• GE HealthCare and Mayo Clinic launch GEMINI-RT, a strategic initiative to personalize radiation therapy by integrating imaging, artificial intelligence (AI) and patient monitoring across the cancer care continuum. 

• The collaboration focuses on four pillars — automation, predictive oncology, multi-modal therapies and outpatient monitoring — to enhance clinical outcomes, reduce clinician burnout and accelerate innovation in radiation oncology.
   
  

CHICAGO — GE HealthCare and Mayo Clinic today are announcing the GE HealthCare-Mayo Clinic Initiative in Radiation Therapy, known as GEMINI-RT, an ambitious new collaboration that aims to transform personalized radiation therapy and cancer care. Building on decades of collaboration and the Strategic Radiology Research Collaboration signed in 2023, GEMINI-RT plans to drive innovation in prediction, planning, automation, workflow and monitoring for radiation oncology.  

GEMINI-RT combines Mayo Clinic's world-class clinical and research expertise with GE HealthCare's leading technical and engineering innovation in oncology care and radiation therapy. The initiative aims to deliver comprehensive, personalized care by exploring integrating imaging, advanced therapies, dosimetry and patient monitoring at every step of the patient journey — from detection and diagnosis to treatment and follow-up. 

Radiation therapy is a cornerstone of cancer care, used in more than 50% of cases worldwide and for over 2 million U.S. patients annually^1,2. The rising rates of new cancer diagnoses worldwide, with 19.3 million new cases in 2022, continues to drive demand for this treatment³. Through GEMINI-RT, Mayo Clinic and GE HealthCare aim to make personalized radiation therapy accessible by integrating streamlined, data-driven solutions that will leverage Mayo Clinic's clinical expertise and patient outcomes data. 

"GEMINI-RT is grounded in the concept of 'twinning the patient, personalizing the beam' — a transformative approach made possible by Mayo Clinic's extensive clinical expertise and outcomes data," said Bryan Traughber, M.D., vice chair of innovation for radiation oncology at Mayo Clinic. "The combination of research and technological acumen could allow us to model individual patient journeys with precision, enabling radiation therapy treatments that are truly tailored to each patient." 

The collaboration will deepen efforts across four strategic areas: 

• Automation: Collaborating on AI-powered solutions to eliminate repetitive tasks and accelerate treatment planning. 

• Predictive oncology: Harnessing clinical insights to personalize cancer treatment decisions and improve outcomes. 

• Multimodal therapies: Exploring approaches that combine radiation with emerging treatments like targeted drugs and precision heating for more effective care.  

• Connected care: Using AI, biomarkers and sensors to monitor patients beyond the clinic — with the aim of predicting side effects early and supporting treatment at home.  

"This effort enables us to collaborate on solutions that are not only leading-edge but also clinically meaningful, helping shape the future of personalized radiation therapy. By integrating innovative technology and AI across the care continuum, we can improve clinician experience, support high-quality patient care and help reduce burnout among care teams," said Dr. Ben Newton, global head of oncology for GE Healthcare.  

GEMINI-RT research and activities will be based at Mayo Clinic's campus in Rochester, Minnesota, leveraging both organizations' strengths in clinical practice, research and product development. This initiative will build on the accomplishments of 2023 Strategic Radiology Research Collaboration in which GE HealthCare and Mayo Clinic are collaborating on projects in advanced magnetic resonance (MR) technologies and techniques, theranostics treatment for cancer, and diagnostic and interventional ultrasound. 

• [1] International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). 2023. “Expanding Global Access to Radiotherapy.”
• [2] American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). 2020. “Geographic Access to Radiation Therapy in the United States.” ASTRO Press Kit.
• [3] World Health Organization (WHO). 2024. “Global Cancer Burden Growing Amidst Mounting Need for Services.” WHO News Release.

