John Theurer Cancer Center Donor Impact Report 2023

HACKENSACK MERIDIAN JOHN THEURER CANCER CENTER DONOR IMPACT REPORT

John Theurer Cancer Center

Hennessy Institute for Cancer Prevention and Applied Molecular Medicine Joins the Fight Against Cancer The Hennessy Institute for Cancer Prevention and Applied Molecular Medicine is a game-changer for Hackensack Meridian Health’s renowned cancer care program. Under the direction of Andre Goy, M.D., M.S., chairman, chief of Lymphoma and physician-in-chief for Oncology at Hackensack Meridian John Theurer Cancer Center, and newly-appointed medical director, Elias Obeid, M.D., the goal of the institute is to reduce the burden, improve outcome and develop new ways to prevent and treat cancer.

The team will focus on cancer prevention and on reducing recurrence. Each individual’s journey will be facilitated by personalized navigators. Patients will be empowered to reduce their cancer risk through lifestyle changes including nutrition and exercise. The Hennessy Institute also aims to address health inequities among minorities, who too frequently have a much later diagnosis and higher mortality, by designing screening programs that help reduce these disparities. This extraordinary work would simply not be possible without the transformational thinking of our donors, for whom we are extremely grateful.

Did You Know?

A little over 1.9 million new cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed in the US in 2023 Approximately 1,670 people die from cancer each day Cancer is the second most common cause of death in the US, exceeded only by heart disease Source: American Cancer Society

From Bench to Bedside Thanks to the forward-thinking support of our donors, oncology research has yielded promising treatments for patients with conditions from which there was once little hope of recovery.

Our network-wide oncology research, led by

Hackensack Meridian Health flagship John Theurer Cancer Center, is at the forefront of all this progress.

Treatments such as immunotherapy are now routine, and CAR T-cells - cells that are changed in the lab so they can find and destroy cancer cells - are now commercially available. CAR T-cells are used against hematologic cancers and solid cancers, and the results have been amazing. In fact, one of the patients who enrolled in a clinical trial with a survival prognosis of two months has now been on the trial for 24 months.

Care Goes Beyond Medical Treatment Caring for cancer patients goes far beyond simply providing medical care.

Donor-funded transportation services help patients who lack a reliable means of getting to John Theurer Cancer Center for life-saving treatment. Transplant patients face lengthy hospital stays, and, thanks to donor support, lodging is available for caregivers. Financial restraints may force cancer patients to choose between food and medication.

Fortunately, your support ensures that patients have both. Patient comfort is critical, and your donations have also funded patient amenities such as bluetooth speakers for entertainment and recliners for relaxing. Your compassion makes this all possible.

To learn more about how you can make an impact, email gratitude@hmhn.org.

Leading the Cancer Research Community John Theurer Cancer Center researchers presented at the American Society of Hematology’s Annual Meeting on new diagnostic and treatment approaches for hematologic cancers such as lymphoma, leukemia and multiple myeloma. Researchers also reported their latest findings from more than two dozen research studies at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting.

These two conferences represent the top forums where researchers from around the world learn about advances in cancer diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Donor support enables our team to present at these conferences and be recognized for their efforts and, more importantly, advance research efforts in search of a cure.

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John Theurer Cancer Center