WVU Cancer Institute

National Pancreas Foundation recognizes WVU Cancer Institute faculty, patients WVU Cancer Institute faculty providers were recently recognized by the National Pancreas Foundation (NPF) for their exceptional service, expertise, and commitment as champions in the fight against pancreatic diseases.

"This is why you do the work. You're giving people back years of their lives", Dr. Stephenie Kennedy-Rea, Chair of the Department of Cancer Prevention and Control.

Read the article:

WVU Magazine | Why You Do the Work Stephenie Kennedy-Rea wears many hats at WVU’s Cancer Institute.

Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men. To learn more about prostate cancer visit: https://bit.ly/Prostate1in8

We are one week away from the WVU Cancer Institute's Pink Party set for Monday, September 30! Meet WVU men's basketball coach Darian DeVries as a part of the night and raise support for Bonnie’s Bus.

🎟️ Grab your tickets before they’re gone ➡️ https://wvucancerpinkparty.com

WVU Cancer Institute partners with Cedars-Sinai and other prestigious cancer centers to debut Certificate in Community Outreach and Engagement curriculum The WVU Cancer Institute is part of a collaborative effort led by the Cedars-Sinai Cancer Center, along with six other National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer centers to offer the Certificate in Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) Program, beginning this fall.

The decision to be screened for prostate cancer is an individual one. People with a prostate, ages 55-69 should talk with their doctor about prostate cancer screening and the risks. Learn more: https://bit.ly/ProstateScreeningGuide

The WVU Cancer Institute Lung Cancer Screening Program is now available at Harrison Community Hospital and Barnesville Hospital.

Harrison Community Hospital and Barnesville Hospital received certification from the American College of Radiology to utilize their low-dose CT scanners as part of the Lung Cancer Screening Program, which will help alleviate patient wait times and will provide a more convenient location for patients living closer to Barnesville and Cadiz.

“We are very excited to add this much-needed service at Barnesville Hospital and Harrison Community Hospital,” Karen Mihalic, director of Imaging, said. “Providing closer access to our community as a screening site under the Program, which allows us to work closely with Wheeling Hospital, will hopefully encourage those at risk to get scheduled.”

The Program accepts self-referrals and referrals made by a primary care provider. Patients seeking a self-referral can fill out a simple form online that will then trigger a consultation with a nurse practitioner, either in clinic or via telemedicine.

Information on eligibility and the online consultation form can be found at WVUMedicine.org/LungCancerScreening.

September is National Blood Cancer Awareness Month, and newer blood cancer therapies are providing effective cures and treatments without the strong side effects of chemotherapy. Live Healthy WV - Blood Cancer: Improving Outcomes But Still a Lot of Work to Do with Ashkan Emadi, MD, physician-in-chief of Medical Oncology at the WVU Cancer Institute is now available.
https://wvmetronews.com/podcast/live-healthy-wv/

It’s important to understand if you are at increased risk for prostate cancer. More common risk factors include age, race/ethnicity, family history, and inherited gene changes. Learn more about prostate cancer risk factors: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/prostate-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html

The 2024 Pink and Pearl Toolkit is now available in preparation for Breast and Lung Cancer Awareness Months! Visit: bit.ly/screeningToolkits

September is Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month. Every five minutes a woman is diagnosed with one of the five gynecologic cancers- totaling nearly 116,000 Americans each year. Help us increase awareness and join the 4th Annual Gynecologic Cancer Awareness walk in Morgantown on September 28th at the Botanic Gardens!

🏃‍♀️ Register now: https://2024-move4her.raiselysite.com/t/wvu-gynecologic-oncology

September 6th is Prostate Cancer Awareness Day! Join us in wearing blue to bring awareness to prostate cancer! Take pictures, tag , and use the hashtag Learn more from our Prostate Cancer Awareness Toolkit here: http://bit.ly/screeningToolkits

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month! Learn more about prostate cancer (https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/prostate-cancer/about/what-is-prostate-cancer.html) and join us in bringing awareness and encouraging on-time screening.

Our leaders attended the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce annual meeting last week and highlighted the WVU Cancer Institute's journey to National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation and what it means for the state.

A program that began at WVU Cancer Institute through an initial investment from WV's state cancer coalition, Mountains of Hope, has partnered with Wheeling Hospital to bring the Growing Hope Program to cancer patients in the Ohio Valley.