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About GE HealthCare Technologies Inc. 
GE HealthCare is a trusted partner and leading global healthcare solutions provider, innovating medical technology, pharmaceutical diagnostics, and integrated, cloud-first AI-enabled solutions, services and data analytics. It aims to make hospitals and health systems more efficient, clinicians more effective, therapies more precise, and patients healthier and happier. Serving patients and providers for more than 125 years, GE HealthCare is advancing personalized, connected and compassionate care, while simplifying the patient's journey across care pathways. Together, its Imaging, Advanced Visualization Solutions, Patient Care Solutions and Pharmaceutical Diagnostics businesses help improve patient care from screening and diagnosis to therapy and monitoring. GE HealthCare is a $19.7 billion business with approximately 53,000 colleagues working to create a world where healthcare has no limits. 

GE HealthCare is proud to be among 2025 Fortune World’s Most Admired Companies.  

Follow GE HealthCare on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, Instagram, and Insights for the latest news, or visit its website or more information. 

About Mayo Clinic 
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news. 

Media contacts: 

• Caitlin Lamey, GE HealthCare, caitlin.lamey@gehealthcare.com
• Tom Millikin, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu  

The post GE HealthCare and Mayo Clinic unveil GEMINI-RT, a bold research collaboration in radiation therapy and advanced cancer care       appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

In January, the American Cancer Society announced that, for the first time ever, new cancer cases could exceed the 2 million mark.

Early detection and the right treatment are among the best weapons to fight cancer.

However, today many people don't have equitable access to cancer care because of systemic barriers and health disparities.

Mayo Clinic is working to change that with strategic initiatives aimed at health equity.

Dr. Rick Bold., a site deputy director with Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses Mayo's commitment to eliminating health disparities and closing the gaps in cancer care.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video pkg (1:10) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

What are health disparities?

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defines health disparities as "a particular type of health difference that is closely linked with social, economic, and/or environmental disadvantage."

According to the agency, health disparities also "adversely affect groups of people who have systematically experienced greater obstacles to health based on their racial or ethnic group, religion, socioeconomic status, gender, age, mental health, cognitive, sensory or physical disability, sexual orientation or gender identity, geographic location, or other characteristics historically linked to discrimination or exclusion."

"Native American Indians, African American patients, Hispanic patients — there are differences that can impact health outcomes," says Dr. Bold. "We have a commitment to eliminate those differences across groups so that every patient, regardless where they live or who they are, have the same anticipated outcome from cancer."

Moving Mayo's care beyond its four walls

Dr. Bold, who is also a surgical oncologist and a specialist in endocrine surgery, says many patients in need of cancer care find themselves geographically isolated.

"Even here in the United States, not everyone has a hospital or even a cancer center within 15 minutes or 30 minutes," says Dr. Bold.

"All of the Mayo hospitals see themselves serving the community around them and elevating access to care by developing partnerships and relationships that takes our outcomes and clinical expertise and pushes it out into the community. This moves our care beyond our four walls," adds Dr. Bold.

Increasing access to cancer screenings

According to the American Cancer Society January report, the risk of dying from cancer has steadily declined in the last 30 years.

However, the report also indicated there has been a rise in diagnoses of six of the 10 most common cancers, including breast, prostate, endometrial, pancreatic, kidney and melanoma.

Early detection is critical in the fight against cancer by significantly improving the chances of successful treatment and long-term survival. Dr. Bold says research is underway to develop cancer screening tools that are more convenient and less costly for patients.

"Cancer screening is probably one of the biggest things we have to reduce the burden of cancer in our communities, but not everyone has access to screening," explains Dr. Bold. "How can we make that better and easier for patients? This would really help us close the gap in our health disparities related to cancer detection in its earliest stage, which is where cures happen."

Personalized medicine

Doctors at Mayo Clinic are also working on closing gaps in cancer care with personalized or precision medicine.

Dr. Bold says this approach can help better identify the right treatment for the right patient.

"Let's take breast cancer, for example. Each woman is very different. Understanding why the cancer developed at an individualized level is something that will help us determine better outcomes," says Dr. Bold. "Maybe it's a woman's genes. Maybe it's where she lived. Maybe her environmental history or what she ate."

Innovation transforming cancer care

Dr. Bold says the intersection of innovative technology and health outcomes is helping eliminate barriers to cancer care.

"Radiation therapy, for example, can last for weeks, even months, which can pose a challenge for patients traveling from rural communities or far from home," says Dr. Bold.

At Mayo Clinic, patients can receive proton beam therapy, a highly advanced cancer treatment that targets cancer cells painlessly and with more precision.

