Video Q&A about Cancer Immunotherapies

Wed, Feb 6, 2019
9:30am to 10:00am CT

Description

Dr. Roxana Dronca is chair of the Hematology/Oncology department at Mayo Clinic's campus in Jacksonville, FL. She is speaking to a group interested in immunotherapies for women's cancers and has invited the public (via Connect and Facebook Live) to watch her presentation and participate in a Q&A session.

Location

Online

I take a statin for high cholesterol and metformin for diabetes. I had a hystetectomy in 2016 which has now returned a very small dot in my abdomen now beginning a single carboflatin chemo-one dose yesterday with nausea med drips and no re2action except tired. I did have a couple of small breast lumps last year but had the m removed by lumpectomy of breast cancer dr. My question: does diabetes encourage cancer? I don’t know what to tackle first! I am 77.

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I am very interested in ovarian clear cell cancer. As HGSC is far more prevalent in the United States, that is the focus of most research. Much of the research I encounter about OCCC is from Europe and Asia (more prevalent there). Clear cell is known to originate from lesions of ovarian endometriosis and it would seem that focusing on that condition would allow for early detection. A large percentage of women are found in an early stage OCCC as it is and has the characteristics of Type 1 cancer (grows locally, indolent behavior, etc.). When found early, the OS is high. It would seem with its unique genetic signature, its association with endometriosis, biomarkers, and so on, that early detection is possible and it could be avoided with the removal of endometriomas prior to menopause (although I've encountered women in their thirties with clear cell). Even the updated 2018 version of the NCCN for ovarian cancer references Japanese articles that state that fertility sparing surgery is an option for Stage 1A OCCC and that adjuvant chemotherapy is not necessary. Despite that, the NCCN continues to recommend the platinum based therapy which is not effective. I understand there is limited funding for the rare ovarian cancers (Gershenson, etc), but with its association with endometriosis perhaps funding would be available. I have tremendous confidence in the Mayo Clinic and their research. Thank you.

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I am one of the approximately 20 % of Estrogen-positive women who are walking away from Aromotase Inhibitors because of devestating side effects. Is there concensus and support on how we proceed with monitoring our health? I have a supportive oncologist who believes, as I do, that quality of life matters. But I think there is a lack of information and wonder if there is interest in or attention to this group. Thank you.

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@ihnsbc

I am one of the approximately 20 % of Estrogen-positive women who are walking away from Aromotase Inhibitors because of devestating side effects. Is there concensus and support on how we proceed with monitoring our health? I have a supportive oncologist who believes, as I do, that quality of life matters. But I think there is a lack of information and wonder if there is interest in or attention to this group. Thank you.

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First I would be very interested in this group on A/I. It is nice to know that 20% of women do not take the aromotas inhibitors. I to had the worse side effects I could barely get up from a seat and felt like I was 80 years old my legs hurt so much I would shuffle. I had awful regrets since nearly everyone in my cancer group took them and I could not help but wonder if I had done the right thing by stopping them. I do also believe in quality of life. I try to eat right most of the time but fall off the wagon, sugar being my temptation which I know feeds the cancer, but life is short and I need to enjoy it. I have had breast cancer, uterus cancer and reacurrance of the uterus in my vaginal cuff. I try and to keep all my tests current being proactive has probably saved my life.

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Just to let you know my doctor put me on Repatha a lowering cholesterol drug, it is an injection that I give myself twice a month and it does not have the side effects of a statin. I had tried about 6 statin drugs in the past and over time I always ended up with bad liver blood results. I had not heard about cholesterol and breast cancer?

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@ihnsbc

I am one of the approximately 20 % of Estrogen-positive women who are walking away from Aromotase Inhibitors because of devestating side effects. Is there concensus and support on how we proceed with monitoring our health? I have a supportive oncologist who believes, as I do, that quality of life matters. But I think there is a lack of information and wonder if there is interest in or attention to this group. Thank you.

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I have quit my anastrozole so my onc. Is doing a breast index test to see how beneficial the med will be ... Maybe u could ask for this test😊

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When endometrial cancer metastasizes, are the mets always the same genetic makeup of the original tumor or is there a possibility of further mutations? In other words, if my original tumor has had genomic testing through an organization like Foundation One, how can I be sure that the mets that have spread to my lungs have the same abnormalities and, therefore, might benefit from an immunotherapy suggested by the genomic testing of the original tumor?

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Again, does anyone know if diabetes encourages cancer? I hope to be able to watch the video but it is early CT and I am on PT. Will there be recorded answers? Thanks.

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Is there a connection between long-term use of bio-identical hormones and breast cancer?

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@susu2

Again, does anyone know if diabetes encourages cancer? I hope to be able to watch the video but it is early CT and I am on PT. Will there be recorded answers? Thanks.

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Yes, the video will be archived here on this page so you can watch it anytime.

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