Circle of Hope

Lung cancer screening helps us find cancer early, before the cancer is able to cause symptoms. The earlier cancer is found, the easier it is to treat. Treating lung cancer at an earlier stage gives patients more treatment options. They also have a better chance of living longer. Dr. Chakravarthy Reddy answers some frequently asked questions about lung cancer screening.

Robert Judson-Torres has always been fascinated by science. He chose to focus on cancer research, and specifically melanoma, as a way to study how cells work in our body and have his work be meaningful and life changing. Due to the economic effects of COVID-19, many cancer laboratories have had to enact hiring freezes. So receiving the 5 For The Fight Fellowship allows Judson-Torres to hire the necessary team to further high-risk, high-reward projects investigating rare subtypes of melanoma.

What is genetic testing? Why would I need it? Is it covered by insurance? These are common questions about genetic testing for cancer risks. People with a family history of cancer may be at higher risk for cancer because of an inherited gene mutation. The HCI Family Cancer Assessment Clinic (FCAC) provides genetic counseling to help these people know if they are at an increased risk of cancer and what to do about it.

Tsewang Tashi., MD, is hematologist and an assistant professor in the division of hematology and hematologic malignancies at the University of Utah. He sees patients at HCI, South Jordan Health Center, and Salt Lake City Veterans Affairs hospital. In this episode of Talks with Docs, he shares with us what lead him to become a physician, what he is most proud of in his work at HCI, and more.

Military service means everything to Manuel Pino Jr. He served in the US Army for decades before retiring to Utah. Now, nearing the end of his life, he recently received special honors for his military service. On September 11, 2020—a national day of service and remembrance—Manuel’s family, friends, and neighbors gathered in his backyard to witness both active duty and retired members of the military honoring Manuel’s service and impact through an honor salute.

Ben Myers never expected to be a cancer researcher. He started out his career in neuroscience but changed to cancer research when he realized that a lot of what he had learned by studying proteins in the nervous system could also apply to cancer biology. Myers works on a key issue in treating cancer patients—when certain medications stop being effective—known in the field as drug resistance. The 5 For The Fight Fellowship will allow his lab to take key steps toward innovation.

Being a caregiver for someone with cancer can be stressful, overwhelming, and isolating. Sometimes the only people who can truly understand are those who have been there. That’s why Huntsman Cancer Institute social workers run a support group dedicated to caregivers. The group offers education and a safe place to talk for anyone who cares for a loved one treated at HCI.

Sonam Puri gets up every day to care for patients with lung cancer. Then, she carves out time to work with other researchers at Huntsman Cancer Institute to tackle why and how cancer develops in small cell and non-small cell lung cancer patients. She was attracted to apply to the 5 For The Fight Fellowship is the concept behind the organization. “People are donating $5 for somebody who has either been touched by or is battling cancer, and knowing that these single $5 donations ultimately add up to a sizeable amount just reflects how many lives are affected by cancer at large.”