Proton therapy can be a game-changer for many patients because of the benefits it offers over traditional radiation therapy.

"Not everybody has the ability to move or separate themselves from their local environment, family and friends, and leave their home to receive cancer treatment," explains Dr. Bold.

"By using proton beam therapy, we can shorten their treatment time so we are broadening access and making it more convenient for patients to get treatments that are just as good, if not better, but in a way that's minimally disruptive for their lives," he adds.

The future of cancer care

Eliminating disparities and barriers to cancer care is part of Mayo Clinic's overall commitment to improving health outcomes by advancing health equity, inclusion and diversity.

"Our goal and hope for the future is eliminating cancer, period, so that it's no longer a disease anybody has to think about. That is our long-term goal." says Dr. Bold.

"In the short term, we would like to achieve equitable cancer care that provides the best outcomes for every patient."

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: Closing the gaps in cancer care appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Looking to the future, radiologists at Mayo Clinic in Rochester saw an opportunity to bring several disparate tools together into a unified space to serve complementary roles in sophisticated, minimally invasive cancer treatments.

The Hybrid Procedural Suite was designed primarily to advance the evolving practice of tumor ablation — a needle-based treatment that destroys cancerous or otherwise abnormal tissue.  Ablation is used to target cancer in locations such as the kidneys, liver, lung and prostate, as well as soft tissues and bones. The Hybrid Procedural Suite brings together CT, fluoroscopy and ultrasound in one room, with MRI procedural capabilities in an adjoining room. In the near future, a third room will be constructed to add a dual-source CT scanner.

"The driving force is really to improve outcomes for patients," says Matthew Callstrom, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the Midwest Department of Radiology, adding that combining these technologies will allow for more objective measurement of the success of these procedures, and provide opportunities for the approach to be standardized and improved.

"Right now, I'd say the world operates along the lines of using tools that are not designed specifically for use in ablation. You find workarounds and try to do the best you can with the tools that you have," Dr. Callstrom says. "We need a standard approach to treatment and to drive toward very predictable outcomes."

Procedural suites are nothing new. The hybrid piece is, though — specifically bringing fluoroscopy into the CT suite and allowing for these tools to be combined with MRI, Dr. Callstrom says. "This sort of integrated solution is only offered in a few centers across the world. The way we're trying to do it is unique, with a full solution-based strategy. The ultimate goal is to drive patient outcomes so that the treatment they get at Mayo Clinic is better than anywhere in the world."

As part of the collaboration to build this new suite, the Department of Radiology worked closely with anesthesiologists, urologists, medical oncologists, neurologists, neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, radiation oncologists, physicists and outside experts to develop solutions that would help physicians perform each complex procedure, and plan for and assess progress during and after the procedure.

"We've designed a room with CT and fluoroscopy together, which allows us to, for example, place devices off axis in the spine or pelvis because those structures are not aligned in the axial plane," he says. "Also, if monitoring a procedure with MRI is the best approach, we've worked with Philips to develop a transfer system to go from CT into the MRI suite because those two rooms are adjacent and separated by a door. The barriers to using the right imaging modality at the right phase of treatment have been markedly reduced."

Another aspect that distinguishes Mayo's approach is that each room can be run independently with unrelated procedures occurring simultaneously, Dr. Callstrom says.

"This Hybrid Procedural Suite has been an important part of our conception of how we take our practice to the next level," says Anil Nicholas Kurup, M.D., an abdominal and interventional radiologist. "The suite serves as a platform to really elevate the care of patients with complex cancers. We have taken off the harness and removed any limitations we previously had regarding how best to both visualize the target of our procedure, and apply the tools and the techniques we typically use outside of procedures. Some steps are done well with one type of imaging modality; whereas, other parts of these complex procedures are done well with another imaging modality."

To help achieve the vision for what the suite would include, Dr. Callstrom says that Mayo Clinic collaborated with Philips to tailor the equipment needs so that the radiology staff could perform these important procedures without interruption.

