Author Archives: Johanna

From Cancer Patient to Cancer Survivor

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Larry Norton, MD

Larry Norton, MD. Photo by Juliana Thomas.

A recent Washington Post article about advances in cancer treatment features MSK.

The article begins by sharing the experiences of a patient, Kelly Spill, who enrolled in an MSK clinical trial using immunotherapy to treat her rectal cancer. She and the other 17 trial participants all had a complete clinical response from the treatment. Ms. Spill has been cancer-free for nearly three years.

For many, cancer is now serious but treatable. MSK’s Dr. Larry Norton attributes this to improvements in prevention, screening, diagnostics, and treatment. He makes special note of the impact immunotherapies have had on many patient outcomes.

These positive changes make the need for survivorship care even more critical. Learn more about MSK’s survivorship and follow-up care programs.

Helping Patients, One Call at a Time

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This May, National Nurses Month, Cure featured MSK’s Kimberly Rosencrance in a column by MSK’s Lead Patient Access Nurse, Ann Culkin.

In her role as a Patient Access Nurse Coordinator, Ms. Rosencrance speaks to patients and families over the phone to help navigate their care, financial concerns, and insurance questions. Her work leaves patients feeling calmer and reassured:

Kim conducts these emotionally loaded conversations with insight, expertise and listening skills to remove obstacles to the best oncology care. Kim reassures every caller that she is ‘really listening,’ often letting her silence do the heavy lifting as the patient shares their story.

We salute Ms. Rosencrance, Ms. Culkin, and all MSK nurses. Your work saves lives every day.

Breast and Uterine Cancer in the News

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MSK experts in breast and gynecological cancers were recently featured in the media.

Photos of Dr. Maxine Jochelson and Dr. Ginger Gardner.
Dr. Maxine Jochelson (left, photo by Richard DeWitt) and Dr. Ginger Gardner (right, photo by Karsten Moran).

Verywell Health spoke to Dr. Maxine Jochelson for an article on breast cancer screening best practices. A recent study used epidemiological data broken down by race and ethnicity to conclude that different populations should start screening for breast cancer at varying ages. Dr. Jochelson said that the potential for false positives is not a reason not to get screened, and that women should work with their healthcare providers to determine the screening schedule that is right for them.

The New York Times featured Dr. Ginger Gardner in an article about uterine cancer. While US uterine cancer rates remain low they are rising, especially among Black and Hispanic populations. Dr. Gardner said that family history and health conditions like diabetes and hypertension increase a person’s risk for the disease. Patients should pay attention to symptoms, including unexpected vaginal bleeding or spotting, and get examined if symptoms are present.

Learn more about MSK’s Female Sexual Medicine & Women’s Health Program.