These principles guide us in the compassionate, collaborative care we provide every patient, every day. From our expert physicians and specialty-trained oncology nurses, to volunteers who offer a little extra comfort through snacks and smiles in waiting areas, to our welcoming valets who ensure safe and easy arrivals and departures, we at Huntsman Cancer Institute make each person’s experience exceptional.
Passionate individuals and teams delivering a cancer-free frontier through scientific discovery and human touch
At Huntsman Cancer Institute, we’re dedicated—beyond a job, beyond a cause. JOIN
huntsmancancer.org/careers
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Jeanette Nielsen, a two-time cancer patient, shares her story.
Find your center in the patient patio labyrinth.
Learn why steroids are used in cancer treatment and how to cope with side effects.
Your Care, Your Home Huntsman at Home™ brings patients Huntsman Cancer Institute care right where they live.
A boy’s best friend helps him make a brave decision.
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What’s in Your Chemo Day Bag?
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12 American Indian Art at the Kathryn F. Kirk Center for Comprehensive Cancer Care & Women’s Cancers
Five Things You Can Do to Prevent Cancer
Helix shares helpful tips, hopeful stories, and notable happenings across our cancer hospital, research labs, and community clinics. A DNA molecule is formed as two intertwined helixes. The helix helps tell the human story—it is a symbol of unity and discovery. The double helix is prominent in the Huntsman Cancer Institute logo and a meaningful emblem of our mission.
Published twice a year by Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah. Conceptualized, written, and created by the in-house Communications and Public Affairs team. Send feedback and ideas to allc@hci.utah.edu.
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Front Photo: Alvey MediaHuntsman Heroes share the same goal— eradicating cancer. They also enjoy the following benefits:
• Guaranteed entry into select events
• Personalized coaching
• Free team swag
Make an impact and support Huntsman Cancer Institute’s mission. Learn more or register at huntsmanheroes.com or email events@huntsmanfoundation.org.
BE A HERO FOR HOPE!
Distance to care can be a major disparity for people with cancer. In June 2023, Huntsman Cancer Institute announced a second location in Vineyard, Utah. Now, we can serve more members of our community closer to where they live, giving hundreds of thousands of Utahns and surrounding state residents improved access to world-class cancer care.
huntsmancancer.org/vineyard
Utah currently has more than 3.3 million residents. This number will grow to 5.2 million residents by 2060.
UTAH COUNTY IS EXPECTED TO EXPERIENCE 30% OF THIS GROWTH.
Jeanette will celebrate her 75th birthday December 2023. Photo Credit: Alvey Media
Jeanette Nielsen was born in Tonga on Christmas Day, the youngest of six children. She learned the importance of hard work from her parents. At age 18, she left for school in New Zealand. Her brother, who lived in Hawaii, told her that living in the United States was wonderful, so at 22, she headed to be with him. There, she met her husband, Doug, and the couple moved to Arizona. Married more than 40 years, they enjoyed being active by hiking, baking, dancing, and keeping up with seven grandchildren.
At a doctor’s checkup in 2015, her white blood cell count was low. Since she didn’t have a viral infection, she was told she would be tested again in three months.
“They referred me to a hematologist-oncologist because there was excessive protein in my blood,” Jeanette says. A bone marrow biopsy followed and
confirmed it as smoldering multiple myeloma. “I was shocked because I had been healthy my entire life.”
After her diagnosis, doctors in Arizona observed Jeanette for 17 months, testing her blood every three months. In April 2017, she started feeling pain in her back. A few months later, an MRI revealed a fracture in her spine and a tumor.
“We were frustrated with our doctors at that point and wanted a second opinion with a multiple myeloma specialist,” Jeanette explains. “My husband Doug called Huntsman Cancer Institute and was able to get the appointment.” By the time Jeanette met with Douglas Sborov, MD, MS, her one tumor had become many. Dr. Sborov pushed for starting treatment immediately. “We went back to Arizona for four days, then came back [to Salt Lake City] and began right away,” Jeanette adds.