"Part of the collaboration with Philips was to take a look at solutions rather than just the procedural event," he says. "Can we plan effectively? Can we come up with an approach where we figure out what the thermal dose is, drive toward a specific dose, assess it afterward, and measure very accurately and objectively what the ablation margin is? None of these tools exist currently, so we're collaborating to develop new solutions."

The unification of the tools will allow for improved outcomes through precise, individualized medicine, Dr. Callstrom adds.

David Woodrum, M.D., Ph.D., an interventional radiologist, says Mayo Clinic physicians have used each modality — CT, MRI, fluoroscopy and ultrasound — individually for various procedures, but integration was needed to take patient care to another level.

"We need to couple the modalities together to bring out the best qualities of each, and then use that combination to bring new treatments for patients where there aren't treatments now," he says, adding that this space specifically improves options for patients in need of spine and pelvic interventions, and prostate and liver cancer therapies.

"I think the benefit of this new suite for patients is twofold: No. 1, creating procedures that were not possible before. Some of the prostate cancer recurrences we're treating really have had surgery, have had radiation, but just don't have any other options. So image-guided ablation gives them another treatment option," Dr. Woodrum says. "This is also true for some of the vascular malformations that we're treating in MRI. Many of these patients have exhausted standard surgical or medical therapies, and are really left without much hope. So if we can offer another treatment possibility due to more detailed imaging, then this gives our patients hope where there was none. No. 2, we need to deliver the most precise treatments we can possibly deliver. And by using each imaging platform in its most advantageous way, we can deliver the best results to the patient."

It's a learning process, moving to the new suite, Dr. Kurup says. "Teamwork was better than I could have hoped for, really, and it's ongoing. The innovation behind the Hybrid Procedural Suite is not just limited to the construction of the space, but is a mindset that our team carries forward each day."  

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About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news and An Inside Look at Mayo Clinic for more information about Mayo.

Media contact:

• Ethan Grove, Mayo Clinic Public Affairs, 507-284-5005, newsbureau@mayo.edu

The post Mayo Clinic radiologists take procedural practice into the future appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Michele Sabados' care team at Mayo Clinic worked together to craft an individualized care plan to treat her advanced breast cancer. It paid off. Today, Michele's cancer is gone.

Michele Sabados beams when she announces she is cancer-free, convinced she will see her children graduate from college and get married — and that she will grow old with her husband.

Her optimism was not so apparent when her world was rocked 10 years ago by a diagnosis of stage 3 breast cancer. She underwent a mastectomy and a course of chemotherapy. Then, 2½ years later, Michele was hit with a second shattering diagnosis. The cancer, by then stage 4, had spread to her lung. She was not prepared to be told that she perhaps had only two years to live.

Michele wasn't willing to take that prediction as the final word on her future. A comprehensive search for second opinions brought her to a care team at Mayo Clinic that created a treatment plan to put her cancer in remission.

"What used to be a uniformly fatal disease is now treatable," says Dawn Jaroszewski, M.D., a Mayo Clinic cardiothoracic surgeon. "It's not 100 percent. Not everyone is cured. But many patients are, and the better we get with diagnoses and chemo, and other things, the more people are surviving this and beating cancer."

But the road to that positive outcome wasn't an easy one for Michele.

Exploring alternatives

After her she found out the breast cancer had spread to her lung, Michele says she allowed herself half an hour of crying with her husband in the oncologist's office.

"Then I gathered up all my medical records and went on a tour of half of the country to get second opinions," she says. "I wasn't going to accept that diagnosis. My children were young."

Her journey to explore second opinions was educational, Michele says. She visited various medical centers in the western part of the U.S. After numerous meetings, she decided to seek care at Mayo Clinic. Doctors advised her to see a breast oncologist. That piece of advice led Michele to Donald Northfelt, M.D., a medical oncologist at Mayo Clinic's Arizona campus.

Dr. Northfelt says he was not surprised at Michele's resolve to reject her original diagnosis, noting he is "happy with patients who want to take charge of their health care and to go on and find other options. She's that kind of person."

Michele engaged in a candid exchange with Dr. Northfelt about how to move forward, including a discussion about genetic testing. They agreed the cancer would first be carefully removed from Michele's lung. The cancer tissue would then be sent for genomic profiling analysis to help identify the best course of treatment to prevent the cancer from coming back again.

