News

The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute’s Office of Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) has been named a 2025 Hometown Health Hero by the Michigan Public Health Week Partnership. This award recognizes people and organizations in Michigan working to improve the health of their communities. Leading community outreach and engagement efforts for Karmanos, COE monitors the cancer burden in the Karmanos 46-county catchment area and engages the community and Karmanos scientists in strategies to reduce th...

The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute has been named one of 168 medical centers in the country to which Optum recommends its payers refer their clients for blood and bone marrow transplants. With more than 3,000 payers using Optum in the U.S., a trusted information and technology-enabled health services business that delivers integrated solutions for health systems, more than 62 million people benefit from its tools. The company’s Centers for Excellence networks recognize “clinically superior provid...

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is common and widespread virus, and about 85% of people will get an HPV infection in their lives. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , it spreads mainly through direct contact, particularly during sexual activities such as vaginal, anal, or oral sex. There are over 200 types of HPV, but some of them can cause serious health problems, like cancer. Most of the time, the body fights off the infection on its own, but if certain types of HPV persist for too...

The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute , cancer centers, and other organizations nationwide recognize April as Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month. Many types of cancers occur in the head and neck. They include: Ear cancer Eye cancer Hypopharyngeal cancer  Laryngeal cancer  Nasal cavity cancer  Nasopharyngeal cancer  Oral cavity cancer Oropharyngeal cancer Paranasal sinus cancer  Salivary gland cancer Other cancers, such as melanoma and sarcoma, may ...

Telegram News Even though it is one of the most preventable cancers, colorectal cancer cases are on the rise. Najeeb Al Hallak, M.D., MS , medical oncologist and co-leader of the  Gastrointestinal and Neuroendocrine Oncology Multidisciplinary Team  at Karmanos, explained how receiving a colonoscopy as recommended as soon as you are of age is critical to prevent this cancer and find it in the earliest stages. He also shared ways you can help educate your family, friends and networks on colorect...

Community outreach involves more than just being present in the community. “The work that we do connects our communities with cancer science and connects our scientists with our diverse communities,” said Hayley Thompson, Ph.D., associate center director of Community Outreach and Education at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute and faculty supervisor of the Office of Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) at Karmanos, and professor of Oncology at Wayne State University (WSU) School of Medicine. C...

The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute , cancer centers, and other organizations nationwide recognize April as Testicular Cancer Awareness Month. This cancer occurs when cells grow out of control in the testicles, part of the male reproductive system, and there are multiple forms of testicular cancer. Testicular Cancer Facts and Figures  According to the American Cancer Society (ACS): In 2025, about 9,720 new testicular cancer cases will be diagnosed. About one of every 250 males will develop te...

The Arab American News Though there is no cure for multiple myeloma,  Andrew Kin, M.D. , hematologist and medical oncologist, and member of the  Bone Marrow & Stem Cell Transplant ,  Hematology Oncology  and  Multiple Myeloma and Amyloidosis  Multidisciplinary Teams at Karmanos, described how survival rates have improved due to treatment advances. Dr. Kin explained that data shows this most common type of blood cancer is more prevalent in some populations than othe...

When Wiebke Papenfus and her husband lost their health insurance, she started skipping her annual mammogram. “I had been very diligent about getting them because my maternal grandmother died of breast cancer,” Wiebke said. During a self-breast exam Wiebke made a startling discovery- a lump in her left breast. “I went to a nurse practitioner who sent me for a mammogram and an ultrasound,” Wiebke said. “Then I had a biopsy.” The results of Wiebke’s biopsy came via email.  An occupational therapist by...

You would be hard-pressed to find anyone who wants to think about cancer, much less get a diagnosis.  However, thinking about cancer now could improve your odds of survival if you have the disease.  Regular screenings can literally make a life-or-death difference.  Early detection is one of the most powerful cancer weapons our clinical experts have in their arsenal. “Catching cancer early is critical to survival. Screening is something we should all keep in mind. Cancer is not just an old...