Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center

10/23/2026

Last night, Team Vanderbilt proudly attended Blood Cancer United - Tennessee’s Light The Night to support a world without blood cancer❤️

At this event, we gather as a community to celebrate, honor, and remember those touched by blood cancer. The dollars raised by this community fund life-saving blood cancer research around the world, provide free information and support services, and help advocate for access to quality, affordable, coordinated care for patients and their families.

10/19/2026

Join the Tennessee Department of Health and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center for the annual Pink & Pearl Campaign Pearls of Knowledge event on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. This complimentary event brings together community members, healthcare providers, advocates, and public health leaders for a morning of education, connection, and empowerment.

Attendees will hear from Shira Kupperman Boehler, MBA; Kim L. Sandler, MD; Lucy B. Spalluto, MD, MPH; and Rachel Matlock, MS, with a panel discussion moderated by Karen Winkfield, MD, PhD.

Learn about important topics in cancer prevention, screening, and health equity while connecting with community resources and colleagues from across Tennessee.

The event will be held at the Tennessee State Museum in Nashville, with registration and complimentary breakfast beginning at 8:15 a.m. and the program running from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.

Register by October 30 to reserve your spot: https://shorturl.at/0fkxi

💗 October 16 is National Mammography Day!

Your mammogram is an important step in protecting your health. While you're talking with your healthcare provider, ask about your personal risk factors for lung cancer and whether additional screening may be appropriate for you.

Learn more about TN Pink and Pearl:
🔗 https://www.tn.gov/health/pinkandpearl

To learn more about breast and lung cancer screening resources, contact your local health department:
🔗 https://www.tn.gov/health/local

10/16/2026

What does “triple negative” breast cancer mean?

Triple negative breast cancer accounts for about 15% of new breast cancer diagnoses and tends to be more aggressive than other forms of the disease. Because it lacks three key receptors commonly found in other breast cancers, treatment approaches are different.

Dr. Jessica Sharpe, breast oncologist at the Vanderbilt Breast Center, explains who may be at higher risk, how advances in immunotherapy are creating new treatment options, and why annual mammograms and routine screenings are so important. 🩷

10/15/2026

Neuro-oncologist Stephen (Wes) Clark has long wondered why brain and central nervous system tumors become less common after people reach their mid-80s. That question eventually led him to Jonathan, a 194-year-old giant tortoise widely considered the oldest living land animal.

With support from the Stephen Voland Research Fund at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and sequencing led by Vanderbilt Health’s Vanderbilt Technologies for Advanced Genomics core, researchers mapped Jonathan’s genome. They found that the genetic switches that regulate his mitochondria, which supply energy to cells, have stayed remarkably orderly. In most of us, that order breaks down with age.

The study, published Oct. 7 in Science Advances, could help guide future research into keeping people healthier for longer.

Link in the comments to read more.

10/13/2026

Cancer care is about more than treatments and procedures. It's also about helping patients feel seen, supported and connected throughout their care.

In a recent episode of the miniVHAN podcast, PJ Cowan, Senior Director of Programs at Musicians On Call, discusses the role music can play in the patient experience, from creating moments of comfort to helping patients reconnect with a sense of normalcy and identity.

Photos from Musicians On Call visits with singer-songwriter and actor Charles Esten, singer-songwriter Brooke Eden, and other musicians offer a glimpse of what that can look like in action: a song, a conversation and a moment of connection during a hospital stay.

To hear how programs like Musicians On Call are helping providers care for the whole person — not just the disease — listen to the episode, at the link in comments.

10/09/2026

The Tennessee Titans Women’s Collective players visited the Vanderbilt Health Breast Center at One Hundred Oaks to assemble care packages for patients receiving treatment in the infusion clinic. The packages included cozy socks, beanies, coloring books, Titans swag and other thoughtful items to provide comfort and encouragement throughout treatment. The families also gave handwritten notes of support and encouragement for patients.

As part of the NFL's Crucial Catch initiative, the visit highlighted a shared commitment to supporting those affected by cancer and raising awareness about the importance of cancer screening and early detection. 💗🏈

10/08/2026

10/06/2026

When 44-year-old Melissa received a colon cancer diagnosis, she felt overwhelmed. Among a growing number of young adults diagnosed with early-onset colorectal cancer, she needed to navigate treatment options quickly.

On the advice of a friend, Melissa connected with Vanderbilt Health’s Dr. Aimal Khan. Khan recommended a minimally invasive approach to remove her sigmoid colon cancer using a newer, single-port robotic platform.

Unlike conventional surgery requiring multiple cuts, this advanced technology allows surgeons to complete the operation through one small incision. The benefits aren’t merely aesthetic: Patients go home faster, use less narcotic pain medication and get back to their favorite activities sooner.

Following a smooth recovery with manageable pain, Melissa transitioned to the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center to begin chemotherapy with Dr. Cathy Eng. With only two sessions remaining, Melissa is ready to return to her family and her work as a family resource coordinator in Kentucky.

Vanderbilt Health is home to one of the highest-volume single-port robotic colorectal surgery programs in the nation. Learn more about how this specialized team is transforming patient care in the link in comments.

10/05/2026

A breast cancer diagnosis comes with a lot of information and, often, confusion for patients.

We asked Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center's Dr. Natalie Spradlin and Dr. Denise Garcia for some guidance on steps patients should take in those early days & what questions they should bring to their doctors.

Read more: https://www.survivornet.com/articles/just-diagnosed-with-breast-cancer-an-expert-shares-first-steps-and-questions-for-your-doctor/

10/02/2026

Four years after her breast cancer diagnosis, Cassandra, who works at the Vanderbilt Eye Institute, reflects on the compassion she was shown during each stage of her treatment at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.

“I’ve always believed in leading with empathy and kindness,” she said. “But walking in a patient’s shoes reinforced just how much every interaction matters.”

Facing appointments, chemotherapy and surgeries, Cassandra drew strength in vulnerable moments from clinicians such as Dr. Vandana Abramson, Dr. Ingrid Meszoely and members of the infusion team.

Now a survivor and advocate, she has embraced opportunities to support and encourage others facing cancer. “If sharing my experience helps even one person feel less alone, then something meaningful can come from what I went through.”

Learn more about Cassandra’s story at the link in comments.