CANCER BUZZ features fresh perspectives on hot topics in oncology care delivery. CANCER BUZZ is where stakeholders from the front lines of care to the C-suite, from research to the registry, from chairside to benchside, talk about top-of-mind questions and real-world impact.
On top of coping with the anxiety of a cancer diagnosis and the physical effects of treatment, patients with cancer face the dual challenge of accessing and affording care. Many patients delay seeking care due to the perceived high cost, and others experience burdensome medical debt as a result of their care. In many cancer programs, financial navigators focus on obtaining financial clearance and…
Decentralized clinical Trials (DCTs) bring some or all elements of a clinical trial closer to patients. Consent, screening, treatment administration, and more can be administered through digital technologies and local health care providers, expanding accessibility for patients who face barriers to participation in traditional single site trials. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Erin…
In this episode of Oncology Unscripted, hosts Mark Liu and Deirdre Saulet speak with Karen Winkfield, MD, PhD, a radiation oncologist and Associate Director of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, about her decades-long passion for community outreach and engagement to bring curative cancer treatment to underserved populations. Dr. Winkfield discusses the heavy financial burden of cancer and the…
Revenue cycle operations teams are responsible for maintaining reimbursement integrity and regulatory compliance across a rapidly expanding oncology service line. Increasing payer scrutiny—particularly for high-cost oncology therapies—has created significant operational strain, treatment delays, and administrative burden for providers. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with 2026 ACCC Innovator…
Bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) continue to garner the interest of both academic and community cancer centers due to their rapid growth in FDA approvals and increasing use in hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. However, practical considerations such as treatment-related toxicities, choosing the right delivery model, and staffing constraints deter many programs from attempting to implement…
As bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) become more integrated into oncology care, much of the focus has been placed on clinical protocols and operational readiness. However, less attention has been paid to the patient and caregiver experience. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ explores how it feels physically and emotionally for patients to begin and continue BsAb therapy. Grounded in real-world insights,…
In this episode of Oncology Unscripted, hosts Mark Liu and Deirdre Saulet speak with Arif Kamal, MD, Chief Patient Officer at the American Cancer Society (ACS). Dr. Kamal discusses his recent appointment to this inaugural role at ACS, leading into a conversation about how he expects the cancer care field to evolve. Namely, a shift for providers toward building a skillset for compassionate patient…
Oncolytic viruses are a novel and effective way to treat cancers by infecting and destroying cancer cells, but clinical delivery necessitates creative strategies to account for the required safety protocols, deep-freeze storage, and rigorous clinical oversight. The University of North Carolina (UNC) Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center is a referral center for the only currently FDA-approved…
In 2025, the FDA approved the antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) enfortumab vedotin combined with pembrolizumab for patients with cisplatin-ineligible muscle-invasive bladder cancer, unlocking a new perioperative treatment option. To administer this ADC-based therapy alongside surgical intervention, multidisciplinary teams must prioritize collaborative workflows at all points of the treatment journey.…
At the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), the team treating patients with bladder cancer and other genitourinary malignancies utilizes a multidisciplinary team approach to ensure care is coordinated, personalized, and patient-centered. This is particularly important when administering antibody-drug conjugates, a promising tool for some patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer that…
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), a rare category of bone marrow disorders that may develop into acute myeloid leukemia, are categorized into risk groups ranging from very low to very high risk. However, this language can be misleading to patients. Low risk (LR) does not equate to low impact or lack of urgency. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Amy DeZern, MD, MHS, from Sidney Kimmel…
From the moment a woman learns that she has breast cancer, her life is forever changed—from the treatment challenges of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery to the personal and emotional challenges of a change in identity, a loss of control, and physical self-acceptance. For many survivors, the difficult journey of emotional healing continues long after active treatment ends, and this phase…
Radiation therapy is a powerful and non-invasive tool in the management of small cell lung cancer (SCLC), but radiation oncologists are not always fully integrated into the care team. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Charles B. Simone, II, MD, FASTRO, FACRO, FACR, chief medical officer of the New York Proton Center and radiation oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, about…