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WDIV Dionne Pierce has been courageously triumphing over her breast cancer for eight months. As the lead patient navigator at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, she knew exactly what to do when she found a lump during a self-exam. When she received the shocking diagnosis, she sprang into action, building her breast cancer care team: Eric Brown, M.D., FACS , breast surgeon and co-leader of the Breast Cancer Multidisciplinary Team (MDT), Michael Meininger, M.D. , plastic and reconstructive surgeon...

WWJ Aside from receiving routine cancer screenings, it is just as important to receive a second opinion. George Yoo, M.D., FACS , chief medical officer (CMO) at Karmanos Cancer Hospital, shared with WWJ’s Jackie Page why some newly diagnosed cancer patients and even cancer patients who are already going through treatment may hesitate in asking for a second opinion, and how Karmanos’ appointment structure prioritizes those who want another look at their case. Request a second opinion here . Your browser ...

Early detection saves lives—and when it comes to breast cancer, getting screened regularly is one of the most important steps women can take. Karmanos Cancer Institute and McLaren Health Care recommend that women of average risk begin receiving annual mammograms at age 40. For those at higher risk, screening may need to start even earlier. But mammograms are just one part of the picture. Understanding breast cancer risk factors, recognizing early warning signs, and staying ...

Hour Detroit’s 2025 Top Docs List  is out; over 80 physicians from the  Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute  are listed. This year’s magazine also features a Karmanos physician on the cover. Each year, Hour Detroit Magazine puts out an online peer-to-peer review survey conducted by Professional Research Services (PRS) to determine the top physicians in southeastern Michigan. Participating physicians in Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw, and Wayne Counties nominate the best doctors ...

The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute , cancer centers, and other organizations nationwide recognize October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Aside from skin cancer, breast cancer affects more women each year than any other cancer, making up about 30% of cancer diagnoses among females each year. Breast Cancer Facts and Figures There are more than 4 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S. The relative five-year survival rate is 91%. Women in the U.S. have a 1 in 8 chance of developing breast can...

Becker’s Hospital Review Asfar Azmi, Ph.D., scientist, director of the Pancreatic Cancer Research Initiative and member of the  Molecular Therapeutics Research Program  at Karmanos, explained how he and his team are using robotic systems to test combinations of therapies in pancreatic tumor cells and gave his thoughts on the progress being made in finding better treatments for this disease. Read the article here .

Many myths surround clinical trials and their potential risks and benefits. Below, I answer some common questions to combat myths with facts to help illustrate the importance and potential benefits for patients considering participating in cancer clinical trials. What are clinical trials? Clinical trials are research studies that involve humans who volunteer to evaluate new treatments, drugs, vaccines, medical devices, behavioral interventions, or screenings. They are the best approach to discovering wh...

On Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute and Wayne State University will host the Annual Gastrointestinal Oncology Symposium , which will bring together some of the nation’s most respected leaders in gastrointestinal and neuroendocrine oncology for a day of leading-edge science, practical insights and collaborative discussion. “We provide this conference each year, and we collectively try to gather updates happening in gastrointestinal oncology from around the world,” explained...

The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute invites the community to the fourth annual Screening Saves Lives: Cancer Screening and Educational Event . It takes place on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Karmanos Cancer Center at 4100 John R. in Detroit. Karmanos will provide breast cancer screenings, including mammograms, colorectal screening consultations, free head and neck examinations, skin cancer screenings, and wellness checks. “Each year, we see hundreds of people at the event, w...

Hour Detroit A Karmanos Cancer Institute nurse is named a finalist for the 2025 Hour Detroit Nurse of the Year Award. Sheryl Smolarek, BSN, RN, OCN, is the supervisor and clinical leader of the hematology and bone marrow transplant infusion center, known as the Dresner Infusion Center. In her nomination, Smolarek’s manager said that she, “is more than a leader to staff and more than just a supportive nurse to patients. She is well-respected for her knowledge and expertise in oncology nursing, specifical...