight

When Linda Solomon, a trained medical technologist, saw the results of her routine complete blood count in 2009, she knew it wasn’t good news. Solomon, then 61, was diagnosed with stage III multiple myeloma – and given three years to survive. Several rounds of chemotherapy, two stem cell transplants, and […]

Gabby Spear, a young, active mom, had never noticed a lump or pain before suddenly finding her breast cancer in November 2013, when she was 38. She was shocked. But, with two young daughters, there wasn’t much time to adjust to her new normal. In the latest episode of Voices: Then […]

Palliative care is an often misunderstood specialty, focused on providing support and pain management strategies to cancer patients throughout all stages of their illness. This approach, which can be blended into curative cancer therapy, focuses on care for the whole person: mind, body, and spirit. Read More: Oncology and Palliative […]

Amy McHugh’s 4-year-old daughter, Emily Coughlin, was a typical kid – playful and inquisitive – until May 2009, when she started complaining of knee pain. After a visit to the pediatrician, and a misdiagnosis of Lyme disease, the family ended up at Boston Children’s Hospital, where they received a devastating […]

Clinical trials are scientific studies in which new treatments – drugs, diagnostic procedures, and other therapies – are tested to determine if they are safe and effective for patients. Nearly all cancer drugs in use today were tested and made available to patients through clinical trials, making them a crucial component of […]

When Mike Johnston felt a lump in his chest in 2009, he assumed it was a side effect of a high blood pressure medication. But after a routine doctor’s visit, followed by a mammogram and ultrasound, Johnston’s diagnosis was confirmed: He had male breast cancer. Only 2,000 men in the […]

A cancer diagnosis can inspire many questions, one of the most common being, “How did I get this disease?” There are a host of different causes, and in many cases, researchers do not have a definitive answer. But is it possible for cancer to spread from person to person? In […]

Ben Blaisdell was a popular 16-year-old when he started experiencing uncharacteristic chills, which led to an anemia diagnosis and, soon after, the surprising news that he had acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The two-year treatment was tough on him and his entire family, but Blaisdell says that he wouldn’t change his […]

Every time tobacco is inhaled, it creates conditions in the body almost ideally suited to the formation of cancer. So how do experts explain lung cancer in non-smokers – and what are the significant risk factors for lung cancer other than smoking?

When Catherine Goff was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma while attending college in the 1970s, it was the shock of a lifetime. Less surprising – but still life-changing – was her later diagnosis with breast cancer, a common secondary cancer for patients like Goff who received high doses of radiation therapy […]

Despite the fact that cancer survivorship is on the rise, it may seem that cancer is everywhere — and that there’s nothing we can do about it. But are we really powerless to stop certain cancers from coming our way? Or, at least, to lessen the chances of developing those […]

Most breast lumps are not cancer. But many myths persist about the relationship between the two – including whether a woman can tell if a lump is cancer by the way it feels, and whether a small lump is less likely to be cancer than a large lump. With the help of Beth Overmoyer, MD, director of the inflammatory breast cancer program at Dana-Farber’s Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers, we debunk these myths and other common questions about breast lumps and cancer. Hear the discussion by listening to the podcast episode below, or click “download” to listen later. Subscribe options are also available via iTunes, Google Play, the Stitcher app, TuneIn app, and RSS. In the Cancer Mythbusters podcast series, we dive into the many myths and misconceptions in the world of cancer. Every episode, we look at a myth and debunk it with the help of our world-leading clinicians and researchers. Visit Dana-Farber’s podcast page for more information on other cancer podcast series.  

Treatment ends. And you’re home free. That’s what many friends and family think. But cancer patients know that the time after your treatment ends can be unsettling. While the physical and logistical challenges of managing chemotherapy, radiation or surgery may be behind you, the prospect of dealing with cancer without the safety net of weekly, or even daily, contact with your care team can be daunting. Breast cancer survivors Amy Atwood and Julie Mizraji talk about how they navigated through the emotional challenges of living in a post-treatment world. Hear the discussion by listening to the podcast episode below or click “download” to listen later. Subscribe options are also available via iTunes, Google Play, the Stitcher app, TuneIn app, and RSS. The Beyond Cancer podcast is a monthly series featuring cancer survivors who share how they’ve navigated the physical side effects, emotional challenges, and dynamics of life during and after cancer treatment. Visit the Beyond Cancer page for more episodes and Dana-Farber’s podcast page for more information on other cancer podcast series.

