Cancer Experts

The doctors, nurses, and care team at the hospital or clinic are an integral part of the cancer experience. Hear directly from those who have worked in the industry for years on what you can ask them about, their guidance on navigating a cancer diagnosis, and what got them passionate about working with patients in the first place.

We have interviews with oncologists from across all cancer specialities, including breast, colorectal, Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, kidney, leukemia, multiple myeloma, lung.

Also explore interviews with the medical staff members you’ll most likely see and interact with the most, including nurses and social workers. While doctors have answers to your medical questions, this part of the care team will often be the go-to people for navigating the day-to-day life with cancer.

For stories from the people who’ve been in your shoes right now, don’t forget to check out our extensive library of cancer patient stories, and those from our wonderful personal caregivers.

Oncologists

Breast Cancer

Doug Blayney, MD



Oncologist: Specializing in breast cancer | HER2, Estrogen+, Triple Negative, Lumpectomy vs. Mastectomy
Experience: 30+ years
Institution: Stanford Medical

SABCS 2022 Highlights



Top breast cancer doctors Dr. Paolo Tarantino with Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Dr. Lola Fayanju with Penn Medicine discuss the big highlights from this year’s San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

Blood Cancers (Hematology)

Rafael Fonseca, MD



Role: Interim executive director, hematologist-oncologist
Focus: Multiple myeloma, new drug development
Institution: Mayo Clinic
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Farrukh Awan, MD



Role:Hematologist-oncologist, associate professor
Focus:Leukemias, Lymphomas, BMT
Institution:UT Southwestern
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Nina Shah, MD



Role: Hematologist-oncologist, researcher
Focus: Multiple Myeloma
Institution: University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)
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Kerry Rogers, MD



Role: Hematologist, researcher
Focus: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), Hairy Cell Leukemia (HCL)
Institution: OSUCCC-The James
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Tim Fenske, MD, MS



Role: Hematologist-Oncologist
Focus: chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) & leukemia and lymphoma | CAR T, targeted therapy
Provider: Medical College of Wisconsin
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Irene Ghobrial, MD



Role: Clinical investigator and professor of hematological oncology
Focus: Multiple myeloma, Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia, early screening, clinical trials
Provider:Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (Boston)
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Edmund Tai, M.D.



Role: General oncologist, hematologist
Focus: Specialist in treating Chinese-speaking patients
Provider: Sutter Health (Bay Area, CA)
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Jacqueline Barrientos, MD



Role: Hematologist, researcher
Focus: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), lymphoma, 17p Deletion (Ibrutinib, Acalabrutinib, Venetoclax), IgHV mutation
Provider: Northwell Health (NYC)
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James Berenson, MD



Oncologist: Specializing in myeloma and other blood and bone disorders
Experience: 35+ years
Institution: Berenson Cancer Center
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Gastrointestinal Cancers

Kimmie Ng, MD, MPH



Role: Gastrointestinal oncologist
Focus: Young-onset colorectal cancer, microbiome
Provider: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (Boston)

Mark Lewis, MD, is not just an oncologist, he's a cancer survivor, himself. This gives him a unique perspective as both physician and patient. Hear more about his thoughts on second opinions and importance of self-advocacy.

Lung Cancer

Dr. D. Ross Camidge, M.D., Ph.D.



Role: Thoracic oncologist, Director of the Thoracic Oncology Clinical Research Programs
Focus: Lung cancer, small cell (Immunotherapy), EGFR (Osimertinib), ALK (Alectinib), ROS1 (Crizotinib), BRAF (Dabrafenib & Trametinib), NTRK
Provider: Univ. of Colorado

Radiation

Dr. Kenneth Biehl, M.D.



Role: Radiation oncologist
Focus: Specializing in radiation therapy treatment for all cancers | Brachytherapy, External Beam Radiation Treatment, IMRT
Provider: Salinas Valley Memorial Health

Urological Cancers

Dr. Christopher Weight, M.D.



Role: Center Director Urologic Oncology
Focus: Urological oncology, including kidney, prostate, bladder cancers
Provider: Cleveland Clinic

Nurses and Nurse Navigators

What Is a Clinical Trial Really?



Clinical trials can be confusing to navigate, so The Patient Story partnered with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) to discuss what a clinical trial is, the phases of a clinical trial, and figuring out the logistics of paperwork, scans, and finances.

Julie McFadden, Hospice Nurse



Hospice nurse: For last 5 years, helps patients and families understand end of life options
Experience: 14 years
Focus: Introduction to hospice, education

Jennifer Hagerty, Cancer Clinic Nurse



Clinic nurse: works mostly outpatient
Experience: 12 years
Hospital size: Large teaching institution

Brianna Banachoski, Hem-Onc Nurse



Nurse: works 12-hour shifts on blood oncology floor
Experience: was a lymphoma patient, became a nurse in early 2019
Hospital size: mid-range

Bernadette Lucas-Burch, Nurse Navigator



Nurse Navigator: help cancer patients and caregivers at diagnosis through treatment.
Experience: 35+ years
Hospital size: Mid-range but largest in the region

Genetic Counselors

Angela Brickle, Genetic Counselor



Genetic counselor: helps cancer patients and their families with genetic testing
Experience: ~5 years
Hospital size: Mid-sized edu
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Social Workers

Lia Akhilanda, Social Worker



Social worker: help cancer patients & caregivers on issues like insurance coverage, disability, and housing during treatment.
Experience: 10 years
Hospital size: Large teaching institution
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Oncology Clinical Trial Program Managers

Integrative Oncologists

Dr. Donald Abrams



Integrative Medicine:



Experience: 30 years



Institution: UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Medicine
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