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When something suspicious shows up on a routine mammogram, patients are often asked to come back for further screening. It happened to Caroline Allen in May 2025.  “They called me back a week or so later and told me they saw something and wanted to take another look,” Caroline said. “I have dense breasts, so it has happened before. I didn’t think much of it.” Caroline got the shock of her life when she learned the radiologist discovered a mass on her breast ultrasound. “It was 5 millimeters- about ...

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...

There was something in the corner of Jerry Melendez’s eye, in the tear duct. He thought it was a stye or a cyst. “The eye doctor gave me steroids,” Jerry said. “He also sent me to a plastic surgeon for a biopsy, be he said he expected that to come back benign.” The growth in Jerry’s eye was not benign. It was cancer, and Jerry was floored. “I got the call on July 5, 2024, and it felt like the floor caved in,” Jerry said. “I looked at my wife and she started crying, and that made me cry.” Jerry’s surgeon...

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...