Stupid things. We all say them. And cancer patients have heard them all -- from the insensitive to the absurd, from nutrition tips to fertility advice, and just about everything in between. While patients can laugh (hopefully) at the remarks in hindsight, when they’re first said, they can cut deep, making patients question their decisions. In this episode of Beyond Cancer, Kim Douglas and Becky Sail discuss the stupid things they’ve heard, and more importantly, how they dealt with those barbs. We also explore with Dana-Farber’s Karen Fasciano, PsyD, what’s behind these comments. Hear the discussion by listening to the podcast episode below or click “download” to listen later. Subscribe options are also available via iTunes, Google Play, the Stitcher app, TuneIn app, and RSS. The Beyond Cancer podcast is a monthly series featuring cancer survivors who share how they've navigated the physical side effects, emotional challenges, and dynamics of life during and after cancer treatment. Visit the Beyond Cancer page for more episodes and Dana-Farber’s podcast page for more information on other cancer podcast series.

Brain tumors can be among the most challenging cancers to treat. The blood-brain barrier, a natural defense mechanism that shields the brain from harm, can also prevent cancer treatments from reaching tumors. “It can be difficult to get treatments effectively into the brain,” says David Reardon, MD, clinical director of Dana-Farber’s Center for Neuro-Oncology. However, he adds that new immunotherapy treatments may be able to get through the blood-brain barrier and effectively reach tumors. “We know the immune system can get into the brain to fight infections and inflammatory conditions,” explains Reardon. “Our current research is moving forward to a level where we’re critically confirming that these immunotherapy drugs are getting into the brain and making a difference.” In this Cancer Conversations podcast episode, Reardon discusses immunotherapy, precision medicine, and other new approaches to brain tumor treatment with Patrick Wen, MD, director of the Center for Neuro-Oncology. “One major area of advancement in all cancer, including brain tumors, is the understanding of the molecular changes that drive tumors,” says Wen. “We’ve been able to characterize molecular changes in both high-grade and low-grade gliomas, and because of that we can develop drugs to target the molecular drivers of these tumors.” Listen to the podcast episode below or click “download” to listen later. Subscribe options are also available via iTunes, Google Play, the Stitcher app, TuneIn app, and RSS. The Cancer Conversations series features Q&A-style conversations with Dana-Farber physicians, clinicians, and researchers. Topics include breast cancer research, precision cancer medicine, integrative therapies, cancer genetics, and more. Visit the Cancer Conversations page for more episodes and the Dana-Farber podcast page for more cancer podcast series.

Prostate cancer affects 230,000 men each year. Although diagnoses are increasing worldwide, most people die with prostate cancer and not of prostate cancer, according to Mark Pomerantz, MD, a medical oncologist in Dana-Farber’s Lank Center for Genitourinary Oncology. In this Cancer Conversations podcast episode, Pomerantz discusses genetics, risk factors, and the controversy surrounding the PSA test, a test that can detect levels of prostate-specific antigen in the body. Although PSA testing can help diagnose prostate cancer, it is not universally recommended in the U.S. “If men are going to die with the disease rather than because of the disease, there are consequences to finding prostate cancer,” explains Pomerantz. “It leads to the psychological impact of having a cancer diagnosis and, more troubling, overtreatment of the disease.” Read More: Does Cycling Increase Risk for Testicular or Prostate Cancer? Do PSA Levels Change with Age? Five Things You Need to Know About Men’s Health/Cancer Screenings   Pomerantz also discusses the promise of gene therapy, immunotherapy, and clinical trials for men with prostate cancer. “Over time, we are more and more confident that we can safely manage patients without needing immediate cure,” he says. Listen to the podcast episode below or click “download” to listen later. Subscribe options are also available via iTunes, Google Play, the Stitcher app, TuneIn app, and RSS. The Cancer Conversations series features Q&A-style conversations with Dana-Farber physicians, clinicians, and researchers. Topics include breast cancer research, precision cancer medicine, integrative therapies, cancer genetics, and more. Visit the Cancer Conversations page for more episodes and the Dana-Farber podcast page for more cancer podcast series.  

Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in men and women, but lung cancer research is advancing rapidly and treatments are improving at an astonishing pace. “Lung cancer research has changed so much today that it’s even hard to estimate what we’re going to be doing in the future,” says Geoffrey Oxnard, MD, of Dana-Farber’s Lowe Center for Thoracic Oncology. In this Cancer Conversations podcast episode, Oxnard discusses these new developments, including targeted therapies and individualized treatment plans.  “Clinical trials today are much more nuanced about finding the right drug for the right patient,” he adds. Listen to the podcast episode below or click “download” to listen later. Subscribe options are also available via iTunes, Google Play, the Stitcher app, TuneIn app, and RSS. The Cancer Conversations series features Q&A-style conversations with Dana-Farber physicians, clinicians, and researchers. Topics include breast cancer research, precision cancer medicine, integrative therapies, cancer genetics, and more. Visit the Cancer Conversations page for more episodes and the Dana-Farber podcast page for more cancer podcast series.

If you’re 69 and diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, what do you do? For John Barrett, the answer was easy: become a certified physical trainer. But as Barrett and Nancy Campbell, exercise physiologist at Dana-Farber, both point out, you don’t need to be an exercise zealot to incorporate exercise into your life. “Exercise needs to be a lifestyle, not an event,” Barrett says. For cancer patients in particular, it’s about working exercise into the fabric of your everyday life. That’s not always easy. A cancer diagnosis can be challenging for lifelong exercisers who need to recalibrate their expectations and goals; and it can be hard for patients who have never exercised to get started while fighting fatigue and other symptoms.  Hear John’s inspiring story and his and Nancy’s exercise tips and wisdom by listening to the podcast episode below, or click “download” to listen later. Subscribe options are also available via iTunes, Google Play, the Stitcher app, TuneIn app, and RSS.   The Beyond Cancer podcast series features cancer survivors sharing how they've navigated the physical side effects, emotional challenges, and different dynamics of life during and after cancer treatment. Visit the Beyond Cancer page for more episodes and Dana-Farber’s podcast page for more information on other cancer podcast series.  

It was a warm day in November 2013 when Gabby Spear found out she had breast cancer. But even in the midst of the difficult news, her responsibilities as a mom, wife, professional, and community member remained; she knew she still had to pick up her two daughters and make it to temple service later that night. “That was the first time I realized that life doesn’t stop because of a cancer diagnosis,” says Spear, whose daughters were 6 and 3 at the time. Like Spear, fellow breast cancer patient Colleen Sullivan also had to balance cancer treatment with her roles at home and at work. And it was her kids – both at home and at the school where she teaches - that kept her resolute throughout her chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. “I was going to do whatever it took to be here as long as I can,” says Sullivan, whose three daughters were 10, 9 and 4 when she was diagnosed. And while most cancer patients must learn how to communicate diagnosis and treatment to their children, Spear and Sullivan have the additional task of explaining a hereditary cancer risk that may affect their daughters in the future. Both women have the BRCA1 gene mutation that, if inherited, can significantly increase risk developing of breast and ovarian cancer. In this latest Voices podcast, Spear and Sullivan discuss the ups and downs of balancing motherhood and breast cancer, how they communicated their diagnosis, and how their roles changed throughout the course of treatment. You can listen to the podcast episode below or click “download” to listen later. Subscribe options are also available via iTunes, Android, the Stitcher app, TuneIn app, and RSS. The Voices podcast series features stories from cancer patients who share their experiences coping with their life-changing diagnoses and treatment. Season 1 of Voices features breast cancer patients. Visit the Voices page for more episodes and Dana-Farber’s podcast page for more information on other cancer podcast series.  

Advances in genetic research may improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of women’s cancers. “More genes are being found and fewer families are having to wonder if there is something genetic that may increase their risk, or future generations’ risk, of developing cancer,” says Judy Garber, MD, MPH, director of the Center for Cancer Genetics and Prevention  at Dana-Farber and a leader in the Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers. In this Cancer Conversations podcast episode, Garber discusses the latest in genetic research, including hereditary risks, genetic testing, and treatment options. “One of the most exciting developments is the knowledge that patients with hereditary risk have tumors that are different biologically, and those tumors can be treated using drugs that we’ve never used before,” Garber adds. Listen to the podcast episode below or click “download” to listen later. Subscribe options are also available via iTunes, Google Play, the Stitcher app, TuneIn app, and RSS. The Cancer Conversations series features Q&A-style conversations with Dana-Farber physicians, clinicians, and researchers. Topics include breast cancer research, precision cancer medicine, integrative therapies, cancer genetics, and more. Visit the Cancer Conversations page for more episodes and the Dana-Farber podcast page for more cancer podcast series.