Delivering personalized treatment

Dr. Northfelt knew Michele would need a highly skilled surgeon for their plan to succeed. He recommended Dr. Jaroszewski to remove the cancer in Michele's left lung.

Dr. Jaroszewski explains that because of her specialty in treating cancers in the chest, she was able to remove Michele's lesion in her lung. She was witness as well to Michele's determination to take control of her destiny as best she could.

"She had a wonderful attitude," says Dr. Jaroszewski, recalling that Michele insisted, "'I don't have time to die. I have a family to take care of. I've got things to do.'"

"Michele underwent a course of specifically targeted chemotherapy and biologic therapy. At the time, this was a somewhat controversial approach that was under study at Mayo Clinic and elsewhere." — Donald Northfelt, M.D.

When the lung surgery was complete, Michele's team worked together to follow through on the next planned steps.

"A genomic analysis was performed on the breast cancer deposit resected from her lung, and her treatment plan was formulated based on that analysis," Dr. Northfelt says. "As a result of that analysis, Michele underwent a course of specifically targeted chemotherapy and biologic therapy. At the time, this was a somewhat controversial approach that was under study at Mayo Clinic and elsewhere. However, in the ensuing years, this has become a standard approach, and additional research to refine these methods continues at Mayo Clinic."

"I was adamant about wanting that genomic testing, and Dr. Northfelt was willing to do that," Michele says. "I believe that because of him, I am here today."

Benefitting from the team approach

Michele praises her Mayo caregivers, especially the way Dr. Northfelt "partnered with me and how he listened and felt my conviction," she says. In turn, Dr. Northfelt credits Michele's resiliency and drive for contributing to her success.

"She's a courageous person and took this on, and never looked back," he says.

Acknowledging that Mayo Clinic enjoys a reputation for excellent care, Dr. Northfelt says Mayo's team approach was of great benefit to Michele.

"As a team, we carefully deliberated over Michele's situation, thinking about the options for her care," he says. "We decided to take an aggressive approach to her cancer, removing the lung tumor and then administering the chemotherapy."

"At the end of the day, the nurses make the most difference. They are right there with the patient at every step of their process of care." — Donald Northfelt, M.D.

An integral part of that team is the nurses who care for patients like Michele.

"At the end of the day, the nurses make the most difference," Dr. Northfelt says. "They are right there with the patient at every step of their process of care. It's the nurses who deliver the care we are recommending."

The results of the treatment plan the team developed for Michele turned out to be exactly what they all had hoped for.

"Michele is one of a population that is basically treated and cured with chemotherapy and resection, and those are the wonderful advancements that have happened in medicine," Dr. Jaroszewski says.

Back home in Boise, Idaho, Michele and her family members are enjoying her return to good health and have committed to maintaining a healthy lifestyle by eating well and exercising.

"Nobody's perfect," Michele says. "But I do try to be very conscientious of what I eat and how I live."

Michele returns to Mayo Clinic each year for a medical review with Dr. Northfelt. Now she is more than seven years cancer-free. That's something she takes pride in. "I've been told I am one in a million," Michele says.

HELPFUL LINKS

• Read more about breast cancer.
• Learn about cancer care at Mayo Clinic.
• Explore Mayo Clinic's Arizona campus.
• Request an appointment.

The post Genetic Testing Sets a Course for Successful Cancer Treatment appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

On the Mayo Clinic Radio podcast, Dr. Keith Stewart, Carlson and Nelson endowed director of the Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine, previews the "Individualizing Medicine Conference 2017," taking place Oct. 9-11 in Rochester, Minnesota. The conference features speakers from around the world on topics related to genomics and personalized medicine. Also on the podcast, Dr. Amanika Kumar, an oncologist at Mayo Clinic, explains the importance of having quality of life discussions with your health care provider before and during cancer care. And Dr. John Pemberton, a colorectal surgeon at Mayo Clinic, discusses treatment for common colorectal problems.

