Circle of Hope

We, the physicians, nurses, advanced practice clinicians, and other medical professionals of Huntsman Cancer Institute who have dedicated our lives to fighting cancer, urgently need your help. Our community, state, and nation are facing the biggest public health emergency of our time. Utahns are known for our kindness, sense of community, and dedication to helping fellow citizens. In order to keep our patients safe, we all must do our part to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Adriana Coletta was gearing up for a career in sports dietetics until she completed her dietetic internship. As part of a medical team, she fell in love with patient care but knew her passion was in exercise. She decided to dedicate her life to integrating the principles of nutrition and exercise to those she felt could really benefit and who might be unaware or not focused on those two elements at that time—cancer patients.

We know COVID-19 is an infectious disease that primarily attacks the lungs. We also know that both smoking and vaping affects the health of our lungs. Here is what we currently know about how COVID-19 affects people who smoke or vape.

When Scott Vance went in for a COVID-19 test, he never expected it would lead to a diagnosis of stage IV lung cancer. Scott’s doctors learned a specific mutation was causing the cancer, and he began a new mutation-targeting drug approved by the FDA just two years earlier. Scott says his remarkable response to the drug has him feeling grateful clinical trials can bring these cutting-edge treatments to people like him.

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.