Cancer Risk, Prevention and Screening
There is no foolproof way to prevent cancer, but you can help reduce your risk by making healthy choices like eating healthfully, staying active, not smoking and following recommended screening guidelines, which can help detect certain cancers at an early, more treatable stage. These Valley oncology centers are committed to making cancer diagnosis and treatment accessible. They provide cutting-edge technologies that allow for less invasive and more effective approaches to treating specific types of cancer.
MAYO CLINIC
Q&A with Dr. Richard Bold, Site Director of Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center
Dr. Richard Bold joined the Mayo Clinic as the site director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center in Arizona in October 2023. Before this role, he held the position of physician-in-chief at the University of California, Davis, where he established a distinguished career characterized by exceptional patient care, groundbreaking research and dynamic leadership. Now, he’s contributing to the advancement of cancer detection and treatment for Arizonans through Mayo Clinic’s cutting-edge research and innovative treatment approaches.
What are some of the most effective lifestyle changes individuals can make to reduce their risk of developing cancer?
Every person has a different risk for cancer based on family history, personal health, lifestyle, environmental exposures and many other factors, so it’s important to know where you stand personally in terms of cancer risk. There’s a lot you can do to lower your cancer risk, but different approaches may yield different benefits, so identifying the most beneficial changes is critical. Start with a conversation with your physician to learn more about your individual cancer risk and the best approaches to reduce that risk.
Everyone can benefit from good sun protection, avoiding excessive alcohol intake, regular exercise and a well-balanced diet – that means less red meat and processed foods, and more plant-based foods, fish, lots of fruits and vegetables and whole grains.
You also want to talk to your physician about getting vaccinated for Hepatitis B and HPV. These viruses can increase your risk of developing certain types of cancers, like liver cancer and cervical cancer.
And, finally – it goes without saying – don’t smoke, and avoid all tobacco products.
What are the recommended screening guidelines for common types of cancer, and at what age should individuals begin regular screenings?
Regular screening is key to preventing cancer. In Maricopa County, the top five deadliest cancers are lung, breast, prostate, colon and pancreatic cancer. Fortunately, effective screening methods for four of these five cancers are supported by the screening guidelines established by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), which has representation from Mayo Clinic specialists.
Recent changes now recommend starting screening for cancer earlier in life for average-risk people. For a person with no family history or risk factors, the recommended age to begin screening is:
• 40 for breast cancer
• 55 for prostate cancer
• 45 for colorectal cancer
• 50 for lung cancer in people with a moder
ate history of smoking
Are there any new or advanced screening techniques that are particularly promising for early cancer detection?
The last few years have been exciting for us in terms of cancer detection, and I’m particularly inspired by the leaps forward in breast cancer detection. We’re getting better at detecting breast cancer sooner and more accurately through more personalized detection methods. Mammograms are an excellent tool for breast cancer screening, but they have limitations, especially in women with dense breast tissue. Sometimes supplemental testing is needed to detect breast cancer, and the great news is that, in Arizona, recent legislation means that the cost of that testing is now required to be paid by your medical insurance. This is very new, and I recommend that you speak to your physician about what is right for you if you have been notified that you have dense breast tissue.
Traditional screening for colorectal cancer has relied on colonoscopy, which can be uncomfortable and inconvenient. Advances in the testing of a stool sample for proteins shed by colon cancer have already been developed, but there are rapid improvements in the technology to further improve this method for early colorectal cancer detection.
How important is early detection in terms of treatment options and prognosis?
Early detection is so important. Cure rates are highest when we identify and treat cancer in its early stages – when it hasn’t spread. Furthermore, the treatment for early cancer may be more focused on where the cancer started so that there is less harm to a person’s body compared to treatments if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
Can you provide an overview of the cutting-edge treatment options available at Mayo Clinic?
The Mayo Clinic CAR-T Cell Therapy Program is one of a few landmark programs at select medical centers, with experts trained and certified to manage CAR-T cell therapy. Mayo Clinic was one of the centers that treated people as part of the clinical trial that led to FDA approval of CAR-T cell therapy.
Our Proton Beam Therapy Program is the only one in Arizona, and we treat people from across the nation with this technology. Traditional X-ray treatment delivers radiation to everything in its path. That means tissue in front of and behind the tumor receives some damaging radiation. Most adult bodies can absorb and repair such collateral damage. But traditional radiation can pose additional risks if your tumor is next to or in a vital organ, such as your brain or heart.
For children, this is particularly critical not only due to the need for more exact treatment, but they are more sensitive to the effects of radiation therapy as their bodies are still growing and developing. Compared to X-ray radiation therapy, proton therapy radiates fewer normal, healthy cells. This can help avoid health issues later in life, such as reduced growth, hearing and vision loss, heart disease and additional cancers.