The post #MayoClinicRadio podcast: 10/7/17 appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

On the next Mayo Clinic Radio program, Dr. Keith Stewart, Carlson and Nelson endowed director of the Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine, will preview the upcoming "Individualizing Medicine Conference 2017," which will take place Oct. 9-11 in Rochester, Minnesota. The conference will feature speakers from around the world on topics related to genomics and personalized medicine. Also on the program, Dr. Amanika Kumar, an oncologist at Mayo Clinic, will explain the importance of having quality of life discussions with your health care provider before and during cancer care. And Dr. John Pemberton, a colorectal surgeon at Mayo Clinic, will discuss treatment for common colorectal problems.

Here's your Mayo Clinic Radio podcast.

The post Individualizing Medicine Conference 2017 preview: Mayo Clinic Radio appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

After experiencing serious complications due to cancer treatment, Leah Nelms needed a team of experts who could work together to provide her with wide-ranging care. She found that team at Mayo Clinic.

Leah Nelms enjoys life to the fullest. The health care administration consultant goes boating, prepares gourmet meals and spends time on the beach near her home in St. Augustine, Florida.

But as she battled breast cancer and side effects related to its treatment, Leah didn't know if that life would be possible for her again. She turned to the multidisciplinary team from Mayo Clinic's Robert and Monica Jacoby Center for Breast Health, as well as other specialties at Mayo Clinic, in hopes of getting back to good health and back to living life on her terms.

"Coordination of care was the most important thing," she says. "Mayo's team approach facilitated my ability to get through all this and recover. It really was personalized medicine."

An all-inclusive approach

Leah's medical journey began in August 2014 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her community physicians advised a six-month course of chemotherapy before she underwent surgery and breast reconstruction.

Leah proceeded with care at a medical facility close to her home. But one day in March 2015, she collapsed. Doctors at a local emergency department transferred her to Mayo Clinic's Florida campus, about 30 miles away.

There, doctors found that Leah was in organ failure as a result of toxicity from the chemotherapy regimen she'd been on. In addition to liver and kidney damage, Leah's heart was not functioning properly. Her ejection fraction, the percentage of blood the heart squeezes back out with each contraction, was 18 percent — less than half the normal rate. She was also suffering from other heart problems, including atrial fibrillation and cardiomyopathy.

"We worked closely with her oncologists to change the dosages of her cancer medications and made sure she didn't take any other medications that could further damage her kidneys." — Ivan Porter II, M.D.

A multidisciplinary team that included cardiologist Mohamad Yamani, M.D., as well as breast surgeon Sanjay Bagaria, M.D., radiation oncologist Laura Vallow, M.D., medical oncologist Alvaro Moreno Aspitia, M.D., and nephrologist Ivan Porter II, M.D., worked together with Leah to execute a treatment plan. The plan was to address Leah's cancer while preserving her heart function and avoiding further damage to her liver and kidneys.

Leah spent eight days in the hospital. Her Mayo care team recommended she postpone for at least two months the surgery to treat her cancer, so they could focus on improving her overall health.

"She underwent electrical cardioversion, during which electric shocks are sent to the heart to restore the heart's normal rhythm," says Dr. Yamani. Leah also was prescribed several medications to improve her heart function.

"We worked closely with her oncologists to change the dosages of her cancer medications and made sure she didn't take any other medications that could further damage her kidneys," Dr. Porter says. "After a few months her heart and kidney functions returned to near baseline levels."

A path to renewed health

In May 2015, Leah continued with her cancer treatment as she underwent a double mastectomy, followed by four weeks of radiation therapy. Having all her physicians under one roof at Mayo Clinic ensured changes could be made quickly, as they were needed.

After taking time to heal following the surgery, Leah eventually began feeling like her old self again. And she wanted her body to match how she felt.

"I wanted to look more like I used to look and not look like I'd had cancer." Leah says. "I wanted to look like me."

But Leah didn't want breast implants. She met with plastic and reconstructive surgeon Antonio Forte, M.D., Ph.D. in search of an alternative. Dr. Forte suggested she consider a procedure called DIEP flap reconstruction, a microsurgery where a flap of abdominal tissue is removed with an artery and vein and then is connected to chest vessels.

"The complex procedure, which requires special expertise, is similar to a tummy tuck. But instead of discarding the abdominal tissue at the end, we use it to reconstruct the breasts," Dr. Forte explains. "The main advantage is that it provides a more natural reconstruction because it uses the patient's own tissue."