“Honesty is very important to me,” Doug says. “Dr. Sborov won me over from the start. He gave us a voice we didn’t feel
Dr. Sborov... gave us a voice we didn’t feel like we had.
like we had. He mapped out a whole treatment plan on the exam table’s paper. Before we even met, he ordered a PET scan and additional tests. When we did meet with him, he showed us everything. This was a night-and-day difference from the treatment we had been receiving. He was very up front—not gloom and doom, but factual and compassionate.”
“The Dougs” had hit it off. Dr. Sborov invited Jeanette to join a randomized, phase 2 clinical trial testing a combination of the drugs daratumumab, bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone (D-RVd) for four months. This was followed by an autologous stem cell transplant (when a patient’s own
- JEANETTE NIELSEN
Coming [to Huntsman Cancer Institute] was a lifesaver.
healthy stem cells are collected before treatment, stored, and then given back to the patient after treatment) and two years of maintenance.
“We knew that clinical trials in the past made treatments possible for the present, which I benefited from, and I also wanted to pay it forward for future patients,” Jeanette says.
“Clinical trials are necessary to develop new treatments and potentially improve outcomes for our patients,” Dr. Sborov adds. “They play a vital role in our quest to curing the incurable.”
Over time, Jeanette’s condition improved. But then, another wrench in the works.
“Dr. Sborov ordered a PET scan and noticed a spot in my uterus,” Jeanette says. After a biopsy, gynecologic oncologist Robert Dood, MD, MSCE, diagnosed it as a pre-cancerous condition. After discussing options, Jeanette chose surgery. “I had a polyp in my uterine lining and was diagnosed with stage IB uterine cancer.” She was then referred to medical oncologist Theresa Werner, MD, and radiation oncologist Lindsay Burt, MD. “The three of them collaborated and scheduled me for six infusions and three rounds of brachytherapy (a type of radiation therapy where a needle, seed, wire, or catheter is placed directly into or near a tumor).”
In October 2020, Jeanette had surgery for her uterine cancer. Treatment ended in March 2021.
Upon finishing her treatment for uterine cancer, Jeanette was able to bang the gong.
- JEANETTE NIELSEN
I wanted to pay it forward to future patients.
“I have a checkup every three months for uterine cancer and every two months for multiple myeloma,” she says.
Jeanette and Doug can’t say enough about their care and treatment at Huntsman Cancer Institute. “Huntsman is home for us,” Doug says. “From day one, our scheduler, Kodi, would come out and say ‘Hi’ when we came. It may not seem like much, but she knew our names.”
“Coming here was a lifesaver,” adds Jeanette. “Everyone connects with you on a personal level. The infusion team has become our social group. From the coordinators in clinical trials, to Annie Budahathoki, LAC, who provides acupuncture therapy at the Wellness Center, to Sonal Oza, MD, who helped with my rehabilitation using the POWER Program, to Melissa and Mary Ellen, who helped with scheduling, to Nico, our social worker, and Kolene, our medication access coordinator. Their approach was so positive. We just want to thank Dr. Sborov, Dr. Dood, Dr. Werner, Dr. Burt, and their entire medical teams.”
After everything she has been through, Jeanette says she remains grateful for many things—life, the treatment she received at Huntsman Cancer Institute, her family’s love, her supportive friends, her faith, and one more thing:
“I read patient stories and they really helped me. That’s why I’m sharing my story. Cancer provided me the opportunity to reflect and write. After procrastinating for so many years, I’m writing my life story with the help of (Wellness Center Writer-in-Residence) Susan Sample, PhD, MFA.”
A story with many chapters still to be told.
Jeanette gets a hug from her grandson, Ren.
You can take actions to lower your risk or chances of getting cancer. Making healthy lifestyle choices can prevent about half of all cancers.
The labyrinth shows a path
To the center, to your center, and back again. This is no maze of dead ends. You cannot get lost.
Pause at the opening and take a breath
To quiet your mind. And just walk. Take it slow, there’s no hurry.