Radiopharmaceuticals are a treatment option for some cancers, but supply chain issues have kept them from being available to patients. These drugs are radioactive medications used to diagnose and treat certain cancers. Mayo Clinic announced earlier this year the creation of Nucleus RadioPharma, a new company built to ensure cancer patients can access potentially lifesaving radiopharmaceuticals by developing technologies to modernize the clinical development, manufacturing and supply chain of these promising new therapies. The collaboration with Nucleus RadioPharma will provide enhanced manufacturing capabilities so Mayo Clinic can rapidly deliver radiopharmaceuticals, empowering us to better serve our patients and enabling future development and clinical testing of novel targeted radiotherapies.
How does Mayo Clinic engage with the community to raise awareness about cancer prevention and early detection?
Arizona has such a diverse population of people, and Mayo Clinic has woven itself into these communities to meet them in the places where they live, learn, gather and worship. Currently, we have eight community partnerships with local churches and ongoing efforts with other faith-based organizations.
Mayo Clinic also works with Pima Indian Medical Center (PIMC) and the Coalition of Blacks Against Cancer (CBAC). Our relationship with PIMC, which is championed by Mayo Clinic’s Donald Northfelt, M.D., goes back almost two decades. In that time, we’ve cared for thousands of Native American patients. Through CBAC, founded by Mayo Clinic’s Michele Halyard, M.D., and Marion Kelly, experts provide guidance and resources and help connect Black patients with education about cancer prevention and treatment. In these partnerships, Mayo Clinic physicians aren’t just experts in their field; they’re trusted voices in these communities.
What sets the Mayo Clinic apart from other oncology centers?
Mayo Clinic’s sites in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota make up one National Cancer Institute-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. To have this designation, we’re held to rigorous standards of research and innovation to create and disseminate new knowledge. We share this knowledge with other organizations and learn from their findings. So much collaboration happens not just within our institutional walls, but far beyond them.
When you come to Mayo Clinic, you’re not just getting standard care or standard treatment. There’s a breadth of clinical trials and new therapies available to our patients, especially those who’ve maybe been told they’re out of options. We treat the untreatable. When people come to Mayo with little hope, we can access the best tools and technology in the world to help find new answers. It’s all personalized to each patient, with a collaborative approach joining the world’s leading cancer physicians and researchers. mayoclinic.org
PALO VERDE CANCER SPECIALISTS
The world’s earliest known mention of cancer was found in a papyrus document from ancient Egypt in 3000 BCE. Since those times, cancers have been treated with surgeries, heat and herbal medicines.
For ages, chemotherapies, radiotherapies and surgeries have characterized the battle against this disease. Over the last few decades, the oncology world has seen a significant amount of advancements. Today’s oncologists work with multidisciplinary teams to utilize the above methods in addition to genetic testing, precision medicine, target therapies, antibody-drug conjugates, and immunotherapies for the care of all patients. These advancements allow them to practice personalized medicine for each and every patient.
The medical world is currently in a transformative era of cancer research, with remarkable innovations paving the way for breakthrough treatments. Palo Verde Cancer Specialists look forward to artificial intelligence (A.I.), genomic medicine, next-generation cancer organoids, nanoparticles and pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC).
The goal of artificial intelligence and machine learning is to provide new devices to detect cancer, individualize treatments, manage patients and more. The hope is that they make the diagnosis and treatment process faster and more
accurate.
Genomic medicine involves studying and analyzing a patient’s genetic information, specifically their DNA, to understand the genetic basis of cancer, and offer precise treatments in hopes of better responses.
Next-generation cancer organoids are advanced 3D models of cancer cells that closely replicate the characteristics and behavior of tumors found in the human body. Scientists can use this information to gain better insights into how different tumors behave and respond to treatments, leading to tailored therapies and improving patient outcomes in the future.
Nanoparticles are tiny particles designed to deliver drugs or therapeutic agents specifically to cancer cells. Due to their tiny size, they can offer better drug delivery and overcome drug resistance and offer fewer side effects.
Pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC) is a method in which chemotherapy drugs are directly delivered into the abdominal cavity as an aerosol, targeting and concentrating the treatment on tumors in this area. This approach shows great promise in improving the effectiveness of cancer treatment in the abdomen.
Today’s research is tomorrow’s success. Palo Verde Cancer Specialists hope to be able to offer their patients and their families a better prognosis. pvhomed.com
PHOENIX CYBERKNIFE & RADIATION ONCOLOGY CENTER
The Phoenix CyberKnife & Radiation Oncology Center is a trusted cancer treatment facility for Valley residents with locations in Gilbert, Scottsdale and Phoenix. The center seamlessly combines state-of-the-art technology with a team of exceptionally skilled physicians, nationally renowned in the field of radiation oncology. This ensures that patients receive tailored, cutting-edge cancer treatments.
Phoenix CyberKnife offers some of the most innovative, effective and non-invasive radiation treatments in the world with the CyberKnife System, Novalis TrueBeam STx with ExacTrac System, and multisource HDR brachytherapy. The revolutionary CyberKnife System, renowned for its motion synchronization capabilities, excels in treating cancerous and non-cancerous tumors without the need for surgery.
