Coalition Voice

It seems that everywhere you turn, you’ll hear advice to watch your carbs, cut carbs, or go low-carb. But in truth, we all need carbohydrates. They provide the body’s primary energy source – glucose – which fuels everything we do, from breathing to walking to thinking to reading this article.

Alissa Huston, MD, is a hematology/oncology specialist associated with the University of Rochester whose focus is on breast cancer.  A familiar presence to many at the Coalition as a caring oncology provider, an occasional presenter at our educational seminars, and a past recipient of the Hearts and Hands Award, Dr. Huston kindly agreed to share her abundant knowledge regarding hormone receptor positive breast cancer.

Humans are infinitely creative. We build our homes and create our communities, surrounding ourselves with the things necessary for our survival along with creature comforts. From the food we eat to the clothes we wear, to the products we use for home and garden maintenance, to the cars we drive, to our electronic devices, to the personal care items we use on a daily basis, […]

The immune system is delicately balanced and highly complex. Researchers are continually discovering new ways to harness this intricate system to stop certain cancers in their tracks. One important feature of the immune system is its ability to distinguish normal, healthy cells in the body from those that are “foreign.” […]

In the past, vaccines have taken years and sometime decades to develop. Recently, the success and the speed of execution of mRNA COVID vaccines has opened many doors and possibilities.

When a recent Brown Bag discussion turned to the topic of life after cancer, attendee Gail H. eloquently described her experience: “I feel like I’m on a bridge between two worlds.” After being diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time in late 2019 (the first time was twenty years prior), she had undergone surgery, chemotherapy, and completed radiation therapy in November of 2020. […]

Dr. Rachel Turner is an assistant professor of Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Rochester, Western New York native Rachael Turner, MD., PhD., focuses on treating people with gynecologic cancer, as well as on research.

I became a breast cancer survivor in January of 2021. Surgery was behind me, I was taking an aromatase inhibitor (AI), and I had my final radiation treatment. I was full of joy when I rang the bell to signal the end of my active treatment! Finally, I could breathe again, after months of tremendous mental strength and courage. […]

Dr. Cheryl Williams is a palliative care physician associated with the University of Rochester Medical Center in Canandaigua.

Jean Weber and her young family had recently moved from New York City to a small town in northern Illinois when Jean found a large lump under her arm while shaving. Her primary care physician referred her to a general surgeon who diagnosed breast cancer. Jean soon underwent a lumpectomy and axillary node dissection. […]