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Voices of Hodgkin’s Blog
Voices of Hodgkin’s Blog

Improving Care for Cancer Survivors: Bridging the Gap Between Oncology and Primary Care

Survivorship follow-up care is currently a much debated topic. Questions such as, “Who is in charge of my care now that treatment is completed?” are commonly asked by survivors, and the answers are varied and often confusing. This article addresses many of those questions. It includes comments from Dr. Kevin Oeffinger, who has worked tirelessly to create quality care for survivors.

How MSK Nurses Offer Relief From Scanxiety

“Scanxiety,” or the fear that accompanies follow-up testing for cancer survivors, is a common and understandable consequence of what we’ve all been through. In this article, nurses at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in NYC offer some of their “tried and true” methods for coping with this. While the focus in this article is largely on breast cancer, the phenomenon of scanxiety does not belong to a single cancer diagnosis. It affects us all.

Understanding Accelerated Aging in Survivors of Childhood Cancers

Childhood cancer survivors face accelerated aging, with studies showing they develop serious health conditions nearly 18 years earlier than the general population. Even without radiation therapy, survivors remain at higher risk for secondary cancers and cardiovascular disease, underscoring the lasting impact of chemotherapy and other treatments. While survival rates have improved and new guidelines, care tools, and therapies are helping, long-term risks persist, making lifelong follow-up and protective strategies essential.

Elevating Voices: Anastasia’s Story

Young adulthood is full of challenges, but when a cancer diagnosis enters the picture, things get really intense, really fast. Fresh out of undergrad at 24, my life changed overnight when the symptoms I’d been having for nearly a year turned out to be Hodgkin lymphoma – cancer.

Bicuspid Aortic Valve: Key Indicators for Timing Surgery

Bicuspid aortic valve is the most common congenital heart defect present at birth. However, it is often asymptomatic into adulthood. Without symptoms, most patients with a bicuspid aortic valve will be in a “watchful waiting” phase with regular medical testing to monitor for progressing aortic stenosis or regurgitation. A bicuspid aortic valve makes the heart work harder and symptoms may develop. Surgery to repair or replace the a bicuspid aortic valve can be necessary. Timing the surgery is different for every patient, often causing worry and stress among patients as they wonder when or if surgery will be required.

AI Identifies Heart Valve Disease From Common Imaging Test

A new AI program developed at Cedars‑Sinai’s Smidt Heart Institute can detect early signs of tricuspid valve disease through routine echocardiograms, with accuracy on par with expert cardiologists. Trained on over 47,000 echo scans from 2011 to 2021, it can now classify disease severity from mild to severe. This advancement could help clinicians spot and treat valve problems earlier, giving patients a better shot at timely care and improved outcomes.

The Best Medicine of All Was Each Other

Kim Hoffman and Josh Woda, both Hodgkin lymphoma survivors who were each diagnosed in college, reconnected years later after relapsing and eventually fell in love. Their journey is a beautiful reminder that shared experiences can forge powerful bonds and healing hope. A truly uplifting story for anyone in the Hodgkin’s community looking for connection and inspiration.

Excess Health Risks Linger in Childhood Cancer Survivors Into 50s and Beyond

A major new study from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study shows that AYA (Adolescent and Young Adult) cancer survivors continue to face excess health risks well into their 50s and beyond. Even decades after treatment, conditions like heart disease, frailty, and other chronic illnesses remain more common among survivors than in the general population. This is especially important for Hodgkin lymphoma survivors who were treated as teens or young adults and may not have regular follow-up care today.