You may enter with a prayer, a holy verse, a line of poetry— But none is required. Just walk.
You may bring a question. Expect no answer. Be willing to explore the possibilities. Just walk.
Perhaps you have a dream, or perhaps an image Will come to you on the journey. Follow it. Just walk.
You may honor a loved one or the memory Of one who has passed away. Just walk.
You may seek a moment of peace. Be silent. Pay full attention to each breath, each step. Just walk.
Walk to the center and pause. See what you see. Feel what you feel. And then retrace your winding path. Your feet will finish where you started.
May this path refresh your mind, heart, and spirit, And ready you to walk the world again.
1955-2020
Beloved former Huntsman Cancer Institute employee and patient
The labyrinth at Huntsman Cancer Institute is open to patients, staff, and loved ones at any time. It is located on the fourth-floor outdoor terrace east of the cancer hospital.
These studies test new treatments for cancer with the goals of improving outcomes for our patients and identifying new and better therapies. Nearly all cancer treatments used today began with clinical trials.
Clinical trials may allow people with cancer to receive new treatments before they are widely available. Many patients also appreciate being part of the search for new and better cancer treatments.
huntsmancancer.org/clinicaltrials
The therapies we use now to treat cancer are a result of all the patients that came before who participated in clinical trials .
Inevitably, chemotherapy and waiting go hand in hand, whether it’s for pre-treatment bloodwork, pharmacists preparing a specific medicine combination, or the slow drip of the infusion process itself. Even with comfy reclining chairs, warm blankets, and attentive, skilled nurses at the ready, it can be a slog. We asked our patients what they like to pack on chemo days to help make the experience a little more comfortable.
COZY SOCKS
WATER BOTTLE
CHAPSTICK
HARD CANDY
When you hear the word “steroids,” you may think of “roid rage” or athletes using them to enhance performance. But steroids are actually natural hormones that have many functions. Steroids created in a lab, called corticosteroids, are often prescribed during cancer treatment.
Why are steroids prescribed during cancer treatment?
Steroids are used for several different reasons during treatment. They are prescribed to reduce swelling and fatigue, improve appetite, and more.
You may be prescribed steroids at the beginning of treatment, before and after surgery or radiation, or during chemotherapy.
There are many types of steroids. Some common names are dexamethasone, prednisone, methylprednisolone, and hydrocortisone.
What are the side effects and how can I deal with them?
Steroids may have side effects based on how long you take them. Your doctor will prescribe steroids for the shortest time possible to help with symptoms.
The next page shows the most common short-term (one month or less) and longterm (more than one month) side effects.
Hunger: Continue to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet.
Trouble sleeping: If you take a steroid once a day, take it in the morning. If you take a steroid twice a day, take one in the morning and then one in the afternoon, no later than 5 p.m.
Heartburn: Take with a snack or food. Your doctor can also prescribe a drug to help prevent heartburn.
Hiccups: Your doctor may decrease your dose or prescribe a drug to relax the muscle that causes hiccups.
High blood pressure: Your care team will check your blood pressure during each visit. If you already have high blood pressure, your doctor may need to change the dose or type of drugs you take to control it.
Changes in mood: Steroids can make you feel restless or moody. Being active or going for a walk can help. Let your doctor know if mood changes seem to be too much.
Infection: Steroids can weaken your immune system, which increases risk of infections. Your doctor may recommend a flu shot every year. You may also be prescribed a drug to help prevent a lung infection.
Osteoporosis (weak bones): Your doctor may recommend you take a daily, over-thecounter calcium and vitamin D supplement.
Changes in vision: You should make an annual appointment with your eye doctor.
Muscle weakness: Major muscle weakness can happen, so stay active. Exercising 30 minutes each day can help keep your muscles and bones strong.
Round face: Your face may develop a moon-like shape due to extra fat or fluid buildup. Tell your doctor if this bothers you.
Swelling in legs or feet: Your doctor may recommend wearing compression stockings. Tell your doctor if the swelling bothers you.
