Pelotonia is an emotional rollercoaster filled with special moments, connections, community and lots of memories. In this new episode, David Cohn, MD, joins Steve as co-host. Dave is the interim chief executive director of the James, has ridden in every Pelotonia, and has a lot of memories. “It’s truly an emotional experience and I’m not hesitant to say I’ve cried at every Pelotonia at some point,” he said. We’ll also hear from five other James physicians who participate in Pelotonia. Tim Pawlik came to Ohio State and the James a few weeks before a Pelotonia ride, and “I was blown away … the number of people riding and the number of people supporting the ride and the number of people along the side of the road.” Eric Singer is brand new at the James, recruited from a cancer hospital in New Jersey. However, the urologist knew about Pelotonia from one of his patients, a New Jersey man who rode ever year in Pelotonia. Joel Mayerson, an orthopedic oncologist, said his favorite memories are riding with patients. “It’s an amazing feeling,” he said. Samantha Jaglowski was treated for a brain tumor and has some related physical issues that prevent her from riding. Instead, over the years, she has been a volunteer and a Challenger, raising money for Pelotonia. Mary Dillhoff has a rather unique way to cover the Pelotonia course: she runs. As much as 72 miles.

Episode 143: My Favorite Pelotonia Memory, Featuring Six James Physicians

Advances in cancer research and treatment are accelerating at a rapid pace. We asked several James scientists and physicians to tell us about an advancement that has them especially excited. Their answers were fascinating and filled with hope. This special episode was co-hosted by Raphael Pollock, MD, PhD, director of the Ohio State Comprehensive Cancer Center. “We’ve recruited more than 200 new members to the cancer center in the past four years, that’s more that most cancer centers in the United States,” Pollock said, adding that collaboration is the key to breakthroughs and “this is the best collaborative environment for cancer research of any place I know of.” Roman Skoracki, medical director of the Stefanie Spielman Comprehensive Breast Center, said the development of advanced chemotherapy and immunotherapy drugs will reduce the need for breast-cancer surgery. “We’re already seeing tremendous responses, to the point that there’s so much shrinkage of the tumor that we’re performing smaller surgical interventions,” he said. Advances in the techniques to genetically engineer a patient’s immune cells to better detect and fight cancer is another big step forward. “One of the benefits of utilizing the immune system is we’re seeing not only good responses, but responses that last a long time because your immune system has a good memory,” said Margaret Gatti-Mays, MD, MPH, a medical oncologist who specializes in immunotherapy. Advances in detecting cancer with sensors and blood draws that can identify the proteins on cancer cells “is coming and I think faster than people realize,” said James Rocco, MD, PhD, chair of the James Head and Neck Oncologic Surgery Division. Detecting new cancers earlier will save lives. Peter Shields, a lung cancer specialist, talked about how research into the use of psychedelics is in the very early stages and “has the potential for a huge impact” in reducing stress and anxiety for cancer patients and helping to improve their quality of life.

Episode 155: The Next Leaps Forward in Cancer Treatment, with Guest Co-Host Raph Pollock

In the premier episode of The James Cancer-Free World Podcast, we talk with a cancer detective: Sameek Roychowdhury, MD, PhD. He’ll explain how breakthroughs in genetic coding now allow doctors to detect and target the mutations causing a patient’s cancer … and, in many cases, bring patients back from the brink.

Episode 1: Precision Cancer Medicine with Dr. Sameek Roychowdhury

Join us on The James Cancer-Free World Podcast as we talk to the top scientists and doctors at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James). They’ll discuss – in easy-to-understand language – all the cutting-edge cancer research going on at Ohio State and how this is improving patient care and ultimately saving lives.

About the OSUCCC – James:
The OSUCCC – James strives to create a cancer-free world by integrating scientific research with excellence in education and patient-centered care, a strategy that leads to better methods of prevention, detection and treatment. Since 1976, the OSUCCC – James has been a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers and one of only a few centers funded by the NCI to conduct both phase I and phase II clinical trials on novel anticancer drugs. As the cancer program’s adult patient-care component, The James is one of the top cancer hospitals in the nation as ranked by U.S. News & World Report and has achieved Magnet ® designation, the highest honor an organization can receive for quality patient care and professional nursing practice.

Episode 155: The Next Leaps Forward in Cancer Treatment, with Guest Co-Host Raph Pollock

The James Cancer-Free World Podcast

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