Hollings Headlines // April 2023

Lung sleeve resections are a complex operation, performed at only select hospitals.

Lung sleeve resections performed robotically? Even rarer.

And robotic lung sleeve resections performed on children? We're not even sure if there are statistics on those.

Luckily for Ivan Young, the teams at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center and MUSC Children's Health are adept at working together to create the best individual solution for a patient.

For Ivan, that meant skipping a thoracotomy, an operation that comes with a long recovery time and extra risks for growing children.

“It's hard to explain to someone what it feels like when you have a sick kid – like that kind of sick,” said Ivan's mom, Kelly Knight.

“But at the same time, when you find out there's that kind of innovation behind the care that they're going to be getting, then you get confident that he’s in the best possible hands that he could possibly be in. You know, we're here for a reason. God put us here for a reason, with these specific people with these specific talents – and we thank our lucky stars every single day."

Just a little off the top...

Three cheers for Hollings researcher John O'Bryan, Ph.D., who parted with his curls in the name of pediatric cancer research!

Dr. O'Bryan had his head shaved at the St. Baldrick's Foundation's Lowcountry Bald event. St. Baldrick's is the largest non-governmental funder of childhood cancer research, and head shaving events are one of the primary ways it raises money for this research.

Already in 2023, St. Baldrick's has made $1 million in grants to researchers.

Multiple myeloma has a tendency to return.

Wanda Suggs was in remission for almost two years after her stem cell transplant when her cancer returned.

Her doctor, Hamza Hashmi, M.D., suggested a clinical trial – a new type of drug that had just been approved for people who had been through multiple rounds of different treatments. The clinical trial is testing how well the drug works for people before they go through so many different treatments.

The new drug, a bispecific antibody, is working for Suggs, enabling her to live her life. And that includes singing with her band, with Hashmi in the audience, for a New Year's Eve performance.

We're thrilled to celebrate the expansion of the Wendy and Keith Wellin Head and Neck Clinic!

It's not just about more space. It's about what that space allows us to do.

Head and neck cancer care takes a village – surgeons, radiation oncologists, nutritionists, speech language pathologists, maxillofacial prosthodontists - and now that village can tend to a patient together, in the same space.

“This is not a one- or two- or five- or 10-person show. This is a very large group of people," said Jason Newman, M.D., director of the Division of Head and Neck Oncology in the Department of Otolaryngology.

Colorectal cancers are increasingly diagnosed in younger adults.

In this episode of Hollings Cross Talk, Hollings director Raymond DuBois, M.D., Ph.D., and Thomas Curran, M.D., talk about signs of colon cancer and why screening is so important.

We also hear the personal stories of two young adult survivors.

More news:

WCSC: ‘Trust your gut’: Survivor shares story as colon cancer rates rise in young

CBS News: For uninsured people with cancer, access to care can be "very random"

After 20 years, Dragon Boat Charleston still supports cancer survivors 1 paddle at a time

WCSC: LOWVELO Launch Day on Live 5 News

WCBD: LOWVELO Launch Week with WCBD

April 18 - Online Breast Cancer Support Group

Join us online for a monthly support group moderated by MUSC Hollings Cancer Center providers with expertise in the psychological experience of people with breast cancer. You can participate however you feel most comfortable: video on, video off, or call in. All options are available.

The group meets on Zoom the third Tuesday of every month from noon to 1 p.m. Register to receive a link. 

April 20 - Head and Neck Cancer Survivors Support Group

Meet with other head and neck cancer patients and caregivers in a supportive environment. This group meets in a hybrid format; you may join online or in person. 

The Head and Neck Cancer Support Group meets 5:30–6:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month. To attend online, register on Zoom. To attend in person in room 121 of MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, RSVP to whitfis@musc.edu. 

April 29 - PanCAN PurpleStride

Join the South Carolina Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in Hampton Park for its PurpleStride walk for pancreatic cancer, and look for the Wage Hope with Hollings team. Funding goes to research and patient support.

May 17 - One in Three: Linda Floyd Forum on Women's Cancers

One in three women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. With that in mind, we encourage you to bring two friends to tea at Founders Hall at Charlestowne Landing to learn about the latest in cancer research, prevention and treatment from MUSC Hollings Cancer Center experts.

This complimentary event brings women together for a fun afternoon to share, learn and engage with each other. A limited number of seats are available. RSVP through this link, by contacting 843-792-4143, or by emailing hccevents@musc.edu.

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Got news? We have outlets, from our news site to our video boards! We’d love to help promote your latest journal publications, grants, clinical advances, awards, events and patient stories. Please contact the Hollings communications team to share your news or if you have questions.