It is important you take steroids exactly as prescribed. Do not stop taking them without discussing with your health care team. Your doctor will discuss the side effects and help you manage any issues. Contact your care team if your side effects are severe or getting worse.
Huntsman at Home™ staff members, Angela Fausett, RN, BSN and Chaz Davis, NP-C
The Huntsman at Home™ program brings the high standards and excellence of care you get at Huntsman Cancer Institute to your home. Patients who use this service must be in active cancer treatment at Huntsman Cancer Institute.
Huntsman at Home™ helps patients avoid or reduce emergency department visits and hospitalizations. Providers visit patients in their homes to give acute, sub-acute, or hospice care.
For patients needing acute care or monitoring, the team provides the following:
• Daily virtual or in-person nurse practitioner visits, along with daily registered nurse visits.
• Remote monitoring technology to record vital signs.
• Symptom treatment and management, such as nausea, vomiting, and dehydration.
• Help in timely admission to a local hospital or Huntsman Cancer Institute, if needed.
If a patient is stable, but has cancer-related symptoms or issues, Huntsman at Home™ nurse practitioners and case managers can do an initial assessment and arrange for any follow-up care, called sub-acute care Huntsman at Home™ helps patients transition to hospice care if needed.
Huntsman Cancer Institute doctors refer patients to Huntsman at Home™, then the care team visits at home or in the hospital to plan care. These are ways the service helps patients:
• In-home visits to make sure the patient is cared for.
• Availability seven days a week, 8 a.m.–8 p.m.
• On-call team members to give advice over the phone after hours.
• Coordination of after-hours visits for urgent needs.
Huntsman at Home™ teams include Huntsman Cancer Institute doctors and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who partner with certified home health and hospice services for these specialties:
• Registered nurses and nursing aides
• Physical therapists
• Pharmacists
• Social workers
Patient care is always under the direction and support of the patient’s Huntsman Cancer Institute doctor.
· 801-213-6060 · huntsmancancer.org/huntsman-at-home
Travis with his dog, Lady, and his mother, Kelly
As a very young boy, Travis Carpenter was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis. This genetic condition causes tumors to form on nerve tissue. In Travis’s case, it led to so many tumors in one of his thighs that the muscle didn’t develop properly. After his family adopted Lady, a three-legged pup, Travis and his doctor, Kevin Jones, MD, orthopaedic surgeon and Huntsman Cancer Institute physician-scientist, made a very tough decision that resulted in Travis having is own leg amputated.
I love Lady a whole bunch and I think she loves me a whole bunch.
Travis CarpenterEven though she fell sometimes, she got right back up. I knew if I fall, I’ll just get right back up. Lady is one of my best friends.
Huntsman Cancer Institute founders Jon and Karen Huntsman saw art as an important part of their vision “to make sure the environment would be as healing as the medicine.” More than 150 works displayed in the Kathryn F. Kirk Center are modern and contemporary pieces created by Indigenous artists, including paintings, weavings, sculptures, carvings, and pottery. Images and symbols communicate meanings of strength, inspiration, legacy, and hope.
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Large Germantown Hubbell
Diné (Navajo), ca. 1890–1910
Artist Unknown
Ganado, Arizona
Germantown & natural homespun wools
Bowl
Hopi-Tewa, ca. 1930–1987
Fannie Nampeyo
Hopi, Arizona
Home-fired ceramic, paint
Monument Valley
Diné (Navajo), ca. 1974
Jim Abeita
Gallup, New Mexico
Oil on canvas
Eagle Dancer Katsina
Hopi Pueblo, ca. 1970
Raymond Sahme
Hopi, Arizona
Cottonwood, paint
Blackware Bowl
Santa Clara Pueblo, ca. 1940
Margaret Tafoya
Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico
Home-fired ceramic
Figural Vase Basket
Apache, ca. 1900
Artist Unknown
San Carlos Apache, Arizona
Willow, devil’s claw
