Masonic Cancer Alliance

11/14/2025

Two advocates from our patient research advocacy program, Patients and Investigator Voices Organizing Together, also known as PIVOT, recently spoke with KU Cancer Center Director Dr. Roy Jensen on the 'Bench to Bedside' podcast. We hope you'll check it out!

On the latest episode of the Bench to Bedside podcast, Dr. Roy Jensen talks with Marilyn Mahan and Karl Frees from our patient research advocacy program, Patients and Investigator Voices Organizing Together, also known as PIVOT. They share how their own cancer journeys inspired them to advocate for others, and how patients’ voices are helping make cancer research more effective and patient-centered. Don't miss this inspiring episode!

🎧 Listen on our website - https://bit.ly/3Jet1Uu
🎧 Listen on our Apple Podcasts - https://apple.co/43Wp0in
🎧 Listen on Spotify - https://bit.ly/3JIxFy9
🎧 Listen on Amazon Music - https://amzn.to/47LCKO9

11/13/2025

Being kind isn't just good for others. It's good for your health. Check out the research here: https://www.npr.org/2024/12/31/nx-s1-5235540/being-kind-is-good-for-your-health-research-shows

11/12/2025

Did you know that each year about 20,000 adults in the United States die from alcohol-related cancers? A sharper focus is being placed on the link between alcohol and cancer, as researchers are finding that the risks aren't as well known by the public as the link between other risks factors - like smoking, for example - and cancer are.

Learn more about alcohol and cancer here: https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/risk-factors/alcohol.html

11/11/2025

We hope you'll join us for our upcoming 'Cancer Screening and Prevention in Action' webinar on lung and breast cancer next Tuesday, November 18th from noon to 1:00 pm (CT).

Kim L. Sandler, MD, professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences and director of the Vanderbilt Lung Screening Program at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, will discuss the latest updates in screening guidelines and innovative implementation strategies to improve enrollment of women in screening programs by combining efforts with breast screening outreach.

The program is free, but registration is required to receive the Zoom link.

𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿: http://bit.ly/cspa2

Kansas Cancer Partnership
Kansas Department of Health and Environment

11/11/2025

In honor of Veterans Day, we want to recognize MCA Executive Director Hope Krebill, who was a Reserve Officer and served as a nurse in the US Naval Reserves. Thank you to Hope and all military personnel and families for your service to our country!

Happy Veterans Day!

11/10/2025

Kelly Leipold, wife of University of Kansas Football Head Coach Lance Leipold, recently learned she was among the one in eight women who will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime.

Kelly credits a routine mammogram with saving her life. Yet many women don’t have access to mammograms when they need them most. To change that, the Leipolds are offering $50,000 in matching funds to the Masonic Cancer Alliance, helping women in need receive life-saving screenings by offering mobile mammograms across Kansas and the greater Kansas City area.

Early detection makes all the difference. Stand with the Leipolds to support breast cancer screening and prevention today: https://launchku.org/campaigns/leipold-launchku-project

Thank you to the Leipold family for supporting the MCA and women across the state in this incredibly meaningful way.

Over their lifetimes, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. On September 22, Kelly Leipold — wife of University of Kansas Football Head Coach Lance Leipold — learned she was among them. In addition to Kelly's diagnosis, Lance lost his mom to breast cancer in 1998, which furthe...

11/10/2025

Lung cancer screening can give you more memories. If you are 50 or older with a smoking history, talk to your healthcare provider about lung cancer screening.

11/07/2025

If you have been diagnosed with stomach cancer or are worried about it, you likely have a lot of questions. Learning some basics is a good place to start. Click the link to learn more from the American Cancer Society about what stomach cancer is, its risk factors and causes, diagnosis, and treatment:

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/stomach-cancer/about.html

11/06/2025

Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native people have higher rates of getting certain kinds of cancer than non-Hispanic White people. They have been the subject of centuries of systemic racism, which has often resulted in less access to health care, healthy food, and educational and employment opportunities. Click the link to learn more:

https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/health-equity/american-indian-alaska-native.html

American Indian and Alaska Native people have higher rates of getting certain kinds of cancer.

11/05/2025

We often think of November as a month for gratitude.

Did you know that research has shown that that the practice of gratitude is associated with many positive effects in a person’s physical and mental health? Expressing gratitude can improve sleep, mood and immunity, and can decrease depression, anxiety, chronic pain and disease.

Click the link to learn more: https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-lifestyle/mental-health-and-wellbeing/thankfulness-how-gratitude-can-help-your-health

11/04/2025

𝗟𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿.
Just to hear those words stirs up images of coughing, smoking, dying. And the stigma about a lung cancer diagnosis still exists. It’s time we changed these images, eliminate this stigma from the world, and start spreading the word that anyone with lungs can get lung cancer.