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Many of you have stories to tell.
Stories of survival after having been diagnosed with cancer.
You are such an inspiration to us all.
There is more hope now than ever before thanks to innovations, new technologies, organizations,
and people like our guest this morning.
Meet Dr. Lanie Francis, Medical Oncologist and Director of The Integrative Oncology Program
at UPMC CancerCenter in Pittsburgh.
Good morning.
Good morning, Olga.
Thanks for being here.
Thanks for having me.
Doctor, let's be honest.
You know, there are so many other stories of survival today, which is wonderful.
People are living longer.
And the diagnosis is there after a cancer diagnosis, but people are living and there's
more hope.
Absolutely.
A cancer diagnosis in 2015 is not the same as it was, and that's for a lot of reasons.
First of all, early detection, prevention, and amazing treatments that are targeted and
personalized have changed the face of how we treat cancer.
In addition, how we handle supportive care, and by that I mean the ways that we help patients
through their actual treatment with anti-nausea medicines, ways to manage infection, ways
to keep their energy levels up has also changed the face of cancer in 2015.
Now, hearing the news is always just numbing.
I know you're a hematologist and a medical oncologist.
You've seen so many patients, and at that moment when you receive that report that that
patient has cancer, it's got to be so difficult for you to give the news.
For me, it is a true privilege and honor of my job that I'm entrusted in that moment,
and I really find that to be a sacred time.
In that moment, I try to really focus on being clear, being simple, and making sure that
I'm getting feedback from patients.
Also, being aware when people shut down and knowing when we have to come back to that.
For me, personally, my mother had Lymphoma and passed away from that, and being a part
of that, being on the other side of that and seeing how much difficulty it was even for
my family -- a family full of doctors and people with so many resources -- I've realized
just how challenging that is.
I think it's made me more compassionate and understanding and really value the importance
of taking that time.
And taking the time to communicate, and not only, but taking the time to support.
Absolutely.
Support is huge from family, from friends, from everybody around you.
And I was reading here that UPMC CancerCenter in Pittsburgh has so many innovative programs
to help patients.
Tell me what they are, Doctor.
First of all, we have the highest advancements of cancer care.
For example, we have multi-specialty clinics that bring in all of the experts to address
one patient in one day.
And that's everything from the diagnostic tests to options for clinical trials.
In addition, At UPMC CancerCenter, we're affiliated and associated with our partner, University
of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute.
So, we have the top of the line science going on right next door, which is huge for cancer
medicine.
In addition, cancer care now is really helping patients on the ground, and that means new
programs, innovative programs, like Psycho-Oncology, survivorship, palliative care, things that
address symptoms and the things that maybe faded into the background in the past but
are really vital to cancer medicine.
And I know doctors are embracing something called Integrative Oncology.
Define what that means.
I would define that as really a cohesive approach in cancer medicine to address mind, body,
and spirit.
Okay.
So what that can look like for a patient, for example a patient with colon cancer, we
weave in a care plan to things like exercise, yoga, mindful meditation, shiatsu, acupuncture.
All evidence based based on their symptoms.
We help implement it and take the burden off the patient, support the patient, supervise
it so it's safe, collaborate with the care team.
It's really an amazing program.
So, rather than just treating the patient and saying "Okay, you got your treatment.
Go home now."
You're then helping them give kind of like a plan of action to now you got the treatment,
you're feeling these side effects, let me help you now along the way.
It's almost like holding their hand?
Absolutely.
You know, cancer is a complex illness, and we need multiple levels of support, multiple
people, multiple tools.
That's the way we're going to make a difference for people that have cancer.
Now, it's also important, Doctor, and I do want to end with always being your best advocate.
Ask questions, get involved, and talk to your doctor because not everybody does this.
Absolutely.
So, first of all, educate yourself.
So, reputable online resources like The American Cancer Society.
Come prepared.
So, have a list of questions that you want your doctor to answer.
What is my disease?
What is my stage?
What is my prognosis?
What are the next steps?
And lastly, and this is so important, empower yourself.
Listen to your body, trust your instincts, share what you think is going on.
You are your best advocate.
And ultimately hopefully get better soon.
Absolutely.
Thank you so much for going that extra mile.
My pleasure.
I do appreciate it.
Yeah, thank you.
And for more information on empowering yourself on your journey, visit UPMCCancerCenter.com
or go to our website, TheBalancingAct.com.
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