John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center

This week is National Hereditary Cancer Week, which is a time to acknowledge individuals with a personal or family history of cancer, Lynch syndrome, a BRCA1, BRCA2, ATM, BRIP1, CHEK2, PALB2, PTEN or other inherited gene mutation linked to cancer. We are reminded this week to share information to help others who may be at an increased risk. At the Hennessy Institute we offer a simple online assessment to determine your risk of cancer. After you complete the survey you will be contacted by a nurse navigator to discuss how to proceed with genetics testing. Our team will walk you through the process to make understanding your hereditary risk simple! For more information and to take the free online cancer risk assessment please visit https://lnkd.in/gp8c4crV

In the midst of a three-month, high-dose chemotherapy regimen for his aggressive lymphoma, Michael got bad news: It wasn't working. “It was really rough,” he recalls. “I was thinking, ‘If I’m on the toughest chemo they’ve got, where do we go from here?’” An avid cyclist who'd never had a serious health challenge, Michael noticed a fast-growing lump on his neck. He was soon diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, a type of blood cancer. Through molecular testing, Michael’s lymphoma was determined to be aggressive, leaving him at a higher risk of relapsing after chemotherapy. That’s why doctors placed him on a high-dose regimen, but the strategy still didn’t stop his cancer. Halfway through treatment, Michael’s neck lump “came back with a vengeance,” he says. But Michael was in the right place. At John Theurer Cancer Center, where he was receiving treatment, an international clinical trial was going on for a revolutionary new strategy. Dr. Lori Leslie, director of our indolent lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia research programs, told him about how CAR T-cell therapy could re-engineer his immune cells to target them against cancer. He quickly recognized its promise. “This was my only hope,” he says. Michael was infused with his customized cells and the waiting began. Two weeks later, after high fevers that indicated his body was fighting the cancer off, imaging showed a dramatic reduction in Michael's tumor size. “Within the first month, we already knew he was having a significant response and was near remission,” Dr. Leslie says. “We were all overjoyed. “Without the clinical trial, his lymphoma likely could have taken his life,” says Dr. Leslie. “Michael is a funny, easy-to-root-for guy who was willing to do anything he could to get better. It was really wonderful to get a great result for someone in such a dire situation.” Over five years later, Michael’s lymphoma hasn’t returned and all signs point to a cure. “Giving him access to cutting-edge care was likely life-saving,” says Dr. Leslie. Michael isn’t wasting a moment, spreading empathy wherever he goes, including visiting seniors and other community members to make them feel less alone. Michael remembers how difficult staying apart from others was during his treatment, when he was immunocompromised and couldn’t risk catching any germs. “I certainly appreciate life and the people around me more now,” he says. “Faith, family and friends were all significant in helping me get through this difficult time.” #BloodCancerAwarenessMonth

2,996 people died from the September 11th attacks in 2001. 23 years later, that number continues to grow from the ongoing toll of related cancers. But progress is being made in the fight — and for Nancy Kennedy, director of development at Hackensack University Medical Center Foundation, the cause is personal. As a survivor of 9/11, Nancy finds meaning in fundraising for cancer care especially for those who have developed cancer from their presence at or near Ground Zero. In 2001, Nancy was a vice president of sales for Morgan Stanley. A typical morning on the 70th floor of the World Trade Center's South Tower was interrupted when she “heard a noise and felt a concussion,” soon seeing flying debris from the windows of the room in which she'd been having a meeting. That was the plane hitting the North Tower. Within minutes, Nancy was gathering her colleagues to evacuate the building. The internal announcements said to stay in place, but it was vice president of security Rick Rescorla who ordered the evacuation. Rescorla died in the attack, but the memory of his heroic action that saved countless lives will be forever remembered. It was right as they were beginning the evacuation process in numbers that the plane hit the South Tower, just eight floors above where Nancy and her colleagues were, at that moment, in the process of calling their families to say they were okay. After making sure her colleagues were with her, Nancy made a 70-story dash down a special emergency and evacuation staircase, with the main staircase blocked due to damage. 17 minutes after her escape, the South Tower collapsed. Driven by a purpose to help, Nancy joined the American Red Cross as a disaster response volunteer. She helped train other volunteers for their response to Hurricane Katrina, and eventually helped fundraising efforts. “It turned out I was good at fundraising,” says Nancy. “So they hired me as a fundraiser.” Eight years later, when a job opportunity came up from her own health network, Nancy joined the Hackensack Meridian team. She's now been fulfilling her passion of raising money for cancer care for nearly a decade, supporting treatment and research at John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center. Nancy first joined the foundation to support "a good cause," a drive that has been strengthened as she witnesses friends and colleagues fall ill due to complications of living through 9/11. “If something good can come out of the horror of that day, I’m okay,” says Nancy, who sees personal reward in her professional endeavors. “The best part of my job is meeting grateful patients who want to give back after receiving excellent care here, and with their gifts, recognize those who provided such care.” “I am lucky enough to still be here,” says Nancy, “and fortunate to be able to do something important to our community.” #september11 #fundraising #inspiring

Congratulations to Hackensack University Medical Center, once again named the #1 hospital in New Jersey by U.S. News & World Report making it the only New Jersey hospital with the #1 adult and children’s hospital rankings. Jersey Shore University Medical Center was also ranked in the top four on the state’s Best Hospitals list at #4, and is also the #1 children's hospital in New Jersey. John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center is the best cancer center in New Jersey and among the top 50 cancer centers in the nation, and JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute is ranked 33rd nationally. We're proud to be trusted with your care. #usnews #healthcare #newjersey

Congratulations to Colleen, our Thumbs Up award winner for the month of June! In addition to our amazing Thumbs Up trophy and a variety of prizes, Colleen received a certificate of the anonymous nomination email spotlighting the incredible care she provides. Well deserved!

Congratulations to our Thumbs Up award winner for the month of May — Richard! Richard was nominated by his coworkers for his dedication, care and ability to put patients first. We're so grateful for all he does!

Check out our booth at #ASCO24! The team is excited to share some of the transformative results from 35 of our studies on immunotherapy, cellular therapy, targeted therapies and much more!

We asked our researchers and physicians what development in cancer research excites them the most - here’s what they said! #ASCO24

We’re here in Chicago for #ASCO24 - the largest cancer research meeting in the world! Stay tuned all weekend for updates on what our researchers are presenting here!

We're celebrating our nurses all month long! This #NursesMonth and beyond, we're so grateful for the care, dedication and heart these incredible team members bring to work every day.