Latest news with #WinshipCancerInstitute
Washington Post
26-05-2025
- Health
- Washington Post
I'm an oncologist. Speculating about Biden's cancer is dangerous.
Ravi Parikh is a genitourinary medical oncologist at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University. In the days since former president Joe Biden's cancer diagnosis, amid the typical outpouring of support for a public figure diagnosed with cancer, two leading conspiracy theories have emerged. The first is that Biden's team willfully ignored prostate cancer screening. Pundits — some of them doctors — have speculated about the president's screening history, suggesting that regular PSA testing (a blood test that screens for prostate-specific antigen) might have caught the cancer earlier. Major news outlets have subtly propagated this narrative as well, running flashy headlines questioning how Biden's doctors could have missed his condition. And, more egregiously, many across the political spectrum have insinuated that the president delayed his own diagnosis as part of a broader cover-up of his health issues. The second conspiracy theory involves attempts to tie Biden's diagnosis to his poor performance in the June 2024 presidential debate. Some have implied that his cancer explains his perceived cognitive decline, changes in energy levels or recent lack of public appearances. As an oncologist who predominantly treats Stage 4 prostate cancer, I find these narratives dangerous. They risk further stigmatizing the many patients I care for who are surviving and thriving with Stage 4 cancer. For starters, it is not helpful to speculate how long the president's cancer had been growing or whether earlier PSA testing would have prevented it. Why? Because it doesn't change his current prognosis or how we treat it now. The cancer was reportedly discovered after a routine physical exam revealed a prostate nodule, followed by imaging that showed spread to his bones. If the first time Biden heard about his cancer was at diagnosis, then our role as physicians is to focus on treatment, not hindsight. It is possible earlier PSA screening might have caught it sooner. But national guidelines recommended against PSA screening for anyone over age 70, much less an 82-year-old man, due to elevated risk of false positives or invasive biopsies that can outweigh the benefits of earlier detection. It's also possible Biden's cancer progressed between tests. So though the health of the president is certainly of public concern, there's no reason to make any patient — or his supporters — feel guilty about an unpredictable cancer. Moreover, it is very unlikely that the president's cancer contributed to any cognitive or functional impairment. Prostate cancer almost never spreads to the brain, and Biden's office reported that the president was asymptomatic except for mild urinary issues. Throughout my career, I've treated hundreds of men with Stage 4 prostate cancer. It is incurable but treatable. When a patient first comes to see me, I focus on four steps. First, we address symptoms such as bone pain from metastases, urinary issues, weight loss — often in coordination with radiation oncology, palliative medicine and nutrition specialists. Second, and most importantly, we discuss goals: How aggressive should we be? What are the patient's priorities? What trade-offs between quality of life and cancer control are acceptable? Treatment for Stage 4 prostate cancer is so effective nowadays that we have the luxury of offering a range of options that consider a patient's preferences. Next, I describe the treatment options. The backbone of treatment is androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), which reduces testosterone, the fuel for prostate cancer growth. We often add pills such as androgen receptor signaling inhibitors that further inhibit testosterone signaling. Depending on disease burden, we may also consider radiation or chemotherapy; genetic testing can help us identify targeted therapy options. If one treatment fails, we have several other standard options before considering experimental therapies or hospice. Finally, we talk survivorship — living well with cancer. This includes managing side effects such as hot flashes, monitoring for recurrence and addressing broader health needs. Patients with prostate cancer often live long enough that other conditions, such as heart disease or diabetes, may pose greater risks than the cancer itself, so we screen for those, too. And ADT can reduce bone density, so we screen for that as well as encourage weight-bearing exercise. And yes, we discuss cognition. ADT — not prostate cancer — can impact cognitive function. If someone has signs of cognitive issues, we weigh this when recommending treatment. But unless a patient has severe dementia, it rarely changes the treatment plan. The chatter around Biden about preventability, debility and prognosis does a disservice to patients living with metastatic prostate cancer. These narratives perpetuate the harmful myth that Stage 4 prostate cancer means imminent death or total debilitation — and they can lead to social isolation, workplace bias and psychological distress. In reality, prostate cancer is a serious but manageable illness. If one treatment fails, we have several other standard options before considering experimental therapies or hospice. Of all Stage 4 cancers, prostate cancer most closely resembles a chronic disease like diabetes or high blood pressure. Biden already is, and will continue to be, a 'metastatic survivor' — someone managing cancer as a chronic condition. Though statistics suggest that most men with Stage 4 prostate cancer won't survive five years, these numbers come from an older era of less effective treatment — and an inequitable system of care where many patients didn't receive access to guideline-based treatment. I feel empathy for the president and his family. The day a patient gets diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer is one of the worst days in his life. Patients often carry the emotional weight of guilt, fear and uncertainty — compounded in Biden's case by already intense public scrutiny, a 'tell-all' book release and political implications. After the president's diagnosis, I asked several of my patients what they thought. They're undergoing the same treatments he will. Their responses weren't pity or anger: They were of encouragement. With permission, here's what they said: 'I've been living with this for seven years. My PSA is undetectable, and I still play golf once a week.' 'The hot flashes aren't fun, but they're worth it to watch my grandkids grow up.' 'I thought it was a death sentence. But I'm still here five years later. He'll be fine.' For these patients, and most others, Stage 4 prostate cancer wasn't an immediate death sentence and has not caused physical or mental disability. The question they are asking isn't 'What if?' — it's 'What's next?' I hope Joe Biden, and the rest of the country, can ask the same.