This advanced system is used in the treatment of various conditions across the body, encompassing areas such as the prostate, lung, brain, spine, head and neck, liver, pancreas and kidney. It serves as a viable alternative to surgery, especially for patients with either inoperable or surgically intricate tumors. Typically completed in just one to five sessions, CyberKnife treatments have garnered more than two decades of clinical proof, benefiting thousands of cancer patients.
The treatment is performed robotically with real-time image guidance and motion synchronization to ensure the high-energy x-rays or electrons are delivered to the patient’s tumor precisely. This minimizes the amount of healthy tissue exposed to high-dose radiation and may reduce side effects.
Phoenix CyberKnife works with each patient to build a unique treatment plan with one of its advanced care systems. External beam radiation therapy is conducted in a series of outpatient visits over one to 10 weeks so patients can be back at home the same day and have a minimal recovery period. phoenixcyberknifecenter.com
REGENCY SPECIALTIES
Regency Specialties provides cancer care in plastic surgery and dermatology. Skin cancer is a common concern for Arizonans because of the relentless UV rays and proximity to the desert sun. The heat also causes the desert dwellers to dress in shorts, tank tops and other lighter clothing that leave them exposed to the harmful effects of the sun. Luckily, residents have access to Regency Specialties’ impressive care team, including Dr. Betty Hinderks Davis to help diagnose and treat skin cancer.
Davis is a board-certified dermatologist and micrographic dermatologic surgeon as well as a four-time PHOENIX magazine Top Doctor. She’s passionate about preventing skin cancer as well as detecting it early and ensuring her patients are being taken care of throughout the entire treatment process. To receive care from the nationally recognized Davis, make an appointment at the Surprise location.
In addition to offering skin cancer care including screening and Mohs surgery, the care center also offers breast cancer surgery and reconstruction. Breast cancer surgeries include mastectomies, lumpectomies and Sentinel lymph node biopsy.
Regency Specialties operates in three convenient locations – Surprise, Buckeye and Phoenix. Their exceptional teams consist of skilled doctors, physician assistants and other dedicated professionals. They are at the forefront of cancer care in dermatology and plastic surgery, effectively treating and curing numerous residents of the Valley. regencyspecialties.com
CITY OF HOPE PHOENIX
City of Hope Phoenix is a beacon of hope for those battling cancer. Nestled in Goodyear, slightly west of Downtown Phoenix, its comprehensive cancer hospital extends its reach through Outpatient Care Centers in Gilbert, North Phoenix and Scottsdale. With a legacy dating back to 1913, City of Hope has evolved into one of the largest and most esteemed cancer research and treatment institutions in the United States. It’s also at the forefront of groundbreaking research for diabetes and other life-threatening diseases.
City of Hope is an independent National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, offering an integrated approach that includes care, research, education and innovation. They’re committed to providing the cures of tomorrow to those in need today.
The incredible doctors at the City of Hope cancer hospital in Phoenix provide unrivaled cancer care because they’re solely focused on treating cancer. They’re also with you every step of the way whether you’ve just been diagnosed with cancer or are already undergoing treatment. The oncology team can create an individualized treatment plan to fit your needs and help you manage the side effects so you can get back to your life and your loved ones. cityofhope.org/locations/phoenix
HONORHEALTH CANCER CARE
Experience exceptional cancer care with HonorHealth Cancer Care, Arizona’s most comprehensive cancer care network. Boasting a team of 36 distinguished medical and gynecologic oncologists in 17 offices located across the Valley, HonorHealth Cancer Care ensures every patient benefits from a collaborative team of experts who work together to provide the most optimal treatment.
Their focus areas include neurooncology, breast oncology and surgical specialists, bone marrow transplant and acute leukimia specialists. It also focuses on multidisciplinary tumor specialty groups including breast, G.I., pancreatic, head, neck, neuro, urology, cutaneous and general.
At HonorHealth, patients gain access to a diverse range of cutting-edge treatments and groundbreaking clinical trials through the esteemed HonorHealth Research Institute. They also offer precision medicine utilizing tumor markers and genetic profiles for ultra-customized care plans. Their comprehensive support network assists patients in managing the emotional and logistical challenges that accompany a cancer diagnosis. Those services include social work, financial counseling, guidance from oncology dietitians, support groups and more. In addition, they offer renowned treatments like cellular and CAR-T therapy at the HonorHealth Transplant Institute.
“HonorHealth is proud to provide personalized and coordinated care to patients at every step of their cancer journey,” says Matt Schneider, associate vice president of HonorHealth Cancer Care. “We offer expertise in nearly all types of adult cancers, and clinical trials are available through the HonorHealth Research Institute to customize care based on every unique patient.”
honorhealth.com/medical-services/cancer-care
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