In this Cancer Matters podcast, Dr Bill Nelson, Director of the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, talks with Beth Blakey and Samantha Schrager from the Cancer Hope Network about their mission providing mentorship to cancer patients, the families of patients and caregivers, and a new partnership with Johns Hopkins.

Cancer Hope Network is a peer mentorship program that provides one-on-one support for adults impacted by cancer. They connect cancer patients and caregivers with mentors who have been through similar experiences. These mentors offer guidance and understanding to those currently navigating cancer treatment, ensuring that no one goes through the journey alone.

Cancer Hope Network has grown from a local initiative to a national network of around 500 trained mentors. These mentors are volunteers who have completed treatment or have served as caregivers. They represent a wide range of cancer types and life experiences, allowing for personalized matches between mentors and those seeking support.

Earlier this Summer, the Cancer Hope Network and the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center launched a new partnership, called the M.A.P.S. program (Mentorship and Peer Support for Patients and Caregivers). This initiative is designed to recruit mentors from within the Johns Hopkins community to provide support to newly diagnosed patients and their families.

To get matched with a mentor, become a mentor or learn more about the M.A.P.S program ➡️ cancerhopenetwork.org/skcccjh/

September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month. In this Cancer Matters podcast, Dr Bill Nelson, the Director of the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, speaks to Dr Rick Jones and Dr Robert Brodsky about treating sickle cell anemia, an inherited disorder where mutations in the globin gene cause the red blood cells to take on a sickle shape, leading to severe pain and organ damage. They discuss and compare the types of bone marrow transplants currently used to treat the disease and highlight the significant improvements in reducing complications, such as graft-versus-host disease and graft rejection.

In this On Target podcast, Dr Akila Viswanathan, Director of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, speaks with Dr. Deborah Citrin from the National Cancer Institute’s Center for Cancer Research and Dr. Zachary Morris from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health for an issue of Seminars in Radiation Oncology focusing on personalized dose.

The discussion explores advancements in radiation therapy, including how modern technology and biology are being used to tailor radiotherapy doses to individual patients. Dr Citrin highlights the potential of integrating genomics, imaging, and biomarkers to achieve personalized treatment, while Dr Morris examines disease-specific biomarkers and their application in clinical practice.

This episode covers key topics such as using gene expression signatures to predict radiation response, leveraging imaging for adaptive therapy, and how molecular markers are helping to refine treatment decisions. They also explore the promise of circulating tumor DNA as a tool for guiding radiation dosage and the complexities of combining radiation with immunotherapy.

Dr Akila Viswanathan talks with Dr Robert Griffin from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Dr Chandan Guha from Montefiore Einstein about a recent edition of Seminars in Radiation Oncology on innovations in physics, biology and clinical translation of spatially fractionated and FLASH radiotherapy.

Dr Bill Nelson talks with Dr Matthias Holdhoff about the treatment of brain cancer and a significant FDA approval of a new drug treatment for a type of brain cancer, called low-grade glioma. The drug, called vorasidenib, is a targeted cancer therapy that works by inhibiting the activity of a mutated gene called IDH, slowing the growth of the cancer. Read more here

Dr Bill Nelson speaks with Robin Hopkins, the author of What Happens Now?, and Dr Tom Smith about how we can help children comprehend a cancer diagnosis in a loved one and encourage an open dialogue about their feelings and emotions.

Download What Happens Now? for free

Dr Akila Viswanathan speaks with Dr Charles Thomas from the Dartmouth Cancer Center and Dr Ethan Ludmir from the MD Anderson Cancer Center about the design, execution and implementation of clinical trials for Seminars in Radiation Oncology.

Dr Akila Viswanathan talks with Dr Daniel Low, Vice Chair of Medical Physics Research and Innovation at UCLA Health, about MR Guided Radiation Therapy for Seminars in Radiation Oncology.