Treating Blood Cancers

Maria Alma Rodriguez, MD, MACP, CMQ, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX Recorded on October 21, 2021 In this episode, Dr. Maria Alma Rodriguez from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, joins us in discussing the long-term and late effects of cancer treatment, including strategies to support survivors with physical and psychosocial effects. Dr. Rodriguez describes barriers to follow-up care, including why some patients may be lost to this process, challenges to following a cancer survivorship plan, the importance of follow-up care coordination, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted survivorship care. Join us today! This podcast episode is supported by Bristol Myers Squibb; Genentech, Inc. & Biogen; Pharmacyclics LLC, An AbbVie Company & Janssen Biotech, Inc.

Daniel Verina, DNP, ACNP-BC, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY Recorded on October 1, 2021 Advanced practice providers, nurses, and other members of the multidisciplinary healthcare team play an important role in treating and supporting newly diagnosed myeloma patients. In this month’s episode, Daniel Verina, DNP, ACNP-BC, Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Multiple Myeloma Program, at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, shares his perspective into treating newly diagnosed myeloma patients, including how to navigate questions about embarking on the treatment journey, potential side effects, and survival rates. He shares his thoughts on how to best support both the patient and caregiver, navigating discussion surrounding clinical trials, and what challenges lie ahead. Tune in today! This podcast episode is supported by Janssen Oncology, Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson.

Joshua Richter, MD, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY Recorded on September 10, 2021 Treating myeloma patients, especially newly diagnosed, can be very complex. How are treatment decisions determined? Who is eligible to receive a transplant? What is the patient’s role in making treatment decisions? In this month’s episode, Dr. Joshua Richter from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, provides his perspective on treating newly diagnosed myeloma patients, including smoldering myeloma, describes the evolution of CRAB criteria to SLIM CRAB criteria, discusses the importance of quality-of-life considerations, describes how COVID-19 has affected treatment, and reviews exciting myeloma treatment options on the horizon.   This podcast episode is supported by Janssen Oncology, Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson.

Lorenzo Falchi, MD and Leah Szumita, MS, RN, CCRN, ACNS-BC Recorded on August 5, 2021 Clinical trials are the foundation of advancing treatment options. Understanding their importance, dispelling myths and fears about enrollment, and acknowledging disparities in access can help providers educate their patients and discuss treatment in a clinical trial as an option at any point in the patient’s cancer journey. In this episode, we welcome special guest host Leah Szumita, MS, RN, CCRN, ACNS-BC, Director of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Clinical Trial Support Center as she speaks with Lorenzo Falchi, MD, Assistant Attending, Lymphoma Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, about the importance of clinical trials, understanding patient concerns, barriers to participation and strategies to overcome these barriers, and how clinical trials have been impacted by COVID-19.

David Tate, BSN, RN, PHN, Rio Bravo-Greeley School, Bakersfield, CA Recorded on August 11, 2021 September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, a time to recognize the children and families affected by blood cancer. In this month’s special episode, we are joined by David Tate, a registered nurse in the Rio Bravo-Greeley School system in Bakersfield, California to discuss his journey from the father of a cancer survivor to healthcare professional. David shares with us the story of his son’s diagnosis with leukemia at seven months old, how that journey influenced his career in nursing, and how he leans on his experience to help other families navigating this path. Tune in to this heartfelt episode today!

Justine M. Kahn, MD, MS, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY Recorded on July 13, 2021 Healthcare disparities are a known factor in cancer care. Understanding these disparities can enable healthcare professionals to more effectively communicate with and treat their patients. In this episode, Dr. Justine Kahn, from the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City, defines and describes existing healthcare disparities, addresses ways to eliminate disparities, including removing barriers and increasing access to care, underscores the impact of insurance, and discusses the importance of enhancing awareness among primary care providers to reduce challenges that lead to delayed diagnoses. Tune into this important episode for more tips on how providers can eliminate disparities in their practice!

Steven Horwitz, MD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY Recorded on June 18, 2021 Tune in to this very informative and interesting conversation on T-cell lymphoma! Dr. Steven Horwitz, from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, discusses types and diagnostic tests used to identify T-cell lymphoma, goals of treatment, approved and emerging treatment options, including immunotherapy and clinical trials, strategies to manage side effects, including when to stop therapy, and the importance of the multidisciplinary healthcare team.

Jeffrey L. Wolf, MD, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA Recorded on May 27, 2021 In this episode, Dr. Jeffrey Wolf, from the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of California San Francisco, explains what measurable residual disease (MRD) is, how providers can explain the role of MRD to patients, including understanding the tests used, how to counsel patients when there is MRD, where testing is done for patients treated in the community, the way MRD test results will be used in the future, and so much more. Tune in today as Dr. Wolf explores MRD with our moderator, Dr. Ken Miller! This podcast episode is supported by Amgen.

Justin M. Watts, MD, University of Miami, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miami, FL Recorded on May 14, 2021 Terminology, available tests, the impact of epigenetics, and the significance of mutations. Understanding the role of genomics in cancer care can be complex. Tune in as Dr. Justin Watts from the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center in Miami, breaks down cancer genomics, discusses the implications of treatment, outlines the various tests available, including their strengths and weaknesses, the importance of educating patients on the meaning of these tests, and the future of genomic testing in hematologic malignancies.

Peter Campbell, PharmD, BCOP, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY Recorded on April 23, 2021 The interprofessional oncology team is comprised of many healthcare professionals, each playing an important role in contributing to a patient’s care. Join Dr. Peter Campbell, Clinical Pharmacy Manager from Columbia University Irving Medical Center, as he discusses the vital role of pharmacists on the multidisciplinary team. Dr. Campbell discusses challenges with access to treatment, cost of drugs, and adherence. He reviews many common and novel side effects patients experience, understanding drug-drug interactions, how to determine when to stop treatment, and how to navigate drug shortages. Join this interesting conversation to learn more about exciting drugs coming down the pipeline, how COVID-19 has impacted treatment, and so much more!