Time Magazine
08-05-2025
- Health
- Time Magazine
Suresh Ramalingam
Last summer, Dr. Suresh Ramalingam, executive director of Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, received a standing ovation at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. What stirred the audience were the striking results he had just presented for a drug that could become the primary treatment for a type of advanced lung cancer. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with close to 1.8 million people dying from it each year. Even as treatment options have improved, they have been largely ineffective for patients with mutations in a protein called epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). 'Early on in my career, we identified this EGFR pathway as one therapeutic opportunity to improve cancer outcomes,' says Ramalingam. In the recent study, Ramalingam found that people with Stage III lung cancer who had EGFR mutations had an 84% lower risk of cancer progression or death when they took a drug called osimertinib after chemoradiation. 'There was a significant night-and-day difference in outcomes, and that has already resulted in [the Sept. 2024] FDA approval of osimertinib for Stage III disease' in people with these mutations whose cancers could not be surgically removed, says Ramalingam. 'To see a trial with this level of impact was truly a pleasant surprise for us,' he says.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Peachtree City and Fayetteville police unite in support for Terri Milburn
The Brief Law enforcement officers show their support for the spouse of the Peachtree City Police Chief, who is battling breast cancer. They are wearing pink bracelets in honor of Terri Milburn. Milburn says the tribute has helped in her healing from surgery. PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. - Police officers in Peachtree City and neighboring Fayetteville are showing their love and support for Terri Milburn. She is the wife of Peachtree City Police Chief Janet Moon. Doctors diagnosed Milburn with breast cancer back in November 2024 after a routine mammogram. What we know Officers at Moon's department as well as neighboring Fayetteville have been wearing pink wrist bands in honor of Terri and her fight against breast cancer. It was the idea of Fayetteville chief Scott Gray. And it has been an uplifting tribute and Milburn says in itself healing. "The overwhelming support, how could you not do well?" Milburn said. "Things are very good, and I am very fortunate to be going back to work soon." Chief Moon added, "It brought a tear to both of our eyes and was just so touching." The backstory Milburn has been a patient at Emory's Winship Cancer Institute where she has been under the care of Dr. Ruth Sacks and others. Terri was diagnosed last November with Ductal Carcinoma in Situ and then later the invasive form she says. A double mastectomy followed in January. Milburn is a neurology nurse at Emory and says the transition to patient was difficult. "It's not an easy thing to say hey, I have breast cancer," she said. "It's even hard to just say the word." What they're saying Milburn began chronicling her cancer journey on Facebook for family and friends, in what is a blunt and informative story of her cancer journey that has helped educate others. "And it helped me. You wake up and your kind of having a day," she said. Local perspective And in their darkest hours, Milburn and Moon had no idea that a movement had started in the law enforcement community. The pink wristbands as well as a video produced by the Peachtree City Police Department offering the both of them words of encouragement from officers and staff. "We were both just ugly crying and because it was so moving," Moon said. "People don't get to see this side of law enforcement. They don't get to the solidarity," Milburn said. "I didn't cry through the diagnosis and surgery, but when I saw those pink bracelets, I cried." Dig deeper If you are someone you know is on a breast cancer journey, we've got a lot of information for you from Terri's doctor, Dr. Ruth Sacks at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University. Dense breast tissue refers to having more glandular and connective tissue (i.e. milk glands, mild ducts, and supportive tissue) than fat in the breasts, making it harder to see cancer or detect abnormalities on a mammogram (X-ray of the breast). Dense breasts are common, affecting nearly 50% of women undergoing mammograms. The only way to know if you have dense breasts is through a mammogram (X-ray of the breast). A radiologist determines breast density by examining the balance of fatty and dense tissue on the mammogram. Unclear why some people have more dense breasts than others More likely to have dense breasts: younger, lower body fat (lower BMI), on hormone therapy for menopause, etc. Detection Challenges: Dense breast tissue on mammogram makes it more challenging to see things on mammogram, which may increase the chance of a cancer going undetected. Increased Risk: Dense breast modestly increases the risk of breast cancer. However, the extent to which breast density affects the risk for breast cancer is not absolutely established and increased breast density does not increase the risk of dying from breast cancer.j Annual mammograms starting at age 40 are still recommended. 3D mammograms (tomosynthesis) can offer better detection for dense breasts by providing detailed images from multiple angles. Supplemental screening options may include:Breast MRIBreast Ultrasound Breast MRI Breast Ultrasound Each additional test has pros and cons, including a higher chance of false positives. Margie's Law in Georgia mandates that healthcare facilities (hospitals, clinics, radiology practices, mobile units, etc.) provide specific notifications to patients if their mammogram shows dense breast tissue. (The deadline for health systems to comply with this law was in 2024 - July/August- so there are many women who could potentially get their first notification this year, when they go for their annual screen.) If a mammogram shows heterogeneously or extremely dense breast tissue the patient must receive a notice stating: 1) Dense breast tissue is common and not abnormal 2) It can make it harder to detect cancer on a mammogram and may modestly increase breast cancer risk. 3) Patients are encouraged to discuss with their healthcare provider if additional screening tests are appropriate based on their individual risk factors. The purpose of this law is to ensure patients are informed about their breast density and potential impact on cancer detect and risk so patients can make informed decisions about breast cancer screening and follow up care. Ask if you have dense breasts and how that impacts your cancer risk. Discuss if you need additional screening tests beyond standard mammograms. Consider your overall risk factors and preferences when deciding on further screening options. SEE ALSO: Tardigrades may hold clues to cancer care, study finds What is DVT, the condition that sidelined Victor Wembanyama? Lung cancer rising among non-smokers — here's why This breakfast food might prevent colon cancer Beating the odds: Inspiring stories of cancer survivors in 2024 The Source FOX 5's Doug Evans spoke with Peachtree City Police Chief Janet Moon and Terri Milburn for this article.
