When Alexa Balthazar was diagnosed with leukemia at age 28, she ultimately needed a bone marrow transplant. Knowing that her transplant physician, Mitchell Horwitz, MD, had a plan was very encouraging, but she still faced a whirlwind of emotions. Teen and Young Adult Oncology Program nurse navigator Jackie Balliot, BSN, RN, OCN, was there to help. She made several referrals, including connecting Alexa to medical family therapist Geoffrey Vaughn, LMFT, ATR.
“What you go through is traumatic, and to be able to talk with someone who is not a family member or friend about very serious topics was helpful for me,” Balthazar said. In May 2023, she celebrated her one-year transplant birthday.
It is likely that you or someone you care about is affected by cancer; one in two men and one in three women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetimes. In this issue of Breakthroughs, you will see just a few of the faces of people who are bravely taking on cancer with the help of Duke Cancer Institute. We were one of the first centers in the country to treat the whole person, not just their cancer, and we continue to break new ground in support services for our patients and their families. Our Supportive Care and Survivorship Center partnered with Duke University Communications to bring you the Many Faces of Cancer photo essay featured on the cover.In this issue you’ll also read about the dedicated team that helps thousands of people at Duke and beyond reduce their dependence on tobacco, all the while contributing to the science that lies behind the newest treatments.And you will find an inspiring story of hope about a mother and physician who is benefiting from a new combination treatment for people with bladder cancer and other urothelial cancers. Our physician-scientists played a role in taking this treatment to trial. This is just one example of how DCI is rewriting the narrative for patients who previously had few options.None of this progress would be possible without you. The dedication of our donors and friends motivates us to continue pushing forward to discover, develop, and deliver tomorrow’s cancer care…today. Thank you for all that you do.Michael B. Kastan, MD, PhDExecutive Director, Duke Cancer InstituteWilliam and Jane Shingleton Professor, Pharmacology and Cancer BiologyProfessor of Pediatrics
It is likely that you or someone you care about is affected by cancer; one in two men and one in three women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetimes. In this issue of Breakthroughs, you will see just a few of the faces of people who are bravely taking on cancer with the help of Duke Cancer Institute. We were one of the first centers in the country to treat the whole person, not just their cancer, and we continue to break new ground in support services for our patients and their families. Our Supportive Care and Survivorship Center partnered with Duke University Communications to bring you the Many Faces of Cancer photo essay featured on the cover.In this issue you’ll also read about the dedicated team that helps thousands of people at Duke and beyond reduce their dependence on tobacco, all the while contributing to the science that lies behind the newest treatments.And you will find an inspiring story of hope about a mother and physician who is benefiting from a new combination treatment for people with bladder cancer and other urothelial cancers. Our physician-scientists played a role in taking this treatment to trial. This is just one example of how DCI is rewriting the narrative for patients who previously had few options.None of this progress would be possible without you. The dedication of our donors and friends motivates us to continue pushing forward to discover, develop, and deliver tomorrow’s cancer care…today. Thank you for all that you do.Michael B. Kastan, MD, PhDExecutive Director, Duke Cancer InstituteWilliam and Jane Shingleton Professor, Pharmacology and Cancer BiologyProfessor of Pediatrics