Colorectal Cancer Incidence Is Rising In California, we will see 16,200 new cases of colon and rectal cancers this year. Across the United States, there will be an estimated 106,590 new cases of colon cancer and 46,220 new cases of rectal cancer, leading to an estimated 53,010 combined deaths.1 Though colon cancer incidences have declined overall, research has shown a new trend: the number of younger people developing colorectal cancer has risen.1,2,3 Subsequently, three years ago the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF), an independent panel of experts funded by the U.S. Department ..read more

Cancer Prevention is having a Healthy Immune System, Microbiome, and Lifestyle. Research and Patients explain. Cancer prevention is not black and white. There is no known cure for cancer because not all cancers are alike, and not all people are alike, which further complicates treatment. However, as individuals, if we are aware of risk factors, preventative lifestyle choices, and understand that our biology impacts cancer development, then maybe the best steps forward to preventing cancer come down to awareness, and continued research. “We are studying lifestyle; the role of diet, of process ..read more

Stacy Lilien is riding the wave of least expected, and happily. Just 7 weeks after a major spinal surgery, Stacy (68) was seen standing next to her mustang at Shadow Hills Equestrian Center, gearing to ride in Tujunga, California. Stacy experienced severe back and hip pain in early 2023. Inhibited to continue riding her two horses, or walk without crippling pain, which no painkiller was able to alleviate completely, Stacy searched for answers until she found one at Providence, Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California. “No one thought I was going to come out the other side, with t ..read more

Previously Treated for Multiple Myeloma at Saint John’s, Yvonne Returns Yvonne Kalman was diagnosed a year ago with metastatic uterine cancer at 85 years old, and today, she is that much closer to remission. Yvonne jet sets from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico to Santa Monica, California, to receive treatment at Saint John’s Health Center. “I really was so sick… I came to Los Angeles in tears,” Yvonne recalls in her testimonial. 10 years ago, she had multiple myeloma, and her medical oncologist, Dr. Sean Fischer, who treated her, recommended Dr. Hyo Park, a surgical oncologist, also at Saint John’s, w ..read more

Researchers and Experts in the Feilds of Oncology: 2023 Collection A single study usually uncovers only a piece of a larger puzzle. At Saint John’s Cancer Institute, our research addresses global challenges in the fight against cancer. The research provides objective understanding in the world of oncology by solving complex cases which inform decisions made in our clinic. The result of such research has informed policies and procedures to ensure the field of oncology moves forward safely, improving the quality of lives of our patients. The more research we can do, the more our patients can do ..read more

Even an expert oncologist will be excessively concerned with a possible cancer diagnosis. Dr. Wilson promptly called his peers at the Digestive Health Institute, located in Providence, Saint John’s Health Center, to schedule a colonoscopy because his Cologuard® came back positive for possible colon cancer. Cancer concerns us all, and knowing what to do and who to trust is invaluable. So invaluable, Dr. Wilson hopes to share his experience with the world, allowing gastrointestinal experts Dr. Rudolph Bedford and Dr. Anton Bilchik to outline our process for personalized treatment, including scre ..read more

Aquablation is a next-generation, minimally invasive surgical therapy that provides long-lasting symptom relief with low rates of complications, regardless of prostate size or shape. Beginning at the age of 40, most men will experience Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), a non-cancerous condition in older males involving natural enlargement of the prostate gland. BPH will, over time, obstruct urine flow and cause urination problems such as incontinence, pain due to pressure in the bladder, and voiding dysfunction. Diagnosing BPH can include a cystoscopy, and treatments for BPH include aquablat ..read more

An elevated PSA level indicated Robert Tilly potentially had prostate cancer. Robert Tilly was diagnosed with stage 2 prostate cancer earlier this year. In the span of 4 months, he was diagnosed and cured just in time to walk his daughter down the aisle. Prior to his diagnosis, another diagnosis from another care provider suggested to wait 6 to 8 weeks for symptoms to abate. After hearing this story, a friend from church recommended he get a second opinion and see Dr. Timothy Wilson at Providence, Saint John’s Health Center. Dr. Wilson found a higher PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) level in Ro ..read more

How Saint John’s Is Changing Health Care A team of clinical and research experts came together on November 7th, 2023 to reveal new approaches that are paving the way to a better future for cancer patients. The panel included Dr. Anton Bilchik, Dr. Jennifer Linehan, Dr. Nicholas Schork, and Dr. Ora Gordon, surgeons, researcher, and scientist. Together in their respective fields, they are working to end cancer. Breakthroughs in research for pancreatic cancers, colon cancers, urologic cancers, melanoma, and breast cancers have uncovered markers, genes, and protein patterns that offer greater insi ..read more

Lee Ann Found Trust in Dr. Melanie Goldfarb Before She Discovered She Had Hurthle Cell Carcinoma Diagnosed in September 2022 with a stage 1 Hurthle cell thyroid carcinoma, a rare and more aggressive form of thyroid cancer, Lee Ann Goya decided to remove her entire thyroid despite her personal feelings towards Western medicine. Lee Ann’s unwillingness to surgically remove her thyroid stemmed from her ill regard towards Western medicine. “I get a little suspicious with Western medicine because it’s my thinking that sometimes they want to take out the thing that is not working and not have preven ..read more