"I was never anxious due to not understanding what was happening and what the prospective plan was. I was fully informed before, during and after every single treatment and surgery." — Leah Nelms

That gave Leah the answer she was looking for, and her team gave her the confidence to proceed with the procedure.

"Dr. Forte is knowledgeable and caring. He can really convey confidence, and so he allays your fears, but also forms a bond with you," Leah says. "He and his team make you feel like you're their only patient."

Not only is Leah pleased with outcome of her surgery, she's grateful for the exceptional care she received at Mayo Clinic overall.

"Throughout my almost three-year journey, I was never anxious due to not understanding what was happening and what the prospective plan was. I was fully informed before, during, and after every single treatment and surgery," Leah says. "I continue to be in awe of how much the patient education at Mayo helped me through this tough ordeal."

Now Leah's happy to be living a life that's no longer focused on her disease.

"The most positive thing is I just feel more like me pre-cancer. When you're going through cancer, you're cancer girl. That's all you talk about," Leah says. "Thanks to the entire team at Mayo, my cancer is gone, and I feel great.

HELPFUL LINKS

• Read more about breast cancer.
• Learn about cancer care at Mayo Clinic.
• Explore Mayo Clinic's Florida campus.
• Request an appointment.

The post Leah Nelms Feels Like Herself Again After Comprehensive Care for Breast Cancer appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Jane Thomson endured chemotherapy, radiation and surgery to treat cancer once in 2011 and again in 2014. She reflects on the experience with gratitude for her Mayo Clinic care team while anticipating a promising future.

Written by Jane Thomson

My name is Jane Thomson. I am 58 years old, have been married for 35 years, and have three beautiful children and three perfect grandchildren. I was fortunate to have been able to be a stay-at-home mom with my children throughout their younger years. I decided that once they were all in college, I would return to college myself. In September 2011, I had just graduated with a dental hygiene degree and was anxiously waiting for my license and actively looking for employment. That is when my life changed forever.

An emergency room visit revealed a diagnosis of cancer. The colonoscopy and CT scan revealed one tumor, and I was advised to consult with a local surgeon to have it removed. Knowing that cancer was evident in my family tree, my husband and I opted to pursue treatment at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. This is the best decision we ever made. The team of doctors at Mayo Clinic that would eventually guide my care would become an integral part in my life.

"I am convinced that had I not pursued a second opinion at Mayo Clinic, I would most likely not be around to tell my story." — Jane Thomson

My initial consult was with Dr. David Etzioni, Colon and Rectal Surgery, who immediately determined that I had not only one tumor, but it had metastasized into stage IV cancer. I had a total of six tumors, including the original tumor diagnosed in El Paso, Texas, and five additional tumors in my liver. I am convinced that had I not pursued a second opinion at Mayo Clinic, I would most likely not be around to tell my story.

Dr. John Camoriano, Hematology and Oncology, came on board to initiate my treatment with aggressive chemotherapy, which was accompanied by many side effects. Although I was aware and was experiencing all the side effects, nothing prepared me for my hair loss, which was probably the most devastating to me. But no matter what the treatment involved, I knew that I was in the best hands, and I was determined to overcome this monster living inside me. The chemotherapy was very effective, making the original tumors virtually nonexistent by the end of treatment.

"Treatment is so different at Mayo Clinic. Their network and communication is impressive, which allows me the comfort of knowing I am in the best hands possible." — Jane Thomson

A few years later, cancer did return, resulting in many other procedures, including six weeks of radiation, rectal resection with ileostomy, which was reversed, and wedge resection and microwave ablation of my liver, performed by Dr. Adyr Moss, Transplant Surgery.

Treatment is so different at Mayo Clinic. Their network and communication is impressive, which allows me the comfort of knowing I am in the best hands possible. I am not just a patient number, a shadow in the crowd. They truly care about my outcome.

I have been cancer-free since June 2014. I continue to be routinely monitored by the wonderful staff at Mayo Clinic. It is with the care of my doctors that I remain confident I will continue to be that miracle patient that cancer survivors all hope to be.