Watch the news story here: https://www.wtrf.com/top-stories/local-farmers-partner-with-wvu-medicine-wheeling-hospital-to-provide-fresh-produce-to-cancer-patients/

WVU Cancer Institute received it's fourth consecutive designation from the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, a program administered by the American College of Surgeons. Read more: https://wvumedicine.org/news-feed/news-article/wvu-medicine/cancer-institute/wvu-cancer-institute-attains-american-college-of-surgeons-national-accreditation-program-for-breast-cancer-accreditation/

WVU School of Medicine Physical Therapy program receives oncology residency accreditation, first resident graduates. Read more 👉 https://wvumedicine.org/news-feed/news-article/WVU-Medicine/cancer-institute/wvu-school-of-medicine-physical-therapy-program-receives-oncology-residency-accreditation-first-resident-graduates/

Robots have been taking over our surgeries for more than 20 years, and their use is expanding exponentially. Why is that a good thing? Dr. Kristy Ward, chair of the J.W. Ruby Memorial Robotics Committee, explains the benefits of robotic surgery and why WVU Medicine is expanding its fleet of robots around the region to bring robotic assisted surgery closer to home.

https://wvmetronews.com/podcast/live-healthy-wv/

Are you an adult who identifies as LGBTQIA+ and lives in West Virginia? We want to hear from you! The Mountains of Hope Cancer Coalition, WV Health Equity Action Team, and National LGBT Cancer Network are interested in learning about the health needs, healthcare experiences, and other factors that affect the quality of life for LGBTQIA+ West Virginians.

It is important to hear from you on the issues that impact your health. If you agree to participate you will complete an anonymous online survey and can be entered into a drawing to win one of ten $50 Amazon gift cards.

Take the survey 👉 https://qualtrics.pulse.ly/yty3osz9qz

Funded by CDC Cooperative Agreement NU58DP007138, Principal Investigator: Lauren Wright, DSL, MPH
WVU IRB acknowledgement is on file.

Congratulations to the participants of the 2024 WVU Cancer Institute Summer Undergraduate Research Program! Our 10-week program hosted five undergraduate students who had the opportunity to fully immerse in full-time research in the Cancer Institute affiliated labs. They had their final research results presented at our mini-symposium on August 2nd. WVU Health Sciences

Ankit Daga, a junior majoring in biochemistry at Gettysburg College, mentored by Dr. Ed Pistilli, worked on the project “Effects of IL-15 pre-exposure followed by pioglitazone treatment on PPARG levels of skeletal muscles in the presence of breast cancer conditioned media (BCCM)”

Maya Dixon-Gross, a sophomore majoring in biology at WVU, mentored by Dr. Ivan Martinez, worked on the project “Utilizing the radiosensitizing effect of LncRAINY in NSCLC”.

Angelina Duriez, a sophomore majoring in biochemistry at WVU, mentored by Dr. Elena Pugacheva, worked on the project “Targeting AURKA/HIF1 to decrease metastatic burden”.

Madison Sigler, a junior majoring in biology at WVU, mentored by Dr. Scott W**d, worked on the project “Evaluation of novel genes from the chromosome 11q13 amplicon implication in Appalachian head and neck squamous cell carcinoma”

Ashton Pollack, a sophomore majoring in biochemistry at WVU, mentored by Dr. Alexey Ivanov, worked on the project “Regulation of HIF signaling by KAP1 in breast cancer bells”

Kyle Chapman, M.D., and Lauren McCauley-Hixenbaugh, MBA, CTTS, of the WVU School of Medicine, were recently featured on the “Breathe Easy” podcast to discuss LUCAS- the WVU Cancer Institute's mobile lung screening unit. 🎙️ Listen now: https://site.thoracic.org/learning/podcasts

WVU Cancer Institute to open outpatient clinic for geriatric cancer patients. "The Geriatric Oncology Clinic at the WVU Cancer Institute will be committed to providing comprehensive, state-of-the-art investigative and standard-of-care options for treating older patients with cancer across West Virginia and beyond", said Ashkan Emadi, MD, PhD, chair and physician-in-chief of the Department of Medical Oncology.

📷 Geriatric Oncology team, Ashkan Emadi, MD, PhD; Manar Shalak, MD; and R. Osvaldo Navia, MD

A big thank you to WVU men’s basketball coach Darian DeVries, who brought members of his team over to visit with patients and staff at the WVU Cancer Institute in Morgantown yesterday. They stopped by to visit with patients and staff – there were a lot of smiling faces, and it was a great way to kick off the week! Basketball season is still a few months away, but we can’t wait for the Mountaineers to get started! 💙💛

Two WVU Cancer Institute faculty have be selected for the WV Clinical and Translational Science Institute's 2024-2026 Research Scholars Program.

Sonikpreet Aulakh, MD, Dept. of Medical Oncology and Dannell Boatman, EdD, Dept. of Cancer Prevention and Control will receive research and professional development support to lead innovative research projects in the clinical and translational sciences.

Read about their projects: https://publichealth.wvu.edu/news/story/?headline=seven-investigators-selected-for-wvctsi-research-scholar-program

Investing in our mission: WVU Magazine highlights the $50 million seed money from the Hazel Ruby McQuain Charitable Trust to build the state-of-the-art Hazel Ruby McQuain Comprehensive Cancer Hospital at the WVU Medicine J.W. Ruby Memoiral Hospital Complex. Read the article 👉 https://magazine.wvu.edu/stories/2024/06/08/health-horizons-investing-in-our-mission