Navigating R/R FL: A Patient Centered Approach
CANCER BUZZ
Relapsed/refractory follicular lymphoma (R/R FL) is challenging to treat, requiring thoughtful clinical decision-making during treatment selection and sequencing. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Benjamin Heyman, MD, hematologist and clinical associate professor at City of Hope, about the importance of individualized care, shared decision-making, clinical trial referrals, and multidisciplinary collaboration. CANCER BUZZ also speaks with Laurie Adami, patient advocate with R/R FL, about her real-world experience with multiple lines of therapy, clinical trials, and patient advocacy. ...
info_outline
1st Guest 6 Years Later
CANCER BUZZ
After 6 years of bringing listeners key insights into the most pressing topics in oncology, ACCC’s podcast, CANCER BUZZ, has gotten a facelift! In this episode, CANCER BUZZ brings back our first podcast guest, Tina Curtis, DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, executive director of cancer services at Froedtert Hospital. In the June 26, 2019, inaugural CANCER BUZZ episode, Dr. Curtis spoke about her institution’s 24-hour, oncology-only urgent care clinic, which earned the cancer program a 2018 ACCC Innovator Award. Today, she’s returned with her colleague Jayme Cotter to share an update on that program,...
info_outline
Championing Lung Cancer Clinical Trials in the VA
CANCER BUZZ
US Veterans are at a heightened risk for lung cancer due to service-related exposures. Integrating clinical research into routine oncology care at the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can help bring clinical trials closer to where Veterans live and improve access to cutting edge therapies. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Millie Das, MD, chief of oncology at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System, about the collaborations and institutional support that allowed them to launch lung cancer clinical trials and the role industry has played. “My primary motivation...
info_outline
Exploring FGFR2b in Gastric and GEJ Cancer
CANCER BUZZ
Fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 isoform IIIb (FGFR2b) is an emerging biomarker present in about 38% of patients with advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Nataliya Uboha, MD, PhD, a medical oncologist at University of Wisconsin Health, about current recommendations for biomarker testing in this population, emerging biomarkers such as FGFR2b, and how multidisciplinary collaboration can ensure patients receive timely biomarker testing. CANCER BUZZ also interviews Wendi Waugh, BS, RT(R)(T), CMD, ODS, FACCC,...
info_outline
Unlocking ESR1 Mutations in Breast Cancer
CANCER BUZZ
In metastatic breast cancer, resistance to therapy remains one of the most challenging aspects to care. A key driver of resistance in hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative disease is the ESR1 mutation, a genetic change that alters the estrogen receptor and limits the effectiveness of certain standard therapies. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Eleonara Teplinsky, MD, FASCO, head of breast and gynecologic medical oncology at Valley-Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Care, about how the ESR1 mutation shapes treatment decisions and explains communication strategies, such as the...
info_outline
Retired Nurses Supporting the Workforce
CANCER BUZZ
Una Hopkins, DNP, MSN, FNP-BC, NE-BC, RN, FACCC, president of the Association of Cancer Care Centers (ACCC) designated her theme for the 2025-2026 year as in response to forecasts predicting both patient and survivor populations will grow in coming years. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Dr. Hopkins about the importance of peer-to-peer mentorship in workforce development and empowerment, particularly for nurses, and why retired nurses are well-equipped to provide this mentorship. Later in the episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Josephine Lisowski, RN, BSN, OCN, PRN nurse at Advocate...
info_outline
LIVE from NOC: Women Leaders in Oncology
CANCER BUZZ
Synopsis: Live this week from the ACCC 42nd National Oncology Conference (NOC), CANCER BUZZ speaks with Dr. Deirdre Saulet, who discusses highlights from Friday morning’s panel session: Women Leaders in Oncology: Exploring Successful Dyad Models. Guest: Deirdre Saulet, PhD Chief Strategy Officer Jasper Health Resources:
info_outline
LIVE from NOC: Hot Topics
CANCER BUZZ
Live this week from the ACCC 42nd National Oncology Conference (NOC), CANCER BUZZ catches up with attendees who highlight takeaways from this year’s hot topic sessions. Guests: Laura Kuzma Administrative Director FirstHealth of the Carolinas Brittany McArn, OPN-CG, CPPN Financial Navigation Manager Outpatient Oncology Services FirstHealth of the Carolinas Resources:
info_outline
LIVE from NOC:Serving a Growing Patient Population
CANCER BUZZ
Live this week from the ACCC 42nd National Oncology Conference (NOC), CANCER BUZZ shares highlights from the President’s Fireside Chat, where Una Hopkins leads a dynamic conversation with oncology providers from 3 cancer programs that are designing innovative care models to meet the needs of a growing patient population. Speakers: Dr. Una Hopkins President, ACCC Director, Nursing Research Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center Karla Bowen Director, Nursing Operations Orlando Health Cancer Institute Brian Lasonde Advanced Practice Clinician Manager for Medical...
info_outline
LIVE from NOC: Psychosocial Care, Alcohol, Marijuana and more
CANCER BUZZ
Live this week from the ACCC’s 42nd National Oncology Conference (NOC), CANCER BUZZ speaks with ACCC Board of Trustees member Jennifer Bires, who details the highlights from the Wednesday panel discussion she led, “POPS: Navigating Quality Integrative Cancer Support Resources.” Guest: , MSW, LCSW, OSW-C, FACCC Executive Director, Life with Cancer and Patient Experience Inova Health System, Fairfax Hospital Inova Schar Cancer Institute Fairfax, VA Resources:
info_outlineNavigating the growing complexity of bladder cancer care is essential to improving patient access and treatment closer to home. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Suzanne Merrill, MD, urologic oncologist at Colorado Urology about barriers and solutions to delivering high-quality bladder cancer care in community settings. CANCER BUZZ also speaks with Patrick Hensley, MD, urologist at University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center, about implementing the Delivering High-Quality Bladder Cancer Care infographic in the community setting. Created by ACCC and BCAN, the infographic describes the 10 elements of excellent bladder cancer care. Cancer programs that align their practices with these guidelines can join a public registry so that patients and caregivers can identify quality bladder cancer care close to where they live.
“The best strategies and tools to deliver high quality bladder cancer care out in the community lie first and foremost with having a bladder cancer clinician. It could be a urologist, it could be a urologic oncologist, could even be a medical oncologist or a radiation oncologist...their discipline doesn't matter as much as [having] the core clinical expert that is excited and dedicated to developing and instituting a comprehensive bladder cancer program.” - Suzanne Merrill, MD, FACS
“Everybody assumes comprehensive care is being delivered at academic university settings, which it is, but there's so much...bladder cancer care being performed out in the community. So [the question is] how can we achieve comprehensive programs out in the community?” - Suzanne Merril, MD, FACS
“I think it's really important that subspecialists and community providers work together to streamline those referrals and anticipate when the patients are coming in and what their needs are going to be, from a procedural standpoint, imaging standpoint, etc, so that you can avoid some of those undue delays in diagnosis and treatment.” - Patrick Hensley, MD
Suzanne Merrill, MD, FACS
Urologic Oncologist
Colorado Urology
Aurora, CO
Patrick Hensley, MD
Urologist
Markey Cancer Center – Urology
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY
Resources:
Infographic: Delivering High Quality Cancer Care in the Community
Addressing Disparities in Bladder Cancer Care
Understanding and Mitigating Disparities in Bladder Cancer Care
Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN)
Funder Statement
This program is supported by Astellas Pfizer Alliance, EMD Serano, and Gilead.