I am blessed with life! I live life to the fullest, enjoy my family, friends and work. I pray that I continue to be blessed with this miracle of life!

HELPFUL LINKS

• Learn more about cancer treatment.
• Read about cancer care at Mayo Clinic.
• Explore Mayo Clinic's Arizona campus.
• Connect with others talking about Cancer on Mayo Clinic Connect.
• Request an appointment.

The post ‘Blessed With Life,’ Cancer Survivor Vows to Live to the Fullest appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Low blood cell counts: Side effect of cancer treatment
There's a good reason your doctor has your blood drawn so often — low blood cell counts put you at risk of serious complications. Discover treatments, ways to cope and more.

Understanding how you learn key to cancer care
As you find out more about cancer, reflect on how you learn best. Then share it with your health care team, who can help you absorb information better.

Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT)
IORT is an intensive radiation treatment that's administered during surgery. It allows direct radiation to the target area while sparing normal surrounding tissue. Learn more about IORT treatment and research at Mayo Clinic.

The post Low Blood Cell Counts: Side Effect of Cancer Treatment appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Contact: Randy Hargrove: 1-800-331-0085 news.walmart.com/reporter

BENTONVILLE, Ark., Oct. 7, 2014 – Building on its innovative program that has enhanced the quality of health care for its associates, Walmart announced it is expanding its Centers of Excellence program to include three cancers with Mayo Clinic, one of the nation’s leading health care providers.

Effective Jan. 1, 2015, Walmart associates and family members enrolled in the company’s health reimbursement account plans or health savings account plan who are diagnosed with breast, lung or colorectal cancer can obtain a review of their medical records by Mayo Clinic, and when recommended, receive care covered at 100 percent for on-site visits at Mayo Clinic Cancer Center locations in Rochester, Minn., Jacksonville, Fla., or Phoenix, Ariz.

“We are proud to expand our Centers of Excellence with Mayo Clinic to help ensure that our associates and their covered family members who are diagnosed with cancer receive the best care,” said Sally Welborn, senior vice president of global benefits at Walmart. “The three cancers covered under our program are among the most prevalent experienced by associates on our health care plans.”

"We are pleased that Walmart approached us to help its associates diagnosed with breast, colon and lung cancer,” said Jan Buckner, M.D., deputy director for practice at Mayo Clinic Cancer Center. “Our coordinated approach to cancer care offers patients the latest advances in treatment in a compassionate and caring environment.”

Walmart’s Centers of Excellence cancer program will provide a review of an associate’s medical record, or their covered family member’s medical record, by Mayo Clinic oncologists following a diagnosis of breast, lung or colorectal cancer. The review will determine if they would benefit from an on-site visit at a Mayo Clinic location. On-site visits will be covered at 100 percent and will include recommended treatment, such as chemotherapy, radiation or surgery without deductible or coinsurance, plus travel expenses for the patient and a caregiver.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) reports that breast cancer is the most common type of cancer, with about 235,000 new cases expected in the United States in 2014. Lung cancer, with over 224,000 cases expected this year, and colorectal cancer, with a projected 136,000 new cases in 2014, also rank among the most common cancers in the U.S.

Walmart launched its first-of-a-kind Centers of Excellence program in January 2013, which focused on select spine and cardiac procedures. In 2014, Walmart partnered with the Pacific Business Group on Health to extend the Centers of Excellence program to include knee and hip replacement procedures. Walmart first partnered with Mayo Clinic in 1997 for associates in need of organ transplants.

Walmart remains committed to making healthcare affordable for its associates. Hundreds of associates and their family members have elected to receive Centers of Excellence care since 2013.

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About Walmart

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better -- anytime and anywhere -- in retail stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, more than 250 million customers and members visit our 11,053 stores under 71 banners in 27 countries and e-commerce websites in 11 countries. With fiscal year 2014 sales of over $473 billion, Walmart employs approximately 2 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting http://corporate.walmart.com on Facebook at http://facebook.com/walmart and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/walmart.

About Mayo Clinic

Recognizing 150 years of serving humanity in 2014, Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit worldwide leader in medical care, research and education for people from all walks of life. For more information, visit 150 years.mayoclinic.org, http://www.mayoclinic.org/ and newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org.

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