We’re replaying this one for Skin Cancer Awareness Month. Siri Knutsen-Larson, M.D., of Monument Health Dermatology joins Mark Houston to cover what every South Dakotan should know before summer hits. She walks through basal cell, squamous cell, and melanoma, the ABCDEs of checking your moles, why altitude in the Black Hills ramps up UV exposure, and why redheads need to be extra careful. A good one to have on before sunscreen season.
Podcast Episode Topics: Cancer Care
Episode 191 BEST OF DOC TALK: Episode 92: Dermatology: Getting Under Your Skin with Christopher Gasbarre, D.O.
It’s May, which means it’s Skin Cancer Awareness Month, and we’re bringing back one of our most important episodes. Christopher Gasbarre, D.O., Dermatologist and Fellow of the American College of Mohs Surgery, from Monument Health Dermatology in Spearfish, joins us to talk about skin cancer, how to protect yourself from sun damage and what a mole that needs checking looks like.
If you missed it the first time around, now’s a good time to catch up.
Episode 189: Women’s Reproductive Cancers with Keely Ulmer, M.D.
Cervical cancer often goes undetected simply because the patient had never been screened before. Keely Ulmer, M.D., Gynecologic Oncologist at Monument Health’s Cancer Care Institute is aiming to change that, especially for rural and native people. Dr. Ulmer joins Mark Houston to talk about what kinds of cancer are most common for women and how she’s working towards improving access to care. Increasing HPV vaccination rates and removing systemic barriers that prevent access reduce cancer deaths dramatically. With these goals in mind, Dr. Ulmer joined the Walking Forward program which aims to help rural get people screened for cancers, especially cervical cancer.
Episode 160: Facing Breast Cancer with Ashlea Semmens, M.D.
One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, and diagnoses are happening at younger ages than ever before. In this episode, Ashlea Semmens, M.D., General Surgeon, Breast Surgical Oncologist and Medical Director of the Breast Surgery program at Rapid City Hospital, sits down to discuss what every woman needs to know about breast cancer awareness, detection and treatment. She explains why self-awareness matters, breaks what happens after an abnormal mammogram and clears up common myths about screenings. Dr. Semmens also addresses the emotional toll of diagnosis, the resources available locally for patients undergoing treatment and why no two breast cancers are treated the same.
Episode 154: Debunking Cancer Treatment Myths with Oncologist Bayan Al-Share, M.D.
Misinformation can spread quickly, especially when it comes to health care. Lately, some cancer patients have been asking about the use of Ivermectin, a drug designed to treat parasites, as a potential cancer treatment. Bayan Al-Share, M.D., Oncologist at Monument Health Cancer Care Institute, joins host Mark Houston to address where this idea came from, what the science actually says and how to evaluate sources of medical information. Dr. Al-Share also shares how she handles these conversations in the exam room and what patients should know before considering alternative therapies.
Episode 132: Cancer Genetics and Testing with Jennifer Knowles, CNP
Jennifer Knowles, CNP, board-certified Nurse Practitioner at the Cancer Care Institute in Rapid City, discusses the growing field of cancer genetics with host, Mark Houston. Jennifer gives her insights on genetic cancer testing and how it helps with early detection and prevention of hereditary cancers. She also explains genetic counseling and why it is important to take a proactive role in understanding your cancer risks and the available prevention and treatment options.
To learn more about Cancer Genetics and Testing, please visit: monument.health/cancergenetics
Episode 123: From Stigma to Solutions: Transforming Cervical Cancer Prevention with Daniel Petereit, M.D., FASTRO and Keely Ulmer, M.D.
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Daniel Petereit, M.D., FASTRO, Monument Health Radiation Oncologist, and Keely Ulmer, M.D., University of Iowa Gynecologic Oncologist, join host Leslie Cline to discuss the groundbreaking work in cervical cancer screening. In this episode, Drs. Petereit and Ulmer discuss the barriers faced when encouraging healthy people to get early prevention testing as well as accessing care, including the discomfort and fears associated with traditional screening methods. They explore the promising shift toward self-collection HPV testing, which provides a less invasive, more accessible option for people to screen for cervical cancer from the comfort of their own homes.
They also dive into their current research, which aims to engage and educate rural and Native American communities about the benefits of this new screening method. The duo share insights on how this initiative could greatly reduce mortality rates of cervical cancer for all communities, while empowering people to take more control over their health care. Dr. Ulmer also discusses her efforts to mentor the next generation of Native American health care professionals, emphasizing the importance of representation in medicine.
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