UW Health l Carbone Cancer Center

12/26/2025

👇 SHARE this important message.
Lung cancer screening has been found to be the MOST effective way of finding and curing lung cancer early.

If you are between the ages of 50-80 and are currently smoking or have a history of smoking, talk to your doctor or call our lung care team at (608) 890-5600.

Our lung program offers the most advanced cancer detection technologies like robotic assisted bronchoscopy and targeted therapies to bring hope to those living with this disease.

12/23/2025

What people, activities or things are most important to your identity?
Dr. Travis Daniel, a cancer health psychologist, encourages patients to lean into what matters most—because those values can be a powerful anchor during treatment.

12/17/2025

Developing new cancer drugs can take years of work and major resources. UW Carbone researchers are using artificial intelligence to make those early steps more efficient, and more hopeful.

Drs. Anthony Gitter, Michael Newton and Spencer Ericksen are partnering to create AI tools that help identify promising chemical compounds earlier in the process. Their models combine published research, chemical data and AI technology to suggest which compounds may be worth exploring in the lab.

This work doesn’t replace scientists, it supports them. Researchers still review every suggestion, ensuring the science remains sound. But AI can help narrow the field, speed the process and open new paths toward discovery.

🔬 See how Carbone teams are bringing AI into cancer drug development: https://uw.health/48qR2p5

12/09/2025

What’s just around the corner for stomach cancer?
Surgical oncologist Kaitlyn Kelly is developing minimally invasive approaches to gastrectomy—surgery to remove part or all of the stomach—to shorten recovery and reduce complications.

12/08/2025

Cancer is a growing problem for resource-limited countries, and UW Carbone researchers are stepping up to meet that challenge.
Led by surgical oncologist Nabeel Zafar, our global oncology program is advancing practical, scalable solutions that improve prevention, early detection and treatment. Teams are:

• Training cancer providers in Pakistan and Ethiopia
• Developing a low-cost, shelf-stable blood test for early detection
• Launching cervical cancer education and screening efforts in Ghana and Vietnam
• Expanding access to CAR T-cell therapy in India and Colombia
• Strengthening cancer registries to guide policy and resource use

Understanding how to provide care in countries with limited healthcare resources will make a difference for patients everywhere!

🌍 Read how UW Carbone researchers are driving global impact: https://uw.health/48qloYH

12/02/2025

Understanding cancer isn’t just about hearing the right information—it’s about hearing it in a way that makes sense. Sometimes the clearest explanations come from a nurse, a friend, or another patient who’s been through it. Whether it’s a metaphor, a simple phrase, or a personal story, those moments can help everything click.

11/25/2025

From medical treatment to other supportive services like physical therapy, genetic testing and nutrition advising, the wraparound care approach of UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center Rockford provided Judi better peace of mind during her recent fight against breast cancer. https://uw.health/44cBZwv

Judi Guenther's experience with the wraparound care from UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center Rockford comforted her during her recent breast cancer fight.

11/21/2025

Wednesday night, Wisconsin Volleyball welcomed Dr. Becky Richards as an Honorary Captain. A true All-Star for kids facing cancer, she delivers expert care for children with leukemia and drives research that’s shaping the future of immunotherapy.

A perfect serve from a UW Health Kids | UW Health l Carbone Cancer Center physician who brings heart to every point.💙🏐

11/07/2025

Cancer appointments can feel like a whirlwind of unfamiliar terms and fast-moving conversations. It’s not always easy to absorb everything in the moment—especially when medical jargon is involved. That’s why strategies like taking notes, bringing a trusted support person, or writing down questions afterward can be so important.

11/05/2025

Owen had just started his sophomore year at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse in the fall of 2023 when his health started to go sideways. It began with intense leg pain caused by blood clotting. When he should have been having the time of his life in college, Owen was struggling to walk and feel well enough to attend classes.

Physicians at Gundersen Health in La Crosse diagnosed Owen with leukemia. His particular form of the disease is quite rare in young people—chronic myeloid leukemia with a B-cell acute lymphoblastic blast crisis.

Conventional treatment, such as chemotherapy, would not be enough for Owen. He also needed a bone marrow transplant, a procedure that wipes out the body’s immune system and creates a new one by infusing the patient with new bone marrow provided by a donor. Tests determined Owen’s younger sister Lydia was a perfect match and the transplant happened in spring of 2025.

Bone marrow transplants are only performed at major medical centers, so Owen and his girlfriend Nikki moved from La Crosse to Madison to be closer to the American Family Children’s Hospital and to Nikki’s family who live in the area. Owen learned of his cancer diagnosis just seven months into dating Nikki, but she didn’t hesitate about staying. Nikki was all in with Owen.

Owen was admitted to American Family Children’s Hospital in April 2024. He initially thought his stay might be a few weeks but he kept getting sicker, eventually spending 111 days there. For part of his stay, his disease confounded not only his UW Health Kids care team but other childhood cancer experts around the nation who were consulted.

Getting past the 100-day mark following a bone marrow transplant without major complications is a major milestone. “It takes time for his new immune system to put down roots.” says Dr. Becky Richards, a UW Health Kids cancer expert who specializes in bone marrow transplantation. “That’s why he spent about six weeks in the hospital after the transplant. We also discourage contact with more than just a few people, especially during those first 100 days. Owen has gotten past that point and that gives us more encouragement for the long term.”

Dr. Cathy Lee-Miller, Owen's primary hematologist-oncologist, is among many who are moved by his relentless upbeat outlook. “Owen is a remarkable young man who has been dealt a pretty rough hand,” she says. “You wouldn’t blame him for being angry at the world, but he just sees the positive and doesn’t complain. He’s the kind of kid you want your child to be. He is truly a light.”

10/29/2025

Kristin’s journey began at age 36, when a self-exam led to a diagnosis of triple-positive breast cancer. After months of grueling treatment, she felt strong and ready to move forward—until cancer returned in her bones four years later.

With the expert care and compassion of the UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center team, Kristin found hope again. Nearly a decade later, she’s living and thriving—celebrating her daughters’ milestones, welcoming grandchildren, and embracing every beautiful moment life brings.

On November 14, Kristin will take the runway to help raise funds for the same women’s cancer research and care that gave her more time, more memories, and more life.

Shenanigans with Friends is a fashion show event supporting women’s cancer research and care at UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center. Together, we can help more women thrive beyond cancer.

Reserve your seat today: https://uw.health/3L6ZyjK

10/27/2025

Danni knows the power of early detection and wants others to know it too. She’s using her voice to remind women that family history is only part of the story and that new guidelines recommend starting mammogram screenings at age 40. Talk with your doctor to understand your personal risk. Early detection can change everything. Wisconsin Badgers